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.

Myracle & Chantavi Stevenson & Major | Owners of Myraculous Media

Success to me is creating an idea and executing that idea, and not giving up no matter the amount of trials and tribulations. Myracle: For me success stems from true joy and happiness. I’m a firm believer that you become successful when you reach goals set by yourself, or when you inspire someone who looks up to you, or when you experience personal and spiritual growth. Read more>>

Arus Motta | Producer and Manager

There is an old rule that my folks told me: “When preparation meets talent you have the success”. This is a simple formula, maybe too simple, but summarize pretty well where success comes from. Of course, you have many other factors that influence the meaning of and the actual success, one of many is luck. Me, and my associates, don’t considerate ourselves as “successful”, we are on our way there, real success takes time, preparation, setbacks, delusions, small victories, good and bad collaborations, and also there are many different kinds of success: work, artistic, and personal successes are all different games. And like always there is no one general formula for it. Read more>>

Rachel Brodeur | Yoga Teacher

I define success as the outcome of undertaking the blessings and hardships in my life. In society, there’s a tendency to look at success as the outcome of monetary value, materialism, or social rankings of an individual. I look at success as the undertaking of feeling deeply human, and restoring what grounds me to my purpose. I’ve learned that, for me, letting go of images of projected success and allowing myself to explore the images of success that attune to who I am has made all the difference. Read more>>

Jacob James | Musician, Songwriter & Producer

Success is an interesting and often frustrating concept. People tend to measure their worth based on the accomplishments of others, which I think is an unhealthy and counterproductive means of motivation. I personally have come to define success as a mindset that promotes growth and progress. I think that if you can step back and see your work as something to be proud of and that is an improvement from previous projects, it is a success. Additionally, if you’re creating something that moves you and you feel is worthwhile, that’s all the reason in the world to keep doing it. I certainly don’t judge my success based on profit. As a musician in 2020, I would have to be delusional to strive for much monetary gain from my albums. That being said, I love what I do and am leagues beyond where I started as a songwriter and producer, which is something that I feel proud of. Read more>>

Brittany Ackerman | Writer & Teacher

My students often begin their papers by defining a key term. I’m much more in favor of starting an essay with an anecdote or a favorite quote, but to define success, it might actually be beneficial to get a dictionary definition. Success (noun): the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. In terms of writing, I had always imagined success as sleeping on a pile of my books or speaking on panels at conferences and wearing expensive coats. I imagined going up elevators in New York City skyscrapers to attend meetings about my work (what exactly happened in those meetings, I didn’t bother to imagine). The scene in La La Land where Mia, played by Emma Stone, finally makes it big and goes back to the coffee shop where she used to work, all done up and glamorous, and is finally given a coffee on the house- that was success. When Jo Ann Beard came to Florida Atlantic University where I attended graduate school, she gave me some of the best writing advice I’ve ever received. Read more>>