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.

Vanessa Torres | Media Company Founder

“To be honest, the idea for my business kind of bubbled up over time. I was working in the media industry, and while I loved the work, I started to feel this disconnect. It felt like there was a lot of noise and not enough room for genuine creativity. I always loved telling stories, whether it was through writing, photography, or just having a good conversation. So, I started thinking, ‘Why not try to create a space where stories can really shine?’ It felt like the natural next step for me.” Read more>>

Manuel Pena | Pet Service Provider and Student

My business was the result of a long love for animals. Growing up I had the privilege of being able to keep all types of dogs, and other animals like birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, and many others. The deep bond I was able to nurture with each one of them led me to what I do today. I currently am a college student studying biotechnology and Exotic Animal training and management! My goal is to grow my pet service business to expand into service training. I hope to create more opportunities for those in need of a service animal to help produce a more functional day for our community members. Read more>>

Archie Anderson | Photographer & Storyteller

I like to say I was born an artist. I’ve always been creative, and making art and storytelling brings me so much joy that I don’t think giving up is a possibility for me. Having a career and pursuing certain goals as a creative can be extremely challenging, and there are times when I do question this as a career. With that being said, I’ll always be pursuing my art, taking photos, and telling stories. Making art is a core part of who I am, so to give up would be to give up a piece of myself. Read more>>

Taylor Jensen | Singer-Songwriter-Artist

This is such a loaded question. I love it! I can accredit my strong will for not giving up to my mother and her mother. Both instilled courage and grit into my life from a young age. I’ve always been a visual person and I watched both women continue to show up for what they loved continuously through every trial life threw at them. While their pursuits were not art related, I apply everything they taught me by example into my art and it’s truly I think, a big part of what’s gotten me to the place I am in today with my career. Read more>>

Louis Motte | Father and Husband

Just being there and encouraging them, a lot of it is just showing up and being in the moment, whatever it is, from playing basketball or tea time, flying imaginary spaceships to showing up to school events or taking them out and watching their minds work. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish with your kids by just being there. Read more>>

Azalea Chan | Photographer

Aside from deciding to work for myself, the most important decision I made was to lean into community and build connections with other creatives. It wasn’t just about gaining clients — it was about finding people who genuinely believed in my vision and wanted to support it. That decision has opened doors I never expected, from collaborations to referrals and even friendships that make this journey feel less lonely.

Photography isn’t just about taking beautiful photos; it’s about creating experiences and making people feel seen. And I realized that the more I poured into my community, the more it poured back into me. Read more>>

Vanessa Carlisle | Writer, Somatic Coach, Death Doula

When I decided to fully commit to working for myself, I knew there were skills I needed to build. I invested in a Healing Money Trauma group to work on my emotional struggles with money and business. I invested in one-on-one personal finance and small business finance coaching, joined a practice group with other solopreneurs, and kept studying, reading, listening to podcasts, and searching for resources that would help me overcome some of the self-defeating beliefs I had. I told myself, “I’m a smart person, and I can learn this. I need to find good teachers and apply myself, and I’ll learn what I need to know.”
Making the decision to think of myself as a learner, rather than someone who was supposed to be successful right out the gate without any background in business was SO important. I’ve been gentle with myself as much as possible, and I’ve allowed my work to grow slowly. Read more>>

Eric Gutenkauf | Chief Sales Guy, Craft Brand Management, LLC

“The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.” This quote was on the wall of my high school locker room and it has been attributed to several great coaches like Vince Lombardi and Bobby Knight.

The habit, I guess, is doing my homework and really digging into the nuts and bolts of my clients’ businesses.

I tell my clients that growing their business is a long term proposition and that we need time to lay the foundation for our success by testing and adjusting strategies and tactics and spending a lot of time in the market learning what moves the needle. It takes 3-6 months to really change the trajectory of any business, and sometimes significantly longer. Read more>>

Dwight Trible | Vocalit/Musician

What Makes me happy. number 1 improving or growing as a musician and the glorious feeling that I get from singing, especially when I am singing well.
# 2. Fulfilling my obligations and promises that I have made, being true to my word.

#3 making other people happy, Example, when we pay tribute to some of our beloved elders in our community who have given their lives contributing to and preserving our rich history. It’s beautiful to acknowledge and salute them while they are still alive. Read more>>

Eric Dean | Marketing Mentor & Consultant

Community, outdoors, and the feeling of black joy and freedom.
Community brings inspiration, comfort, excitement, and peace. I moved to LA knowing maybe 3 people. Through engaging and having an overall lust for life, I now have a community of brilliant people in my life that build me up, challenge me when needed, inspire me to keep pursuing my goals and passions.. They’re a huge part of the reason I’m still living in LA. This city isn’t always easy to navigate but it helps when you have a good group of people in your life.
The outdoors was a huge part of the reason I moved to California. I’m a marathon runner, so I enjoy training outside. I enjoy hiking, bike riding and yoga. California allows you to engage in all those activities outside. This is something I do not take for granted. Outdoor activities brings me peace and joy. Read more>>

Esther Choi | Director and Photographer

Growing up, I watched my parents work tirelessly to provide for our family, always expressing gratitude for life’s small blessings. They taught me that gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you”, it’s about appreciating the journey, the people, and the opportunities that shape us.

For me, the principle of gratitude is at the heart of everything I do. While it’s not always easy, it helps me navigate challenges with grace, reminding me to focus on the positives even in the most demanding situations. Gratitude also influences the way I collaborate and build relationships with others. It inspires me to celebrate every small win, respect others’ hearts, and approach everything with joy and intention. Read more>>

Kyle Denman | Fashion Designer & Artist

One piece of conventional advice that I disagree with is the notion that ‘failure is not an option.’ While I understand the intention behind this, I believe that failure is not only inevitable, but it’s also an essential part of the creative and entrepreneurial process. As a designer, I’ve faced my fair share of setbacks—collections that didn’t land the way I envisioned, business decisions that didn’t pan out, and moments where I questioned whether I was on the right path. But every ‘failure’ taught me something invaluable, whether it was about resilience, refining my craft, or learning to pivot in the face of unexpected challenges. Read more>>

Maru Molina | Cook

The most valuable lesson my career path has taught me is how productive authentic passion can be. When you work hard and mindfully on something you’re organically passionate about, the results are amazing! It’s about realizing your purpose and working around that to create a productive life from
It. The energy is healthy, unique and connected to the ecosystem that surround’s it. It becomes a beautiful virtuous circle. Read more>>

Frank Orozco | Clothing brand owner

I been a hustler my whole life , i always like fashion and accessories. So I thought to my self why don’t I make my own clothing brand with a strong meaning no matter the work you do for living at the end of the day everyone is taking a risk as soon as they step out there house. Read more>>

Jiahui Han | Design Technologist, Flow Artist

It depends on the context. I deeply value perseverance and a strong will, but in creative pursuits like making art, it’s important to remember that the process is inherently playful. Criticizing ourselves too harshly for “not working hard enough” can kill that creativity. Read more>>

Julieanne “juel” Salazar | (…so it’s “JulieAnne ‘Juel’ Salazar”) PR Branding/Marketing Strategist

The ability to create something—whether it’s a business idea, brand, product, or movement—or simply supporting my clients and affiliates in bringing their vision to life is incredibly fulfilling. However, the most awe-inspiring moment is watching the brand flourish into something extraordinary and seeing the success firsthand. What truly inspires me above all, is thriving in my purpose of serving others, helping them elevate their potential, and seeing them realize their vision as it all comes to life. Read more>>

Jasmine Yang | Reiki Practitioner and Integrative Healer

Being surrounded with the ones I love and good music. The energy of that is unmatched and makes me feel on top of the world. Read more>>

Tianqi Wang | Film Producer & Music Producer & Free skier

I think I’m the type of Person who can very easily feel happy! I don’t like things that super complicated, superficial.
something like waking up early and just enjoying the time being by myself, work out, communicated with my own mind.
I feel truly happy when I inspired some of my friends to stay positive mind and enourage them to exceed the limit.
For myself, I just like surfing and snowboarding, I feel free and all the stress just went away. Read more>>

Vanessa Bustamante | Revolutionary Educator & Creator

The most difficult decision I had to make was to “throw everything I had worked so hard for away” by taking a chance on myself and starting my own business and brand while also taking a stand for myself and other hard workers in my community. Being pushed out of my 13 year career and the profession I went to school for up to a Doctoral level degree, while simultaneously letting down my parents and coming back to live at home was also the biggest hit to my nervous system and identity I held for so long. Read more>>

Rose Wallace | Dancefitness Instructor

The most difficult decision I ever had to make was leaving the gym I was working for. I had been there for 7 years and built a lot of solid relationships with my coworkers and students. My students were like family to me but it was time for me to bet on myself. It was time to brand my business. Read more>>