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.

Constance Ford

I think as creatives many of us struggle to feel successful in our twenty-first century world that constantly presents us with curated versions of other people’s lives and careers via social media (and other media). In honesty, the people I relate most to are those who are willing to be vulnerable about the less than perfect aspects of their lives, those who’ve struggled through a perceived failure or who’ve worked hard to keep going through a difficult time. Read More>>

Angelina Lutsenko

Detachment, willingness and a relentless trust in yourself. Wake up every day and try your absolute best. Don’t try to figure out how it will happen for you. Don’t focus on how you will bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Just do what you need to do each day. Daydream about what you want. Act like what you want. Live like what you want. Read More>>

Raymundo Vera

Success is a vision we all internally hold. Success looks different for all of us, even if some of the themes are common we all hold our uniqueness in what success looks like for us. In the story of SZN and its accomplishments, we’ve strived for success since we began our project. Sacrifices were repetitively made without a question to get where we’ve gotten and will be made to get where we want to be. Breaking free from your comfort zone would be the topic I hold dearly when on the road to success. Read More>>

Chi Samuel

Success isn’t always about material things or how much money you have; it’s about being aligned with your purpose and trusting God’s plan for your life. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” This verse reminds me that success starts with surrendering control to God because He’s in charge of every outcome. Often, fear is the voice we use to talk ourselves out of our own potential. It’s that little voice that says, “What if you fail?” But fear isn’t from God, it’s a tactic to keep us stuck. When I started my hairstyling career, I was terrified of taking risks, but I learned that if I didn’t step out in faith, I’d never grow. Failure isn’t the end; it’s just a lesson. One setback doesn’t define your journey, and it certainly doesn’t cancel the wins that are ahead. Read More>>

Sean Mungin

I believe success requires a balance of ambition, grit, humility, and the ability to feel satisfied. Ambition comes first because it allows you to set meaningful goals. Grit helps you stay committed to achieving those goals. Humility provides the grace to accept setbacks without being too hard on yourself, and the ability to be satisfied fosters an appreciation for the journey and the experiences along the way. Read More>>

Aaron & Jaclyn Ziefle

Success in our industry heavily relies on exceptional people skills and a welcoming personality. Establishing strong personal connections and building lasting relationships with clients is essential for cultivating returning clientele. Read More>>

Chad Johnson

I think what it takes to be successful is the drive to succeed or achieve your specific goal. For me my goal was freedom from punching a clock, I wanted to make money but it was more important to me not to have to punch a clock or answer to anyone. I wanted the flexibility of golfing on a Wednesday if the opportunity was there. That being said when you are starting a small business there is not much free time to do those things. I think it absolutely helped me to write my goals down where I could see them everyday, I think those goals seep into your subconscious and your brain finds a way to achieve them. Read More>>

Stephanie Morales

To me, success is about resilience and determination. It’s about not giving up, even when things don’t go as planned. I always struggled with that in my early adult life, I thought if it failed—that was it and I had to quit. Then I had a revelation one day, quitting is easy! The hard part is pushing through hard times to see the other side of it. Read More>>

Aubrey Byfield

Success is such a personal thing—there isn’t one-size-fits-all answer to what it takes to be successful, but there are some common threads that tend to be important, in my opinion. Read More>>

Luisiana Gamboa

First, I want to thank you for the opportunity to share my story and insights. It’s always an honor to connect with an audience interested in the journey behind success, and I’m thrilled to be part of this conversation. To me, being successful means having the courage to step into the unknown, the resilience to keep moving forward despite uncertainty, and the adaptability to grow and learn along the way. It’s not always about having everything perfectly figured out—it’s about taking that first step, trusting in your abilities, and staying committed to the process. Read More>>