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.

Nazia Hossain | Dr.Naz – Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & Professor of Counseling Education

While starting a business can be demanding, doing so in a field I’m passionate about makes it easier to integrate my work with my personal life and lead to overall satisfaction. As an American-Muslim, I am able to tailor my services to meet the specific needs of my clients, based on my religious and cultural background as well as my expertise. With four children and an active husband, having control over my schedule allows me to balance work commitments with family needs, such as attending school events, sports outings, and managing household responsibilities. Read more>>

Marquita Erwin | Master Stylist & Salon Owner

My thought process behind starting my business was to make people from all cultures feel confident with their hair and appearance Read more>>

Vd. Meenakshi Gupta | Ayurveda Practitioner, Holistic health expert

Starting AyurRoots Ayurveda Wellness was a journey deeply rooted in my passion for holistic healing and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. My vision was to create a space where people could experience authentic Ayurvedic practices tailored to their individual needs. Inspired by the growing demand for natural and sustainable wellness solutions, I wanted to bridge the gap between traditional Ayurvedic knowledge and modern lifestyle challenges. AyurRoots is more than just a business; it reflects my commitment to promoting well-being, balance, and health in a way that honors both the body and mind. Read more>>

Sophie Powell | Black Owned Woman Entrepreneur

First of all, I never wanted to be an entrepreneur, that was never a dream or a vision. I was happy working at Verizon Communication, and I worked there for 25 years as a Maintenance Administrator. After having a bad reaction to some makeup from a department store I was just talking out loud saying “I should create my own brand” not even knowing what a brand was but it sounded good. I knew I wanted makeup and skincare that did not have any animal byproducts or chemicals, so I started doing my homework and finding out what kind of ingredients go into makeup and skincare that was healthy. Read more>>

Carlyn Fox Mccrory | Owner & Editor of The Scout Guide Dallas

I’ve always been passionate about giving back to my community and making a meaningful impact on independently-owned local businesses. My entrepreneurial spirit was inspired by my grandfather and parents, who were all successful small business owners. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the dedication and hard work required to run your own business. Read more>>

David Simpson | Founder of Bloved Ethiopia

In 2010, my wife, Amie and I started an adoption journey in Ethiopia. By 2011 the process wasn’t moving very fast and decided to visit. While we were there, we noticed how great the need was to care for orphans who were deemed “un-adoptable” by the government. It is very uncommon for kids to be adopted in Ethiopia and almost unheard of to adopt kids over 2 years old. We were so heart broken by what we saw and knew that every child deserved to “be loved.” God spoke to my wife and I very clearly and we knew that our story in Ethiopia wasn’t going to end with adoption. Read more>>

Danielle Magana | Special Education Teacher turned Child Care Provider

I was a teacher 6 years prior to having my first son. The hardest thing I have ever done in my life was to go back to teaching after only having 3 weeks with my newborn son. I battled postpartum depression and anxiety all while teaching Special Education.. I felt like I had nothing left for my son when I got home. When I found out I could create a daycare within my own home all while watching my son, I dove headfirst into making this a reality. I was even able to continue working with students with special needs because I opened Hakuna Matata: In-Home Child Care for Kids with Special Needs officially August 1st, 2024. Now I am able to do what I love and what I have been called to do while being with my son. When I started my own business, I started it for him. Read more>>

Renesa Kirkpatrick | VP of Operations

When my husband and I got married, we knew that the jobs that we had at the time would not be sustainable once we had children. We wanted to be able to be present in our children’s lives and have the flexibility. Read more>>

Jason Racca | Owner and physical therapist

In a lot of ways, conventional healthcare has lost the focus on who we are serving, the patient in front of us. I wanted to provide an atmosphere that allowed for people to be heard, stories to be told, and a place that would allow your provider to be able to be fully present and accessible to you. Read more>>

Kyli Cross | Life Coach and Podcast Host

In all honesty it really started out as proof to myself that I can go beyond my own walls of playing it small and safe. I believed in the coaching that I had received that I have value, I have something to offer to someone else, I am expert enough to share my perspective and I jumped on board doing the biggest scariest thing I could. The only reason to not start coaching was because its hard and I was a person who was committed to doing hard things. Read more>>

Michelle Roh | Floral Designer

This goes back to almost 8 years ago when I was working full-time as a tax accountant in Sydney. Although I didn’t mind the corporate environment, I was always desperate for an outlet to keep my creativity flowing and wanted to find something I could enjoy doing for the longer term. I started off by taking one day floristry classes and I fell in love with it instantly. Then I took courage to take the professional course and was occasionally asked to make flower bouquets for my friends and provide flowers for small weddings. That’s when I started thinking about turning this into a proper business and it all expanded from there. I had to take some breaks in between due to a couple of relocations across the globe, marriage and birth of my little one, but I am glad that I have kept pushing and took the leap of faith to start again in Dallas. Read more>>

Brett Coolidge | Hair Artist

When I started my business the ultimate goal was freedom. Working in a commission based salon means pressure from management to hit certain quotas, such as product sales, client counts, and fast services. Owning my own business means I get to take my time and customize each service to each individual, recommend products to fit clients’ needs, and focus on quality versus quantity. I get to provide the experience my clients deserve and build lasting relationships. Read more>>

Ryan Hixson | Golf Instructor

I always wanted to have an indoor golf facility where everyone could play, and use technology to better their games instead of the traditional range where you have to use beat up balls, no feedback, and worry about the weather being too hot, or cold. Read more>>

Andrea Lugo | Supply Chain Professional & Chandler

When I was in school I always leaned towards science and math which is what drove me to study engineering. However, growing up, I was always painting and playing music on the side. As I started my professional career in supply chain, I found myself always thinking of business ideas in which I could use my artistic abilities. I am the biggest Etsy fan and have always loved gift giving especially if it’s customized. I started seeing holiday candles in December of 2023 and thought to myself “Why only decorate candles for holidays when they can be decorated for any occasion?” So I took a candle making class that same month and began experimenting. That is how alCo Candles came about! Read more>>

Shyrlia Mitchell | Artist/Creative Designer

I was struggling to make ends meet and was thinking about getting a second job however, I couldn’t stand the position I was working at the time and thought why do I want to make myself even more miserable? That’s when I decided to put myself out there. I wanted to make money doing something that I love and in turn create something that would hopefully bring joy to someone else. Read more>>

Nailah Noor | Belly Dance Teacher & Performer

I worked as an architect for six years right out of school, but the corporate structure didn’t suit my personality. After being laid off in November 2023, I decided to fully commit to belly dance, which I had been pursuing as a side hustle. I started gigging purely out of passion, not realizing it would evolve into my full-time career. Read more>>

Cynthia Johnson Smith | Signing and Notary Agent

My son was the thought process behind this adventure. He pushed and encouraged me to start a notary business years before I could wrap around my head around the thought of it. I wanted to start a business by buying one big building and having battered women and sheltered children in it, with computers for learning and having classes for women to learn how to interview and get their lives back on track. I wanted a janitorial service to keep it clean and security guards to keep everyone safe. But, as the years went by I let that opportunity get away from me. The thought of my own business never left my mind. Business owners ran in my family. Read more>>

Sandra Newell | Educator and Author

My thought process behind starting my own business, was exciting. The opportunity to share what I enjoy with others, and the prospect of creating something new, being my own boss, and pursuing my passion was motivating. Read more>>

Jasmine Buchanan | Business Owner

Blossom by Buchanan was created by Jasmine Buchanan. In 2023, Jasmine had a doctor appointment and learned she had a uterine fibroid along with a cyst, but had little to no knowledge about it. Doctors told her fibroids are common and she should be fine just “living” with this – basically, there is nothing they can do. She was recommend by her best friend to look into a functional medicine doctor – a doctor that uses a more holistic and natural approach to treat conditions. This is when her life changed. Read more>>

Lisa Mayers | Producer, Actress, Public Servant

Ultimately my thoughts were for my family as a way to break the generational curses. To provide a platform for my legacy to grow and prosper. But first I had to get over the fear of the unknown. To make a conscious decision to not listen to the nay sayers and to believe in myself. To constantly tell myself to be patient and not to rush. Always remembering to have a plan A, B,C and etc. I made sure to understand that people will care one moment and not the next so to make sure I’m doing something that makes me happy! Read more>>

Desiree Faith Ché | Fashion Designer, Illustrator, & Writer

I’ve always had an interest in fashion and jewelry, ever since I was a child. I was an artsy child, I loved colors, sketching, and art, all sorts of pretty, unique things. I was always getting in trouble in school because instead of paying attention to the lecture I would be sketching or coloring. But my main issue growing up was me being a little person, I never made it past the height of four foot six because I have a rare growth disorder called Russell Silver Syndrome, so you can imagine being a teenager and adult and struggling to find clothes that fit me, my curves, and my personality. Being as small as I was-as I am now, I struggled seeing my beauty well into my late teens, until I started being a little more creative with my style. Read more>>

Camille Rios | Makeup artist

As a makeup artist, it is essential for me to make my clients feel unique, empowered, sexy and make them feel that each one of them has a beauty that is not just superficial! That we are all beautiful and that is why I felt the need to start in this world of makeup, enhancing their beauty is a task that makes me feel alive! Read more>>

Rashona Best | Musician, Gospel Artist, Music Teacher, and a Preacher

My thought process starts with ME! I have to go through what I am seeking to do and become. I started taking piano lessons at the age of seven. My mom was a musician and made sure the instructors knew their craft and taught me in a way I will continue to enjoy playing the piano. Fast forward, I taught at a school to get my license to teach beginner piano and before I ventured out and started my business, my mom had trained me on what to do and not to do when it comes to teaching. When I began, “In The Beginning Music Studios” in 2005, I did EVERY POSITION, I was the accountant, the secretary, the custodian, the promoter, the driver, the engineer, the composer, and the instructor. As I said, it starts with ME! Read more>>

Arkesia Chavers | Notary, Assistant, tax preparer

I’ve always been a helper. When I see a need that I can fill, I try to step in when I can and Ive always worked in administrative positions so a service based business doing what I naturally do only made sense to me Read more>>