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.

Amanda McKinney

In order to be successful you have to truly know what it means for you specifically. As an entrepreneur I always attributed success to achieving whatever goal I had set at the time which unfortunately means the marker of success was always moving. Read more>>

Tori Rohen

Success can look different for anyone! The person sitting next to me probably would define success in a different way than I would. Read more>>

Shanda Zelaya

I feel in today’s world we are inundated with what success looks like; whether that is having millions of dollars in revenue, luxury travel or driving expensive vehicles. Read more>>

Kai-Lee Worsley

I think the first thing that’s important on a journey to success for yourself, is defining what that looks like. What does the word ‘success’ actually mean to you? Only if you truly understand what it is for you, can you get there. Read more>>

Abi Lee

I firmly believe that success is a deeply personal concept, tailored to each individual’s aspirations and values. While some may measure success by the accumulation of wealth, luxurious living, and unprecedented business growth, my definition is rooted in achieving a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. Read more>>

Emerson Majano

You Know Being an immigrant, success its something that you see from very far away, specially because of the barriers that you have as an immigrant (No knowing any English) now the question is, Is there anything that can stop you to believe in your dreams and become successful?? Read more>>

Joseph Robinson

There are a lot of cute quotes I come across when it comes to finding success, but what I’ve learned is there isn’t a single person in this world that can really validate whether or not you’re successful. Read more>>

Sue-Ling Li

To be successful, I think it takes dedication, luck, and positivity. Starting a small business can be discouraging and daunting. You’re constantly asking yourself questions like, how do I find customers, how do I sustain a business, how far can this go, will it be worth it? Read more>>

Katie Upchurch

I’ve realized through running my small business that success is relative. But it took me a many years to get to this realization. Growing up in a capitalist country instills the belief in most of us that in order to be seen as a successful person, you have to eventually make lots and lots of cash money. Read more>>

Keith Coleman Jr

Initiative and Entrepreneurial Spirit: Success often begins with taking initiative and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. From a young age, the individual in the excerpt, Keith La’Mont Coleman Jr, demonstrated initiative by starting his own businesses and pursuing various entrepreneurial ventures. Read more>>

Aaron C Packard

I believe I would be much more successful in commercial photography if I really did know what it takes to succeed. However, pardon my sarcasm, but having money, a magic lamp like in fairy tales, or being born into a wealthy family could have made it easier. Read more>>

Hilton Carter

That depends on your definition of success. There are many ways to be successful in life. Financial success is one thing, but the definition of a successful life in my eyes is being able to wake up everyday and enjoying what you do. Read more>>

Jamie Pfister

I started my business with my sister back in 2012 with zero dollars, my sister’s loft and a cheap camera. We had no idea how to run a business, we just did it. Read more>>

Lisa Wise

Servant leadership and an abundance mindset lead to success. Drive, direction, and structure, in that order, are, empirically a function of leadership. Read more>>

Melissa Hacunda

There is no specific playbook to success. What has been beneficial in my process is truly defining my own goals and objectives. What am I trying to achieve with my work and the pieces I create? Read more>>

Dr. Shalin Patel

In my opinion, daily habits and self-discipline are fundamental pillars of my success. Self-discipline encompasses the ability to persevere through challenges and resist temptations that might derail progress while being willing to be patient for results to occur. Read more>>

Luciana Romagnoli

Everyone has their own view on what they think it means to be successful. For me personally, success is a little bit of many things combined: having a profitable business I’m passionate about, my own schedule, a home and a loving, healthy family, peace of mind, being healthy and staying fit, to name a few. Read more>>

Leeanna Coleman

I think it takes consistency and knowing your vision and letting nothing or nobody get in the way or your goals be persistent and keep trying never give up on something you love and it gets easier the more you practice and execute you will be successful and it comes with time don’t rush the process the hard work you put in will not go unnoticed just stay focused have faith know that everything will come in due time Read more>>

Nancy Torres-Guimaraes

To be successful, you need to be persistent and optimistic because it will help you overcome any challenges along the way. When I first embarked on my soap-making journey, I thought success would come knocking on my door the instant I said, “Hey! Read more>>

Claire Bamundo

I’m always trying to figure out how to get the absolute most for my clients-whether in the PR vertical of my business, or the management side, and with an ever-changing media and social media landscape, it’s rarely easy. Read more>>

Liz Wood

To be successful, it takes understanding your own values and connecting with those near and far who share similar ones. I’ve always toted a camera around, and when I decided to monetize my photography, I knew I wanted to create something beautiful that I would be proud of and others would find useful. Read more>>

Charlotte Jimenez

Being successful is not only about money, fame, or how people see you. It starts with how you see yourself and how you feel about what you are doing. Read more>>

Kevin Williams

To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of effective communication, networking, and public speaking skills. These skills have opened more doors for me than any degree ever could. Read more>>

Esther Andries

To me, success hinges on one crucial quality: perseverance. It’s the determination to keep going, even when the odds seem insurmountable. I’ve found that never giving up, no matter what, has been the key to achieving my goals. Read more>>

Amelia Quinn

I spend a lot of time reflecting about success both personally for myself and for the non-profit I lead, BELOVED. BELOVED was launched, when I was 23 years old, from a vision for community where women were able to come together and heal, know their own value and create space in the world for the next woman. Read more>>

Lacey Steffes

I will be honest, I am not sure which of these topics to choose. I have been in the Day Spa Business for 17 years and have had many successes and many opportunities ( challenges). In 2020 we opened Pause Facial Bar as a pivot… we had a salon and both our stylists decided to open their own salon and we quickly decided to pivot to a new business model. Read more>>

Jennie Kwon

The jewelry industry is a very crowded space, as the barrier to entry is low. You don’t need a ton of capital to create a small collection and present it to the world. Read more>>

Shaterrica Solton

I know it takes hard work, perseverance, and a lot of prayer to be successful. I moved back to Atlanta a few years ago and I said I wanted to host a pop-up shop. Read more>>

Emilia Stypulkowska

I never imagined myself as an entrepreneur. As a kid, I was greatly inspired by artists and singers, but somewhere along the way – I learned that as an artist you have to be an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Ebony Jackson

I believe that to be successful, you have to have drive, confidence, and the ability to stay consistent and that’s it! I do not think that anyone needs to be spectacular to be successful, you just have to have the confidence and the drive to keep going! Read more>>

Adrianne Calvo

Being successful in the restaurant industry is about creating a memorable experience that resonates with your guests’ hearts and palates Read more>>

Kaylin Taylor

In order to be successful I believe it takes commitment and consistency. The road to success is not linear, most of the times it’s a BUMPY road. Read more>>

Shannon Westphal

To be successful in a creative field you need to be willing to take risks and trust your instincts. The work that I started out making is so different from what I create now. Read more>>

Deborah Correa

First define what success means for you. For me, success is not just career success but personal success. I wanted to have a family and do work I love. Based on my experience and what has worked for me personally, I think a lot of success is based on persistence, hard work, timing and personal relationships. Read more>>

Joanna Wojewoda

Success, in my view, is an ever-evolving concept, particularly within commercial photography. What it takes to be successful varies greatly depending on each individual’s journey and their goals A recent episode of the “Photo Dump” podcast, featuring Rob Haggart (Aphotoeditor), delved into this topic, resonating deeply with the notion that there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success. Read more>>

Missy Jones

For me, success as an entrepreneur, photographer, and brand bestie, is all about infusing every aspect of what I do with heart and soul. Read more>>

Tony Gareri

Discipline and consistency – Motivation only goes so far… Read more>>