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.

Savanna Smith

Making the choice. A lot of people are halfway in and halfway out. I don’t think you will ever see true success until you make the choice that there is no other option. Read more>>

Jayden (JP) Price

I think a lot of people want to be successful but not everyone wants to put in the work and have the patience. I feel that in order to be successful you have to have a certain grit and edge, like there is nothing that’s going to get in your way of where you’re going. It’s really a go get it mentality, nobody gone get it for you. And the other thing is people don’t want to wait their turn and have patience. Everyone who puts in the work, stays solid, and waits their turn gets their opportunity. It’s on you to take that opportunity and run with it. I’m telling you if you keep putting in the work your opportunity will come. The way I think about it is, ‘if I quit today I could’ve missed my opportunity tomorrow’. There are going to be days when you want to give up and quit but I promise that your time is coming. Read more>>

Destiny Velez

to get up and just do it. No matter how tired you are, how depressed or sad never let that dictate you work ethic. No one is going to help you but you. You have to show up for yourself Read more>>

Alex Solca

I think in order to be successful you have to be very stubborn and persistent. Most important, you have to be very passionate about what you are trying to achieve and enjoy the ride. No matter what I was pursuing in LA, my biggest weapon has always been persistence and I never gave up. I’ve seen people with more talent than myself give up at their first roadblock. Read more>>

Rachel Lopez-Bagan

I’ve learned that the idea of being successful is relative. It depends on what you consider to be “successful” and what your goals are as a business owner and creative. I’ve had my graphic and web design business for over 8 years now and I feel that I’ve learned a lot during that time. Today successful looks like a self sustaining business (basically a business in which I have enough work/income to support myself and my family without going into extreme workaholism) it’s also a business that allows me to be present for my family as well as create and work on projects that I love. Recently I’ve started another business called Play Grnd Nails as a way to tap into my personal creative side a bit more and it’s been a big lesson in trusting the process and moving forward no matter what. Read more>>

Desjanae Thompson

Consistency is the #1 STEP of being successful. Being consistent in something that you love turns out to have better results. A person who at least TRIES goes more of a long way than someone who hasn’t tried at all. Read more>>

David Christopher

To be successful, I believe it comes down to these factors; vision, action and discipline. You need to have a vision for what you want to achieve. You then need a plan. The plan doesn’t have to be perfect, but at least an outline to get you started. From here, I believe it takes enormous action and belief in what you are trying to accomplish. You need to be passionate about it and be open to learning and adapting along the way. There will be many set backs and discouraging times while you are on your journey, but you can’t quit. This is where I believe discipline plays a huge factor and can determine whether you are successful or not. Read more>>

Allison McMahon

Success is the achievement of a desired goal. To be successful, you first have to have a goal and then you must be dedicated and work hard to achieve that goal. My goal is for every customer to have a positive experience and end up with a design or product that they love. I always strive to make each order be exactly what my customer envisioned. From the first initial contact, I try my best to find out exactly what the customer wants, whether they already know what that is or not. Having customers tell me things like “it’s like you’re inside my mind” or “it’s even better than I could’ve imagined” when sending them a mock up of my design for their product, makes my heart so happy. Read more>>

 Sarahi Lopez Rivera

I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase “Where there’s a will theres a way” at least once in our lives, am I right? When Cositas sprouted just as a possibility to get myself busy, I remember dreaming about a moment where this business opportunity could provide for our family or at least see some profit before the year mark. As I sat last night anxious to grow the business into a new level and frustrated by the timelines, I couldn’t see clear where it all started. Read more>>

Ashton Akinrimisi

Upon research and reflection, I have come to understand that success requires several components. Success requires commitment, vision, faith, opportunity, and hard work. It also requires you to be aligned spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally toward your goals. Lastly, success can expect discomfort and change. Whether you desire success in school, business, personal development, or relationships; you must consider these components. Read more>>