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.

John Hartzell | Primitive Knife and Tool Maker

Growing up, my family lived on a portion of my grandfather’s cattle farm in rural Pennsylvania. We were a family that lived pay check to pay check. Making sure food was on the dinner table was a secret family struggle at times. My father battled health issues for as long as I knew him. By default, my mom became the bread winner and ultimate provider. My dad did what he could when he was able. One thing he enjoyed doing was primitive knife making. That’s where my first exposure to the art occurred. Read more>>

Benny Or | Artist & Creative Director

After spending a decade working at boutique creative studios, cutting my teeth, learning the trade, and eventually leading my own projects, I realized how critical creative freedom was to me and my process. And while my work was being recognized and celebrated, it was always attributed to the studio I worked for. Over time as an artist, the idea of ownership became increasingly important to me, and starting my own company was the most logical next step in my career. Read more>>

Ella Magers | Founder & CEO of Sexy Fit Vegan

I knew from the time I was 7, which was 1987, that my life’s purpose was to reduce the human-caused suffering of animals, and my life has been a journey of discovering the most effective ways to fulfill that purpose. Read more>>

Blair Perkins | Recording Artist

I started my company because I was tired of depending other companies to believe in my vision. Read more>>

Robin Perkins | CEO, Global Gourmet Limited t/a Uncle Ducky’s

Robin Perkins, popularly known as “Ducky” to people in his close circle, is the story of a little boy born with his feet turned inwards hence the name “Ducky”. Ducky grew up in a household of four seeing his self-employed parents taking photos, doing floral arrangements, cooking and baking to provide for their family. Read more>>

Laura Pucker | PR and Marketing Specialist

I started my own business out of necessity. I was at my dream job and unfortunately there was unethical activity and I had to leave. When I left, the next day I started my own business focusing on brand activation events. My company has evolved but that was how I started. Read more>>

Josh Elliott | Chef & Restaurant Owner

The freedom to create my own vision. Read more>>

Manny Valle | Photographer

I have always had a passion for photography. It was an escape for me at an early age and I wanted to share this with others. I have always believed that capturing a photo is more than just a posed moment but the moments that happen between the poses. Showing those that beauty is in the candid moments people don’t think about. Read more>>

Migmary Diaz | Fitness & Lifestyle Coach

I am Venezuelan, I came to the USA 7 years ago. While here I gained significantly weight due to the lifestyle I led and the poor diet, to this was added a depressive crisis due to being in this country practically alone and far from my family, which made me eat more to calm these episodes of anxiety and depression. Read more>>

Fabian Lee | Producer

Well as a teenger who’s always in studios and around other music producers, I was inspired to a point where it became my dream and that’s when I decided to make it a reality. Read more>>

Rachel Luna | Certified Body Contouring Specialist & Hyalaron Pen Technician

I am from Brooklyn New York & before the pandemic hit, I was scheduled to go to Dominican Republic for a mommy makeover. I was over 40 & not feeling good about myself..my daughter who was 9 years old at the time was scared for me to go. I am a single mother to her & she has no relationship with her father. She was worried if something happened to me, would she have to go live with him. Read more>>

Malik Creary | Photographer

Being the first on in the family with a busines. Read more>>

James B Kelly Jr | Owner /CEO Shotta G Entertainment Inc.

I simply needed ownership over myself and something I can pass down to the family Read more>>

Dilan Trujillo | General services

It all started considering being able to manage my time and start accrediting my company in order to grow every day Read more>>

Kim D Harris | Educator, Multidisciplinary Artist focusing on textiles, Yoga instructor, Breast cancer survivor (19 years)

My thought process was thinking about preparing a foundation that would sustain me without a 9-5. I needed to feel that I was working towards my passions and not someone else. I needed to feel empowerment from another realm. Read more>>

SHANNON FLEISCHMAN | passion for motorcycles

I worked for corporate for 25 years 55-70 hours a week for a company that had no loyalty. I knew owning my own business with my motivation and passion for motorcycles i would do whatever it took to make it succeed. Read more>>

Abigail Valdes | Academic Enrichment Tutor

Since I was in high school I knew that my passion was to help and teach kids. When I was thinking of starting my own business, I knew I wanted it to be in education and something that I knew I was good at. When I was a teacher, I also was a tutor and a coach. Tutoring was always something I enjoyed because families would come to me for help in their child’s education but also treated me like family. I knew I had all of the tools to start the tutoring business, but I just had to take a leap to start it. Read more>>

Arianna Lint | CEO & Founder of Arianna’s Center

I started my own business because I was tired of the rejection I kept facing being a Translatina. Ever since my childhood my family always told me that I would be a big public figure, but after my transition that encouragement diminished as if transitioning meant I lost all my talent. As a former lawyer in Peru it was instilled that lawyers should be fearless. Read more>>

Ryan Turizo | Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Civil Rights Activist

Taking advantage of Entrepreneurial opportunities and a desire to be able to better serve my Community. Read more>>

Justin Hidy | A Serial Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my own business happened in 2008 and that thought was, I was going to let a company or an economy destroy my life or way of living again. I was a Branch Manager for a Land Title Company in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2008 and I absolutely loved that job. Then the economy collapsed and I had no say in my employment at that time. So I thought to myself that I would start my own Land Title company in one of the worst economies that we have seen and if I can make it through that then I would reap the rewards when the economy turns around. Read more>>

Ashley Allen | Founder of seedybean

I founded seedybean during the 2020 pandemic. After being furloughed, I felt uncertain about my future. Like everyone, forced to stay indoors and nothing else to do, I started to “redecorate.” It was during this time I purchased my first plant. Knowing nothing about plants, I loved the way it looked and continued to buy more. That’s when I realized I was spending too much more. Read more>>

Jason Hamilton | Filmmaker and Photographer

Well, I’ve always loved working with cameras, and throughout college I made a habit of setting up photo shoots with friends and taking my camera with me on trips. It wasn’t until late in 2019 that I had started to get paid for my work on a pretty consistent basis, and then once the pandemic started and I lost my salary job I just decided that there was no reason for me not to double down and invest in myself and so in March of 2020 I founded my production company Quality Control Productions. Read more>>

Jean Navarro | Master beekeeper and pest control professional

Making a positive impact to the pest control industry as a whole throughout the nation. In 2020 since starting my own bee rescue & Pest control business, we’ve been focused and committed to educating and sharing our passion with others. Read more>>

Anthony Durr | Upcoming Fashion Designer

Initially I Never Knew I Could Have A Business , It Started Because I Was Always Making Me A Outfit For Events Or Parties That I Wanted To Go To Because I Hated Wearing Everything Everybody Else Wanted To Wear. So With Me Showing Up In So Many Custom Pieces With Different Prints & Etc People Started Wondering Where I Got My Clothes & Slowly But Surely I Started Making Pieces For People & It Just Took Off From There! Read more>>

Maria Jose Contreras | Permanent makeup artist and student

My thought process behind starting my own business began with a personal interest of doing makeup specially brows. I was motivated of this interest of mine and found personal fulfillment in bringing confidence in people through the art of semi permanent makeup. I’m currently part of the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy at Nova Southeastern,  Read more>>

Alexandra Diaz Vargas | Fashion Designer and Illustrator

I have always been a person passionate about fashion and since I was a child I imagined having my fashion brand and that is why I studied fashion design in my country Colombia; This taste was largely instilled by my mother, whom I saw sew and design her own dresses at home, nothing commercial, as a hobby, for my older sister and for me and today, whenever she can for my daughter from 6 years old and my 11 year old niece. Read more>>

Soto | Tattoo Artist- Plastic Artist

the pursuit of job independence exploring my talents was always a constant within my ideas and thoughts. Thanks to this desire I began to explore different forms of artistic expression: art – tattoo – clothing Read more>>

Abraham Masarweh | Plumber

I wanted to give my kids a new life in a new place here in Miami starting my business Read more>>

Megan Foster | Landscape Designer

I have always loved the idea of working for myself. I think I am disciplined, motivated and hardworking. These qualities are necessary in starting your own business and knowing that they were some of my strengths, it helped me to rationalize the risk. I had worked with a couple of other landscape companies prior to starting my own and I learned what to do and what not to do. I knew getting the right team would be paramount as well. Over time, the challenges have ebbed and flowed but ultimately the tests are still worth facing head on. Read more>>

Peter Anthonii | Real Estate and Lifestyle Expert

My brand has been a culmination of my professional experiences over the last 20 years. I first started in process and improvement and operations and quickly learned I was more suited for Marketing and Communications. From there I started my own Public Relations agency that specialized in fashion production, events and brand management. I found that I really liked the process of conceptualization and ideation on how to bring unique products and services to the market. Read more>>

Christina Pardos | Licensed Massage Therapist & Xolar Vibronics Chakra Balancing Practitioner

Over the course of several years of working in wellness centers and day spas, I always had a handful of private clients that I would see for in- home massage therapy, so there was always a draw for me to be an entrepreneur. Then came the couple of years during 2008 & 2009, in Denver, Colorado where I was living, when everything was changing for my clientele and as a result for myself. One year later, I moved back to South Florida and had a rebirth in many ways. Read more>>

Rene Cedeno | Restorative and Cosmetic Dentist

As I was growing up my parents had their own business. It was what I was familiar with and knew, so of course I had to follow in their footsteps as business owners Read more>>

Smile Urena | Artist & Crossfit coach

I wanted to do things right, I did not want to just sell paintings and hats without the proper introduction. I felt that if I want people to take me serious about my work and price, I needed to show respect for my craft. Therefore, not starting a business was not an option. Also there are perks of owning a business such, having a business account and credit which can give you leverage for any future projects that needs investment. Read more>>

Sadiyah Rahman | Event + Wedding Content Creator

Ive always wanted something of my own. I love being behind the lens and creating videos for people and seeing their face light up when they see my work makes me happy. Im a peoples person, going from customer service to corp America kind of deprived me in a way when it comes to meeting people and working with new people, so this business allows my extrovert self to thrive. Read more>>

Alejandrina Gonzalez | Professional Housekeeper

Being able to take control of my time and being my own boss. Read more>>

Justin Benson | Dive Instructor & USCG Captain

My inspiration for creating Wanderlust Hats brand was to focus on apparel for ocean minded individuals. Since my passion is in ocean conservation I knew I had to give back to the ocean as well. When I created the company I have dedicated a portion of every sale to coral outplanting in the Florida Keys with A non-profit called I.Care About Coral. Read more>>