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.

Paige Frappier

I think consistency and discipline have been the biggest habits that help me succeed. I’ve learned that no matter how long something takes, if I stay consistent and keep showing up, the results eventually follow. My path has often felt a little slower than some of my peers, but that pace has taught me patience and helped me value the moments in between. Just because I’m not always booking or in the rooms I hope to be in, doesn’t mean my career is on hold, those in-between times are where I’ve grown the most as an artist. Discipline keeps me grounded, but consistency is what moves me forward. Read More>>

Lori Lyu

“Thoughts shape reality.”

This quote means that as long as I want to, my life can have countless possibilities. It doesn’t matter what industry I’m in, where I am, or my age—all that matters is whether my heart desires to do so. The world changes with my mindset, my mind is the universe. Read More>>

Melody Godfred

As a poet, author and avid reader, there are many quotes and affirmations that carry me through different seasons of my life. Right now, there are two quotes that reverberate in my head daily. The first is from my new book, Moon Garden: Poetry for Manifestation. It reads, “The moon in me is rising. She reminds me to be brave.” The reason I love this quote is because it honors the moon and my shared, cyclical nature. The moon is my constant reminder to approach life with wonder, with trust, and with an appreciation for all its phases — whether it be the moon phases, or my own. No matter her phase, the moon always rises. So do I. Read More>>

Andrei Pukhov

I’ve been passionate about video editing since I was a kid. At around 12 I started experimenting with early editing programs, and that passion has stayed with me ever since. Read More>>

M & M Events

We were a vendor at another market and saw how they managed their Events, and didn’t like it. After talking to other vendors as well, we realized we can host our own market in a way that supports small businesses like ours in a positive way. The fact that we are vendors too, has helped us to see what is needed in our vendor community. That is way we started M & M Events Market. To have a safe space for other small businesses to sell their products and to grow. Read More>>

Ishaan Chaudhari

For me, success is the ability to grow and create without losing sight of why I started. It’s not just about milestones on set or personal achievements, it’s the feeling that comes when everything aligns. When the story, the frame, the emotion, and the people you share it with, all align. In my career as a cinematographer, that means capturing moments that resonate, learning something new every day, and telling stories that linger with audiences. In life beyond work, it’s about living authentically, staying curious, and most importantly nurturing relationships with the people who matter most. Read More>>

Matan Edry

At DIME SNS Construction, we believe building isn’t just about results but about strengthening communities. We help homeowners unlock the full potential of their properties through ADUs, remodels, and outdoor living spaces, which adds long-term value to neighborhoods. Beyond the projects, we support local jobs by hiring skilled tradespeople from our community, and we take pride in using sustainable practices and durable materials that reduce waste and extend the life of our work. Read More>>

K’Hara McKinney

A book that I’ve read recently that truly impacted my work was “Lost Connections”. This book is about the author who suffered from clinical depression from age 18 and tried various medications, unfortunately not fully feeling “cured”. He ultimately decided to find organic reasons for contributors to depression and anxiety and discovered several that were determined to have an impact on mood. It absolutely shifted how I practice therapy because it showed me that if there is a contributor to depression, then by managing these we can decrease the intensity of mood symptoms. Brilliantly written! Read More>>

Lety Vargas

Habits that have helped me succeed have been being consistent and persistent. Whenever I experience setbacks, I see them as small obstacles in my path, and not as obstacles that will stop me from achieving my goals. I make sure I keep my goals at the forefront of everything I do and actively take steps to achieve them. I self-reflect a lot. I reflect on experiences I’ve had and how I can do better next time, and in this way, I can continue to grow personally and professionally. I practice my listening skills. For every person that I meet, I try to be the best listener I can be, so that people feel heard and understood. I also ask questions and seek guidance from peers, mentors, or other people when I am unsure about my next steps in life or how to reach my goals. Read More>>

Erin Kuykendall

The thing I have learned the most since beginning my acting career is how important it is to surround yourself with like-minded people and friends who inspire and lift you up. When I first moved to LA, I used to be so scared of making connections because I felt guilty, as if people would think I’m using them. Over time, I’ve come to understand that every artist out here is just doing their best to make it and how much people are willing to lend a helping hand. Read More>>

Step Up

Step Up is driven by a set of core values: Hope, Respect, Collaborative Relationships, Wellness, and Voice & Choice. The foundational principle that guides all of these is the understanding that change is possible in anyone, if given the opportunity. Every one of our values puts our clients front and center, with their needs driving every action, and their progress is the only measure of our success. We often hear terms like “human-centered” services thrown around, but people can sometimes lose track of what that really means.  Read More>>

Hui Li

Career wise, my end goal would be to pursue tattooing and open my own shop in the future. Although it is a non-traditional goal, I know it would fulfill me because I get to work for myself and be able to freely express my art. Read More>>

Francesca Riso

One of the most rewarding feelings in this life is that of sharing your gifts with others and watching it make a measurable difference in their life.
As I started and grew a business that involves making a direct impact on peoples lives and mental health it has become so abundantly clear that this is what we’re meant to do as people! Read More>>

Laura A. Garcia

I feel that the most important lesson that my career has taught me is that you should always be willing to pivot and adapt. Like most things in life, it’s never a straight arrow up – it has peaks and valleys. I’m also a big advocate of realizing that you might have to take one step backwards in order to take two steps forward to advance your career. Read More>> 

Chelsea Mooney

I used to strive for work life balance, but could honestly never find it, which would leave me burnt out and frustrated. I had been thinking about it too literally- trying to find equal time for work and personal life, and for me that would just never be reality. Once I shifted my mindset around this and began seeking work life alignment instead, I felt much more content with everything in my life because I found work that was purposeful and made my time away from the personal side worth it. Once I had my son, my priorities obviously changed, and I became even more driven in my entrepreneurial journey because my “why” had become so much stronger.  Read More>>

Steven Armstrong

The thing about work life balance is that its constantly changing for me as I get older. I got a full time job, I write everyday, I try and do stand up as often as I can, I’m acting in a couple of different projects, I have a girlfriend that I live with. All of these things became more constant in the last few years. Who knows how many things I’m going to have to balance ten years from now. I found that the key things to concentrate on are work, health and relationships. Making time for all those makes me feel like I have purpose. Read More>>