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.

Emily Mutimer

From my personal experience and little wins along the way, I think you have to love what you do to be successful. I love being an actress, therefore the hard work is not a chore. I like to put in the work because it feels good when I unlock something new in a character. Determination and self-discipline are my best friends when it comes to success. I remember feeling really stuck a couple of years ago and felt as though I was not doing enough, so then I just said, ‘okay, well then I’m going to do more’, so I joined another class and practiced my craft every day because it felt good. Read more>>

Amanda

Success is relative and can look different from person to person. My success for the day might be as simple as getting out the door on time and the next could be receiving a huge promotion at work. I do know success requires a combination of vision, determination, and resilience. First, you need a clear vision of what success looks like for you: a goal that inspires and motivates you. This goal can be small or large. Along with this vision, determination is key. Sticking with your plan and not giving up is extremely important. Lastly, you have to have resilience, as the journey to success is rarely smooth.  Read more>>

Alysha Brennan

To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of dedication to quality, honesty, exceptional customer service, and a genuine care for your clients. In my experience running a business in the permanent jewelry industry, these elements have proven to be essential. When I started my journey in permanent jewelry over two years ago, the first year was a significant learning period. I focused on understanding how to operate my business effectively and how to build lasting relationships with customers. From this, I learned that success hinges on a few core principles: Read more>>

Jena Ulriksen

Success comes from persevering through hard times, celebrating the small wins, building relationships, and maintaining your mental and physical wellbeing in the process. To me, the idea of “success” far surpasses any monetary or superficial gain you can get. I think success comes from figuring out what your goals and values are. If you have a clear vision, it will help you create an actionable plan to reach your goals. It helps you stay focused on carrying out your “why,” and what really matters to you. When you are always working toward your “why,” it is almost impossible to not succeed. Read more>>

Brian Zawacki

I think to be successful it takes integrity and focus. There’s a saying that I love that goes “If you chase two rabbits you’ll catch neither one.” This is extremely relevant to me as I’m always trying to fill my plate with as many things or opportunities as possible, which ultimately becomes a detriment to my desired outcomes. When we opened The Bird we were available through all the delivery apps, our website, walk-ins and phone orders which seemed like a good idea because we’d have maximum exposure to our customers. What we discovered is that no matter how streamlined the order input system, brunch doesn’t make good to-go food. Read more>>

Erik Benard

In most people’s eye, success is something that is measured in dollars and cents but here at Save The Trilldren it is measured by feel. If you look good you feel good. If your clothing creates a healthy discussion that you are wearing success. Read more>>

Renae Devine

It takes trust from your own community to be successful- it takes over working- 25/8 not only 24/7. It takes patience- understanding and again OVER WORKING, going the extra mile! Read more>>

Philip Gutierrez

Achieving success requires a mindset focused on continuous growth and the confidence that, regardless of the challenges life presents, you have the ability to learn new skills and overcome obstacles. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of what success truly means to you—not what others, such as your parents or peers, define as success, but your own vision, rooted in clarity and authenticity. This clarity allows you to pursue your goals without hesitation or compromise. Moreover, it’s important to honor the struggle, recognizing that the journey won’t be easy. Embrace the challenges, as they are opportunities for learning and growth, essential components of your personal and professional development. Read more>>

Dan Shaw

Honesty, Responsibility, and Respect. Those core values are the base of every decision I make in business. Honesty is first for a reason. You not only need to be honest with your clients, guests, and employees, but you also need to be honest with yourself. Are you doing what is right for your business AND your family? Are you having those hard discussions with your staff to improve their skills? If you cannot master this skill, you will not make it very far.  Read more>>

Maria Musaelyan

“Success” is a powerful word, it can be both inspiring and destructive. In today’s world, we are constantly chasing success—through followers, money, titles, and appearances. With success stories at our fingertips every day, it’s easy to feel as if you are not enough, or that unless you have the perfect body, or a million dollars your life is simply not enough. This is why I try to pursue success from a philosophical angle. Read more>>

Daisy Romero

Success comes from passion, authenticity, and a commitment to personal growth. It’s about staying true to who you are and continually evolving. Truly, you are the architect of your own success, and it’s your vision, dedication, and belief in yourself that will determine the direction and extent of your achievements. Read more>>

Jonas Beausejour

It takes a lot of hard work dedication and patience. Your going to have days where you want to quit days where you want to give up and you just have to stick with it stay true to the grind if you don’t believe no one else will when I first started my catering business I had no clientele I started selling plates of food and just promoting it on social media the first week I had a few orders the next week a little more the week after that boom I was doing 3 times the amount of food then after that I had a few very slow weeks people wasn’t showing up I was having leftover food losing money on food cost those weeks was tough I wanted to give up but I stuck with it kept going and now things are doing so much better Read more>>

Eulandria Montford

Success always begins with an initial goal, Then you develop a plan. Whether you’re planning to start a business planning to create a brand or planning to shift careers. The most prominent story I can think of in my own journey to success would be me starting model and act. I have always felt the need to be flashy and over the top when it comes to my appearance. I always have people complementing me on how I style myself and others. I was going through a crisis and took a minute to attempt to find myself. During this time, I set some goals that I wanted to accomplish as I got close to my 40th birthday. Read more>>

Meg Mitchener

First and foremost, passion is essential. If you’re not genuinely excited about what you’re creating, you’re going to have a hard time getting other people excited about it. And if you don’t love what you do, you’re not going to want to keep at it when things get tough. For me, there is just something about creating designs you get to wear. I started creating as a hobby- making for family and friends to wear on vacations or birthdays, for fandoms I loved that big box stores skipped over, finding or making patterns that fit our interests. The hobby grew. I loved getting the question “where did you get that shirt? where can I find that bag”.  Read more>>

Ponyboi Sosa

Success is entirely subjective and dependent upon the circumstances of the individual. I don’t want to get preachy or parrot the obvious, so I’ll make this simple and sweet with my own spin. STOP COMPARING. Easier said than done, I know. I do it almost every day but I still try my best to not do so. I’ll take this back to 2017 when I was 17 years old. Graduation time showed the hard work and effort of my classmate’s high school career. On their gowns were different sleeves and colorful cords they received from a ceremony I was made to sit and watch, grudgingly. Having nothing (cord or sleeve) I accepted the reality that my high school career riddled with failure to conform to the standards of evidence-based understanding of a lettering system;  Read more>>

Sandralin Cue

Showing up. I think showing up everyday and pushing yourself is what it takes to be successful. Working harder than you did the day before. The person I am competing with the most, is myself. I want to be better than I was the day before. Read more>>