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.

Alayne Wadsworth

I think failure is key to becoming successful. I’m not saying go and purposely fail but rather don’t be afraid to take risks. You will fail in life, understand that. We all will one time or another find ourselves making a mistake or having to scratch a project. Assess the problem by making notes on how to better things in the future. I get that it is not easy to step outside of your comfort zone but just trust me, it’s worth doing. Read more>>

Laroyal Jackson

Success, from my vantage point, embodies a multi-faceted concept, blending personal satisfaction, professional achievements, and a substantial societal influence. Within the framework of Social Royal Agency, a dynamic social media management and design agency, and my involvement in the non-profit Melanin Unchained Sisters of Empowerment (MUSE), these principles are paramount. Read more>>

Ray Remington

Well, a good place to start is being okay with failing miserably, while being incredibly hard working and persistent. You have to allow yourself to fail and make mistakes. Our culture doesn’t emphasize or encourage that enough. You will let yourself down, you will let people down, but it’s all the more reason to be persistent and work hard toward the things that bring passion and inspiration to you’re life. You will learn what works, and what does not. It’s important to surround yourself with other creative people. But it’s also important when it comes to any form of art, that your voice and opinion should take priority. Read more>>

Anandita Yadav

I think it takes perseverance and hard work to be successful. Also, one has to know when to pivot and when to let go off an idea if it is not a good product market fit. Read more>>

Chelsea Porter

To be successful it takes strength, confidence, faith, and a good support system. You always hear people say being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart and it’s not, so you need strength because some days are better than others. You can be completely booked one week and then only a handful of bookings the next. Next, you have to be confident within your skill set because if you don’t believe in yourself then why do you expect others to believe in you? Along with strength and confidence you have to have faith and believe everything will work out just as it should. Last but not least you need a good support system. You need people to push you even when you can’t push yourself. You need people to pour into you. Read more>>

Dominik Cartrel

In order to be successful you must be able to take risk. Be consistent. Be innovative. Also learn the difference in purpose and passion. Over the years of working for corporations I learned things that I embraced in my own business which lead me to be successful. Read more>>

Melissa Drucker

I think the main attribute to being successful is consistency. No matter how talented or motivated you are about achieving your goals, you will not get there if you don’t work at it consistently. For instance, if you wanted to accomplish anything you need to put not only positive energy into it, but also you can never give up. You have to keep going. Read more>>

Ashley Trevino

I believe the first step to becoming successful is believing in yourself. For the longest time I doubted that I could become a Tattoo Artist. It seemed so far fetched. Then 2023 came rolling around the corner and I made it my goal to find a tattoo apprenticeship. Being successful also takes courage. I quit my full time job as a bank teller so I could spend my time putting together my last few portfolio pieces. I went into my favorite tattoo shop, TBA Tattoos and brought my portfolio with me. I remember being extremely nervous. But I knew that this was the first step to living out my dream. I ended up getting an apprenticeship and an opportunity to learn under my current mentor Mike Asfour. Read more>>

MARIA PICAZO ROLDAN

I think the success of my career has been not being afraid to change things. The fact of seeing obstacles as opportunities to change or start over. At the age of seventeen I faced the first big change of my life, in a family of farmers and agricultural merchants, I decided to enter a new world, I began to study architecture. A tough career, with high workloads and very demanding. In six years of university career, I learned everything and nothing, and that is what architects are: a bit of an engineer, a bit of an artist, a bit of a plumber, a bit of a landscaper, a bit of an electrician, a bit of a carpenter, a bit of an urban planner… But above all, I learned to work as a team, to take a curious attitude towards life, to develop my creativity and to strengthen myself professionally, seeing each challenge as an opportunity and acquiring great problem-solving abilities. Read more>>

Kalvin “Hot Sauce” Henderson

First off the meaning of success is subjective. Setting your own personal/ business goals and meeting those goals should always be personal and not compared to someone else’s “success”. Secondly, you have to figure out how to reach said success. People always are quick to say “hard work” but if I tell you to go outside and dig a hole in the ground it would indeed be hard work but it wouldn’t make you better or closer to your goals! (Unless you want to be a professional hole digger ha!) Read more>>

Ashleigh Bergman

I think staying in your own lane and doing what feels authentic and true to you and your brand is key. When you start looking at what other people in your industry are doing, comparing yourself, and adopting what THEY do that works for THEM, you dilute YOUR brand, and consumers can feel the inauthenticity and they lose trust. Creating your own identity in the marketplace that is derived from your company ethos, culture, vibe and style that YOU develop and consistently draw from to grow your business is the way to growing and maintaining a loyal client base. Read more>>