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.

Alex Comstock

I think it takes someone who is willing to risk it all for success. For me, it means sacrificing a lot of time with family and friends, to hopefully build something that down the road allows me more time. While actively trying to grow a business, it takes a ton of time and sacrifice. Read more>>

Candi Cain

To be successful honestly you really have to be consistent. Consistency is key in all things and you have to change your mindset. No matter who is against you , you really have to believe in yourself. It’s take dedication. Read more>>

angela knight

Being successful is a journey , it’s patience ,it’s a love for what you do every single day ,being successful can be very hard days and nights of work. Being successful can be so sweet when you see the faces of all the people you have made so very happy the of an event. For me, a mentor is a must . Every business owner I believe need that push and support of someone who have been in business for years and will tell you the truth with being very transparent with the truth . I thank God for my Mentor . No I am not here to talk about money because I believe that will come with the love of your work . Now that is being Successful . Read more>>

Maria Cortes Graham

Success can be measured in different ways by different people: fame, wealth, or a successful business. Success, for me, means having a good reputation and a thriving business; financial success will naturally ensue. My success came after many years of hard work, discipline, and persistence. Hard work and, at times, sacrifices are always a part of any successful story. Read more>>

Max Born

Success comes in many forms and facets. On one hand, simply being able to pay my bills on time, having a roof over my head, food on the table, and a loving, supportive network is a fundamental measure of success. It’s about the basic stability and contentment that many strive for. Read more>>

Ruth de la Cruz

Being persistent and telling the imposter syndrome voice to tone it down is important for a creative to become successful. Although now a days it seems social media hype over education gets you success(tough but true), continuously creating works of art and having a persistent productivity drive is impactful to an artists career. Sharing your work and surrounding yourself with other successful artist and never comparing yourself to others is very important as well. Read more>>

Jessica Mortarotti

I think being successful as an entrepreneur starts with holding a clear vision of what you are trying to create and then taking steps towards that goal. It requires fierce determination and the attitude that “this is happening, no matter what.” When failure is no longer an option you have to find a path to succeed. Read more>>

Love Hudson-Maggio

In my opinion, you have to have 1)Emotional IQ and strive to understand others, more than you seek to be understood. There is something magical, about active listening and framing your story to make someone else the hero. 2) You have to have Grit. The willingness to keep going even when its really hard. 3) Appetite to learn new things and ensure that you continue to learn and grow. Read more>>

Anne Sheeler

I think when I started my picture frame business, Framed! I started small with no real plans. I intentionally planted seeds in different areas around Nashville: non-profits, school fundraisers, designers, small businesses, new artists.etc. I networked and focused on building relationships instead of looking for ‘the sale’. Read more>>

Maria Crawford

While I’m certain this isn’t the first time someone has said it, I believe in cliches for a reason. Authenticity and hard work is what it takes to be successful. As a self-proclaimed girl-boss/it-girl, I am the way I am because I love it. I take the things that make me excited and I turn them into businesses. Through hard work, LOTS of learning curves, and infusing my personality into each and every venture, I’ve found success. I’ve never met the same person twice. Our true ability to succeed is born of our individualism and innate ability to learn. Read more>>

Teouna Thomas

Everyone has their own perspective on success. In my view, success begins with a dream and a passion for your aspirations. When you decide to turn that dream into reality, hold on to the initial motivation that inspired you to start. This drive will sustain you through challenges and delays. Personally, my determination stems from a conversation I had as a foster child with a caseworker who mentioned a potential negative outcome. At just 11 years old, I recognized the inadequacy of such discouraging words from an adult figure meant to offer support. This encounter motivated me to prove her wrong and has been my guiding force ever since. I am committed to pursuing my dreams and overcoming life’s challenges with unwavering resolve. This declaration has since served as the cornerstone of my perseverance, propelling me to relentlessly pursue my aspirations despite life’s myriad challenges and setbacks. Every obstacle I’ve faced has been a steppingstone, shaping my resilience and determination. The journey has not been easy, but it has been profoundly rewarding. Along the way, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about persistence, self-belief, and the importance of a supportive community. Read more>>

 Lynn X

In my opinion success will always be based on how bad a person wants to reach their goals. You have to have tunnel vision and be able to see nothing but what actions it will take to meet your goal. Also, you need a strong mind and heart to make it though all the ups and downs that will occur while making it to the finish line. Being in the music industry, during and after college, I would have my eye set on certain internships or opportunities to help me get to my goal, then at times I would be told no. You always have to be ready for the unexpected and to alter you plans to obtain the same goal. Read more>>

Shannaan Dawda

To be successful with Just Work Fitness, it takes a combination of passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of growth. Just Work Fitness was a vision that was planted in my heart, driving me to create an environment and a facility to elevate both myself and my clients to the next level, personally, professionally, and phyiscally. Read more>>

Diamond Bell

Accountability will make you take responsibility of your actions. So, if something is not being done, the only person you can blame is yourself and once you see it next thing to do is take the proper measurements to get it done. Having boundaries will show others that you take you and your business serious and that you have a standard about yourself that others will have to respect. Now, consistency and discipline go hand in hand with one another. Every day you should be striving to be better, from the smallest task to the biggest one, work on it daily and while you work on it, perfect it. Thats the only way you’re going to get better. Lastly execution, stop talking about your goals and plans-just do it! I believe in action than words, once you see it go for it and give it all you got until the end. Read more>>

Marie Medina

To be successful you need to hire people that are smarter than you. Hiring people who are smarter than you brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and skills that can drive the organization forward. When you find people that balance the team their expertise can fill in gaps in knowledge and this creates a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. This ultimately boosts the overall performance and success of the organization. Read more>>

Steven Walker

I think the key to success in business is your ability to be prepared to course correct, be fluid and flexible to meet the needs of clients in the ever changing landscape. If you think of how business practices have changed over the last few years, how technology has changed, how customer experiences and expectations have changed, forever raising rent and operating costs, to the way we communicate and consume. You have to be prepared to pivot and lean into this, otherwise, simply put, you could get left behind. Read more>>

Julie Talenfeld

Success isn’t just about luck or talent—it’s about having the right mix of passion, adaptability, relationships, continuous learning, integrity, and resilience. Think about it: loving what you do gives you that unstoppable drive to push through obstacles. Remember when Steve Jobs got fired from his own company? He bounced back and changed the tech world forever with Apple. In my case…when I was 25, the brokerage firm I was working for was filing for bankruptcy. But they made me a deal: I could take the firm’s public relations division if I changed the name. That’s how I started BoardroomPR! Read more>>

Jamya Smith

To be successful I work hard and have faith in God. Without the man above, I would not be where I am today. He gave me the bravery and fortitude to launch my clothes line. It gave me and everyone else who is afraid to stand out for themselves a voice. I started to feel more confident than I had ever felt. Read more>>

Kathy Monte

Being successful really is a simple as how you create the experiences you provide to your clients . They are the most important part of your business and they should be treated as your number one priority from the first contact until their Wedding is executed . Read more>>

Sarah Jones

Success is a very personal thing. Success is not keeping up with the Joneses, money or a specific achievement.

Success is more about who you are forced to become, to achieve your goals.

One of my favorites-Jim Rohn-talks about about how to achieve more, YOU have to become more. That is what success is! Read more>>

Peiyang Li

From beginning to end, designers and astrologers belong to “output-oriented” professions; that is to say, they benefit and make a living by imparting certain knowledge or concepts. Since it is unrealistic to constantly output one’s own values, how can one continue to output valuable and rewarding content/concepts? I remember before I reached adulthood, when I first came into contact with professional knowledge in the fashion industry, my mentor encouraged me to choose non-art elective courses at school. I was extremely puzzled at the time, because shouldn’t it be the other way around? The first reason he gave was that the more unrelated the industry, the more unrelated the elements, the more they can stimulate a designer’s creativity and uniqueness. Through the integration of elements time and time again, the resulting products are also more eye-catching. The second reason is that the inspiration drawn from non-artistic fields can often help designers or artists avoid many copyright issues. To this day, I also use these two points to demand myself, to keep learning, and to continuously have my own harvest. Read more>>

Brandi Inman

The number one thing I think it takes to be successful is to accept failure.
So many business owners, artists and entrepreneurs are so afraid of failing. But really, failure is the best way to learn. It’s the only way to eliminate the things that don’t work for us. Once we fail, we can take those lessons and apply them to the things that do work for us. Read more>>