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.

Steven Cundall

“Don’t be afraid, only trust God, only believe.” When business is not doing as well as I think it should, I wonder if there is something that I can do to to encourage more business, or something I should not do that is hindering business and my life. For 46 years now, I have been learning to trust God, to put everything in His hands. And for 46 years, He has been faithful to provide, to help and to bless my business and my life. It is not easy to trust someone or something that is invisible and incomprehensible, as God is.  Read More>>

Lametra Off

Words are parts of songs, poems, books and communication; I love words and the subtleties around communicating. For that reason, it is easy for me to love quotes. One of the quotes that currently resonates is – “When you truly don’t care what anyone thinks of you, you have reached a dangerously awesome level of freedom.” Read More>>

Kelly

In 2019, I had been experimenting with creating flavored popcorn for parties. A year later, my job as a corporate event coordinator was on hold, due to the Covid pandemic.
My family & friends encouraged me to pursue a popcorn business.
Years before, I had a catering business, & I have always enjoyed cooking & entertaining. So I began creating delicious & fun flavors. Read More>>

Anabela De La Fuente

Well, two big things pushed me to finally start my own business. First, I needed more flexibility in my schedule for my family. My son needed therapy, and I didn’t have the time in my schedule to get him the help he needed. Second, I’d been looking at my career and realized that even though I was moving up, my time was getting more and more stretched. I wanted to spend more time with my family and challenge myself to use all the knowledge I’d gained over the years in the industry. Read More>>

Carlton Young

Honestly, I keep moving because I don’t see my life as my own. I see it as a calling. I’ve survived three near-death experiences that should’ve taken me out: two near fatal car accidents and then being shot at point-blank range at 24. Those weren’t just accidents; they were divine interruptions clear reminders that God kept me here for a reason. Read More>>

Alfonzo Peoples

I think of risk like when you were a child and you were doing everything for the first time. How unknown the outcome is of the other side of taking the risk. It is uncertain what that risk might turn out to be on the other side but atleast you believed in yourself to take the leap regardless of the outcome. Read More>>

Gavin Starkes

Taking risks has been a major part of my career. I took a risk and paid to go to barber school now im cutting all types of people! I took a risk with the content , and was spending my own money to buy different products and record videos ,Paying for editing software and things of such. Read More>>

Justin Kempf

At Executive Functional Healing, we help high-performing professionals and individuals who feel ignored by the conventional medical system finally get to the root of their chronic health issues. Our mission is to transform lives through personalized, root-cause functional healing without prescriptions, guesswork, or symptom-chasing. Read More>>

Megan

When I started my business, I didn’t have an answer to this question. Over time, working on myself, going to therapy and using certain practices to help me handle my anxiety, I realized the message that I was creating was strongly influenced by mental health. Specifically my fascination with nature, florals and the human body. It wasn’t just because they’re beautiful subjects, but because they truly do work together simultaneously. To me, one is apart of the other. Noticing the intricacies of a flower, the color in an iris, looking up and realizing there is an entire universe out there, can really ground you.  Read More>>

Tonya Baradaran

My son is my inspiration. The spirit of a five year old is contagious. Everyday, they seek happiness, provide unconditional love, have a spirit to learn, remain pure and authentic in themselves, speak their truth, and live without fear. Somewhere over time, we unlearn those behaviors as we become adults. Leaving a 20 year corporate career and spending the days with my son has allowed me to redefine myself and the parameters of what a successful life truly is. My son is autistic and I witness his courage and growth everyday. He is finding his voice. He does not allow anyone to define him or his happiness. I find that to be incredibly inspirational. Read More>>

Armel Lawani

Respect, greatest advise I can offer is trust people to be people, actions change base upon emotions, the only exception is respect, blood or not I will always give the most respect because we all went through the same obstacles in spirit to make it into this world of existence, but once I loose respect for you, you are non existent to me and the only way I’ll loose respect is if you have no values or morals in life Read More>>

Claudia Wadsworth

Since I was little, I’ve always loved art. I started painting at the age of 9, and that creative spark has stayed with me ever since. I went on to study fashion design and art in college in Mexico City, where I realized I could bring my artistry to life on people’s faces, which is what truly drew me to makeup. Read More>>

Aubrie Mitchell

I’ve always known I wanted to do something in beauty. Ever since I was a little girl, I was mesmerized by makeup — not just the colors and textures, but the way it made people feel. When I was three years old, my mom was interviewed on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and I vividly remember watching Bobbi Brown do her makeup backstage. At the time, I had no idea who she was — but something about that moment stuck with me. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I knew: I want to do that. Read More>>