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.

Kevin Sligh II

I think success comes from truly understanding yourself—how you react in different business and personal situations—and learning to navigate them effectively. Experience and failure are huge drivers of success because we must fail before succeeding. If everyone succeeded on the first try, would that even count as success? How would it be measured? Read more>>

Kevin Sligh II

I think success comes from truly understanding yourself—how you react in different business and personal situations—and learning to navigate them effectively. Experience and failure are huge drivers of success because we must fail before succeeding. If everyone succeeded on the first try, would that even count as success? How would it be measured? Read more>>

Dennis Cox

We believe in old fashioned genuine customer service. We believe that each client and guest should be treated with respect. We guarantee genuine, award winning customer service throughout the planning process as well as the duration of your event. We believe in Super Serving our clients. Read more>>

Aleeta Eyre

Success isn’t found in comfort—it’s built in the moments of discomfort, uncertainty, and challenge. When you feel uneasy or out of your depth, it’s often a sign that you’re growing, pushing past limitations, and stepping into something greater. True progress happens when you embrace the struggle, knowing that discomfort isn’t a sign to stop but a signal that you’re on the right path. The most successful people don’t shy away from feeling uncomfortable; they use it as fuel to push harder, knowing that every challenge overcome is another step toward their goals. Read more>>

Joel Swonsen

Success requires hard work and determination. However, everyone’s definition of success is different. Success means spending time with my family, going on trips, and participating in daily life with them.
I have worked hard to be able to make a name for myself in the photo an. Read more>>

Chinaka Mezu

From the perspective of a content creator and a full-time college student, I think success comes down to a combination of passion, discipline, commitment, and gratitude, each playing a key role in navigating the challenges that come with balancing life, creative works, academics and career building. Read more>>

Julie Lavender

In my ten years of running my own business, I’ve found these three attributes to be key to success! If you aren’t driven, you certainly shouldn’t have your own business. There is no one telling you to keep up with the trends, list that next product, reach out for that new wholesale opportunity or stay on top of your finances. You have to have the drive to want to succeed on your own! Next in line is persistence. The first time, it may not work! The first design, the first cold call, maybe even the first business model. You have to try and try again. And once you have products and a business model that works, you have to make the sales! You have to sell your products, service over and over again. Read more>>

Keanna Schmidt

As a hairdresser I hear clients every day, and I mean EVERY day, express concerns over their home and work life. To be successful within your career takes passion, work ethic, and to put it simply, happiness. Too many people work in jobs that they never saw or hoped for in their future, and long for a change. I feel that the most successful part of my work life is doing something that I love and enjoy, day in and day out. Read more>>

Joshua Lakes

I believe it takes proper planning and execution and consistency. Motivation comes and goes. We are all human, but with if you’ve a plan, you already know what needs to be done and how so you’ve got to remain consistent even when you’re in motivated. And when motivation comes that’s the perfect time for innovation. Read more>>

Gianna Vara

To me, success is profoundly anchored in faith and the knowledge that Jesus is the only one who can completely change things. The world defines success in a variety of ways, including money, position, and accomplishments, but true, long-term success is found in walking in accordance with God’s purpose and trusting Him to do more than we could ever accomplish alone. Read more>>

Samantha Bowen

I find this to be a unique question because success can mean so many different things! By definition, success means “the accomplishment of an aim or a purpose.” Success can be a way you feel, something you do, or even the way you think. It’s subjective and fluid, and you can even find success in your failures. Read more>>

Dana Ellis

Success in today’s society requires a strong foundation, starting with the right mindset. I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where I was constantly encouraged to push myself and work diligently towards my goals. From an early age, I embraced the mindset of an entrepreneur, focusing on independence, collaboration, time management, and the ability to create and follow my own schedule. Most importantly, I learned that success is a journey, not an instant achievement. Patience is crucial, a quality I had to cultivate early on, and one that I continue to develop. Read more>>

Dunia Hamed

I think the key to being successful may sound cliche but it’s never giving up. I really think the thing that separates the people who are successful in their industries compared to the people who fail, are the people who keep going even when it gets hard, even when setbacks occur, and even when it means giving up parts of your personal life in the moments where the business needs you first. I think people expect it to be hard but don’t really understand HOW hard entrepreneurship really is. There are going to be so many obstacles and setbacks, which may make you feel like you’re failing, but I promise you’ll see the other side of it if you just keep going and see it through. Read more>>

Josie Cross

Success is deeply tied to embracing risk, staying curious, and constantly evolving, and my own journey as an artist reflects that. By taking risks, learning new skills, and exploring unexpected combinations, I’ve been able to create some of my most rewarding work. For instance, learning how to wire lamps and how to knit were both new challenges that pushed me outside my comfort zone, but combining those mediums led to one of my favorite pieces to date — my lamp design. This experience reinforced the importance of experimenting without fear, trusting the process, and embracing change. Read more>>

Tony D’Urso

Success isn’t just about talent or hard work—it’s about having a clear vision and a roadmap to get there. Over the years, I’ve studied and interviewed some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders. One common thread among all of them is that they don’t just hope for success—they plan for it. That’s exactly why I developed The Vision Map™, a powerful framework designed to turn dreams into reality. Read more>>

Promise Toyo

I believe success starts with defining what it truly means to you. If you don’t have a clear vision of what success looks like to you, you’ll waste time climbing the wrong mountains, only to realize they were never yours to climb.

One of my favorite quotes on success comes from Winston Churchill: ‘Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.’ And there are two powerful takeaways from that: Read more>>

Lindsey Clements

In the hospitality industry where margins are tight and businesses are faced with endless competition, I believe being an active owner can separate you from the pack and lead to greater success. As an active owner, I have been able to build community, steer our culture, create a safe and supported space for staff. Customers love getting to know you as an owner, and respect you as a participant in their experience. I don’t hesitate to do any of the tasks that I ask of my staff, which has resulted in a high retention rate. I also provide autonomy to my teammates that empowers them to represent our brand and enhance the customers experience. Read more>>

Heidi Dickerson

To be successful, one must set goals, discover the path to get there (even if it changes several times), have self-discipline, and hard work ethics. With being a photographer, my goal was, and still is, to tell stories effectively. I want to capture the personalities of people in their normal state so the truth is represented. Will I take the “mantle photos?” Yes, I will. My hearts beats a little faster though when I am able to get people to relax and see their true self come to life. When you look at photographs, the “posed”….”look at me and smile” photograph do not tell a story. I want to see and feel how much a groom loves his bride and how he will go to the end of the earth for her. I want to see the tired mama with her babies. Read more>>

Reagan Link

If you would’ve asked me this question 10 years ago, I would’ve given you a completely different answer. I used to think that success was equivalent to money, fame, and popularity. I thought, if I aim to achieve those three things. then I would be happy in my life. While it is possible and helpful to find financial success, I think real success comes from within. It comes from being happy in your life. It comes from the lack of need for validation or pleasing others. Success is confidence in who you are at your core. Success is finding the light in even the darkest moments. Success is love, happiness, and peace in your mind. Read more>>

Gabriel LLaurado

I believe success is really all about your mindset. When you keep a positive attitude, you see every challenge as a chance to learn and grow. It means having the confidence to keep going, even when things get tough, and celebrating the small wins along the way. For me, a positive outlook turns setbacks into setups for comebacks and helps create an environment where both you and the people around you can thrive. Read more>>

Heather Davis

Put people first and honor those who show interest in what your services are – let them see the joy you have in what you do. Consider everyone equally. Treat other’s as you would want to be treated – don’t forget the most basic and baseline elements of etiquette and customer service. Look people in the eye, accommodate and serve with joy. Read more>>

Sara Ashley Murray

Being successful means that you’re always in student mode. Always stay curious. You can be an expert in your field, but if you aren’t open minded to new concepts or cooperating with others in your field, you’re not going to be around for long. When I was a high school teacher, our leadership team reminded us we are life long learners. I’m always listening to podcasts, reading books, and having discussions with other Astrologers. There’s always something new to learn. Passing on those insights to my clients so they can understand their own soul blueprint is priceless. Read more>>

Claudya Martinez

I think that in order to be successful, you have to become intimately acquainted with failure and rejection. You have embrace them and the discomfort they cause as part of the process that leads to success. Before I became a writer, I was an actor. Actors have to learn not to be phased by rejection. You aren’t going to get every role that you audition for and that’s OK. I taught myself to treat auditions as a performance in and of themselves. Even if I didn’t book a role, I still got to perform and hone my craft. Read more>>

Chris Pitsicalis

In order to be successful in a creative industry I feel like we need to see our creative pursuits through a business lense. When I was younger I wanted to be free and just create for a living but with no real focus or business etiquette behind it. With experience I’ve learned how important it is to “stand on business” especially in creative work. You might be wondering what this looks like- some examples could be negotiating contracts instead of accepting right away, actually reading through contracts, knowing your worth and what you bring to the table, the ability to say no, creating boundaries, leading by example, and being kind. Read more>>

Alicia Johnson

Based on the experiences I’ve had along my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve learned that it takes vision, resilience, a positive mindset, a strong work ethic, and continuous learning to become successful. Additionally, surrounding yourself with the right people and making smart financial decisions also plays a major role. Read more>>

Jahleen Reid

Success, to me, comes from being authentically yourself and staying in your own lane instead of constantly worrying about what others are doing. It’s about mastering your niche rather than trying to be a jack of all trades. When you focus on what truly aligns with your passion and skills, you naturally excel and stand out. Read more>>

Selma Horn

Success for SOLAIRE is all about consistency, dedication and balance — balance between creativity, resilience, and sustainability. It is all about making your passion a lifestyle and staying true to your story.

To me, success is also about staying curious—constantly learning, observing, and allowing the world around me to shape my designs and ideas. There is something special about seeing my best friends, my family, and strangers wearing my pieces. Knowing that something I created becomes a part of someone’s life is the most rewarding feeling. And to be able to give back through my work—that’s the best kind of success. Read more>>

Joslyn Rose Lyons

Success is light—seeking it, shaping it, and letting it spill into the world in a way that moves people. It’s not about chasing something outside yourself but refining what’s already within, making space for it to glow in its own time. The most powerful kind of success lingers. It’s the afterimage of something honest, something beautiful, something true. Read more>>