We asked some of the city’s hidden gems to tell us about what they feel is the most important factor behind their success.

Kheyara Burgess | Fashion & Wardrobe Stylist

Honestly I haven’t really succeeded yet. I’m just scratching the surface and staying consistent in what I truly love doing within styling so I’ve always just asserted myself in that type of manner because I am confident in what I’m doing and I am confident in what I’m saying to my clients to make them feel beautiful and great about themselves and so forth. I have so much more to learn and so much more knowledge to gain. But I will be iconic one day, just overflowing myself with gems I need to become great. Read more>>

Michael Shaffer | Interactive Street Performer

At 21 years old I decided to pursue a professional entertainment career. The commitment was made during a particularly difficult time in my life and the pressure to make something of myself was ever present. A personal dedication to being disciplined in my craft as a habit, lead me to approach any circumstance from a place of confidence. I always did my best based on the disciplines learned from various sources. Often in pursuit of my focused endeavor, I had to innovate to create the tangible aspects of my performance. The key to accomplishing these tasks was perseverance. Creating something never made takes perseverance as a habit. A mantra for this that I referred to when ideas were lacking is; “Can, Am, Will” I can, I am, I will. Positive aspirations lead to positive resolves. In the early years of my career I had a dream regarding my choice to be an entertainer. In the dream I was on stage performing and as I looked into the audience my feeling was that everyone in the audience was my children. Read more>>