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.

Rebecca P. Cohen | Fulfillment Coach and Founder, ShareMyJourney

I love this quote from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Read more>>

Derek Camunez | Realtor and daydream believer

Success to me is living your life without regrets. In knowing that every challenge we face in life can either be looked upon as a learning opportunity, or as our own demise. By plowing through, rather than giving up, we find the skills within ourselves to climb the mountain, and enjoy the view at the top. Read more>>

steven van winkle aka overdoze | recording artist/producer

never give up on your dreams no matter what! the only way to make it impossible is if you dont try! Read more>>

Chloe Barth | Photographer

I am the mom of three lovely little humans, and I love them all so much. I have been able to be a stay at home mom to them and have found it to be really the right choice for our family, and I love it, most days! In terms of the impact I have made on my children, I think showing them that you can be many things in your life is my biggest one. I absolutely love being a mom, and I need breaks. By starting my photography business, I now have a creative and professional outlet that brings me immense joy. When I get to go and take photos, I feel a different side of my personality bloom to the forefront. I am in doing something I love, feel like I can really connect with my clients, and also show my children that their parents are more than just one thing they see. I feel so proud every time my someone asks my kids what their mom does for work, and they always say “she takes pictures!” Having my small business helps my kids understand that while I love being the primary care provider for them, I am also a creative and capable human in other ways. I love coming home from a shoot and showing my kids photos I have taken and seeing their reactions. I think being able to show my kids that I am a multi faceted person who can do more than just drive them to school and make snacks is really important. I believe it shows them that they too can do many things and don’t have to narrow their world to one ambition and passion. Read more>>

Jennifer Thompson | Leathersmith and Entrepreneur

As a mom of three kids and a business owner, I hope that I have impacted my children in many ways: the value of determination and resilience, being true to your own moral code and values, the importance of partnership and relationship building, etc. My children enjoy watching me work, they are curious and creative and often talk about wanting to “do leather, like mama” when they are grown. Truly, while I started East to Opal to fulfill my own creative needs, I’ve kept it alive for my kids, and for my relationship with them. Read more>>

Niki Nichols | Caterer and Human Design Specialist

About a year into operating our family catering business in 2021, burnout was on the horizon, and I wasn’t sure how I arrived there so quickly. There was a lot of noise and disconnect around what I thought I “should” be doing. This came from family, friends, and my own thoughts that were swirling in my head. From 2010 through 2021, I enjoyed working in healthcare alongside some of the best doctors and nurse practitioners in my area. Over time, it became evident to me that doing both jobs full time wasn’t suiting me. Read more>>

Barbara Pike Gonzales | Founder, G Force PR

I have built my personal branding and PR agency, G Force PR, on the principle that women should be empowered to know, show, and grow their worth. As an entrepreneurial woman and mother of two daughters, I simply can’t accept that women continue to play small and hide their true value. Oftentimes this behavior and mentality is a result of generational conditioning, and it’s my mission to break this cycle not only for my peers and clients, but for future generations of women. Read more>>

Gary Barnes | high-performance business and sales strategist, international speaker and author

That when you are given an idea or vision to act on it. Fear is normal and natural when we do something for the first time in one of my Gary-isms is “the first time always is “. the thought that many times comes up when we are creating something new is we do not know how to do it. How to do something is not the right question rather what are the resources do we need? Overthinking a challenge is one of the key elements that can lead to failure. That’s not to say that you don’t create a plan, but there is no way of knowing all of the obstacles in needs for accomplishing the vision when you start. Another one of my Gary-isms is “launch and adjust”. It can be very frustrating to see someone else act on the idea you had and release it to the world. Read more>>

Lisa Duerre | CEO & Co-Founder, RLD Group

As a CEO, working mom, and lipedema patient advocate, achieving balance has been an evolving journey, emphasizing work-life integration. Over time, I’ve learned to prioritize and delegate, allowing me to dedicate time to my family, professional responsibilities at RLD Group, and personal health. Embracing flexibility and setting boundaries has been crucial in maintaining harmony between my work and personal life, fostering a seamless integration of both spheres. I approach balance not as a static state but as a continuous adjustment and alignment process based on evolving priorities and circumstances. Ultimately, achieving balance and integration allows me to be more present and effective in all areas of my life, enabling me to pursue my passion for advocating for lipedema awareness while still nurturing my family and leading my company. Read more>>