Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Annette Williams | PhD, LPC, RPT, CAS and Game Developer

The thought process behind starting S.T.A.L.K. Development Group was not mine. It is God sent! S.T.A.L.K. stands for Scriptural Teachings About the Lord’s Kingdom. One day, I was sitting in my car thinking about how to reach young people as professionally, I’m a Mental Health Counselor who primarily works with children. Read more>>

Tyrell Johnson | Content Creator & Clothing Brand Owner

My thought process behind starting my brand was that I wanted something that represented who I am and what I believed in. Also whenever I used to shop for clothes, I would walk into a store and look-around and leave without purchasing a single item. Read more>>

Tim Mousel | Self-Defense Instructor

When I first started training in martial arts in 1980, I quickly discovered my passion for helping others learn self-defense. Over the years, I developed my skills and knowledge to the point where I felt confident in teaching women how to protect themselves. This passion drove me to create a business empowering women through self-defense training. Read more>>

Ja’Ontay Williams | Founder & CEO

The main thought for me was to Change my situation. I was making a transition out of basketball and knew that I had skills that were of value. I really just needed an opportunity and I ran with it when I got it! Read more>>

Sarah Crosby | Hair Stylist and Owner of Hair by Sarah Croz

I like control, when things are out of my control I tend to be more stressed. This seemed like the natural thing to do. I have four kids so being able to make my own business choices and hours to fit my family’s needs was the logical choice. Read more>>

Courtney Devenport | Boutique Owner & Wardrobe Stylist

My entire vision is based on being a Kingdom Entrepreneur. Everything that I would do for my business had to have the sole purpose of glorifying God. And the first step to me accomplishing that was to have a scriptural foundation that I would build my business around, which is Romans 8:17. Read more>>

Dinah Taylor | Serial Entrepreneur | Hairstylist | Web Designer |

Dinah did it actually started out as a beauty brand by trade I am a licensed cosmetologist in Ohio, and while working in the salon we had a semi annual sale which led to our website crashing and since I’ve just always been good with technology the owner of the salon asked me to create a pop-up site to navigate the customers attempting to shop to a form to fill out for them to be able to place their orders. Read more>>

Livvie Star | Entrepreneur | CEO | Founder (ASAFF) | Runway Published Model | Recipient of Presidential Award

My thought was to promote local businesses, artists and talents in Austin Metropolitan area which now has extended to Dallas and Houston as well. Read more>>

Ali Hannon | Owner & Shop Manager

When I was young I remember my Dad asking me if the life my boss had was the life I wanted. It was a simple question that really helped put in perspective what was important. Was the role model I was working for and striving to be someone I actually wanted to be? Would I be comfortable financially? Would I have the time and attention to give to my family that they deserved? Read more>>

Jennifer Hatchett Stover | Licensed Professional Counselor, School Counselor, Registered Yoga Teacher

I recognize that clinicians of color are underrepresented in Texas, and in the United States. My goal was to serve and provide culturally responsive care to individuals and communities of color to mitigate this disproportionality. Additionally, I want to be a role model for other individuals, specifically, Black women, who would like to brave this world of entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Jasmine Jordan | Personal Injury Attorney

My reasoning for starting my own business resulted from a passion of protecting people. After working for an international insurance firm, I saw first-hand that the primary focus of insurance companies is not the people they insure, but the money that comes from them. I bore the responsibility of limiting plaintiffs’ claims to ultimately minimize the risk of insurance companies. Read more>>