Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.
Carla Cedeño | Portrait and Fashion Photographer
Since I was younger, I have always had a passion for photography. When that passion started to grow, I did not intend for it to become a business. However, it did, it was the beginning of my story. I have been an immigrant since 2014. I lived for three years in Charlotte, North Carolina and then, moved to Miami. While living in Miami I started to take photography seriously and thought of it as a career for life. I came across photography when I was younger. When my parents saw that I was really into it, they bought me my first camera, a Sony camera, first one I had. It was easy to use and carry. My father has a bit of an artistic side, I remember our first interview that I said I did not know how I got that profound passion for photography. Before the business was even an idea, I took my time to learn about photography a while during my two years living in Miami, and I was absolutely into it. I learned, met and was part of an amazing group of creators back in Miami. Read more>>
Derek Pratt | Celebrity Personal Trainer, Actor & Model
Over the years modeling for other brands and developing social media partnerships has motivated me to create a brand of my own. Having a degree in marketing and communications has been a huge help in the process as well. I have learned a lot about business and branding during my experience and I wanted to create a brand that represents me and what I’m all about: My business partner and I have spent all of 2020 creating and preparing for a big launch of DTP Collective January 2021. Read more>>
Molly Sanyour | Ceramics Artist & Teacher
I have always enjoyed the idea of entrepreneurship! In fact, as kids, I used to play “business” with. my sister. We used to pass receipts and papers through the slats on the back of the chair and stamp papers, we even had a real old time cash register from my dad’s parent’s store! I went to college thinking I wanted to be a lawyer (I love to argue and they make a lot of money) but in reality, the classes to become a lawyer were not fun or interesting and were super hard. When law didn’t work out for me, I turned to business it seemed like a good second option, especially since I already had a passion for it. Unfortunately, those classes were also super hard and not as fun! Macroeconomics and statistics killed me! At the same time, I was playing club lacrosse and my teammate was a photography major, which I had no idea you could be an “Art major”. I had always remembered hearing the phrase, “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” and so I signed up for an art class. Read more>>
Dhardra Blake | Luxury Yacht Charter Specialist, Philanthropist & Connector
To create a niche in the Luxury yachting industry that did not exist.. Great Yachts & Trustworthy crew providing a DAY (or longer now actually! ) out on the Water enjoying all that is to be experienced.. without the hassle of Ownership~. Read more>>
Jillian White | Artist
As I learned more about the world of working a 9-5 job, I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I never enjoyed working for anybody and I have always had a very inconstant schedule, so making my own hours and being my own boss is my main ambition. Read more>>