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.

Karlie Tankersley

I think success takes consistency, resilience, and a deep connection to your “why.” Talent and passion are important, but what really pushes things forward is showing up even when it’s hard, learning from mistakes, and staying true to your vision. Especially when no one else sees it yet. Read more>>

Alliyah Lawver

I believe being successful requires resilience, adaptability, and a genuine passion for what you do. Success isn’t just about hitting a goal — it’s about how you handle the unexpected and stay motivated through challenges. I’ve learned this firsthand through owning my event planning business, Brick & Roses Events. Read more>>

Sofia Misabishvili

I believe that everyone can achieve their goals and the success they dream of. The key is to believe in yourself and your abilities! However, belief alone is not enough—you need to take action. My journey to success was driven by self-confidence and discipline. Without discipline, I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have today. Read more>>

Tommy Sheehan

I really do believe it takes being a “good listener” to be successful. Good design starts with placing the right words on the page. Like a good book, the words come first. The correct articulated words have the power to create visuals worlds that one hopes inspire the intended audience. Read more>>

Jenny Lund

This is something I’ve thought a lot about because as a very small business owner, success isn’t always one inclined line moving upward. It’s a zigzag of ups and downs. About a year after starting out, I had huge success with a dragon crochet pattern I designed, and it felt like I was finally meeting the goals I was striving and working so hard for. All the countless hours and effort I had put into this little business for a year was paying off and it felt like a huge win. After that I thought that every pattern had to reach the same success. But as I have learned in the years following that pattern, there are successes and then there are learning experiences. Read more>>

Cathy Gonzales

My view of success as a glass artist is being able to create beautiful art and have people loving my work enough to buy it. After 30 years in the education system, I’m retired now and spend my days creating and promoting my art. I am fortunate that I don’t have to rely on this income, I mostly use income from my artwork to buy glass or other supplies. Read more>>

Tonya Scherf

I feel being successful is more than just making money and/or a name for yourself in one’s chosen field. Success, for me, has really come from a deeper place of happiness in what I’m doing. When you believe, whole-heartedly, in your work, you bring another level of success to that. Read more>>

Simone Sloan

There are so many definitions of success and the word can hold a different meaning to people. For me, I believe success comes from a combination of self-awareness, consistency, resilience, and meaningful relationships. It is about knowing who you are, what you stand for, and staying committed to your values. One moment that shaped my view was when I transitioned from a corporate job to becoming an entrepreneur. It was a bold move, full of unknowns, but I stayed grounded in my passion and focused on my greater why. Read more>>

Carlos Vincent Steele

Simply put, hard work & dedication to your craft. Nobody will do the work for you. Nobody will see your vision the way you do, so you have to make sure it is going how you see your vision. Not anyone else. Read more>>

Sigail Currie

Having a clear vision, the discipline to stay consistent, resilience to overcome setbacks, passion and purpose to fuel your journey, patience to trust the process, and the adaptability to adjust as you grow—all are key to executing what you truly want. Read more>>

Boni Arendt

After experiencing a diagnosis of breast cancer my perspective on life and specifically success related to work has changed. My faith is my success and that takes the pressure off whether or not I sell a painting. I realize now that the connection between me and my customers/students is what’s important. If I can help them receive the gift of creativity then I’m successful. Read more>>

Steven Fabos

I think success comes from chasing a dream that keeps getting bigger, even when it sounds crazy at first. I started with an 800-square-foot bakery on Glen Oaks and Western. Just me. Over time, that grew into a half-million square foot operation with 1,300 employees. If someone had told me back then that’s where it would end up, it would’ve sounded impossible — but I never stopped. The dream kept growing. Read more>>

Donovan Thomson

Success takes consistency, vision, and the willingness to take risks before anyone else sees the opportunity. For me, it’s always been about trusting my instincts and outworking the doubt—both from others and myself.

When I started SATX Rated, it wasn’t some massive operation—it was me showing love for San Antonio, one post at a time. I believed this city deserved a spotlight, and I was willing to be the one to build that platform from the ground up. I wasn’t just posting for fun—I was creating a brand. And over time, that consistency turned into a community, and that community turned into opportunity. Read more>>

Amanda Roberts

Success on a flower farm doesn’t happen overnight — it takes hard work, dedication, and a mindset rooted in both patience and passion. Growing flowers is equal parts heart and hustle. You have to be willing to show up every day, even when the weather is unpredictable, the weeds are relentless, or the blooms take their time. Read more>>

Jules DeLee

“Success” is a tricky word for me—everyone sees it differently. For some people, it’s about how many big-name clients they’ve worked with. For others, it’s about how much money they’re making. Over the last 10 years, I’ve learned that—for me—success comes down to quality. The quality of the work, sure, but even more so the quality of the relationships I build along the way. Read more>>

Dwight D’nilla Woods

Success to me isn’t about money or titles—it’s about doing what you want to do, with a burning desire that won’t let you sleep until you make it happen. I remember a time when I was broke, sitting in a small room with a laptop that barely worked, building my brand between projects and phone calls. What got me through wasn’t luck—it was mindset and discipline. I told myself, “If I don’t believe in it enough to show up every day, how can I expect anyone else to?” That’s success: the freedom to chase your vision and the discipline to keep going, even when nobody’s clapping yet. It’s all about the mindset. Read more>>

Nicole Luka Maier

It’s such a blessing to be able to say that I’m truly pleased, content, and beyond thankful with not only my professional but also my personal life, and for me that is the true definition of success. Of course, to be successful in any endeavor requires hard work and dedication, which are the building blocks in everything I do! Being a small business owner has created so many opportunities that I never even dreamed of, and those opportunities have paved the way for exciting new challenges and goals. Setting new goals encourages learning and growth, which further fuels my entrepreneurial passion and my desire to make each bride’s wedding the memory of a lifetime. Read more>>

Maddy Conklin

I don’t think there’s necessarily one “correct” answer to this, because success looks SO different for everyone. For me, success is less of a destination and more of a mindset. I firmly believe it takes a mix of resilience, consistency, and the willingness to keep evolving. Especially when you’re working for yourself and constantly creating, there’s rarely a moment where you feel like you’ve really made it. Read more>>

Bruce Borgos

So many ways to measure success, right? I used to think that. What I’ve come to realize since I started writing full-time, is that more than anything it takes pure determination to be successful. It doesn’t matter what you are attempting to do. Success requires the WILL to achieve. That means putting in the hours, practicing every day. Whether you aspire to be a painter, a basketball player, a writer, or anything else, you have to do the time. You have to learn every day. Most of all, you have to have the desire to discover how good you can be. It sounds easy when you say, but it’s anything but easy. The trick is finding that “thing” that you simply cannot feel fulfilled without. Read more>>

Sofia Niba

To be successful…
I’ve been reflecting on the concept of success ever since I realized I was creating, developing, and bringing a vision to life. There’s certainly a connection to the external world — recognition, rewards, income, and all the measurable outcomes that can result from your work. But to truly be and feel successful, I believe most of the work happens internally. Read more>>

Jamie Cone

I used to think success came from working harder. So I hustled harder—built my businesses while raising four kids, hit top ranks, and checked all the boxes. But behind the scenes, I was experiencing burnout, resentment, and feeling stretched thin. That’s when I realized: success isn’t about hustling harder—it’s about having a foundation that can actually hold the weight of what you’re building. Read more>>

Marcia Ward

I admire people who do what they say they are going to do. Too many people take language and commitments as things that can be easily changed. Language shapes our reality and commitments make us strong individuals.

I try to build trust with every one of my clients. I want them to like me as both a person and a professional. I meet deadlines, I show up on time and I don’t cancel even if I get a better offer. My business may not be exceptionally profitable, but I want to represent what I do with exceptional integrety. Read more>>

Kendal Norris

Resources. I don’t just mean capital, I mean support from your family, friends and community. Getting the people you love behind you means you always have a fan club, people to lean on. Early in Mason Jar Event Group days I reached out to the people in my circle who knew people in the circle I wanted to be in. Those early introductions were crucial to our standing success. Read more>>