Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Winnifred Tataw | Author, Artist, and Book publisher

Starting Win’s Books emerged from my lifelong passion for storytelling and the written word. From a young age, I was captivated by the power of stories to inspire, educate, and connect people from diverse backgrounds. Over the last five years, I have continued this passion by honing my writing skills and expanding my knowledge of the publishing industry. I realized that I wanted to create a platform where I could not only share my own stories but also help other writers bring their visions to life. Starting Win’s Books, I envisioned a multifaceted approach providing authors with the tools and resources needed to succeed in today’s competitive market. Read more>>

Lacy Puckett | Owner and Designer, Dragonfly Dreams Bamboo

When my youngest daughter was around three months old, she developed eczema, and we were advised that bamboo clothing would be gentle on her sensitive skin. We tried several brands, each with its own strengths, but none felt quite right. That’s when I decided to dig deeper into the business side of things, and ultimately, I made the bold choice to start our own brand. Read more>>

Ebone Walker | Sweets Creator/Baker

Starting Sweets and Treats by Eb really came from a combination of my love for baking/treat making and the inspiration I got from watching my mom in the kitchen growing up. As a kid, I spent hours with her, learning how to make her classic red velvet with cream cheese icing. Those memories are some of my fondest. I remember being so curious about everything — the different frostings, the decorations, and the different piping techniques. Once I moved to Columbia, I started baking more on my own and added treat making into my craft. I loved sharing my creations with family and friends. The smiles on their faces when they tasted something I made? That’s what really hooked me. Read more>>

Jamahl St. Clair | Artist, Songwriter, and Producer

Great question. I wanted to start my own business to pursue freedom of expression and financial freedom as well. Having a traditional 9-5 definitely does have it’s benefits, however it can be a restrictive. There are set hours, there are rules, there a ceilings. I believe that in starting your own business you get to break all of those. Read more>>