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.

Sean Kallas

Success is being able to do the things that I want to do, make the art that I want to see in the world. I know that my music doesn’t always fit into a DJ set or isn’t on-trend, and that’s okay. The music represents me and tells the message I want to put out into the world. Read More>>

Wellington Sena

For me, success isn’t a destination or a title. It’s more about awareness — about the peace you feel while doing what you choose to do.

I don’t think success is tied to money or status.
To me, real freedom isn’t about being able to do everything you want,
but about not having to do what you don’t want. Read More>>

Kelley Dorney

It took me a while to land on what success would look like to me. For a long time, it was whether or not I booked a Broadway show. But after several years of living in New York and seeing Broadway talent, I realized that this was not the litmus test to success that I thought it was.  Read More>>

Simon Nikan

At the beginning of my career as a dancer, I was extremely motivated and worked nonstop. I wanted to grow, to be seen, and to achieve as much as possible, so work always came first. With time and experience, I realized how real burnout can be. I learned that constant work without rest isn’t sustainable creatively or physically. Now I’m much more intentional about balance. Read More>>

Chu-Li CHEN

At different stages of life, the idea of “balance” — and the way we try to achieve it — constantly changes. Being single, getting married, and becoming a parent mark three major turning points. Motherhood in particular demands an immense amount of time, energy, and emotional presence. It often collides with my identity as an artist, especially my need for solitude and sustained personal creation. Read More>>

Eric Geynes

Work-life balance is something I’ve genuinely had to figure out along the way, especially coming from a professional swimming background where my days were basically spells of being underwater for hours on end. Back then, it was all or nothing—training six hours a day leaves little room for, well, anything else.  Read More>>

Jonathan Fesmire

Recently, the most important thing I’ve done, for me and my son, is retiring from writing novels, and focusing on another of my long-time interests, magic. This year, I began focusing on tricks and sleight of hand. Some magician friends of mine suggested that I’m ready to do magician gigs, so I’m doing that now. Writing novels takes so much time, and so much energy. Read More>>

Marina SaMont

For me, the answer is always in the work itself. When a piece still has something to say—when it keeps pulling me back emotionally or intellectually—I know I have to keep going. I give up only when the process feels empty, when the dialogue between the painting and myself is gone.  Read More>>

Chantal Partolan

I don’t typically use the term “give up”; I try and think of it more as “pivoting.” When things get difficult and I introduce the idea of changing course, I take an assessment of my energy levels and morale first. Usually by then, my body is already showing signs of exhaust mentally and/or physically Read More>>