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
Catherine Alonso
The path to success starts with perseverance, determination and setting goals. When I started my business, it was something new, but very early on I realized I needed to set goals in order to get the business up and running. In 2011 when I officially launched my business, my target audience were friends and family. Once I got their feedback, I decided to take the step to get my products into local farmers markets. I was able to reach a larger customer base but knew I needed to take it to the next level by targeting the retail market. Two years later, I was in 8 retail stores across Los Angeles. Read more>>
Alicia Klausmeier
I love failure. Failing is actually in my mind, the biggest indicator of success. It is counterintuitive but true! Seriously, some of the greatest successes and lessons learned come from epic failures. Be ‘okay’ failing and making mistakes! Failures will truly help move you forward; just be willing to learn and grow from them. No failure is permanent as long as you never give up. Another huge indicator of success is to not be afraid to ask for help. There are tons of people who have been in your shoes before, and they’re more than willing to lend a hand. You don’t have to be “the boss/the mom/the wife/the daughter” who knows and does everything. The most successful people know how to rely on others and delegate. Trust me, nobody has the superhuman ability/knowledge/time/energy to handle everything. Collaboration is key, and don’t hesitate to tap into the knowledge, skills, and support of others. Read more>>
Ciera Pennington
My vision of success is going to be different than most other companies and individuals. I believe the term “successful” is relative to your own personal and professional journey. For some, it may be becoming a franchise, building up to 450 employees, or creating a Fortune 500 company, but for me it was much more simple. Read more>>
Yumna Jamal
Success isn’t simply a destination, it’s a journey. When it comes to success, there are a number of ways to define and achieve it, whether that be an increasing revenue or a growing popularity. However, being a business owner has taught me that success is actually something beyond that. It’s everything we learn throughout the process, the skills we acquire, and the failures we experience that enable us to TRULY be successful. Read more>>
Kaitlynn Hines
Being successful, starts within. You have to see the vision before others do. You have to follow through with your vision and take care of it as if it’s your baby. You have to deny the doubt that you may feel along the way. You have to truly trust the process! Read more>>
J. Lenee
I feel as though becoming successful in the art industry as a painter/Illustrator requires a combination of talent, hard work, perseverance, and a unique perspective that sets you apart from others. I feel it’s essential to develop your authenticity and create art that you love rather than trying to cater solely to the preferences of others. A big part of this industry for me is Cultivating my Unique Point of View: my perspective and individuality are what makes my art stand out. I spend a lot of time introspecting and exploring my own thoughts, experiences, and emotions in order to create art that I ultimately love. Read more>>
Tracey Zhang
Success is often associated with a long list of accomplishments in life, but I believe it’s not just about how perfectly you’ve done things. It’s more about the lessons you learn from failure and how quickly you can pick yourself up and keep moving forward. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety and fear of uncertainty and failure when they try to reach their goals. They carry the weight of past experiences, making it difficult to progress. The key is to heal, learn, and let go as fast as possible, as that’s what increases your chances of achieving success. Read more>>
Sydney Fields
You get out what you put in. I think success is largely driven by how much you put into your work. Growing up, we are told the same narrative that education = good job which = good money which = success. I think many people assume this simple equation is the key to a successful career, but what sets apart good from great lies in hard work. The student who puts in countless late nights, the junior employee who takes on a high level project, and the CEO who insists on learning and innovating their company rather than riding the wave. A huge amount of dedication and effort to learn and get better and better is what it takes to be successful. Read more>>
Lauryn Bray
It depends on your definition of success. Because if material things are your idea of what success looks like, then I wouldn’t necessarily say that that is success, as you can successfully run up a credit card bill. But if you are financially free or independent. You’re debt free, you have savings stored up, you own the items out right, you are able to start giving in areas you’re passionate about, you’re turning a profit… that to me is what success looks like. And the way to achieve that kind of success is to stop spending so much of your wealth on materialistic items. Sure, everybody wants to treat themselves. Read more>>
Leslee Mitchell
It takes hard work year after year after year. There’s no taking your foot off the gas when you work for yourself. You are all you have. Being successful also requires your ability to create something only you can. It’s the edge that will push you ahead of all the others. Read more>>
Kylee Jean Marshall
In order to understand what it takes to be successful, I think we must first define success. I believe success is motion, movement, forward progression. It is looking back at what was and celebrating what is. Success is infinite — there is always a direction to move. And with that definition of success, I believe the number one factor in determining our success is consistency. The thing we do, day in and day out. The mindset we strengthen over time. The habits we create. Read more>>
Dean Vernon
A lot would say a blanket statement like hard work or persistence. But I believe being successful is the result of having good personal habits. How well do you know yourself? If you don’t know yourself well, then you won’t know your strength’s and weaknesses. If you don’t know your strength’s and weaknesses, you won’t be able to hone in on what’s working for you and work on what isn’t. Maybe your strength is a skill you have, but your weakness is that you procrastinate learning to monetize that skill. Success comes from constantly analyzing yourself and taking action of working on yourself. Read more>>
Suzanne Clements
Stay curious and always look for ways to learn new things. A great way to do this is to make time for personal/test shoots. These shoots will fill out your portfolio with innovative new work. The key is to treat your personal work as seriously as you would client work. Give it the time and space it deserves in your schedule just like bidding/invoicing, marketing, and taxes. I like to aim for 2-4 test shoots a year. Sometimes I get really busy and I get so wrapped up in client work that I forget to feed my own creativity. The test shoots help replenish my own creative wellbeing, they give me fresh imagery I can use in my marketing, AND they add to the skills and techniques I can bring to paid projects. Read more>>
Jesica Clay
Being a wedding photographer is much more than taking beautiful images. In fact, I’d say taking beautiful images is the smallest part of my job. Being successful means I have to be an excellent photographer with an extensive amount of knowledge of all my gear, a marketer, an editor, a customer service rep, a web designer, a tax expert, etc. And I’ll admit, I’m not always great at succeeding in all of these parts of my job, but I try my hardest and my main goal is to have excellent customer service. I make it a point to provide my clients with prompt responses and deliver their beautiful galleries in a very short amount of time. Read more>>
Allana Wells
I believe faith , putting in the work and staying consistent is what it takes to be successful. I’m not sure if you’re a spiritual person but I am but the scripture is “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” James 2:26. I can pray all day that I want to be successful, I want this and that but if I’m not actually putting in the work , waking up early to go to the post office , send emails , do pop up shop events , meetings with vendors , content planning , and etc. What’s the purpose of praying about it everyday ? Read more>>
Sarah Segal
True success comes when we are able to enjoy our work & realize it doesn’t have to be perfect. Learning & growing is important in our profession & helps balance our everyday lives. Read more>>
Margarita Waldburger
While I don’t consider myself to have fully reached that peak of success yet, I have gained valuable insights and developed a perspective on what it takes to strive towards it. I consider an open-minded approach to be paramount. Success often stems from being receptive to new experiences, ideas, and possibilities. It’s essential not only to embrace change but also to proactively seek it out. Remaining open to different opportunities and perspectives can lead to unexpected paths and enriching experiences. My own journey is a testament to this. Starting as a musician, I would never have imagined transitioning to the world of Film/TV. However, by being open-minded, I allowed myself to explore diverse avenues that have expanded my horizons in ways I couldn’t have foreseen. Read more>>
Kari Wirth
To be successful starts with the right attitude. All the knowledge and all the resources at your disposal don’t mean anything if you don’t have the right frame of mind. It’s not to say that you won’t ever be discouraged or want to throw in the towel. I speak from experience. The number of times I’ve wanted to pull the plug on writing lands somewhere between fifty and a million. I’ve said more than once, “That’s it! I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.” Read more>>
Aubrey Bursch
Appreciate you joining us today. Risk-taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken. Let me tell you about the risks I’ve taken starting my own business. It’s been quite the journey. When I first decided to take the leap, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Starting a business is a whole different ball game, and you’re never truly prepared for the amount of work and twists and turns that come along with it. Read more>>
Joshhua Smith
“The Classic Shot” was created to portray everyday culture, through the lens of a camera. I am a freelance photographer, by the name of Joshua Smith, who dabbles in fashion, editorial, and portrait photography. My work has been featured on major brands, including major music artist and brand collaborator, Lil Yachty’s nail art brand collaboration “Crete”, the clothing brand “NYRVA”, and featured in 3 magazine articles. I was, also, a 2022 nominee for “Photographer of the Year” with the inaugural Atlanta Art Awards. Recently my work, “God Body”, has been featured in the most recent Colorbloc Magazine issue, “My Body is Art”, with Amber Riley for the cover. Currently, I am based in the Atlanta/Middle Georgia area. I seek to tell a story, through every picture that I take. I, genuinely, love what I do. Read more>>
Anh Pham
Success in my life is a magnificent tapestry woven from various threads. It’s a unique journey where I get to define my own measures of success. Along this path, I’ve discovered a few guiding principles that have been invaluable to me. First and foremost, I believe in pursuing my passions wholeheartedly. I embrace what truly inspires and brings me joy, allowing my passions to guide my choices and infuse purpose into everything I do. This unwavering commitment to my passions fuels my motivation and drives me towards success. Read more>>
Sheri Oneal
I believe that success is not determined by one thing, instead, it is a balancing act between our personal, career, and financial goals. Every one of us needs to determine our own personal idea of fulfillment in each of these areas to truly feel successful. If I am to spend my life becoming successful, I need to understand what makes me tick and what makes me happy. My living and working ratio needs to then balance within those expectations. If I don’t have time for personal relationships, or to do what brings me joy outside of work, any amount of career success won’t matter in the long run. The same goes in the reverse, if I love my career but I don’t have time for fun, love, my family, or friends I will be left empty and regretful. Read more>>
Allana Caslin
I believe success is not the result but the cause of our growth and evolution in life and in business. I use to see it as a destination that I could measure only through the amount of profits or sales. What I learned on my journey is that my success is my belief in my purpose, and my commitment to staying the course. Success to me is tied more to what I’ve accomplished by maintaining my focus despite the failures along the way. Read more>>
Kyle Hammersley
It certainly is many things that add up to being successful. I would have to say in the real estate; stay positive, stay motivated ,stay consistent and be a risk taker daily. Read more>>
Jacquelyn Roland
To be successful starts from clarity of purpose, growth mindset, courage, and self motivation. I started my business as a part time hobby and it grew into more than just a hobby. I look forward every day that I have spray tans and I’m able to help give that little bit of confidence to my clients who are just wanting a tan. The amount of research, trying products, branching out and being patient as a person has help me get to where I am today. Read more>>