It takes a lot more than an idea to build a business, but there can’t be a business without the idea. So we asked folks who’ve built wonderful businesses to tell us about how they came up with the idea in the first place.

Behzad Bakhshandeh | Massage Therapist

I saw a lack of specialized bodywork in my area and decided to fill that void. After graduating from my Bachelors program I went straight into massage therapy school with the plan to open my own business once my license came in. I started working on anyone that was willing to hire me and my business grew from there. Read more>>

Lana Shurdhani | Socks Designer

My passion for fashion design has its origin since my childhood when I sewed dresses for my dolls. The desire was very big for design and to own my own fashion brand, but I ended up studying biochemical sciences…
It was Covid, a difficult period for all humanity. Just arrived from Kosovo and not stabilized with life in New York yet. Read more>>

Idanelly Gonzalez | Polymer Clay Jewelry Designer

I have always wanted to have my own business. I just never really knew what I wanted it to be. A few months ago I was really sporting some stylish earrings and getting lots of compliments on them and my husband mentioned the idea of making my own earrings. At the time I had dismissed the idea because the style of earrings I was were wasn’t something I know how to design or craft. Skip a few month ahead sick in bed with COVID, I was scrolling through instagram and came across a maker of polymer clay earrings. Read more>>

Terrence McGee | Artist, Photographer, & Musician

I have always thought I had a unique view on life and art. I have always been creative and wanted to show the world what I could do and what I saw through my lens .The Perspective Eye was a name I created from a philosophical way of thinking as an Artist. I was thinking of just viewing art from different perspectives and apply that to life. The name itself and its abbreviation plays with perspective on how you can see it. P.E.Y.E. is the acronym spelling out to be Purposely Elevate Your Existence. Read more>>