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.

Kim Lay | Marketing Extraordinaire Specializing in the Real Estate Industry

I started KL Creations Real Estate Marketing when I was 25. I started in the real estate industry at 16. Back then, we had to deliver printed black & white graphics to the listings, deliver contracts to the agents & the title company & put keys in the old timey lock boxes (yes, up hill, both ways, in the snow!) – essentially I was a runner. Read more>>

Amber Brown | Owner

The very first thought when I started my business was freedom. I would be able to see my kids grow up and enjoy doing things with my family and friends and create my own income. Read more>>

Teri Ijeoma | Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Trade and Travel

When I was an assistant school principal, I struggled with a toxic work environment and wanted the freedom to travel. Trading stocks began as a way to supplement my income, but as I became more successful, I realized I could achieve financial independence. Read more>>

Sharron Christian | Founder/CEO of Diamonds on the Green, Gentz on the Green, Emeralds on the Green and Fashion on the Green

My initial thought process and motivation for starting the Diamonds on the Green organization was to find out if there were other women like me who were interested in learning and playing golf. I hesitated at first, worried that no one would be interested in a sport traditionally dominated by men. Read more>>

Allie Ginos & Emily Hartzell

We started Tots ‘n Tassels out of a clear need in the community. As busy moms on a budget, we struggled to find affordable, hassle-free options for our kids’ birthday parties. Hiring party planners was too expensive, and buying decorations for each party only to box them up afterward felt wasteful. Read more>> 

Thony Gold | Brand Ambassador / Entrepreneur / Content Creator

I started my own business because I wanted financial freedom and to setup a pathway for my family to continue to benefit from non-linear income for generations to come. I have never enjoyed working for others and have always felt that I would be a great candidate for entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Kiera Malowitz | Certified Professional Organizer® and Owner, Decluttered™ LLC

When I first started Decluttered, I had been a stay-at-home mom for a few years with 3 kids. Wanting to return to the workforce while balancing mom life was important to me but I also wanted to make a difference. I had been helping family and friends on their own journey to clear out clutter and live with less stuff weighing them down, and realized this was what I was meant to do. Read more>>

Tiera Gilyard | Education Consultant

adults on trauma and adverse childhood experiences and how it’s imperative that we heal from our childhood traumas, I was born to two amazing parents and had a great home life but I was sexually assaulted by two of my peers in the 7th grade which changed my entire perspective on life. Read more>>

Glenda Moore | Founder and Executive Director of Kind House Ukraine Bakery

It wasn’t even a thought. I went to Ukraine in 2013 and fell in love with the people there. I came home and told my mom that I desperately felt a deep urge to help them. She said, “Well then, you will learn to bake” and that is just what she taught me to do. Read more>>

Raul Arriaga

When I decided to start my own business as a real estate agent 20 years ago, I was really excited about the idea of helping people achieve the American dream of owning a home. I wanted to guide families and individuals through the process of finding a place they could call their own, where they could build memories and a future. Read more>>

Queen Dawkins

Starting “The Project Playbook” stemmed from a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of the tech industry. A dual mission drove my thought process: firstly, to empower individuals with a clear understanding of the value and stability that the tech sector offers in today’s economy. Secondly, to provide aspiring professionals with the tools and guidance necessary to break into this dynamic field, where growth opportunities and financial freedom abound. Read more>>

Jessa Eichner

Initially, it was a way for my sister & I to share our handmade crafts with people. She made jewelry and I made extra large tie blankets. After a while, it evolved into something bigger with us doing tshirts, tumblers, & tote bags – a lot of custom designs. We just loved being able to offer people something personal. Read more>>

Catherine Kinderknecht

“hmmm…. I’m not really finding what I’m looking for… I wonder if I can make one. I wonder if other people may want to buy one too??” It may sound fairly simple but after a couple nights of Mahjong with a new group of friends, I was on the hunt for my own Mahjong Mat. I wanted one that had softer colors, a little more aesthetically pleasing in my neutral home, and versatile for other table games etc. Read more>>

Daryl Mayfield

I wanted to make something for myself that was truly mine. Working in corporate America creates a dependence mentality on an employer to provide a paycheck and benefits in return for significant restraints on your time, and sometimes, mental health. I don’t won’t my job to be just a means to finance my life. Read more>>