How a Childhood Toy Inspired This Entrepreneur to Launch Her Business Reminded of her passion, Laurie Gray ditched the corporate world and launched the Pie Bar bakery.

There's something about working with dough that's calming and therapeutic. I learned that from my mother, Beverley. As a child, I'd be by her side as she'd make cookies, brownies, breads, lemon bars, and pies -- all from scratch. I'd then spend hours in my bedroom in a make-believe kitchen, replicating what I saw with my Little Chef toy oven.

Years passed. I grew up. After two decades and a career in banking, I decided, Heck, I'm going to give baking a shot instead. In 2003, my friend and I put in $500 each, stocked a space in a commercial kitchen with supplies, and started baking pies. We wholesaled to about a dozen local food stores and sold directly to customers at nearby farmers' markets.

Thing is, though, starting and running a business isn't easy. I was a single mother raising two kids. I had no health insurance or retirement savings. Steady paycheck? Yeah, right. I got nervous. After about two years, I sold my stake and returned to the corporate world.