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.

Emily Nickels

Success shifts with each season of business and life. Right now, as a new salon, it means building a talented team, staying organized, and establishing our brand both in the creative world and within our local community. At Blend, several independent businesses operate under one roof, so success looks different for every artist—and we celebrate that individuality. Read More>>

Robert Duff Jr

One of the most important things I’ve done as a parent in terms of the impact on my children is to dedicate time to eating healthy and exercising most days of the week. Our world as a whole has become more focused on fast meals, sedentary jobs, and overall lack of activity, especially compared to our grand parents. Read More>>

Kali Steenbergh

I think risk is very important, especially if you want to be successful. Staying in your comfort zone does not help you excel. I have taken many risks in my business, and I continue to take them! When I first started my business I was doing photography for other people. Read Morre>>

Josef

Starting Knauf Media Group was a calculated risk, but one we believed in. My wife came from a traditional PR and marketing background so she had firsthand experience with how expensive and inefficient that world can be for small businesses. I came from a completely different background. Telecom, trades, project management, where I faced actual physical risk climbing and working on cell towers and moved into management. Read More>>

Katrina Belin

The most important factor behind my success is likely a combination of hard work, dedication, and passion for my business, Pink Diamond Beauty Mall. My commitment to providing excellent services and building strong relationships with clients and my team has likely played a significant role in my success. Read More>>

Dave Hendrickson

Playing music makes me happy. Being a part of something that brings joy to others is very fulfilling. Creating music, whether it’s writing or the recording process, can be a very satisfying experience. Knowing that I’ve given it my best effort in helping a project move along is meaningful to me on a personal level. And I always hope that comes across to the people who hire me and ultimately to the consumer. Read More>>

James Lindsey

My mother was a lover of music so our household always had music as part of its foundation. I was born in 1973 the same year as Hip Hop and I fell in Love with Hip Hop by 1984 with the movie Crush Groove and the Run DMC Raising Hell tour. I was only a listener and fan until my second year of college at Ferris State University. Read More>>

Sarah Gillis

Success is not parallel. In a face paced world, with social media continually growing forefront, we as a society consciously & subconsciously compare our four walls & successes to what we are consuming. With that, I think it is easy to lose sight of what our own personal desires are & what truly matters to us. Not all success is extravagant; it’s not always big or groundbreaking. For me, as I have aged, my definition of success has changed & truthfully, simplified.  Read More>>

Justice Oshiyoye

This is a decision that I actually faced soon after the launch of the magazine. I was receiving a lot of critiques, I was spending a lot of time, and my health was impacted. I spent a few weeks deciding if I should give up or keep going, and for a brief moment I actually did give up. Read More>>