Why Did You Start Your Business Week of August 26th?

For individuals that constantly view financial statements or business plans each business looks eerily the similar. Even sometimes the brands, logos and names make consumers scream for the days of uniqueness. Peeling back the skin of business, it is often the entrepreneur and business owner that makes a business unique. Each and every business has an entrepreneur and unique story for launching his or her business, and it is that story which make each business special.

Because I Felt Depressed

After working in corporations in London, England, I felt depressed and needed something that excited me. I knew I had to be an entrepreneur! I wanted to feel like I was changing the world and Uberpong was a way for me to reach people in ways I hadn't before.

Thanks to David Lowe, Origin of Cool LLC!

To Help Consumers & Business Owners in A Challenging Economy

The most important part of a business is employing the right people in order to provide a product or service that others demand. I wanted to do something new and something national that could really help consumers and business owners in a challenging economy; I am passionate about helping people save money. SaveWorks is a free Internet and mobile discount platform for consumers and business owners. Businesses shouldn’t have to pay to offer the discounts that save people money.

Thanks to Dave Hill, Save Works!

Because of My Husband

During the first few days after I met the man who would be my husband, I asked to write a poem about him. He agreed. When I shared it with him, he liked it so he took me on our first date. When we began dating steadily I would pen poems as I waited for him to pick me up for our dates. He loved reading them, so he encouraged me to continue writing more poems. When we got married my husband urged me to have poetry-writing as a hobby, and I found it to be very helpful for when he was underway and deployed (for he was serving active duty with the US Navy at the time). Three months ago (May 2012) my husband completed active duty and he persuaded me to turn my hobby of writing poetry into a stream of income so as to help our family's household income. In June 2012 my first book of poetry, From Guam to Crown City Coronado (Thanks to Hermann, Missouri: A Journey in Poesy, was published and is now available in bookstores everywhere. I am very grateful to my husband for having been the positive influence that turned me into a published author and poet—and an entrepreneurial one at that, too.

Thanks to Mariecor Ruediger!

Because I Have A Passion for Saving

I started my company a little over 3 years ago because I have a passion for saving money and finding a great deal. My company saves people money shopping online, and educated them in online shopping and safety.

Thanks to Frank DeBlasi, Hoopla Doopla!

Because I Was A Square Peg in a Round Hole

I launched my business full-time because entrepreneurship is in my blood. Some people are born to be employees. Others don't quite fit, like a square peg in a round hole. I was one of those. I found myself always working on the side, often 7 days a week to support a growing business and a full-time job. I have a passion for marketing, communications, and business consulting. Today, I operate Hansen Marketing Communications, marketing communications agency. I provide services to companies nationwide.

Thanks to Diane Hansen, Hansen Marketing Communications!

Because I Released My Book

The Divorce Help Clinic offices opened in 2000 after the release of my second book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Romance (Macmillan Publishing). While I expected the book to bring in couples who wanted to strengthen their relationships, the opposite was the case–most wanted a divorce. Being a mediator already, I began getting trained in divorce mediation to help people to arrive at the best Marital Settlement Agreement.

Thanks to Nancy Fagan, The Divorce Help Clinic!

To Find Out How Far He Was Running

My business started due to my need to figure out how far I was running while training for the Peachtree 10k in Atlanta back in 2003. I built WalkJogRun, and shortly made it available to the public. WalkJogRun is the internet's first running route mapping website. It started with server connections that lived in my closet. If the cleaning lady were to unplug anything- the entire site would go down. Since this time, WalkJogRun and the WalkJogRun app has grown based on features I needed for my own marathon training.

Thanks to Adam Howitt, WalkJogRun!

Because I Dropped Something

I accidentally dropped my spare tampon on the gym floor and got mad. It sat there for about 10 min before I noticed, and I was only female there at the time. I went home, designed a product & started a company.

Thanks to Kendra Kroll, PortaPocket!

To Treat Authors Better

As an author, I was shocked at how a publisher will treat its authors and their books. I knew that I could do just as good of a job if not better then they could since I had been published. Authors needed to be treated better, with more respect. I am determined to do that.

Thanks to B. Alan Bourgeois, Creative House Press!

To Pull Together Aspects of My Background

After my CEO employment agreement finished after 10 years, I job hunted for 6 months and realized that the jobs avaiable really were not all that exciting to me. I started Pionner back in 2006 to pull together all aspects of my background as a CEO, serial entrepreneur, and instructor. It's been a ride, especially for my wife, but no job on this earth is more rewarding for me on so many levels.

Thanks to John McAdam, Pioneer & Wharton!

Because We Have the Power to Do Something

The statistics for violence against women are 1 in 3 will be attacked in their lifetime, 1 in 4 are a victim of domestic violence and 1 in 6 are a victim of attempted or completed rape and “We have the power to do something about it”.

Thanks to Charley Vega, Simple Self Defense for Women®!

Because Women Are Worthy

I founded my business in 2007 with the belief that women everywhere are worthy. Worthy of a good life, defined in whatever form they choose. Penelope Poet is a purveyor of playful, posh and personal jewelry designs.

Thanks to Penelope Poet, Penelope Poet, LLC!

To Follow My Dream

After providing my resume/coaching services to friends and family for many years pro bono, I decided to invoke the experience gained via my many and myriad related roles (HR/management, hiring manager, in-house recruiter and jobseeker), do work that I really love, and open my own business. I started a website in 2004, was certified in 2009, and have now gone “solo” by leaving my last HR position to follow my dream.

Thanks to Bettie Biehn, Career Change Central LLC!

To Encourage, Uplift & Inspire

I started my business to encourage, uplift and inspire others to be the best they can be. To share stories of others and be a voice of positivity. I would my business to be a place where people come to my website, watch my videos to feed their spirit.

Thanks to Ashida Onrae!

I Asked A Guy What He Did

I started my business at 18 because I was detailing cars in Southern California and it was hot. I waxed a guy's car who talked on the phone all day and he had really a nice car. So I asked “what do you do” and he taught me. 22 years later, I'm still in telecom and haven't waxed a car since.

Thanks to Michael Bremmer, Telecomquotes.com!

Because No One Wanted to Hire Me Due to My Disability

To be succinct, no one wanted to hire me in my chosen career field because of my disability. Therefore I decided that I would do it on my own. I am blind, and apparently there is a stigma with being blind and being employed by a security company in the officer/management realm. I’ve been in the field for 29 years and don’t feel that my blindness has anything to do with my ability to teach and consult.

Thanks to Robert Sollars, Today's Training!

Because I Can Change the Boardroom & the Classroom

I started WeLearn Software because I believe I can change the way both the boardroom and the classroom are productive. The eNotebook apps (and other apps being developed) will help people be not only green but also help them keep their notes and files in an organized and easily accessible format.

Thanks to Kevin Giffhorn, WeLearn Educational Software!

Because I Want to Share My Spiritual Guidance

First, I love this question. I listened to How Great Leaders Inspire Action this very morning on the vital nature of why. I started Happiness Quotations originally because I was writing about happiness and had about 10,000 words written. I went to Google and looked at what people type in when they are seeking happiness, and HappinessQuotations.com was available. Fast forward 22 months and my book “Happiness Quotations: Gentle Reminders of Your Preciousness” was released with Jack Canfield's endorsement; my fan page has grown to over 14,000 fans virally — and I hosted Happiness Telesummit with more than 40 experts interviewed on the topic of happiness. My why: I look at the world and I get that all is well. I get that we are interconnected, synchronicity happens, and everything is unveiling perfectly (even when it really does not seem that way at all). This spiritual guidance I have I want to share so others can be at ease; experience more happiness; and feel that sense of joy and power in waking moments. The power to change, essentially at a cellular level, is at every person's fingertips and I want to be at the heart a catalyst for positive change.

Thanks to Erica Glessing, Happiness Quotations/Happy Publishing!

Because I Was Looking fore Sleepwear

I started my business to make available to women like myself looking for moisture wicking sleepwear that was soft, pretty and comfortable. After looking at my own mortality with breast cancer I wanted a more meaningful job and one that would give back to charity and make a difference to people's lives one good night sleep at a time.

Thanks to Haralee Weintraub, Haralee Sleepwear!