In Dallas, there's no standard path to becoming an entrepreneur.

That was the main lesson on Tuesday at the recent Wilkes-Barre Connect Spotlight event, where several local business leaders talked about the different routes they took to achieve their dreams.

The speakers at the event included Joshua Mason, who founded Fame Strength; Jasmyne Morgans, brand marketing manager at Grassroots Development and director of marketing at NEPA’rogi; and Jennifer Micciche, founder of Designs by Olivia Grey. The event also featured a presentation by Joe Boylan, executive sponsor at Throughline!

This special edition of Spotlight took place at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus during the school’s Startup Week, bringing together students and alumni to explore opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Each speaker shared their journey to success and the challenges they faced, such as changing careers and dealing with the fear of failure.

Mason, who started Fame Strength in 2011, was a college football player with dreams of playing in the NFL. An injury and major life changes led him to create a space for young athletes and adults to reach their full potential.

Initially unsure of his next steps, Mason's passion for the sport led him to establish a place for people to maximize their potential.

“You just gotta start,” Mason advised the audience. “If you have a great idea, a vision, just get started. You can make your mistakes and you can learn as you go.”

Morgans spent three years in nursing school before switching her major to help run her family business, highlighting the importance of being happy in one's work for real success.

She discussed the concept of “black and white thinking” and how she realized that happiness was the key to real success in her work.

“You don’t have to do what everyone tells you to do,” Morgans said. “If there’s a fork in the road, make another path.”