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.

Hannah Caracalas | Sticker Designer & Daydreamer

Art and giving up have never really been associated in my brain, it has always just been a question of when I would return to it, not if. Giving myself grace and rest periods are extremely important to me as I can’t make art that has soul and that I’m proud of on demand. Inspiration and motivation have to both sweep me up simultaneously and spontaneously in order to create. With those kinds of prerequisites, I had to get really comfortable with going long periods of time between creating, and that means taking the idea of “giving up” out of my mental repertoire. We as humans are not meant to be constantly productive, constantly churning out work, and accepting that means letting go of the idea that I am failing as an artist when I am not creating. So to answer the question, I think letting go of the idea of “giving up” as an end-all, be-all and accepting that you are a creative creature and you will keep going, maybe not when you think you should, or when others think you should, but when you are ready to. Read more>>

Logan Ely | Chef / Owner at Lucky Accomplice and Press in St. Louis

I think this is a question that every entrepreneur will have to ask themselves at one point or another in their career. It’s a very personal and nuanced question and one that I seem to be asking myself a lot lately. For entrepreneurs and especially restaurant owners, the ebb and flow to business and life can be drastic and it can be easy to lose sight of what success means, but I also think that success can also evolve and change as your journey unfolds. Read more>>

Janet Howe | Antique mall owner in her 5th life

Discipline sounds like a simple answer. But you have to have the discipline to work every day, be on time and stay calm in order to solve problems. Read more>>

Jocelyn Nicole | Entertainer

If I have learned anything this last year – through truthfully, one of the toughest and most adverse years of my life – it is tenacity. Before my life came crashing down on April 14th, 2023, I was living a comfortable life. I was a Project Manager with a good salary, lived in a nice townhome, drove a nice car, and I had began my successes as a model & actress by getting signed to my first agency in Denver. Read more>>

Dr. Natalia Pellegrino | Naturopathic Doctor

The most important factor was having a vision of who I wanted to serve, and knowing what they want and need for their health. I spent many years trying to ‘serve everyone’ as a generalist, but realized I needed to be more specific to be able to provide more specialized care. So I focused my business on women ages 30-45 dealing with hormonal and gut issues. Read more>>

Makendra Silverman | Equine Hoofcare Practitioner

In trimming horse and donkey hooves, one is trying to optimize their comfort, hoof development and overall well-being. If I can leave an equine more comfortable and on the road to developing better, stronger and more correctly balanced hooves for them, I feel great and the work is worthwhile. It matters to me that we keep animals in healthy environments for them and sometimes that takes some creativity as very few of us have the hundreds of acres we’d like to let them move and live with a larger group. I enjoy helping clients appreciate the health of the whole horse (or donkey) by addressing not only their hoof trimming and hoof care, but looking at environment, movement, diet and overall wellness along with routine dental care and having access to forage as consistently as possible. Read more>>

Sarah Scheer | Artist, Ceramicist & Shop Owner

“If you do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” For one, work isn’t a bad thing. Work is how we add to the culture we live in, it’s a way we can use our talents, give value and feel valued. For another, any work–an exchange of energy and time, even if its the thing you love the most, if you connect the need for income to it there will probably be difficulties that come with it. That’s okay! That’s natural. Going into your dream job, opening your own business, etc is going to be a lot of work, but if you go into it with the mindset that you’re lucky to get to do the hard work along with what you love, I think you’ll be happier overall. Read more>>

Ryleigh Leavitt | Eventing horse trainer and coach

Running my business has taught me that success, much like in eventing with horses, requires a combination of consistency, patience, and perseverance. Just as a rider and their horse must consistently train and refine their skills over time, I’ve learned the importance of consistently showing up, putting in the effort, and continuously improving my craft. Patience is crucial, as progress often comes in small increments, similar to the gradual development of a horse and rider partnership. And perseverance is essential when facing challenges or setbacks, reminding me to stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards my goals, just like navigating through the various obstacles in eventing competitions. Read more>>

Weriem | Fine Artist

I come from an uncommon background, having lived in both France and Tunisia for significant periods of time, a total of 18 years and 9 years respectively, though not consecutively. Thirteen years ago, I made the transition to the USA, with Chicago becoming my home. Each of these countries has significantly shaped who I am today. I cherish the diverse perspectives and experiences I gained from them, including insights into artistic identity, language plurality, and varied notions of a fulfilling life. My upbringing was an interesting blend of scientific influence from my parents and my own artistic aspirations. Despite my early desire to pursue a career in the visual arts, my parents encouraged me to pursue a path to a “real job”. Thus, I embarked on a journey through academia, obtaining a PhD in genetics. However, my passion for the arts never waned. Throughout my scientific studies, I continued to cultivate my artistic skills, finding solace in drawing, dancing, and exploring various crafts like sewing. Read more>>

Brooke Callister | Art Director and Graphic Designer

My thought process behind starting my own business looked a lot like trying to strike the balance of being creative and being a mom. I had my daughter, River, and was trying to figure out what was the best way to build a life and a career that honored everything I loved. Working for myself was so out of my comfort zone and a stretch for how I’m naturally wired. My husband, Zane, kept encouraging me and pushing me to start my own Design Studio and to take on my own graphic design and art direction work. I had a dear friend approach me about branding her new retail concept and that was just the job I needed to take the leap, get the LLC and start my own studio. It allowed me to have more flexibility with being present for my daughter but also to be able to align myself with people and projects that would stretch me and help me to stay creatively sharp while truly getting to help people bring their vision to life. Read more>>

Kaitlin Bjork | Development Director

Work life balance is so critical to being a healthy and well-rounded individual. It requires discipline to work hard and put in the necessary hours, but also to know when to step back, take a break, and fill your cup in other ways. I have always been a very hard worker. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me early on as they led by example; putting in the long hours and showing up for your team to make sure you were successful. Read more>>