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.

Sara Zagar

What makes me happiest in my jewelry work is seeing the finished pieces I’ve created from raw materials. Sometimes I choose a stone with a design in mind; other times, I create as I go. Regardless, seeing the final piece with the stone set is always the best feeling. Read More>>

Kimberly DeLaney

Initially the general idea was to create an avenue to generate income and eventually wealth for my family. I researched how the short term rental market worked, glamping, spoke with a container wholesaler to source shipping containers. And then I attended a housing meeting. Specifically, the Homelessness Taskforce Committee and then the Permanent Housing Subcommittee. I received a HUGE wakeup call. I left those meetings feeling heavy and burdened by the hurt of my community. It suddenly felt like an ‘us’ problem. And ‘WE’ were all gathered to tackle it head on. I suddenly felt selfish.
I could not want the win only for my family. Not when my daughter’s best friend along with their entire family, one of which is a teacher, were residing in a hotel. It was no longer solely based on my success but truly helping all of us get to an equal playing field. Read More>>

Brandee Thomas

The journey to starting Faith Finds Boutique was a divinely inspired one, beginning with a layoff after 20 years that felt like a clear prompting from God towards a new path. My passion for shopping and clothing, which was once a personal interest, was repurposed by God for a greater good, transforming into a faith-based venture deeply rooted in Christian beliefs. This foundation is evident in the very name, “Faith Finds Boutique,” which speaks to both the act of discovering beautiful items and the underlying trust in God. Furthermore, the selection of clothing and jewelry is intentionally curated to align with Christian values, potentially emphasizing modesty, featuring inspirational messages, or supporting ethical and faith-based suppliers. Read More>>

Linda MacLellan

We need conventional health care at times but need holistic health care daily to live our best lives.
When one of our daughters was told to learn to live with chronic stomach pain and nausea after 2 years of conventional testing, including endoscopy, colonoscopy, MRI, CT Scan, and many other tests, I knew there were holistic options. After researching and navigating, a simple 30 day detox with essential oils and rejuvenating life-changing supplements rocked our world, and she was able to gain back the 20 pounds she had lost, restore eating habits, and be able to have normal bowel functions, after 9 months of daily enemas. A year later, I discovered the Zytoscan and it is FDA approved and has clinical research to prove its truth. This scan empowers people to be the “Healer in their home” with showing them what toxins are affecting their cells in their body. Read More>>

Kim Ferretti

Dancing is something that brings peace to my life. It allows me to escape from the outside world and focus solely on creating. It’s the type of art that can bring tears of joy, heartfelt delight, and all the feelings in between. It can come from your own body movement or watching a beautiful piece of work come to life. Read More>>