“I’m not sure I ever really wanted to be an entrepreneur.” – Fabi Preslar

Ever turned your biggest fear into your proudest achievement? That’s Fabi’s story. Inspired by her father’s ambitious (but unsuccessful) business ventures—from running a French restaurant in rural South Carolina to raising chinchillas—Fabi saw firsthand the risks of entrepreneurship. As her father’s ventures failed, her family lost everything, leaving Fabi to grow up a guest in someone else’s home. Why would she ever dive into entrepreneurship herself? For Fabi, it started with a need—an extra $100 a month when she was home with her baby.

But soon she was all in, & good mentors helped her overcome her fears around entrepreneurship & embrace the idea of “failing forward.” Today, after more than two decades of learning, Fabi’s built one the southeast’s most regarded publishing companies, reminding us just where tenacity & authenticity can lead, even when the journey begins in the most unexpected way.

To learn more, find her at FabiPreslar.com.

Can’t help but think of what George Addair said: "Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."

"My life is being a navigator and helping navigate people just get started." – Brian Ondrako Listening to Brian now, it's hard to imagine him as a young child in small-town NY, struggling with feelings of inadequacy & lack of self-belief, but those are his roots. A persistent negative mindset & placing blame on others were his defense mechanisms of choice, & they left him stuck in a cycle of procrastination & self-doubt through adulthood. That is until the shame & regret overcame his fear, & he told those mechanisms to take a hike! Embracing a mindset of action & growth, Brian set out to "just get started" – making small, incremental changes one step at a time. So transformative was it for him that he just couldn't keep it a secret. Today, through his coaching, podcast, & books, Brian encourages everyone to move past their doubts, take the first step, & navigate life with confidence. We could all use some of that. To learn more, find him at BrianOndrako.com. Brian's journey & leadership is captured perfectly by Zig Ziglar: "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."

“We just really love living life with other people.” – Monica Hickman Rural Tennessee might not seem like the obvious place to birth a business, but that’s just where David & Monica Hickman’s radical love for community – & their eventual business --was born. Neighbors helping neighbors & new faces at the dinner table were the norm & solidified the idea that connecting with other people was what made “home” great. Today, David & Monica’s luxury events in countless communities across Charlotte, NC look very different than the humble meals served at mom’s kitchen table, but the idea the is the same: The people in your community bring life to where you live. Know & love them well. Whether it’s at rooftop charcuterie night or ballpark bash, this story of hard work, servant leadership, & a shared vision to make Charlotte (and beyond!) a “sticky” place for young professionals to find a home and community & put "people-first" values into place will leave you inspired. To learn more about community-building as an art form, find them on SocialHubCompany.com. Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “Cities are made of friendships.” He’d sure love this.