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

Bobbi Y

I believe that a successful business owner is a helped business owner. With the support of your family or friends or community you can be more excited and motivated to overcome challenges when challenges arise. Read more>>

Morgan Wise

Owning a successful interior design business takes more than just a keen eye for beautiful spaces — it requires a blend of creativity, resilience, and business savvy. You need the vision to turn clients’ dreams into functional, inspiring interiors while managing budgets, timelines, and expectations with professionalism and care. Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential to earn trust and generate word-of-mouth referrals. Equally important is staying organized and adaptable, balancing design work with the demands of marketing, project management, and keeping up with trends and suppliers. At its core, success in interior design is about delivering an exceptional experience — one that transforms spaces and leaves clients feeling truly at home. Read more>>

Julio Rodriguez

That’s a question I’ve seen answered time and again, but the most profound example comes from my own family history. My grandfather’s journey perfectly illustrates the core ingredients of success: clear vision, relentless hard work, unwavering belief, and the vital support of a strong community, especially family. Read more>>

Raul Almanza

I’m 35 years old, and something I’ve really noticed over the years is how often talent goes to waste simply because people don’t believe in themselves. I’ve been there too,full of doubts, stuck on the “what ifs.” What if I fail? What if it doesn’t work out? That fear can be paralyzing. Read more>>

Emma Bahrton

When it comes to being successful as a photographer in todays digital age, I think it takes less technical skills and that it is more about the ability to grow and adapt to the industry and not get stuck with how things “used to be.” Especially as a young female photographer that has been doing it since instagram started being a thing I often feel as I had to prove myself to be taken seriously by the older generation of photographers. I believe that in any industry, moving with change rather than pushing against it is essential for staying relevant. Read more>>

Kanayo Adibe

For me, success starts with clarity — knowing what matters most. I’m a husband, a father, and a creative, and those roles shape how I define and pursue success. It’s not just about external validation or money. It’s about legacy, impact, and showing up fully in the spaces that matter.

One experience that really solidified this for me was a wedding I photographed where the groom’s father pulled me aside and said, “You didn’t just capture photos — you captured the feeling of the day.” That stuck with me. Because it reminded me that success isn’t just about technical skill; it’s about connection. It’s about being present, observant, and intentional. Read more>>

Lizi Gvasalia

It takes a lot to be successful in life. Success can be different for each person. Some can achieve it in a short amount of time. For others, it can happen instantly. Of course, it is natural as every path of life is different and unique.
For me, dedication and a hard-working character are the keys to success. In my opinion, if you are a talented person and also a hard-working individual who dedicates time and energy to improvement, you will achieve success without unnecessary delays. Read more>>

Tori L. Edwards

Success starts with a clear, God-given vision. When you know your “why,” you’re not easily swayed by distractions, doubt, or outside opinions. It takes faith to keep building when results aren’t immediate.

I’ve had moments where people told me to put my dreams on hold and be more realistic, but I kept going because I knew what God placed in me was needed. Tunnel vision and perseverance have been key. Success isn’t about the spotlight, it’s about staying aligned with purpose and finding fulfillment in the process. Every time a woman tells me my work helped her reconnect with her mother or herself, that’s success. Read more>>

Melissa Roller

To be successful as a photographer and videographer, I believe it takes a combination of technical skill, relentless drive, and most importantly—trusting your own vision. It’s about taking a chance on yourself, especially in an industry that’s constantly evolving and saturated with talent. You have to believe, even when there’s no immediate proof, that you’re on the right track and that your perspective has value. Read more>>

Jordan Curtis

It takes defeat to be successful. You can’t really experience success until you fail. Success is like an apartment. Rent is due every month. That means the work doesn’t stop. Failure is necessary to be successful. Failing is a constant reminder of where I don’t want to be ever again. Whenever I wake up and that bed got a seatbelt in it. I just think about when my entire paycheck was going to Earnin, behind on Klarna and Affirm payments, sleeping pillow to post, and driving the same truck I’ve been driving since junior year in high school, and dealing with an autoimmune disease. That’s all the push I need. I walk with a limp from years of battle with an autoimmune disease and that limp is a constant reminder to me that I may have been defeated, but I made it to the other side. Success. Read more>>

Maryssa Sinor

I believe there are multiple factors that contribute to success. I developed this view by setting goals I wanted to achieve and putting in the hard work to reach them. As a recent high school graduate, some of my biggest successes came during high school. My proudest accomplishment so far was becoming Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook my senior year. I joined the yearbook staff as a junior and quickly fell in love with everything about it—that’s where I also developed my passion for photography. Early on, I realized I wanted to become Editor-in-Chief the following year, so I started putting in the effort. Read more>>

Sheyla Jordan

A juice business owner I’ve worked with started pressing juices out of her kitchen with just a basic juicer, handwritten labels, and a dream to heal people through food. She showed up at small pop-ups, barely made a profit, and often had to explain why her cold-pressed juice cost more than a soda. Read more>>

Avree Anderson

To me, success isn’t measured by numbers or a packed class schedule — it’s defined by connection. Opening my new studio space has shown me that success lives in the people who walk through my doors every single day.

There’s no “one” body type, personality, or background in my sessions — and that’s exactly what makes it special. I’ve been able to connect with each person that steps onto my reformer, no matter where they are in their journey. That variety — of bodies, energy, support, and stories — is the core of what I consider success. Read more>>

Robin

To me success is all about vision, getting outside of one’s comfort zone, confidence and effort. Too often we feel powerless and are reacting in life rather than envisioning where we want to go and manifesting the journey.
It starts with having vision. People have to have an idea of what they want to achieve. Do they want to quit their day job and start a business? Do they want to start a passion-led side hustle? Do they want to run a marathon? Or maybe they have always dreamed of writing a children’s book about all the dogs they have ever owned. Read more>>

Ashley Lopez

Success in this industry, and really in any service-based business, starts with how you treat people. I believe kindness is a lost art, especially in beauty and wellness where ego or burnout can sometimes take over. At Bleu Aesthetics, I lead with kindness—whether it’s a client, a student, a brand partner, or a stranger asking questions in my DMs. People remember how you make them feel long after they forget the exact service or technique. Read more>>

Jessica Yoon

To be successful, you need to have a clear vision of what success means to you. When I was in my twenties and advancing in my corporate career, my idea of success was rather stereotypical: getting bigger projects and fancier titles, chasing promotions, raises, and the like. But as time went on, my concept of success evolved. That didn’t mean lowering my standards; instead, it required me to be honest with myself about what really matters to me in life. Read more>>

Molly Nelson

Como Pecan Company has only been in existence for 10 months, but it’s already hard for me to remember who I was and what little I knew about business 10 months ago. This year, I have received a crash course. I have had to immerse myself in the pecan industry in every way. I have traveled to several field days in different states to learn the best methods of growing and harvesting pecans. I have spoken with countless government entities about food regulation and food safety. I have gotten breakfasts, coffees, and lunches with other small business owners, graphic designers, professionals in the shipping industry, grocery store owners, and the like. Read more>>

Tiffanny Hicks

Success is having gratitude, being thankful for those who showed up and not worrying about who didn’t. To be successful, it takes a mindset that embraces both change and discomfort, knowing who God is, more importantly keeping Him in the forefront of everything you do. Success isn’t just about the outcome, it is about the process. The perseverance, determination, patience, consistency and the constant adaptation you go through will shape your success in life and in business. Knowing success has levels of endurance. The real question is, do you understand the wait and the weight of your vision? Read more>>

Erick Bech

I think it takes a lot of belief and investment in yourself to be successful. Also, it depends on what you personally think success is. But whatever your definition of success is, it takes courage, strength and tenacity to achieve it, especially during the lows. Having the will to find a way forward despite facing challenges is very important. It’s easy to give up, but it takes strength to keep going. I also think it’s important to learn from others that have experience doing what you want to do. We can learn a lot from others successes and from their failures. Read more>>

Brendan Arnett

Success is a difficult word to define. Not only does it differ from person to person, but it’s something that continues to evolve as you grow as a person. In order to be successful, one must first decide what success means to them. It can be as simple as finding joy in small moments of your day, or as extensive as building a company from the ground up. Regardless of what the definition may be, one thing is certain: a concentrated, intentional effort towards a specific goal will be required. It is often said that success comes when preparation meets opportunity. That being said, the hard work will come before the opportunity even presents itself. By doing so, one can be prepared for when that knock on the door comes and know that success is within reach. Read more>>

Kara Whitney

To start with, I think it’s important to realize that success means different things to different people and there is immense value in knowing your own definition of success. If we live in accordance with society’s idea of success or other people’s expectations of what success is for us, then that’s not truly success. With that in mind, to be successful means knowing yourself and being aligned with who you are and what you value, including discovering your calling and what feeds your soul. Read more>>

Adi Young

I believe it takes strength, resilience, unshakable self-belief, and a willingness to fail. Simply put—never stop.

I’ve failed. Many times.

I moved to LA in 2015 to pursue acting. I dropped out of college, worked a sales job, and saved enough money to make the move. When I got here, I had no idea what I was doing. There’s no clear, step-by-step path to becoming an actor. Unlike other careers, where you follow a set education and training path, acting requires you to learn as you go. Read more>>