Just living is not enough. The excitement of the unknown coupled with a passionate desire to succeed is the life blood of many entrepreneurs. In the words of Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” Life … and business, is the sum of your choices. Life is full of decisions – and every successful company is led by an entrepreneur that made a good decision by simply getting started.

Often the thing that sets entrepreneurs apart from the rest of the world is one simple question, “Why Not Me?” The question itself is a powerful motivating force in turning commitment into reality. It solidifies your big decision to start a company… Once you make that decision to take control, once you start to see yourself doing something that you actually love to do, you will have more assets on your side than you can possibly imagine [Source: Young Guns: The Fearless Entrepreneur's Guide to Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own].

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Nitika Chopra began to ask the important questions – starting with, “What’s my purpose?” If you were to query a group of people, a majority of them would agree that at some point they have felt like they were meant to do something more with their lives. It’s a personal journey that every entrepreneur embarks upon. Chopra began answering tough questions that led her to her purpose and ultimate success.

As the Founding Editor in Chief of the online magazine Bella Life, Chopra helps readers infuse their lives with a burst of color. Bella Life is rising fast and furiously as an indispensable resource, with a touch of New York City chic, for all aspects of lifestyle from food and fashion to travel and health. This bold and fearless entrepreneur proves that asking the right questions, making good decisions, belief and an unwavering work ethic will lead you to the best days of your life – a Bella Life.

Company: Bella Life

Founder/ Age: Nitika Chopra, 29

Location: New York, NY

Startup Year: March 2010

Startup Costs: $8,000

How I Got Started: The honest truth on how I got started is that I prayed. My whole life I have felt like I was meant to do something that I love and that helped others, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t figure out what in the world that was! After years of being patient, asking for guidance, and not giving up, I realized that all of the things I love could fit nicely in to having my own online magazine! Once the idea was solidified, it took about a year and a half of doing research, asking a lot of questions, and creating a solid plan before my official launch in March 2010. So how did I get started? I believed I could do it, and I paired that with an unwavering work ethic which felt effortless due to my incredible passion for what I was doing. My grandfather always says “start by starting” so that is exactly what I did.

Best Customer Interaction: The most exciting customer interaction is really one that is ongoing. I have found that since launching in March, I receive more and more emails and messages from people all over the world who are so grateful for the work we do at Bella Life. That is the greatest feeling of all. To go to my inbox and see an email from someone who loves reading our content, and feels that going to our site really adds COLOR to their world. That is the whole point and the feedback I have been getting from people I don’t even know is incredibly inspiring!!

Biggest Start-Up Challenge: The biggest start-up challenge is that I really had NO knowledge of the industry that I was entering, I just had the passion and belief I could do it. The emotional component is great but I need to have a lot of knowledge to go with that in order to survive amongst such fierce competitors. I still find that there are things that I want for my business that I have little to no knowledge on, and getting over those constant hurdles can be exhausting and intimidating. I feel that not giving up and pushing through these challenges is what makes a truly successful business.

#1 Tips for Newbies: The best advice I can give someone that wants to start their own business is to take your time. Hold your ideas close; you don’t have to tell the world everything you are thinking before you have things figured out. This can lead to a lot of discouraging conversations that attempt to hinder you from moving forward. Do the research, ask questions, explore your market and give your idea room to grow organically. When you are in a vulnerable place of starting something new, no matter how exciting it can be, it is best if you treat the journey as a sacred one and nurture it as much as possible.