Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Hannah Homier | Photographer & Owner of She Wanders Photography

Since I was young I’ve always had some sort of little digital camera on hand at all times. I was obsessed with taking photos of anything and everything I was doing. I would invite friends over to model for me, set up tripods for my version of “artsy” self portraits, follow my nieces and nephews around to capture their cute antics, and force all my family members to pose for me during holiday gatherings. As the years passed those silly photos became so valuable to myself and the faces in them. I got a rush off of being able to show people how beautiful they were in such candid moments. Read more>>

Andrew Hosler | Artistic Director of The _____ Experiment, Saxophone Instructor, Cleveland Institute of Music Academy

The _____ Experiment started as friends who wanted to make music together and has continued to be just that. Our goal is to present new music in an approachable way. We believe that new music can be (and should be) for everybody, and we hope to showcase that with our diverse programming. Our goal is for everyone to walk away from a TBE concert having liked something. No one should say they “do not like new music” because there is something out there for everybody. Read more>>

Zhya Scott | Ceo & Model

Honestly upon becoming a model i noticed being observed a bit more than I was accustom to. So i decided i need to put my best foot forward, and style accordingly since my name is my brand. I had issues finding high quality pieces worth the prices ive been paying. Why am i paying an arm and leg for something that barely last me 2 weeks?
I already have dove deeply into education on this particular topic for the fun of it, whats a bit more research to find out why this problem exists and what can be done about it.. Read more>>