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.

Kenya R. Ransom | Publisher & Network Strategist

My thought process behind starting my own business was very much all about the right timing. I’ve never wanted to have my own magazine however I knew that I wanted to tell stories of others, but it was hard finding the right fit, so I created what I wanted to see. I was in the process of just jumping around trying to find where I wanted to be in the publisher industry, I didn’t see it and as reluctant as it was, I decided to start what I wanted to covey in this world. I wanted to make sure that individuals who are well kept secrets in their industry that we told the stories of their ups, downs, and ultimately their success! I didn’t find that and that’s what I wanted to create in this world. Read more>>

Charleszetta Ford | Coach Zetta | Certified Menopause Fitness Specialist

I decided to start my business, Better Bodies 4 Us, LLC, because I desired to make a difference in the lives of my colleagues. In August 2005, I began my journey as an educator. My position as a Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE) was the most challenging yet rewarding position that I had ever had. To my surprise, my colleagues and I were at school, daily, from 7a until 5p or later. Because working out for me was my stress reliever, I went to the gym after work 5 days per week. However, my teacher friends did not. Read more>>

Kristen Wile | Editor and Founder, Unpretentious Palate

We’re in a time of upheaval in media. Traditional journalism is expensive, and legacy publications are struggling to balance that cost against the belief that content should be free. Against that, you have influencers who don’t adhere to the rigid standards of a newsroom, putting out content that may be advertising without viewers knowing it. I wanted to come up with a business model that would allow us to do independent journalism and in-depth restaurant reviews without having to worry about viral content to bring in advertising dollars. By creating a membership-based platform, our readers are our first and only priority when it comes to our storytelling. Read more>>

Holly Setnikar | Pastry chef

My thought process behind starting my own business was definitely being able to make my own schedule. I don’t have to work 9 to 5 I can base my schedule off of my daily activities and family . Read more>>