Cynthia Hallman:  

the entire downstairs of my condo into my office. My cats and I made up the marketing "group". Five years later, I have operations in West Covina, Venice, Colorado, Arizona, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. Our customers span across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Europe. I'm incredibly blessed with the team that has come on board over the years. Each and every one is an amazing person with extraordinary talents. As we have grown, we've been able to maintain our philosophy of working to live rather than the norm of living to work. I see this company as an umbrella under which my team can make a contribution in their workplace but also have the flexibility to reach for their dreams. In fact, our logo, a lovely tree, symbolizes just that. I can honestly say, I've never been happier or more fulfilled. I don't have a family myself, but I consider my employees my "kids" and I couldn't be prouder of them. We've doubled (or more) each year without any marketing or selling efforts (there's never been time!) which goes to show that joy in your work really does pay off. It's never been about the money and yet the business continues to be successful. I look at us as the antithesis of corporate America. Joy, love and community first. Everything else just follows.