We asked some very talented folks to talk to us about success and what it takes to be successful. We’ve shared their responses below.

Jacob Pierce

There are many traits that any entrepreneur needs to be successful however there is one that I have found to be more important than all others and that is self-discipline. If you think about it, success (whatever that looks like for you) is just the culmination of your decisions, actions, and habits. Every micro-decision you make throughout your day contributes to that day being either a good, productive day or a bad day full of wasted potential. Read more>>  

Katherine Hayes

This is something I am continuously practicing and learning every day. I believe success requires self-discipline, the ability to do the work, everyday, to strive, to improve, and to continue learning everything you can about your craft. If you’re like me, (a creative, running a business), then dive into the left brain side of things. It doesn’t come as naturally for a lot of us creatives, but is necessary to run your own business. Read more>>

Sarah Chisholm

I think if you let other people determine what success looks like for you, then you will never truly find it. So, I think it takes whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, until you find that feeling of success for yourself. Read more>>

Kimberly Whitmon

In order to be successful, one must first define what it means to be successful for them. Everyone doesn’t not have the same desires and it’s important to be clear on yours. If you do not have a clear picture of what success looks like for you, it’s impossible to know when you have attained it. Read more>>

Mytecia Myles

Success is not a destination. It is a way of being. Success requires a shift in mindset from mediocre to brilliance. One can not make sense of success by merely seeking to obtain material things, accolades, or levels of privilege. A truly successful individual will exude God-confidence, peace, and joy. It takes clarity in decision-making, courage against all odds, self-confidence, day-to-day consistency, a loyal community, authentic connections, collaborations, and perseverance to cultivate your calling to be considered successful. Read more>>

Christina Walker

In order to be successful you must have a well-written vision and a solid business practice that allows practical laws and rules. Competitive prices and valuable services. you need this model to follow for consistency. Working with integrity, to gain the trust of your clientele. Taking accountability as a business owner with fair and quality services. You also need Great Marketing Strategies and financial discipline. Read more>>

Avery Walter

When I think of success, I think of character. It may seem that people who are confident always have more success. I am someone who has never been very confident in myself, but that’s okay because I know how to be myself. Whenever I show up to a photo session, I know it’s going to be fun. When I am behind the camera, I am cracking jokes and giving my subjects fun prompts and in return they have fun and it makes them want to support my business again. Read more>>

Heather Hukari

To have a successful business you need a 3 things- 1- To be really, really good at what you do. What every service or product you provide, makes sure it’s the the absolute best in the industry. This might mean taking online tutorials in your free time to learn more, practicing your craft even when you don’t want to, or paying for more education. This will not only bring people back to you over and over again, but it will give you a lot of confidence and pride in your own abilities. Read more>>

Imani Guillory

In order to be successful, I believe it takes resilience, faith, determination, and a dream. Work/life balance is also an important aspect of success that I am still working toward today. Read more>>

Hannah Jacobs Martin

In order to be successful you must realized that it does not come over night. It takes hard work and dedication. When most people think in their mind oh in a few months I’ll rich it’s way more than that. Read more>>

Dennisha Bellinger

It takes lot of hard work, discipline and dedication to be successful. Lots of sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears. Running a business is not as easy as social media makes it seem. It’s really tough especially when you’re working a full-time job too. There will be plenty of times where you feel discouraged and unmotivated. I’ve been there, done that. But if it’s something you really want, you have work hard for it – no excuses. Read more>>

Jasmine Bledsoe

I think success is our own personal gauge. For me success means that I’ve created a life for my family and I that is sustainable and comfortable. Success for me also looks like giving back to others. Read more>>

Tim Lizardi

One major thing I have learned that it to takes to be successful is persistence and passion, the two kind of go hand and hand the persistence is needed because no matter how well prepared you may think you are things never really go as planned and you may fall on a few set backs that the persistence will help you overcome and learn from and the passion is needed for this as well because sometimes on the road to success it gets very rocky and can bring a lot of self doubt so you need to have the passion to keep pushing you to move forward when it may feel like that may not be the right road to take at the moment. Read more>>

Donnita Macon-Wilson

Focusing on your goals. Hard work, dedication, consistency, and positivity. Make sure you have a balance between your personal life and entrepreneurship. Founding out who you are and what you want to do in life. Read more>>

Taneka Newkirk

The traits I feel one needs to be successful but aren’t limited to are Discipline, Consistency, Patience and Grace. I feel like Discipline is a part of a successful equation because discipline requires you to overcome what you’re feeling to achieve something greater than your feelings. There will be days when you’re physically and even mentally exhausted however in order to achieve the goals you set out for your business, you’ll have to have the discipline to push through. Consistency is the next piece of the equation. To be consistent means to remain constant. Read more>>

Amberly Brooks

Success can be measured in several ways in my opinion. What do you think defines “success”? Not only do I think it is about the amount of wealth someone has, but more importantly how happy and content someone is with their life. Like many other jobs, the photography industry is very saturated. As a young teen, the thought of owning my own successful photography business seemed more like a dream. It was a goal I hoped to accomplish in my life. Now, at 22 years old, I would have never imagined how my business could grow in just four short years. Read more>>

Iann Doolittle

This is a bit of a loaded question, however one time I read a quote from Jay-z saying it’s not always the most creative or talented person that gets all the success, its the person that grinds the hardest. There’s a lot of truth to that stupid quote haha. Productivity can be many things! For PLUM to be successful I need to design flowers that people want and continue evolving my brand, that can be hard when you’re thinking about profits and paying bills. But I’ve learned I need to take time to myself so I can recharge, then I can focus on being creative and inspiring. But most of all learn to except the things you aren’t good at and move on! Read more>>

Brian Michaux

Because there are many different ways one can succeed, and almost uncountable definitions of success, it can be a difficult thing to measure. There are also myriad ways to achieve it. Perhaps it goes without saying, but I think the most important factor in being successful is having a goal to strive for. Success can only be measured relative to the goal that is being pursued. Read more>>

SoNae Ryder

I have gotten to where I am because I stayed consistent and I never gave up when things got hard. Giving 100% on days I didn’t feel 100%. Coming in and servicing women to make them feel better even when they weren’t the nicest. Remain authentic is who who are ans what your brand is no matter what. Read more>>

Jacqueline Mercier

To become successful is to take a leap of faith, believe in yourself, have experienced mentors by your side and build a solid base framework to narrow in on your mission and vision. You can learn to be a great leader, you can learn how to balance the finances, you can learn all the important key components of running a successful business, but, if you don’t have faith in yourself, and great mentors to support you along the way, it will never work. A lot of successful figures, including myself, are risk takers. Read more>>

Victoria Brown

Clarity of purpose, having the ability to say no and be not only good, but damn good at what you do. Nobody strives for mediocrity — so reach your ultimate potential by working smart, with preparation and with focus. Read more>>

Ebanie Wilson

I think a lot of people’s idea of success is different. I believe to be successful, first you need to identify and define what success means to you. I believe most people feel like you must have some extraordinary power or advantage to be successful but, you just need to be willing to do the work. Taking ownership of your life and striving for success is not easy. It is hard work but it’s simple. It’s not easy because life is demanding and we have no choice but to learn how to navigate and adapt to our circumstances and situations, but the process is not complicated. Read more>>

Aysia Sanders

To be successful, I think you have to understand what success means to you vs. what society suggests. It takes tenacity and grit to keep going when you get knocked down and feel uninspired. You must dream about it and manifest it in your heart and mind until it’s yours. Read more>>

Rickelle Felton

I think that success is relative. It doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. Success, by definition means, the accomplishment of an aim or person. Success for some people means getting out of the bed every day and getting dressed. Others think that success is having lots of money, a nice house, cars and material things. Success for me is to fulfil your purpose doing something you love with the people you love and sharing that purpose along with the gifts that God has given you with the world. Read more>>

Diana Lomeli

I personally think to be successful; you must put in the hard every day, learn from your mistakes and never give up. Building a business requires hard work, dedication, talents, push your limits, creating new ideas and love for your career to earn it. Read more>>

Brianna Vodvarka

I think people assume you have to be a genius or extremely well educated to be successful. That’s not true at all. I’m a beauty school drop out and had zero formal experience before I started my business. It takes perseverance and not accepting no for an answer. People will tell you no all the time. Don’t listen to them and keep going. Read more>>