Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Ottoweiss Campbell | Entrepreneur

My aspiration to initiate my own venture was fundamentally driven by a profound desire to positively impact individuals’ lives. I perceived entrepreneurship as a platform to cultivate solutions that address pressing societal needs, fostering empowerment, and facilitating progress. The force within me stemmed from an earnest yearning to extend assistance, leveraging innovation as a conduit for meaningful change. In essence, my entrepreneurial journey was motivated by a heartfelt commitment to serving others and contributing to the betterment of our collective human experience. Read more>>

Thom van den Ende | Found Dutch Flower House

When starting my company, I took every step in product development based on a consumer’s way of thinking, so that the products fit well with the consumer’s needs. This was initially difficult because we launched a relatively new product on the American market and not many people were aware of it yet. In addition to thinking from the consumer’s perspective, it is also important to properly set up the organization. We are a rapidly growing company and I am still working on expanding and stabilizing the organization every week. Every week I look back on the goals we achieve as a team in order to improve. Read more>>

Anna Meyster | Artist, Founder of ‘Anna Meyster Art’

Starting my art business in Miami was a mix of passion, preparation, and opportunity. The decision emerged from a pivotal moment in my life – leaving behind my home country of Ukraine amidst challenging circumstances and embracing a new beginning in the USA. With a solid background in marketing and an art degree, I saw a chance to blend my creative side with my business skills. Read more>>

Barbara Rodriguez a.k.a Babi | Music Producer and Sound Engineer

For some reason, I always knew I was going to start something of my own, not sure what, but since I was kid, I’ve always wonder what was going to be my mark for the world. Maybe that sounds more ambitious than what I intend it to be, but I believe God gives us specific talents that we should use to create, and every little thing counts, so I wanted to create my own little thing to the biggest masterpiece. However, it took me my first 28 years of my life to actually start my own business. First of all, I needed to know who I was as a person and honestly, I needed to accept and embrace that specific talent God had gave me. Once you know your purpose, it’s about figuring out how to live through it. Read more>>

Michelle Hannemann | Charter Yacht Broker

After working as a yacht chef onboard a sail catamaran for several years, I always found interest in becoming a yacht charter broker. Once covid shut down the whole charter industry for over 6 months – I found the perfect window to start my business. I immediately started building a website from scratch and Sheer Yachting was born in April 2020. Read more>>

Brittany Modell | Registered Dietitian and Intuitive Eating Counselor

I have always been interested in the idea of entrepreneurship because it enables me to wear many different hats – clinician, business owner, creative, admin, etc. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 12 years old and I really love the idea of being able to switch hats at different times so I am not doing the same mundane tasks all day long. I also am a very growth oriented person and growth is a large part of being a business owner. I am constantly learning when it comes to my work as a Registered Dietitian and business owner, which is my favorite part! Finally, I loved the idea of being able to control the hours I work, the type of work I do with clients, and building something for myself. Read more>>

Victor Williams | Retired Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and now Founder/President/CEO of Quest2freedom, Inc an anti human trafficking501(c)3 anuthorized organization.

The last 8 years of my career as a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) changed me as an agent, a father and human being, As I continued to learn and grow in that space I felt if most men knew what I knew we could change the horrific crimes of human traffick. So we educate communities, businesses and government entities on the culture awareness of human trafficking with hopes to change the culture that created the problem and perpetuates the issues. I also wanted to create an organization that would help victims in their immediate needs so no victim would never be left I the cold after being identified as victim by law enforcement or service providers. Read more>>

Kristen Stefiuk | Holy Fire Reiki Master and Meditation Teacher

Many years ago, I found myself in a tough spot in life, overwhelmed and anxious, with few tools to help me navigate these challenging times. I began to delve into the healing world outside of Western medicine. I learned about energy healing, meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, crystals, chakras, and many different ways to begin to heal myself. I attended trainings in many different modalities over the years including, Mediumship, Reiki, Integrated Energy Therapy, crystal healing, sound healing and more. I have always had a drive to help others be their highest and best selves. I went to college to become a teacher with a minor in special education and it’s a full circle ride to finally be using that degree in my 40’s! I teach a class each week called Zen and friends to adults with disabilities at the PLUS company in Nashua, NH. It is truly a dream to be able to work with children and adults, of all ages and backgrounds, to help them bring healing into their life. My passion for this work is endless and I am grateful to have so many beautiful opportunities to guide others to find their light. Read more>>

Brianna Robinson, MS, LAT, ATC, IADN Cert | Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer

The thought process behind starting my own business stemmed from a desire for self-employment, the freedom to be authentic without pretense, and a genuine connection with individuals in need. Having been raised in a family-owned and operated business that continues to flourish, I appreciate the chance to travel and assist individuals who might be unable to commute due to injury or illness. Read more>>

Sharon Ringier | Small Business Alignment Strategist

My journey into entrepreneurship began with a deep-seated desire for a more fulfilling path than what traditional corporate environments offered. While the journey was fulfilling, I felt a persistent urge to explore my creative potential. I wanted what I did to be more than just fulfilling. I wanted to make an impact. This inner drive led me to venture into various entrepreneurial opportunities, each contributing to my growth and clarifying my true passion. Read more>>

Nina Chonin | Baker & Cake Designer

Starting my own business stemmed from a deep rooted passion for baking that I’ve had since childhood. I would always experiment with new recipes and try different designs I would see online. As I got older and life got busier, I found myself wanting to reconnect with that joy and passion that I felt as a young girl. Creating my own bakery, not only reignited my love for baking, but also allowed me to share this with others. It truly has been a journey fueled by creativity, and a pure desire to pursue what truly makes me happy and fulfilled. Read more>>

Max Alcalay | CEO Addison House Furniture

In 1985, the foundation of Addison House was laid with a determined vision to enter the world of luxury design. Our aim was clear: to curate an exclusive selection of Italian-made pieces, offering clients the opportunity to immerse themselves in a dedicated space, where they could interact with and contemplate Home Collections in person before making their choice and purchase for their homes or projects. Read more>>

Kate Mellinger | Founder, Sojourn Pottery

Most tableware brands in the US still expect shoppers to buy in large sets of 8-12 place settings and reserve more fun and vibrant glazes for summer or seasonal collections that don’t restock, leaving shoppers on their own should they break or need to grow their set. Read more>>

Gavis Dean | Rapper/Singer

he thing is I always loved music. As a kid I would be day dreaming while listening to music and visualizing myself doing cool things. When I was a teenager I decided to started making my own music and become an Artist. So the love for the music was always there and I think over time as you keep progressing and evolving as a Person and as an Artist, you start to understand that the creative aspect is only a part of the whole picture. Read more>>