Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Dr. Aulsondro Emcee N.I.C.E.” Hamilton | Multi-Award Winning Platinum Recording Artist

For me starting a business takes extreme careful planning, strategic thinking and real due diligence. You can’t be successful if you don’t know how to provide a solution or an alternative to whatever you endeavor. You have to identify your passion, then identify a need and learn all the nuances of it. Learn the competition and know that there is always competition even if it hasn’t been revealed.  Read more>>

Nicole & Scotty | Musical Sibling Duo

We were actually really young when we first started to consider pursuing a career in music together. At fifteen and eleven years old, collaborating on our creative skills was the foundation for what our future would eventually look like. Our earliest plans to begin our musical journey were to start writing songs, playing live at open mics, and uploading covers to YouTube with the intention of reaching an audience who loved music just as much as we do. Read more>>

Renee Phoenix | Founder of Freak Machine Records & Music Maker Supreme at Fit For Rivals

I founded Freak Machine Records with the goal of supporting fellow musicians in advancing their careers. Having been signed a few times myself, I found that existing systems often fail to truly benefit the artists. Drawing from my own challenging experiences in the music industry, I chose to collaborate with a team of trusted individuals to create a more artist-friendly environment. Read more>>

Clarke Holmes | Sports Medicine Physician

I had just turned 40 years of age in 2012. I had a “now or never” type of moment. I had been in Nashville for nearly 3 years and had built a great practice of patients as an employee of another practice where the owner was retiring. My wife has an entrepreneurial spirit and encouraged me to take the steps to be a small business owner where I could practice medicine in a manner that would be the most impactful to my patients. Read more>>

Kenyada West | Pencil Artist & Painter

I’ve always wanted to be my own boss since I was like 10-11 years old. I started out wanting to be a comic book artist. I used to draw pictures of different cartoons and sometimes just make up cartoons and designs to get practice in for it. I also used to take random pictures of stuff like open fields and cars and stuff like that when I was a teenager and that made me want to become a photographer whenever I’m not drawing.  Read more>>

Lauri Gingerich | Co-Owner

Our family grew up in small town Indiana. Every corner of every county road had a sign pointing you to a small bakery or roadside shop. Almost everything we ate was homemade and everyone we knew spent a lot of time in their kitchens. Read more>>

Michele Huff | Brand Founder/Owner

I wanted to start something I could get my hands dirty and build from the ground up. There is something so rewarding in seeing success build. I wasn’t sure how well it would be received, but once I launched my first line of products, it was steady engagement and sales. Those sales started building with happy customers and more influencers started talking about us and, boom!, here were are!  Read more>>

Greg Hardy | Owner

I wanted to share bikepacking experiences with as many people as possible. Our sport emphasizes the simple things in life; shelter, food, water, and freedom. The comraderie of fellow travelers. The peace found in the quietness of the outdoors. A new understanding of yourself and others as you interact with different people and cultures. Read more>>

Erin Thurman | Erin Thurman Photography

Starting my own photography business has been so much fun. At first, I was very clueless. Photography just seemed like an exciting hobby. I honestly didn’t even know how to work my own camera. I don’t think I ever thought of photography as a business. I just thought taking photos of friends and family would be a fun thing to do, but when I started booking sessions I realized where I could take it. Read more>>

Beka Bishop | Founder & CEO

We want to bring music back to Music City. We know, bold statement, but we’re tired of concerts not being about music anymore. We’re tired of concerts being based solely on social media numbers. We’re tired of our competition forgetting the value of music and artists. Read more>>

Lori Asbury | Marketing Executive, Founder CMOco

I decided to star my own marketing and advertising agency after a relatively long career in media because I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. While I had worked in very senior-level management positions at several major media companies, I was always working 50+ hours a week to make someone else wealthy.  Read more>>

Ian Rodriguez | Flight Instructor & Cargo Pilot

It all simply started with making an Instagram page so that I could market myself as an instructor. I wanted to make sure I set myself up for success to have students and it somewhat worked. I have been able to be an independent CFI for several years now. Read more>>

Ella Scaduto | Executive Matchmaker, Dating Coach and Relationship Expert.

Starting a Matchmaking and Date Coaching business, like Smoky Matchmaker, had me pondering life’s most profound questions: “Wouldn’t it be great if I could help perfect strangers find each other in this busy world?” and “Why leave matters of the heart to chance?” Read more>>

Roderick Mccord | Talent manager

My thought process for starting my own business was to help people in the entertainment business me and my late brother came up with this ideal and the business. Read more>>

Kice Akkawi | DJ, Producer, CEO

The demand drove the supply. I started DJ’ing professionally in 2007 and near the year 2015 is when venues started asking me for help to get their talent bookings in line. The rest was history. Read more>>

Melissa Oesch | Artist and Small Business Owner

Before I began tPagehis business, I was working full-time on an organic vegetable farm. I was working alongside and managing other workers in the greenhouse and fields as well as putting together and dropping off the CSA boxes and running a couple of farmer’s market booths most weekends.  Read more>>

Trina Allen-Johnson | Natural Hairstylist & Certified Hair Replacement Specialist

The thought process behind my business was being able to help people that were in need. I wanted to provide services that not only made my clients feel beautiful but also give hope to those who felt they had no options. Being able to put a smile on someone’s face when they thought that it was nothing they could do is the best feeling ever. Read more>>

Keidra Scruggs | Mom, Etsy Seller, YouTuber & Tiktoker

The main reason I really wanted to start my own business is because I was really tired of working for other people. I was in the customer service field and when I worked to the fullest and beyond my ability it was always getting unnoticed or credit given to someone who didn’t even do the work.  Read more>>

Brian Johnson | Sensei

Well I started training in 1995 and trained under Jim Geary for ten years until he passed away suddenly. His passing affected me greatly as it did everyone who had trained with him. I was one of the most senior students and I was already an assistant instructor at the dojo. People were looking towards me to help them continue their training.  Read more>>

Brittany Goodson | Artist

I wanted to create a business whose main purpose was to please God. My paintings are a reflection of Jesus and His love for us. Read more>>

Tamara Strickland | Community Development Strategist

I thought it was impossible. I was discouraged, over analyzing the process. I wanted to give up and throw in the towel. Read more>>

Keya | CEO/Founder of The Kupcake Barr

The impetus behind the establishment of The Kupcake Barr stemmed from a deeply personal and heartfelt desire to prioritize my role as a parent. As a single mother of three, I found myself grappling with the challenging balance between providing for my family and being present for my children’s formative years. Read more>>

F.L.O.G.I.C Favored Ladies of God in Christ | Christian Hip Hop Duo & Entrepreneur

People may not be aware that even though we are in the Christian Hip Hop space, we are not exempt from the gender inequality that plagues the music industry. As true followers of Christ and women of color we often find ourselves having to overcome biases in order to navigate our industry. Read more>>  

Michael Yetman | Comedian

I’m sure it is like other artistic pursuits, but there is no guidebook to the process. No classes, no playbook, and ultimately no silver bullet. If you remember the Assassin’s Creed game, the old load screen where you are just standing in a formless landscape with fog all around. Read more>>

Jenn Bouchard | Author

One of the biggest surprises since becoming an author is just how supportive authors are of each other. Initially, I felt like writing was such a solitary experience. But once I found ways to connect with author communities, I was shocked by how welcoming everyone was! Read more>>