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.

Brooke Ewing & Danielle Lambert

Our company budget is largely based on fluctuating revenue and fixed expenses. We book a mixture of projects each month based on scale of work and anticipated profitability. This helps us make sure our overhead needs are met, that we have contingency funds and that we are getting a consistent paycheck.
Reviewing personal income is tricky with a small business but we track our income quarterly against prior years and our paid wait list aka “booked work” for the rest of the year to determine if we are on track to meet our year end goals. Read more>>

Paul Solevad | Artist

As a father of two, I feel I’ve raised my children (now young adults, 18 & 22) to be the most individualistic and creatively self aware people they can be. I believe this happened organically simply due to the nature of my wife and I both being artists and the type of nurturing and accepting family that we are. I’ve always encouraged the kids to be true to themselves and follow what inspires them and that true success in this life is living in gratitude, honesty, and care. Read more>>

Jess Preble | Gallery Director – Cottonwood Center for the Arts

Cottonwood Center for the Arts is a nonprofit arts organization located in downtown Colorado Springs. A mainstay of the Colorado Springs arts community since 1997, we are currently home to the largest group of creatives in Colorado Springs. A flourishing nexus of educational programming, gallery shows, and studio spaces, Cottonwood brings together small businesses, professional artists, community nonprofits, and students of all ages to engage the Pikes Peak Region in art through learning, exhibits, and performances, hosting a diverse and creative community of workspaces for artists. Our vision is to create an environment for a thriving arts community leaving a legacy of arts, culture, and beauty to future generations. Read more>>

Cynthia Giannini | Visionary and founder of Artists Amongst us and Intimo Tango

My vision is to create a space, a performance, a community infused with the love of the arts and wellness. Read more>>

Julie Rothschild | Interdisciplinary Artist

Plate tectonics. I couldn’t give a lecture on it but ever since my first Geology class in college, I have been entranced by the movement beneath our feet. I have begun to formulate a new project based on this fascination. Read more>>

Jim Brainard | Western Bootmaker, leather crafter and repairs

There are only about 300 known active hand made cowboy bootmaker’s in this country. Read more>>

Yolanda Maravilla | State certified peer and family specialist, CBT & recovery coach

Leaving my abusive husband of 19 years Read more>>

Jackie Fouchia | Holistic Health Coach

When I first started the business, I was working 60 hours a week between that and my other job at Orangetheory Fitness. At the beginning, I didn’t mind because I loved what I did so much, it didn’t feel like work. But eventually, I got burnt out and run down (I was also planning my wedding during this time), and my physical health started to decline from all the cortisol. I knew I needed to make a switch but was nervous to leave the comfort zone of the groove I was in. But in 2023, 3 years after starting the business, we went on a month long trip to Italy, where I was immersed in siesta culture, breathtaking landscapes and incredible cuisine, and was reminded that there’s so much more to life than just work. Read more>>

Ashley Turiya | Clinical Herbalist and Nutrionist, Yoga Instructor, Plant Walk Leader

My work life balance has changed becoming a mom and the stages of my son’s first five years. Each stage has had different demands and wonderful moments. However, I have maintained a common thread of operating on my values and making choices based on my value of natural medicine and being in the mountains in peaceful places. I never stopped backpacking for my birthday every year. I found a way to carry him and my husband carry him as he grew and we adjusted our backpacks to accommodate the increasing weight we were carrying. I teach my son about the plants in the mountains and I am also practicing for my plant walks and continuing to learn myself. Read more>>