We asked some of the city’s rising stars about why they think they have been so successful and we’ve shared their responses below.

Michael Mcbay

as a lifetime martial artist i have learned and hopefjully acquired the characteristics of:
perserverance, dedication, continuous effort even in the face of insurmounatble odds,
hard, hard, hard work, empathy, kindness, integrity, self discovery and the endless search
for God in all of its forms and manifestions Read More>>

Alison Star Locke

Accepting that writing sessions don’t always have to be some romantic, multi-hour situation. Sometimes, you can get a lot done with ten minutes stolen here and there. Establishing that I tend to be a better writer in the morning means that I work longer then and then typically do more admin-type writing/filmmaking and household/family work in the evening when my brain tends to be more mashed potatoes. I also tend to maintain a daily paper planner and time blocking has usually been very effective for productivity and alleviating anxiety, ya know, since us writers tend to be anxious folks. Read More>>

Emmanuel Camacho Larios

Persistence Read More>>

Emanuel Deanda

I have a few habits I feel have helped to elevate my skill set and career.

One of them is waking up early. Getting my body moving. Whether it’s walking or running. Something to get the blood rushing and my brain cells activated. I get some of my best ideas just from being up and aware. Going outside, hearing nature happening. Getting fresh air. Great ideas happen first thing in the morning. Read More>>

Jo Luttazi

Habit building is always a challenge for me. I have a dynamic disability which means my ability to work and create varies day to day. This makes consistency which is typically associated with habits harder for me to maintain. That being said I do have a few habits that allow me the grace to take care of myself and foster creativity at the same time. The first and most important habit that’s allowed me to succeed is operating on “crip time”. This means listening to my body and being flexible with my deadlines instead of pushing through pain to complete projects. I’d say another crucial habit for me has been keeping myself from comparing my journey to others. It’s not the easiest thing to do as I am online constantly and am friends with so many talented people. Read More>>

Hannah Said

One of the most important habits that helped me succeed with Saffron Cowboy was staying deeply connected to my purpose—creating a space where diverse communities could gather over quality coffee. I made a habit of being present in the day-to-day operations, listening to customers, and building genuine relationships, which helped foster a welcoming and loyal community. Consistency in quality and service was also key; I ensured that every cup of coffee met a high standard and that my team understood the importance of hospitality. Additionally, I embraced adaptability, constantly learning from feedback and making adjustments to improve both the experience and the business.  Read More>>

Logan Austin

I feel that the best habits that have helped me succeed are trusting my gut, not choosing to live in fear and confronting each and every single one of my problems with a flexible yet methodical approach. I’ve learned that not any single person is exactly the same inside and out. The ability to understand one another is something that almost seems foreign on a deeper level to most. I don’t know maybe I’ve been living under a rock for too long but most of life seems pretty surface level in the city unfortunately. However for what I am searching for in life I need to be here. I will find what I am looking for. Read More>>