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

Dione Wu

Being a content creator, I think it’s important to be consistent and also have the ability to pivot. While my Instagram is a passion project/creative outlet/side hustle and not what I do full-time (although sometimes it definitely seems like it is!), I’ve posted consistently since 2017 when I started my account. It can definitely be difficult to maintain due to losing the creative spark, comparing yourself to others, etc, but if I enjoy seeing the content from someone I follow, I look forward to seeing what they post next, so I try to apply that mindset when posting on my own account. However, I will say that there are times that even if I know a post may not perform well (for example, travel content vs Cincinnati content), I will post it because it’s what I want to share with others – and you never know, it can always help connect or build a new relationship with someone! As for the pivoting aspect, when reels were first introduced, I was sooo against jumping on the reels train. I continued posting static/image posts, but eventually a brand I was working with requested for a reel and I figured that was my push to finally try making reels. Looking back on my first reel to now, it has definitely improved and evolved over time. I’ve gotten into a groove and template of what my reels look like. If you don’t start, you won’t ever get to where you are now! Read more>>

Melisa Roman & Irene Parra

Success, regardless of the field, hinges on a few key principles. Firstly, having a clear vision and a well-thought-out strategy lays the foundation. This is like charting a map before embarking on a journey. Secondly, a willingness to learn and adapt is crucial. The world evolves rapidly, and the ability to stay current and pivot as needed is essential. Next, creativity and innovation play a significant role. Thinking outside the box and offering something unique can set you apart. Read more>>

Dani Cutler

Success to me lies in service. It’s not money. It’s not how many followers you have or how many likes or shares. It’s service. How have I helped a client? Have I shown them a new way of looking at their marketing or promotions to make it less stressful? That is my definition of success. Read more>>

Marc Dennis

When I was a full-time tenured college art professor lots of parents asked me what the keys to success are for their sons and/or daughters for their chosen career path towards being an artist. I said there is no key to success but conversely there is indeed a key to failure. The key to failure is trying to please everyone all the time. Read more>>

Emily Elizabeth

As a former competitive figure skater and tennis player, I have a lot of personal lessons and experiences that I’ve taken in having success in those sports, to my career path today. Read more>>

J & I Creations

To us, success is about constant self-improvement and adapting to challenges. Being owners of a small business, there are always obstacles in our journey, but we try to keep a positive mind and learn from failures as much as from our successes. Read more>>

Steph Brown

I truly believe that success comes only after failure (sometimes, a LOT of failures!) It’s the commitment to keep going despite setbacks, keeping the vision in mind, and accepting that failure is PART of success – not the opposite of it. Read more>>

Iris Navarrette

I have always been intrigued by what drives people to highly aspirational levels of success, specifically those with a soulful intention of purpose and passion. Perhaps because I was determined to prove to my mom that I could have success by pursuing a career as a makeup artist despite her concern that it seemed more like a hobby than a sustainable, money-generating occupation! I fell in love with makeup at a very early age and wanted to work in the film industry doing special effects makeup. Through the excellent advice of my first teacher in makeup school, I got a job working in a department store in the cosmetics department. Although it seemed far from my ultimate goal, it put me in the environment of doing makeup, practicing my craft, and even honing my retail business skills. I soon realized I loved positioning my artistry this way, and I found it enriching to be of service to others through my love of makeup. Being open to possibilities while steeping yourself in the right surroundings can provide invaluable perspective on your career journey; it can also redirect your course in wonderful ways. Instead of pursuing the special effects makeup route, I chose to continue climbing the corporate ladder and forge my way into executive leadership. I do believe certain practices helped pave a successful path: tenacity, commitment, learning from “failures,” letting go of your ego, taking feedback from those with your highest good in mind and implementing it for growth, giving your best every day, serving others and bringing them along in your journey, and “doing a great job when no one is looking,” just to name a few! I believe success becomes the byproduct of melding purpose and passion with commitment and hard work while respecting the sounds of an intrinsic “calling.” Looking back, I can’t imagine navigating the inevitable career challenges, disappointments, and lessons if my love of makeup wasn’t the inherent purpose I felt unwaveringly compelled to honor. Read more>>

LIZ LOPEZ

Determination is key to success. Resilience and wisdom are also key factors to ones success story. There will be road blocks and set backs, but remembering your why, will help you stay determined. Consistency is also important when you want your business to thrive and succeed. Your business is like your child, You have to care for it and nurture it. Shift gears when things don’t go as planned. You have to walk before you can run with your business. Build a strong foundation and reap the benefits of all your hard work in the end. Read more>>

Austin Villegas

I think the greatest indicator of success is the feeling of self fulfillment for the work that you’re doing and the work that you’ve done. The clearest path towards success is of course hard work and determination- a sense of drive towards the goal that you have in mind. But that goal can be very different from person to person depending on their profession and their own personal definition of success. For myself personally and the photography that I do, the feeling of a successful day is doing edits to photos I think look good and seeing the bands enjoy the very same photos I put hours into editing. And the clearest indication of this success having these photos open doors for me that lead to bigger opportunities such as getting to take photos at bigger shows, or being sought out to go on tour with an artist. What it takes to be successful is very subjective, and its up to each person individually to pinpoint what success means to them first and then what steps they need to take to get there. Read more>>