We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Tracy Chiles McGhee | Author, Entrepreneur, & Cultural Curator

The idea for My Published Book was born from my own experiences as an author and from witnessing the struggles and triumphs of other women writers who were trying to navigate the publishing complexities. I recognized a significant need for a platform that not only supported women authors in publishing their works but also empowered them by retaining their rights as indie authors. Read more>>

Jermaine Stegall | Composer

Initially I didn’t think of being a composer as creating a buisness, however a lot of what we all do as creatives falls into a category of being an entrepreneur and therefore very much related to owning a buisness. Read more>>

Chas Stickney | Color Specialist

I define success on happiness and passion. If you have those two things, the money will come. I see people who work jobs that they can’t stand all the time, even if it makes them good money. I don’t think money is the only thing that makes you successful. Read more>>

Oscar Chang

As long as I’m calm, safe, healthy, and doing the things I like. Keep moving forward. This is a success for me! Read more>>

Alanna Zabel | Founder, AZ I AM

Navigating the decision of whether to keep going or to give up is a deeply challenging process that requires a blend of persistence (ironically), strategic thinking, and intuition. As a business owner and entrepreneur, I recognize the immense value of tenacity, focus and having an unstoppable mindset. These qualities often drive success and help overcome numerous challenges. However, it’s equally important to understand that there are moments when drastic changes, pauses, or restructuring become necessary. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the end, per se, but it may be a surrendered pause. Read more>>

James Roha

Deciding to switch into design school was hugely important for me – it really opened up my view towards a wide range of possibilities. Read more>>

Tetiana Shevchuk | Leading Sports Designer & Founder of Leotaire

As the creator and founder of Leotaire, what makes me truly happy is the incredible journey that began 15 years ago with my daughter. When she was selected for a competition, I was faced with the daunting task of finding a suitable leotard—something both high-quality and reasonably priced. The options were scarce and expensive, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. With no prior sewing experience and minimal resources available, I embarked on a mission to create a leotard from scratch. Read more>>

Norberto Perez

Painting makes me happy, it has become such an important part of my life that it’s hard to imagine going through the day without it being present. Painting helps me explore the world and understand it better. When in the act of painting either indoors or outdoors it feels like my senses are heightened. Colors that I wouldn’t see on a normal day suddenly appear, and the sounds of people and conversations also become more apparent. I become still and aware of a world that seems to be moving fast. Painting has also reinforced lessons that can be applied to other things. Read more>>