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.

Xavier Wymbs

Success is the master of doing something the average person cannot attempt. Success is never easy and should never be taken for granted. Determination, ambition, and honesty are key roles into shaping someone for success whether it’s career related, goal oriented, etc. In order to be successful you have to be determined and stay consistent. Every inch of success comes with a price you pay. Read more>>

Jessika Olsen

I have been trying to measure success differently – I want it to be more of a feeling than attaching my worth to a certain milestone or have it feel like some contest. I want it to be about community and connection; how many lives have become even the slightest bit better through their experiences at our wellness center. The amount of people that can get relief in some way. Read more>>

Julio Poletti

Success can be considered relative because it depends on individual perspectives, goals, and values. What one person may define as success may not be the same for another person. For example, someone may define success as having a high-paying job, while another person may define it as having a fulfilling career, regardless of salary. Read more>>

Allison Anna

When I was younger, I believed that if I got straight A’s in school, followed all the rules, and went to a good college, my road map to success would be laid out for me. For some people that may be true. It really depends on what success looks like for you. I followed this structure to a tee, and yet I found myself in a life and career that I was miserable in. Read more>>

María Cristina Arosemena

Success in the real estate industry requires hard work, dedication, and commitment. It takes much more than simply having a sales license or being able to show a property. The most successful real estate agents understand that building relationships with clients is essential, and this can only be done by getting to know them well, listening carefully to their needs and desires, and offering unique services that set you apart from the competition. Read more>>

Tatyana Watkins

Success requires relentless faith in a higher purpose, a “why”, to motivate us to propel in the midst of adversity. The truth is that it never truly gets easier. Rather, we get stronger and our tolerance for challenges increases. Read more>>

Kara Theart

Desperation. Curating your thoughts to want it so bad you need it, and then you begin searching for it in everything everywhere. Before I began throwing myself into my work as I do now, I hit a pure rock bottom. About a year ago, I thought my life as an artist (aka my life) was over, simply because everything I had dreamed up had completely fallen apart in seconds. Read more>>

Tarence Allison

Being successful can mean different things to different people. For me being successful is all about risks! Yes, you can follow set goals, work hard, continuous learning, but it all sums up to taking a risk at the end of the day. However, it’s important to note that not all risks are created equal, and some risks may be more calculated and thought out than others. Read more>>

Matt Munoz

In my opinion, the ability to adapt is essential to being successful no matter the life or career path. When I say ‘adapt’, I don’t mean abandon your personal goals and interests. As the Rolling Stones once wrote…’You can’t always get what you want,’ and that’s the truth. Over the years, I’ve had to learn to adapt to new technologies and environments in order to keep my hustle on. Read more>>

Jessica Mills

There are several factors that I think matter most in achieving success. Tenacity is essential because, in the face of adversity it’s important to keep moving forward. I try to view setbacks as opportunities to do better (improving processes, communication, technique, etc). Otherwise, I’ll get stuck when I should be pushing forward. Read more>>

Gissel Guzman

People always tell me “you’re so lucky”, but forget I have put in many long hours, sweat, tears, and work to get to where I am. As uncomplicated as it sounds to wake up and run a small business, it isn’t for the faint of heart. In the beginning you will have to make sacrifices. You sometimes run on absolutely no sleep and the adrenaline keeps you going. To run a business, you must give it your all, especially when things get tough. Read more>>

Kaity Krontz

My cake pop business started becoming more successful once I built relationships with other local businesses and our community. This looked like walking into local businesses offering a box of free cake pops and introducing myself, joining the local chamber of commerce and donating to community events. I realized in order to make money, Read more>>

Ariana Rodriguez

Moving from a foreign country and starting a business can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. To be successful in this endeavor, one must possess several key qualities. First and foremost, a strong work ethic is essential, as success in business requires long hours and dedication. Second, adaptability and flexibility are crucial, as navigating a new business environment can present unique challenges. Read more>>

Angel Wilson

From a hair stylist point of view, I believe there are several key factors that contribute to success in this profession. First and foremost, it takes a strong passion for hair and a commitment to continuously learning and improving your skills. This means staying up-to-date with the latest techniques, trends, and products in the industry, as well as seeking out opportunities to attend workshops, conferences, and other educational events. Read more>>

Kristiana Wreh

Depending on how you define success, this can be a contentious subject, but for me, becoming successful requires discipline, patience, consistency, determination, and an incredible amount of healthy delusion. Speaking from experience, running a business can be really difficult, especially if you do a variety of responsibilities within the business, if not all of them. Read more>>

Dakota Jane

I think that success is a frame of mind. Anyone can be successful and anyone can be a failure. The perception we have of ourselves, our lives, friends/ families, rules us; although it should be the other way around, we’ve gone into a society that views success as Instagram likes and viral videos. I believe success is doing what I am passionate about. Success takes takes determination, discipline, true belief in self and the universe and desire. Read more>>

Sarah Christine

In songwriting, performing and making music in general it takes a ton of will, tenacity, dedication to the craft, travel, a commitment to writing daily and networking your butt off. I think the biggest thing is supporting other creatives, not competing. A true message of in it together through everyone’s ups and downs is a big deal. On top of that, it takes a ton of practice, rehearsal, and a creative edge to really get ahead. Read more>>

Nicole Soto-Rios

Fearless. I think people let fear get in the way of what they want to do. When i first decided to step away from the toxic salon I was working at and go on my own I was so freaking scared!! I had so many questions on my mind like “ are my clients going to follow me” “do i have enough money to fall back on if it doesn’t work out” but i used that fear to motivate me to just DO IT! Read more>>

PJ

A lot of things factor into becoming successful. Hard work, dedication, and having a plan. However, there is one word that always seems to float around when talking about success. That is consistency. I go to a lot of different events where I meet entrepreneurs, artists, DJs, etc. Whenever they’re asked about what advice they would give to someone up and coming, one of the main things they would usually say is to be consistent. Read more>>

Marc Hedges

In no particular order you’ll need equal measures of determination, confidence, openness for growth and failure, plus an extra dash of courage as you lead the way. Whether running your own design business or employed, stay current and connected — through ongoing business development practices, tools and tactics training, community service, and participation in education and career development programs. Read more>>

De’Shawn Maurice

To me, and this might be a very boring answer but to be successful is to be happy about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with. Because success is what you make it out to be for you and your definition of success. Otherwise I feel like you’re doing something just to do it and it won’t blossom into anything. Read more>>

Brent Doscher

I believe in order to be successful in this industry, you have to truly enjoy the work and your drive has to come from that intrinsic motivation. The motivation to always just take really cool photos drives your work and your creativity, and that’s how people will notice you. Read more>>

Paula Swope

Success is earning wealth by doing what you love to do. The moment something feels like work, you’re in a danger zone for attracting things you don’t want. I learned this the hard way, so I can confidently speak on this. Here’s the deal. Read more>>

Kat Norton

To be successful, I feel that mindset is the most important factor. Many limitations we have in life are ones we are placing on ourselves and once we remove that block it opens up so many new doors! An example of this from my personal life was my fear of the ocean. I got tumbled as a kid and never went back in past my ankles. At age 25, against all my mental constructs, Read more>>

Schnyah Mack

Patience and perseverance. I firmly believe that to be successful in any way in life, you must be patient enough to let it come to you and never give up. When I came up with the idea to launch my own digital marketing company, it took months to develop and get all the components together. At the time I was working full-time, buying a house, and transitioning out of college. Read more>>