What’s the right balance between work and non-work time? The traditional 9-5 has slowly disappeared with the emails and zoom and texting going far beyond traditional business hours. We asked members of our community to share with us how they think about work-life balance.

Jennifer Fishkind | Food Blogger/Influencer/Content Creator

While I love food and like cooking, cooking is not my passion. To be successful, I had to treat my website like a business, not a hobby or passion project. This meant focusing entirely on my target audience and their needs and separating what I like to eat or cook from what my audience wanted and needed. Read more>>

Neamh Abdullah | Small Business

When I started Confections by Neamh in 2020, I pursued it as a hobby and expressed my creative freedom as I came out with themed treat boxes with a variety of desserts. Now in 2023, I strive for success because I have my daughter, Hiba, behind me. I want to be an inspiration for her as she could be anything whether it’s going to college and going into the workforce or becoming an entrepreneur and starting her own business out of something she enjoys. Read more>>

Isabel Dowell | Music Photographer

Going out of my comfort zone. I think taking this step has really transformed my photography and has given me opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise. This manifests in sending late night emails, running up to an artist at a festival and asking to take their portait, or conducting interviews with musicians to get to know them better. I’ve decided that the worst that can happen is they say no, or just don’t answer, but other than that why not give it a shot? It’s taken me a lot of time and trial and error to make this happen and sometimes I still let my self-esteem get the best of me; but, I really try and push myself to go the extra step in order to get the perfect photo, connect with creatives, and accomplish what I set out to do. Read more>>

Natalie Topalian | Copywriter & Content Strategist

Above all, it’s been my adaptability, willingness to try new things, and to keep the perspective on how my brand not only can be attractive to others, but how it best supports me, my core values, and my own needs. My business has gone through several iterations since its inception five years ago. From dabbling in freelance projects here and there, to taking on multiple clients a month for one-off projects, to introducing a retainer service, and completely pausing for months at a time, I’ve never thrown in the towel. Whether I’m in full force with my business or taking a beat to reassess how to structure my business to support me in my current phase of life, I’ve given myself the space to do so. Read more>>

Dirk Kroll | singer-songwriter

Well, that’s a challenging question because success is measured in so many different ways. While certainly I have no monetary gain creating music, which for many would demonstrate a real indication of success, I have been true to myself and my own personal best. By that, I mean that writing and recording my own music and lyrics and seeing the songs come to fruition has meant so much to me. I had performed in cover (copy) bands in the past and I found that the melodies and the stories I carried around with me needed a place to go and I started writing. It has been an honor to perform with outstanding musicians and to have recieved some recognition for my work and to play for audiences. Read more>>

Christina Liedtke | Founder and CEO

The most important factor behind the success of the brand is differentiation. Our unique city prints, easy-to-wear styles, and reversibility and/or multifunctionality provides our customers styles that can take them from day-to-night, office-to-dinner, and statement prints that will have them complimented wherever they go. Read more>>

Salena Taylor | Founder and Executive Director of Partial to Girls

The most important factor of the work done in Partial to Girls is the Women Take Action Team. Everyday women from all types of backgrounds and color come together to help me to serve the most vulnerable populations in our city. We’re successful with this because we stick together and keep the needs of others first. Read more>>

Ken Brass | Owner of Brasshole Ent, creator of SoundoffSundays open mic series and Tamponpalooza hygiene product donation drive event

Being consistent, genuine and respectful to the artist and our culture. Being a safe space that’s artistry first not profit driven Read more>>

Taylor Foster | Human Resource Specialist & Talent Acquisition Partner

The most important factor behind my success is my commitment to walking a righteous path and enjoying the process of growing & learning. Read more>>

Jane Beiles | Photographer

Well, you can never discount the role of luck, paired with hard work for any success. But I do believe something that distinguishes my brand is my genuine desire to meet my client’s objectives with every project. In-depth questions about their hopes and intentions for their own brand guide every photoshoot much more than my just my vision. In my specialty, a happy client means I’ve succeeded. Read more>>

Martha Swartz | Marketing Director Warriors Hope Non-profit

The most important factor behind my career and brand. Is being honest. Giving back to the community and definitely listening to my clients. Read more>>

Andrea Buckley | Mental Health Therapist & Wellness Coach

The most important factor behind the success of my brand is authenticity. When people think of the Drea Inspires brand, I want them to think of the word “human.” I invite people to be vulnerable and take off the mask that we learned we must wear in order to survive. As a result, I must do the same. I do not pretend to have it all together. I do, however, have the courage to show up allowing the full range of my humanity to be seen. People connect with authenticity and the world is hungry for it. Read more>>

Litta Monea | Model & Content Creator

The most important factor behind my success is my support system. I solely believe my support system is the foundation I needed to get where I am today. Its so important because it has been days where I haven’t had the resources so I had to reach out to those I knew more than I did. I appreciate them so much. Read more>>

Danny Russo | Founder and Creative Principal of Daniel Russo Home

I’m not afraid to break the rules or take risks. Distinctive design is about pushing boundaries – within balance. I approach my clients’ design projects by, first and foremost, listening to their thoughts and creating a plan that they’re comfortable with. I go a step further by making adjustments in a space where only interior designers know where to look. The end result is, my clients and I, we work towards a shared vision that’s bigger and better than what we started with. I curate the clients’ aesthetic based on their personalities, likes and dislikes and choose timeless furniture that grow with them. Read more>>

Helen Hicks | President and CEO

The most important thing any successful professional can do is to build relationships with people in the community. This means everyone! Not just the people who can directly help, but all people. Those unrelated to the business can be great advertisers if they have been respected and valued. Read more>>

Zach Berg | Cheesemonger and storyteller

I believe the most important factor behind the success of Mongers’ Provisions, is genuine connection. We are living in an increasingly siloed lives. With the world focusing on frictionless transactions, we have a lot of success in slowing things down. We want our customers to interact with us. We want to connect you to the people and places where your food comes from. Read more>>

Mary Galvanek | Farmer and Market Manager

The most important factor has been working sun up to sun down 6-7 days a week for the first three years to get our farm, children’s program and farmers market off the ground. Read more>>

Monique Madison | Author, Actress, Comedian, and Drag Queen

I honestly think the most important factor behind my brand is my work ethic. I am definitely a workaholic. When you enjoy what you do though, it is hard to punch that time clock to clock out for the day. Don’t get me wrong…I enjoy my time off. However, I am just blessed to be passionate about my careers! Read more>>

Annie Goering & Shivani Kothari NA | Cofounders, Salud

The most important factor behind our success as a brand is due to how we make decisions. We have a clear mission and values and we tend to funnel our decisions through those lenses. We also have a lot of discussions where we ask ourselves “How would we feel if we were one of our clients and they saw we announced this change?” For us, being in the wedding industry, we really try to stay true to designing a wedding planning experience we would love to have ourselves. For example, that means having affordable tiered price points and a business model that is designed to fit into the modern couple’s life and financial parameters, rather than the other way around. Read more>>

Betsy Dmitruk | Professional Organizer

I absolutely, genuinely, wholeheartedly love what I do. I love the physical act of organizing. I love that my job allows me to help people be more efficient and less overwhelmed in their homes. I love that I’ve grown professionally too. I’ve learned how to build websites and manage a team. I feel like this enthusiasm for what I do is evident and it has been such a contagious force for potential clients and employees! Read more>>

Ryan Dietiker | Visionary Barbering Brand Leader

The most pivotal factor behind the success of Forefathers Grooming and our associated brands is an unwavering commitment to authenticity. From day one, we’ve anchored ourselves in the belief that genuine connections, both with our team and our clientele, drive real growth. Our ethos is about more than just offering top-tier grooming services; it’s about creating an environment where clients feel valued, understood, and part of a community. This dedication to authenticity, coupled with our innovative approaches, such as The Forefathers Grooming appointment-only model, has allowed us to revolutionize the grooming experience and consistently stand out in the marketplace. Read more>>

Samil Molina | Producer

I think it’s just about being yourself and not trying to chase trends or do things that don’t come off naturally or authentically. Consistency is also important, it’s hard but the fruits from all that labor will come. Read more>>

Tracey Sanders | Chief Visionary Officer

The most important factor behind my success and the success of Lavender Mobile Spa is my residence. This has been a long and sometimes very difficult road to building this company. I have wanted to give up sometimes. But I keep at it each and every day. I can’t give up and fail. I’m not built like that. The way that I structured the company keeps the overhead low and is easily scalable. This makes the profitability and earning potential limitless. Entreprenuers must harness inner strength, stay resilient and relentless to pursue their dreams and leave legacy for their families. Read more>>

Jim Mumford | Recipe Creator

“The success of ‘Jim Cooks Food Good’ can be attributed to several key factors. First and foremost, our unwavering commitment to providing healthy comfort food and family-friendly meals sets us apart. In a world where many are looking for tasty yet nutritious options that appeal to the whole family, our website fulfills that need. Additionally, our dedication to creating easy-to-follow recipes with clear instructions and accessible ingredients has been instrumental in building a loyal audience. We understand that not everyone is a culinary expert, and we strive to make cooking enjoyable and approachable for everyone. Read more>>

Alfonso Civile | Vocalist of Heartsick

Perseverance and commitment to not giving up. I believe those two factors along with heart are keys to success for anyone be it an individual or a brand. You must stay the course, you must not give in to thoughts that make you want to quit. The road to success is not an easy one and not a short one. Most success happens over the course of many years. Read more>>

Shadia Amen | Michigan-based Photographer

The most important factors behind the success of Shadia Amen Photography can be attributed to several key principles that have guided our journey. Firstly, I have always maintained a growth and learning mindset. In the ever-evolving field of photography, staying current with the latest trends and techniques has been instrumental in delivering exceptional results for our clients. Building relationships is another cornerstone of our success. We prioritize nurturing strong connections with our clients, partners, and the local community. Trust and positive word-of-mouth referrals have been byproducts of these relationships, helping us grow our brand organically. Read more>>

SHACAI. | Multidimensional Artist & Entertainer

My creativity. Working in the entertainment industry, we all can sing, we all can act, and we all can dance. It’s important to me to separate myself, and I do that through my creativity. Creativity is a mindset for me. It fuels my thoughts, my passions & the way I navigate this industry. I think essentially it’s important to remember the fact that the sky is the limit when it comes to this. It’s almost like — My creativity is endless. It’s like an ever-flowing river of opportunity. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s also important to share my creativity with others. A lot of my success has come from displaying my talents in a collaborative environment. It’s important to me to be open to receive other people’s creative mindsets, as well. Read more>>

Autumn Campbell | Owner of LITY LLC

The most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand LITY-Lord I Thank You is making sure that no matter what I continue to show gratitude no matter what life looks like. In life it’s a known fact that it takes more energy and work to be happy than upset. Sounds crazy right? But it’s true! Sometimes in life if we don’t have everything that we feel we need or want at that very moment! We adapt to a known state of the mind which is mostly depression! In that moment we tend to forget about everything that we do have! A lot of times that tends to be comfortable because some of us visit that mental space often it becomes comfortable, It takes more work to change the narrative of our lives and mental state by making a conscious decision to find something every single day to be Thankful for.. Read more>>

Joseph Lalonde | Leadership coach and author of Reel Leadership

I’ve been striving to create and build my personal development/leadership brand for years. I have tried all of the tools and tips the “experts” have told me. Many of those tips have failed. However, there’s one thing that I do that continues to build my brand and the awareness around my coaching and Reel Leadership. That thing? Tenacity. I don’t give up when things are going slow. I don’t give up when I don’t feel like writing another blog post, sending another email, or speaking at another engagement. I do things. That’s how you see success. Read more>>

Katelyn Jones | Community Leader, Photographer, Coach and Mentor

I would say the most important factor behind my businesses and their success is the mindset shift from selling or pushing something verses building a community that you believe in. While many of us believe in our product, or our services, it’s different to believe in the community that you serve. To want a fundamental relationship with them and to build a community with them. I would say when I began to make a mindset shift about the people I was serving things began to change. When I started viewing them as active participants in my businesses and building my businesses around their wants and needs as well as what I feel is fundamentally important. Read more>>

Tatyana Collins | Owner

The most important factor behind the success of this brand is to also stay true to its name. To be Not So Cliche all the way and always finding new ways to express the creativeness through the clothing. Being consistent is a big key so that people know that this is not a fly by night brand it’s a genuine business. Read more>>

Anr Ear | Music Hub

Our brand’s enduring commitment to artists and their success remains a priority. Despite the challenges we’ve encountered, we’ve persisted in our mission to provide unwavering support for emerging musicians, offering them opportunities to grow, connect with their audiences, and tell their unique stories through music. We hope that our journey and dedication inspire both artists and the world to recognize the potential of emerging talent and the significant impact it can have on the music industry. Additionally, as a brand, we have strived to remain authentic and genuine in our support for artists. Authenticity is not just a value; it’s a way of life for us built in our work culture. We’ve aim to maintain transparency in our dealings with musicians, ensuring they can trust us to support their careers genuinely. Read more>>

Tyraa Caldwell | Entrepreneur

The most important factor behind my success is my determination to complete task, the fact that I am a hard worker and that I want to always make sure I am doing a good job. So no matter what, I know that the work I put in is a reflection of me and I always want to make sure that it is done to the best of my ability. Read more>>

Antoine Stroman | Director & Content Creator

The most important factor behind my success, is for me tuning into God’s will and what He desires for me to do. This allows me to use the gifts He’s instilled in me to their greatest expression. True success enables you to be a blessing to others — even beyond the realm of finances, and tuning into God’s will guides me to make the best decisions for myself (and my brand), as well as those around me. Everyone has something unique to bring to the table; and for me, focusing on how He wants to use my gifts leads me down my unique path to success. Read more>>

Maria Filar | Artist/Creator/Founder of 5 Eye Studio

Staying true to myself and allowing myself to shine through in my art and products has made my brand successful. My brand of humor isn’t for everyone, but the people who like my work really get it! My biggest lesson has been to be your true self and your people will find you. Read more>>