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.

Stephanie Jones | Rapper & Digital Creator

Being a rapper can get pretty expensive, especially if you don’t produce and engineer yourself. I have worked a 9 to 5 job my entire music career to support it; I’m currently a private investigator. You absolutely have to budget and be smart. You have instrumentals, song engineering, visuals, and promotion at minimum to consider. And instrumentals alone can cost from hundreds to thousands if you want to own the rights completely. I personally write out a monthly budget with my paychecks, subtract my bills, and then determine how much I can put back to spend on music. If I have a project coming out then I will save up and cut back on buying clothes, makeup, etc. to make sure it happens. It’s worth the material sacrifices for me to be able to execute my art. But the best thing you can do to be financially savvy is learn to do a couple things yourself; like graphic design or engineering. The more parts you can do without any help, the easier it gets. Read more>>

King.kidd | Music Artist/ Entrepreneur

As a creative the struggle to keep going or quit comes up very often. My whole life and personality is wrapped around being a creative, so I don’t even envision life without being a creative. If that thought ever changes that’s when I’ll know it’s time to quit. Read more>>

Erykah Holloway | Podcaster and Mental health advocate

That is a great question. There is a lot of things that bring me joy. I love spending time with my loved ones. They have been my biggest supporters since the very beginning. I am a book worm. I enjoy reading mystery fiction books. Mystery fiction books are my favorite genre because you are piecing together information and trying to figure out who did it before the big reveal at the end of the story. It is very satisfying and it keeps you guessing. I love traveling. The most recent trip that I have been to is Canada. I travel to Canada once a year to visit my family in both Montreal and Toronto. Read more>>

Eric Christen | Conceptual Consultant & Inventor

I love nature, the earth and animals. I relax and get all cuddly and humble in the woods or by the sea. I adore beautiful women. I love truly ingenious and gifted persons such as Terry Pratchett, Antonio Gaudi, Salvador Dali, Nicholas Tesla and David Bowie. I can listen to music all day when I am in the mood. On a darker note, I am also gladdened by the demise of evil men. I love the smell of roses, lavender, sweet pea blossoms, jasmine and freesias. I also love great humor and am still a fan of Monty Python. Read more>>

Haley Sigala

My goal is to transition from my current part-time photography status and finally step into becoming a full-time photographer. I dream of a future where I am fully immersed in capturing and celebrating the special moments of people’s lives – whether through weddings, engagements, or other artistic projects. Achieving this goal will not only fulfill my professional aspirations, but also allow me to dedicate my time and energy to perfecting my craft and building meaningful connections with my clients. Ultimately, I aim to create a lasting impact through my work, leaving behind beautiful art that reflects my passion and commitment to showcasing the beautiful moments in my clients lives. Read more>>

Lauren Talbot Gillan | Certified Holistic Nutritionist

Just start. Don’t wait to be perfect. Don’t wait to have all of your ducks in a line. Just take that first step. You will be waiting forever if you wait for everything to align. Read more>>

Lanie Brown America Hutchins | Wedding and Event Planners

The most important lesson owning a business has taught me/us is that you have to be able to manage your time and emotions well. Time management is so important in the wedding industry and just as a business owner in general. Everyone needs a little piece of. you and to have a little piece of you means some of your time. We have learned to lean into the relationships that we have created with not only our clients but other wedding vendors around us, and to create meaningful relationships that means giving everyone quality time. So time management and creating relationships are two of the top things this business has taught us. Read more>>

George Koehl | Songwriter & Artist

I was born and raised in Garland, TX, just outside of Dallas. I grew up in a large family. Including my parents and six siblings, we had a household of nine! If you’ve ever seen the movie Cheaper by the Dozen, that was essentially my life! Things were often quite hectic, with the mix of different ages and personalities sometimes leading to abject chaos around the home. However, I wouldn’t trade my upbringing for anything! Growing up in that environment taught me invaluable lessons about communicating, compromising, getting along with diverse personalities, and learning to be part of a team, all of which are skills I constantly utilize now as an artist and collaborator. Read more>>