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.
Sam Schwartz
What I think it takes to be successful is a mixture of many things, especially as a small business. First and foremost – unrelenting hard work, and the desire to truly and 100% WANT TO succeed in what you are going after. Sometimes I feel as if people open a business nowadays because it is the “trendy” thing to do, to be an “entrepreneur”, when in reality they don’t truly want that, and I have seen it happen pretty often in my life. Read More>>
Jacob Davydov
To be successful, I believe it takes relentless consistency, belief in your vision even when others don’t see it yet, and the ability to adapt without losing your core values. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built day by day, choice by choice. Read More>>
Tasha Luckett
What I think it takes to be successful is simply trying. Because if you never try, how will you know. The success is the stepping out on faith and doing the uncomfortable thing, the unfamiliar thing, the scarry thing, That, in and of itself is success. Success, is waking up every morning and doing your best, whatever that looks like. Success is dealing with the challenges, dealing with the obstacles, and dealing with the adversities, one day, one step at a time. Read More>>
Dana Rozansky
I genuinely believe that self-confidence is one of the biggest keys to success. For years, I’ve subscribed to the ‘fake it til you make it’ model and I believe wholeheartedly that it works.
I’ve walked into every job I’ve had with my head held high and a ‘I know what I’m doing’ attitude, even when I didn’t always know what I was doing. When you project confidence, you’ll gain respect and opportunities from others, and you’ll feel empowered to jump in with two feet and simply figure it out as you go. Read More>>
Dr. Vondale Singleton
As someone born and raised on the South Side of Chicago—who lost his mother at 14 and overcame the odds—success for me has never been about fame, money, or status. It’s always been about **purpose, perseverance, and people**.
After losing my mother and eventually my father, I could have easily become a statistic. But one man stepped in—Steven Ray Robertson. He mentored me, believed in me, and helped me find my “why.” That relationship changed the trajectory of my life. I realized that my purpose wasn’t just to succeed for myself, but to be the consistent voice and presence for boys and young men who—like me—just needed one caring adult. Read More>>
Tammi
This question comes up a lot in my world… and I get it. When I started Cowtown Wild Rags, I knew there would be challenges. Like most new ventures, the excitement pulls you in at first. Then reality rolls in like fog over the ocean, and suddenly you’re navigating unfamiliar waters, just doing your best to stay on course. Read More>>
Christian Clarelli
In my experience, success comes from mastering two things: novelty and authority. You need to stand out, and you need to be trusted.
I’ve spent years performing as a mentalist for some of the most skeptical and high-stakes audiences: FBI teams, Fortune 500 executives, even presidential staff. What I learned is this: people are drawn to what feels different, but they only follow what feels real. You have to earn their attention with novelty, and then earn their belief with authority. That’s where behavioral science comes in. Read More>>
Alexander Yakush
I moved to the U.S. in 2019 with a thousand dollars in my pocket. Slept on a couch, worked as a mover, and moved from state to state. I tried different things, started businesses, lost everything, and started over again. There was a time when I had no clients, no money, and no support. All I had left was faith in myself, in the path, and in the belief that I could make it. Read More>>
Eden Bogale
In a saturated and highly competitive industry, consistency is key. Clients need to feel confident and clearly understand the service they’re receiving. While many businesses raise their prices simply to stay relevant, I’ve focused on building lasting trust with my clients. I’ve only adjusted prices in line with inflation or increases in product costs. As a result, when I have made price changes, I haven’t lost any clients—because they value the consistent quality of service and know exactly what to expect every time they sit in my chair. Read More>>
Michael Sponsel
Freedom Barber Co. started as a grassroots company inside of an artists warehouse. We built a 400 sq ft barbershop inside the warehouse with no outside branding, no parking lot, 4 chairs, 3 barbers, and the community. Turns out, that’s all we needed. In that barbershop, we were able to win 3 “Best of Atlanta” awards from local publications, gain an outstanding, loyal clientele which eventually caused us to grow into a bigger space which has allowed us to serve more members of Atlanta. Read More>>
Natalie LaFace
Everyone’s success story will look and feel a little different. For me, success is a balance among education, passion and life experience. Success is also multi-faceted. Success for me is servicing 50-60 weddings annually while also being present for my kids sports events. It is being able to make a passion (in my case, hair and makeup) profitable while being there for my family and raising little humans. Success also doesn’t have shortcuts. I know my BS in Business Administration helped provide a cornerstone in building my hair and makeup business. Years of networking and fostering relationships with peers in the industry also helped me achieve my business and personal goals. Success is strategically filling your cups so at the end of the day you still have enough love to give to your circle of people. Read More>>
Bryan Deats
To me, success comes down to three things: discipline, sacrifice, and hard work. It’s not flashy, and it’s definitely not easy—but those are the pillars that support real progress toward any meaningful goal.
Discipline means showing up, even on the days when motivation is gone. It’s doing what needs to be done, not just when you feel like it, but especially when you don’t. It’s waking up early to work on your goals, saying no to distractions, and sticking to a plan even when progress feels slow. Read More>>
Tiffany Bumgardner
I have been a professional photographer for 14 years and I’ve seen what success looks like in its many forms. For many photographers out there success looks like earning a living from photography. It looks like being able to claim; I’m a photographer on your taxes.
For me, success doesn’t necessarily scream I’m a photographer when I can claim it on my taxes so much as believing in my heart and in my head that I am a photographer. And what I mean by that is that I want to be alive by photography. Read More>>
Kassidy Breaux
For me, success is rooted in dedication, not motivation. Motivation can be fleeting. It comes and goes depending on your environment, your energy, or your emotions. But dedication is what carries you through. It’s about staying locked in on what you want, even when it gets hard or uncomfortable, and pushing forward because you believe in the goal. Read More>>
Sharon Traylor
What I think it takes to be successful is truly believing in yourself and not being afraid to fail or be different Read More>>
Roderick Green II
Success requires a blend of determination, hard work, and resilience. It often begins with setting clear goals and maintaining a strong sense of purpose, even when faced with setbacks. Consistency and discipline play a key role, as success rarely happens overnight—it’s built through daily effort and the ability to learn from failure. Equally important are adaptability and a willingness to grow, as challenges and changes are inevitable. Surrounding yourself with supportive people and maintaining a positive mindset can also make the journey smoother and more fulfilling. Ultimately, success is not just about achieving a goal but about who you become in the process. Read More>>
Robyn Graham and Daniela Becker
We believe true success is derived from having a deep passion for what you do. While motivation, organization, and drive are essential, genuinely loving your craft is the cornerstone; from that foundation, success naturally follows. For us, advancing our success means continuing to grow our team with massage therapists who share this dedication to helping others find relief. This environment thrives on mutual respect—among our team members, towards our clients, and throughout our entire organization. We trust that by radiating loving and healing energy into our work, our space, and the world, we cultivate an atmosphere where great things happen! Read More>>
Abena Charity
I think in order to be successful at anything whether it’s your career, business etc you have to be willing to Pivot. Every single success I’ve had has come from big pivots in my life. I think we all sometimes think we have a plan, sometimes even a goal and a lot of times things to do not go the way we hoped. Being willing to show up even when you don’t want to, putting in the work and remaining consistent. Read More>>
Lauren Levin
In the Fashion and Film Industry (which I am newer to Film, in the last 6 years) as a designer today and even when I was starting out, it’s always been about growing pains. Realizing, this is what it takes to be a Fashion Designer, Stylist and/or Costume Designer, that that you’re always going to be learning and always going to be making mistakes. Read More>>
Tyisha Cummings-Norman
Success can mean different things to different people, fame, wealth, impact, happiness, mastery, or a mix of those. No matter how you define it to me in order to be successful and what has worked for me, is having clarity in your purpose know why your doing something. Consistency is always key! You must stay consistent. Failures are going to happen so you must stay resilient. Must have self awareness and being able to adapt to any and everything that comes your way. Have to stay focus on your end goal and never give up. The relationships you build also plays a huge factor in success. Read More>>
Don Smalls III
How can you be successful in the photography industry? Is it the expensive cameras ? Is it the expensive lenses, lighting or accessories ? Or is it the resources?
It’s the MENTAL! While expensive cameras, lighting and accessories, play a part in being successful within this industry, the biggest factor behind being successful is the MENTAL. You have to be mentally strong if you want to be successful in this industry. You have to be able to accept that sometimes things are not going to go the way you want or envision. Read More>>
Jaclyn Trice
Success, in my experience, comes down to a solid mix of self-leadership, staying true to yourself, working well with others, staying curious, and knowing when to delegate. First things first: lead *yourself* well. If you’re running on empty, your team will feel it too.
And let’s be real you will mess up. Embracing that truth takes the pressure off and actually helps you move forward with more confidence and clarity. Read More>>
The Vantage Salon Team
Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula, and it looks different depending on who you ask. Of course, for any business to be sustainable, there has to be a level of financial success — especially at a time when navigating the economics of our industry has become increasingly complex. Read More>>