The Coronavirus has given many us an opportunity to pause and think about life, our purpose, and even the right work life balance. What’s your perspective and has it changed over time?

Anthony Cruz | Music Producer & Songwriter

I am not a “successful” musician in the sense where I have achieved global notoriety or accumulated immense wealth from my catalog. It’s easy to feel like you’re not a real musician if you don’t have a monstrous amount of song streams and monthly listeners. Nowadays, I feel successful because I’ve embraced the fact that I am a real musician regardless. I’ve poured a thousand plus hours into my craft. I get to turn the ideas in my head into very real, audible art. I get to look back on my vast catalog of beats and songs and hear the evolution and transformation over the years. I have a day job, go to school, and write music when I have the precious minutes available and inspiration to match. Every bit of it is real. Read more>>

Brandon Conner | Owner Of New West Management & New West Connection

Perspective and perception. Understanding people’s perspective and perception allows me to grow and develop strong relationships that help pave the way in a more efficient way. I am able to step inside the mind and shoes of every artist in my company to help them reach their goals and that helps me eventually reach mine. Perspective and perception allows me understand the business I am in and new markets that fit our music. I believe it takes a great team with similar ideas but different approaches. Read more>>

Joy Braud Sims | Personal Chef/Caterer

The most important factor behind my success is staying true to what I do. When I make a meal, there are no short cuts. I make everything from scratch. I don’t modify what I know to be good and right in a New Orleans recipe. I put a lot of heart and soul in my cooking. When you cook with love, everything tastes good. Read more>>

Gretchen Troop | Photographer, Singer, Graphic Designer

Experience, hard work and taking all aspects of my job very seriously. I have trained with some fantastic photographers over the years, both in person and through videos. I’ve worked on business, lighting, storytelling, marketing, customer service and the technical aspects of all of my equipment for many years. I am also a part of a strong community of wedding professionals and spend lots of quality time with them discussing the intricacies of our unique and challenging job. Read more>>

Alex Gore | Owner F9 Productions, Build A Better Company, and Lecture at CU Boulder

Success is a nuanced equation, encompassing factors like hard work, luck, talent, and making the right choices. However, the critical aspect often overlooked is the establishment of a robust ‘feedback’ loop within your business. This goes beyond gathering basic customer feedback. It entails ingraining the feedback mechanism into your operational fabric. Are you accurately modeling your creations? Are you actively engaging with those who are involved in the production process? Can you personally execute the tasks at hand? It’s vital to integrate this knowledge into your business systems, constantly refining them and fostering a culture of shared insights among your team. In the business landscape, the swiftest and most precise feedback loop reigns supreme. Read more>>