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

Andrei Tone

Success comes down to consistency, clarity of vision, and the courage to keep going when others quit.
In my experience, success isn’t a single breakthrough moment—it’s built through disciplined daily actions and surrounding yourself with the right people.

I’ve seen this firsthand as the founder of both Tone Films, a multi-city video production company, and Atomic Accounting, a Plano bookkeeping company that helps entrepreneurs and creatives manage their finances with precision and strategy. Read more>>

Valerie Edwards

I own two businesses that demand both creativity and precision: one as an event planner, the other as the editor and owner of an advertising publication. Success in these roles requires a rare mix of creative vision, sharp business instincts, and an industrial-strength work ethic. Read more>>

Verse Tarentino

Consistency and determination followed with persistence will allow you to become successful. Before becoming a successful record executive I was once an videographer for the artist’s Boosie and Webbie. While working for them I knew I wanted more I was determined to learn everything I needed to know about the music business so I can run a successful music label. Read more>>

Rachel St Clair

Early on in my career, when I was still advancing my skills and before I had taken on any clients, I was told that there are 3 key elements to ensure lasting custom relationships and continued opportunities. They are; being polite, being on time and lastly, having talent. I believe the first two points are as important, if not more, than the third. You can have all the talent in the world but if you aren’t easy to work with and can’t meet deadlines, clients will look for someone who can. Read more>>

Aubrey Silva

I think success comes down to a mix of hard work, great relationships, and always putting people first. In the wedding world, the little things matter a lot and it’s those extra touches that really make a difference.
Hard work is just the baseline. You’ve also got to surround yourself with the right people. Having a strong, reliable team who shares your values is everything. I’ve learned that no one does this kind of work alone you need people who’ve got your back and your clients’ backs, too. Read more>>

Coltt Lepley

First off, I use my full name, my government name and my stage name, Coltt Winter Lepley. I’m from Bedford, Pennsylvania – North Appalachia. There are two t’s in my first name, everybody screws that up usually, hopefully one day when people have heard my stuff, it’ll be like Prince. Coltt – I think I’ll aim more for Gumby. Read more>>

Leyla Alexander

Success means something different to everyone, and for me, it’s not about hitting six figures or scaling my business. Success for me is about having the flexibility and freedom to live life on my own terms. It’s being able to pick my kids up when the bell goes, taking a day to hike in the Peak District when I need a day to recharge, and be there for my family when they need me. Read more>>

Wendy Gomez

I feel creating your own standard of success is an important place to begin. It’s where everyone struggles when starting their own business. When I was starting, it was so easy for me to get caught up in comparisons and to trick myself into believing I was doing something wrong because my path looked different than that of others. I really had to ground myself in what I do and do it really well. Read more>>

Renee Washington

In my opinion it takes persistence to be successful. Anyone can do well when everything’s going their way or even one time. However it’s much more difficult to be consistent in the midst of challenges, adversity, and over the course of time. Persistence helps you stay focused, driven, and continues to challenge you to elevate yourself to new heights. Read more>>

Anita Singh

For me, success as a polymer clay earring maker isn’t just about selling out a collection or hitting a certain number of followers—though those things are great. True success feels more personal. It’s about creating something with your hands that makes someone feel seen, confident, and beautiful. It takes heart, patience, and resilience. And honestly, a lot of trial and error. Read more>>

Sabrina Fedel

The biggest factors in being successful as a writer are to be persistent and to separate yourself from your work enough that you can take constructive criticism and improve your craft. It can be challenging to distance yourself from your writing because much of what we right is such a labor of love, and often our work has elements of our own stories so it can feel very personal to hear criticism. But, as long as someone is giving that feedback with good intentions, then it’s valuable to be able to hear what others think and make sure your work is clear and polished. Writing can be very solitary, so finding a supportive writers’ group to get feedback is very helpful to improving your self-editing skills. Read more>>

Ramsey Bergeron

Viewing setbacks with curiosity, not contempt. When I deliver keynotes and workshops, I share a story about a wedding cake that crashed to the floor during a reception when the bride attempted to cut it. Everyone assumes the bride started crying, but in reality, she started laughing, and then the whole room joined her. I think that is such a powerful mindset to have when things don’t go the way we want. It’s not about what happens to us but how we choose to respond that will ultimately determine our success and our legacy. I tell my students that there is always “cake on the floor.” There will always be things out of our control that we would have preferred not to happen. Ok, well, it did happen. How do you want to respond to it? View the unknown with curiosity, not contempt, and you will always end up being successful in the long run. Read more>>

Ogechi Okwara

Success can mean different things to different people, but generally, being successful often comes down to a few key elements:

1. Clarity of Purpose – Knowing what you want and why you want it gives your efforts direction. Without that, it’s easy to drift.

2. Consistency & Discipline – Success rarely comes from short bursts of effort. It’s the result of showing up every day, even when motivation fades.

3. Resilience – Failure, rejection, and setbacks are inevitable. The ability to adapt, learn, and keep going is crucial. Read more>>

Sukie Wiggins

Success, for me, has been about consistency, resilience, and staying deeply connected to my why.

When I started Stitched by Sukie, I wasn’t backed by a huge team or endless resources I was designing, sewing, marketing, and shipping every bag myself. In the early days, I didn’t have viral moments or overnight sales. But I showed up consistently posting my work, improving my craft, and learning from every small win or setback. That slow, steady growth built the foundation I stand on now. Read more>>

John Franklin Rinehart

My version of success is closely aligned with its original Greek concept, eudaimonia. Aristotle introduced this idea as human flourishing. To me, success isn’t just personal flourishing—it’s helping others flourish too. Of course, we all want our families to thrive, but I think success runs deeper and wider. Read more>>

Chesley Schwantes

I think being successful as a photographer, or really any creative, comes down to how honestly you define success. Early on, I used to measure it through financial achievements or having a large following on social media, and that left me exhausted and discouraged most of the time. Eventually, I realized success, at least for me, is about making work that genuinely expresses who I am and how I see things. When my photography resonates with others, even a small niche audience, I feel deeply fulfilled. Success isn’t about chasing external validation; it’s about creating authentically, staying true to yourself, and finding your place where your work truly connects with people. Read more>>

Nancy Kaye

Being successful and staying true to your interests takes vision, leadership, and being open-minded.

Since my early years in photojournalism, my photography has evolved and grown to include personal photo projects and fine art photography.

I started out shooting photojournalism assignments for The New York Times, The Washington Post and Associated Press in NYC, London, and later in LA. This experience honed my communication skills and strengthened my abilities as a visual storyteller. Read more>>

Juliette Yan Yiu Ho

Many people may attribute success to hard work and perseverance. While they are certainly true to some extent, in a society in which merit is often emphasized, we often fail to appreciate the collaborative effort that contributes to success. In the film industry, success is often associated directly with the talent of the director and the actors. However, a film cannot be completed without the hard work of many people behind the scenes. From gaffers who set the tone of the scene by designing how the light is lit to sound designers who recreate the sonic environments of the scene in post-production, it does take a village to make a film. Read more>>

Eli Wright

Success, to me, is less about the outcome and more about alignment—living in sync with your values, your curiosity, and your sense of purpose. It’s easy to get caught chasing external validation: money, status, recognition. But the people who build something that lasts usually aren’t chasing— they’re creating from a place of clarity. Read more>>

Jeff Bogle

Oof, such a tough question because, in large part, how does one even define ‘success’? I think that’s the starting point for each of us, the need to envision success, not in the Hollywood or antiquated 2.5 kids and a picket fence ‘American Dream’ sense of the word, but what being successful means to us as individuals. For me, I don’t yet know if I’ve achieved success on my terms because I’m not yet in a home, on a plot of green land, with a community of hospice rescue cats living out their lives outside in the most idyllic way imaginable, while also running a used book store, record shop, and community space to fulfill my goal of being part of the social infrastructure that all towns, cities, and communities need to truly be whole. So yeah, hah, I’m not quite there yet. Read more>>