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.

Ilona Alidzaeva

I believe success is a multifaceted concept that encompasses a blend of determination, adaptability, and continuous learning. In my journey, I’ve found that a proactive mindset, coupled with a strong work ethic, has been instrumental in achieving my goals Read more>>

Cate Gongaware

Success as a business owner and entrepreneur is the result of a myriad of factors, many of which are random, but can be boiled down to (roughly) two things: luck and dedication to your work. Not all who are successful work hard and not all are lucky. Read more>>

Tracy Pickney

What do I believe it takes to be successful in this business. I believe it takes a good worth ethic, it takes the willingness to listen and learn, it also takes patience. Having a good worth ethic. Read more>>

KRISTIE BARRETT

As the owner of Smarter Bridal, I embrace the motto of “work hard, play harder,” but I still believe in the idea of finding joy in the work itself. At Smarter Bridal, my goal is to create an enjoyable experience not only for the brides we serve but also for my team of incredibly talented individuals. Read more>>

Kawanya Duncan

Being approachable , time management but most of all consistency. I believe my business took off as fast as it did because I was the only one doing it , it was new and people were curious . But I stay successful because I am consistent. I pride myself on being kind to people and on time. Read more>>

Dr. Rita Renee’

Success from a Christian point of view often involves aligning one’s life with the teachings and principles found in the Bible. While success can be subjective and may vary among individuals, some common themes within Christianity include: Read more>>

Mackenzie Sundahl

What it takes to be successful is having the courage to start as a beginner. I like to believe that nothing is out of reach so with resilience , hard work and a vision, anything is possible. I move into everyday with my best foot forward hoping to inspire and make other women feel beautiful. Read more>>

Bracha Banayan

The path of entrepreneurship is often solitary and challenging. Despite its occasional allure, the reality is a journey filled with long stretches of solitude and uncertainty. Success requires unwavering dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and unshakeable self-belief. Read more>>

Katie Boyce

First, and most importantly: every single person needs to get clear on what “success” looks like to them. Because that word carries a lot of weight and can mean a thousand different things. Is success a certain salary or title? Read more>>

Kristina Fitzpatrick

Success is both a paramount desire and a formidable fear for many individuals. As entrepreneurs, we’ve encountered countless videos espousing the virtues of success: increasing profits, enhancing planning techniques, and fearlessly taking strides forward. However, this advice often feels overly general, lacking the specificity required for universal application. Read more>>

DIANA CASTLE

I grew up in a world of people who saw green. They couldn’t see purple, didn’t want to acknowledge that purple existed, and when they saw glimpses of purple, most of them were just plain mean. I had to learn about the green state of awareness in order to survive. If you take a map of Los Angeles and try to navigate NYC with it- you’ll be lost. Read more>>

Breen Halley

Success to me is a happy client. I have the privilege of working with both individuals and companies and curating an event that meets their needs and reflects their style or company mission. To succeed in this satisfies me. From a wedding to a large corporate conference, my client’s image is what I strive to perfect through the guest experience and the smallest event details. Read more>>

Emlyn Roesler

To me, what defines success isn’t money for fancy things. It’s freedom. Freedom to choose a career path that’s fulfilling and meaningful. Freedom to express my authentic self through my work. My thoughts have definitely changed since switching careers from an advanced practice nurse to artisan soapmaker. Read more>>

Patricia (Pati) Maguire

In one word: perseverance. True success cannot be measured by what others think, but what makes YOUR life worth living. For me, this is more than just one thing: the love of family and friends, the pursuit of a career as a painter and helping make our world a little better.  Read more>>

Emily Rieve

One of the most important elements to success if believing in yourself. When we started working on opening GenuWine Arizona, we manifested our success. We always believed that we would open up a self-serve wine bar and we took one step at a time to get there. Read more>>

Alliah Cabradilla

To be successful requires three things: supportive peers, time management, and accepting failure. Now, these sacrifices can be small and/or big. It does not necessarily mean that you will have to give up everything to accomplish what you want, but it requires your time. Read more>>

Michelle Awad

As a poet in today’s world, I believe success hinges on mastering a balance of inspiration and discipline. Achieving this balance, in my opinion, requires poets to make a shift from a passive to an active mindset. Read more>>

Yuji Huang

First and foremost, being brave and putting myself out there is the first step I believe everyone needs to take. Presenting to others my profession with confidence is the key to making sure others remember me as a professional artist, which in return gives me more opportunities than not having others know me at all. Read more>>

Chandler Creedon

I think success looks different for everyone. When I started Honey Lavender, I wrote down specific goals that I wanted to achieve for my business. This gave me a good idea of what success really looked like for me, and allowed me to plan out how I’d get to where I wanted to go. Read more>>

Stacy Quinkert

I believe success is an inside job. It doesn’t always come from the numbers on the books. I had many challenging years during Covid where I truly wasn’t sure if the business was going to make it. I really had to make that perspective shift for myself in order to keep going. Read more>>

Chirali Patel

I think the ability to take a chance on yourself and take risks are some keys to making you successful. I once had a job where I had the potential to make 7 figures if I just stayed long enough. My former boss had a private jet so trust me, the possibility was very real. Read more>>

Shakeria Coffield

To be successful you can’t be afraid to fail. Failure can be one of the biggest lessons to gain or create success. You need be determined to get the job done and accomplish your goals. You have to find motivation to be able to push through those difficult times. Read more>>

Avonné Stalling

Often times many business professionals think that constant marketing, social media, paying for ads, networking, etc… creates pathways for success. While those do help, that isn’t what rang true for me. I have been a wedding photographer for 14 years and clients have flown me to many countries to document their big day. Read more>>

Michelle Schneider

I believe success is quite simple. It all comes down to mindset. What stories are you telling yourself? What beliefs do you hold? What intentions are you setting? To be successful in an endeavor, it takes a complex combination of skills, knowledge, and determination. Read more>>

Eunice Herrera

When I think of what it takes to be successful, I think of some of the failures I have had in my life. I think of the years spent working for somebody else, back breaking work and at the end of the day not even being thanked for my effort. I think of all the missed opportunities which I was to scared to jump on. Read more>>

Cynthia Clark

The key to being successful is seizing every opportunity that’s handed to you, and taking advantage of everything you can. I started out at Nashville State Community College during COVID 2020 and my first year was absolutely horrible— it’s no one but COVID’s fault. Read more>>

Sara Fearby

I – like many other people – caught myself stuck in the monotony of corporate 9-5 life. You blink and years of your life have zoomed by and you feel like you have nothing to show for it other than too many hours clocked behind a computer. Read more>>

Jessie Loga

For Loga Weddings, our success can be aligned with our team growth and never lowering our standards. When you hire Loga Weddings, no matter what team members you are getting for the day, you know what to expect. Read more>>

Derek Gray

To be successful, I break down into a few things. First, you’ve have got to love what you do, Acquire the additional skills you need to be competitive in the field you are pursing, decide to take action, determine the next steps, execute on the next steps. Read more>>

Ryan Riek

Each day allows us to try again. Having that opportunity everyday, allows us to then create a consistent system for ourselves. Whether that be in Health, Financial, Relationship, Education, Parenting, etc. “CONSISTENCY” on a daily basis will get you to your result that you are looking for. Read more>>

Tonisha Gale-Jenkins

Consistency is key to being successful. Without being consistent, no one will see you. I remember the first time I went viral on TikTok. I had just quit a door to door job and only depended on my business and Instacart at the time. I was probably posting 20 plus videos a week. Read more>>

Nana Arasah

Everyone defines success differently but what I think every self-made entrepreneur can agree on is the rollercoaster you’ll be on. One crucial aspect is being comfortable with the F-word: Failure, because you will fail at some point within your journey but it’s a crucial stepping stone. Read more>>

Richard Santana

To be successful as an artist and record producer, a combination of talent, perseverance, adaptability, and networking is crucial. Personal anecdotes can highlight challenges overcome or key moments in your career that shaped your perspective. Read more>>