We’ve been fortunate to connect with so many brilliant artists, business owners and leaders over the years and so we reached out to some of these talented folks to discuss what it takes to be successful.

Sydnee Walker

Each person has their own definition of success. What I think is success may not apply to the next person. Legendary University of Alabama Football Head Coach Nick Saban recently dropped this gem in a postgame press conference – “Everybody has earned the position that they’re in by showing that they have the capability and ability to do it on a consistent basis.” Not only did that apply to his team that day, but it also applies to life in general. In order to be successful, you have to be willing to work hard, make sacrifices and surround yourself with people who are on the same mission as you. Read more>>

Bob Mackey

In my opinion, consistency and grit are two vital critical components. However, developing a winning mindset and allowing it to transform the way you think and provide action leaves minimum room on the table for failure. Read more>>

TaShala Greer

To me success is being remembered for how many lives I’ve touched and not how much money I’ve made. Read more>>

Michael Lopez.

Success comes in many forms. I feel personally success is all around us and we should focus on the little successes and celebrate them just as much as big successes. What I think it takes to be successful depends on what your idea of success is. For me that means I have to be a hard worker. I have to be empathetic, kind, and innovative. I feel like these qualities should translate to most who want to be successful. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Parker

“Success” is a hot topic in the entrepreneurial industry. It’s often thought of as a monetary or outward achievement – like seven figures in revenue, prestigious speaking gigs, or major media features. Those things are certainly desirable and impressive, but I think being successful goes deeper than that. It requires having a personal definition of “success” – one that keeps you grounded and prevents you from riding the hampster wheel of life & business; chasing after something you may not even truly desire and resonate with. Read more>>

James Bowens

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary define success as a degree or measure of succeeding, or a favorable or desired outcome. Success is relative and we all have varying beliefs about what it takes to be successful. I believe success is a full alignment of what an individual will do, will not do, and what a person genuinely wants. On the onset, the previous statement may seem to lack word fluidity, but I assure you that this declaration is not a waste of word play. Read more>>

Jazsmyne Betts

Without a doubt, success is something that everyone strives for and it can look differently based on the individual. Some people may base their success on the amount of money they make or by the amount of popularity on social media. For me success is based on my willingness to never give up. It’s easy to throw in the towel when things get tough, but the ability and desire to fight through my adversities is one of the most rewarding things. Success is having drive, diligence, optimism when things don’t seem hopeful, being committed to my craft, Read more>>

Sarah Grace

One of the most important skills you must master to be successful is to be intentional about purpose. I’ve come to believe that success is not determined by an amount of money, followers, or popularity a person can gain. Success is simply fulfilling purpose. Being intentional about finding out who you are, and what you have to offer this world and become a master at fulfilling that purpose. If you are a painter, you are successful when you paint because you are fulfilling your purpose. If you are a writer, you are successful when you right. Getting your amazing work seen by the world is wonderful but you are successfull when you create it, or when you do whatever beautiful thing you are gifted and skilled to do. Read more>>

Donna Deck

“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” ~Robert Collier My story is exactly this quote. But I cannot always say that this is what I believed about becoming successful. As a young college graduate, I believed that climbing the corporate ladder was the way to be successful – with each new job would come more money, more recognition, more accolades. But just like so many of us experience early on in our adult lives, my path was not a straight one. It was full of detours and road blocks. Read more>>

LaTonya Washington .

There are many factors in being successful. One is to leave an impact on all of your customers and supporters. I am more than just a talented graphic designer, but I provide a memorable experience for my customers. From the initial contact, throughout my entire designing process, to the delivery of each item, I take my time with each piece. I make sure to provide something that I would purchase if I were the customer. Read more>>

Maggie Foster

It takes a daily routine and having a mindset of what success looks like for you. Some people thinks it will happen overnight. What I found is that it is a very long game that takes constant dedication, responsibility, and discipline. Working seven days a week is not a bad thing when you know it will pay off in the long run. You also need a mentor. Someone you can call for questions, experience and perspective. This is imperative. Read more>>

Vicente Lara

Above all else, I believe success is a result of resilience and adaptability. Being able to recover after a loss or failure is a skill that many people don’t talk about when it comes to success, however you find it embedded in many “success stories”. It’s absolutely essential to be able to recover through the inevitable ups and downs that come with setting out to accomplish goals, big or small. Read more>>

Kesha Reed

Although finding success is a journey, what I have found to be helpful in reaching success is being intentional, driven, goal-oriented and to surround myself with other like-minded individuals. I have learned that it’s critical to create SMART Goals, develop a written plan with timelines and make choices daily that align with those goals. Having accountability partners and mentors are essential as well. Each of these pieces have been extremely impactful for me as I strive to reach higher in every aspect of my life. Read more>>

Tyler Lord.

This is a great question and something I get asked a lot in the music/film industry. Being successful for me is being able to adapt to each project and artists request. I have a specific way of shooting and editing but i’ve found over the years producing a product that the artist likes with a little Projectblackboxx spin works the best. This also incudes talking with the artist and developing a solid story board to make sure they are excited about what we are about to produce. Read more>>

Deandra Green

To be successful takes diligence. You have to be diligent enough to keep at your goals even when it seems that they may be getting further and further away. Days are going to be tough for sure but it is up to you ti keep your eye on the prize. There is a saying that I live by, “Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in every day.” You are going to win some days and some days you are going to lose and that is okay. Find the good in those bad days and move on. You will get there I promise you just have to keep working at it. Read more>>

 

Sakeenah Allen

To be successful, we have to overcome obstacles with resilience. We must realize that our journey in life will not always be easy, and we must keep pushing. True success is making a plan, praying on it, and working towards it relentlessly. Read more>>

Tonia Nesmith.

Resilience. You have to be resilient in order to run a successful business. You have to be able & willing to go through unexpected problems/issues, but also be able to solve them in a timely manner. Rather than focusing on the problem, you must focus on the solution. Then & only then will you be a successful business owner. Read more>>

Mary Veal.

Success is a relative term. I think success in business means you also have a balanced life. Time for family, friends, hobbies and rest. Being a small business owner, you want the business to do well and serve your clients but also fit your own lifestyle. All business and no play leads to quick burnout. It’s important to find ways to be productive and still enjoy a happy and balanced life. Read more>>

Karen Wagar

Success is measured differently depending on each person’s goals in life. Success to me means to have a state of mind in which there are no limits, and everything is possible. Throughout the years, I learned to leave all fear aside, see the glass half full and embrace every experience or decision in life, regarding of the outcome, as a lesson and as an opportunity to grow. Read more>>

Jeffery Daniel

I think success is a combination of things. Hard work, sacrifice, talent, network, patience, and opportunity all go into what it takes to be successful. You can do hard work and have talent, but if you don’t have the network to be able to showcase that talent, then I believe that opportunities becomes exponentially harder to come by. Of course if we flip that, you can have plenty of opportunities but if you don’t have the talent and hard work then you will fall short as well. I believe you need to create as many avenues to open up more opportunities so when the time comes, you’ll be ready. Read more>>

Dani Felt

There are several things that I think it takes to be successful. The first is a very strong mindset. The second is a solid plan and solid vision on what you want to do. The third is knowing you’re why. The fourth is a really strong team behind you who believes in your vision. The fifth is being open to always learning new things and admitting you can be wrong. The sixth is being flexible to changing things. The seventh is great listening skills. Always be open to hearing feedback from your team, your clients and partners. The eighth is great people skills. Being able to build relationships is one of the keys to success. Read more>>

Tiarica Randle

Discipline is what it takes to be successful. Staying committed to the task at hand, all the while, organically, making time for family, friends, and just everyday life, will always reap a reward. Read more>>

Jenn Keller

I think success comes from a combination of humility, perseverance, & a good support system. You have to be willing to face your mistakes, re-evaluate and adapt, & recognize that you can’t do it alone & appreciate the people who support you. Read more>>

Vanessa Sterling.

To be successful you need to be committed. You can’t be successful without making an effort. You have to make it up in your mind that you have goals you want to accomplish, how you want to grow individually, and where you would like to be professionally. You will work harder for yourself than you ever have before. You can’t get tired, you can’t give up and you can’t take time off any time you want, It is 24/7. Read more>>

Ronnie Frey

I think it takes an unshakable believe in yourself, even when no one can see your vision but you. Read more>>

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino.

Success rests within your heart and so often the measure of success is the smile on your face or the smile you bring to others. True success calls for aligning your heart, truths and energy and defining or redefining your moments. You create the life you are most passionate about by listening to your heart and trusting the answers it provides. Finding and maintaining success also is best achieved by surrounding yourself with the proper people who foster peace within you and help you grow. Read more>>

Alison Galloway.

What it takes to be successful is subjective. What one person sees as success can be completely different than another person. Some believe they are successful with the amount of money they are bringing in or the amount of clients they have. For me personally, I measure my success by seeing my personal growth and sustainability. The ability to overcome challenging obstacles, staying self motivation, but knowing when to take a mental break is what it takes for me to feel successful. Read more>>

Camaron Cartwright.

To be successful it take a lot of heart, dedication, and determination. Everything must truly come from the heart, that provides you with the drive that you need to see things through and it makes it personal to a certain extent. Dedication and determination go hand-in-hand and are huge determining factors in the outcome of your success. Read more>>

Shyterria Dixon.

Success is a never ending journey, it also comes with plenty of high and low points. Becoming successful however takes strong dedication because it won’t always be easy, You’ll have days where you want to give up or everything you’ve worked for in that moment feels like it’s on a standstill but that’s when that drive for success kicks in. Success is not about how much money you make or how much you sell, it’s about knowing you stayed true and dedicated to your goals and achieved them. Read more>>

Roshown Gateskill

Honestly I think it takes unbreakable drive and continuous determination no matter how old or if you simply think you can’t do it if you have your mind set on something especially something you really love there should be nothing that would get in your way to make your dreams of reality it all depends on you you got to make it happen and if you really want you will definitely get it! Read more>>

Sidney Hill

To obtain success one must be willing to sacrifice to gain what one desires. I love to correlate yin yang to many areas in my life, if you are looking to build a meaningful/impactful life you will have to give something up. Read more>>

Xazia Reynolds

As far as the food and hospitality industry I think the thing that has helped me the most is having an open mind. There is always something to learn from the person you are standing next to. They may have a great idea or a fast and more efficient way of doing something and it will save you so much time. Once you close yourself off to learning and growing you are doing yourself a great disservice. Read more>>

Liesl Hays

I believe life begins once you agree to write your own story. Many of us are living stories that were written for us and not by us. Then, we wonder why our life lacks meaning. We’ve bought into the traditional versions of success and followed the neatly constructed expectations of others (i.e., have a corporate career, get married, have children). While this one-size fits all mold works for some people, it is not for everyone. Read more>>

Christopher Holmes

There are three things that I believe are paramount in order to be successful in any business. These are passion, talent, and time. These factors are interconected and can lead to success but each have a unique role in establishing a unique lane for your business venture. When all three are present you will naturally build clients that will do the hard work of marketing for you. The “street committee” is real, and when they talk about you positively, the business will grow. What eventually happens when remaining diligent is the opportunity to serve the right person, at the right time, at the right season of life that will change the trajectory. Read more>>