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.

Elaina Newton

I’m sure lots of folks are financially motivated and it’s amazing to be able to provide for yourself, your family, and have some left over, but ultimately true success (to me) is leaving a legacy. You can’t take your money to the grave and none of us know how long we have in this world. Many people create a legacy by having kids & grandkids, but I’m attempting to achieve this by having a positive impact on others and changing the trajectory of their lives, even in small ways. I’m a skeptic, but also an optimist, so I want to leave the world a better place than I found it.  Read More>>

Kaela Prall

I was raised with white knuckles—carefully conditioned to hang on when all signs said to let go. While this was applauded for most of my life, this fear, cleverly disguised as dedication and selflessness, eventually carved me out until my needs were foreign to everyone, especially myself. I thought my only value was in what I could offer, so I gave and gave and gave and fully abandoned myself in the giving. It wasn’t until I experienced a particularly devastating heartbreak that I realized how much not knowing when to walk away had really cost me. It took work (a lot of it) to come home to myself and become familiar with that place within that holds the wisdom of no more and keep going  Read More>>

Darryl Shoemake

As a parent we often do not emulate the behavior that we expect out of our children. The most important thing is to lead example in everything that comes out of my mouth and how i conduct myself as a husband and as a responsible man. Read More>>

Traacy Stegall

The most important decision I made that contributed to my success was to lead with authenticity and heart. After 32 years in public education—15 as a teacher of writing and reading, 13 as a school principal, and 4 as an executive director—I had the immense responsibility of guiding students, teachers, and entire communities through challenges, including leading a district-wide transition to online learning during the pandemic. That experience reinforced what I’ve always believed: leadership isn’t about authority; it’s about connection, adaptability, and purpose. Read More>>

Kevin Carton

For my whole life I’ve been deeply inspired by Nature, the Cosmos, and how we as humans fit into the grand design of it all. From a very young age I remember questioning why we’re here on Earth and what our purpose is as humans, so it’s no surprise that I ended up in my career path as a Life Coach. For that reason, I’m continually inspired by people who question the status quo in their own personal lives as well as in communities around the world. I believe we each have a unique purpose and I love to see people shine their own light in ways that they only can. I’m just here to help uncover the brilliance everyone already has within. Read More>>

Bill Talley

I want people to remember me as someone who produced honest, reflective music. Ultimately, if I am able to inspire just one other human being to pursue music as a creative outlet, and hopefully as a career, I think I’ve met my goals for a legacy. I just hope that if I inspire anyone, I’ve inspired them to pursue music as a means of communication of true feelings and emotions. Read More>>

Alex Jump

In this industry, it’s important to be empathetic and open. I’ve always believed in being open, and I’m not one to hold back on sharing even the smallest details of my experiences, even with strangers. My willingness to share openly on social media has allowed me to build a platform and foster a community that aligns with my values. While being an open book isn’t for everyone, I encourage others to share what they’re comfortable with. I’ve found that my openness has made others in my industry and community feel more at ease reaching out for advice or guidance, and I’m always happy to provide it. Read More>>

Olivia Garretson

The most important factor behind my brand Liv the Adventurer, has been clarity of purpose and rooted in a deep connection to community. Everything I create is intentional. Whether I’m behind the lens telling stories or building experiences that invite reflection and participation, I’m always asking: Does this reflect the core of this story? Does this inspire? Read More>>

VERONICA CARABALLO

The value that matters most to me is Authenticity. I believe that being true to oneself is the foundation of meaningful work and genuine relationships. Authenticity isn’t just about honesty in self-expression; it’s about consistently aligning my actions, thoughts, and creations with who I truly am. Read More>>

E.s. Keen

I chose the career path of a creative because regardless of the size of your audience, who you are or what you do outside of your 9-5, you have no limits to your creative expression and freedoms in how you express your story, your pain, your happiness and life experiences. The ability to ‘create’ is different amongst all of us and how strangers interpret that art is a beautiful experience all in itself. Those intimate conversations you have with each individual beats having a huge following in a sea of people that you may never have a chance to converse with. Read More>>

Abraham Guevara

“There is a time to create and a time to produce.” – Sitt Nyein Aye. He was my mentor.
As artists we yearn to uncover deeper meaning in our lives and the world around us. That requires vulnerability and uninhibited imagination. We experiment and play with our materials and media to create an idea. As an artist, I am also a businessperson. The concerns of a businessperson are different than those of the artist. The businessperson takes the ideas and assesses what is marketable. Read More>>

 Rachel Weinstock

“Nobody but you is responsible for your life. It doesn’t matter what your mama did; it doesn’t matter what your daddy didn’t do. You are responsible for your life. You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you’re responsible for the energy that you bring to others.” – Oprah. Read More>>

Jensen Cipriano

I’ve always gravitated toward the unconventional. The only real office job I had was an internship in college. That experience alone told me that an office life wasn’t for me. I craved being outdoors, gravitating towards creative projects and design. I also found myself at odds with authority and bureaucracy, preferring to chase my own dreams rather than someone else’s. Read More>>

Kris Talalt

Owning a residential remodel company is not what I thought it was going to be when I took ownership over the company I used to work for. The image of being a business owner from the outside looking in is far different than the inside looking out. When I was an employee, there was a bit of ‘glam’ looking at guys who owned the company. They always seem to be busy, organized, stress-free when in fact, now that Im in the driver seat, is far from the truth.  Read More>>

Camille Parsons

I would have to say overcoming my addiction and maintaining sobriety for the last 4 and a half years has been the best and most vital thing in ensuring my son has a fighting chance at a highly successful and fulfilling life. I’m very determined to break generational cycles in our family. I’m also focused on just equipping him with knowledge and tools to help him navigate this world when he’s presented with challenges and making choices. I don’t feel like I had that growing up. I was very naive to a lot of things. I think I could’ve avoided some traumatic experiences and possibly my addiction to alcohol, had I been better equipped. Read More>>

Rachael Waggoner

Aside from deciding to go into business, the most important decision I made was to commit to continuous learning. I spent a lot of time doing research, taking classes, and constantly working to improve my skills. That mindset of growth and self-education played a huge role in helping me build and grow my business. Read More>>

Kate Weed

 

At Internal Locus Pelvic Health PT, I help people come home to their bodies—especially those who’ve been dismissed, misunderstood, or straight-up ignored by traditional healthcare. I offer pelvic floor physical therapy to women, men, and nonbinary folks navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, bladder or bowel issues, and struggles with intimacy. Read More>>

Ben Owens

I started my career in photography in 2020 when I began my journey with the University of Memphis Football Team. I was hired as a Student Video Assistant for Coach’s Film. Ironically my first day was to take photos at Junior Day for potential recruits. Now my backstory only consists of a GoPro and a flip camera. I never really sniffed a legit camera until that moment. Read More>>

Wendy Clark

My world makes me happy. My dog, music, add my relationships.

Seritonin released from my because of these relationships and with my dog, going to the mountains with my dog and the proper neurotransmissions that connect that help protect me from panic attacks. Read More>>

Kalin Chancey

My happiness means everything to me because I have learned how special it is, and how meaningful peace is. What makes me happy is being true to myself and doing what is right for me, even if it goes against the grain. What is right for me is first and foremost, my husband and kids. They are my favorite people and I love that they put up with me and my antics with their daily lives and vacations. I also love my job; I am a Dental Hygienist.  Read More>>

Francis Sylvest

The end goal for me is to retire doing wedding photography and videography. I know this is a very foreign concept for most as most people on the photography and videography side of the wedding world don’t last more more than 5-8 years before moving on. However, I really love what I do and it feels much more meaningful than other genres to me. In addition, I feel that it really takes time for a person to master a craft. As I’m nearing 10-years of doing wedding videography and photography professionally, I know that there is so much room to grow and many new ways to shoot. It would be a shame to leave it all on the table and not really experience just how far it could go and how much I could still learn. Read More>>

 Alysha Dow

That as much as your friends and family love you, they will be the first to ask for free product and the last to support your business. They always mean well, but I have often found that when someone does something risky or non-traditional it makes the people closest to us the most nervous. Best thing you can do is not take it personal, and be thankful they don’t want to see you be a “starving artist.” Read More>>

Cristalle Gleason

I was born and raised in a small family that profoundly shaped who I am today. My biological father was incarcerated when I was just three, leaving my mom and me to navigate life together. Watching her work in the steel and plastic industries was nothing short of inspiring. She worked tirelessly to provide for us, and her perseverance and determination left an indelible mark on me. I vividly remember sitting under her desk, coloring while she worked on days I was home sick from school. Listening to her confidently tackle client challenges and work through projects taught me the value of hard work and grace under pressure.  Read More>>