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.

Cari Brown

I may have a subjectively (and objectively) different idea of what constitutes ‘success’ in that profit, while necessary to longevity, is not our most highly valued signifier of attainment. Though we are profitable, I believe that we’re successful at Café des Chutes more in that we are highly collaborative, sustainably resourced, able to engage in development and growth through both capital investment and increasing wages, have a harmonious work environment and have garnered the goodwill of our community. Where I once might have said that tenacity is what it takes to be successful, and it certainly helps, but after years as a business owner, I have come to feel that collaboration is one of the pillars of our success upon which I am most reliant and proud. Read more>>

Belinda Hand

We believe Turret’s success comes from always staying inspired and truly loving what we do. Hospitality is our passion, and we pour that into every aspect of the experience we create. We’re constantly visiting other venues, observing, learning, and bringing fresh ideas back to Turret. For us, it’s about never becoming complacent—always evolving, always striving to be better, and always ensuring our guests feel the warmth and energy we bring to our space every day. Read more>>

Bailey Claunch

From Storage Units to Success In the Trading Card Business: The Power of Resilience, Opportunity, and Adaptability

Success isn’t just about talent or luck—it’s about relentless hard work, resilience, and the ability to pivot quickly when the market shifts. It requires surrounding yourself with the right people—self-motivated individuals who understand the mission and push beyond expectations. It’s about failing fast, learning even faster, and making decisive moves—whether that means adapting to new opportunities or letting go of things that no longer serve your vision. Read more>>

M

Success, to me, is all about determination and mindset. In my culture, we have a concept called ‘sisu,’ which translates to stoic determination, bravery, and resilience. It’s more than just perseverance—it’s a deep feeling that you will succeed no matter what.

To be successful, you need to maintain that unwavering belief in yourself. It’s about having a clear vision, staying determined, and consistently working toward your goals, even on tough days. Success starts in your mind—how you see yourself, your craft, and your potential. Read more>>

Christa Szalach

Success looks different to each person, and there is no “right or wrong” way to define success. That is one of the things I love about defining success. What I view success as, someone else may not. And vice versa.

To me, achieving success is done through hard work and persistence. Regardless of the industry, goal, or task at hand, if you can go to sleep every night, reflecting on the previous day, and say with confidence “I left everything on the field today and did my absolute best to control what I could control,” then you are on track for success. Even if the goals/visions identified are not achieved in the end, I think someone who puts 110% of their effort into something will be able to accept the results, even if they are disappointed in the outcome. Read more>>

Angela Steele

Close your eyes, imagine achieving your greatest success. What does success look like for you? If you ask 100 people you would get 100 different answers and that is what makes it such a powerful question. For me personally, it’s an entanglement of personal and professional achievements, with one in particular that seems to encompass both aspects is owning my own business. That business stemming from a my love of photography, it is truly my dream realized. Read more>>

Amanda Bure

Success is a mix of perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. It’s not just about talent or luck—it’s about showing up, putting in the effort, and growing from every challenge.

It also takes many years of apprenticeships or on-the-job training in different types of work settings to build a foundation of skill sets that are applicable to being a business owner. Gaining hands-on experience across various roles helps develop problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and the ability to adapt to different situations. Read more>>

Terrysha Harris

To be successful in the skincare industry, it takes strategy, resilience, and creativity. After spending 5 years researching and working in this field, one thing I’ve realized is that as you grow, you’re always learning. Even when you think you know it all, there’s always something new to discover. The industry is always evolving, and staying open to learning is key to moving forward. Read more>>

Carey De Victoria-michel

I have always found measurements of success hard to relate to. As I continue to grow in my career I feel more confident in the belief that success can only be measured for yourself. It can be easy to get caught up in success being found in accolades, popularity, appearance, money, etc. When I’m at a low in my work life, it’s often because I have lost grounding in what I’m pursuing. Especially with social media, it can be easy to go down spirals of thinking…”they are ten years younger then me and have already accomplished this…” Or, “wow I am terrible at this because I don’t have 10 million followers.” It can be easy to think that they have already defined some idea of success that I won’t ever reach. Read more>>

Erica Dimiele

Grit and hard work. My parents instilled that in me and my brother from a very young age. Growing up with two extremely hard working parents who worked and still work, I learned from a very young age that it takes hard work to maintain a life – both personally and professionally. I remember my mom, who is my role model, saying to me from a young age, “The world doesn’t owe you anything”. I will never forget that. I’ve been working since the day I turned 16, and prior to that, both my parents emphasized the importance of volunteer work before my first paying job, of which I did a lot of both domestically and internationally. Read more>>

Soufiane Mouhtaj

The definition of success can vary from person to person, but in my opinion, success is a mindset. It’s about setting a goal ahead of you and working diligently to achieve it.

For example, moving from Morocco to the USA was a significant step for me. Embracing new challenges and being ready to start over in an unfamiliar culture can be daunting. However, with an open mindset and a willingness to put in the work, you start to see improvement over time. Read more>>

Kristen Perrine

One of my favorite parts of photography is making my clients feel comfortable and confident. I once had a senior who was incredibly shy and nervous about being in front of the camera. Instead of rushing through poses, I took the time to talk, laugh, and make them feel at ease. By the end of the session, they were completely relaxed, and their mom later told me it was the most confident they had seen their teen in a long time. That’s when I realized—success isn’t just about taking great photos; it’s about making people feel seen and valued. Read more>>

Catherine Chambers

I cringe a bit when I hear the word “success only because it’s so personal and truly cannot be measured- it’s a feeling! I don’t want people to get trapped in this idea that if they have XYZ then they will be successful and then they will be happy. There is also not a fair playing field for what capitalism has defined as success so it feels really important that we start looking at success as what happens when you start to love yourself and not compare your journey to others. When you have a deep peace in your heart. Read more>>

Samantha Philyaw

To be successful, you have to have grit, the ability to adapt, and an insatiable desire for growth. Now, personally, my belief is that if you’re doing what makes you happy and you live a life that aligns with your soul or gives you peace – that’s successful. However, many people see success as a sort of social standing or a career-specific achievement. Either one takes all the things I’ve mentioned. Read more>>

Frankie Fabre

I want to take a moment to share some thoughts on what I believe truly fuels success.

In my experience, two of the most powerful forces behind achievement are self-discipline and resilience. Self-discipline isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about committing to them, even when motivation fades, even when distractions tempt you, and even when the work feels exhausting or unrewarding in the moment. It’s the ability to delay short-term comfort for long-term fulfillment, knowing that true progress is built in the quiet moments of consistency. Read more>>

Victoria Metzger

Success in photography isn’t just about being the highest-paid or the most well-known. True success comes from creating images that you genuinely love and that resonate with your clients. I think that when your work reflects your passion, when you can really feel the image and can tell that genuine intention was behind the image, you’ve already succeeded. Read more>>

Alyssa Autumn

Being successful in my opinion means finding something you’re passionate about. “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life”
Believe that you can start with nothing and grow something bigger than you ever imagined. Setting goals that are achievable and doing whatever you can to make those goals happen. Read more>>

Valerie Gunsett

You have to understand, success isn’t a straight line—it often involves bumps, adjustments, and the occasional leap of faith. Success is a combination of perseverance, adaptability, and a deep commitment to your passion. It’s not just about talent or luck; you have to consistently show up, stay true to your values, and be willing to learn and adjust along the way. My businesses all began as simple hobbies—baking cookies for friends, creating custom items for special occasions, or helping a friends and family plan a memorable trip. What started as small, personal gestures gradually grew through word of mouth and referrals, eventually evolving into thriving businesses that keep me both creative and busy. Read more>>

Marina Castillo

Success comes down to the speed at which you can turn thought into reality. One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs making is standing in their own way: overanalyzing, second-guessing, and ultimately delaying real, needle-moving action.

When I say “needle-moving action,” I mean the steps that directly contribute to growth; whether that’s launching a minimum viable product instead of endlessly refining it, reaching out to potential partners instead of waiting for the “perfect” pitch, or making data-driven decisions instead of relying on guesswork. Read more>>

Jemario Patterson

Success is different in everyone’s eyes. What is success? is it tangible items? is it money? these are questions that people have about success. To me, success is journeying through life living in the purpose God placed you on this earth. While doing that, everything you need, God gives you. You’re in your right mind, good health, wealthy, family blessed,etc, etc. I developed this view over time as I have been through many struggles in my life and it was through those struggles I learned what success looked like for me. It didn’t look like what I was going through thats for sure but in that mess was success. Example, when I got out the Air Force, I wasn’t sure of my “what’s next”. Read more>>

Elaina Brin

Balancing a full-time job while growing my businesses—Laced Artistry and Thoroughbred Thred—requires strategy, discipline, and innovative time management. With limited hours outside of work, it’s essential to allocate time wisely by dedicating specific days for photography sessions, editing, content creation, and designing. I rely on scheduling tools to manage posts, streamline administrative tasks, and outsource when possible. To stay on track, I define success in measurable ways—such as booking three clients per month and selling 20 shirts per week—ensuring I set meaningful and achievable goals. Read more>>

Melisa Quigley

First and foremost, you need to know what you want to be successful in. Don’t let your age define you. Not everyone who writes is successful. The wins are few and far between. ‘I give up’ shouldn’t be part of your vocabulary. You have to be self-motivated because you’re working for yourself. Writers are perfectionists. To be successful, they have to hone their craft. By that, I mean they have to practice, practice, practice until they get it right. Believe me, sometimes when you think you’ve got it right, you haven’t because someone may find a better way to express what you’ve written, or a comma is needed somewhere. Read more>>

Tanya Pugh

Success isn’t just a dream—it’s a mindset, a habit, and a relentless pursuit. To achieve anything great, you need a positive mindset, consistency, discipline, and persistence. A positive mindset turns obstacles into opportunities and fuels your belief in yourself.Consistency forces you to show up every day, even when no one is watching. Read more>>

Jose Espejel Romero

This is how we will dominate IKEA as the best home decor brand in the world: Having a strong vision, great team-building skills, and accountability.
1. A Strong Vision:
Every successful brand starts with a clear, compelling vision. Without it, there’s no direction, no purpose. Vision is what guides every decision and inspires people to rally behind a cause. Take Steve Jobs, for example. His vision wasn’t just to make computers—it was to create technology that felt intuitive, beautiful, and accessible. He famously said in a 1997 Apple keynote, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Read more>>

Anela Caldwell

I’m a stay at home mom to my two little boys and also a business owner. 80% of my time working on my business is in the evening when my kids are asleep. The other 20% I sneak in on the weekend or with an occasional babysitter. I’m a mom first, and a small business owner second. Which means it takes some serious dedication and grit to successfully run a business. Sometimes it’s hard to not want to throw my pjs on and just watch a movie at 8pm, but instead I’m throwing my overalls on and heading out to the antler workshop to fill orders. It takes dedication, grit and passion to successfully run a small business.  Read more>>

Katie Anderson

Success means different things to different people, but for me, staying motivated is key. My journey, my testimony, drives me to not only improve for myself but also to inspire others around me. Every step I take is with the intention of leading by example and helping others achieve success through their own unique paths. At Let’s Get Social, it’s about bringing passion and consistency to every project, while staying true to my values and encouraging others to do the same. Read more>>

Susan Jacobson

In order to be successful you must first determine what success means to you. Success to me is not only that which comes from hitting business benchmarks and goals but more so the attainment of personal fulfillment. Ensuring all you do personally and professionally aligns with your goals, values, beliefs creating impact in your life and on all you touch. Once committed to those concepts, working hard, striving every day to accomplish the mission at hand with laser-like focus and personal drive. There is a tool called the “Fulfillment Triangle”. developed by the nonprofit organization 1Life Fully Lived, that creates a triangle with one side being what you love; your passion. Read more>>

Juan Silva

To be successful, one must be passionate about what they do. My journey into photography began during a two-month backpacking trip across Europe while I was studying graphic design at the California College of Arts and Crafts. A friend lent me an Olympus OM1 with a broken light meter, so I had to rely on the instructions printed on a Kodachrome film box. Although many shots were over- or underexposed, the ones I nailed filled me with awe for their colors and composition—I discovered I had an eye for photography, and my background in graphic design began to shape my style. Read more>>

Margarita Whitson

What do I think it takes to be successful? It starts with having clarity of purpose, knowing what you want and why it matters, and overcoming setbacks, which creates resilience. I learned new skills, built strong relationships, and followed through with goals with consistent effort. Also, understand that building a successful business takes time and dedication. Read more>>

Darrick Jones

It takes hard work and sacrifice!To be successful you have to miss out on parties,hanging with friends,dating Read more>>

Natasha Downs

I am asked frequently “How do you do it all?”. I own 2 businesses, I educate and mentor stylists all over the United States, host a podcast, am a wife and mother of 2 children (2 and 4), and am always at every one of my childrens events. For me, its not work, its my passion. If I was sitting at a desk all day for 10-12 hours going through paperwork or whatever it may be, I would be so overwhelmed and would never really push myself to succeed. My passion is in the beauty industry, I enjoy every minute. I have watched stylists in school who were not confident because they did not have the skills yet come into my salon, work under me for the full year they are in school, and then come out of school thriving, that makes it all worth it for me. Read more>>

Brenda Rush

To be successful, how I define that in my eyes is to be rich in health, mind, body and spirit, to have family and friends who are there every step of the way through life as you create your success everyday, no matter if times are smooth or rough. Everyone has there definition of success, what we create each day, what we do to better ourselves, our family, our business, our lives. Read more>>

Adam Droege

Success in real estate and the property management industry is all about building trust, providing exceptional service, and being adaptable in a constantly evolving market. It takes a strong combination of dedication, problem-solving, and a deep understanding of properties, contracts, and the people involved as well. Read more>>

Amie Wiley

Success, to me, is about perseverance—pushing forward despite negativity, judgment, and no letting your background dictate your future outcome. It’s about having an unwavering belief in yourself and your vision, even when the odds aren’t in your favour. Read more>>

Holly Reardon

Success isn’t about talent, luck, or waiting for the perfect moment. It’s about taking action, even when you don’t feel ready. It’s about choosing growth over comfort, again and again, until confidence catches up to you.

When I was younger, I had big dreams but no blueprint. I didn’t grow up around powerful, career-driven women. I rarely saw a woman owning a business or leading with authority, so for a long time, I assumed that success was for other people— not for me. The only way I thought I’d get to live a full and wealthy life was by finding a man who already had it. It sounds ridiculous now, but when you don’t see anyone like you doing what you want to do, you assume it’s impossible. Read more>>

Kamara Morozuk

Success is a personal concept, defined differently by each individual. For some, it’s reaching a financial milestone; for others, it’s pursuing their passion as a career. For many, it simply means finding happiness.

For me, success is a mix of all these elements. I love connecting with my clients, as I’m naturally outgoing. Some days, I feel successful; other days, I don’t—that’s just part of the journey. Learning to navigate the highs and lows of the industry is, in its own way, a badge of success. Read more>>

Allison Cooper

I feel like consistency and the drive to just get out and there and do it without worrying about failing. Things don’t have to be perfect the first time around and roadblocks are normal, but having the courage to really go after your dreams is magic! Read more>>

Abigaille Cadet

Success looks different for everyone, but I think it often comes down to a mix of consistency, adaptability, and passion—plus a little bit of luck. It’s about showing up even when things aren’t perfect, being willing to pivot when necessary, and genuinely loving (or at least believing in) what you’re doing. Read more>>