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.

Henni Henderson

Yes I have a favorite quote “Timing Is Everything” . To everything there’s a season, and a time to every purpose. This quote has taught me to be patient, open minded , and most importantly have faith. Read more>>

Teah Brooks

I have always liked being in the kitchen whether it was watching my grandmother bake cakes; waiting to lick the bowl when she was done. As well as helping my granny bake cookies for the holiday seasons. Being in the kitchen felt like a safe space where I could create without being bothered with the problems of the outside world. I started using it as a coping mechanism when I would feel anxious or depressed. Eventually I started letting people sample my desserts; people wanted to pay me for more.  Read more>>

De’ane Kennedy | Community Organizer

I believe Dallas Black Queer Collective helps to create space for folks in the community who tend to go unseen and maybe even feel like they don’t belong and/or have yet to find a space where they feel like they FULLY belong, Not just a part of them. Read more>>

Jamarcus “jmarc” Davis | Actor/Model

The 4 Aggreements By Don Miguel Ruiz. There are Two Chapters In the Book That Stick Out To Me The Most. The first one is Don’t Take Anything Personal. In Life There Is Going To Be People And Situations That Happen to us. People are gping to talk negative about us, do us wrong etc but don’t take it personal. The second one is Don’t assume anything unless you know for 100 percent guaranteed. Reading this book has really help me see thing in a brand new light and has given me some more inderstanding that I didn’t have before. I Highly Recommend everyone read this book. A must Read for sure. Read more>>

Chris Lacquement

A book that deeply impacted me recently was Be Nice (Or Else!) and What’s In It for You by Winn Claybaugh. What stood out was how true Winn is to his message—he genuinely lives the principles he advocates. I’m always reading to grow as a leader, but this was the first time I found a business book so focused on kindness rather than just profit and the bottom line. It was refreshing and reaffirming to read about treating people with respect and compassion in a field often dominated by revenue-focused approaches. Read more>>

Dr. Keila Nichols, D.c. | Sacro-Occipital Technique Chiropractor and Craniopath – esp. pediatric cranial, homeopath

As a sole proprietor chiropractor, my success strategy was built around the following committments:
1. Be the very best in my field. Try and out-do every chiropractor out there. Find solutions for every patient.
2. Give more for less. Spend more time with each patient and charge a little less than the other doctors.
3. Love every patient – and make sure they know they are loved for who they are. Read more>>

Hannah Blatter

One thing that has always stuck with me is that fear is a liar. You can let yourself be afraid of all the things that could go wrong in your life, especially when starting a business, but the fact is that those awful things are not very likely to come true. Just like my fear of public speaking, I get terrible anxiety, I think people will laugh at me or I will pass out from embarrassment. 99% that’s not going to happen. What my fear plays in my head are often unrealistic scenarios. So just go for it! Don’t let your fear get in the way, be afraid and do it anyway. Read more>>

Sujit Pai | High School Student

One piece of conventional advice I disagree with is the idea that “students should follow a strict, traditional path to success.” This often means focusing only on getting top grades, following a standard list of extracurriculars, and aiming for certain “prestigious” colleges. While these things are valuable, they don’t define success for everyone, and they can create unnecessary pressure to conform. As a high school student, I saw many of my peers’ struggles with balancing academics, extracurriculars, college applications, and mental well-being. I realized there was a need for a platform that offered both academic guidance and peer support—something created by students, for students. Read more>> 

Nicole Clark

The most difficult decision I ever made was to leave the life I’d built in California as a backup dancer for Justin Timberlake. Being part of the Justified world tour was unforgettable—traveling all over the world, performing on stage, and living in the moment. At the time, I was so young, completely caught up in the present without a thought of the future. It was exhilarating, but I was living under the influence of others’ expectations and standards. I didn’t know it then, but I was keeping my gifts and talents within the limits I felt comfortable with rather than using them for something greater. Read more>>

Gabriela Gonzalez

I was raised in the small city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Ever since I was a little girl, I grew up with the dream of someday being able to act in front of a camera. I used to see it only as a fleeting dream; it felt too distant— too unobtainable. It wasn’t until the age of 15 that everything would change for me. A close encounter with death, followed by some of the toughest years of my life, would finally shape that dream into an unstoppable heart desire. I realized that exact dream was planted in my heart for a reason, and I was determined to take a real shot at it. Read more>>

Felipe Guerrero | Music Producer & Guitarist

I decided to pursue a career in music because all of my life, I had been surrounded by musicians and music. My dad was the first person to bring music into our household. He and my uncle formed a Mexican Norteño band and I would watch them rehearse. Read more>>

Leo Matthews

When I was a kid, I was always glued to the TV. Anime, Movies, even the news interested me. The world of entertainment brought me happiness during my lonelier moments, so becoming a voice actor is my way of giving back. And after being told by someone about this job, I was absolutely hooked. Read more>>