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.

Marissa Hemenway | Colorado Springs REALTOR®

When I decided I wanted to work for myself I knew I wanted to specifically work with people that I align with. I seek out working with people that have similar interests and hobbies so that we connect in more ways than just being their real estate agent. When you’re working with a realtor, whether you’re buying or selling, it can be very stressful and you end up spending a lot of time together. Oftentimes you may find yourself having difficult conversations, so knowing you’re working with someone that you connect with makes it easier to get through that and know it’s rooted in trust. I run my business with a focus on being friends first and allowing the professional relationship to fall around that. This has allowed me to build a business in less than 4 years that is entirely built on referrals and continues to grow year over year! Read more>>

Brian Tryon | Photographer/visual artist. Founder and owner of Shutter and Strum

Risk-taking is often a catalyst for growth and transformation, both personally and professionally. It involves stepping outside your comfort zone, facing uncertainty, and being willing to navigate the possibility of failure for the chance to achieve something meaningful.

In my experience, the most fulfilling moments often stem from taking calculated risks. For example, learning to think creatively, trust my instincts, and push boundaries are direct results of embracing challenges. Risk has played a crucial role in personal development, sharpening resilience, and helping me reframe setbacks as opportunities to learn and adapt. Read more>>

Anthony Cubba | Video Editor

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was accidentally committing tax fraud and then packing up my car and moving to Los Angeles with that money to start a career in film/video. I was blessed to have a safety net that would be there if I failed because I could just drive it all back and live with my parents, but I was (and still am) rather stubborn so who knows what I would have done. Luckily I was able to grow a network that has continually given me work and I built a career over the course of a decade. Read more>>

Juhee Kumar | Yoga & Meditation Guide, Podcast Host, & Budding Ayurvedic Practitioner

As someone who is deeply connected to routines and rituals, I would say this is a big part of my life and a huge reason for my success. At the same time, my relationship to these routines and rituals has changed as I have been flowing through my creative processes and journey. What was once rooted in the masculine, or more stringent and diligent with little room for wiggle room—what I call the contraction—has now shifted into the feminine, where there is expansion, more space for flow, and more of a cyclical timeline instead of everything looking the same each day. Read more>>

Anthony Mercer | Entrepreneur & small business owner

The most important factor in the success of my company is honesty. It really is the best policy. I’ve always made our products, our mission, our goals, and our true purpose out of honesty. If you’re honest with your customers, honest about your products and that combined with hard work, it’s the recipe for success. Read more>>

Alejandra “ale” Spray | Construction professional | Inclusion advocate | Bicyclist aficionado | Community Oriented

When I am asked if I could go back in time and change something. I strongly believe I am the person who I am now because of the experiences lived, the people I crossed paths with, the missing opportunities, the no I took for an answer. Wasn’t easy to feel rejected, to have made mistakes or failing but that is what shapes us as humans.

The invisible and visible scars teach us a lesson, they help us realize who and what really matters in this journey that we call life. Read more>>