We asked some of the city’s hidden gems to tell us about what they feel is the most important factor behind their success.

Bentley B | Entrepreneur & Socialite

The most important factor behind my success . Is self confidence knowing that if I can hold the vision in my head . I can hold it in my hand. Being an entrepreneur and socialite requires a tremendous amount of self motivation . Knowing yourself and knowing which risk to take in order to pivot in your career is key. Read more>>

Jessiah Hahs Brinkley | Invertebrate Club of Southern California Leader

The people. Throughout my journey leading the Invertebrate Club of Southern California (ICSC), the thing that I have always circled back to as the root of our success is the people. The shared hobby of all the members, keeping and studying “bugs” like tarantulas, roaches, and ants, is one that is still comparatively small, so for a lot of people the only way they interact with those of the same interest is online. Read more>>

MAC Boys Entertainment | Entertainment Company

The most important factor for our success has been LISTENING. We are a very new company, however our team consists of very seasoned artists. However, we went to school for Performing Arts & Education, not business. So we are learning as we go and grow everyday! Read more>>

Andre Darville | Medical Technology – enhanced product authentication

The most important factor for my successes was the constant struggle. I am just somebody who has been in fight-or-flight mode since day one. My parents worked their backs off to give me everything they could. They went through everything life could throw at us. Read more>>

Christina Balian | Actress

The most important factors for me are confidence, hardwork, determination, and ambition. When you have those everything comes together! Believing in myself is the most important thing to me for success. Read more>>

Estella Stone | Streamer & Content Creator

For me success is measured differently depending on the project. While numbers/views/followers mean something, I find more of what feels like success when I know that my stream has brought joy to the individuals watching. A huge part of my platform is discussing Queer issues and sharing experiences about being an LGBTQIA2S+ person. Read more>>

Chelsey Morales | Creative Director & Mom

The key to my success over the past year has been developing a mindset that allows me to perceive victories even in the face of apparent setbacks or failures. I truly believe embracing the opportunity to fail as a form of success is a crucial shift in thinking for entrepreneurs. I approach my endeavors with the understanding that any action, regardless of its magnitude, contributes to my progress.  Read more>>