We asked the community what factors they felt were responsible for their success and we’ve highlighted some of those responses below.

Eva Chan | Co-Founder @ Launch Pop | Forbes 30 Under 30

1. ) Shaping our culture inside and outside Launch Pop. When we began defining who we are and what type of environment we wanted to create for our team and founders, we also built a decision matrix for hard decisions. With team members, our first interaction is always a check on whether this team member can be a great fit in our family. Did this team member share the same values of being resourceful, self driven and hungry for growth. For example: With founders we work with, we vet whether they value being in a highly collaborative, high touch environment; Read more>>

Alex Shapiro | Director, Cinematographer, Adventure enthusiast

My Wife, Hands down she is the biggest attribute to any success I have. When I started the brand, my perspective on the world was very closed and not the most broad. she taught me what it was like to be an adventurer and not a tourist. She completely change my direction, and brand from a self-centered ambition to something that, I do hope, leaves a legacy that impacts the world in the future. Read more>>

Anny + Giovanna Baez | WIFEY + WIFEY wedding photography and cinema duo

My partner and I started this business 9 years ago when we were on our lowest point. We couldn’t make ends meet, but we had a strong desire of pursuing of dreams of being photographers. Every night we spoke about what our life would be like, how we would travel and document all these amazing love stories. We wanted to build something that would let us connect with people and also make a living out of it. Read more>>

Saz Mifsud | Fashion Designer

I believe that a big part of any brand’s success is authenticity. When a brand is true to itself and hones in on its core values and strengths it can start to see the light. This might sound rather conceptual but I’ll give an example that directly relates to me. As a creative brand, my collections are a result of raw inspiration. My brand began from my artwork – translating my photography and paintings to digital prints for clothing and accessories. The inspiration that lies behind each collection is a result of my experience in daily life – my surroundings, the people I meet, the buildings I see. Read more>>

Kimberley Valerie | Wealth, Leadership & Mindset Mentor/Entrepreneur

Personal Development, Healing and Serving Others. Read more>>

KOUSHIK | Actor

Success never came to me easy. It was always hard earned and a journey full of struggle. So I guess I valued success very highly when I actually achieved it. I do admit that initially I quantified success with money, fame and recognition like many other’s do. However, slowly I realized that success is more qualitative than quantitative. Success is also comparative. What you call success might not be success to me and vice versa. So my approach to success slowly changed and became more philosophical. Success right now to me is all about making my own self happy and satisfied. Creating a character or a project makes me happy. As I stopped chasing behind success I became more successful. Read more>>

Tenaya Figueira | Co-Founder & Movement Teacher

Authenticity. We used to be a part of a franchise where we had to follow certain branding, marketing, and product guidelines. Now, our brand is 100% us. We spent a lot of time before launching Movement Co. figuring out what our core values were and we try to navigate every decision with those in mind. Read more>>

Andy Deemer | Conspiracy-Theory Magician and Mentalist

It’s hard to single out one factor as most important, as there are SO many elements at play. (For me, those would have to include endless rewrites, grueling practice, sometimes-humiliating live rehearsals to see what plays and what doesn’t. Plus a devotion to taking the agile frameworks normally used in tech companies, and applying those to my own art creation.) Read more>>

Kellan Meador | Tattoo Artist, Musician, Jack-of-all

When I hit a wall with acting and comedy, I kept stretching myself to learn video editing, music composition, animation, and design. I didn’t know if any of those things would lead anywhere, but I was interested in them! I also started taking a deeper interest in coffee as well. Working as a barista had always been my side gig. Then I came upon a job at a Coffee/Tattoo shop a friend, who gave me my first tattoo, was opening. Read more>>

Rannel Ngumuya | Visual Artist

The most important factor behind my success is never letting my inner child & imagination go. Through all the challenges i’ve faced in my career its easy to lose focus of your original vision based on the “reality” placed in front of us. I always made sure to shape the reality in front of me by creating everything i ever imagined for myself. If i couldn’t get ahold of certain collectable art, sculptures, jewelry etc. i’d make it all myself using what i know in design, and thats just one example on a smaller scale of what i know i can accomplish through my creativity. Read more>>

Cheyenne Nugent | Real Estate Agent + Photographer

Success, for me, is not simply limited to value in numbers. Having brightened my client’s day…that is success. Alleviating my client’s stresses…that is success. Creating an incredible experience that leaves a lasting impression…that is the ultimate success! I have found that I have a servant’s heart, and I find so much purpose waking up every morning knowing I have the opportunity to go above-and-beyond in a way that makes my client’s day easier in the process. It’s the driving force behind my real estate business, and one of my absolute core values. Read more>>

Rachel Kylian | Actor, Producer, Writer

My team (agents, managers), I work with great people. I also teamed up with great directors, producers and composers to make my films. Relationships in this industry are very important to my success. I also encourage actors to get an agent/manager in every city where they want to work. There is work everywhere and you should not limit yourself to one market. I work everywhere and always look for new markets. I love my job. I believe you have to love what to do to be successful. Read more>>

Taylor Rossi | Boston Portrait Photographer

Do it for you & do it scared. What I’ve learned time and time again, especially working in a creative field, is that nothing is actually objective — everyone is going to have their own opinion about you and your work. After I graduated college, any risk I took felt like I was cliff jumping from the highest possible height; over time that height has lessened and I’ve been able to decide the level to which I find my work acceptable, and what needs more work to get it to that level with the knowledge and skillset I have right now. Read more>>

Michael Davis-Thomas

The most significant factor behind my success is resiliency and perseverance. Throughout my life experience and my expertise, I’ve had to face many barriers and obstacles. as a person who’s been a part of the juvenile justice system, the foster care system, and society, I’ve been labeled stigmatized and had a narrative placed on me before I even knew who I was. I see all that today to say the success behind me, my brand, and my businesses have been the ability to choose faith, hope, resiliency, and Perseverance despite what I’ve been through and the statically odds against me. Read more>>