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.

Niesha Taylor | CEO

I started out as a hair stylist then covid came. When they shut everything down i thought long and hard on what else i wanted to do. I started browsing photos of clients and the health their skin and hair was in and decided i wanted to provide a product that woukd help change their hair health and skin to reach there goals. Read more>>

Julia Nikolaeva | Owner HIT Lash studio and HIT Lash brand/educator/ international speaker

At first it’s really scared me, because I was just solo lash artist , rented bed in salon and my rent was 400$ only. And opening big business taking a lot of expenses. Also a problem , that I was a lash artist but I became a business person! Unfortunately I know nothing about it. But realized soon that I have to learn how to became a business person! I knew all risks, but my dream to have my own studio didn’t stop me! Read more>>

Condoleezza Alexis | President and Founder of Bleeding Hearts Across America

One of my clubs at school was considering having a feminine hygiene drive, but we’d only be able to do one and it would only be once a year. That got me thinking, why only have one drive once a year when women get their period once a month? Read more>>

Tylor Triplett | Business Manager & Senior Accountant

Once I realized and gained the confidence to pursue a dream that once seemed only possible in my imagination, my motive behind the process of turning this into a reality was driven by a combination of passion, determination, and a desire to create something meaningful which would change my family’s Legacy forever which is where the business got its name from. Read more>>

Joal Caldera | Documentary Photographer

When I first picked up a camera in all honesty I had no intention of it becoming anything more than a hobby. At the time I was going through a bit of a rough patch in my life and was looking for something to distract myself, as things progressed and I started to build confidence in my skills opportunities to take on work eventually came my way. Read more>>

Keisa Parrish | Dance & Wellness Educator & Instructor

I’m a classically trained professional dancer with a BFA in dance from Fordham University, a Wellness and Dance educator, a former Radio City Rockette and a single mother. Read more>>

Ryanne Heras | Event Designer

Funnily enough, I didn’t think it was much of a big deal starting my own business at 22. I was working freelance and just thought “This is the way to go”. 5 Years later I am happy to say my company is thriving and now I am happy to say I make a difference in my clients’ lives which is my favorite part of the process. Read more>>

Milagros / Clara Da Silva Goncalves / Rodriguez | Creatives

We believe it was kind of a mix of fate and divine timing. Both of us had known each other for a while, but without mutual knowledge, we had bought the same materials to start playing around with them. However, we believe that besides from having the same idea, we were both lacking something we weren’t even aware of. A community, a union. Read more>>

Oda Sereix | Owner of Thrift It FWD – Thrift and Vintage Store

My decision to start my own business was born out of my desire to continue making a positive impact in my community, particularly in the field of animal rescue. With almost 20 years of purchasing and operations experience, as well as eight years of hands-on involvement with various animal rescue organizations, I felt confident in my ability to create something meaningful. Read more>>

Lindsey Boyd | Jewelry Designer and Founder

RONDEL was inspired by my grandmother’s charm collection. I loved the way charms told stories about peoples lives…a jewelry journal. Read more>>

Carlos Rodriguez | Video Production Business Owner

One of my favorite movies is ‘A Bronx Tale’, and there’s a line from it that has really stuck with me: ‘The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.’ This quote motivated me to launch a business that not only recognizes and celebrates my own abilities, but also supports others in showcasing their talents and businesses. Read more>>

Willie Cross | School Guardian/Executive Protection/Security

Protection work is often times a thankless profession, I spent almost 10 years doing something I loved to do & never received the appreciation nor compensation from an employer I felt I deserved. Due the POSSIBLE danger levels in the work I do, I felt I needed both & if I can’t get it from the people & companies I give my all to, I’ll just get it for myself. Read more>>

Teresita Gordon | TLC Executive Director

Before I actually being building my own brand business, I was scared to make the scarifies that would come with it. I wrote down many ideas and strategies on how I would begin and how I wanted it to be. I strategies close to a year first. So, I will be sure of how everything will go once I started. Read more>>

Fayn Music | Entrepreneur, Artist, Rapper, & Entertainer

Failing is just early efforts of success. Understanding that winning is a mindset not a finish line, this is a marathon not a race. Learning to fall in love with the pain of entrepreneurship as much as it’s pleasures. Ownership, equity and perpetuity, is the only way to true financial freedom. You can’t take away what’s yours especially if your the creator, financial backer and overall owner of the product, service, or company. Read more>>

Mary Lou DiNicolas | Prenatal:/Postpartum LMT, Labor support Doula, Private birthing class instructor

The thought of starting my own business came very easily to me. Specializing in pre-and post natal massage and working with that demographic, it made perfect sense to create a comfortable and safe home office to do massage and hold my private birth class. Read more>>

Suzanne Nader | Founder

Suzanne Nader, the founder of Craving for Chocolate started the business when she felt that there was a lack of high quality chocolates presented in luxurious packaging to gift her friends. She started bringing her own from Lebanon, ultimately leading to the business idea. Read more>>