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.

Victoria Avant

I believe that in order to become successful, one must first accept the fact that they have a ton of control of their own destiny. There are two quotes that I live by and that have helped me along my own journey. The first, by motivational speaker and writer Zig Zigler, is “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” This quote has reminded me of my own responsibility to pave the way for my success by using my idle time to prepare for the things that aren’t yet mine, so that when the opportunities do come, I have already made space for them. Read more>>

Myra Escalera

To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of factors. Over my 20+ years of professional experience, I’ve come to understand that having a clear vision and mission is crucial. You need to know what you want to achieve and why. In today’s ever-changing business world, staying ahead requires embracing adaptability and innovation to stand out. Customer satisfaction is crucial, as happy customers not only stay loyal but also become your biggest supporters. Additionally, hard work, dedication, and a strong work ethic are essential. Success requires putting in the time and effort to reach your goals. Read more>>

Christina Bishop

Success is perspective, it all depends on what your version of success looks like. My version of success may look very different than someone else in the same field. In my experience being highly motivated is what sets you up for success in your chosen field. For example, as a small business owner motivation is imperative for success, the level of motivation I have determines the outcome, if I don’t strive for more the business does not move forward. I can set the bar as high or as low as I want but in the end it all comes down to my motivation that impacts results. Read more>>

Alli Farudi

Well first I think you’d have to define success. For me success doesn’t mean making 6 figures and being booked everyday. For me success is doing what I am passionate about, serving my clients with my best self and enjoying the process. But it’s also being able to find time to do all the other things important to me. I think that a lot of us were taught that if we hustle and work all the time, we will be successful. And once we have that we can do all the other things we want to do. And don’t get me wrong there needs to be some hustle to start a business. But I don’t think it’s a long term plan. because working all the time means missing the now… our babies growing up, doing other things we love, traveling the world, all of it. So for me it’s finding balance. Read more>>

Tia Robinson

I think to be successful you have to find something that you enjoy and put your all into it and I mean your all! You can’t focus on the money, I think if your sole purpose starting out is to only make money then you have already failed. Any business that I’ve started has been based on my passion or something that I find purpose in, those things help to push me when the business side isn’t favorable and also aides in dealing with difficult customers. When the road to success seems like a wavering path, I always find myself thinking back to why I started my business to begin with and that is what keeps pushing me towards success. Read more>>

Ashley Ketch

Owning a business is not easy and creating a successful one is even harder. Over my 13 years in business I’d like to think I have figure out some key aspects to attain a successful business. 1 – Be willing to work. Unlike jobs where you can go to the office for work, then leave your work at the office when you come home, being a business owner means there is a lot of time when you are working behind the scenes on off hours. People sometimes make the mistake of thinking, if they create a business, clients will come. – this is so far from the truth. You have to be willing to hustle and put in the work to draw in your clients. Read more>>

Stephanie Xelowski

One word – Resilience. In my business of Real Estate, or any entrepreneurial endeavor, you must be resilient. Failure is almost certain, and by the way, you should want to fail! In real estate, we get knocked down a lot – whether that’s losing a listing because a property didn’t sell, not winning a deal for a client, current market conditions…Whatever it might be, we have to get back up when we get knocked down and try again. Success looks different to everyone. To me, success means many different things. Of course I want to be finically free and hit my goals and continue to grow my business, but more than that I want a career and life I can be proud of. To know that I did things that scared me, terrified me, but I tried them anyway – even if those things don’t succeed. Read more>>

Lillian Arrigoni

Patience and diligence. I am constantly having to remind myself of this. Nowadays it’s really easy to fall into a rabbit hole of “I’m not growing fast enough” due to seeing so many others who are already where you want to be. Stop comparing because you are you! You are what makes your business and no one else can take that from you. Success doesn’t happen over night. Keep posting, keep trying, and try different things! Read more>>

Stephanie Rose Solomon

To be a successful entrepreneur, one needs to have a clear vision, set goals, take calculated risks, build a strong network, learn from failures, and continuously innovate and adapt to market trends. It also requires perseverance, resilience, and the ability to handle uncertainty and overcome challenges along the way. Being a woman and a minority in the real estate business can be challenging due to biases and stereotypes. However, it also presents opportunities to bring diverse perspectives, creativity, and unique insights into the industry. It’s important to surround yourself with a supportive network, seek mentorship, and advocate for equal opportunities to overcome these obstacles. Read more>>

Emma Hanis

When I started Émerveillé Events three years ago, I had a vision of what success would be defined by. In my mind, I envisioned every single weekend would be filled with weddings and events, the company would be making six figures within year one, and our team would be making many couples’ dreams come true by providing them a stress free wedding day. This vision took shape in the beginning of March 2020, just weeks before the CoVid-19 pandemic drastically changed everyone’s lives and reshaped the events industry. Measuring success as an event planner in a post-pandemic world had to very quickly change if I was going to survive being a new business owner in an industry that had previously relied on the ability for groups to gather in celebration. Read more>>

Joshua Marchand

Being successful in the tattoo industry requires a combination of artistic talent, technical skill, professionalism, and business smarts. After 23 years in the industry I’m still learning everyday. It’s a never ending battle with self. Developing a unique and recognizable style, honing one’s techniques, maintaining high hygiene standards, and building a strong portfolio are crucial. Building a loyal client base through positive word-of-mouth and online presence is important. In today’s world social media is absolutely a crucial tool we artist’s use for exposure. Additionally, understanding and complying with local regulations, continuous learning-both technical and medical, and adapting to trends can contribute to long term success. Read more>>

Julie Fazooli

I think to be successful at anything, you have to look outside of yourself and your own need to be the best, and really spend time connecting with community – you have to drop the ego and ensure that you’re touching others in a way that really draws them in to support you and what you do. I think my greatest strength in business has been my ability to communicate with and fully engage my community in everything I do – whether it be in organizing events that bring joy and togetherness for small business running local market events, or simply for recreation like manning the helm for the dance floor during a great club night out, or whether it’s in the subject and execution of the creative work I produce that delights, touches their hearts and compels them to think outside the box. Read more>>

Dahlia Strong

Being successful comes from determination, sacrifice, discipline, talent and using your intuitive intelligence. Is it easy, not really. But being in business you really don’t have any other choice, you have to follow through, but it eventually clicks and comes together. 100%!! Read more>>

Brian Gratz

There are so many obstacles in starting a business, from overhead costs, payroll, to quality control, all of which can be hard to overcome. But, there is one obstacle that I have found to be the most important to overcome in becoming successful in business: the fear of the unknown. This mental hurdle can cloud judgement, and prevent you from seeing the business and industry clearly. Whether its starting a business, scaling it, or navigating industry trends, embracing these changes will allow you to stay one step ahead of the competition. Harness the fear of the unknown and make it work for you and your business’. Read more>>

Caileigh Blake-Christo

I think it takes passion, having goals, and focus to be successful. One thing I love about success is that it varies on an individual level. What’s successful to me may not be what another person deems successful, and that’s okay. Because of this, I am constantly reminding myself that my path is unique and to not compare myself to others. To me, success is a feeling—it’s going after your dreams and feeling a sense of accomplishment. I suppose the feeling depends on the person as well. I’d describe it as pride, contentment, and admiration of self. Having eyes on the end goal, it’s easy to overlook how far you’ve come. Celebrating the little wins brings the encouragement to keep going. Read more>>

Elissa Pace Martinez

As a business owner and creative, we can be hard on ourselves in what we define as success. In being so locked in on achieving our goals, we forget to look back and celebrate where we are now compared to where we’ve come from. Success is just the motion of moving forward and achieving goals we have set for ourselves, whether big or small. And if we become stagnant or start to move backwards, we remove ourselves from being successful. Read more>>

David Kabanda

In my personal experience; I believe that success is a sequence of a number of things. The ultimate litmus test to becoming successful is to be able to maintain discipline despite of your emotions. Being able to master your emotions and override those feelings and stresses that come from everyday life is the biggest key . As a by product of doing this you will be able to maintain discipline. This done over a period of time will then produce consistency .I learnt also that planning your week and days to the hour will allow you to master time management which is another key to becoming successful in your field . Read more>>

Ayana Wildgoose

Over the course of my life and journey as an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that a major key to success is embracing failure. Winston Churchill put it perfectly when he said, “Success is moving from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” Understanding this concept changed my perspective in a major way. Instead of being afraid to fail, I became excited to fail & excited to discover what didn’t work. This has allowed me to be kind to myself because it’s MY journey to enjoy and learn from. Becoming successful also requires patience as nothing worth having comes easily. A concept that resonates with me is this… slow down and you’ll get there faster. I’ve come to understand that there’s no need to rush because things naturally fall into place as I become my best, most authentic version. Read more>>

Roslynn Figueroa

I think to be successful it takes someone that is willing to put in consistent effort, continuous learning, networking, adaptability, setting clear goals, adaptability, and a positive mindset. A person must first identify what success means to them and then work towards it with dedication and determination. Success is a journey, not just a destination. I developed my point of view by continuing to focus on my goals and despite all the challenges that have been thrown my way, I’ve never given up. My idea of success is persistence and dedication. Read more>>

Jimmy Winfield

I think it takes not giving up. In order to be successful you have to keep going even when it looks like things aren’t working out the way you expected it to.. I’ve started so many businesses that never actually made me any money, but I didn’t give up on becoming a entrepreneur. Now I finally found my true passion and that’s Tv and Film Production. Oh and I can’t forget about acting. I love being able to portray someone other than myself. I find it so amazing that I’m 46 years old and I finally found my thing and it feels great. Read more>>

JaLahn Smalls

To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of grit, grind, and structure, as well as a commitment to turning your vision into action. My favorite quote is from a Kevin gates song , and he says “a vision without action is merely a dream; it’s the grind, it’s the hustle, it’s the persistence,” . It’s important to live by this philosophy and be unapologetically yourself in the pursuit of your goals. Success often requires setting clear goals, staying disciplined in your efforts, and maintaining a strong work ethic. It’s about pushing through challenges and setbacks with determination, which is where the grit comes in. Your dedication and persistence are the driving forces that can transform dreams into reality. Read more>>

Eser Kucukseyhan

As a macaron baker and business owner, I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is a wild ride filled with ups and downs. I believe there are three essential components for success. First is resilience. When you decide to start your own business, you’re committing to a rollercoaster of emotions and finances. Some days you’ll feel on top of the world with an exciting new client or opportunity. Other days you’ll wonder why you ever thought you could do this as you face yet another unexpected challenge. As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to pick yourself up, time and again, move past the failures or mistakes, and keep believing in yourself and your vision. The lows will come, but focusing on the future possibilities rather than past mistakes is key. Second is adaptability. Read more>>

Mariela Sanchez

The beauty industry is all about passion. It’s a very fulfilling job, getting to help people feel confident. Like any business, however, the work never ends. There’s always new techniques to learn, new machines to incorporate, and new products to try. I have seen a lot of people say they wanna run a beauty business but they don’t know the hours you spend perfecting your art, creating content to build your clientele, staying up to date on the laws and regulations for your area, and balancing finances. A business is definitely a labor of love that’s worth the investment. Read more>>

A’Kierra Onezine

Very thankful for the opportunity I am blessed with although at first I had no knowledge of true success. My business has been opened for two years, and within those years I have changed my perspective on success. I believe for one to be success of anything you have to remain true to yourself as well to those who stand for you. I believe people get lost in the idea of fame, material items, and being the next trending topic to where success isn’t a goal to achieve. I believe in order to be put in the position to receive genuine success, you have to stand for your beliefs and remain true until success is brought upon to you! Read more>>

James Castaneda

Success is an opinion. Growing up, Hollywood allowed me to believe “Money equals Success.” It took me many years to understand Success is far more subjective than anything. For me, Success means Peace and often times Joy. It took many years to align my priorities properly when I entered my adult years while on the journey of self discovery, but once I developed a grip on my life, I found the answer to my success story. Read more>>