Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy.  So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Rosalinda Gonzalez | Artist and Entrepreneur

I wanted to fully believe in and love myself. I wanted to take responsibility for my gifts, education, and fine art experience. Many bosses I have worked for over the years really did not treat their employees with the respect, pay, and benefits they deserve. This is common in the fine art world. As a result, I was inspired by the injustices I experienced, discrimination, and my own personal #metoo movement. Read more>>

Samuel W. Burwell IIi | The Creator of Diamond Mind Results & you’re friend

I am a Husband & a Father, I have 2 jobs that keep me busy 7 days a week. However, I can’t go without doing all I can to see people around me win, of course, family time is a priority so how can I do all 3, work, server, and spend time with family. I decided to start working toward turning my calling for inspiring others into a way for me to be freed from my second job. Eventually I will be a full time server and a presence Husband and Father. Read more>>

Ida Agbim | CEO of Daplittlevogue

The thought process behind starting my own buisness was very easy to me because I knew I was already blessed and gifted in fashion things and also it was so easy because it was a God given talent and I wanted to share it with the world while making money. Read more>>

Brittny Ray | Custom Designer

The thought process behind B Jolie was literally a dream. I have always been a creative person, whether it meant painting, drawing, coloring, or designing. I woke up one day and went out to buy everything I needed to make my first round of shirts. Everything was horrible, but it didn’t stop me. I went searching for any and every YouTube video I could get my hands on. Read more>>

Shuntae Richardson | Founder and CEO

My thought process behind starting my own business was excitement. I always knew that I have had an entrepreneurial mind set. This mind set started at a very young age when one of my cousin’s and I went in to business together selling icey cups. Although no on taught us how to do it we took the risk. We were even really good with managing our money as kids. In my spare time I am always coming up with business ideas and I plan to have multiple streams of income. Read more>>

Dom Soliz | Owner operator of Mick Smokin BBQ And Catering

My thought process was, if i can work this hard to make someone else successful why can’t I work this hard to make ,self successful? After some medical issues sent me to the ER in 2016 and the company only calling to ask where certain materials were and where did i leave off on the project? I knew it was time for me to worry about my and my family. I told myself if I’m going to work hard it’ll be for my family to be successful not some shmoe who could careless about me. Read more>>

Bernitha Anderson | Attorney and Entrepreneur

I decided to start my own business because I wanted to create stability for myself and family. I never wanted to be in a position where I would give my all to a company, be dismissed, and have no way to provide for my loved ones. I also wanted to create something that would give my child options and ownership. Read more>>

Sara Davenport | Independent Consultant/Exec Regional VP with ARBONNE

As a former TV anchor for NBC, I had what some would say was a dream job. Sure, on the outside I had an amazing life working at KPRC channel 2. But when I got home, I was miserable. While I loved my co-anchors and producers, I found myself wanting MORE. I didn’t want to wake up at 2am to do the news anymore. I didn’t want other people raising my children (daycares, babysitters, etc). Read more>>

Ginger Jones | Small business owner.

I had been working in the hotel industry for about 14 years and not making much progress when my friend/co-worker came back from a trip to California. She was telling me about this place called Afters. I had wanted to own my own place for some time, but my husband and I felt we could not take the risk while our kids were so young. But now they are older and I began researching the amount of funds required to start up an ice cream shop. Read more>>