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.

Anya Kumar

I learned early on in my entrepreneurial journey what aspects can make or break your success. The very first is simply being a good person. This might sound arbitrary, but if you ask anyone who has succeeded in the film industry, you’ll hear the same thing. To some, it might sound like going out with your mentor for coffee just to catch up with them is the bare minimum. However, a gesture like this is rare in today’s disproportionately busy world. I found that being kind and showing it to those who I can learn from strengthens my chances of moving higher in my industry. Read more>>

Rebekah Hernandez

Success can be broken down into four key principles. As a businesswoman in a creative industry, here’s how I approach it: 1. Continuously Evaluate and Improve: Success requires ongoing self-assessment and business evaluation. Regularly review what systems are effective and adjust those that aren’t. Track data, such as the time spent on tasks, to gather insights. For instance, in my first year, I spent over 200 hours emailing clients for project onboarding, which detracted from design and lead generation. To address this, I invested in scheduling software (Calendly) to which I set up workflows that sent clients automated emails, completely eliminating this task from my to-do’s. This setup took a day but saved me hours and allowed me to focus on what I do best. Read more>>

Cynthia Newman

Most see success simply as making more money than you spend. Some see success as titles, awards, or diplomas. As for me, I see success as freedom. Having enough money not to have to check your account before grocery shopping, but also having enough time to maintain quality relationships. I see success as having choices. To choose how you spend the day, which doctors to see, and what work to do. I believe success isn’t one big thing. It’s being able to fire a client who treats you badly and having the freedom to take a walk in the middle of the day. It’s not only about putting dollars in the bank account, but also making each moment count. Success is earning a living and loving life. I believe that each individual has different needs to become successful. Read more>>

Amanda Garcia

Consistency, grit and perseverance. When I first started as an entrepreneur I read a book by Angela Duckworth that illistrates success hinges on grit – an unwavering combination of passion and perseverance. If I wanted to be successful, it was going to take consistent effort over time, even when faced with setbacks. True success is not just about talent; it’s about the relentless pursuit of your goals, fueled by grit and perseverance. Never give up and always keep God involved.  Read more>>

Michaela Trimble

As a journalist, novelist, and writing teacher, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many creatives, from the world’s top editors to budding writers. The one quality differentiating prospective writers from professional writers is their willingness to sit in the discomfort of not knowing. It’s the ability to get quiet and still in order to hear the ideas that are often overshadowed by the noise of everyday life that sets these two categories of writers apart. The most popular works we read aren’t necessarily by the most talented writers — they’re by the writers who were able to become a channel to let inspiration in and who never gave up despite countless obstacles. Read more>>

Rex Ogle

Success is a funny thing. It’s elusive and hard to define if you really think about it. Is success a monetary goal, or one in which you find happiness? For me, I’ve always wanted to write books, and I’ve pursued that my entire life. It drove me to graduate high school, go to college for English Lit and Comparative Religion degrees, pushed me to apply to the top 12 MFA Creative Writing Programs in the country (all of which rejected me), and then moved me to NYC to pursue a job in publishing where I could learn from the pros. Read more>>

Martijn Wall

When I was young, someone told me “success is in the eye of the beholder”, but it became another one of those sayings that I heard but never actually learned until I was older, similar to “knowing is half the battle” or “don’t eat ice cream for breakfast.” With this in mind, to answer what it takes to be successful you have to first find what it takes for you to live a happy and fulfilled life. Accepting that this is going to look slightly different for every single person is part of the process, and focusing on what makes you uniquely successful without comparing your version of success to someone else’s is important to find this acceptance. Read more>>

Rekha Ananthanpillai

Dedication, discipline, and a dream – it’s a combination of all three that keeps me going. Dedication to what I want and staying focused even in the tough times has made me resilient to overcoming several challenges, keeping an open mind, and knowing when I need to make small pivots. Discipline, know that I will need to continue my delicate balance for a while until the sales and brand really take off again staying focused on the long game.

Shashwat Mathur

I’d say I’ll tell you when I become it, I can only speculate for now. But jokes aside, I see an x-factor in people who have done really well for themselves, especially in the artistic field. They just happen to have an edge that distinguishes them from the rest, it might be marginal but it exists. Some have it since the very beginning while some find it along the way, others are like carbon and need a conducive environment to transform into a diamond. But they will all develop that edge sooner or later if they do become very successful. After that, it is a matter of standing tall and delivering on it, putting in the hours and the work to make it happen. Read more>>