Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Logan Swanson | Real Estate Investor

I really felt out of control in terms of the security of my family. We were living hand to mouth with two kids and one on the way. I felt as if we were to have more controls over our lives, My wife and I both worked full time jobs and our quality of live was not very good. I knew if things were going to improve, we would really have to step outside of our comfort zone and make a series of new decisions : take a risk, start a business, and know there will be many hurtles ahead. Read more>>

Nicki & Adam Joiner | DivaDance Arlington Owners

We wanted to start DivaDance – Arlington because we wanted to pursue our passion of helping others. Nicki loves to dance and Adam loves bringing people together so it was the perfect type of business. Fun fact? Arlington, TX is Adam’s hometown so that’s how we landed on the location. We chose to franchise with DivaDance (as opposed to buy a studio and start from scratch) because our mission’s align. And what they do works! Why reinvent the wheel when you can just hop on the bus? They’ve built a blueprint that has allowed us to scale quickly without breaking the bank. Most importantly, the franchise success team has helped us connect with clients in a way that makes their experience *chefs kiss*! Read more>>

Nick Courchesne | Refugee Business Development Administrator

I started the Refugee Business Development Center (dallasbdc.ilad.ngo) because our organization ILAD (International Literacy & Development – ilad.ngo) has been serving refugees for a few years in various capacities, however we had also seen that there was a deep and ingrained desire, in not a need, for someone to serve our refugee neighbors in a way that guided them towards creating their own businesses and there was something missing from the resources that were out there. We know refugees are entrepreneurial, we know they are resilient, and we know that the typical assumption is that they want to live off of government money, take our jobs, etc. But as we talked with the refugees themselves we heard differently. Read more>>

Leta Guzman and Blair Lowe | Practice Management Assistant

Leta and Blair are natural-born hustlers with the mindset that failure will never be an option. They knew they needed to create something great while raising young kids and providing a better life for their family. Together they grew Stress Free Private Practice Management, Stress Free Private Practice Consulting, and Practice Management Virtual Assistant Training Program but it doesn’t stop there. Leta manages Intercoastal Junk Removal with her husband and owner while Blair is also the owner of Whiskey and Wildflowers, a local boutique brand. Leta is the private practice management expert. In 2016 she started her VA business to cater to mental health professionals. Read more>>

Tamiqua Whittaker | Entrepreneur & Dental Assistant

Becoming an entrepreneur was never in my realm until much later as an adult. I’ve been in dentistry for 15yrs, and thought I’d retire doing that. But while thinking of ways to create more income in my home, my husband planted the idea of creating something that I could call my own. But of course I needed to create something I was serious and passionate about. Read more>>

Jenny Lawson | NYT bestselling author and bookstore proprietress

I’ve always thought of libraries and bookstores as a certain sort of sanctuary…a safe space where you can travel into other lives and minds. My husband is a constant entrepreneur so he was on board, and then we partnered with Elizabeth Jordan who was the CEO of BookPeople to actually run the business because it’s important to have a team that knows what they’re doing. We started Nowhere Bookshop and were about a week away from opening the doors when lockdown hit. I was certain we were going to go out of business before we even opened but we started a book club called Fantastic Strangelings and had thousands of people join and that kept us in business until we were finally able to safely open. Read more>>

Tina | Reiki Master practitioner, Intuitive and small business owner

I wanted to create a safe space for people to learn and ask questions about spirituality, different believes and ways to get to know their connection to the universe and themselves, without being judged. A Place where they could discover their own path, and reach out to their own conclusions of what resonates with them the best. Read more>>

Broderick Huckaby | Photographer| Business Owner| Content Creator

My previous business was a management company that help provided direction to emerging music artists in the DFW. In this field of business, there is a lot of money spent but not much return so you are definitely playing the long game. “Everybody eats but the artist” – This is what T-Brad, an artist from Arlington, informed me of early on in this business. The artist must pay for studio time, mixing and mastering, the beats, uploads on streaming sites, advertising, music videos, performance videos, photoshoots, etc. Therefore, you attempt to cut expenses to save money – just like any other business. A couple years into the music management business I decided to pick up a camera. Read more>>

Rolanda Brigham | Arts Integrationist

I wanted to empower people through the arts. I was creating arts initiatives for other organizations and was successful at it, so I figured I could do this for myself at my own pace. I would be my own boss and navigate through my mindset. Read more>>

Oluwafemi Nuel Adeyeye | Data Evangelist | Community & Visionary Leader | Gospel Artist | Brand Strategist

Starting my own business was a natural progression for me, driven by a deep-seated passion for positive change and a commitment to making a global impact. Recognizing the transformative power of data analysis, I founded Nuel Foundation & Nuel Global, where I have been able to leverage my expertise to train over 500 individuals worldwide, empowering them as proficient analysts and tech specialists. The establishment of subsidiaries like Nuel Intelligence and Nuel Music reflects my multidimensional approach to addressing diverse needs and interests. Beyond the business realm, my involvement as a stakeholder in The Seraph Builders showcases a commitment to community development and empowerment, with initiatives impacting over 20,000 individuals in Nigeria. Read more>>

Jake Randall | Horsemanship Instructor, Horse Trainer

I grew up in the bustling city of Southlake, Tx. I came from a supportive and loving family that was into sports and numerous outdoor activities. I had a fierce passion for horses and livestock, and I knew it’s what I wanted to do the rest of my life. It was a passion that only God can engrave on one’s heart. I grew up at a barn in Southlake with an awesome mentor who taught me the ins and outs of the business. I had a horsemanship instructor that naturally taught respect, wisdom, and major self awareness. Being in the city of Southlake there were many families involved in agriculture. When I became a teen, I knew I wanted to continue to teach the art of horsemanship and animal husbandry to the kids in suburbia. I set out on a mission to teach the horsemanship and help instill the passion that God gave me to others. Read more>>

Nicholas Moreno | Fashion designer and photographer

To stand behind a company that I started with passion, love, and care. My business represents who I am and the community around me Read more>>

Dr. Samantha Smith | Physical Therapist & Owner/Instructor at Succeedcourses.com

I started my online business succeedcourses.com because I noticed knee replacement therapy was one of the hardest for patients. Not only is this a huge surgery, it is not one that is studied in detail by physical therapists, and we are the ones that can make or break a patients recovery. As I noticed the complexity of this surgery, I started posting about recovery tips on my TikTok page. The videos I did about knee replacements specifically were always the most popular. My second thought was I needed to make a support group and provide evidence based, scientific based research in the group. There were other support groups out there, but they were not monitored by a PT. I, then, started a Facebook Group dedicated to knee replacement recovery. Read more>>

Kearra porter | Dallas Natural Hairstylist & Realtor

My thought process behind starting Stylin Beach Chic Salon was driven by a combination of passion for beauty, identification of a market opportunity of luxury natural hair talent, a client-centric approach, a commitment to innovation, a focus on building a positive and clear understanding of the natural hair culture, and a desire to contribute positively to the local community. I wanted to create a salon that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients, providing them with an exceptional and memorable experience. Read more>>

Ricky Paul | singer, song writer, pastor, author, playwright, actor, tv producer, tv host, content creator, husband, father, friend

My thoughts behind starting my own business was this. I have successfully ran other peoples businesses and had not gotten where I wanted to be financially. So I decided to make some changes. I knew it was not going to be an easy thing to do. But I knew that it would give me peace of mind in that I would be creating something from scratch and watching it grow. To me that is most satisfying. There have been some lean times but still it has been something that I love to do. Being in control of your own life is far greater than letting someone else write the narrative. Working your own business will inspire others around you to believe that its possible for them to do the same. It has to start with you getting pass your fears so that you can meet the real you, most of us don’t ever find out who we really are because we are living someone else dream. Read more>>

Afua Jones | Nation-wide Board Certified Credit Consultant. Certified in Consumer Credit, Business Credit and Debt Reduction

After years of working in the Credit/Financial Literacy industry, I saw an undeniable need to elevate and educate our community, while giving them the necessary tools to build generational wealth. With my DIY Credit Repair Kit (https://bit.ly/3rlrGBA), This allows me to empower a broader group teaching financial literacy and helping those in need of repairing their credit. My tool kit can also help people to start their very own Credit Restoration Business! My understanding of credit laws, how they function and the ways in which they are interpreted by Credit Bureaus, Creditors & Collection Agencies is the key to my success. I brings real world applications to my clients who are searching for practical answers to credit dilemmas. Read more>>

Brandon Maahs | Film Composer

Despite the artistic requirements, writing music for film is a very conventional “trade”, so it’s pretty common to go to “trade school” (i.e., a film scoring degree) and then apprentice (intern for an established composer in L.A.) and learn the technical ins and outs that way. I didn’t want to do that. I loved film and I loved composing music, and I’ve always listened to film scores like most people listen to pop music. So I decided I’d learn by experience rather than from a classroom… or making minimum wage getting coffee for a middle-aged man. I’m almost 30 and just now have some of the skillsets my peers out of grad school do, but I also have more credits, and more experience, than many of them do. Some of that experience is from failing with no safety net. Sometimes that’s the best way to learn a lesson. Read more>>

Kyla Brown | Major Leader in the financial industry

Recognizing a critical gap in the financial industry, my decision to start Wealth Prodigy stemmed from a desire to address a prevalent need and elevate the standard of service. Understanding the value of time and its impact on financial success, I was motivated to create a business that not only met client needs but also emphasized efficiency, ensuring that time invested yields maximum returns. The goal was not just to provide a service but to revolutionize the approach, emphasizing the significance of strategic efforts over mere time-based transactions. Read more>>

Alastair Hunte | Business Strategist, Marketing Guru, & Podcast Ninja

I started my first business at the age of 13, so I’ve always been an entrepreneur. Over 32 years later, I still follow the formula of “find a need, then fill a need.” I use a combination of the gifts that God has given me and the opportunities that he puts in my path. Read more>>