March 22, 2025
My entrepreneurial journey started early.
One of my first businesses was selling sodas when I was around six years old. I borrowed sodas from my dad’s garage and went door-to-door selling them to my neighbors.
The feeling of providing something people wanted was incredibly validating, and I loved being able to use that money to buy ice cream for all the neighborhood kids.
Even at that young age, I was fascinated by what money could do—not just for me, but for others too.
Middle School Entrepreneur
In middle school, I took my business ambitions to the next level.
Having been part of Girl Scouts when I was younger, I learned to make handmade goods like hair scrunchies and jewelry. These skills became the foundation for my brand, Hannah Must Haves.
Being homeschooled all the way until high school gave me the flexibility to pursue my business interests. After finishing my weekly lessons, I had the entire week to commit to my businesses and explore my passions.
I would work diligently making as many products as possible, with a simple goal: sell three items every weekend. Then on Saturdays, I’d go door-to-door in my neighborhood with my creations.
Expanding My Reach
As Hannah Must Haves grew, I began attending local art fairs to sell my handmade items.
I even created a blog and YouTube channel where I showcased every single little earring I made with its own dedicated post. Looking back, I was developing marketing skills without even realizing it.
I truly enjoyed the creative process—handling the materials, crafting each piece by hand, and seeing customers appreciate my work.
The business wasn’t just about making money; it was about the joy of creation and connection with my customers.
Growing with Demand
By the time I was about 13, my business evolved in an unexpected direction. Customers on Etsy started asking if I could make stamps—specifically, stamps for stamping handmade soap.
I hadn’t even considered this niche before, but I quickly realized I could design logos and custom stamps for other creators who were selling skincare products.
This pivot taught me an important lesson: listen to customer needs and be willing to adapt your business accordingly.
It also introduced me to serving other business owners rather than just end consumers—something that would influence my future business decisions.
Family Support
My dad was a significant influence during this time.
He would give me business books and fund my early ventures (even if he didn’t always realize I was “borrowing” his resources at first).
One important lesson he taught me was that to be truly successful in business, you shouldn’t do all the work yourself.
At the time, I resisted this idea. I think it was because I didn’t trust anyone else to do the work as well as I could.
This mindset became a recurring challenge throughout my entrepreneurial journey—one I would have to overcome again and again.
Conclusion
Hannah Must Haves may seem modest compared to my later ventures, but it laid essential groundwork for everything that followed.
The lessons about customer service, product development, marketing, and managing a small operation directly transferred to my future businesses.
Most importantly, Hannah Must Haves taught me that business isn’t just about profit—it’s about providing value, connecting with people, and creating something meaningful.
That philosophy has remained at the core of every business I’ve built since.