We asked the community what factors they felt were responsible for their success and we’ve highlighted some of those responses below.

Maya Yahfouf | Portrait Photographer

Word of mouth! Since I have a home-based studio, my customers walk in as strangers and leave as friends. Part 1: I have a strong base of customers/ friends who talks about my business, tag me when recommendations are asked and consistently tag me when they post my work to social media! I owe them the success of my business! Part 2: I am always improving my skills, technical and design wise. I constantly avoid trends that do not fit my brand, which is hard because customers see so much online. My mission is to create timeless portraits with a fun whimsy. Portraits that make you feel happy and loved when you look at! Read more>>

Asiah Spencer | Photographer

I think the most important factor behind my success is what I choose to live by everyday. The key words would be confidence, you have to believe in yourself before you expect anyone else to. Execution, because when you have everything within you to create you just have to go out and do it. Determination and endurance as well, the faith that everything will work out how it is supposed to as long as you keep working hard.Furthermore, to never be in a rush on the way up, you got to have patience in the process and enjoy the roller coaster and the view.Lastly, staying true to your identity and where you came from, not allowing any distractions to deter you from vision. Read more>>

Marcos Peña | Videographer and Photographer

I can most attribute my success to my willingness to take risks and believe in myself and my skills. After graduating college in 2013, I didn’t know if I wanted to delve into a full-time job right away or build upon my name and business through freelancing. After taking a post-graduation trip to California, I realized that my path had been before me all along and I should continue to bet on myself like I always have, confident that I would receive a great deal of support from both my family and friends. Read more>>

Tony Ramey | Singer-Songwriter

Success is a loaded word. Everyone’s definition is a bit different. Set your own goals, long and short, and be satisfied in your fulfillment of those goals. If success means that your doing music on your terms, on your time, then enjoy your success. Don’t let the amount of money you earn at your craft define how successful you are. I have made a lot of money writing songs, and it was during that period I was the most unhappy at my craft. Once I let “money” goals go, I began to love working again, and making enough to pay bills! Read more>>

Curley Kelly | CEO, Head Recruiter & Coach

The most important factor behind our success is our relationships. To be successful in life, and in business we believe that you must build strong relationships. Through the recruiting process I am constantly building positive meaningful relationships with the student-athlete(s), their family, the college coaches, and other brands that may be interested in endorsing them. I believe in putting the student-athletes first and not only providing them the necessary exposure but also being instrumental in helping them become better individuals on and off the field. Read more>>

Sierra Coleman | Influencer & minister

The most important factor behind the success of my brand is being resilient. Having the ability to bounce back after every fall, every disappointment and every setback. I would consider myself a very relentless person, whereas I don’t take no for an answer. If someone says I can’t do something, I do double. Having this mindset has helped my brand grow and gain credibility from the fact of the world knowing I started from the bottom. Read more>>

Ocean Veau | Sound Designer & Music Producer

G-O-D. I could care less about how cliché that may sound but that’s the bottom line. Foundation is so important to me & it’s the sole reason for any success I’ve had in life. Jesus has been my foundation & the rock that I’ve built my house {career/life) upon. Also just the way I move & start each day with keeping him first & knocking out anything that would be considered hard or mundane in the first part of my day like working out & reading. Doing the hard things first makes the rest of my day so much easier & afterwards my mind is so much more clear & it’s easier to focus on my business & create in general. Read more>>