The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Jocias Pitre, MS, C (ASCP) | Scientist & Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting Kirrston’s Kollections, particularly our flagship product K’s Kreole Seasoning, was deeply rooted in a blend of family heritage and market insight. Growing up, my mother’s love for cooking was more than just a passion; it was a way of bringing people together and celebrating our Creole culture. The company is named in her honor, reflecting her influence and the rich culinary traditions she instilled in us. We identified a significant gap in the Creole seasoning market. Despite the growing interest in high-end, authentic spices, there was a noticeable absence of premium Creole seasonings crafted by black Creole people from the rural South. Read more>>

Larissa Harris | Portrait Photographer & Studio Owner

Starting my own business was driven by a desire for greater freedom and alignment with my personal values. The flexibility of being my own boss has allowed me to devote more time to my relationship with Jesus Christ and to actively contribute to my ministry. Additionally, this decision has provided me with more opportunities to spend quality time with my family, which is incredibly important to me. The journey of entrepreneurship is also a profound exercise in walking by faith, teaching me to trust in God’s guidance and provision every step of the way. Read more>>

Sarah Stewart | Founder & Creative Director

One summer, when my kids were away at summer camp, I planned a trip to see my wonderful friend Veronica, who lives in Perth, Australia. Veronica and I met in Jakarta, Indonesia, where we both lived when our kids were young. During this faraway visit, I traveled up to Bali, Indonesia, just a four-hour flight from Perth. An idea for a business had been bubbling around in my mind during my travels. I wanted to create summer silk scarves to use as wraps, as the AC can be quite chilly. Three days into our stay in Indonesia, I had met with local artisans, created designs, and left with samples of handprinted silk scarves. Read more>>

Kenya “Keni” Turner, Realtor | Get Your Keys With Keni-Your FAVORITE Realtor

I started my own business to operate in my gift. My gift is being a connector to and for people. I was blessed with a nurturing spirit of service. Being a Realtor allows me to walk with people in making one of the most important decisions and investments of their lives. My clients trust in my ability to serve them with integrity is the foundation of my work. Working in corporate America made me feel limited and silenced in good works. I am blessed and honored to have moved forward in freedom and limitless opportunity to serve my clients. Read more>>

Marleene Cerda | Catering & Event Planner

My business was developed out of a need that I saw in my own life. I’ve always been a go-getter, a problem solver, a brainstormer, a planner, and a fixer. I found myself planning a lot of events for family and friends. When my little sister Lizette was planning her wedding; grazing tables were all the rage. We decided to reach out to a well known catering business for a meeting. After a few mix-ups with dates, time, and budget amounts we decided to put a pin in it for the time being. After lengthy discussions with my husband Arron and my sister Lizette regarding this “charcuterie/grazing table idea”, I took the plunge. Read more>>

Courtnie Hays | Business Owner

David and I have a long history of daydreaming and creative planning. We have spent countless hours together coming up with innovative ideas or business plans and prior to rOks, we had failed to put those plans into motion. It was clear from very early on that we wanted to create a family business that we were proud of but also one that allowed our kids to participate so they could learn the importance of hard work and the value of a dollar. Read more>>

Meaghan Johnson | Mind and Holistic Coach

After the birth of my son in 2015, I suffered from a spine injury which left me bedridden for a month. My husband was traveling a lot at the time for work so my mom had to move in to take care of my son. I started to experience symptoms of depression, however, I didn’t know they were symptoms. My husband and I had heard of depression but we didn’t know much about it. I was what I call, a functional depressed person, when people came to visit my son, I was able to put on a smile, laugh and be my “normal” self but as soon as the doors closed I was a mess. Read more>>

Josh Appel | Photographer & Videographer

Starting a business never crossed my mind until a few months before Appel Photography went live. I was working a regular 9-5 job and wasn’t feeling very fulfilled. I remember watching a video of someone flying a drone for a real estate listing and thought that was a really cool gig. I messaged the guy, and we chatted about the ins and outs of real estate photography. I remember thinking “I could do that” throughout our conversations and eventually did enough research to buy a drone and camera. I was hooked immediately and proceeded to watch every YouTube video and Udemy class on real estate photography that I could find. Read more>>

Liliana Alcock | Family Photographer

Starting my own photography business began unexpectedly, stemming from a hobby that I quickly grew to love. At first, taking photos of my family and friends was just a creative outlet that helped me break out of my comfort zone. But when I started sharing my work on social media, people started noticing and asking me to take photos for them. The positive feedback and requests kept coming, and before I knew it, I realized I could turn my passion into a business. So, I took a leap and decided to formalize everything by establishing my own company. It was a thrilling step into the world of entrepreneurship, where every day brings new challenges and opportunities to capture special moments. Read more>>