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.

Rossmond Chark

It takes effort and consistency to be successful. Although I may not be using the exact words, someone once told me “if you do nothing, in five years you’ll have looked back, and realize it’s going to take five more to achieve the same goal. But if you’re taking steps, even if they’re small, you’ll eventually get to where you’re going”. The point of the conversation was to realize that no matter how long it takes, you won’t be in the same position if you’d just start. And how easily a 5 year journey can end up costing you 10. Read more>>

Yuliana Minor

I think success in business requires a considerable amount of hard work, persistence, and unwavering consistency. Contrary to the impression often portrayed on social media and online stories, businesses don’t become successful overnight through some magical transformation. The reality is that genuine success is the result of numerous small actions undertaken consistently over months and years. Take my jewelry business, for instance, which had its humble beginnings as a hobby 13 years ago. Its growth was a slow and gradual process. Many individuals might have been discouraged by the gradual increase in revenue and chosen to give up, but I kept going. By persisting, I gained valuable insights and continuously refined the systems and processes within my business over time. Making incremental improvements on a daily basis not only contributed to the gradual growth but also provided clarity on what strategies were effective and which ones needed adjustment Read more>>

Chazriq Clarke

Success means something different for everyone; some people think success come from material possessions, others believe it is based on how well known you are. But I believe success simply means achieving your own best potential in whatever area that may be. To attain that level of success, it takes passion, grit, and authenticity. Read more>>

 Jacqueline Franquez

To be successful I think you need to have a lot of grit and drive. The amount of times I’ve been told no, turned down, ghosted, and someone saying, “maybe you should do something else” are endless. At times it was discouraging, but I never listened. I’ve been ruthless in my endeavor to make my photography business work. I am so incredibly passionate about photography, and turning your passion into your business can be a double edged sword at times. Read more>>

Rhonda Greene

To be successful, you first have to believe in yourself and your goals. In my field of work there’s not a blueprint to follow; believe me, I’ve searched. However, my determination and a supportive network of individuals is providing me with opportunities to pry open doors I wouldn’t know to access. Read more>>

Andy Keathley

In my career, success has come as the result of two factors. The first, to put it plainly, is to become an expert. This may sound pretentious at first but I try to use the word in it’s truest sense. You can just as easily substitute “professional” to understand what I’m getting at. Whether someone is hiring a house painter, a plumber, a doctor, a tattoo artist… everyone wants to feel confident that the professional they are hiring has expert-level knowledge and proficiency, which only comes from experience (lots and lots of it). Read more>>

Dan Farrell

I think success is interesting, especially as an artist — success could be based on recognition or financial stability. As a business owner, success could be your balance sheet or social media statistics. Success could also be the growth of a community or a greater cultural awareness. It depends on what success means to you as an individual and what you’re looking for on this earth. My perception of success changes everyday and I think more than anything, I’m just trying to be better version of who I was yesterday. Still, I would argue that there are two important factors in success across the board. The first element of success is resilience. You have to be willing to fail and fail hard. Crash. Burn. And then pick up the pieces and try again. If you think failing sucks, just wait until you experience the regret of not trying again. The second element of success is timing. While some might call it luck, I believe in God and I believe everything happens for a reason. Be prepared. Be on time. When opportunity presents itself, make sure your shoes are already tied so you don’t trip over yourself. I will say, as a business owner, you have to be a little crazy because you’re basically inviting yourself to deal with problems all of the time. But don’t get too focused on the big picture that you miss the small successes of the day in and day out because you ultimately rob yourself of joy. Read more>>

Catherine Trotter

For me never quitting is the main ingredient to being successful. I have experienced many setbacks and challenges while building my business but the one thing that remains true is that I don’t quick. I adopted this mindset because I know that my life is attached to someone else and if I give up, I will not be able to pass the baton onto the next entrepreneur. Read more>>

Heather Halliday

Oh, this is a great question! I think determination. Persistence, positive thinking and relationship building all add up to being successful. It takes a certain mindset to feel accomplished in what you do. Knowing that it doesn’t have to be perfect but that you gave it your best. And most importantly, that you enjoyed working towards it. Read more>>

Kurt Rajavong

When I consider what it takes to be successful, I think it’s important to start by acknowledging that I don’t see myself as being successful yet. I view success as a journey, not a destination, and I’m still on that journey, learning and growing every day. To me, success is about resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement. It’s not about where you are now, but about the direction you’re moving in. Read more>>