Winning often looks like a long trail of losses that were too weak to keep you down. We are beyond inspired by the stories below. Resilience cannot capture the true nature of what so many of these entrepreneurs, artists and creatives possess and there is so much to learn from the folks highlighted below.
Gabrielle Lewis
Creativity was baked into my bones; I’m not sure if there was any other way it could have happened. It is an unmeasurable source of entertainment. Growing up abroad, creativity with drawing, Legos, etc. was not just essential, it was dire. When you grow up in a foreign world, creating a sense of stability (especially through creativity) is a whole sort of magic. I grew up in Africa, with Bible translator parents, and spent my wee years abroad until I was 12. In that time, I learned how to draw and use pen & inks to capture the world around me, and also, to translate my own brain onto paper. Read more>>
Cheyenne Puga
Consistency has been the foundation of my journey. Ever since I was a child, my goal was to become a working actor and filmmaker, and I’ve stayed committed to that, even when life threw challenges my way. The craft has always been a part of me, and with every project, my passion and creativity grow stronger. A big part of my success also comes from the incredible people around me—like-minded, hardworking individuals who inspire me and grow alongside me. Surround yourself with people who lift you up—it makes all the difference. Read more>>
Prudence Brooks
I wish I remembered my first poem, but I don’t. I just recall being around nine years old and feeling such relief from putting pen to paper. So I kept doing it. I performed my poetry in coffee shops and founded a writing club in my high school. I was published for the first time at eighteen and wrote poetry throughout the years, though much of it wasn’t shared with anyone. I started taking writing classes at a community college in 2020 and began consistently sharing my work on Instagram in 2021. Since then, my writing has improved drastically. It’s inspiring to have people actively rooting for you, and being surrounded by other writers has only helped me with my craft. Poetry is more than a job or a hobby for me. Read more>>
Melissa Sementilli
Growing up in the vibrant, ever-moving city of New York, I was deeply inspired by its diversity and creativity, which led me to a career in visual merchandising, where I honed my skills in storytelling through design. After years living in the fast-paced world of NYC, I felt drawn to a slower, more romantic life, leading me to Florence—a city that had captivated me since childhood. What began as a brief sabbatical turned into a transformative journey, inspiring me to blend the timeless craftsmanship of Florence with my passion for design. Today, I create bespoke wedding invitations that celebrate life’s milestones with elegance and enduring beauty. Read more>>
Adam Hinkle
I always seemed to have an inclination toward the arts. When I was very young, I was intent on becoming a writer. I had written several short stories, one of which was published in my elementary school library. However, when I was 11 years old my father purchased a video camera and this was the game-changer of my life. My brothers and I essentially commandeered this thing to make our own ridiculous, sometimes funny, sometimes horrible short films. It sparked an interest in acting and filmmaking that led me to pursue theatrical productions in school as well as youth television production and on-camera acting classes and eventually theater in a university setting where I earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts. Post-graduation, I moved to Chicago to pursue theater, television and film opportunities and I’m still at it, thankfully. Read more>>
Seda
I grew up in the beautiful city of Antalya, Turkey, as the youngest in my family. When I hit high school, I moved to Istanbul with my older brother and sister, I had the best time almost like a college experience while I was in high school . Then I studied engineering in college, but it just didn’t feel right for me. While I was studying, I started helping my sister on a movie set with set design and styling, and that’s when I really enjoyed my creative side. Read more>>
Kellette Elliott
I grew up in Morristown, New Jersey where I always had a passion for art. I went to college at Old Dominion University where I earned my BFA in Drawing and Design with intention to have a career in graphic design. I did work in the industry for a few years working on products for Disney, Lord of the Rings, Mattel, Abercrombie and Fitch and the NFL. It was all great experience, but my true passion was teaching others. I returned to school to earn my Masters in Education and have been teaching for 18 years. Read more>>
Nick Smith
I started as a writer and storyteller,, amusing readers and listeners with tall tales of horseriding cats and continents lost in space. Once a few of my scripts were filmed, I realized the truth behind the myth that screenwriters are powerless when it comes to a movie’s end product. To gain more control and tell my own stories, I got involved in all aspects of filmmaking, from acting and camerawork to producing and editing. Now I am a veteran filmmaker with over 30 years of experience, directing and producing independent feature films and training the next generation of directors at SUNY Fredonia. Read more>>
Tula Gout
It all started with a dream. Nichze said that dreams are a reflection of our deepest desires, fears, and subconscious mind, where we act as the authors of our own reality, making dreams a powerful tool for self-exploration and understanding our inner world.
From quite a young age I loved to immerse myself in creative worlds and tell stories. This never stopped, and so I discovered that acting was a job. Acting became my passion then and still is, something I look forward to doing and that brings me so much joy. Read more>>
Diane Savino
Art was something innate in me. From a young age, I always wanted to draw and learn how to paint. Unfortunately, art wasn’t offered at my high school so I was relatively self-taught until I reached college. However, I found my greatest teacher at the University of Massachusetts when I attended for post-graduate study. William Patterson is an amazing realist artist and demanding teacher; I developed more of my skills in drawing, watercolor, and egg tempera through his tutelage. I furthered my instruction in egg tempera by participating in workshops led by artists Fred Wessel, Koo Schadler, and Jeremiah Patterson. Read more>>
McKenzie Melody
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Book publishing is hard, and it isn’t getting easier as bookstores struggle to stay afloat. In traditional publishing, there are so few things an author can actually control, and it’s hard to come to the realization that no matter how good you are, you just have to keep going, waiting for the right story to hit the right person at the right time. For some writers, this takes years. For others, it’s just a matter of weeks, and that uncertainty can be a little maddening. But I do think I’m really privileged to have had a supportive family and friends along the way, as well as the opportunity to study my chosen craft through my college education. Not everyone gets those supports in their artistic career, and I’m very grateful for them. Read more>>
Martin French
I grew up far from the bright lights and the arts world, but like a lot of people in Ireland of the time, I grew up with culture and education being important., regardless of the economic situation. I was interested in storytelling from very young, reading constantly, and hoovering up anything I could watch that was telling a story on TV. I happened to be lucky enough to do well at school, and that helped me move to go to university in our capital city. It was there that my eyes were opened to a broader experience of the arts than was possible in my local small town or village at the time. All at once, I immersed myself in mulptiplicity of experiences of storytelling, going beyond the linear narrative driven stuff I had grown up with on TV and in books. Read more>>
Audrey Goldstein
I grew up on Long Island, which allowed me to go into MOMA every weekend while in high school, and Brooklyn Museum Art School in summers. I was very serious, but also terrified. It was pretty tough being a young, serious female in art school. I sought out the then newly-hired women faculty at Museum School (SMFA/Tufts) and again at grad school at MassArt. That actually helped me understand community and drove me to contribute to one afterwards. That, for me, is the most important factor in surviving as an artist. Bring everybody up, learn what we all need, practice. Read more>>
Thomas Moore
Db apparel started back in 2021. Db stands for dirty boyz. My son and I are avid ATV riders and we have been ridding for over 17 years and there is nothing better than hitting the trails and getting dirty. Letting loose from the day to day hassles and enjoying life and time with family and friends. We would always come home covered in dirt from head to toe and my wife would always say here come the dirty boyz!!!! The name has been around since my son was 10 and he is now 20 but back in 2021 I decided to have some shirts made that said our name with an atv logo on it. Once the shirts were made i began to get compliments on the name and the design. Read more>>
Aviana V
I set out to live a life of radical freedom about thirteen years ago. Passing through a series of thresholds around trusting my Inner Voice and navigating my own consciousness, I paved a path out of the old world and began to build a new one. I took myself through exercises of deconstructing society and discovering how I would implement the changes I wanted to see. These revelations evolved into our Foundational Framework: Energy, Resources, Value, and Home. By continuously asking myself what I wanted MOST, I unlocked my Divine Vision, and held on to it for dear life. Read more>>
Ben Tuber
I didn’t go to school for art or design. Actually, that’s not entirely true – I began a master’s program at the Pratt Institute, but since it’s high price tag was adding a dangerously large amount of student debt to what was already left over from my undergrad days, I aborted it after a year or so once I secured an internship at an agency. Though I learned some great stuff at Pratt, I’d also say I learned more in my first week of being an intern, since nothing beats on-the-job education. I’d also say that at least half of my education in design comes from YouTube, books I’ve bought over the years, and, for better or worse, social media. Read more>>
Nichole Meyer
Hello everyone! My name is Nichole Meyer, and I’m thrilled to share a bit about my journey and my business, Clever Social, a social media agency I started to help small businesses thrive online. My path began with a big move from West Palm Beach, FL to the buzzing city of Chicago, IL. I craved a career in media, and it wasn’t long before I landed my first role as a Freelance Social Media Coordinator for a political campaign here in Chicago. This experience sparked my passion for social media, and I quickly realized that I wanted to create something of my own—a business that would empower other small businesses to achieve their goals. Read more>>
Tobias Hogan
I’ve come to the distilling industry through a long and circuitous route. Initially out of college I thought the best place for me was on Wall St, or as close as I could get, so I set off to work in the equity trading markets in Boston MA. That lasted a for about 9 years until I learned through introspection and circumstance that it was not for me. From there my path wound into and out of design and art school to a coffee barista and onto bartending where I lived for many years behind the bar and in the kitchen and finally to owning and operating my own restaurant and bar where I thrived for just over a decade before again determining that I could no longer abide. Read more>>
Edward Grant
I think my love for photography started when I owned a digital compact camera as a teenager, using it to document moments of my life. My love for photography grew when I borrowed my RA’s camera to use it to shoot a short film. When I started to use it to take photos, I begin to like it more and more to the point I started using to take photos of people and events around campus. My photography was getting attention that led me to a photography internship. Read more>>
Jenna Vannest
Growing up a lover of crafting and creativity I always knew I wanted to become an artist. Starting off with a passion for fiber arts grew into a love and obsession with clay and ceramics in adulthood. Taking my first ceramics class in 2018 I decided I wanted to make as many ceramic mushrooms as my little home could hold. Soon I had too many and fellow class members were asking if they could purchase them from me. Realizing the potential, I signed up to vend at the Brookings Mushroom Festival and sold my mushroom pottery for the very first time with great success. Read more>>
Guilherme Possobon
Beginning in my hometown, Porto Alegre, Brazil. It’s a beautiful sun-kissed region known for chimarrão, world-class BBQ, and a passion for soccer. My childhood was fun and humble, much like most Brazilians. Back then, at 13, motivated by an idea to build a tribute website for my favorite band, Guns N’ Roses, I set out to buy my first computer. I mean, I paid for it myself, working here and there. I learned by myself how to build it and, to my surprise, the site gained unexpected popularity. Little did I know, I was an Art Director before my trajectory even began. Read more>>
Diane Lopez
Hi, my name is Diane Lopez. I am the creator behind dreamy cosmic Studios, a dreamy stationary, &sticker brand. I am here to help create a space where creativity, inspiration and a little bit of magic come together. After almost 3 years in business, I am still trying to make my dreams as an artist come true. Unlike some folks, I did not know what I was gonna do with my life as a child. The idea of creating a business for myself do not spark into my mid 20s. after going through many difficult challenges in my life, it all hit me one day when I realized I could I could create the life I always dreamed of. Looking back I am so grateful where I am right now and the long journey ahead of me. I know now that I want to be a mixed media artist and share more encouraging words thru cute, dreamy art & stationary. Read more>>
Sondra Falk
My fashion journey started when I was very young around the age of 10 or 11. I believe my love of fashion blossomed because my mother was truly a fashion maven. She had a style all her own and always exuded confidence. I remember wanting to dress like her, but I attended a private catholic school and required strict uniforms which curbed my ability to do so. Read more>>
Theo Smith
Well, it all started in church! My parents never played with my siblings and I about keeping Christ first in our lives. That’s where I had my first solo, first sermon and played my first instrument. It was in those moments, that I knew I wanted to be in front of people! Fast forward to today, I still have those same feelings! Content creating is rewarding in so many ways but it can also be discouraging. In 2020, I hit a road block and became very unmotivated to create anything because I wasn’t getting any attention from my content. I came across this app called TikTok and ever since my first video its been history ever since. Went from 0 to over 40,000 followers in 2 years and now I have over 10,000 subscribers on YouTube! Read more>>
Elizabeth Ranger
I suppose I’ve always been drawing. I’m a super shy, imaginative type, and never quite felt at home in the real world. I’m still not 100% sure how to function in it! So drawing has always been a really reliable refuge for me, and an almost spiritual home.
I drew loads as a kid, then gratefully went to an arts high school, and then got a BFA in Montreal, getting oil paint all over my apartment in the process. And I tried, I really did, to find illustration work after school. But I hadn’t really gotten an illustrator’s education, if that makes sense, and I needed to pay rent, so… I spent six years pointing my obsession brain at pastry and dessert. It was ok, but it never blossomed into a calling. Read more>>
Yuliya Semenovych
My story is similar to a lot of people who came to the United States as immigrant children.
I was born in Ukraine, and when I was 7 years old, my parents won a green card in the lottery. We came to the US with nothing – we didn’t know the language, had no money, and had no one here to turn to. My parents worked two, three, sometimes four jobs at a time to provide basic comforts for me and my sister. From a very young age, I was expected to “figure it out”. Read more>>
Nycole Sinks
In 2019 I started copyediting and proofreading for a few small businesses, focusing on marketing materials, blog posts, and websites. My background in business management and sales equipped me with the knowledge to serve my clients well, preserving tone, enhancing clarity, and increasing professionalism through well-edited materials. Read more>>
Caito Aase
I started acting in elementary school and continued through college, where I grew to deeply love Shakespeare. I went to school for acting in New Jersey, lived in London studying Shakespeare, then graduated, packed 2 duffle bags and moved to Chicago. I’ve been here for 13 years now. I’ve had a lot of opportunity to work in the theatre community here and in the last 8 years I’ve been working in the film & TV world here. I especially love horror and indie film. Read more>>
Daniel Rodenhizer
I started getting into video production my senior year of High School and started filming everything from short films to commercials. I entered a Heinz Ketchup commercial contest right before my first year of college and made 2x 30 Second spots for Heinz. I don’t think they needed my help advertising, though. From there I studied film production for four years on Long Island and worked throughout my school days filming concerts for local bands. After graduating I worked for 2 different film production companies and then freelanced for several years. Later I got hired as a Technical Director for a live-streamed fitness app for 6 years, and just recently started my own production company, Rodehouse Video Productions. Read more>>
L G Boyle
Having lived through various incarnations, I have purposely become the model for reinventing myself. What some might call a change artist. A go with the flow kind of person. Or the type to accept what God allows. (Eventually, LOL!) However I choose to caption these levels of existence, ultimately, I am a master of adaptation. I read once that the human race is the only being that CHOOSES not to grow. We don’t like being taken out of our comfort zone. But Dinosaurs taught us a powerful lesson: If we cannot adapt, we will become extinct. We must change, to grow, to live. Read more>>
Hussain Al-Khalil
At 19 I decided I wanted to take my pursuit of filmmaking seriously. I Invested in getting a camera. I did not have much crew I could use at the time so I practiced my lighting and framing by getting into photography. That became its own thing while I also went back into creating as a filmmaker and writer respectively. I began writing everyday that would go on for about 5 years, I would shoot one piece of photography & video once a week and was able to keep that up for about 2 years. That discipline is what I feel like helped me get better at my craft early on. Read more>>
Hannah Levy
I’m Hannah Levy—a writer, editor, and poet with a deep love for storytelling and creative collaboration.
My journey began in journalism school, followed by a stint as a travel writer living in South America. In my early twenties, I served as editor-in-chief of an independent music blog before transitioning into the tech world in 2011. Over the next decade, I led brand and content marketing teams at various startups, shaping narratives and building engaged audiences. Read more>>
Liz Perry
Hi, I’m Liz Perry, an artist based in the Greater Vancouver area in Canada, and I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. My art is all about capturing emotion—whether it’s through bold brushstrokes, vibrant colors, or the little details that bring a piece to life. I want my work to resonate with people, to make them feel something, whether that’s nostalgia, curiosity, or just the simple joy of color and movement. Read more>>
Lori Jakiela
I’ve loved words and books as far back as I can remember. When I was very young, I’d beg my mother and grandmother to read to me. Sometimes, if they were tired and didn’t feel like another round of Green Eggs and Ham, they’d say, “I can’t. I lost my glasses.” And so I believed that if you had glasses, you could read. That was the magic. But then I got glasses and started kindergarten and didn’t learn to read right away. I was furious! Anyway, I think writers may be born that way. Our love of story. Our love of books. Our understanding that words can shape the world, that words have power. Also, I was terrible at math and so words and stories were the only way I could make sense of things. I’m still like that, even though my family trusts me to do our taxes. Thanks, Turbotax! Read more>>
Latrell Floyd
I started Talks with Trell back in 2020 during the pandemic when I originally had a blog I would do weekly. It was a way for me to stay focused and uplifted as I would interview and tell stories of black and brown people who have taken off in their individual careers. I wanted to not only uplift myself, but also uplift my readers because this was a gloomy time for everyone. Read more>>
Melissa Lemay
I have many stories. I can say that I have always loved words, writing, and reading. I have always had a desire to write. I never thought writing would be something I could make into a career, but I have recently thrown myself into writing and editing pretty much full time. If I’m not spending time with family, drinking coffee, or hanging out with animals, I’m probably writing. Read more>>
Denise Mullinex
GeekGirl Publishing began as an unexpected pivot rooted in service. After six years teaching technology and empowering individuals through digital literacy, I transitioned to a corporate marketing role to leverage my degree—only to have former clients seek me out, eager to continue learning. Recognizing a need for accessible, personalized tech guidance in the small business community, I launched a side venture blending my teaching experience with marketing strategy. What started as evening workshops helping local entrepreneurs build websites and brand identities organically grew into a full-service publishing resource, proving that client trust and niche expertise often spark the most meaningful ventures. Read more>>
Kiki Slaughter
Art has always been an integral part of my identity, making the journey to becoming an artist feel like a natural choice. From age 7, I was fortunate to have a mentor, Karen Shea, who introduced me to various art mediums and styles. She taught me art techniques and inspired me to see that a professional career in this field was achievable. My official journey as an artist began at The University of Virginia, where I undertook an independent study in my final year. The only requirement was to hold an exhibition at the end, and the success of that show provided me with the confidence and affirmation I needed to pursue painting professionally. Read more>>
Ray Beldner
I’ve made my art career in the Bay Area, where I’ve also settled down and raised two kids. That’s the overview. In between those two things, I have worked in construction, taught in art colleges and in universities for 20 years, worked as an art appraiser, and managed a contemporary art collection for 16 years. Read more>>
Simlev
Being a kid of the ’70s, I was always fascinated by the guitar. Some of my earliest memories are of seeing Elvis on TV, strumming a guitar. It looked cool and sounded even better. I would grab anything I could find around the house and pretend I was playing, completely lost in the moment. Read more>>
Susie Kirch
After retiring from a career in public service after 30+ years, I considered options for how I would spend my time and came up with an idea to sew aprons. I knew how to sew, although it had never been my main hobby. Apron making seemed like it fit the brief, though, and so I made a few. Read more>>
Vanessa Owens
It all started with a conversation I had with my hubby. Goals things we wanted to do with our life. We encourage each other and I’m so grateful for that. I’m a fat woman who loves Pumpkins! Lol. Unfortunately if you live in a bigger body in this society you’re not allowed to exist and be happy at the same time. Read more>>
Zach Nichols
My photography story starts in college when I started dating a girl (who is now my wife) who took photos of an epic waterfall while we were on a date. I captured a handful of images on my phone and her camera’s images were infinitely better. I was big into the outdoors and hiking and bought a camera shortly after our date to capture photos of me and my friends in the outdoors. Read more>>
Stormi Kelley
I was born a creative but, determined to have the “American Dream”. I choose a different route after high school. Living a life that left me feeling empty, day after day. Following my heart, in search of purpose in my life, lead me to cosmetology school in my hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where i discovered my passion for art. Determined to explore my new found passion, I began working the day after I graduated cosmetology school. Working at Paul Mitchell’s most renowned salon, mastering the principles of geometry with haircutting. Guided by determination, moved to the west coast to work alongside Paul Mitchell’s Global Artistic Director and Global Education Vice President. Read more>>
Dionne Woods
I’m Dionne Woods of The Turquoise Iris. As a multi-disciplinary artist, creative coach, podcast host, and Motivatarian, my greatest passion is helping artists tap into their creativity and find their unique voice through art. My style of painting is vibrant with movement and expressive in nature. Whether I’m painting on furniture, canvas, clothing, or anything else that sits still long enough, I adore giving new life to a forgotten gem. I am also the founder of The Turquoise Iris Journal, a magazine platform for artists to share their work and experiences. Paint Talks podcast is my weekly artist conversation with guests featured inside the quarterly Journal. My greatest goal is to show the world the combined powers of creativity and community through my creative and business retreats, workshops, and membership groups. Read more>>