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

Claire Uhar

I’m fascinated by how companies come up with their names, so I love this question. When I was (re-) naming the company last year, I wanted something that reflected not just what we do but how we think. OBSCURE felt perfect—evoking a sense of mystery, discovery, and depth. It’s a name that captures our ethos: we don’t chase the obvious or the trendy. Instead, we focus on uncovering the unexpected—hidden opportunities, ideas, and partnerships that others might overlook but hold immense potential. Read more>>

Alexanderia Harris

Honestly remaining consistent in your advertising. For example I constantly post on multiple social media platforms. At first I didn’t see the benefit. With time my consistency brought me clientele and amazing opportunities to work with major companies. Networking events are always happening in Austin and 50% of the time they are free. So all you have to do is show up and don’t be afraid to mingle and put yourself out there. Read more>>

Jj Yosh

Success, to me, is about resilience, adaptability, and staying connected to your core values. It’s not just about hitting milestones—it’s about the journey, learning from every stumble, and celebrating small wins along the way. One thing I’ve learned is that success thrives on curiosity. The ability to keep asking questions, trying new things, and pushing boundaries is what keeps the flame alive. Of course, consistency and hard work are essential, but passion and a sense of wonder keep you moving forward when things get tough. Read more>>

Umer Dugan

I believe success is rooted in consistency, adaptability, and passion. It’s about showing up every day, learning from challenges, and staying focused on your purpose. Success isn’t about big leaps—it’s about the small, disciplined actions that build momentum over time and the resilience to overcome setbacks. One of my defining moments came early on with Shoufi Mahfi Mediterranean Grill. I remember a customer pointing out that the pita bread wasn’t as fresh as they expected. Instead of brushing it off, I took it to heart. I re-evaluated how we sourced ingredients and implemented changes to ensure the highest quality. That small critique taught me the power of listening and how even minor adjustments can significantly impact a customer’s experience. Read more>>

Kaylei Hall

I think that to become successful you need to have passion for what you do. I feel as if the more passionate you are about anything you do in life the easier it is to achieve. Success is also based on your own feelings. Success to me is a feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction within myself. I don’t think anyone else can tell you when or how you’re successful you have to feel that way about yourself. I think that in order to become success you have to fail, you have to relearn yourself, then better yourself in order to work towards your goals. Anything that’s holding you back in life should be cut off, the easiest way to not become successful is distraction. Read more>>

Kristiann Colasacco

Success is not linear. Often we think just because we have the vision and the idea of something that we are going to achieve it almost instantaneously because the vision in our minds is so very clear! It is crucial to understand that if you want success you must prepare for the highs and lows that will come with it. You must sacrifice time and other conveniences in order to get there. I learned this back in 2018 when I had to fully separate myself from working for an employer, a guaranteed paycheck because I felt it in my bones that it was time for me to leave the ongoing nest. Read more>>

Kelsey Nicole Nelson

Chasing success is what drives me. Success is the culmination of a will to win and the desire to legacy build. Success is the wake up call for those willing to listen. An output of a larger dream. To be successful, you must be willing to accept an unknown journey that you can help steer and guide in the direction you want life to go. You must accept that success is not simply a destination. For me success is ongoing, onset by a burning desire, a passion that won’t ignite and a relentless will and work ethic to make things happen.  Read more>>

Jesseniq Landrum

Success, I’ve come to realize, requires a few key things—and I’m still gathering more gems along the way. First, you have to love what you do and appreciate the journey it takes you on. Your passion is like a relationship: it won’t always be easy. There will be challenges, but you have to choose it every day. The real magic lies in the journey—the people, places, and opportunities that come along the way, often more fulfilling than the destination itself. Read more>>

Brittany Nash

I may have an unconventional view of success, While a lot of people like to measure success by metrics capital, I measure success on satisfaction in the direction you are taking your passions and purpose. That means what it takes to be successful looks different for me also. Having a good sense of who you are and what you stand for is crucial when making decisions that lead to success, You’ve heard of the adage “Not all money is good money,” I feel this is the same with opportunities that come your way, More often than not, the rhythm of my intuition (creatively or in career endeavors) is guided by what I value. Read more>>

Stewart & Holly Halcomb

I think “successful” can look different for a lot of people. Our definition of successful would be just being happy & content with what we have done thus far in our music career. Followers, likes, streams, and all those “things” to us, doesn’t define success. We have having support from our family and fans, and that in itself, we feel like has made us very successful. Read more>>

Ashley Hunt-poole

To be successful, I believe it takes a blend of vision, resilience, adaptability, and a relentless commitment to your purpose. Success is not a straight path; it requires a deep belief in what you’re doing and the courage to pivot when necessary while staying true to your mission. As the founder and CEO of Mocktails for Mommy, my journey has been a testament to this. When I first started, I faced significant challenges. I was balancing the physical and financial demands of launching a business with the responsibility of my personal life while enduring moments of self-doubt. However, the vision to create a product that empowers mothers, celebrates milestones, and provides a space for inclusion fueled my perseverance. Read more>>

Jacey (pinxuan) Chen

To me, the most important ingredients for success are determination and an unyielding spirit. My belief in this stems from my experience studying fine arts in high school. Back then, many of my peers were far more talented than I was. They had stronger foundations and greater natural ability, which led others to doubt my potential. I was often compared to them, and some even suggested that I lacked the talent to succeed. However, I firmly believed that effort could make a difference. Instead of letting the pressure and doubts overwhelm me, I doubled down on my goal. I practiced late into the night, refined my skills, and sought guidance from teachers and my talented peers. Over time, I began to see progress. My work started to gain recognition, and I discovered my own artistic style. This experience taught me that while talent is important, the ability to push through challenges and work hard is what ultimately determines success. Read more>>

 

Rick Ryan

Success, to me, is about consistency in quality and an unwavering drive to improve, no matter the circumstances. I learned this lesson early on when I started my real estate photography business. At the time, I didn’t have the most advanced equipment. My camera was decent, but I lacked the specialized tools many photographers rely on—like high-end lenses, lighting kits, or drones. Instead of letting that hold me back, I focused on making the most of what I had. I learned to work with natural light, honed my editing skills, and planned my shoots meticulously to ensure every image was sharp, bright, and professional. Read more>>

Tyara Lee

To be successful, it takes effort, hard work, dedication, and determination. Success rarely happens by chance; it’s the result of consistently showing up, pushing through challenges, and staying focused on your goals. I believe success also requires resilience the ability to bounce back from setbacks and a willingness to learn and adapt. One story that shaped my view is about a close friend of mine who started a small business. At first, they faced countless obstacles, from financial struggles to moments of self-doubt. But instead of giving up, they poured countless hours into learning about their industry, improving their product, and building strong relationships with their customers. Over time, their persistence paid off, and today, they run a thriving business that serves as an inspiration to many. Read more>>

Tia Yorek

I believe it takes a positive, focused, and determined mindset to be successful. Since day 1 of starting my business, I’ve incorporated meditation, journaling, and verbal/written positive affirmations to train my subconscious to follow my goals even when there are bumps in the road. As a UGC creator, you often deal with rejection, no response to email pitches, and a rollercoaster of emotions. If I were to quit when it gets hard, I wouldn’t have experienced the financial freedom and endless vacations I live through currently. Read more>>

Zoe Kuo

To anyone seeking success, I’d say: embrace resilience, cultivate self-discipline, and be adaptable. Remember, every setback is a setup for a comeback. Success is a journey, not a destination. These qualities have shaped my journey and defined how I tackle challenges. Growing up, my family had modest means and big expectations. I was often labelled the “troublemaker” for challenging norms, which forced me to build resilience early on. I had to learn to trust myself when no one else did, expressing my only and least emotions through creativity, arts and crafts. Read more>>

Sara Jane Parker

So, let’s start with the term “successful”. To be successful in any endeavor, you have to be motivated, confident in yourself, and happy with the results. In my career as a chef, with the added responsibilities of a family, I specifically chose a location, various jobs, and level of responsibility that I was happy with. Successful chefs (as in chefs that make large salaries and are known to the general public) usually aspire to be in a large, well known restaurant in a major metropolitan city. This is not possible for many people, and certainly not possible for me. Since I came out of college with a family already, I chose the area I wanted to be in to raise my children first. Then, within that area (Lancaster, PA),I sought out the jobs that suited my goals and that I thought I could be successful in. I was not particularly interested in fame or fortune, just to do the best job I could in the job field that I loved. Read more>>

Ellie Nieves

I’m Ellie Nieves—Woman of Faith, Wife, Bonus Mom, Attorney, Speaker, Writer, Runner, Road Warrior, and Career Strategist. I’ve spent over 20 years navigating the corporate world and have a passion for helping women show up, speak up, and step up in their careers. My professional journey began with a B.A. in Communications from Fordham University, followed by a J.D. from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. After more than a decade in the workforce, I earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business with a focus on Leadership and Global Business. Along the way, I’ve faced challenges, celebrated wins, and discovered the importance of aligning career aspirations with values. Read more>>

Daniel Vanzzini

Success is measured by what the person is willing to put into whatever they’re trying to be successful at. I believe that success is accomplished purely by being dedicated and working towards the overall goal in order to achieve it. Even though there are a lot of tools to help someone become successful at the end of the day it’s solely on that person to achieve success. I also believe that being successful doesn’t necessarily have to be a grand thing that most people think of or describe when it comes to being successful. It’s ok to have a small goals that will eventually get to a bigger goal. Accomplishing those small goals still makes a person someone successful even if it’s not the over all goal. That applies to our personal life and business life. Success exists in our everyday lives, big and small. It’s its important to approach our goals with patience and grace. Read more>>

Paul Thayer

To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of belief and drive. First you must believe in what you are doing and what you are offering. If you don’t care about your product or service, how can you expect others to? For me, I believed in myself and my vision to create a comic book that people would enjoy and I made it happen. The other half of that is drive. No one taught me how to create a comic book, write a script, or market and sell the product. I was determined to figure it out on my own. I took the initiative to learn every step of the process, from creation to publishing. I even built my own publishing company from the ground up and it doesn’t stop there. I am also responsible for selling my product. This is where belief and drive come full circle. I attend conventions across the United States to promote my comic book, connecting directly with fans. By selling directly through conventions and our website, I’ve been able to build a more personal relationship with my audience and offer them something truly great.  Read more>>

Lucia Ledoux

I believe success is about persistence, passion, and adaptability. Not solely about reaching a final destination, like a dream career or a specific income, but about growing and evolving in your work. Success is when I see progress, even in small ways. When I shot my first tour, it felt like a breakthrough moment. It wasn’t a massive production by any means, but it was proof that the hard work I’d been putting in was paying off. Read more>>

 

 

 

Jack O’neill

Aside from serving killer coffee, our main priority is building real, genuine relationships with our partners and customers. From our experience in food service, we’ve noticed that typically as businesses expand, profit is prioritized over passion and relationships. We aim to flip that on it’s head by serving a passion driven product. We know how important community is and we also know that coffee has the power to bring people together. At Bristol Street, success looks like building a tight-knit clan of cold brew loving customers. Read more>>