Blair Beskin launched handmade alligator and crocodile belts and bracelets called Blair’s Belts. She launched the business in 2016 as a fun idea after touring a leather belt manufacturer in Atlanta.I was very impressed how fast she launched this idea into a reality. She really knew her vision. In the interview, Blair discussed how she launched her business while working at a boutique. If anything I’ve learned from Blair’s interview and also knowing Blair personally is that she a very supportive friend and genuine kind person and because of that has a strong network. In my opinion, one of the many reasons Blair's Belts launched so successfully and continues to grow and is I forgot how important it is to be open with your network  (even if it's your current boss) and it is ok to lean on friends and family for support encouragement and even innovation.

Betts Irvine is the owner of cake and cookie bakery, B.Sweet. Betts has a sense of calming that I will never be able to have, but I think it is because she is so grounded and  centered with herself and knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. Her cookies and cakes are truly a piece of art and as Bett’s said in the interview making baked goods for someone we love or want to celebrate is like a love language. How B.Sweet is that. We will also learn from her how she is able to time manage her small business after hours from her regular day job in commercial real estate. One trend I am learning from recent interviews is that these small business owners get up early, like 5am….maybe that is a key takeaway to consider when we are all trying to balance pressures from everyday life or just trying to develop our own business ideas

Sullivan Griffith, the owner of design temp agency, Griffith Design temps  launched in 2017 in Atlanta GA. Sullivan saw a void of much needed work in the interior design industry. She noticed in between jobs that she was easily getting hourly work across various big and small designers who needed the help, but as an as needs basis. In the interview, Sullivan breaks down her thought process of starting with this lightbulb moment into  launching and growing Griffith Design Temps over the past few years. A major lesson learned along her journey we discussed was the dreaded subject of corporate tax. This is a classic case situation of being a small business owner that everyone should listen in to. It was great to hear how Sullivan faced the issue, learned from it the issue and moved forward.