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.

Josiah Nwankwo | Entrepreneur & IT Sales Executive

Success, to me, is like a mix of personal and work vibes. Personally, it’s all about being happy and content in life’s different parts – relationships, health, and growing as a person. On the work front, it’s hitting goals that boost my career and business, that will help the whole team or company shine. I like to think of it like a simulation where getting better all the time, being flexible, and bouncing back from setbacks are the real flex. Read more>>

Lehlieh Garyu | Herbalist & Entrepreneur

Embarking on the journey of self-healing has undeniably been one of the most pivotal decisions in my life. Recognizing the importance of prioritizing my mental, emotional, and physical well-being has allowed me to navigate the complexities of life with greater resilience and clarity. The process of self-healing involves introspection, self-compassion, and a commitment to personal growth. By addressing past wounds, fostering a positive mindset, and adopting healthier lifestyle choices, I have experienced a profound transformation. This decision has not only positively impacted my own life but has also influenced the quality of my relationships and interactions with others. In choosing self-healing, I’ve embraced a path of self-discovery and Read more>>

Carri Doughty | Owner

I believe that the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones that not only have a special skill, service, or product that people desire, but that have the ambition and confidence to take risks in life and business in order to achieve success. Read more>>

Cassy Karyshyn | Sneaker Artist & Content Creator

One risk I can think of is closing my orders for over three months to paint the Art History Air Forces 1s. Since these high-end customs were not commissioned by anyone, it could have been easy to become anxious about making enough money to support myself. I decided to replicate ten of the most well-known works of art on a sneaker purely because I wanted to! I had started to become bored of painting themes that other people had requested. Even though my art business is primarily commission-based, my projects don’t always have to be determined by others. I love creating whatever my mind comes up with. I have struggled to know my art’s worth ever since I started, so raising my prices felt like another huge risk. With the help of more experienced art friends, I have come up with a 3-tier pricing system for custom footwear that I am satisfied with. Fear prevents you from creating to your fullest potential, so I will continue to take wise risks as long as I am alive. Read more>>

Shay Gipson | Vice President of Community Engagement, Goodwill North Central Texas

I find daily inspiration in the dedicated individuals working for Goodwill, particularly those at Edgar’s Bath Goods. Witnessing adults with disabilities given the chance to achieve maximum independence through meaningful employment is truly uplifting. The transformative power of a job extends beyond a paycheck; it enhances self-esteem and fosters a sense of accomplishment, reminding me of the profound impact work can have on one’s life. Read more>>

Marsha Jones | Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Afiya Center

I am inspired by the community that surrounds me. As someone born and raised in the DFW area, I have witnessed what it looks like to call a place home that has historically failed its most vulnerable communities. This was my motivation to actively bring awareness and advocate for better systems serving Black womxn. I started The Afiya Center, a Reproductive Justice organization to address the disproportionate burden of disease experienced among Black womxn, girls and gender-expansive people due to systems of oppression intersecting at race, class, and gender. I noticed these disparities for far too long and wanted to find a way to let Texans know they do not have to fight these things alone. From this, we created programs to help those impacted by HIV/AIDS, providing rental assistance for womxn living with HIV, community education initiatives, providing doula services and creating a birth and wellness center and a perinatal safe spot. We also advocate every day for full access to reproductive care. Restrictive policies are a danger to our community. Black womxn, girls, gender-expansive people and their families are paying the highest price. Read more>>

Step | Music Artist

I feel like in most things I’ve done in my life, particularly now pursuing something within the creative space like music, being original and authentic to who i am has been the thing that’s helped me be the most in terms of success. I think that in hip-hop/rap today, a lot of artists sound the same, production sounds the same, it’s very repetitive. Read more>>

Shannon Doyle RN,BSN | Master Aesthetic Injector

The foundational habits that have propelled my success are deeply rooted in my passion for assisting others in becoming more confident in their own skin. Consistency serves as my guiding principle—I remain unwaveringly committed to my work day in and day out. The ability to stay motivated acts as a driving force, ensuring that I consistently bring my best to every endeavor. Continuous learning is non-negotiable, particularly given the dynamic nature of my work. Over the years, I have seized several opportunities to shadow some of the top 100 injectors in America, attended conferences spanning from Miami to Dallas, and engaged in one-on-one injection advance assessments and training sessions. Read more>>

Sukanya Bose | Multi-disciplinary Designer

I have always loved fashion and styling. As a kid, I would sneakily watch Fashion TV and be in awe of the wonders of imagination, and how a single thread or yarn of fabric could translate into so many textures, shapes, and forms. Decades later, I still feel the same way. Read more>>

Michaela Dennis | Fashion Designer & Sales Strategist

Loyalty matters most to me because you just never know who or what you’re dealing with. I love meeting new people and being open to new relationships and dealing with a ton of people from all walks of life daily can sometimes be challenging so when you find somebody that’s truly loyal and that you know you don’t have to question or second guess it’s truly a game changer. Read more>>

Charity and Joe Langford | Small Business owners, Parent to 3 and we are both professionals in the Material Handling world (forklifts, warehouse ect)

Hard work always pays off. I do believe that working hard propells you, but its not just hard work. Its knowing that no matter how hard you work, failure happens, and when things don’t work out, you have to know how to pivot and not let those bumps in the road derail your dream. If you work hard, and don’t get where you want to go, what do you do then? Learning how to pivot, and “Fail forward” is the advise I give my children. Success always involves failures Read more>>

Pamela Anglero’ | Director, Actress and Stage Manager

My end goal is very vague at the moment, and I think that’s ok. As I continue growing in this industry and learning, my plans evolve and change. I am enrolling in College to study Entertainment and Sports Management. One thing I have found I love is the casting process, being a mentor and leader, and developing something from the ground up. Hopefully, after some schooling, the path will become clearer as opportunities present themselves! But in the meantime, I am just enjoying the journey and learning from those around me. Read more>>

 Savannah Fort | Artist

The most significant lesson I learned throughout this process was the importance of simply starting somewhere. Initiating that first step can be intimidating, yet it is pivotal. By embracing the unknown and sharing my art with the world, I uncovered a market for my work and experienced personal growth as an artist. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who harbors a creative passion to seize the moment. Just do it! Even when doubts arise, remember that success often stems from taking that initial leap. Believe in yourself, explore various artistic avenues, create with passion, and seize the opportunities that come your way. Embrace the incredible journey that awaits you Read more>>

Annette Matthews | Personal Brand & Lifestyle Photographer

What my business taught me boils down to this revelation: learning and honing skills is a forever gig. There’s always a bunch of ways to nail stuff, and folks in the business drop gems left and right. Having a dope crew of photog friends on the same wavelength is golden – we lift each other up. Back in the day, I was a solo camera queen. Having a crew of like-minded friends is the secret sauce really – you lift each other up. When I started, it was just me and my camera, no fancy circle. So, when I got serious, I knew I had to link up with a community of photo friends. That led me to conferences and workshops – not just with my crew but also being in the room with big-shot photographers from all over. Those wild assignments at workshops? They threw me way out of my comfort zone. Without all this, my photo game would be stuck, and I’d be wandering in the dark. Read more>>

DJ INZO | DJ/CREATIVE

Work-life balance is super important to me and has only got better over time and improved for the best. I use to work alot and sometimes over work myself, but after my divorce I learned to start prioritizing my family time more and for myself. Granted, I was in the mindset that I had to work so much to provide and buy all the nice shiny things. Quickly learned that life is not about that and the quality time with my son and my own self care and peace is worth way much more! Read more>>

Haley Cottey | ExploreMore Founder, Yoga Instructor and Serial Entrepreneur

As a serial entrepreneur, my work life balance is constantly shifting. I have gone from working 100+ hour weeks in my 20s after opening a restaurant to being super strict about “clocking out” at 4pm last year as my kids were getting older. Read more>>