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.

Rhonda Walker

To be successful I think it takes believing in yourself, dedication, hard work, and the willingness to get back up and try again even after a failure. Read more>>

Daria A. Meyer

First things first: define success. What does success mean for an artist? Before Al Pacino landed the role in “The Godfather,” he led a comfortable life as an actor and musician in New York City, supporting himself by doing what he loved – playing music. Read more>>

Bellogod

Personally, speaking from my perspective and personal experiences I would say it takes 3 things to be successful. Read more>>

Kimberly Bernosky

Restaurant work is difficult. Long hours and physical demands take their toll. And you’re not ever going to make big money as profit margins are just too thin. But it sure is fun! Read more>>

Sarah Sparks

Each person has their own definition of success. We begin our journey to success typically comparing our success to another’s and judging ourselves based on someone else’s success. Read more>>

Laneit Jones

When reflecting on the journey that led to my success, three words come to mind: resilience, consistency, and positivity. It is often said that coming up with a business idea is the easy part but transforming that idea into a business is challenging. Read more>>

Kristen Fiore

Success can be subjective and vary greatly depending on individual goals, values, and circumstances. However, there are a few keys I believe help contribute to your own personal success. Read more>>

Brandin Vaughn

Success comes from believing in yourself, having faith in something bigger, and making your ideas happen. It’s about staying dedicated, even if people think your approach is a bit out there. Read more>>

Stephen R.C. Hicks

Thinking and feeling that you are the entrepreneur of your life. Much of education focuses on the authorities’ pre-existing beliefs, following rules, being told what others’ expectations are for you, and being guided or even pushed into pre-existing social slots. Read more>>

Alissa Cordoba

Being successful in the photography industry has to be a combination of both talent and business sense. You can be an incredibly talented photographer/artist, but if you lack the ability to run an actual business you will either quickly get burnt out, or fail to make it profitable. Read more>>

Van Der Megerdichian

To be truly successful, I think, one must be driven by a profound sense of mission—an unwavering belief that not only eclipses personal aspirations, but converges with a shared journey. Read more>>

Aliyah Ambrose

To be successful you must believe in yourself. Before you start anything in life you must trust that you can do it, I mean if you don’t believe in yourself how can you expect anybody else to? Read more>>

Olivia Stibbe

Jumping into the world of romance writing showed me one guarantee in life: success and risks are inseparable. We can’t have one without the other. So, even though it’s scary, the risk is what will ultimately get you to your end goal. Read more>>

Shae-Elle McLean

Man, what success currently looks like to me has drastically changed over the years. I used to believe it was material gain and status. I used to believe it was if I was able to achieve the tangibles and accolades. I was convinced it was winning games and running a check up. Read more>>

Jason Hollis

Success isn’t about the glitz or the glam; it’s about grit, guts, and above all, commitment. It’s a way of life, a “lifestyle” you could say. To thrive in this chaotic world, you must be willing to sacrifice and persevere. Dive headfirst into the challenges, not just testing the waters. Read more>>

Priya Mitrovic

I think being successful means having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and trusting yourself to do whatever it takes to get there, including taking risks and betting on yourself. Read more>>

Agnes Holland

To be successful you must want it bad to be honest! It takes a lot of hard work, and consistency ! Most important, believing in yourself has a lot of role that plays into being successful you must fully believe in yourself so other can believe in you!!! Read more>>

Semmy Michial

Success is an intricate tapestry woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and the courage to face internal struggles. In the multifaceted landscape of design, gaming, and social media management, the journey isn’t solely about conquering external challenges; Read more>>

Victor Gurley Jr

What does it take to be successful? It’s a question that has driven countless individuals to push beyond any man-made limits, defy all odds, and achieve greatness. Read more>>

Andrea Nero PhD

In my capacity as the CEO of Nero Strategies Group, I frequently collaborate with arts and cultural organizations, providing strategic guidance to both institutions and individual artists. Read more>>

Bridgett Cochran and Kelly Porter

As a creative entrepreneur you need to have a few key things in order to be successful – talent, resilience, fortitude, but even more important than all of these is persistence. Read more>>

Nick Melnyk

Adaptability, Understanding, and Passion. In order to build a business that has the foundation for consistent growth I believe that having an ability to adapt to change is critical. Read more>>

Dominique Johnson

What do I think it takes to be successful? I would say having a strong support system like family and community. Read more>>

Natalie Bonsignore

I believe that true success stems from having genuine intentions and ensuring that your work is a reflection of your values and beliefs. Read more>>

Justin Williams

Persistence is the most important thing. It takes a long time to accomplish something great, and along the road, there will be many times when you experience failure. Read more>>

Nic Wilson

I believe in abundance. I think there is plenty of business and opportunity for those who work for it. This doesn’t mean I believe in rolling over to let someone else take my opportunities, but for those who are willing to work hard, innovate, and raise their standards there is ample opportunity. Read more>>

Sarah Szekir-Papasavva

I’ve found that the definition of success can vary greatly from one person to another. Personally, I like to define being successful as having the ability to reach one’s goals in life, whatever those goals may turn out to be. Read more>>

Linny Kenney

Success, and what it means, is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’m 42 years old and created a business about 15 years ago where I design and make various custom leather pieces for people all over the world. Read more>>

Jackie “JP” Phillips

I believe success is a unique formula for each person. I stand behind that belief because success is subjective and in some cases sensitive to people. My formula for success has been a combination of things based on my view at the time. Read more>>