We asked some very talented folks to talk to us about success and what it takes to be successful. We’ve shared their responses below.

John Arakaki

Hustle, Sweat, and Inspiration coupled with openness to always pivoting in an ever changing Small Business Environment. Never underestimate the power of communication. In addition being detail oriented in all aspects of your day to day is vital to keep up with the pace in an always changing environment. Read more>>

Imiya Bias

The road to success in itself is a story with many chapters. I feel as if in order to be successful one has to possess resiliency and endurance. In order to truly reach the highest level of success you must fail. Meaning you must see and feel what it is like to be low, in order to celebrate the “highs”. Going through the lows builds resilience and endurance, two things that only the strongest people possess. You have to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Regardless of how many “No’s” or “dead ends” you hit you have to truly believe one day you will reach your “yes” or “high”. Read more>>

Tisha Spencer

I believe success is a journey unique to each of us. For me, it all starts with setting SMART goals – making them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. I’ve poured my dedication into mastering this art, and it’s been a game-changer. One thing I’ve learned is the importance of never stopping my pursuit of growth, both professionally and personally. It’s been a key ingredient in my recipe for success. Read more>>

Kalvin Spikes

It takes a lot of things to be successful. I became a professional basketball player in 2021. The journey was very long, very gruesome. There were a lot of moments I did not quit. But I kept at it I kept being persistent. It took me 6 years of training to really become actually good at basketball. I am 6’9 so I Started playing really late. Like my Sophmore year of high school. I was so uncoordinated and bad that I literally could not make a lay up and when i did make layups, sometimes they were on the wrong side of the goal. I was so nervous, didn’t like the attention, was constantly hated on because I was so tall with very low skill. Read more>>

Adelheid Waumboldt

Success is something that every business person is reaching for – but how you define it as an individual or entity is symbiotic to its achievement. For me, success is growth. If all trajectories are trending upward including but not limited to: acquiring new skills, acquiring new clients, acquiring new personnel, generating more income, completing projects to the esteem of our clients, etc; then, we are in a successful period. Read more>>

Rick Jein Kuan

I think to be successful as a motion designer, it requires a combination of creativity, technical skills, and a strong understanding of design principles and experience. Motion designer’s job is to communicate a client’s ideas, brand and story. So, we also need very strong communication skills so that we can communicate well with clients. Read more>>

Joel McClosky

Having run a brewery and cocktail bar in Asheboro for nearly a decade, I have come to understand that success is not just about the quality of the beer or cocktails we produce. Rather, it is about the passion and dedication we put into every drink. It’s about the conversations we have as a team, ensuring that everyone is on the same page, and the connections we make with our customers, who often become our friends. I strongly believe in empowering my team to make decisions, so long as those decisions are guided by our core values. These values are simple yet powerful: be authentic, care for the community, and always prioritize our customers. Read more>>

Mike Loco Hoffman

This is a loaded question of sorts as it depends on who you are asking and what they determine as success. For me personally, Success is a mindset. It doesn’t have dollar amounts attached, or level of status. If you set a goal and maintain your vision, drive and ambition to achieve it then that is a success. Is it not? That being said I feel success relies heavily on ones self. We can’t sit and wait for someone else’s actions to determine our own success. Though they may be instrumental, reliance is a weakness in many cases because you’re expecting another to see your vision through. Read more>>

Ciara Kleva

Success, from my perspective, is a rich and multifaceted concept that encompasses not only an individual’s skills and talents but also a unique blend of determination, a commitment to continuous learning, and unwavering resilience. It’s about embracing unconventional approaches – often associated with taking calculated risks – that set you apart from the crowd. In the process, it becomes evident that the notion of ‘job security’ is more a myth than a reality. Read more>>

Stephen Hetherington

Success, in my view, is a blend of passion, dedication, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. At The Carolina Experience, there have been many moments where we could have swayed from our vision and opted for the easier route. Balancing the vision with the P&L is a delicate act, but we’ve persevered to stay true to our vision. This commitment has not only strengthened our brand but also deepened our connection with our guests, clients and partners. It’s a testament to the fact that staying true to one’s vision, even in the face of challenges, can lead to long-term success and fulfillment. Read more>>

Yoona Wang

I firmly believe that a deep passion for your work is the fundamental key to success. In my role as a Film Line Producer, a significant part of my responsibilities revolves around effective communication and acting as a creative problem solver. Both of these aspects are something I truly enjoy. It’s this passion that keeps me motivated to carry out my tasks and ensure that shooting processes run smoothly and successfully. Therefore, I am convinced that a genuine interest in your pursuit is a potent driving force for achieving success. Read more>>

Marita Hill

If you go to a bookstore or a library you’ll see at least one full shelf dedicated to books written about how to lead a successful life. Most of these publications point to one common goal in the pursuit of success- happiness and satisfaction. People want to be satisfied with how much money they’re making. Happy with the family they’ve created. Satisfied with their overall contribution to themselves and the world. Read more>>

Parisa Moayedi

To be successful in life, particularly as an entrepreneur, it’s important to recognize that success is a multifaceted concept that is often measured differently by individuals. Success begins with a clear intention and evolves as you grow and learn. Here are four major points to consider: 1. Clarity of Intention: Success starts with a clear and well-defined intention. Ask yourself what you truly want to achieve and why it’s important to you. Having a strong sense of purpose and direction provides the foundation for all your actions and decisions. It’s not about conforming to someone else’s idea of success; it’s about aligning your goals with your own values and desires. Read more>>

Tiffany Critton

I believe it takes discipline and sacrifice to be successful. Discipline forms healthy and positive habits that helps you stay focused on your goals. It also allows you to have control of your thoughts and actions and that can be very important in stressful situations. Success is a process that requires much patience and discipline. It means that you will continue to work hard even when you’re not seeing any progress. Some people will give up if they don’t achieve instant gratification or overnight success. However, that doesn’t last very long because you haven’t sacrificed anything so it doesn’t have the same value. Read more>>

Lexi Peers

I think success follows people who exhibit multiple traits, the main one being consistency. I think talent and passion are incredibly important in any industry you choose, but both will only take you so far if you’re not consistent. day after day showing up for yourself and those looking up to you. consistently learning. growing. sharing. asking questions. improving. if you wake up everyday and pour everything you have into a skill, a business, or yourself? you’d be absolutely amazed at the payoff. it’s difficult to persevere but i think the ability to keep showing up is what allows success to reach you! Read more>>

Yvette Samick

To be a successful photographer is knowing who your clients are. My clients are Dog Moms! As a Dog Mom I understand the relationship and incredible joy that dogs bring to us. When I branded my business towards Dog Moms I was concerned at first this might be risky to market only to Dog Moms. Then I realized that is exactly who my client is. Read more>>

Scholley Bubenik

Success can mean many things in life. To be truly successful, I believe it involves a balance of your priorities. Many people can be successful in their career and neglect other priorities such as family, community and their well-being. To be successful, one needs to have a passion that drives them to go above and beyond the norm. When you have passion for your work, or family or community, you will work harder, learn to persevere, and see failure only as a means to victory. But true success means not sacrificing one thing for the other. For example, family or career. In my generation, many women had to pick between their careers and their family. Sometimes women were criticized for having a career instead of being a stay-at-home mom. But I chose to both paths instead. Read more>>

Angela Benner

To be successful I think it starts with your mindset and your attitude. How much time are you willing to put into your business? It may include setbacks, failures, or moving in a different direction to grow your business and stay relevant. Learn from those situations and don’t let it ruin your focus. It takes patience to work with resin, and I’ve ruined plenty of projects or they didn’t turn out like I’d envisioned in my head. But I keep pushing myself to do better. Read more>>

Vincent Hervy

What’s your definition of success? Is it the one you see from people online? Be inspired, but don’t try to mimic. Let me tell you, to be successful, you don’t need to work a crazy amount of hours a day; you don’t need to have your face everywhere on social media and post daily; you don’t need a team; you don’t need to run ads, and yet, you can still run a multiple 6 figure business or even a 7 figure business. The first thing to do is to define what is the life, the lifestyle you desire. Read more>>

Sara Le’Ann

Irrational levels of confidence to achieve lofty goals. There’s no perfect formula for how to be successful. There are patterns. If you want to become one of the best in the world at what you do, achieve lofty goals, or become the type of person who’s always leveling up, keep reading, keep focused. These are the tried and true patterns that I’ve found to achieve success. Read more>>

Julieta Garcia

The truth is that success is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It means different things to different people, and the path towards it is unique for each individual. Success is not solely measured by achievements and external recognition. It is also about finding balance, maintaining a positive outlook, and taking care of yourself. For some, it may mean achieving financial abundance, while for others, it could be finding fulfillment in personal relationships or making a lasting impact on society. When you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, you can align your actions and decisions in a way that propels you towards success. To embark on this journey is crucial to set clear and meaningful goals and believe that you are in control of your destiny, that you are able to achieve success no matter what. You should be confident in your strengths and possibilities. Read more>>

Connie Sprajc

As an independent hairstylist and entrepreneur there are so many things that you must do to be successful and to then keep the success going. There are so many hairstylists and salon in Houston. You have to do things to help you stand out . For me it started with my mindset. I believe in my talents as an artist. I’ve always said I am a great student of hair. There is so much learn when it comes to cutting hair, coloring it, styling it, and using extensions to create someone’s dream hair. After 7 years of doing hair professionally, I still learn something new on a weekly basis. Whether it’s exploring different hair color lines, taking classes from other artists, or practicing new techniques ( color and extensions) on mannequin heads. The knowledge and experience I’ve gained from constantly doing hair has helped me to be confident in my abilities. I can take risks with the creative process, I am not afraid to try new looks with my clients. You have to evolve and ultimately bring value to your guest every time they come into the salon. Read more>>

Erica Lopez

Success is subjective and not necessarily linear. Most people associate success with wealth and while wealth is an important aspect of success it is not the end all be all. I believe success starts with knowing, understanding, and embracing your God-given purpose. Being on your purpose path even though it may not equate to riches, leads to soul fulfillment and with fulfillment comes provision where your needs will be provided for. The reason why we hear so many stories of those who have attained financial success but in the end say they always feel like something is. “missing” in their lives is because they may not be truly aligned with what they were out on this earth to do. Read more>>

David Harris

Success in photography, like any other creative field, requires a combination of skill, dedication, and the right mindset. I really feel strongly one needs to be authentic and have the ability to make a personal connection with your subject. Whether you’re pursuing photography as a hobby or a profession. First and foremost, everything starts with building a strong foundation, so you really need to be able to understand and master your equipment. Understanding your camera, and settings like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and how they affect your images is imperative to developing your style. Read more>>

Zac Sweat

To achieve success, it is imperative to first define what it means to you personally. Without a clear definition, how can you determine if you have truly reached it? Earl Nightingale eloquently captures the essence of success as “the steady progression of a worthy ideal.” A successful individual knows their current position, has a clear vision of where they want to be, and takes consistent steps each day towards reaching their desired destination. Read more>>