Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Ann-Marie Tamrowski | Podcast Visibility Strategist

I started my business by accident. It all started when I was helping my sister and nephew build and manage their mental health brand and following on Instagram called A Safe Place Inside Your Head in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. My responsibility was to work behind the scenes and connect with brands and content creators to share their work and services through sponsorships and collaborations. Read more>>

Bela Shehu | Founder/Designer of NINObrand

Entrepreneurship was coded to me by my father as early as I could understand business. The dream to come to this country was to practice that ability, so as soon as I got the chance to start my own clothing line I jumped right in. Read more>>

Stacy Ann Brown | Multidisciplinary Artist

The best way to live life is on your own terms. I appreciate freedom. While a 9-5 does provide some level of stability, there are so many restrictions and drawbacks. Your growth is determined by someone else. The days that you are allowed to be sick and take time off are determined by someone else. The amount of time you spend on doing the things you love and spending time with the people you love is determined by someone else. Read more>>

Jesse Acosta | Serial Entrepreneur

From a young age and i mean elementary school years I was always trying to figure out a way to make my own money and I used to make these geletain-type bugs in a toy oven called creepy crawlies and then sell them to my schoolmates on the bus in the morning. So, as I got older and had a part-time job in high school, it made sense how I would total my monthly expenses and then try to figure out what I could sell on eBay to make enough money to quit my job. Read more>>

Shaunette Myers | Virtual Assistant & Owner of Shaunette’s Virtual Assistance

I’ve always been business-minded and wanted to start a business and have made attempts. However when I decided to start this business, I started it out of the need to earn extra income. I had a 9 to 5 doing the things I now provide as services. But the more I worked at making my business visible and researched I realized this can definitely be more than a side hustle and I can create a great business from it and create the life I desire for myself and my daughter. Read more>>

Nesia LaTosh | Fashion Designer

The thought of me starting my own business stemmed from me being laid off from a job that I was an employee of for years. I was taken aback as for the reason of the termination which sparked me to look into starting a business of my own where I would never have to experience that feeling again. I recall stating to myself one day that I would like to learn how to sew. Action was placed behind that statement once I received a sewing machine. I had never worked a sewing machine a day in my life so I watched videos on YouTube to start the process. Read more>>

Samantha De Felice | Custom Cake/Cupcake/Cookie Baker & Designer

I have always loved cooking and baking, but was scared to take the risk of opening a business. Eventually, the timing worked out and I started Caked by Samantha in 2017. I am completely self taught and started by working on orders for family and friends. From there, Caked by Samantha grew via word of mouth and social media. Without referrals, this small business wouldn’t be where it is today. Read more>>

Andrea Perrone | Owner and floral designer

I studied fine arts and graphic design in New York. That was interrupted when I followed my heart to Milan, Italy. Thirteen years later, I returned to the US and worked for interesting European home and fashion companies. While working on the corporate side was certainly a dynamic experience, I began to feel burnt out and desperately craved a more creative outlet. My local flower shop was offering a floral arrangement class and decided to sign up. The process of working with flowers captivated me and I immediately understood the power of flowers. Read more>>

Estefania Sanchez | Speech Language Pathologist

When I first started thinking about starting my own business, I knew I wanted to be able to change peoples lives. The kind of work I do, is very rewarding but when you work for other companies it is difficult to be more involved with the patients. I’m having my own business I would be able to have a more hands on approach with their therapy as well as be involved in their recovery past a certain time. I have always known I wanted to help others, and with my own business it gives me that opportunity to be truly present in peoples and their families lives Read more>>

Sydney Jeter | Owner & Lead Photographer

I value freedom and feeling free in any circumstances that I am in. My personality doesn’t work well with feeling limited or caged in. From a young age I always told my parents that the 9-5 life wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted to something more unconventional that answered my desire for freedom and adventure. Photography started as an interest and hobby for 2 years before it become an idea for a career. I love getting to make my own schedule, travel, connect with awesome people from around the world, and photography is the perfect combination of business and creativity. Read more>>

Yooda Yooda | International recording artist, songwriter, rapper

When I think about being a business owner, I think about my children’s future and creating a future free of the struggle for them and many of our generations. Being an entrepreneur is not very easy it takes hard work and dedication. However, doing something you love while securing a future free of debt makes it all worthwhile. Read more>>

Elizabeth Ghia Owner, Elizabeth Ghia Interiors | Interior Designer

The thought process behind starting my own business 10 years ago, with my first child on the way, was that I wanted to be able to make my own hours and schedule. Now, ten years later, I try not to work on teacher planning days and for some of the summer. As the business has grown, I’ve been able to take on help both within the business, and at home, which allows me to stay relatively flexible with regards to my children’s lives. Read more>>

Tyneka Rene | MHA, Licensed Full Specialist

It’s funny how things come full circle. I originally went to beauty school in Baltimore back in 1998. Needless to say, life happened and before I knew it, I was in the Army, with 2 children stationed overseas in Germany. I met my husband there in Germany and had another child. I was still kind of doing hair and nails of the Soldiers I was stationed with just to keep up with my skills. While in the Army, I continued my education so shortly after I got out, I finished my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. Read more>>

Mari Draughon | Designer. Brand maker. Creator. Collaborator.

I was consulting for large CPG brands and although I loved the work I was doing, I didn’t always love who I was doing it for. I wanted to be able to work with brands whose products + services I actually believed in. Initially, I started off offering brand coaching through a business I had named Rock Blossom. Rock Blossom’s mission was to empower + support local individuals and businesses in developing brands that aligned to their values, talent, vision + purpose. Eventually the coaching led to burnout for me, so I switched my focus. Read more>>

 

Marcus white Joseph Ramirez | Supporters of individuality and outside the box thinking

Our thought process behind starting destruction Runs Under God’s Structure (D.r.u.g.s) was to create something that would help people Casually express individuality and to help like minded people be comfortable as themselves. Read more>>

Jhienes Moreira | Photographer

Before my photography career, I had a stable professional life as an accountant. When I realized photography was my true passion, the toughest process behind it was the idea of a transition. Fear of giving up the stability of my career, I felt as if I was wasting the time and money I invested and that made me question my decision. Most of all, I was terrified of changes. Read more>>

Jenny Ponce | host of Miami Lit Podcast/CEO of Miami Lit Pro Studios

My thought process behind starting my own business was centered around the idea of showcasing all the amazing culture happening in Miami. I grew up here and always noticed how disconnected most people are from the city they call home. Miami has its flaws but it special qualities outshine its ‘issues’. Our city’s history encompasses so much; it is the epitome of perseverance and strength. Read more>>

Nara Cedeno | The Miami Honey Girl

Although I come from a family of self-employed individuals, I was very aware that starting a small business is not a small task at all. I grew up working in the family supermarket business therefore my mind was trained from very young to pursue my own passion and share it with the community.
Honey and Bee products in general are very rare to find straight from the source so I made it my mission to create a platform where neighbors had access to highly essential Bee products that were harvested locally and remained in its original raw state. Read more>>

Tiffany Elle | CEO, Certified Sexologist, Sensuality & Confidence Coach

Initially, I wanted to figure out a way to incorporate dancing again into my adult life, but the thought of dancing and competing as an adult was not ideal. So, in 2013 I took my boyfriend at the time on a trip to Puerto Rico and on this trip, I took a class that his cousin wanted to take that was marketed as a sexy fitness class. Sounded interesting, but I was not up for it. So… I showed up 45 minutes late and watched for a few minutes and then jumped right on in because this was NOT your average fitness class!! I had a blast in the class and at the end (because our male counterparts kept trying to peep in the class to see what we were doing) she made myself, his cousin and her friend dance on our guys in front of the other 20+ women. Read more>>

Nicola Berry | CEO of Netties Boutique1 LLC

I started my business in the memory and legacy of my 19 years old daughter who passed away from cancer 6 years ago. Losing a child is never easy, you are not suppose to bury a child it is the other way around they are supposed to bury you. The first thing I thought was how am going to go on, so I ask God to give me the strength day by day to keep going. The second thing was my grandkids who I adopted at ages 2 and 3 years old they kept me going and the third thing I did was started my own business and called it Netties Boutique1, I took a leap of faith quit my job and started doing my business full time. Read more>>

Kreg Kelley | Visual Mixed Media Artist

I’ve always wanted to work for myself, and being an artist allows me that freedom. Believing in what you do is key. Sales are a testament for an artist. Having your art represented by great people is crucial. I am fortunate and grateful to have my “Tempus Fugit (Time Flies) Series showcased by Procaccini Galleries in Key West and Naples. They have such an incredible team and have connected me with hundreds of collectors from around the world. Read more>>

Shayna Lauren Kutcher | Salon Owner | Master Colorist & Hair Designer | Actor

The thought process behind starting my own business started when I felt that I had mentally, spiritually, and creatively out grown the prior workspace that I was in. I would constantly daydream about how I would design my space, what practices I would implement, and how I could make the client experience that much more luxurious. I also knew in my heart that I craved work/life balance and the only way to truly achieve my dream schedule (without feeling guilty or shamed about it) was to do everything on my own terms. Read more>>

Lanette Sobel | Plant Doctor, Worm Farmer & Soil Enthusiast

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so working for myself and starting my own business came naturally to me. Fertile Earth Worm Farm is my third business, which I started in 2009 at the age of 30. It came about because I was working as a visiting researcher for Dr. Daniel Meeroff, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Florida Atlantic University. He was doing a study on best sustainability management practices for hotels. At the time, I was interested in being a sustainability consultant and there were no University degrees available, so this was how I learned the trade. Read more>>