TV, Movies, and culture in general sometimes paints a narrow, specific image of what success is, but we know from our conversations with some of the best and brightest that success can mean vastly different things to different people.

Krystle Krueger | Mother, Wife & Fashion Designer

I define success as giving the middle finger to all those who never believed in me, and there are quite a few. It’s not their fault, I guess. I have been known to fail a lot but, not at anything I really wanted and only in their eyes, not mine. I did things my way. I already know I can do anything I put my mind to. Now, I just want others to see the same in me as my husband, daughter and myself see in me, greatness. I define success as proving myself great. Read more>>

Pink Palace | Indie Rock Band

Success to us is being able to do what we love, and someday hopefully make enough money to be able to support ourselves. All we want in our music is for people to relate and enjoy what we create. It means the most when people reach out to let us know that our music has impacted their lives. Music has always been a type of therapy for us and nothing makes us happier than knowing that our music provides that comfort for others. Read more>>

Austin Asvanonda | Mixing and Mastering Engineer

Success is very broad and can be interpreted in many different ways. I personally believe success isn’t something someone feels on a permanent basis, rather as a day to day experience. I feel most successful in my career when I can look back on a long days work and I feel that I have truly done my best to get the best sounding product. Those are the moments where I feel most accomplished and satisfied. I don’t think success is attached with awards or monetary value. Rather working on something you can stand behind and put your heart into. Read more>>

Masina | Singer/Songwriter

Success, what a heavy word with only 7 letters… success, in my mind, is achievement. Its that feeling of accomplishment! Success can be tricky though, because there are societal measures of success, social measures of success and Individual measures of success. What someone Individually considers a success in their own personal journey may not land on the scale of success to society or ” social media “. The one thing that I changed in order to have the confidence to pursue my artistic career is changing how I measure success. When you first start out in the music business and you’re trying to learn everything you can, you hear a lot about numbers and virality. ” All you need is one viral hit ” they say…. ” You gotta make something that sounds like what people already like in order to go viral ” … yada yada yada! When I thought too much about the business aspect of music… making music became a chore, it became a game that I had to think too much about, and it just became depressing. Read more>>

Brennan Wright | photographer & Enjoyer of life

success is so far from how much money you make. i’m fully convinced that i could make millions and if i’m not filled with joy then i am the most unsuccessful man to have ever lived. i don’t make the most money, but i love the tasks that i have been given and that gives me far more fulfillment and sense of success than i ever got when i was making way more money. Read more>>

Kayla Vallar | Underwear “Architect” aka Underwear Designer

Sadly, our society conditions us to believe that success is defined by the completion of achievement of something. If you strip away the opinions and expectations others have, you realize that success is a definition of your own design. I do not look at success in the form of a destination, monetary figure, or status. Success comes from the action you put towards your goals. You do not always have to win or achieve your goals to be successful. Allowing yourself to try, embrace change, and take risks defines your greatness. Read more>>

Shannon Stott | Improvisor, Instructor, Business Owner

I have found that I have had to stop looking at success as a destination. It seems that when people ask you to define the word, their expectation is that you will be able to point at a physical object, internal feeling or something tangible that can be seen or experienced by other people. I have found that success is an ongoing journey, an ever-changing flexible state and shouldn’t be defined. Defining it solidifies it, and attaining that ‘thing’ begs the question ‘now what?’ So, if you are continuing to strive, to imagine and to work towards a better future for yourself, your business and others then you can consider yourself as being in a state of success and that makes you successful in every moment. Read more>>

@DamnYouDerrick Derrick Dillingham | Social Media Influencer

Success comes in like when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong, that obstacles, failure, and loss only act as motivation. Read more>>

Danny Knapp | Musician | Surf Instructor | Volunteer Advocate

In my experience, what many people describe as success in the music business doesn’t seem to make them happy. For me, success isn’t about money, fame, or being number one. I feel successful just having the opportunity to do what I’m passionate about, and working with people that feel the same way. I love the journey every bit as much the end result. As a musician, I enjoy practice, whether it be on my own or with a band. I get to work with some amazing, talented people, and we have a lot of fun together whether we’re in front of an audience or just working up new songs at a rehearsal hall. I never get tired of writing new material, because there’s always inspiration coming from our life experiences or just wanting to explore a subject. And then there’s the recording studio, which has always held a special magic to me. It’s one of the places where I truly feel 100% comfortable in my own skin. In the studio I have the freedom to explore, experiment, try, and fail in the process of trying to convey emotional thought. And more importantly, I get to share the experience with others that share the same goal. Read more>>

Karly Ann Razo | Artist, Writer, Musician

I think I would define success as being happy with oneself and ones accomplishments and contributions. Knowing that you are who you were meant to be. Your most authentic self. And knowing that, at the end of the day, you’ve loved, and have done your part in spreading that love. Being okay with your best. Read more>>

Krishna Branch | Makeup Artist

For me, success is all about being healthy, happy, and being able to take care of myself and my financial responsibilities without too much hardship. I think being financially successful can definitely contribute to achieving the goals of being healthy and happy in this county, but I don’t think money is the only measure of success. Being able to do what I love and spending time with people and in places that I love, is success to me. Read more>>

Brando Benetton | Filmmaker

Making mistakes on your own terms. Read more>>

Blake Barnes | Soft-tissue Therapist

I define success through progression. Always doing the best you can in the moment at whatever it is. A long term goal is great but the process in the every day pursuit of doing your best is what success means to me.Read more>>

Hannah Bowers | Singer, Songwriter & Producer

Success is a feeling. It’s not one title, event, award or achievement; it’s the whole expression of your being. It is knowing who you are and what’s important to you, and living a life that is in alignment with that. Every day you can be successful as long as you showed up for yourself fully. When you discover what authenticity feels like for you, you can begin to cultivate a successful life based in that feeling. Read more>>

Nate Hendrix | Producer & Composer

I love Earl Nightingale’s take on success. He said, “Success is the progressive realization of a worth ideal.” With that said, when you have a goal and you’re working towards it, that is success! Read more>>