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.

Stephanie Rudison

When I think about my definition of success, I always refer back to the quote by Booker T. Washington, “Success is not measured by the position someone has reached in life, but the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.” The road to any successful journey is without a doubt going to have some bumps along the way. It’s how you handle those bumps that makes you successful. Success can be established with preparation, a strong sense of faith, patience, resilience, grit and passion. Read more>>

Tawnya McKenney

The term success may mean different things to different people. Some may believe success is when you achieve financial freedom, or to have free time to do what you want when you want. To me success is a state of mind. To be successful, regardless of how you perceive it, you have to have a goal and stay committed and focused. Through commitment, you gain motivation to pursue success. To be successful you must be able to adapt and always try and stay positive. Developing a positive mindset is all about trusting yourself and your ability to succeed. Read More>>

Arcia Stokes

In order to acquire success, an individual must first believe it can be achieved. Success starts in the mind. Once it’s conceived, an individual must take action to achieve said goal. Additionally, it takes persistence, perseverance and drive. Lastly and most importantly, it requires grace and kindness towards oneself. The road to success is not linear. It’s many ups & downs. As an individual journey towards success, it is imperative to show compassion to themselves especially as you navigate new territory. Read more>>

Troy Scoma

I see a lot of new brick and mortar businesses open and then the owners don’t spend time in their business. In my humble opinion that’s a HUGE mistake. No one cares like the owner and what you learn working day to day in your business is invaluable. Once you get your business off the ground and put in years of sweat and hard work is when you will eventually get your time to let your staff work for you. Read more>>

Simone Fisher

To be successful you have to be ready for the term “sacrifice” With success comes sacrificing an a whole lot of it. Wanting to pursue your dream or a vision that you have written down, talked about, or even manifested you will to have to be ready to open your mind to new ideas. You want to make sure that your not the only smart person or entrepreneur in your circle of friends. You need to be willing to listen to others as well as make sure you listen to yourself an follow your heart. It takes discipline to know how to spend the revenue coming in to grow your business bigger an to connect with all the right people. Read more>>

Jun Wang

When you run a business, there are many ways to define success. For me, it is paying my bills, creating jobs for others, increasing my brand awareness, and generating revenue for my clients. Here are some key elements of running a successful digital marketing agency: 1. Skills and Experience. One of the challenges of starting a digital marketing company is to maintain a good reputation with proven results, especially in an era when algorithms are changing and digital platforms are updated monthly or even weekly. Read more>>

Allison Mills

In my business, to be successful, I think you have to always put the needs of your clients and families first, even over making more of a profit. It is so easy in this business to qualify a child for therapy and to find little things to target in therapy, but that does not always mean it is in the best interest of the child. Putting the clients and families first creates a trust between business and family, turns our clients into advocates for our business knowing that their child’s needs will always come first, and allows for an undoubtedly ethical work environment for our therapists to thrive in. Read more>>

DJ SheNasty

Remain focused on yourself and the goals you are trying to achieve. Be willing to accept constructive criticism as long as it’s done out of pure love. Manifest your dreams and live as if you’re already successful! Read more>>

Penny Karabey

To me, success has more than one interpretation. In the broadest sense, success is knowing that you have done something to the best of your ability, that you know you have put all of your effort and energy into something to achieve the best possible result for yourself. It is knowing you have made the best of something. In a more specific sense, success is more measurable. For instance, attaining financial success or achieving certain metrics of business growth whether it be revenue, growing your customer base, expansion into new markets or product categories. Read more>>

Aimee Fertado

Success is found in the details, the consistency, and the growth/change you make year after year in your business. It’s being better than you were a year ago, it’s changing with the times but remaining true to yourself and your brand. Success to me has been building a place and a community of followers and customers who return week after week because they feel good spending their money with you. Success has been surviving through COVID and coming out even better than we were before. Success is hard work, putting your fears aside and learning through your mistakes and failures but continuing to show up for your business every day. Read more>>

Megan Harper

I think in order to be successful you just need some belief. If it’s hard to believe in yourself it’s important to have successful people in your circle. Preferably someone to can relate to on a deeper level that truly makes you believe “if they can do it, I can do it.” There is power in inspiration. Read more>>

Koya Kouture

I think it takes will power in order to be truly successful, the will to wake up every day and work towards that success. It takes the will to never give up and understand that failure is part of the process. I also feel success is an individual’s definition not what society views as success because society puts large amounts of pressure on people. Read more>>

Nikki Iglesias

Honesty – From the beginning of my small business journey, I joked with clients that I was a terrible sales person because 1 – I would never sell something I didn’t love or would wear myself 2- If the earring was heavy or maybe didn’t flatter the client the way it should, I would tell them. Sometimes I lost the sale, but most of the time, women appreciated my honesty and not only purchased from me, but became repeat customers and told their friends and family about me. Palmina’s goal is help you feel beautiful; to elevate. Read more>>

Mary Phan

Over the years, my ideas of success has changed and evolved. In college, I use to think that finding a “good job” and making a good salary was the definition of success. After working for many companies, I always felt I was called to do more. I set out to start my own business because I had the drive and vision to become my own boss. Through my creative journey and years of entreprenuership, I have learned so much about myself and what it takes to be successful. Success for me is a feeling rather than a destination. Read more>>

DJ Cashflow

I think it takes determination, hard work, believing in God and yourself. Success requires surrounding yourself with the right people, who are supportive and willing to help you reach your goals. Setting goals for yourself that are attainable and calculating to keep you accountable to yourself and the overall business objective. Blocking out any negativity and never giving up on yourself and using the failures of the business as an opportunity to improve. Success also takes following up, consistency, and discipline to do the required work to push your brand forward. Read more>>

Taylor Torres

Success isn’t an overnight accomplishment. The people we look up to and reverse as successful have spent years, if not decades, perfecting their craft, building their empire, and putting in work. People often ask me what it takes to be a mom of 2, multiple 6-figure business owner, and still have time to stay fit, create content, and live life. The answer to it all? Discipline + consistency + action. Those three components are key to leading a successful life, hitting your goals, and becoming the best version of yourself possible. Read more>>

Bryan Helm

As a Photographer success can be measured on many different levels. Creating one image for a client that makes them happy and completes the job is a success. On the other end of the range leaving behind a collection of numerous photo books and gallery shows around the world is a success in many people eyes too. Your legacy really depends on what you want it to be, and hopefully it grows from there. For myself I’d like to complete some book projects and keep showing fine are work globally. I feel it’s best to leave something great behind in the world for people to enjoy. Read more>>

Steve Hart

I think the biggest mistake people make when it comes to success is not clearly defining what success is to them. To me, success is freedom to live a life I enjoy, in a place I want to live, with time for travel, family, and friends, and work that is both purposeful, stimulating, and improves the lives of other people. Thankfully, I found my city and work that helps people every day, so my task has been to create a level of freedom that I desire. In order to do so, I know that I need to hire staff, give them clear roles, treat them well, and pay them a fair wage. Read more>>

Ashton August

Success is multi-faceted and also a definition that’s widely subjective. HOWEVER, regardless of how you define success, as an entrepreneur, I recommend these steps for being successful in life:1. Have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish / create 2. Organize and outline the steps you need to take to get there 3. Possess the determination and drive to keep going 4. Expect road blocks, detours, rejection, and failure 5. Maintain a positive and empowered mindset to keep moving forward 6. Realize that road blocks, detours, rejection and failure are all teachers and lessons that help you evolve 7. Celebrate your small successes along the way 8. ENJOY the process. Read more>>

Ace Cruz

I think it takes a can-do attitude, relentlessness and just understanding that there will be many curve balls. Leave no stone unturned and understand the 3 P’s. Most of the time it’s not Personal, Pervasive or Permanent. Markets change so always keep your head on a swivel. Only the paranoid survive. Also, relationships are very important. ALWAYS take care of your people, customers and those who have helped you. Read more>>

Peter Schirripa

Success is about the journey, not the destination. A phrase we share often is ‘be brilliant in the basics.’ In my humble opinion, success is about showing up every day with the right attitude and effort. When you focus on the process the results seem to fall into place. When you try your hardest, even if you fall short you can rest easy knowing you gave it your all. Success is never found – but always sought. Read more>>

Andrew Black

Make changes – lean on your own experience to tell you how to go forward. The seasons change: if you go through the whole year operating the same way in January as you do in August, you’ll fail. You win when you makes changes whether they work or not because you learn from the outcome. Hire the right people for the jobs you need done – When the right person comes around, you going to have to pour all the right fundamentals and investment into that person to get them to where they need to be. There is no guarantee that it will work, you just have to take the risk and keep the faith. Read more>>

Carolina Yasukawa

First off I think everyone’s version of success is different. So how to get there is also different. For me getting there was about drive and passion. I set small goals and big goals for myself. I celebrated myself when I reached those goals and set new ones. I talk about my goals as if they are already happening. “I do celebrity hair and make up” I think if you want to be successful you have to allow yourself to fail and you have to believe in yourself whole heartedly before anyone else can believe in you. Read more>>

Anthony Stokes

Halfway through 2018 I was forced to move back in with my mother. I had moved out the previous year around the same time. I was let go from my job and had been bouncing around from place to place. From March 2018-September 2018 I lived in 5 different places and was battling financial hardship. I was stuck at a dead end job who told me all the right things but refused to promote due to the fact that I had dreadlocks, which to be fair was against company policy but the only person who’d ever made a fuss was the guy who blocked me from my promotion. Read more>>

Mariah Scott

Success, that word means so many different things and can be interpreted based on the eye of the beholder. One definition of success for me is living without a filter and being unapologetic with who I am as a person. In today’s world its so easy to become distracted by outside noise. Its easy to get caught up in what’s popular, what gets noticed, what the trend is and so on. Success is breaking thru the easy road, the popularity contest and ripping apart social norms. Its about being true to who you are and sticking with what makes your soul glow. Read more>>

Megan Kelly

What a great question! There are so many ways to achieve success and so many different definitions for success. I believe in the saying that “the way you do one thing, is the way you do everything.” For me success in my business has mostly been about consistency, persistence and believing I can do it. I have had many challenges and set backs along the way. Believing in my self and what I have to offer has allowed me to keep moving forward despite challenges. Read more>>

Chris Pelle

Success is different for everyone. So, what it takes to be successful is also. What it takes for me to be successful is sacrifice, education, work ethic, and a vision of what success is. For me success is creating a company doing what I love that is recession proof. So that no matter what happens with the economy, my employees won’t have to worry about job security and our customers will always be able to rely on us. If you don’t have a vision of success, you can never be successful. It must be defined for you personally.I’ve sacrificed thousands of hours of sleep, weekends, time with family and friends, hobbies, vacations etc. to create a successful company. Read more>>

Keicia Shanta

Consistency. The ability to stay consistent and to speak from your true authentic voice are pinnacles in become a successful entrepreneur. It’s a job, but never lose sight of your goals. Create your niche and execute. Read more>>

Candi Eduardo

A lot of people don’t truly understand what success really means. I thought success was being able to make a certain amount of money well I was wrong. Success for me is mastering being able to withstand anything that comes against it. I heard someone speak on how things are lead my the body for me the body of christ his spirit is in all of us. So, in order for any business to survive the body of the building the spirit has to be alive and be the center of your business. So, what that means is you are responsible for bringing life to your business and sustaining it. Success is life, peace and joy that you bring to the people that you serve. Read more>>

Paige Roberts

Being successful today takes a lot of time and patience. In my profession you can’t just go to the salon and go home. There is still a lot of work to do when you are not in the salon. Social media is a huge part of my business, although I admit I’m not the best at it. Most clients find their colorists/stylists through Instagram. It’s the perfect platform to showcase your work with photos of your clients. I do like to post photos of myself and what I’m doing as well because I’ve learned that my clients enjoy that. After all you are building relationships and clients like to be involved. Read more>>

Tai Mason

I believe it takes hard work, dedication and a mindset that will get you there. Our thoughts are the first thing we should govern. Believing you can get there is the key. Read more>>

Johnene Breaux

I think the most important thing it takes to be successful is you simply believing in yourself that you can be. That belief will activate something on the inside of you and it will make you keep going until you’ve reached your goals. Read more>>

Lady Maximo

What is success anyway? To me success is being able to live a meaningful and inspired life, living it the way you want to and doing what you most enjoy, while being surrounded by people who matter to you the most. Now within that definition includes success in your career goals and the fulfillment that comes with achieving that. I think what it takes to be “successful” is first finding your WHY. Why do you want to accomplish these goals or make more money or reach these milestones? When you figure out your WHY, you also figure out what is truly important to you and the sacrifices you’re willing to make to get to that while keeping a healthy balance with all the different aspects of your life. Read more>>

Jade McFadden

I started my brand in 2018, but in 2019, I made a list of 10 things that I keep in mind and in my phone that helps keep me on track: 1. Pray. 2. Believe in yourself. 3. Grind hard. 4. Trust the process. 5. Try to remain optimistic. 6. Research. 7. Promote. 8. Network. 9. Give back. 10. Never give up. Read more>>