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.

Craig Blackmon | Supply Chain Management and Logistics Specialist

At a young age I believed that limits were placed on the normal “9-5” structure, I don’t like limits. I knew at a you age I didn’t want those constraints so it was always apart of my end game. Read more>>

Marci Lee | Smallcakes Owner

I have always wanted to own my own business. My degree is in hotel and restaurant management. I knew I could be successful in something in that field. I thought about what I enjoy doing and what I thought I could be good at. I also thought about what kind of business was needed in my community. While I was still teaching at an elementary school, I started looking around the areas between my school and my home. I also spoke with friends that live in the area and they said there was a need for a good dessert shop. Once I was introduced to Smallcakes and tasted how good the cupcakes were, I knew this was the business for me. Read more>>

Jamie Simon Sr | Grooming Mogul

After taking some time reflecting on what is most important here’s what’s needed for me. Read more>>

Krista Callahan-molodecki | WordSmith | Brand Whisperer | Entrepreneur

Done With It Copy began as a lighthearted joke, and if you had told me five years ago that I’d be launching my own business, I think I would have laughed. As the youngest of five imaginative sisters, I’ve always been the least serious (and arguably the funniest) of the bunch. While I often joked that the sisters had enough talent to run our own business, I cherish my work-life balance and have an aversion to risk–so the idea always ended with the joke. Read more>>

Stella Atuboyedia | Fashion designer

Wanting to see my designs come to life, I wanted to see what my ideas looked like outside my head, the need to make them tangible, to feel them, to see them on women while also hoping I could make a living off it. Read more>>

Daniel Salazar-hopps | Owner and Director at Kingbird

The thought process behind starting my business was what I feel a very organic one. I believe I was born to be an entrepreneur, a business owner. I had a corporate job for a few years and it was time for me to get back to where I felt stronger and where I felt that I could provide benefit to others the most. Being an artist by nature, I started Kingbird Media Company embarking on my most ambitious chapter yet. In launching Kingbird, I wanted to create a dynamic team of talented visual arts professionals that can provide a deeply collaborative and empowering experience for individuals and companies we serve. Read more>>

Yulissa Thomas | Photographer & Videographer

My thought process for starting my own business was always thinking and looking at the bigger picture as in my future and having my business be my legacy for generations to come. Read more>>

Jazzlin Raquel And Diamonds Davis N/ | Founder & Director of Raqn Diamonds

Starting Raqn Diamonds wasn’t just about dance—it was about creating a safe space where young girls could not only learn technique but also build their self-esteem and discover their potential. When I first envisioned Raqn Diamonds, I thought about my journey and how much I gained from the arts beyond just the physical skills. Dance taught me resilience, teamwork, and the confidence to take on challenges, but it was missing a piece of the puzzle: empowerment outside the studio. I wanted to create an experience that would help young dancers become well-rounded individuals, nurturing not only their talent but also their mindset. Read more>>

Ashley Vidal | Owner of XO CHOCOLATES HOUSTON

At the time I started XO Chocolates Houston, I was a stay-at-home mom with four kids—three of them under three! Before becoming a mom, I was a total workaholic. I loved working; it gave me a sense of purpose and drive that I thrived on. But as much as I loved that life, I knew I wanted to be there for my kids 100% and not miss a moment. Read more>>