We believe that success can mean different things to different people – not everyone wants the same thing, what drives happiness and fulfillment for one person doesn’t necessarily predict what will for another. That said – if we simply think of success as being effective at achieving one’s goal – whatever those goals might be – then we can set a sort of common

Princess Banks

To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of faith, hard work, resilience, and intentionality. Success doesn’t come overnight, and there’s no clear blueprint to follow especially in industries like media where you often have to carve out your own path. For me, success starts with believing in myself, even when others don’t see the vision. It’s about being disciplined, consistent, and willing to learn from setbacks. Read more>>

Litzy Hilario

To be successful, I believe it takes consistency, a willingness to learn, and the courage to start even when things aren’t perfect. When I launched Litzys Marketing, my goal was to help local businesses grow through strategic social media marketing. In the beginning, I definitely had doubts about whether I was experienced enough or if I could attract the right clients. Read more>>

Abbey Krysiak

When I first started this business, I had very limiting beliefs. I constantly compared myself to other creatives in the business and never really had the confidence to try new things or invest in learning. After about 2.5 years of shooting, I decided to take a leap and complete an in person workshop out of state. This was the first step to realizing that investing in your business is imperative to growth. I have continued to, over the years, invest in my business, my education and my growth as a professional. I feel like in order to be successful, you need to invest in yourself. You need to LEARN your audience and you need to continuously educate yourself. Read more>>

Victoria Jackson

I think over the last ten years of growing an online community and business, time and time again I’ve been shown that following my intuition will never let me down. There is no stronger compass than our gut feeling. At times, I’ve ignored that initial nudge and somewhere down the line I’ve been shown why I should have tuned into what my internal compass was asking me to consider – whether it be a client that wasn’t the right fit, an agreement that caused unnecessary stress, or a work environment that wasn’t as aligned as first thought. Read more>>

Chad Barrett

I’ve always heard that one of the keys to success is being passionate about what you do. So as an avid hiker and overall outdoor enthusiast, I was sure that the key to my success was taking my camera with me in to the outdoors and becoming a professional landscape photographer. I took incredible images and I sold almost none of them. It was a total flop. So I decided to change course and go into fashion and commercial photography. It was an instant success and within 6 months I had a client put several of my pictures on a billboard in Times Square. That taught me that passion alone will get you very little. You have to become passionate about what your clients are looking for. Read more>>

Jasmine Jamison

I believe success is rooted in a blend of purpose, passion, and perseverance. My motto, “She who walks with purpose and leads with passion,” is a guiding principle not just for my business, but for life itself.

For me, success begins with having a clear vision. When I started She Beauty, I wasn’t just opening a beauty business—I was building a brand that would inspire confidence and empowerment. It’s essential to set goals and remain intentional in everything you do. Purpose is what gets you started, but passion is what keeps you going when things get tough. Read more>>

Sulee Khongkhangam

Being a small business owner has taught me that success is very much a mindset and not a destination. Anything you do can be a success even the smallest of victories. You have to be able grow, adapt and expand with new challenges. Being a business owner requires a lot of patience because we are always going to go through some form of trials and tribulations. Statistics say the first 3-5 years is the part where you make mistakes, learn and grow. It’s the perseverance to push beyond those breaking points I think is really what it takes to run a successful business. Read more>>

Aireana Bishop

Being successful looks different for everyone, but for me I think it takes resilience and discipline. Constant sacrifice and focus on the bigger picture. Knowing there are no limits to your potential and you can change or start something new at anytime. Read more>>

Will Jacob

The way I see it, you’ve got to have persistence and dedication to the craft. The more you do it, the longer you do it, the better you get. If you just don’t stop shooting, and stay eager to learn and hone your skills, you will find success no matter how you define it. You’ll learn as you go and find inspiration along the way. Read more>>

Loryn Sheahan

I believe success requires a blend of authenticity, perseverance, and alignment with purpose. It takes showing up as your TRUE SELF, trusting the process even in challenging times, and staying deeply connected to your core values. Success also requires clear communication (even when difficult), a mindset of growth and learning, and the courage to step out of comfort zones. For me, it’s not just about the money and achieving goals (although important and who doesn’t love it), but creating meaningful/lasting impact, building trust, and living in a way that inspires and uplifts others. Read more>>

Deonte Finch

Success takes consistency, luck and hustle. One has to be consistent in producing quality product. Practice makes perfect, constantly putting out a good product makes it better. The hustle is finding a way to generate customers. Staying hyper vigilant to recognize opportunities is staying in hustle mode. Luck is when all your consistency put you in position to be prepared to successfully take advantage of opportunity. Read more>>

Michael Letterlough, Jr.

I think it takes a lot of different ingredients to make yourself successful. The first thing to creating or achieving success I think is having an understanding of what success means to YOU. Everyone has a different standard or definition of success. Some equate success to how much money they’ve made and material possessions they own. Others equate success to how many people they’ve helped or lives they’ve touched. And others feel they’re successful because they’ve followed their own path and chose to live life pursuing passions and interests that make them happy, regardless of monetary compensation. Once you know and establish why you’re doing what you’re doing, then you can determine what success means for you from there. Read more>>

Victor Luis

I believe that true success ultimately requires courage, self-awareness, and a deep understanding of who you are. It’s about recognizing your strengths while acknowledging areas where you need to improve or be more strategic. I emphasize courage because many people are afraid to take risks or fully commit to their passions and work, even when they know it’s what they’re meant to do. It takes bravery to give it your all and trust the process. Read more>>

Brianna Walker

No matter what your goals are, there are 3 things I think it takes to find success: Faith, Purpose, and Resilience.

Faith: To have the drive to work towards a dream, you have to believe that it can and will happen! Otherwise, why put forth so much effort to make it happen? Read more>>

Christopher Ramirez

I believe that to be successful, you need to be consistent and prioritize networking. In a world as big and fast-moving as ours, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd, so it’s crucial to build a strong foundation of visibility and connections. Success often comes from people knowing who you are and what you’re capable of offering.

When I was just starting out, I didn’t have much experience in video or photography, but I knew that was the path I wanted to take. My first instinct was to reach out to others in the industry. I introduced myself, shared my goals, and asked if they needed any help. Over a couple of weeks, I must have emailed, called, and messaged 50 to 60 people every week. At first, it felt like nothing was happening, but then things started to click. A few of those people responded, giving me opportunities to learn, refine my skills, and take my first steps toward starting my business. Read more>>

Michael Landau

Success in entrepreneurship demands everything from you. Those who thrive in this arena possess an unwavering self-belief, an incredible level of grit, and a genuine desire to uplift their communities and support others. It’s essential to have a profound reason driving your actions. My own understanding of this principle has been shaped by my personal challenges and experiences. After returning from my deployment to the Middle East in 2022, I made the bold decision to relocate to Pittsburgh, PA, to launch a construction business specializing in high-end decks. I faced the daunting reality of having no connections, no friends, and minimal knowledge of the local market. Yet, through sheer determination, a resilient mindset, and an unyielding commitment to excel for myself and, more importantly, for my clients, I found my purpose. Read more>>

Cara Balcom

I believe becoming successful requires a combination of mindset, habits and daily actions. The definition of success is all about perspective. I think it’s a combination of hard work and discipline. Consistency and effort are critical. Success requires dedication over a long period of time. Discipline helps you stay committed even when motivation fades. Read more>>

Chelsea Meagher

Success can be measured in different ways depending on the goal, but what’s needed to achieve that success is the same across the board. It’s simple—you need grit. You need passion. You need unwavering drive in order to reach success, no matter what it looks like for you. Read more>>

Giovanna Thomas

To me, success is about accomplishing the goals you set for yourself, but it’s also about the journey of working hard, staying focused, and aligning your efforts with your passions. Success isn’t just the outcome; it’s the process of improving, persisting, and serving others along the way. To achieve success, you need a clear understanding of your goals, a plan to reach them, and the grit to push through challenges and self-doubt. Read more>>

Dakota Williams

I think when it comes down to success it isn’t necessarily about the cards you’ve been dealt or the handouts you’ve been given but the things you have implemented into your everyday life. I have had the great pleasure of meeting so many people in this line of work, all in different stages of life, different jobs, different states, all facing a different set of challenges. I have to say some of the most successful people I’ve met just have a little bit more of that go getter mentality. While the ones with the most potential are just sitting back waiting for that ‘right moment’. Now life is a lot of things, but short isn’t one of them. Success won’t fall into your lap and dreams won’t chase you back. Read more>>

Jenna Lee

Don’t give up on making your dream a reality. We only live once, and we should spend that time being our best selves and doing what we enjoy. Lean on other business owners who’ve been at it longer to learn from their mistakes and get advice. Most people love sharing their stories! Take it one step at a time, and don’t try to take on more than you can handle at the beginning. Pace yourself for success. Read more>>

Chloe Cummings

Being a professional photographer and social media coach has allowed for me to have many seasons of success. For me, being successful has become more of a mindset, followed by consistent actions. Having daily routines, and tasking that allow for consistent and confident growth. Setting realistic goals and expectations is also key to a positive mindset. Working for a set amount of time on each task daily has been key to long term success. Being active and trusted within the community, has also become an important part of my brand. After years of consistent hard work, I am so thanful how how far I’ve come. I couldn’t have done it without my mentors and great community’s support! Read more>>

David Cole

Success can be defined in many ways, and what it takes to achieve it can vary from person to person. However, there are several common factors that often contribute to success:

1. Clear Goals: Having well-defined, specific, and achievable goals helps focus efforts and provides direction.

2. Hard Work and Dedication: Success usually requires consistent effort and a willingness to put in the time needed to achieve one’s goals. Read more>>

Johannes Serna

Well it all depends on what your definition of success is. Everyone’s answer may be different and my definition comes from Earl Nightingale which is “Success is a progressive realization of a worthy ideal”. I would also like to quote the following definition from Master Ryuho Okawa from his book “The Laws of Success” which I recommend everyone take a look at because it gives the perspective from a spiritual view. Read more>>