We’ve been fortunate to connect with so many brilliant artists, business owners and leaders over the years and so we reached out to some of these talented folks to discuss what it takes to be successful.

JP Douvalakis

Success. A way we evaluate each person on the planet. Did we reach it? Can we teach it? Did we have to sacrifice anything to get there? Is there a point in which success is recognized? Success is many things for many people. Some have reached success and don’t even realize it. I’ve recently come across a story that identified success very clearly. Let me share it in summary for you. There was a man who lived on a small island with his family and friends. Read more>>

Orlando Corona

Since I was kid all the adults around me would say “If you want something, work hard for it”. Working hard is only a third of the equation to being successful. Took me years to understand this small factor. Studying the greats from Pedro Infante to Saul Canelo Alvarez I noticed something that was never told to me as a kid. The first anomaly was passion. Deviating from our parents wishes on being a lawyer or a doctor. Only you know the true passion you hold. Read more>>

Michelle Morales

I believe it take persistence, passion, and dedication to be successful. Being successful to one may be different from another; but for me, being successful is working for myself, doing something that brings me joy, and spending more time with my family. What I wish someone had told me when I started my business is that I would have to work more in the beginning, do all the things I enjoy and don’t enjoy, and spend late nights or time away from family to get there. Read more>>

Tasha Romano

I love this question, because I think a lot can go into success – even just answering what success looks like for each of us. For me, success is helping my clients grow and show up authentically, and having the finances and time to live my most joyful life. Now that may not be anyone else’s goal, but I think a key to being successful is taking the time to clearly articulate what ‘success’ means to you. After all, if you don’t have a destination it’s hard to know if you’re going the right direction. Read more>>

Alexander Peters

Success is such a complex word that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Particularly in the world of art, success is often equated to an abundance of sales. However, as a creator and working artist, I find more fulfillment in the process and journey of bringing a piece to fruition from a blank canvas. The lessons I learn within the process and the “ah-ha” moments could equal success. That magical feeling when the work finds balance and there’s a sense of completion, that is the greatest reward an artist could ask for. Someone else finding equal value in said work and the desire to acquire it, comes secondary. Read more>>

Colleen McIntosh

I get asked a lot about what’s the secret behind the choices that I make and how do I know how to make decisions when there are a lot of voices who have their own opinion. When I go back to the beginning of this adventure of owning a business, I can’t help but think about a few different experiences. It all started great! We were an exciting new thing in town and everyone wanted to try out the new fitness facility that was being created. Many people came from word of mouth, but many tagged along with instructors that joined us. Read more>> 

Rebecca Clarke

I think one of the biggest factors that affects someone being successful at just about anything is having the willingness to put in the time it requires to succeed. Whether it’s earning a college degree or working in your chosen career, you have to work hard and be dedicated to giving the endeavor the time required to succeed. One of the things that contributed to the growth of my shop was the loss of my full-time job during COVID. Read more>>

Amari Franks

I believe that having a clear aim or vision, being risk-taking, having a strong work ethic, and having a solid support system are all necessary for success. Additionally, it’s critical to be flexible and open to learning from your failures because, as you progress along your journey, you will discover that your mistakes don’t define you; they make you. It is crucial to be adaptable and eager to learn from your failures. Additionally, I believe it’s critical to have a positive outlook and a good work-life balance. Read more>>

Rosha Brister

Resilience. In business there are moments that you’ll encounter that you’re either not prepared for or happen faster than is expected and you have to be able to manage the unknown. Resilience requires you to be able to pivot, to be a problem solver (often suddenly) and have the capacity to handle challenges and/or setbacks. Read more>>

Fee Dominguez

If you really want something, hearing “no” and receiving rejections doesn’t register in your brain. There’s always a way, it may not be the way you originally thought it would play out but if you keep focusing on your dreams, little by little those dreams turn into a reality. Read more>>

David Gnozzi

Let me start by saying I’m not entirely sure I’m the right person to answer this question because I don’t really think I am what most people defines as “successful”. So I think I’ll start by saying what being successful is for me. Professionally speaking, waking up in the morning and being excited about the work you are about to do is success for me. Most people spend most, if not all their lives doing things they don’t like to buy things they don’t need, or simply to survive. Read more>>

Scott Churchson

There’s an old saying that says “Being a success is easy, believing you can be a success is the difficult part.” For me personally the challenge had always been believing that I was worthy of being so. For the first couple decades of my life I was under the belief that I would never be anything worthwhile, that anything I did properly either came from me being lucky or in some way deceitful. As I got older I came to realize that the people that helped me form that belief were people themselves who likely were told the same thing, that they weren’t good enough. One’s believe becomes one’s reality. Read more>>

Chris Hynes

As a young teen, I knew I wanted to be a professional, commercial photographer. I knew the dream of a professional photography career was a long shot, so as a motivational tool, I taped a poster on my bedroom door that said, “Success is a Journey, Not, a Destination”. To this day, that line stays with me every time a new challenge pops up. After 30 years of working as a commercial/advertising photographer, I have found that passion and determination are the tools that work best for me in my journey towards success. Read more>>

Mekhala Hiriyanna

As a first-generation woman social entrepreneur, success for me was not defined by wealth or fame, but rather by my vision to create positive change in the world. My upbringing in a patriarchal society in India, where I was encouraged to be brave and not limit myself because of my gender, played a significant role in shaping my outlook. At 22 years old, I left my lucrative job in software engineering to become an educational entrepreneur, driven by a desire to provide quality education to underprivileged children. Read more>>

Crystal Romo

Success can mean different things to different people, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula leading up to it. However, setting clear goals, building strong relationships and having personal resiliency are some of the skills that first come to mind. I consistently keep a journal and a yearly planner to annotate my lists of goals. My journal holds all the details of my dreams, goals & aspirations, while my planner holds onto the tasks leading up to those goals. Read more>>

 Liz Gordon

Success is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has a slightly different definition, so as far as I’m concerned there is no definitive answer. For me, success looks like financial stability. For myself, the team, and the business. Success looks like confidence in my ability and the things I’m putting into the world. More importantly, just being happy and enjoying life. Read more>>

Kimberly Gonzales

Being successful can come in many different ways. For my success is from the wonderful people that have come in my circle helping me along the way, sharing my vision. It has been networking and relationships. Building a strong network of supportive individuals that I have met in my life that has provided me valuable opportunities, guidance, and collaboration. Successful people understand the importance of nurturing relationships and surrounding themselves with positive influences. I have made that so important in my life. Read more>>

Lauren Alexander

Maya Angelou once said, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it,” and she couldn’t have been more spot on. This is the quote that comes to mind when I think about success in my business. Everyone is blessed with their own unique talents and callings, and when you live and operate as your true authentic self, success can’t help but follow. I feel a lot of people get caught up in the corporate world with selling, making or promoting certain products that they don’t stand by, most likely for financial gain. Read more>>

Shaila Paredes

I think everyone will have a different answer as to what they think success is or looks like. To me, being successful in my industry means being able to come into work everyday and not have it feel like work. I am very grateful for my amazing clients that keep me booked and allow me to have a great time while dong what I love for the past 10 years and counting. Read more>>

Ryan Hickman

I got started recycling when I was just three years old and since that time, my parents have supported me 100%. (I’m 13 years old) My dad drives me everywhere and both of my parents (and my grandma) help me sort items and recycle. I think it takes a lot of focus to not get distracted and I always tell people that I speak to at events to follow their passion to make a difference. Read more>>

Dani Lopez

In the art world, success is dependent on who you’re talking to. Success for me, within an art practice, is dedicating your life to your craft, developing your own voice, and being a part of whichever community you align yourself with. Artists (including myself) deal with rejection on an ongoing basis. At times it’s easy, other times it’s hard, the most important thing is to keep moving forward. When talking to mentors or colleagues, we often bond over the times we didn’t get that opportunity or how we were a semi-finalist but didn’t move forward. Read more>>

James Hayden

I think that in order to be successful (with anything) you have to befriend failure. You have to go into it knowing that you’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to fail! You almost have to like failure! As crazy as it sounds, I like finding what doesn’t work, so that I can make adjustments for improvement. So that I know what not to do. I know the more that I fail, the closer I’m getting to perfecting my craft! You also have to have passion, motivation, ambition. Read more>>

Alyssa Chambers

Success is perceived in different ways and the way that I measure my success is based on my ability to uplift others and inspire a vision to take care of one’s self continuously. Now, what does it take to be successful, perseverance and persistence are two key factors that have driven my success. When I first thought about starting a business, all I thought to myself at first is that how am I going to make it possible; how am I going to take my idea and make it a reality? Read more>>

Melissa Erker

Success is a juggling act. Success can also be somewhat of a controversial topic. When you ask someone what their definition of success means, you will probably get a variety of answers. Is it defined by how much money you make? How busy you are? My personal definition of success is what I’m doing now. Doing something that I love, but still able to make my own schedule, be home for my daughter when she needs me, and spend quality time with my family. Read more>>

Lada Egorova

The first step is to define success for yourself. What it means to you and what you are trying to achieve in your career. Not everyone’s idea of success is the same and if you don’t clearly define what success looks like to you as early as possible you’re most certainly on your way to fail. The next step is having a plan. Since I’m 15 I’ve had the dream of becoming a successful filmmaker. But I didn’t really know how to achieve that until I created a clear plan that I could follow step by step and that would help me assess where I am on my path to success. Read more>>

Jennifer Midori Macfarlane

Take risks, leaps of faith. My business became real on a day I acted on a whim. I had been making Finder Totes for friends and friends of friends for a few months. One day I was in the middle of filling out form after form for my son’s school trip to Japan. I took a break and looked at some online shopping including MadeHerePDX’s website. I thought their philosophy of showcasing local makers was great. Read more>>

Anna Klassen

There are several elements that help writers become successful — but first you have to define what “success” is, and that’s different for every writer. For me, being a successful screenwriter means making enough money to support myself with writing alone. Screenwriting is essentially a freelance gig. Let’s say I get hired to write a movie for Netflix — that’s a big check coming into my bank account, but I don’t know how long that check needs to last. Read more>>

Alexandra Silva Labarr

The power in networking! I believe your ability to connect with people can have a huge impact in your success. The most connected people are often the most successful in my opinion. When you invest in your relationships — professional and personal — it can pay you back in dividends throughout your career. Read more>>

Jack Farmer

When asked about what I believe it takes to be successful, I think it comes down to a combination of factors. Dedication, hard work, passion, and effective communication are all essential components of success. In my experience as a host, my unwavering commitment to excellence, natural charisma, and ability to connect with my audience have all been instrumental in my achievements. Read more>>

Soonkack Kook

I am so lucky that I am doing something I love, and I have found what I like to do. I believe I will be closer to being successful than people who is not enjoying what they do for living. I did not stop there. I wanted to be good at it. I did everything that textbook would say. I went to local shops and worked there as a barista, a cook, and a baker for years. After that, I went to many schools that taught me how to bake, how to cook, how to brew coffee and how to roast. Most important part is I am doing something I am enjoying and passionate about. Read more>>

Vanessa Medina

In order to be successful you need to put in the work. You have to go above and beyond expectations and really put in your best effort. If you’re passionate about something you should strive to do what it takes and be consistent. Success is different to everyone. So as long as you feel you’ve achieved your goal then you’re on the right track. Read more>>

Robert A. Lane

One of the basic components to being successful is discipline. Discipline really means honoring the agreements you make with yourself and following through. For example, if you set your alarm to wake up at 6am, get up! Don’t keep hitting the snooze button because each time you do, you are engraining a bad habit and telling your subconscious that you can’t honor the agreement you made with yourself. Read more>>

Amanda Lobanovskiy

What it takes to be successful are two things: Mindset and consistency! (In that order) I have attempted at least two different business ventures separate from Social Media Culture that failed because either I didn’t have the right mindset or I wasn’ t consistent but these two really do go together like peanut butter and jelly. Here is what I review with my clients when I am coaching them regarding Social media marketing: Read more>>

Christine Galib

What is the key to success? I get asked this question a lot. Without hesitation, I respond, “Discipline.” Discipline is the compounding, over time, of one small step done repeatedly to get you to your goal. You want to run farther, start running. Run one small step at a time, and do it again the next time, and the next time, adding a one small step each time. You want to become an author, start writing. Write one word at a time, and write another word the next time, and the next time. We all start somewhere, and it starts with one small step forward. Read more>>

Cynthia Appiah

My view on success are shaped by two powerful quotes. 1. Success only comes to those who dare to attempt 2. If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands- Bob Proctor. My message that I always share with my clients to help them develop a growth mindset: Just like building a building, a well-designed and strong foundation keeps the building standing while the forces of nature wreak havoc. Read more>>

Toni Marinucci

In 2011, I started a blog, Tips With Toni, as a junior in college while I was studying dietetics. For those who see me now, they may think, “she’s so lucky,” but the truth is, I’ve been working really hard for well over a decade. There were years where my social media posts/messages went unnoticed. For every sales call that said “yes”, there were two more that said “no.” Read more>>