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

Dani Kreeft | Ghostwriter, Chef & Author

Asking good questions. I’m pretty sure it’s at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s over dinner with friends, on the page while I write, while alone trying to meet new people, interviewing someone for my “I Asked a Friend” series or on the road traveling, it all comes down to asking good questions. Read more>>

Alex Tsagamilis | Film Editor

When it comes to success, four things come to mind: honesty, hard work, adaptability and patience. First off, honesty is key. You cannot get far away without it. Honesty towards your collaborators and self. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses.  Read more>>

Joshua Meehan | Songwriter & Media Composer

I think that the most important thing for any creative’s success nowadays is to remain authentic and to stay consistently producing. There are three main factors working against creatives in my experience so far; decreasing budgets, a saturation of the workforce (job scarcity), and the advent of artificial intelligence. Read more>>

Heather Fay | Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Actress, Model

The most important factor behind my success would have to be diligence. Knowing when to go hard and knowing when to retreat and find inspiration from within has helped me maintain longevity throughout the years. Read more>>

Emmy Olea | Actor & Podcaster

I would say that the most important factor behind the success of my podcast, Crumbs is that I speak authentically. I’m not too worried about sharing the good, the bad, the embarrassing, and the ugly. There is a rawness and vulnerability in my story telling. Read more>>  

Michael Drew | Music Composer

I truly believe that hard works always warrants success. The catch is, it might not be the success you initially envisioned but truly working to the best of your abilities it will lead to success. The rest comes down to grit and determination. Read more>> 

April Spurlock | President, FTI Pet Products, Inc. / FLEA TREATS

The most important factor behind the success of Flea Treats is the product itself! Read more>>

Kalex Shen | Brand & Packaging | Graphic Designer

As a graphic designer, I would say the most important factor behind my success would be being myself…and good communication. Design has become such a saturated field in the past few years with so many talented designers, so it’s important to distinguish myself from all the other designers. Read more>> 

Emily Dickinson | Musician

I think a lot of things go into a successful story, but the #1 ingredient is ambition! Make sure you’re working at your brand every day, even if all you can spare is an hour. Eventually it adds up and you’ll be so thankful that even on a busy schedule you’ve made it happen. Read more>> 

Mark Allen Lachar | Talent Manager, Marketing Director, and Musician

It’s difficult to pin down one single factor that has lead to the success of the digital marketing and talent agency I co-founded in 2017. From day one, my business partner Michael van der Roest and I, were lucky to have the same values and moral compass. Read more>>

DeWitt Fleming Jr | Performer and Business Owner

I didn’t necessarily have a thought process. I created something out of necessity for myself, and found out that others really wanted it as well and so I decided to sell it. I started out really small with just word-of-mouth and Instagram post. Then the business kind of organically grew on its own. Read more>>

Chris Tos | Stand Up Comedian, Writer, Director, and Viral Mischief Maker

The heart of my brand? It’s all about keeping it authentic, almost to a fault, if you can believe that. I’m out here, just laying it all out, you know? I dive headfirst into the deep end of my own quirks and insecurities, then come up for air with a joke in hand. Read more>>

Little Miss Marxist | Content creator

Without a doubt, authenticity! I spent so many years trying fit in and be liked. I was terrified of being seen, afraid of what others thought, and to be honest, a little unsure of myself. When I started creating content I was so worried about people I knew seeing it. Read more>>

Sophie St. John | Recording Artist & Songwriter

My brand absolutely would not be where it is now without honing in on the power of now. I easily could’ve let every opportunity that strengthened my career slip if I would’ve let fear or doubt dictate my goals. As someone who is constantly creating art, and generating new ideas, this is the greatest lesson that I have learned. Read more>>  

Bob Schultz | VP Sales and Operations

That we are able to help people of all ages and lifestyles relieve pain and improve posture by wearing our brand. Read more>>

Viviana Sarmiento | Culinary Artist

-Staying true to myself. -Being aware that I’m enjoying this process, even during the hard moments. -Creating products and flavors that I love and I would personally buy if someone else was making them. -Being in love with my craft, if I’m not directly working on my company you can always find me in the kitchen making any kind of experiment. -Being proud of what I’m creating. Read more>>

Chucks City and Rlynex Vibes | Chucks City and Rlynex Vibes of Afro City Music

Consistency, Passion, and devotion played an important role. However, our trust in God is at the core of every milestone. Read more>> 

Farah Walahi | Florist, Human Resource Professional, and Humanitarian

The essence of my business success lies in its core mission – to curate a cycle of giving. Every purchase of flowers is not just a transaction but a selfless act contributing to alleviating poverty in Afghanistan. Read more>>

Chris Mata | Owner – Punch Kick Pro

The most important factor behind my success is having the courage to follow through on my vision. Seeing the future clearly and making sure to follow through and execute actions that will have a direct impact on the reality of my business whether that be online business courses, keeping up with the latest in human psychology and behaviors and continued training in the combat arts arena. Read more>>

Liz Colon | Owner of Captured Celebrations

At Captured Celebrations, we believe the most important factor in our success is creating a connection with our clients. We focus on capturing the genuine emotions and interactions that make celebrations special, not just staged smiles. Read more>>

Sarah Viducic | Acupuncturist and Herbalist

The more women I work with, the more I realize that as a collective, we are paving the way for the future generation of girls. By creating a space like SAMA SPACE, where women can openly discuss their health concerns and receive compassionate, informed care, we are sending a powerful message to young girls that their bodies and their experiences matter. Read more>>

Frank Nguyen | Audio Engineer & Music Producer

My parents wouldn’t verbally say they love me but instead my mom would cook me my favorite dish or my dad would change my oil on the weekends when I’m home. That was the way my traditional Vietnamese parents said “I love you” and it took me a while to accept and understand that. Read more>>  

Ruiqing Qu | illustrator

I think the most important factor behind my success has been persistence, or as I call it, “blind confidence”. Before I had access to more and better work, I was always confident that my work was excellent. Read more>>

Rafaela Rocha | Editor

I firmly believe that a clear goal is essential for success. However, it’s crucial to recognize that we undergo constant transformation throughout our journey. Understanding this dynamic nature allows us to embrace the possibility of our long-term goals evolving, which is perfectly acceptable. Read more>> 

Elizabeth Conway & Frankie MacLaughlin | Filmmakers

We are Frankie MacLaughlin and Elizabeth Conway. We are a filmmaking and producing duo and we’ve been creating movies, plays, and scripts together for six years! Our company is called Less Precious Productions, and we attribute our success to our core values: Read more>>