The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Lillian Rodriguez | Independent Sales Representative to the Interior Design Trade

I began my career as a designer and pivoted to Interior Design trade sales in 2011. I began my career as an Outside Sales Representative for the David Sutherland Showroom. After having the pleasure of working for the Sutherlands for over 11 years, the only natural next step was to work for myself. I loved the idea of continuing to work in the same role with the same clients and representing beautiful lines independently. I am so grateful for all the wonderful relationships I’ve built over the years and am incredibly excited and proud to share the beautiful lines and stories about the Designers and Makers with my clients. Read more>>

Jhonatan Osorio | Director, Photographer & Videographer

My journey began in a management role within the healthcare industry, where I was driven to excel and reach the top. By 2016, I realized that my ambitions extended beyond the conventional career path, and that’s when I started envisioning the possibility of owning my own business. The creative spark came from my self-taught exploration of photography, which grew from a personal hobby into a professional passion. This initial interest in photography eventually expanded to now include film and production. Read more>>

Sandy Martin | Founder & CEO

I am a creative person, and my vision often runs counter to the norm. With Biohacker Expo, I’ve launched something like a comic con for people who want to BE superhuman. I am sick and tired of going to health events that are pushing Big Pharma or pricing out everyone except the wealthy elite. I want regular people to know that they can feel better, and I bring together speakers and innovators that show people how. Read more>>

Nicole Sauk | Website Designer & Business Owner

Even when I was a little kid, I would “play business.” I would make plans with my friends for our own babysitters club and I would get excited about new office supplies, so it always felt like this is what I was made to do. When I was in high school I discovered website design, and I fell in love. It’s so nice to have an artistic outlet that also works with the game of marketing a business. Read more>>

Darren Peart | Comedian & Content Creator

What innovative and pioneering entrepreneurial idea can I develop and implement that will have a profound and lasting impact on society, allowing me to leave a permanent mark on history and remembered for generations to come as a visionary leader and trailblazer in my field. Read more>>

Mauricio Marcano | Marine Engineer

Starting my own business was a decision rooted in a blend of ambition and practicality. I realized that while it’s impossible to predict the future, the only way to truly understand it is by diving in and taking the plunge. There will never be a perfect moment to start; the best time is always now. I knew that the journey would be filled with ups and downs, but I was prepared to tackle obstacles head-on. I believed in my ability to find solutions and adapt as challenges arose. Ultimately, starting a business was about embracing uncertainty and committing to navigating it with resilience and creativity. Read more>>

Okeefe Simmons, MD

Miami’s clear need for a doctor who is a clinically trained in weight loss and board certified – this is what ignited my idea to start Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions in Miami. We all know that Miami has a lot of plastics surgeons, and there many bariatric surgeons here as well. There are also a lot of patients in South Florida who want to lose weight but do not want surgery. So what are their options? That is what this office is for – to offer proven, effective alternatives including non-surgical weight loss procedures (such as the gastric balloon, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, and endoscopic revision of prior bariatric surgery), weight loss medications, and health/lifestyle coaching. Read more>>