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.

Dr. Rachel Sims LPC

The most important lesson my career has taught me is the power of resilience and adaptability. Building and managing multiple businesses—Breath by Design and Uncomplicated Therapy—has shown me that success isn’t a straight path. Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but it’s how we respond to them that defines our journey. Resilience means staying committed to your vision even when the road gets tough, while adaptability allows you to pivot and evolve in response to new circumstances. In my practice, I’ve had to balance traditional therapeutic methods with innovative holistic approaches, and this balance has only been possible by remaining flexible and open to new ideas. Read more>>

Chelsea Burnett | Storm Chaser + Public Speaker

My spouse Adam Lucio with Illinois Storm Chasers used to give severe weather presentations to kids and adults in Illinois a few years ago. This gave me the idea of starting up severe weather presentations here in Texas, as this was not an offering I had heard of back in 2018. I also did not experience such a program as a child growing up in Oklahoma, so that motivated me to launch a severe weather awareness program through Texas Storm Chasers and I have been at it for the last 6 years! This has since led to my partnership with Storm Science to provide similar content, and full time! Read more>>

Rebecca Chiara Marano | Voice Over Talent

This is such an important question for anyone who wants to pursue a career in entertainment! Considering success in this industry (and especially voice over) is often not linear, it can be hard to know if you’re improving or if you’re ever going to meet your goals. It’s important to remember that success is a combination of hard work and LUCK. So sometimes it may feel like you’re hitting a wall. Therefore, with all that in mind, I think the most important factor is whether you’re enjoying the process. There will be hard times and moments when you feel like you’re not getting anywhere. There will be times when you start comparing your success to that of others. However, even if the road is arduous, as long as you’re enjoying the journey, that’s what matters most. Read more>> 

Mariah | Artist & Designer

I believe the most important thing I’ve done as a parent is instill wisdom into my children although they are still very young. More so my daughter because she is older, my son is still a toddler but however I do plant those seeds.
I believe the best thing you could do for your child that is more valuable than all the clothes, or toys in the world or getting them to school, is to give wisdom and cover them with prayer, love, care, and most importantly wisdom. Read more>>

Shravan Avyukta | Martial Artist – Wu Style Tai Chi Practitioner

Success means different things to different people. For me, it’s defined by my ability to learn, adapt, grow, and make a positive impact in the world. The habit of continuous learning has propelled me to new heights, and I want to share how learning truly works. I strongly believe that in order to learn effectively, you must have an open mind—a mind receptive to new ideas. Interestingly, the reverse is also true: if you have the willingness to learn and grow, your mind naturally opens up. It’s a cycle, where it feels like the openness and the desire to learn feed into each other. Read more>>

Caleb Bogenschutz | Owner of Bogie Woodworks

I think persistence has been one of the most important things that has helped my business grow to what it is today. I run this business on the side, so my time is limited. There have definitely been nights and weekends where I wasn’t exactly motivated to go to the shop to work, but did anyway in order to meet project deadlines. There’s a time to work and a time to relax, of course, but pushing through when it was necessary has really helped my business a ton. Read more>>

Dalayna Marji | VAVV’s Communications Director

One piece of conventional advice I tend to disagree with is the focus on showcasing organizational achievements over the real, transformative stories within the communities we serve. In my role as the Communications Director at Vera Aqua Vera Vita, I understand the compelling power of empowered communities taking ownership of their clean water solutions, and the future of their community. This isn’t just about delivering aid; it’s about fostering sustainable change that the community members drive and manage themselves. Read more>>

Loren Hitchcock | Development Director

I think if you’d asked me over a decade ago when I graduated from college, I would have said the corner office, with the big title, the high heels, and a six figure salary. My priorities have shifted definitely in that time. Over time, the desire to leave a good mark on this world began to become the priority. I’ve worked for several non-profits in many sectors, but my current role as Development Director for Stable Strides Farm is simply the best. I’ve traded in the high heels for boots, but the love and devotion that everyone on our staff has for our riders and our horses is second to none. I get the privilege of waking up every day and getting to tell the Stable Strides Farm story. All it takes is one day out at the farm for me to remember what’s really important in life. Read more>>

Christian Jacobs | Self Taught Makeup Artist

No matter what you do, keep pressing forward. Even if there’s a blockage, negativity in your ear, confusion or doubt on your journey, you got this! All of those worries are temporary feelings that you can overcome. Allow that to be a motivation for you. Prove any doubts and distractions wrong. Staying disciplined, being teachable, coachable, remaining open and driven are some of the key factors to a successful career! Read more>>