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.

Lillian, Sarah Garlick & Kowallik

The idea for Before Dawn Supply Co was born on a sailboat in Southeast Asia where my co-founder Sarah and I first met. Sarah is a notorious over-packer and I brought very minimal clothes for the month-long trip yet neither of us had exactly what we needed. We wanted one thing we could wear surfing, hiking, sailing, to a yoga class, or in town – something that was quick dry, breathable, and comfortable. When we couldn’t find anything in the market, we decided to make it ourselves. Read More>>

Crystal Aragon

Success to me is not defined by material but more so a feeling. Being able to feel peace, happiness and security within yourself with the decisions you’ve made because they have made life easier for myself and my family. Read More>> 

Justin De Anda

I don’t like when people try to quantify success. Sure, making money and having a 401k matters, I’m not ignoring that. But to me, if you’re genuinely excited to go to work, you’re already successful. Every day I walk into work, I forget it’s even a job; It just feels like I’m doing what I love. Most of the time I’m on set, I forget time is even a thing; It’s like I step onto that stage, blink, and twelve hours have gone by. Whether I’m getting paid or not, I’d still show up. Read More>> 

Tamara Smith

What contributed to my success was discipline and consistency . I knew , I could do it . With a no nonsense approach and a plan . I focused on my short term goals and my long term goals . . Read More>> 

Brittany Burton

The most important decision I have made that has contributed to my success would be relocating to Los Angeles from Illinois. Dreaming of living in La to becoming a permanent resident has changed my life forever. I went from conducting interviews on the internet and via mainstream press, to conducting Red Carpet interviews live, with some of the biggest acts in entertainment. I am living out some of my wildest dreams in Los Angeles, while finding God in the process.  Read More>> 

James Zhou

Since the launch of Simile, people have asked about what we do and why we started the company. Simile is an AI toolset for architects; our goal is to make it easy for design firms to get started using AI. Read More>> 

Ryan Mendoza

I draw inspiration from many things: movies, shows, paintings, and my own life experiences. My content usually revolves around horror, so I usually find myself getting inspired by movies like Scream, Halloween, and Friday the 13th. But I think what most inspires me to make content is my friends, family, and the people who support me. Read More>> 

Ross Bergen

Discipline. Motivation gets you started, but it ebbs and flows; discipline is what helps you succeed in the long run. Read More>> 

Valencia Iskandar

Fashion, experiences, and creativity make me happiest. Fashion lets me express myself and connect with people, while new experiences give me perspective and inspiration. And when I have the space to pour my creativity into something, that’s when I feel most alive. Read More>> 

Benjamin Baron

The principle that matters most to me is respect. At its core, entrepreneurship is about relationships — with your team, your customers, your community. I believe respect is what makes those relationships meaningful and lasting. It means listening as much as leading, valuing diverse perspectives, and treating people’s time and energy with care. Respect creates trust, and trust is what allows businesses to grow in a sustainable, human way. Without it, success is shallow and short-lived. Read More>> 

Mandi Pratt

If you ask me what I value most, it’s connection—real, soul-level connection—and holding on to the memories of those we love most. That’s not just a nice sentiment for me; it’s the heartbeat of why I became a photographer and why I handcraft custom pet portraits using my Grammy’s printing press. Read More>> 

Heather Thurman

I mostly work in the probate niche of real estate in Los Angeles. Outsiders would not believe the amount of work that we do to get the property ready to List. And instead of working with a single owner, there is often a large family with differing ideas. Read More>> 

Daphne Rome

I think people have the perception that AI Influencer space will eventually replace real models, and that creators have this objective in mind, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. AI creators are real people as well, and our objective besides monetary goals is to carve a niche in this rapidly growing industry , offer brands and businesses an alternative to traditional marketing, and push the limits of creativity and aesthetics in this digital space. Read More>>

Tanfa

Honestly, moving to the States and being away from my family was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It really hit me when I got here, but they’ve always had my back in the best way they could. I think about them every single day — they’re the reason I keep going. Read More>> 

Melissa Benedek

The biggest lesson my career has taught me is resilience, trusting the process and showing up consistently. Success isn’t one big moment, but the relationships you build and the growth that comes from staying committed to the work. Read More>>