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.

Andy James White | Artist and Musician

“Be so good they can’t ignore you” -Steve Martin. I love this quote. I don’t really take it as I am trying to be good for anyone else though. It just inspires me to be the best me I can be. I think being authentic and really loving what you do is why people will take notice. Originality and being yourself is the goal to me. I have moments sometimes late at night when I stop and look around at all the artwork I have created, the music I have made, and it hits home how proud I am about who I am in this life and makes me want to create so much more. Read more>>

Draza Jansky

I love having a sense of curiosity, humor, and perspective about the journey of life. These qualities set the stage for inspiration, creativity, and manifestation. And that leads directly to a more fulfilling life! Read more>>

James Adamy

The most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make was closing down my first business, a company I dedicated nearly nine years of my life to. It felt like my firstborn—a creation into which I poured all of my being. Read more>>

Becca Mohler | Singer + Songwriter for Little Coyotes

As an indie folk children’s artist, a quote that resonates with me is, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” — John Muir This quote reflects the magic of exploration and the inspiration that the great outdoors provides. It reminds me that as I wander on hikes, I’m not just searching for ideas for songs, but also discovering a sense of peace and connection to the world around me. Read more>>

Misha Metelkov | Dancer

Success to me right now is when you have finished everything that you have started. I believe you can be successful on one day and be unsuccessful the next day. I think as long as you live your day to the fullest and do a step towards every dream that you have, you can define yourself successful.
Especially in the era of distraction, where it’s hard to stay focused. For us, artists, we have so many ideas, or we begin so many things, that often we don’t finish what we started.
So success to me is collection of small and big completed tasks everyday. Read more>>

Carlos J Castillo | Actor and Filmmaker

It’s a feeling deep inside you that governs how you live your life and what you spend your time doing. For those with a purpose there aren’t enough hours in a day and the morning sun is a like a starter gun going off. Always so much to do in so little time. I always look forward to Mondays. The start of the work week means business is certainly being conducted in and around my industry. I find myself encouraged by the opportunities looming. When it’s a quite start business wise there is time I can attribute to my craft, skills, or health. Read more>>

Jee Kalua | Whacker & Voguer

I believe what contributes to my success is the fact that I don’t chase money or success. I truly want to represent my hometown and ensure that I am genuinely making a difference in the lives I touch. My passion is people and their development, so changing a life in a positive way through dance makes everything else smooth and worthwhile. Read more>>

Angel Turner | Founder

It is no secret that the world is rapidly advancing through creative innovation and technology. As society continues to evolve, there is an innate need to maintain artistic authenticity in order to keep pushing boundaries and driving progress. Nanna’s Country Cakes®️ recognizes this need and strives to support artists in their quest to create meaningful and impactful work. Read more>>

Lindsay Brunner | Pelvic Floor and Orthopedic Physical Therapist

Working as an orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist means helping people, both on an individual and a community level. I have the privilege of helping people directly with injuries and physical conditions that impair their quality of life. Though I work with a wide range of clients, I would say I feel the most impact in the community of parents and birthing people. During pregnancy I help people with pain, overall fitness, and empowerment that their body can handle this amazing process. In the postpartum phase I help people recover from the strain of birth and guide them in how to return safely to activity and daily tasks. Read more>>

The Real Li | Rapper & Artist

I want my legacy to be my music: the songs, the albums, the creativity I’ve contributed to the world. I think I was put here to share my experiences with others who may relate to things I’ve been through in my life. I want to be remembered as someone who gave every part of themselves to the craft. I use music to navigate through my life and I’d love to create soundtrack for others to do the same. Read more>>

Kyra Johnson | Professional dancer / choreographer

Since being a little girl I knew I had something to impact on others lives. Not having a very good childhood, my mother and my little sister has being the biggest inspiration to me. We grew up to be taught that nothing everything is giving to you that you want without a fight. It’s taught to breathe through times of challenges. To be grateful for the little wins and hold close the big ones. I want people to remember me as a driven individual that hasn’t been given it all but will make sure I get it all. I have a lot to do in this life time. I want people to be infectious with my energy I have. This life is hard but so worth everything we go through to make it great. Read more>>

Mia Wenjen | Children’s Book Author, Mom Blogger, Entrepreneur, and Non Profit Co-Founder

When I was in business school, we had a speaker, David H. Murdock, who told us the secret to his success. David had to leave school when he was in middle school but he built a billion dollar real estate empire over the course of his long life. His secret to success was pretty simple. He said that when people make a “to do” list, they do the things on the list in the order of their preference. He does it in the order of importance. Read more>>

Joey Deruy | Fine Art Painter & Illustrator

I love my routine. There’s something special about the quiet of early morning, the smell of coffee brewing, and having a moment to just sketch and gather my thoughts. This daily ritual has grown into something I look forward to—a small adventure in journaling that helps me start the day grounded and grateful. I feed the birds outside, walk the pups, and then settle in to paint. Being able to do what I love every day and make a living from it is a privilege I don’t take for granted. Read more>>

Diana Antillon | Childrens Party Entertainer/Event Planner

What makes me truly happy is seeing the smiles on kids faces when they are having fun at one of my parties. I love creating memorable experiences for children and knowing that I have made a positive impact on their lives. Running my own business also gives me a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Every child deserves to have a celebration filled with fun, laughter and special moments. My own childhood was challenging, so I am passionate about creating positive memories for children that they will cherish for years to come. Contributing to their happiness and well-being is incredibly rewarding. Read more>>

Sarah Anderson | Founder and Board Chair

The Vic James Center is a mission driven organization in Los Angeles. Our objectives are to improve behavioral and mental health for young adults, children and youth ages 16-26. Everyone on the team has lived experienced overcoming substance use disorder issues in the home or personally. The Vic James Center set individuals up to overcome barriers in accessing resources. The Vic James Center improves the social determinants of health through life skills training and mentorship. The Vic James Center believes in strengthening the continuums of care, of treating the whole person. Read more>>

Aaron Krebs | Entrepreneur

In any business I create I think first about the customer experience. I’m not out to sell the most widgets. I’m out to sell the most pleasing experience when you come in to buy a widget. I create experiences. That’s the goal. I also look to do business with honesty. There are so many companies out there that hide fees or language in contracts. I’m not looking to do that. I want to have an honest exchange with someone. I believe that if you treat people right, they will continue to patronize your establishments. It feels old fashion. Which is a shame. It should just be how we all treat each other and do business. Sacrificing your customers and customer experience to make 2-3% more is a short dollar move. I value treating customers the way I would want to be treated when I do business. Read more>>

Clint Torres | Hair Stylist/Makeup Artist & Creative Director

One piece of advice I often find myself questioning is the notion that you should always be moving forward. Through my own journey, I’ve learned that there are times when taking a step back can be invaluable. These moments allow for reflection, skill refinement, and a chance to realign with the larger vision for your life. Sometimes, slowing down can lead to deeper growth and clearer direction. For example, I went from owning my own salon, to being an assistant for a year. This was seen by some as a sacrifice but that year propelled my life in ways I couldn’t have even dreamed of. Read more>>

Kelli Turner | Founder & Creative Director

The most important lesson my business has taught me is to never give up on myself. Believing in myself has been the key to everything else falling into place—success, happiness, and fulfillment. I’ve learned that the only real obstacle is the hesitation within. My advice? Take that leap of faith. Start the business, write the book, follow your passion—whatever makes your dream a reality. This journey is yours, not anyone else’s, and no matter the discouragement or doubt from others, remember: your dreams are yours alone, and only you can make them come true. Read more>>

Holly Crawford | Stay at home mom, content creator, small business owner

Work, Life, Balance is always a tricky one to navigate. Before becoming a mom of four I was in the financial industry. As a bank manager I had long work hours and when my oldest kids were young, they were in daycare for many hours a day. When the twins arrived, we knew we had to make a change. Things that people don’t talk about often enough is how much sacrifice it is to be a full-time homemaker. One spouse now has the entire financial burden, and the one staying home is now a full-time homemaker. For me it was a hard transition, I had to learn how to be home and not in the business world. I am beyond blessed to stay home and be here for our family and wouldn’t change a single thing, but it was definitely a learning curve. Read more>>

Misaki Matsuda Lagos | Realtor, Business consultant

Since I am a single mother with full custody and no additional support, time is very important to me. I designed my business and schedule to allow me to care for my son; I can’t work a full-time job, but I still need to earn an income. For me, business is all about creativity, ideas, understanding customer needs, and finding ways to meet them. I began hiring people who could support my work, a process that took almost five years to build. Now, I have a flexible schedule and a balanced life. Read more>>