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.

Rogers Healy | Owner/CEO of The Rogers Healy Companies

My vision for my companies has been clear from day one, although it has definitely evolved into something greater than I could have ever dreamed of envisioning. I have never created a business plan for The Rogers Healy Companies and I have no intentions of creating one. I have trusted my gut since the very beginning, and that will always be my guide. I wanted to build a place where people could learn, grow and become the best versions of themselves. Real estate is great, but watching my people thrive is what makes it all worth it. I will always live every single day like it is day one. Read more>>

Davesha Sowell | Fashion Model, Creative Director & Entrepreneur

It started with me being a fashion model. As I stated in the last interview, I was going to all sorts of events, fashion shows, creative meet ups just to network and actually learn what the fashion industry is about. I wanted to know the ins and outs of everything from how they put a show/event together, who plays what role in a photoshoot, how to get published and more! I’ve always received questions on how to start this and how to start that, especially when it comes to starting a modeling career, so i wanted to have answers to those questions. Read more>>

Shani Scott | Owner/CEO Media Room 360 LLC

I kind of grew up everywhere. I am originally from upstate NY, but moved to Central FL when I was very little. It sounds so simply put when I say it like that, but if I went into detail you’d find that over my childhood; my family of 6, lived in a new home every other month.. or couch surfed on my parents random acquaintances couches. It was exhausting and embarrassing to constantly pretend to my friends that we had it all together. We also lived in a couple of different homeless shelters during my middle school years. Read more>>

Jason Priest | Registered Nurse, Personal Trainer and Performance Coach

I was unfulfilled living the corporate life and knew I had a lot more value to offer to the world. Read more>>

Angela Williams | Transformation Coach & Amazon Bestselling Author

My thought processes behind starting my own business was that I was more aligned and in tune with my vision than that of my employer. I had an epiphany that I will never become the person I envision by doing something that isn’t fulfilling. My passion lies with helping women discover their inner genius that’s been lying dormant due to self-sabotaging beliefs. It is my life’s purpose to help them realize their life’s purpose. That is what fuels me and drives me each day. Read more>>

Stacey Magovern | Entrepreneur, Author and Community Leader

I came from a family of entrepreneurs, so I always knew I wanted to own my own business. I tried many different things that didn’t stick.  After that, I spent many years in the corporate world in outside sales. I was highly successful and won many awards and trips.  I couldn’t stop thinking in the back of my mind, that I’m building someone else’s dream. This is when I came up with the idea for my business and I knew if I wanted to change my life, I am the only person that could make that happen. To be honest, I wanted more. I wanted a better life for me and my family. Read more>>

Sharon Herrera | Executive Director and Founder

Saving lives. In September 2010, several publicized suicides of LGBTQ youth reminded me of my pain, fear and suicide attempt at the age of 16. Working for a school district and working with youth I knew things had to change and that we needed a community where all children are safe. I also knew that with peer and community support we could save lives and build a network of passionate and caring individuals to help LGBTQ youth and their allies in Tarrant County. LGBTQ SAVES (Students, Allies, Volunteers, Educators, Support) was born. Read more>>

Jose Carlos Morales | Brand Owner & Gamer

Thinking of starting something of your own can be a daunting and scary thought. The key is pointing to things that make you happy and if you have a thought of “oh, I can do this better”, it can be the beginning of a passion project or future business. This is where I began. From drawing random designs with my friends to seeing how brands nowadays seem to lack a sense of “realness”, made me feel like I could do it better. Now, you have to understand the type of person you are before going further. Read more>>

Dela Ameke-Assou | Hair Braider & braiding instructor

I started braiding hair when I was 12 years old and have experience in the industry. After graduating high school, I was still braiding but working out of salons I noticed something was missing! The care for hair and great customer service. Though it took a couple of years to step out on faith, I did it and my mission is to care for my clients hair by braiding gently and helping them keep their hair healthy! Read more>>

Rita Parson Hightower | Optical Eye Wear and Sunglasses

My business was born out of a desire for something I could not find and the universe began to work on my behalf from there. A sister/friend, had on some fabulous eyewear frames that she had purchased at a luxury department store. I loved them, so I immediately went to get a pair and headed straight to my optician to determine if the frames could have my prescription lens put in them. To my excitement they were optical quality! Read more>>

Zondra Evans | Executive Producer and TV Talk Show Host

Zondra TV Network was designed specifically for Small Business Entrepreneurs as our way of leveling the playing field. Why shouldn’t a small business have the same access to marketing and advertising at an affordable small business price. (ZTV) Zondra TV provides a platform for businesses to come alive and potentially be accessed by millions globally on a daily basis. They transform products and services from a one-dimensional commodity in the mind of target audiences into a multi-dimensional solution that they can connect with, that they can imagine using in their own lives, that they can imagine not being able to live without. Read more>>

Shauna Glenn | Owner & Lead Designer at Shauna Glenn Design

I’m not sure there was a lot of thought put into starting my own business. It kind of happened by accident. We were building our house and I started posting it on Instagram. People (locally) began messaging me, asking me to help style shelves, etc., so I did. Then it grew to helping style rooms and entire homes. And voila! Shauna Glenn Design was born. I’m tired. Read more>>

Tasha Jay | Singer/Recording Artist/Voice Teacher

When I first started my music career/business I didn’t know what to do or where to start. However my thought process first and foremost was to learn then apply. I got with a lot of my friends within the business and researched healthy practices and tools to utilize for success. Once I started learning the ins and outs my thought process from there was push. By push I mean to push forward and don’t look back. Read more>>

Tiffany Ellis | Leader, Visionary & Creative Entrepreneur

There were a number of reasons I decided to create my own business. Of the many, the main reason was simply having the ability to lead authentically and create freely. As someone who is very innovative and emotionally intelligent, I have struggled with traditional work, especially when working with some of the more conservative organizations I’ve had the pleasure of leading within. Common sense challenges to the status quo used to create issues when they just made sense. I grew tired of being restricted and frustrated with business practices that were not value adding but required. Read more>>

Mamta Rana | Internationally Certified Natural Henna Artist

I saw women who fought with the world and its rules on a daily basis. Women who were tired but didn’t have the time to be, Women who needed some “me” time but were bound by responsibility. Women who were considered less than a woman because they couldn’t have children. Women who were working towards their dreams, but with naysayers screaming at them- saying that they couldn’t do it for whatever reason. They never seemed to back down, and I saw (I still do) them as warriors fighting for themselves so they could do their part to make the world a better place. Read more>>

Roslyn Stafford-Grady | Woman owned Cigar Lounge

I’m a people person. I love working for myself. I wanted to open a business where people could come together and fellowship. Read more>>

Jerome Jones | Salon Owner/Business Investor

It always been vision based for me ,always about helping,always about building, always about sharing. Read more>>

Suzanne Paiz | Owner of Pink Shell

I always knew I wanted to have my own business, and I also knew how important it is to believe in your product in order to be able to sell it. That’s when the idea of affordable jewelry came to me. I love accessories but fashion trends change so fast now days. I found the solution: Affordable accessories for everyone! Read more>>

Donnetria Eltionea | Poet $ nail technician

I wanted to create my own work environment. Making my own schedule and being in full control allows me to reach for the stars, make unlimited money and controlling my overhead. Plus I will have something to pass down to my kids. Read more>>

Andrea Wadley | Pediatrician and lactation consultant. Owner of 127 Pediatrics

As I transitioned from hospital medicine to outpatient pediatric medicine, I scanned the horizon and realized that there were not many options available to parents for convenient, evidence based pediatric care in our area of town. My desire for starting 127 Pediatrics was in response to that realization. I wanted to provide great quality pediatric medical care to a small number of families in Tarrant county that easily fit into a busy family’s lifestyle. My training in medicine and extended training in breastfeeding medicine and lactation set the stage for welcoming families with new babies into my practice. Read more>>