This month, HCPL’s Using Our Library Voices podcast launches a new limited series called Ideas to Income. The series shares real stories from real people who fought self-doubt, made the leap, faced obstacles, and are now earning their living as business owners.
Real entrepreneurs telling their own stories
For the series, the podcast team interviewed entrepreneurs in an amazing range of businesses:
- Matt Tognacci grew his power-washing company from a one-person operation into a thriving enterprise that has cleaned more than 35 million square feet of property across the Houston area.
- Anabelle Sophie Hiller, a goldsmith, designs and manufactures exquisite custom pen nibs for high-end fountain pens.
- Jenni Tasha transformed her love of books and reading into a popular merchandise line sold online and at markets across the city.
- Todd Bush, working with global teams and partners, helped build an international wood-pellet business grounded in market insight and logistics expertise.
- Dr. Daniel Katz founded Houston Therapy, where a team of professionals provides counseling for individuals, couples, and career development.
Threads That Connect Their Stories
Their paths were different, but a few themes surfaced in every conversation:
1. You will never be 100% ready to launch your business.
Do your research and think it through—but at some point, you have to make the leap and start.
2. Think community, not competition
Even if your business is a one-person operation, the relationships and network you cultivate will have a huge bearing on your success
3. Failure is a detour, not a dead end.
Each of the entrepreneurs the podcast team spoke with talked about their struggles and missteps with more than a little pride. They all emphasized that these learning opportunities make success that much sweeter.
Ideas to Income Podcast
Ideas to Income is the podcast for dreamers ready to make the leap into entrepreneurship.
A new episode of Ideas to Income will drop each week. It is a special limited series from HCPL's Using Our Library Voices podcast that explores the stories behind successful self-starters—people who turned their passions into profitable businesses. Through candid conversations, trusted resources, and expert insights, we break down the real-life challenges, wins, and lessons of building a business from the ground up. Whether you're just brainstorming or struggling to take the next step, this podcast is here to inspire and guide you toward making your business a reality.
Ready to get inspired? Listen to the first episode now.
More episodes are available on the Using Our Library Voices page.
More Resources:
FutureU
FutureU is HCPL's career and college counseling service. Make an appointment with a FutureU specialist, tell them your goals and dreams, and they'll help you make a road map to get there. Learn more about FutureU
Databases
Gale Business Entrepreneurship
Gale Business Entrepreneurship brings together hundreds of sample business plans, small business journals, and encyclopedias. You’ll find resources covering all aspects of entrepreneurship and small business, including accounting, HR, management, marketing, taxes, and more.
Gale Business Insights
Gale Business Insights delivers comprehensive international business intelligence compiled into a logical, useable context. Designed for business professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and general researchers, this resource enables users to spend less time searching and more time connecting their discoveries to practical applications.
Data Axle Reference Solutions
Data Axle provides Information on company organizational structure, marketing research, U.S. standard residential and business directories, job/internship postings, consumer lifestyle research and more.
Books for Entrepreneurs
Creating, Planning, and Funding your New Business
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