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Keep Going features real people and real businesses as they set out on their business journeys. These powerful stories demonstrate that just because your business is not an overnight success does not mean you are failing or falling short. We focus on the triumphs, struggles, and small successes that come with building a business. Tune in to discover the intangible but invaluable benefits of your business journey. Pause to celebrate everyday business successes. And, most of all, rekindle the ...
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“You are not really making a difference with the children that you are working with. Your job is easily replaceable, and you’re always going to be a seat-filler.” These words pierced through Sierra like a knife. She had finally fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher specially trained to work with blind and visually impaired individuals and she w…
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COVID was what pushed Kendrah to start her own business. Or rather, it was fighting for time to recover from COVID that was the last straw. For years, Kendrah had dreamed of starting her own marketing agency. As a former fashion blogger, brand ambassador, and social media influencer, Kendrah had seen the many facets of growing a business. And she p…
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Naomi's Story: Revolutionary Hearts Industries
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Naomi was in the car with her young cousins, excited to finally have a break from college and enjoy a day at the park. But Naomi became concerned when her cousin, who was also excited to spend time at the park, wouldn’t leave the car. After some gentle coaxing, Naomi’s young cousin revealed she didn’t want to leave the car because it was a sunny da…
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Ana and Belouka are no strangers to fashion. In fact, Belouka moved from her home in Haiti to New York to begin a modeling career at 19, and Ana sewed clothing pieces for fashion week after also moving from Haiti to the U.S. So when Belouka had an idea for a swimsuit design, she reached out to her friend, Ana. What followed was the beginning of a b…
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Joresa had a question: If she could order a cup of coffee on an app and have it delivered in 30 minutes, why couldn’t she have a dress from a store delivered in the same amount of time? This question is what led Joresa to begin GoFlyy, a company that helps other businesses grow by providing package delivery and tracking services. But starting a log…
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Whenever Marissa—a barista and coffee educator—would ask about coffee beans from Asia, she was always told the same thing: there was only one coffee from Asia and it was bad. This did not sit well with her. And as she researched further into the matter, Marissa found a plethora of Asian coffees, each with their own unique flavors ranging from notes…
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Amanda's Story: Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts
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Amanda never saw herself working as an occupational therapist assistant, let alone as a martial arts instructor. Yet Amanda was a natural caregiver, having grown up assisting her sister with spinal bifida. And she found herself enjoying the health benefits of mixed martial arts in her adult years. So when an opportunity came for Amanda to teach mar…
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When Jamila graduated from college with a degree in civil engineering, she suddenly noticed something. Out of more than a hundred students in her graduating class, only 10 were women. Knowing that this low representation of female engineers extended beyond her graduating class, Jamila wanted to do something about it. So she did something a little u…
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Felicia glanced at the backseat where he son was sitting in his car seat to see every parent’s worst nightmare. He wasn’t breathing. Felicia and her husband pulled over the car and dashed to save their son. But when Felicia finally held her son in her arms, she didn’t remember her CPR training. Fortunately, her husband was able to revive their son.…
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Mo had been a new mom for only a couple of months when her mother suffered a debilitating stroke. Sandwiched between the monumental task of caring for her infant son and her elderly mother, Mo discovered something. While many companies offered home-delivery services for caregiving supplies, there wasn’t very many delivery services that helped ease …
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Lawrence was on the trip of a lifetime. In a year, he visited all seven continents and more than 30 countries, seeing everything from the canals of Venice to the penguins of Antarctica. Yet, wherever Lawrence went, there was always the question of safety. As a Black traveler, Lawrence wanted to know if some destinations would be safer than others. …
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Trichology—from the moment Brandi read that word in her cosmetology textbook, she was intrigued. And as she learned its meaning, the study of hair and scalp health, she decided that she would one day become a trichologist to help others recover from hair loss. That day happened much sooner than Brandi anticipated when she woke up one night with the…
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Blake was an all-state high school athlete with a promising future in track and basketball. Sadly, a torn ACL his senior year changed all that. But his love of sports stayed with him, particularly his love of vintage sports apparel. And when he saw the boutique shops share pictures of him wearing vintage jerseys and getting hundreds of likes, he kn…
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Kamilah always loved talking to people. In fact, her teachers would often complain about her willingness to chat with her peers. So it came to no one's surprise when Kamilah decided to pursue a career in speech pathology. Instead, it was Kamilah's love of working with older patients that often surprised those around her. Yet this love is exactly wh…
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It became apparent that Sam was destined for a career in the creative world when her mom discovered Sam carefully constructing earrings from a prized chandelier. But as Sam grew older, the question of: “How do artists make money?” drove her into the corporate world. Yet Sam never gave up her love for crafting jewelry, and when a friend asked if she…
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Somewhere between avoiding flying objects being thrown a round her and a nonstop schedule, Nicole decided it was time for a career change. Her job as a pastry chief was quickly burning up her desire to cook, and she was considering leaving the industry all together. Then it happened—Nicole was laid off during the pandemic. But what may have seemed …
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When Devin asked his parents what careers he could pursue as an artist, their reply was, “You’re a smart guy; you’ll figure it out.” Although it wasn’t a definitive answer, Devin began by taking his art to a digital medium and designing logos for his contacts on Facebook. But he didn’t stop there. In fact, he incorporated his interests in animation…
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Apathy, that's what Cindy's daughter feared the most—the feeling of getting too comfortable to care about seeking any further growth. When Cindy learned this, she determined she also feared apathy. And so she went back to college, became a certified Barton tutor, and began her own tutoring business. But even with that success, Cindy pushed herself …
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Whether it's mapping out property lines, plots in a cemetery, or creating drones that help first responders, Marcus' business as a drone pilot is anything but boring. But juggling his business with a full-time job brings its own challenges as well. Listen as Marcus shares how he balances both while growing his small business, Aerofire Mapping. Webs…
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Yahmeemah's Story: SELFY My Sister's Keeper
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Some people may say they love their business, but for Yahmeemah, her business is love. As a social worker, she noticed that some of the girls at her school weren't receiving the support and encouragement they needed to thrive. But rather than turn a blind eye, Yahmeemah began a work of love that would turn into a business. Listen as Yahmeemah share…
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"I don't have time to start a business." If there is anyone who would have the right to say these words, it would be Myles and Brandon. As college students with jobs and extracurricular commitments, they don't exactly have free time. But they don't let this stop them. In fact, it's what motivated them to create their own clothing business: First Ro…
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As a business owner, you may have heard the word “niche” a time or two. But finding that special aspect that sets your business apart from the rest isn’t always easy. And as a financial professional, Dan was well aware of just how vast his industry was. Yet despite that, Dan has found the perfect corner of the financial industry for his podcast, “I…
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It’s a question every small business owner has asked themselves: How do I grow my business? For Alan, the answer was as sweet as it was simple—take the milk from his family business and turn it into ice cream. And along with this new growth came an incredible insight that has helped keep his customers coming back for more. Listen as Alan shares not…
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Thembi waited patiently for more than 25 years to leave her corporate job and begin her dream career as a financial coach. But when financial turmoil continued to surge in the wake of the pandemic, Thembi had to shift her focus to make her business work. Listen as Thembi shares what helped her launch her business, Sensible Living Coach, despite unf…
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Kendra hated who she was becoming. As an assistant prosecutor attorney, she saw firsthand how dehumanized people were as they went through the court system. So when friends introduced her to restorative justice, a practice in which her clients were given the chance to determine how they wanted a wrong made right, Kendra felt like this was the caree…
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You don’t hear about rapping accountants very often. But Wilfred’s passion for business and music merged early on in his career as he began his first business as a music studio owner. And although his first venture as an entrepreneur didn’t pan out as he had hoped, it opened the door for him to begin his own education technology company: Obtech Ent…
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As a senior in high school, Gabrielle knew exactly what she wanted to be: A teacher. However, when her mother began going to beauty school, Gabrielle discovered she had a talent for hairdressing. Little did she know that this talent would lead her to starting her own mobile salon. Listen as Gabrielle shares what gave her the courage to begin Glam o…
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Most people do their very best to avoid bees—Adam does not. Growing up in rural Idaho, Adam was no stranger to bees. So when an opportunity came to work at Cox's Honey Farm as a beekeeper, he took it—stings and all. And eventually, his patience and hard work paid off. Listen as Adam shares how he became the business manager of Cox's Honey. Cox's Ho…
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As the vice president of racial equity and inclusion at a school in Portland, Kamelah was the voice against racism and bigotry for BIPOC children and their families. But she often found herself trying to convince others why racial equity and inclusion were vital in the education system. "I was just exhausted just speaking my truth and trying to get…
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It's time to enter Mazuma USA's $10,000 giveaway competition! And to celebrate, we invited last year's winner, Dr. Bruce Bassi, to share how his business has changed since winning the giveaway. Listen as Bruce shares more about his online therapy and psychiatric treatment practice, TelepsychHealth, and what's he's learned since first being on the p…
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Some people enter the small business world knowing this is what they were meant to do. Suzy was not that person. But when her husband proposed that they open one of the first coffee shops in Ogden, Utah, she agreed. And together, they created a business that did more than sell delicious beverages. Listen as Suzy shares how she and her husband grew …
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Adam was on the safe route. He had graduated from college, had a job at a bank, and he and his wife were ready to buy their first house. But when he was suddenly laid off, Adam realized the safe route wasn't actually all that safe. But this rug-pull moment led to something good: an opportunity for Adam to find his dream job in the food industry. Li…
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At first, Jessi wasn't a potter. In fact, she actively avoided ceramics and focused on two-dimensional art instead. But as she pursued her fine arts degree, she was required to take a ceramics class. What followed was an unexpected love for creating hand-thrown pottery and an opportunity to find a career she loved in the arts. Listen as Jessi share…
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"Copper is a metal that really doesn't get enough credit for how beautiful it is and how strong it is," Alexi explains. And if there's anyone who could appreciate this statement after going through so much tragedy and difficulty to start a business, it would be Alexi. Listen as she explains how she began her award-winning, mobile bartending service…
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After retiring as a hairdresser, Nannette had finally achieved her culinary dreams when she was hired as the head baker at the Dessert Factory. But when the restaurant went out of business, Nannette decided it might be time to try opening her own bakery. Listen as Nannette shares how she began her own business: Nana's Sugar Shack. Website: https://…
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Sheena was born with a love for fitness. But when her gymnast days came to an end, she began looking for other challenging forms of exercise. Little did she know that she would not only become a top-ranked CrossFit athlete, but she would own a CrossFit gym. Listen as Sheena shares the ups, downs, and everything in between of what it takes to be a s…
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Tara had experienced the culinary career of a lifetime. As the food editor for Martha Stewart Living and the food director for Ladies’ Home Journal magazine, Tara had created numerous recipes, articles, and food styling for books, television, and adverting. But when a shift in advertising trends caused Tara to leave the food magazine industry, she …
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It was the scariest graph Bennett had ever seen—the hospital admissions due to self harm among girls ages 5 to 11 years old. According to the graph, girls in this age range were 189 percent more likely to be admitted to the hospital for self harm than they were five years ago. As a father of two girls, Bennett decided to do what he could to help de…
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Gary always loved to work. In fact, for years he worked a full-time job while roofing houses on the side. So when he hit his limit working at a corporate job, Gary decided it was time to make a change. Listen as Gary shares how he began his roofing business, Rands Roofing.By Mazuma USA
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Tai had already gone through the Herculean task of launching her business, Organizely, in 2021. But as the pandemic continued through 2022, she started to receive more and more requests for a job training program she had created through Organizely. As these requests persisted, she noticed a pattern: they could be better served with a video. And wha…
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Eight days—that’s combined amount of cheese-making experience Pat and Tim had before they dived into founding an artisan cheese company. While that may seem like a disadvantage, for Pat and Tim, it actually gave them an edge. Listen as Pat shares how he and his co-founder became revolutionary pioneers in the artisan cheese world with their company …
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Removing old toilets was never Alexandra's dream job. But as a child, she and her siblings learned valuable lessons about hard work as they helped their parents rent and flip properties. Lessons that Alexandra would need as she began her own small business. Listen as Alexandra shares what led her to become a marriage and family therapist as well as…
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Andrew always thought he was going to be an engineer. It was, after all, the "high-quality" profession his family dreamed he'd have. But when he found himself making short videos for fun while attending college, Andrew began to think to his career may lie on a different path. Listen as Andrew shares how he turned his love for making videos into Dad…
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Twice Jamee had tried to buy her dream boutique Bella Me—and twice the offers fell through. As the owner of a successful preschool, Jamee already had experience as a small business owner. But something about Bella Me kept her hoping that one day she could own that business as well. And when COVID-19 hit, Jamee saw a way to help save Bella Me while …
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Marriage proposals can be nerve-wrecking affairs under normal circumstances. But when the proposal all hinges on your fiancée solving a series of puzzles in an escape room you created, that's a completely new level of stress. Fortunately for Mitchell, his homemade escape room proposal worked in his favor, and gave him and his family an idea for a u…
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When April bought a few goats as a form of lawn care for her three-acre property, she had no intention of starting a goat yoga studio. But when a friend proposed the idea and a video of April and her friends doing yoga poses with her goats caught the eye of news outlets, one thing led to another. Listen as April shares how three goats and eight fri…
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Ben wanted a change. As an auditor, he noticed that his clients, no matter how friendly, were relieved whenever he left. And so while sequestered in the small basement of a business he was auditing, he came across two words in a headline on his phone that seemed to be the answer: "fun" and "accounting." Intrigued, he clicked on the link to discover…
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Like most people raised in the 80s and 90s, Derek has a love of music. But it isn't the lyrics to Journey or AC/DC songs that he enjoys, it's the composition. And after making video game theme song remixes for his friends in his teenage years, Derek felt like he could turn his love of music composition into a career. Listen as Derek shares his stor…
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While working in the tech industry, Tai noticed something others lacked—organizational skills. In fact, Tai's skills were so impressive, she would use them to help her struggling colleagues. And when an email turned into a meeting that turned into a $100,000 deal, Tai knew she could create a business from her unique skillset. Listen as Tai shares h…
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It all began when Daon ordered what he thought would be the perfect sectional for his home from a website. But when it arrived, it became clear the sectional was more suited for a doll house than his house. Yet this online mishap gave Daon an idea. Listen as Daon shares how online ordering led him to starting his own small business: M and D Venture…
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