Every overnight success we’ve seen has been years in the making. And those overnight successes are rarely because of an amazing idea or a stroke of luck. We asked some of our favorite folks from the community about what characteristics are at the heart of their success story?

Felicia Leatherwood

The most important factor behind the success of Brush with the Best is resilience—plain and simple. When I started in this industry, I saw a gap in tools designed for natural, textured hair. Read More>>

Cassie

Little Bear wouldn’t exist without the people who’ve shown up day after day with talent, grit, and a shared belief that food can create real connection. It started with me building something from the ground up—but what’s kept us moving forward is a crew that deeply cares. Read More>>

Amairany Solano, Chris Nelson, And Nik Jermaine

Chris: The secret? It’s passion. As our motto states: we are “dedicated to telling different stories through various mediums,” which fuels the unwavering love and dedication we have for storytelling. Read More>>

Xuan McMartin

One of the key reasons for the success of Soon To Be Wed over the past decade is our ability to continuously evolve with the changing dynamics of the wedding industry. When we first started, millennials were at the forefront of our target demographic.  Read More>>

Christian Rios

If you’re really about it, success will find its way. I’ve had a few people ask me for advice since starting—about hosting shows, about becoming a promoter—and honestly, there’s no ‘secret sauce.’ It’s not some magic formula. Read More>>

Caitlin & Christina Kleppinger

We started writing together nearly 16 years ago, and the most important thing we learned right away is the value of collaboration. We firmly believe that filmmaking is a team sport, and the the idea that serves the project best should win. Read More>>

Behshid

The most important factor behind the success of BeeBee Sweets is my commitment to quality and authenticity. I carefully crafted jams that are both delicious and healthy. Every jar reflects my passion for natural ingredients and my dedication to honoring my dad’d love for sweets in a healthier way. Read More>>

Edward Torres

I consider myself one of the luckiest fellas in the world to be able to do what I love on a regular basis and to be given the opportunity to share my passion and talents with people. I currently serve as theater organist at the historic Bob Baker Marionette Theater, and I get to play an instrument from a bygone era to a whole new generation of listeners. Read More>>

Ashley Gallagher Marie Fiorino

Working with my best friend and our mutual love for animals. Marie and Ashley have always loved working with animals and during their time as mothers of kindergartners they formed a friendship over chickens. Read More>>

The 805 Social Club

Success for us is really measured by how much the audience enjoys our shows. It’s a reciprocal relationship in the sense that we feed off the crowd – the more that they’re into the show, the more enthusiastic we are on stage. Read More>>

Ali Valentine

One of the most important factors behind any success that I have achieved is persistence. Rain or shine, you show up to your post. You do what there is that needs to be done. We usually tend to look at the big picture, and that’s great, (because you need to) but sometimes, we need to take things apart one by one. Starting with the smallest thing. Read More>>