Starting a business can be terrifying. Weighing the pros and cons, the risks, and other considerations can be so overwhelming that often promising entrepreneurs stop before they even start. We asked some phenomenal entrepreneurs about their thought process behind starting their own businesses. Our hope is that by making the thought-process less intimidating we can help more folks think through whether they should take an entrepreneurial leap.

Dr. Krisshundria James | Author, Life Coach & Christian Counselor

My thought process behind starting my own business was I thought I was going to be a failure and because I was scared, I thought my business was not going to be a great business.. I heard from people I wasn’t ever going to be good enough, I was a worthless piece of trash and with the attitude I had I was not going to get anywhere. I did not know how my business was going to turn out, where my clients were going to come from and where God was taking me. Read more>>

Dawnn Guidry | Certified Life Coach

The thought process behind starting my business was driven by the passion that I have for helping others. My ultimate goal was to always work for myself and do exactly what I love. I knew I wanted to start multiple businesses and one had to be life coaching so that I can help people progress out of their issues and into a life that they desire to live. Read more>>

Eboni Walker | Owner of Your Walker Solutions

I was working with a credit repair company which was a mlm. I told my husband that we are working but not seeing any revenue, so I decided to learn everything I needed to learn and start my own business. I start Your Walker Solutions in 2021 of July. Read more>>

ErisRenee Bernard | Hairstylist/Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my business was to create a comfortable workspace and environment for myself. Initially, I didn’t want to work for anyone else. As an entrepreneur I wanted the comfort of making my own schedule, enjoying time with a clear mind and to create memories with my children/grandchildren. Read more>>

Lance Stanford | Writer & Podcaster

When I first started The Night Nerd it was just as a creative outlet. I wanted to talk about comics, video games, movies, you know, nerd stuff but didn’t have anyone who would listen. I live in what you might call a dead zone for outlets like that. After taking some time and talking to my family I launched the podcast. Overtime I saw that it was also a great banner to put streaming, newsletters, merchandise and the books I’ve written under. Read more>>

Dastana Jones | Artistry & Beauty Transformations

When I started my beauty business my thought process was my obsession’s with transformations. I didnt like the thought of working a 9-5 for someone else making them extremely wealthy and coming home to do nothing but get ready to go make them richer the next day. I knew my love for beauty and what I was good at. I knew couldn’t get fired or stress about a monthly review and how i preformed based off Corporate Satisfaction thats when ” BrushedByDastana” was created. Read more>>

Sergio Rodriguez-Valenzuela | Founder & CEO

ToDooly is an evolution of my personal experience. I moved to the US when I was 12 years old and began doing manual labor to make money and eventually pay my way through college. In 2017 I graduated debt-free with a degree in Biomedical Physics, financing my tuition by pulling weeds, raking leaves, and doing unskilled tasks for suburban households. I quickly realized the demand for manual labor in the suburbs seemed to be infinite, but also the need for young adults to earn money on their own time was a massive opportunity. Read more>>

Danika Vasquez | Eyelash Extension Artist

I knew from my many experiences In different fields that I wanted to have my own business one day. There was no joy in any of the positions I was in, Most of the time I was working too many hours away from my children and I knew that it wasn’t the life I wanted for myself or them. Having my own schedule while doing something I enjoyed was all I wanted so I fell back into the beauty industry which I always had a passion for pursuing a career in. Read more>>

Sharonda Richardson | Founder/CEO, Transportation & Logistics Advocate

As a mother of two working in various industries, there was always a time that my normal eight to five seemed to not be guaranteed, of which, constantly kept me on the search for new employment and along with competitiveness in the workplace. I always had a purpose that only entrepreneurship could fulfill. Read more>>

Eunice Love | Entrepreneur

Originally it started out with my grandmother and other family members in mind who are no longer alive, in a way to keep them close. To do something in honor of what they did extremely well. COOK! Growing up raised by my grandmother, I was always in the kitchen with her. She was an amazing cook! She fed her neighbors and their families at times, and other times she sold plates of food weekly (what they used to call “suppers”) to make an honest living for herself and her household (which were occupied by 10 people, myself included). Read more>>

Leydy Pantaleon Almanza | Photographer

I had been doing real estate for 3 years & it was a very toxic environment. I knew that one day i was going to have to walk away from that. Until one morning i decided to put my mental health first. I had owned a camera for about 2 years at that point, & being newly married, I felt determined to start a business on my own. Read more>>