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.

Nick Cavalier

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work. I believe in my industry, consistency and work ethic is the most important part of being persistent enough to survive the gig economy. You can have all the talent in the world but you have to apply it constantly to not only stay sharp, but grow. That way of thinking has always pushed me through creative roadblocks, by just showing up you seem to be rewarded by the muse. Read more>>

Amanda Miller

Growing up I always had an interest in photography. I always had a camera of some sort, but it wasn’t until I got older that I realized there was a difference between a professional camera (DSLR) and a digital camera (Nikon CoolPix for example). When I turned 20 I finally made the jump and purchased my very first DSLR, a Nikon D5200 and took an introduction to photography course at the college that I was attending. Read more>>

Connie Chi

Success is the ability to courageously step outside the box. It’s about taking risks and accepting imperfections or failures. My own journey of entrepreneurship is filled with taking calculated risks. Some were fruitful while others became teachable moments. Read more>>

Nadeje Montes

Being successful requires you to let go of your old habits and engage in self-disciplinary action. Many people make the mistake of thinking that, to be successful you must flash money, cars, luxury etc. But those are the aftermath. They are the outcomes of the preliminary work. Read more>>

Leah Douglas

In my opinion, I think what it takes to be successful is to be courageous to be bold, To take risk and definitely work hard at your craft! Of course, everything isn’t going to go perfect all the time but it’s perfectly fine. We’re gonna have our ups and we’re gonna have our downs. If you don’t give it a try, you will be failing, Read more>>

Syreeta O

I think it takes perseverance, determination, resilience and foresight to be successful. A lot of people give up before they even reach their peak because it’s not coming fast enough for them or they expect overnight success and they give up when success could’ve been right around the corner. If my plan is not coming into fruition fast enough I reevaluate my approach and regroup, but I will never give up, it’s not in me. Read more>>

Jesamine De Leon

Without knowing failure, we wouldn’t understand success. In 2020, I was the only woman in a male-dominated brokerage. Being in the commercial real estate and coding space, this was nothing but the norm. Taking hits of undermining comments and belittlement meant nothing to me, until the day my brokerage went under during the pandemic and let everyone go, including myself. Read more>>

Ashley Toman

I personally don’t think there is one blueprint for success. There isn’t one manual or guide to be successful in the music industry/operating your own business, or really just in life itself. Sometimes our journeys realign in beautiful ways- with many ups and downs. For me- I started as a singer, which then led me to LA which then led me to have song credits with Chaka Khan, Disney, Netflix, Hulu etc and fast forward to now I am a successful business owner and help artists with several services I offer from co-writing to vocal arranging to making electronic press kits to vocal lessons etc. Read more>>

Zachary Weiss

I think to be successful it’s a mixture of a few different things. First of overall, you need to find a product that customers say “yes” to. Once that’s been proven you can really start to build. You also need luck/good timing that your product fits into the market and a little capital helps with most businesses. Ours, luckily enough, didn’t require too much. Read more>>

Jeff Mathis

For any business to be successful I think depends on your customer service. You have to strive to make sure that each and every client is happy and satisfied with the work performed. In order for that to happen you would also need to make sure you have happy employees. Read more>>

Helena Chow

I think it takes guts, passion, and sacrifice to be successful. Success is driven by your “what” and “why” behind what motivates you everyday. We all have our moments when we rise and fall. But what sets you apart from the rest is how you get back up and do it again. Read more>>

Stephanie Knorzer

In my experience, to be successful, one must possess a combination of qualities that includes determination, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and grow. Success is not just about achieving a particular goal, but it’s also about being able to pivot, change and evolve with the circumstances. Read more>>

Melisa Martin-Fetter

To be Successful you have to be driven and consistent. Success is not a overnight process; it may take you years to reach the level of success that you desire but if you stay the course you will become successful. When I first started doing makeup I barely could book one wedding a year but each year I improved. I remained consistent and worked hard in improving my skills. Read more>>

Nina LaBruna

Success is subjective and defined differently by everyone. Whether someone focuses on succeeding monetarily, athletically, creatively or intellectually, passion should always be the driving force behind individual success. Passion is what energizes and propels someone forward with the perseverance to reach goals. Read more>>

Julia Osorno

I think the first step is defining what success is. It’s a subjective matter, but I would say success is when a person manages to overcome themselves in spite of their particular circumstances. Sometimes being successful comes with the little things! I’ve witnessed people who might not be considered “successful” in terms of their wealth or their recognition, but who have managed to go from barely being able to get up from bed to working full time in gigantic well recognized companies. Read more>>

Amy Bauman

I talk about this all the time, whether I’m presenting to organizations, in my Facebook community, or coaching my women entrepreneur clients! I actually created a framework called my “Five Goalgetter Golden Keys,” but I’ll share my top two: Mindset and Action. Read more>>

Stone Stafford

As a veteran in the entertainment business, things such as money, fame, and material possessions were the barometers of success. Right before I was hired by Sony/ATV I had just married a beautiful success driven woman, bought a 3,000 s.f. 4 bedroom home as our first home and purchased a new Ford Expedition which was the SUV to have back in the late 90’s early 2000’s. Read more>>

CELIA MILTON

Wouldn’t it be great if that “how do you succeed” question could be answered the same way for all potential entrepreneurs? Sorry, it can’t, but I think there are some universal truths that hold true for all of us, no matter what realm we inhabit! Read more>>