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.

Marissa Wall

Success is a term that resonates differently with each individual, often shaped by personal values, aspirations, and life experiences. For many, it is synonymous with wealth, the accumulation of material possessions, or perhaps a prestigious title that demands admiration from peers. However, I believe that the true meaning of success lies not in financial gain, but in the experiences we create and share with others—especially those we serve. Read more>>

Diamond Holmes

Recently, I’ve been focusing on consistency and discipline, recognizing that forming habits yields greater results than relying solely on motivation. Motivation can wane, but by maintaining consistent efforts, you can achieve your goals regardless of your mood. While working full time, I committed to completing my website. I succeeded by consistently dedicating time to it whenever possible, making it a natural part of my routine. After work, I would come home, shower, and work on the website until bedtime, sometimes into the early morning hours. It was this disciplined approach that enabled me to accomplish my goal. Read more>>

Wesly Simon

Hiring the right people – smart, driven, responsible and curious – can only get you so far. You have to be smart, driven, responsible and curious yourself. And even leaders need leaders. Make sure you know when to rest so that when you step in to guide your team you’re not coming from a place of exhaustion but rest. Read more>>

Morgan Szymanski

Success is such a complicated thing. One person can be successful by achieving great things, while others may garner success by making impressive works. For me it’s about leaving something in the world that makes it better than when you found it.

I’ve been making film and video in Atlanta for more than 15 years and it’s been such an amazing process learning and growing as an artist. My most recent project, my first feature film: REWIND, is what I would call my biggest success yet. It has yet to be touted by the media, and it hasn’t won any awards just yet, but it’s been such an amazing journey creating something that means so much to me. It’s a film about hardship and the inevitability of fate. It tackles thought-provoking themes of regret, identity, and the relentless pursuit of the truth. Read more>>

Dan Bird

I think success comes down to a combination of persistence, integrity, and adaptability. No matter what industry you’re in, if you’re not willing to put in the work, stay true to your values, and adjust when challenges come your way, it’s going to be tough to build something that lasts.

For me, one of the biggest lessons in persistence came early on when I was still a one-man operation. There were plenty of long days and late nights, times when things didn’t go as planned, and moments where I questioned if I was doing the right thing. But every time I pushed through a tough situation—whether it was a complicated project, a difficult client, or just the grind of building a business from scratch—I gained confidence in my ability to figure things out. Read more>>

Thresette Briggs

Two years after launching my business I found myself totally burned out because I had more client work than I had the capacity to deliver. While having the work was great, I thought I needed to be everywhere and accept almost every opportunity in order to survive, so I wasn’t thinking as strategically as I should. That resulted in severe burnout that almost led me to close it down. Thankfully, before giving up I chose to talk. Read more>>

Ana Humes

I believe that to be successful in this industry, it takes a combination of talent, dedication, and hard work. The best way to showcase your talent is having a strong portfolio that showcases your versatility and unique features. Being versatile and different is crucial in booking fun and new jobs as a model. Networking is crucial, so building relationships with photographers, designers, and other industry professionals can open many doors. I have built some amazing connections with so many talented photographers and models thanks to the many different groups I am apart of. I have found that having confidence and a positive attitude will help you stand out and handle the challenges and rejections that come with being in any industry that is media related. Read more>>

Frank Hayden

I personally believe that it takes many times of being knocked down and getting back up again for your business to be successful, i believe that if you have the passion and drive to continue to do what it is you do and enjoy doing it , The Sky is honestly the limit. Read more>>

Xiaojing Lan

True success, I’ve realized, isn’t measured by accumulated knowledge, overtime hours at work, or even promotions. My early career at prominent tech companies revealed a harsh truth: systemic structures often undervalue creators’ long-term growth. This epiphany led me to redefine success through three non-negotiable elements: physical health, quality sleep, and family support. For instance, while working 14-hour days on templated video edits left me burned out, adopting this new framework allowed me to transition into meaningful animation work — all while maintaining energy for gym sessions with my daughters. The real breakthrough came when I declined a high-pressure leadership role to prioritize my autoimmune condition recovery. Read more>>

Tay Squaw

Success, to me, is being able to step back, look at my work, and actually feel something from it—like, “Damn, I really did that!” I came to see it this way when I first experienced creative block during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, and being from New York I was always on the go, constantly shooting because I loved the art, but I never really thought about where photography could take me. I was still figuring things out. Read more>>

Nathan Miles

For me, success boils down to a very simple question: how bad do you want it? We’re in constant competition; others wanting the same success; other businesses already booming; and most importantly, with ourselves. What are you willing to do, that others won’t? On that one cold, early, wet Sunday morning where you just want to get an extra 2 hours sleep, will you let that be your excuse, or your motivation? Read more>>