Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Nadiyah Luqman | Owner of Nadiyah’s Touch LLC

My thought process was to build a business that would fund my kids college & eventually turned into generational wealth. Read more>>

Nicole Swanson | Beauty Mentor & Makeup Artist

Initially, I didn’t consider starting my own business , I was pretty much approached with a paid opportunity to take on clientele, and I accepted. It was from that point on that I embraced the thought of creating a brand experience for clients that would ultimately birth the start of my business. Read more>>

Vita Provenzano | Realtor & Egyptian Belly Dancer

When I decided to get my real estate license I was ready for a change. I had been working in a number of unfulfilling jobs and I knew it was time to shake things up. Becoming a Realtor allowed me to become my own boss which completely changed my life for the better. I am now able to choose who I work with and that makes all the difference in the world. Read more>>

Jessica Jocelyn | Spiritual Coach & Modern Shaman

I never imagined I would be doing what I do today, it was a long journey of acceptance and of faith. I graduated from University of Houston believing I would land a job in Oil & Gas but at that time there was a recession, it was a very competitive time and I didn’t firmly believe in many of the companies cultures where I began working. In 2014 I had my youngest son and everything changed. I had a major awakening and everything shifted my perspective from a place of uncertainty into accepting my purpose. It took me a while to understand and believe what my spirit guides and angels kept telling me, that I was here to help people and to serve divine with my gifts and with my story. But again, I didn’t trust that this would turn into a business because my intention was only to serve and I didn’t have a good relationship with money. Read more>>

Channin Campbell | Owner, INRÉ | A Bookkeeping Boutique

Very simply…education. In communities of color, in particular, this scale of learning just doesn’t happen. Unless you’re exposed to financial literacy at home or in the classroom, you’re lost, in a sense. I’m hoping to bridge the gap between that lack of education, while also freeing up the time spent on their bookkeeping adventures. At the core, while the objective, of course, is to run a successful enterprise, I also want to ensure that my clients are well-versed on what is happening with their finances, so that when they peruse the reporting I provide in their free time, they can make sound business decisions as well without second guessing themselves. Read more>>

Samer Tallauze | Graphic, Web Design & Front-End Developer, UIUX, Art Director

For as long as I can remember I have felt deeply and un-ingnorably called to be in service to the health and well-being of other humans, other species, and this planet. In the process of exploring how I might live into this calling I adventured through the worlds of general education, special education, permaculture, and family therapy before finding deep appreciation for and resonance with the language of Depth Psychology and practices of Reiki and wilderness-based rites of passage. Talented IT/Art designer lead with experience who is highly motivated, creative, and versatile. Especially skilled in creating and directing corporate and new business design and development. Adept at innovating user experience for the web and multimedia applications. Exceptional interpersonal skills with team members and subordinates. Accomplished at incorporating the desires of the client within a superior IT/Art solutions. Read more>>

Ronald Bonnette | DJ

My initial thought process when starting my own business was to turn my passion into income. Also, having business structure, funding my business, and making it 100% legit with obtaining my DBA and LLC Read more>>

Joseph Mayo | Writer, Rapper, Apprentice Electrician

Starting my own meant having a long term vision. An independent vision. A vision that didn’t lean on the decisions of others. For a long time, my future was contingent on a big break, and though that sounded nice in reality it was dependent. Once I realized who I was as a person I realized what I wanted to do with my life. I found direction. Once I found direction, ambition was a given. Read more>>

DeAnn McAdoo | REALTOR®

I decided to step back into the professional world after the chapter of raising my children came to an end. One of my greatest accomplishments is being a mom. This led me to stay home with them and raise them instead of continuing in my Real Estate career over 11 years ago. It was the best decision for our family and I cherish that time with them. Now, that my kids are 20 and 17 it’s time to return to what I love, Helping people find the place they will call HOME. Home means so much to me and it’s the most beautiful blessing to be apart of that process. Read more>>

Gary “Trey” Taylor | Social Worker, Sneakerhead and Mental Wellness Advocate

I started my business Uphold 31:8, out of necessity. Essentially, it was my second business but my first independent entity. I needed to establish some form of organizational structure due to the community engagement and organizing along with speaking engagements I was participating in. People would come around and ask me what organization I was with or did I have a business card and I did not. Thus, Uphold was born and has developed into a brand and entity that incorporates more than just community organizing and speaking. Read more>>

Ray Sanders | The Hood Wine Connoisseur

I work in corporate America and I came to the conclusion that I was tiered of trying to prove why I deserve a promotion to someone else. From the realization I said I might as well start my own thing and promote myself. Make my dreams come true. Read more>>

Jeff & Keisha Beasley | Owners, Bayou Beaux Beez

Recently both Jeff and I were both oil and gas professionals who were laid off from our jobs this year due to the pandemic. Instead of idly waiting for the industry to bounce back, we decided to launch our own business based on our love of cooking, hosting amazing gatherings with our family and friends and Jeff’s talent for making amazing Creole rubs, sauces, spices, gumbo, and homemade desserts. We were able to capitalize on our skills as capital project and product managers in the oil and gas industry and information technology. Using the agile methodology, we launched a minimal viable product (mvp) within two weeks of starting the business in July 2020. We will continue to use this methodology to introduce new products to our customers and use social media as a platform for feedback so that we can pivot as needed. Read more>>

Nicholas Heyward | Minister & Founder of Prophesied Legacy Ministries, LLC

I found my passion in service to others after 3 months in Hospitality which lead to a 19 year career. I learned that whatever I did my true happiness was found serving others. After writing The Push Project, my book of affirmations centered around the ideas “I am” and “you are”, from this Prophesied Legacy Ministries was formed. This ministry is my opportunity to share my gift, trials, victories and love of Christ with the world. I am the founder of Prophesied Legacy Ministries, so every video, outreach project or graphic represents me and my message perfectly. Read more>>

Jessica Terrell | Chef, Founder & CEO

The biggest thought process behind starting Prepped By Jess was one of change. I was ready to help be the change in other people’s lives because I felt like that’s what God was calling me to do. It was time to turn my passion of cooking into a reality. Read more>>

Kid Kits of Cypress Jordan & Jamie | Sensory Kits Made By Two Teachers Turned Mamas.

We had been creating sensory/playdoh kits for quite some time for our own children and sharing on our personal social media pages. People constantly asked if we would sell our product. A friend asked (during that time) for us to create 10 play doh kits for a birthday party and the rest is history. We are glad to have purpose other than being moms and it has allowed for our creative side to come out. Read more>>

Chef Kellz | Private Chef

My thought process was definitely planning and writing down all of my goals. After that, I took action because faith without action is dead! I also implanted in my mind that I wasn’t going to see result right away. That was the best way for me to avoid disappointment. Starting a business is definitely a lot of trial and error. Read more>>

Shalonda Dawkins | Concierge Florist

Rich Girl Floral was built as a result of my passion for creating centerpieces for display in my own home. I enjoy playing around with different colors and textures and wanted to create arrangements that truly represented my own personality. I would share my pieces with friends and family online, and would receive several requests for custom arrangements. I enjoy a very full career in banking, so it was important to me to create a company that was compatible with my career. I wanted something that I would enjoy equally as much, and that could provide joy to people around me. Floristry fills that need for me. Read more>>

Shamese Shular | Bookkeeper & Book Binder

At first, exploring this craft wasn’t with the intention of starting a business, rather a way for me to have a way to fill my free time. I was having a rough spot in my career and needed a creative outlet that was totally opposite from how I made a living at my day job. Once I started learning binding styles, I just kept going and started posting on Instagram. People seemed to like them enough where I tried my hand at local markets and the interest grew to a point where I wanted to create a better way for people to order. A website was created, and it organically morphed into something more!. Read more>>

Sly Roque | Creative Director & CEO of The Clever Group

When I started The Clever Group, It was a part time thing. I was doing freelance/contract work as a graphic designer and that was just the name I used to solicit business under. I never really just wanted to be an entrepreneur, that was never in my original life plans but God sought different. I often tell people that I accidentally became an entrepreneur and I would’ve easily taken a nice paying salaried design job before this any day. Even before this, I was working a contract job with the potential to be a permanent nice paying salaried design job at the beginning of 2020 but then of course, the pandemic hit. By the 3rd quarter of 2020, I was forced into The Clever Group full-time. We’ve re-branded ourselves as a Creative Entertainment Agency, which focuses on creative branding and marketing for artists, talent & small businesses in Entertainment. Business has been booming rapidly ever since. Read more>>

Jerry Gonzales | Owner at Power Alley Training Facility

Opening a sports training facility has always been something I’ve wanted to do. I grew up playing, watching, reading and analyzing sports. The classic Steve Sabo NFL films, the E:60 documentaries on ESPN, footage of Bruce Lee and his writings, Muscle and Fitness magazines, they all contributed to wanting to be involved in sports somehow someway. I knew that after years of teaching and coaching, that I wanted to create something that would help athletes reach their goals, something different, something that was an extension of myself. Read more>>

Jasmine Dandridge | Lifestyle & Fashion Photographer

I worked for a photo studio where clients were treated very poorly. That was my 1st experience in the photo industry seeing how people treat it like its retail vs a service. Witnessing that sparked a fire in me. I vowed in myself that if given the chance, I’d never treat my clients that way. Fast forward 6 years later, I am able to say proudly none of my clients and I have experienced any issues like such. I often would see amazing women doing exactly what i’ve always wanted to do. “I could be an influence just like them” was something that crossed my mind every time I logged in. It was inspiring! Til this day, I still look up to them. Read more>>

Adonis Alexander | Founder & Owner

As a native Houstonian I grew up always wanting to see our city be recognized for all it had to offer. When you look at New York, Chicago, and LA, they all have signature apparel and shirts that really represent their city in an international way. For example you can put the New York skyline on a shirt, and instantly it becomes a fashion statement. Or you can have a shirt simply say “Cali” in a nice beach inspired script text, and it can be seen worn all over the world. Houston being the 4th largest city in America with so much to offer culturally, and artistically etc. I felt there was no reason why it shouldn’t have its own T Shirt staples that allowed it to have a “seat at the table” with those cities, that would draw the admiration of both locals, and eventually nationally. When thinking of Houston’s best characteristic to highlight that would allow it to stand out in it’s own right. Read more>>

Milka Horst | Digital Marketing Consultant

I saw the need for educational/entertaining/visually appealing content in the healthcare field. I am one who has been frustrated in the past with how doctors communicate with their patients and have experienced the fear of going to a new doctor not knowing what I will experience. I took my experience working in the TV behind the cameras at a news station, and also my experience in the classroom as a high school teacher, and decided it was time for me to help another audience: One that is as uninterested as teenagers in a classroom. But I like challenges. I communicate simply and effectively without big words or jargon (maybe because English is my second language, which I feel is actually my superpower) People tend to embellish their language on videos and forget that they’re talking to real people on the other side of the camera. And that’s what I wanted to bring: simplicity to a complicated message to be available to everyone on social media. Read more>>

Sarah Herse | Online Fitness Coach & Fitness Influencer

When I decided to start my own business, I had to ask myself a few questions. 1. Do I have a special skill set that can help people? 2. What pain point(s) am I trying to solve for my clients? 3. Would I choose to do this career, even if I am not financially successful?. Read more>>

Shariece | Online Fashion Boutique Owner

The reason that I decided that I wanted to start my own business was because, I wanted to be my own boss and work a job that I loved. I believe that many of us think more about the meantime instead of considering what we want to do in life long term. I feel that everyone would be more happier in life, and feel more fulfilled, if we all focused on going after our dreams and passions in life. Read more>>

Erline Maingot | CEO of E. Maingot Inclusive Media | Podcast Host/Creator | Virtual Safe Content Creator

I have always been one to service others in my own way. I am drawn, and others are drawn to me, that want help or guidance. When I created Shall We Proceed? Podcast w/E.Leese Main, and being co-hosting other podcasts, my soul purpose was to bring back to the world, and my community, the safety of conversations and to bring people what they rally wanted to talk about. As I started my podcast life I had to get out of my own shell and truly connect and get back in student mode. I started and was at the will of others and their skills and talents. I remained a student and soaked up as much as I could and realized that so much I am paying for I should, and could, do myself, and why not get in the business of empowering others to take that creative control back. With that I also wanted to share with others who wanted to build a brand, a show, or anything, I wanted to offer up as much help I could so they did not have the same bumps and bruises I collected. Read more>>

Bridgette Bilson | & Ese Igbru

The main motivation for starting this hair app was the inconvenience of having to travel between cities just to get our hair done. After realizing that a lot of our peers were in the same boat as we was, we decided to come up with a solution to alleviate the stress surrounding getting our hair done. Our target market is college students as we understand the predicament of finding yourself in a new city with no trustworthy stylist. However, the app was made to tailor especially to the needs of Black women because often times, there aren’t a lot of stylist well versed in natural hair. Read more>>

Heather Van Tassell | Resident Mad Scientist

I have IBS and I was looking for a more natural solution to managing my digestion. I went to Doctor Google and found that fermented foods and drinks were a great place to start. Kim Chi, Sauerkraut, Yogurt, Kefir, and Kombucha. Kombucha made the most sense to me because it is a drink your consume first thing in the morning. I was doing grocery store brands for awhile and one from a farmers market too. But I was looking to reduce the sugar I was consuming. I figured, “I’m a scientist. I like to cook. I can do this.” I found someone who knew someone that had a SCOBY (the culture used to make kombucha). I set up my experiments to see exactly how much sugar I can use to feed the culture without starving it. My kitchen was transformed into a lab. You should have seen all the bottles taking over my back counter. I found a raw kombucha recipe I liked and began experimenting with flavors. Eventually friends and family convinced me that I should sell this stuff. Read more>>

Dawanna Jones MPA, M.Ed. | Entrepreneur

I knew at an early age that I didn’t wan to work for someone else for the rest of my life. I knew that I did not want to live a life of struggle or depending on someone else to meet my basic needs. I knew that I needed to be in charge of income. My financial stability is up to me. When I was in high school my desired careers were an attorney and a real estate agent. I knew that I could establish wealth as an attorney but I had more control over how much wealth I obtained as a real estate agent because as agent, you can control how much money you make. The harder you work, the more homes you can sell and the more money you can make. This led to the reality of entrepreneurship being the main goal. As an entrepreneur you have complete control over how much or how little money you make. Read more>>

Kendra Black | Professional Reader| Book Reviewer | Literary Assistant & Virtual Assistant

After finally deciding to share my book reviews and recommendations online in 2018, I started to receive requests for different literary services on a more consistent basis. Up until that point it had been by referral over the last 7 years or so. I had operated as a freelance VA (Virtual Assistant) years ago and thought why not branch off from my Bookstagram and Blog and offer the services that were being requested on an almost weekly basis. Once, I paired down the most sought-out services and the type of VA I wanted to be, it has started to come together. Read more>>

B J | DesignHER/Entrepreneur

I wanted to start my own business since I was in elementary. I would tell everyone I wanted to be an entrepreneur. When I got older, one day after trying everything else and still feeling unsatisfied, I decided to just get up and just start somewhere. Finally after all these years of the ideas, I felt more than ready to make a move. I went and bought a sewing machine and starting off making pocket tees to match kicks. I wore it around my hometown Houston promoting myself and it was also seen on celebrities in the early stages of my career. It wasn’t everything I wanted at the beginning but it gave an idea of what type of business I was building for the future. Read more>>

Tara Arceneaux | Owner & Chef Tara’s Cajun Cooking Catering

My thought process was generational wealth & having something we owned. Read more>>