Inspiring Stories: 72 American Entrepreneurs on Their Motivation

1. An award winning family idea.

Amy Breaker, Director of Operations, BirdieBall

My dad, with his dad – my grandpa – invented a limited-flight golf ball – the BirdieBall – in 2003.

They invented the napkin-ring-shaped golf ball, that only flies 40 yards with a full swing, as a solution to the overly expensive golf course real estate.

Well, it is the absolute BEST and most realistic practice golf ball ever invented.

We have won numerous awards since the unveiling, and since then, have invented the most realistic indoor putting green on the market.

We specialize in fun, off-course golf products, and are extremely proud of the space we have filled in the golfing world.

We are a family business, and everyone in the family has some part in the success of the company.

2. Making it easy to support our troops.

John Wray, CEO, Hero Care Packages

When we pulled into port in the Navy, sailors who had been at sea for months would wait for hours in line just to see if they got mail, rather than go out on liberty in a foreign port.

But as an officer, I was always brokenhearted when I saw some of my sailors who didn’t get packages – or when they did, the packages often contained things that they couldn’t use or didn’t quite want.

So I tried to figure out why.

Over the years, I talked to family and friends to find out what the obstacles to sending packages were.

The biggest problem?

Sending a care package to a military installation is just too much work.

Between waiting in line at the post office and paying $18 for the “military discount” shipping option, it wasn’t easy to do. And even when loved ones could send things, most people didn’t know what to send.

They’d send chocolate to a soldier or marine in the desert, non-regulation gear to Air Force members staying on an overseas base, or perishable items to a Navy sailor.

But every service has different needs, requirements and regulations.

As sad as my fellow sailors were to get these things, they couldn’t fault the well-intentioned package sender.

Those back home just wanted to do their part.

We created this company to fix all of that. We pick products that we know service members want so you don’t have to.

We coordinate with theAPO and FPO shipping so you don’t have to. And we ensure that it’s easy for you to send a care package to the hero you love.

Because they deserve it.

Our goal is to send as many care packages as we can to our service members abroad.

3. Helping other scientists.

Stan Farrell, President, ComposiMold Re-usable Mold Making Materials

My business started as an experiment.

I started ComposiMold because I was frustrated at how difficult it was to make lightweight plastic shapes for my model rocket and airplane parts.

I tried other materials to mold and cast my designs, but the main options were basically latex and silicone, which are toxic, hard to use, and if you make a mistake you are out of luck, because you have to start again at the beginning.

As a material scientist, I knew there could be something better.

I first started with a couple of product ideas on eBay and since then its grown!

4. Improving an industry.

Mira Herman, Owner, Rose Mira

The motivation to start my own business was a sudden realization that the beauty industry is not what it pretends to be – that false advertising and marketing tactics based on fear were methods employed by the larger companies.

I felt that people were taken advantage of and that companies manufacturing products of high quality with healthy, beneficial ingredients were scarce.

There was a need in the market and since I was already making some products for my own use and that of my friends’ use, formulating more products was an easy next step.

I knew I would make a better product and I felt called to share the information I knew and deliver healthier and better products for my customers and for the planet.

5. Creating out of necessity.

Captain Mike Ortego, President, TackleWebs Inc.

As a 17-year boat captain, I needed a better way to organize gear and keep items from bouncing around or flying out of boats and into the water.

So I taught myself to sew – after starting a sewing class at JoAnn’s Fabric when I walked in looking like a scruffy boat captain – and created, invented, and patented TackleWebs + CoolerWebs.

Now we sell them all across the world.

6. Staying independent.

Erin Mulkeran, Owner, With Luv Design

My father always worked for himself and I believe I always had that same sense of adventure within.

I work more hours than I ever did working for someone else, but it doesn’t feel that way.

I truly love being independent and seeing the business grow each day.

It means a lot to me that I can empower my staff and am able to help them achieve what they want in life.

7. Solving personal pain points.

Hope Dennis, Owner, Border Collies in Action

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention.

When I decided that I needed a border collie to gather and work my sheep instead of using a feed bucket and a lariat, life took a turn.

The border collie then developed a need for a whistle – my natural whistle was pretty pathetic (only carried 50 feet).

Glyn Jones gave me an aluminum shepherd’s whistle with instructions that I’d better know how to use it by the next time I saw him.

Needless to say, after a year of trying to blow something besides spit, plus not grimace at the terrible taste of aluminum, I realized that I was a dysfunctional whistler.

To make a long nightmare short, I couldn’t find an easy-to-blow whistle, so I developed the Montana Lite longneck stainless steel whistle.

The happy ending to the nightmare is that I can whistle and my dogs respond to the whistle!

Now you know how Wild West Dog Products evolved into manufacturing two stainless steel and one brass whistle.

Wild West Dog Products is the world’s largest manufacturer of stainless steel shepherd whistles.

I still run sheep on my Montana ranch with cousins tending the flock while I reside on my husband’s cow-calf ranch in Wyoming. In addition, I maintain a flock of sheep for training in Wyoming.

So between the sheep, cattle, stockdog training, trialing, manufacturing and running Border Collies in Action, I keep off the streets.

8. Built to last.

Chris Angelini, Co-founder, American Bench Craft

Sick of our wallets always falling apart and constantly having to replace them, we decided to make an ultra-durable leather wallet that we could guarantee for life.

We were able to start up our company using sales from those wallets and recognized that many people share similar frustrations.

So, we rolled out an entire line of leather goods and accessories that use solid brass rivets instead of thread stitching.

Leather is an extremely durable material, yet many leather products eventually fall apart.

The reason is thread stitching wears away with heat and friction produced from constant use.

Heat and friction merely polish metal, which is how we are able to guarantee our products for life.

We strive each and every day to challenge the fast-fashion, planned-obsolescence, throw-away culture that we grew up in.

With an unwavering commitment to American manufacturing, we specialize in leather goods that are built to last from one generation to the next.

We focus on offering products crafted with the precision and care consumers expect, and backed by the customer service they deserve.

9. When failure is not an option.

Katie Caudill, Founder and CEO, Sunday Coupon Inserts

I was a senior paralegal for a high-profile family law attorney working a treacherous 60+ hours a week.

In 2011, at the height of the economic crisis, I was laid off due to the firm’s financial difficulties.

I was unemployed, in financial trouble, and my home fell into foreclosure.

The fight was on!

I began couponing to save money, and in a search to get more coupons, I noticed that they were selling in droves on eBay.

It was then I saw an opportunity to make some money.

I joined the ranks on eBay selling coupons that came in my local newspaper, and within 2 months, with the help of my techie brother, launched Sunday Coupon Inserts.

I have experienced an amazing 30% increase in revenue each year since 2011 and have helped thousands of people save money on their groceries.

So, when asked what my motivation was behind the start of the business, it was do or die! Failure was not an option.

10. The sweet smell of success.

Susan Madunich, Owner and Aromatherapist, Aromatic Blessings

I have PTSD due to a bad marriage.

I was introduced to herbal infusions and essential oils by a massage therapist to help with stress and anxiety.

I was immediately drawn to and impressed by their natural healing capabilities and started gathering as much information as I could get my hands on.

I started formal studies and making products initially for myself and immediate family about two and a half years ago.

Friends of friends and family starting asking for assistance and it just grew from there.

It gives me great joy to help others.