We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business.  Check out their responses below.

Rachael Boone | Artist

Back in 2014, I had a trip planned on the horizon and needed some extra cash! I had a tie dye kit stashed in my craft collection so I bought some kids tshirts and tie dyed them, then hand painted names & sayings on the back of the shirts. I sold them to my friends, found a love for bright, vivid rich colorful clothing, went on my trip and came back and started my business! Read more>>

Kevin “KEVO” Williams | Personal Trainer & Fitness Coach

Fitness has always been a part of my life. I grew up playing sports, but as I got into my adult years my health and fitness took a detour due to everyday life and responsibilities. Mentally and physically I was at my worst. I didn’t feel confident or motivated. I knew I needed to make a change and that was to get back in the gym and change my diet and daily habits. I knew I was at my best when I was physically fit and active. The more consistent I became, the more my life changed for the better. I saw my body changing, but I also saw every other aspect of my life start to evolve as well. As time went on, people started asking me questions about my fitness journey and for tips/suggestions. I knew this would be a great opportunity for me to help people not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. Read more>>

Amber Ferrell-Steele | CEO

When we began creating Timeless the goal in mind was to bring an enjoyable high quality but affordable product to the market! My husband would rarely enjoy a cocktail with me mainly Because he could never find a drink that he enjoyed the taste. I wondered how many people also felt the same way? What began as a hobby to just “create our own” mostly catered to his palate became a special and unique project that has now flourished into a business. Read more>>

Vanessa Munoz | Personal & Group Trainer

In my twenties, I had no idea what I wanted to do in life career-wise. My future, I assumed, would be tied into my partner/husband’s life. It may seem an embarrassing thing to admit, but, I had no real goal aside from graduating from college and becoming a Texans Cheerleader. I had never truly exercised in my life- aside from jogging on a treadmill a couple of times a week- until I was 26 and joined a local gym. Whoa. What had I been missing my entire life?! I fell in love with the feel of a barbell in my hands, the callouses that ensued, and the sweat that dripped off of my tired, but, strong body. Soon after, a lot of unexpected life changes occur and I found myself alone, confused, and unsure of where life was going to lead me. Read more>>

Giovan Cuchapin | Founder, Owner & Operator

It wasn’t until my mid to late 20s when I got serious about my career. After about 2 1/2 years of attending the University of Texas in Austin, I found out that school wasn’t going to help me get to where I wanted to be career wise. Instead of moving back home with my parents in Houston, I decided to get a job in the restaurant industry as my passion was always around food, whether it was creating or eating it. After a couple of restaurants I got into management around 2006. Around 2008 is when I started seriously thinking about opening up my own restaurant. It was a no brainier that I wanted to open up a Filipino restaurant as I knew it was obviously delicious, eating home cooked meals growing up almost everyday from my moms kitchen. It just hit me one day….. why aren’t there any Filipino restaurants around that were accessible to all. Read more>>

Pamela Peté | Chief Master Sergeant, USAF (Vet), Poet, Speaker, Author & Goal Coach, MBA MFA

The thought process behind starting my own business was simple. People always ask me about how to find their purpose and set successful goals. I knew there was a demand for this information. I counseled a lot of people for free then decided to monetize the information so I could help those that couldn’t afford to pay for my time and services. I have a coaching business, that includes workshops for Christian Business Women and Entrepreneurs. I also, give free workshops to those women transitioning out of prison and women that have suffered domestic abuse. That lead me to speak at different functions about gifts, goals, and purpose. I am also a poet and incorporate my poems in some of my work or I am hired to create a poem for an even as an opener. Read more>>

Alicia Castro | Launch Copywriter

I’m Alicia Castro, founder of glorious copy co., word-wielding warrior and a copywriter with a strong obsession for matcha green tea, empathy, and SEO – a unqiue trifecta that’s given me the 411 on how to artfully craft copy that not only sounds like you, but deeply resonates with how your past, current, and future raving fans are talking about the life changing magic your offer provides them. The idea for glorious copy co. was a long time coming. I was always one of those women who wants to be self-made, but for a long time I had no idea how to make money beyond my day job and investing. I’d always been told I was an excellent writer – and friends, family, and colleagues, even back in school, had encouraged me to become a writer. But like many, I thought being able to wield my words persuasively meant I’d be a starving writer. Read more>>

Kady Miller | Mini Treat Dealer

My love for baking started when I was about 6 years old. I learned how to make Bisquick blueberry muffins from the recipe on the box. It didn’t take long before I was baking all different kinds of muffins, and I would bring them to school and sell them at recess! That was when I fell in love with baking. Going into high school I knew I wanted to be a pastry chef. I tailored all of my classes around business management. In fact, I had a business management project in my freshman year of high school. We had to partner with a local business, and work one on one with them for a few weeks, and then document what we learned. I knew immediately where to go, my favorite restaurant in town. I got my first ever behind the scenes tour of a restaurant kitchen, learned their secret recipes, and made my first tiramisu! Read more>>

Natasha Seraphin | CEO & Style Consultant

Honestly, After being in the fashion industry for sixteen years along with multiple years of management experience, I thought i had a leg up in going into business for myself. I had no idea how much I did not know. I quickly learned that being a business owner is a non stop roller coaster of trail and era and learning experiences. Read more>>