We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Lisa Taras | Photographer

I’ve always loved taking pictures. My husband encouraged me to focus on it further. I started taking photography classes, mentored under other photographers, and did shoots for close family and friends. I knew that if I could do this as my actual job, it would be a dream! Doing what I loved and finding that creative outlet while capturing memories that people would hold onto forever, that was truly special to me. Read more>>

Lauren D’Agostino | Private Chef & Cooking Coach

It was an accident! There wasn’t a strategy or thought process at all, until I started to walk down that path. I had just left a position as a chef/consultant with a local plant-based/gluten-free cafe, and wasn’t quite sure what my next move was. But I knew that I was a step closer to (finally) setting out on my own – I just never knew what it was that I would “do.” I had a huge desire to make an impact in people’s lives, in the area of healthier cooking and healthier being, and enough passion to fuel the learning process. After 3 years of being in business, I finally feel like I’m ready to start one. Read more>>

Rachel Olsen | Southern Florida Photographer

In early 2019 I had three children (three girls), and was pregnant with baby number 4 (surprisingly, a boy). I felt a huge desire to find a way to be creative, learn something new, and push myself beyond being “just” a stay-at-home mother. I also wanted to contribute financially. And a great way to be creative and make money is through photography! (My husband was the one to suggest that!) Photography was something that I was always fond of. Read more>>

Fruzsina Szemzo | Creator of Amazon Rising – A transformative interpersonal movement based healing process, Intuitive Bodyworker

I’m a very intuitive person and more than anything, I think I just knew I wasn’t made for the 9-5 grind. Even when I was in my 20’s and had to be at work “on time” and had a specific role/job to do, I never felt fully satisfied. In fact I felt depleted with no spark, nothing truly lit me up. The work I did or jobs I had were just that, projects that I did well but internally felt empty. Read more>>

Bridget Bee” Creel | Yoga & Meditation Teacher”

I started my business unexpectedly in March 2020. I was working as a full-time yoga teacher in New York City and when all of the studios shut down due to COVID-19, I knew I had to be creative. I started teaching daily donation-based yoga classes on Instagram Live and then by October 2020, I started hosting monthly challenges on Zoom, where I developed a monthly program filled with yoga, meditation, and community-support sessions (a mix of my three favorite things: mindfulness, movement, and empowerment). Read more>>

Tamara Galinsky | Brand President and Founder, JETSET Pilates

When I moved to Miami from London in 2009 I was looking for a cool pilates studio, that would offer me a more intense version of traditional pilates. I could not find one so I opened my first location really for myself and my friends. When I started to see people drive to Miami Beach from Aventura to take our classes – I know I was on to something. My mission was to create an immersive musically-inspired modern Pilates experience to encourage a more balanced lifestyle and a sense of community. Read more>>

Dowayne Richards Jr | Professional Photographer & Technology Specialist

Not wanting to work for someone. Instead of doing grunt work and making someone else rich, why not do it myself with something I’m good at and something I’m genuinely passionate about. Working a 9-5 is okay I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. I worked a 9-5 as a network administrator for a bank and credit union. There are perks to both but consistency, determantion and your mindest are what makes it all worth while. Read more>>

Gemmar McFarlane | Filmmaker & Musician

Well firstly, I have a unique situation, having been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 disorder near the end of high school, it became increasingly difficult to conform to the path society had laid out for what is considered “success”. I realized that in order for me to achieve any kind of success, I would have to chart my own path, one that not only surmounts my “disability”, but also turns that disadvantage into a super power. It was clear that if I took the traditional route of a 9-5 job, I was not going to be afforded the pivoting flexibility necessary for me to truly blossom. Read more>>

Marilene Tentomas | Innovator in the beauty industry

Health and wellness always fascinated me; finding effortless & safe ways to achieving this is my passion. I travelled around the globe hoping to discover a new trend for non- surgical weight loss procedures about a decade ago. I had noticed that many young women were choosing invasive surgeries, and this inspired me to develop Slimwave and CelluSkin, which has become the number one sought after, non-invasive way to eliminate excessive body weight and stubborn fat. Read more>>

Yi Da Chua | Wine Merchant

Since the beginning in 2017, Racine Wines Co. came about as a graduate school project revolving around closing the feedback loop with inputs from Asian Markets while working with working with low intervention winemakers in France. The decision to work with low intervention wines coincided with the increase in curiosity and demand of low intervention wines in Asia plus the lack of resources of these winemakers as compared to their bigger adversaries. The initial idea was to view ourselves as partners of these winemakers rather than simply importers. Read more>>

Mathew Crane | Owner of Coastal Vibes Graphics & Signs

The thought behind starting Coastal Vibes Graphics & Signs was pretty simple. Do what I love to do and do it the way I love to live. My wife and I have talked about starting our own design and print studio for as long as I can remember. We have always wanted a laid back coastal themed shop. So finally we did it and went all in on the dream. I have worked in the industry since I was a teenager but always for someone else. Read more>>

Marcelina Suchocka | Percussionist

I was driven to become a musician ever since I can remember. I don’t know exactly what drove me to want to learn an instrument other than being surrounded by music from a young age. My mother worked at the philharmonic in Bialystok, our hometown, and I often came along with her as she performed and taught piano lessons. Ever since I first saw a percussion instrument, I was drawn to them all and very curious. There was no going back from there. Read more>>

Eli & Meir | Producers & DJ

To be honest, there was no thought process. It all happened organically for the love of music. We met through pure luck. Both of us moved into the same neighborhood around the same time. A few weeks go by and I end up at Meirs backyard gathering. He has his gear out, jamming some fun tunes.
I tell him about how I DJ’d all through high school and a few years after that. He offers to show me how the new gear works. Read more>>

Shelly Hamler | Mom. Wife. Bookkeeper.

In early 2017, I was trying to figure out what life would be like when our first child was born. I was lucky enough to already have a full-time work from home position and my plan was to work full time while taking care of an infant. I thought I would have enough time to put in my hours and take care of our baby and when needed I could pull in help from our family who live in the area. Babies mostly sleep all day anyway, right?! I didn’t have any interest in working full time to pay someone else to take care of my baby full time, so I needed to make it all work! Read more>>

Travis Edwards and Joseline Josue-Edwards N/A | Caterer of Southern Style & Caribbean Dishes as well as a Creator of Delightfully Sweet Cakes & Treats!

We both came from big families who would always cook big cultural meals. My husband (Travis) is from Walterboro, SC and they cook soul food such as Collard Greens, Yams, Fried Chicken, Chitterlings and so much more. For myself, being raised in a Haitian household, we would cook Diri Djon Djon (rice with black mushrooms), Griyo (fried pork), Mayi Moulen ak Poi (cornmeal and beans), Soup Joumou (pumpkin/squash soup), which is a soup we would eat to celebrate Haitian Independence Day, and so much more. Read more>>

Tomas Iribarren | Self taught Chef & Former medical Student

I was in the middle of the pandemic. I just lost my job as a waiter in a very good Italian restaurant and I was working with deliveries. As an immigrant with almost no support I knew I had to do something different. I started working with my cousin who owns a seafood import company, when I realize that I had access to many ingredients very hard to find in conventional grocery stores. My head immediately started to work in a sushi night with family and friends to show my recently learn skills (I worked for a month in a japanese restaurant in Weston but I left because they did not offer a competitive salary) Read more>>

Diego Fiorito | Economist

Working in the banking and financial industry has been my desire and what I did for 25 plus years. After being member of the Exco, participating in Board meetings and Directors meeting at Cabei (Honduras), I decided to go back to Argentina. I took a minor role in HSBC betting in a global organization to grow there. After 2 years in the bank, Read more>>

Ted Degel | Hormone Replacement Therapy Coach

I was raised by entrepreneurs. What I realized after starting my first business is it’s all about taking that first step. Taking the first step and understanding that there WILL be roadblocks. Business is much like daily life. Be ready for the problems, but train yourself to immediately look for solutions instead of allowing the problem to stop your progress through frustration or anger. Read more>>

Antonio Cuellar | Commercial Photographer

What was the thought process behind starting your own business? I am an artist at heart; I started with a music business career and slowly moved into photography. So would describe the thought process as more of a transition.
A transition that started moving from the Music business to the photography business. Followed by a move from doing all types of photography jobs I could get, to focusing primarily on interiors and architecture, thanks to the booming real estate market at the time. Read more>>

Svetlana Esposito | Svetlana Esposito

My business was created very organically. I was traveling with my husband in Russian speaking countries many years ago, I felt alone, started experiencing anxiety and emotional eating. I began looking for help and found teachings of Louis Hay about self-love, Gabrielle Bernstein that promotes self-help practices and meditation with Deepak Chopra. Read more>>

Kamala Olivia | License Esthetician

April of 2020 during the pandemic, I was 1 of 300 employees terminated from my aviation corporate job. After countless applications and and few interviews, I knew as a single parent, I needed a back up plan, and fast. I was in my final semester of graduate school at Florida International University, and BROKE. After brainstorming for a week or so, I decided to get certified as a license Esthetician. Skincare and self care has always been a priority, and felt venturing into a career that aligned with my passion was the best route. And, in March of 2021, I was fully certified. Read more>>

Kara and Sabine | Certified Relationship Coaches & Matchmakers

Initially, when we decided to start our business, we both realized how often the topic of dating and relationships would come up in our everyday conversations. Whether it be amongst friends and family or while watching some of our favorite reality TV shows together, dating and relationships always seem to be the main topic of conversation. Read more>>

Bryana Bertrand | Makeup Artist

Starting your own business is not easy. It comes with a lot of ups & downs, time, dedication, & sacrifice. I turned something I loved into a business & I committed to it knowing it could either go two ways, which is success or failure.. I don’t believe in failure. I believe that if you truly want something you’re going to put your mind into it & become a go-getter. I’ve always had a business mindset. I find all my resources & target audience. I pay attention to what people like & I make sure I turn all my idea’s into reality. You have to be patient, don’t rush perfection, everything will fall into place soon. Read more>>

Stefanie Renoma | Artist – Photographer and art director

I started my own business to follow my dreams and fulfill my passion. I wanted to be in charge of creating 100% everything, with my creativity, sensitivity, by taking my own direction. You can shape something and be fully proud of and that you may even be able to share all the process with people. Read more>>

Patricia Duch | International Event Planner & Floral Designer

My father told me… “When you grow up, you should be your own boss, make sure you have a solid idea that you are passionate about, work on it and that way you will grow, succeed and enjoy being your own boss.” He also told me..”Never work for another person or company, be your only boss even if you have to stand at the corner of the traffic light and sell flowers”. Read more>>

Marne Semick | Business Coach for Spiritual Entrepreneurs

I had started many businesses in my life…but this one has been a unique experience because I’m creating from a more evolved state of consciousness. Back before Covid hit, my life had hit maximum turmoil. My husband had left me, my dogs had died, and my business started to really plateau. I was in a bad place and my life began to quickly downward spiral. At some point, I had been Googling ways to kill myself. Read more>>