By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Christina Marino | Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner & Clinical Nutritionist

My work ethic, integrity, education and going the extra mile for my patients has helped me run a successful business for over 30 years. My number one priority is customer satisfaction and I find it important to maintain my self-care, to my body, mind and spirit to ensure being present for my patients. Read more>>

WALID NASSERDEEN | Angel Investor & CPG Operations Advisor

A major factor behind my success is my deep-rooted commitment to understanding and aligning with my clients’ visions and objectives. Success as an operations advisor isn’t just about applying best practices or efficient modeling; it’s about recognizing and nurturing the individuality of each business I work with. I invest time in truly understanding the core of each business—their culture, their market position, and their aspirations. My practice is built on a foundation of trust and collaboration. I see myself as a partner in my clients’ journeys, not just an external consultant. I share in their challenges and celebrate their achievements as if they were my own. This approach has been the cornerstone of my success. This journey is about more than business growth; it’s about building, serving, and contributing to a narrative of the entrepreneurial spirit and dream. Every successful project, every satisfied customer, every milestone reached is a testament to the dreams we’ve helped shape. This is what drives me – the privilege of being a part of these extraordinary stories, helping entrepreneurs and businesses build their dreams into reality. Read more>>

Marianna Minervini-Reyes | Corporate Communication and International Business

A significant contributor to my achievements stems from my early adoption of Stoic philosophy, profoundly impacting both my personal and professional growth. Nurturing virtues such as temperance, wisdom, and courage has played a significant role in shaping my life’s trajectory, defining the person I have become. In my professional journey, this philosophy empowered me to take on substantial responsibilities at a remarkably young age. By the age of 22, I assumed leadership roles in various companies, now recognized as industry leaders. Read more>>

Sophocles Plokamakis | Artpreneur, Curator, Comic book Artist, Art Teacher & muralist

The most important factor behind the success of Start Shows and my personal art success is my deep rooted faith in the creator, in GOD! GOD is my rock, and I love GOD dearly. Whenever I have an issue or a problem I bring it into prayer and ask GOD to help me solve it and ask for how the obstacle can be tackled. I always get ideas as to how to solve the problem immediately! Read more>>

Kathryn Poe | Researcher & Advocate

Growing up in an unconventional way taught me that I needed to prioritize structuring my time for my needs and actually doing what I said I was going to do. During my youth, I had a rare blood disease that dominated my life during my teen and college years, that later resulted in getting a bone marrow transplant in college. I had to be intentional with my time and energy in order to succeed. When I was tired or feeling ill, I needed to take care of myself. So my time when I was well had to be used efficiently. Today I still use these skills to block out my time and my personal life. Read more>>

Mia Maugé | A model on a mission, a content creator, a public speaker, a voiceover artist

As a Content Creator, I’d say ‘authenticity’ hands down! I get called an Influencer, but I prefer to think of myself as a ‘Resonator’. I am on Instagram to connect. I create organic content with the sole intention of resonating with the connections I’ve made. To date my content isn’t structured… I usually have a thought that I want to share, and then create the content around that. Often it’s spontaneous. Yup most definitely authenticity. Read more>>

Da Poetry Lounge Co. | Spoken Word Venue and Creative House – 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Da Poetry Lounge stands as a testament to the power of words and the strength of community. Every Tuesday night, for the past 25 years, DPL’s doors open to over 200 people from all walks of life, creating a melting pot of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. The stage becomes a sanctuary where poets pour their hearts out, sharing stories that evoke emotions, challenge conventions, and inspire change. Read more>>

Zhihan Yang | Choreographer & Performer & Dance Instructor

I have been active in theater, media, film and education in recent years, working with companies such as the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Museum of Art, the Yaya Dance Academy, and the San Musae Cultural Center in the United States. Her recent works include the orchestral trio choreography “THEA MUSGRAVE: Pierrot” (2023), the dance theater “Am I Susan” (2022), the physical theater “XXX” (2022), and the quintet “Gladiola” (2021), dance film “Question” (2022), “Rush” (2021) , “Refresh” (2021) and “Retrospect” (2021). Read more>>

Cindy Hendricks | Aesthetician

All of my training taught me the protocols for skincare, the skills necessary to run my own business and to be professional, so when I started MDH Skincare, I felt prepared in these areas. I was the utmost professional. I had a white lab coat, all of my products lined up and engaged with my clients in a very professional tone and started to build my clientele. I took marketing classes, started networking, took advanced training courses, bought fancy machines, tried new product lines and anything I could think of to grow my business. And although all of those things are important, I didn’t feel I was connecting with my clients, and to be perfectly honest, I don’t think my clients felt a connection to me. One day the light went on – I realized I was trying too hard to be the aesthetician, the business owner, the professional. So I gave myself permission to be me, not someone I thought I had to be. I shared my life with my clients, the embarrassing moments, the joys and sorrows and they suddenly felt comfortable sharing theirs with me. My treatments became more of an experience then a treatment. My clients would jokingly text me “I need a counseling appointment, when are you available?” I remember sharing that I had found a pair of earrings to wear to my daughter’s wedding at the flea market for $1.00 and that they were bird cages. That client almost fell off the table laughing then later told me she hunted down a pair of bird cage earrings to wear to her son’s wedding! My clients started sharing their experience with their friends and that’s when things took off. Who knew it would be so simple: Be You! We’re the best we have! What we as aestheticians do is very personal, an exchange of energy and if that flow is blocked, it’s just a facial. Read more>>

Berkely Ireland | Model, Influencer & Mixologist

Longevity, you cannot be successful if you don’t take care of yourself, you have no stable foundation to build upon. Incorporating mental and physical health breaks by listening to my body is the biggest factor that has helped me build a solid brand and business. Read more>>

Dominic Friesen | Communications Executive * Public Relations * Talent Relations * Seasoned Storyteller

Several crucial factors have contributed to my success and that of Bridge and Tunnel Communications. Firstly, an unwavering dedication to achieving our goals and delivering high-quality services has been instrumental in building a reputable brand identity and fostering client loyalty. Read more>>