While it’s inspiring to read high level summaries of success stories, we think it’s just as important to learn about what drove the success and made it possible. We’ve asked some of the brightest folks we know to open up about what they believe was the most important factor behind their success.

Dylan Ochala | CEO of Tectonic Design Build

The most important factor behind the success of Tectonic Builds is our commitment to innovation with integrity and staying humble. We believe that luxury should not be at odds with sustainability, and this philosophy has driven every decision we’ve made. By consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in high-performance home design, while staying true to our core values, we’ve created a brand that resonates with clients who care about both the environment and exceptional quality. It’s this alignment of purpose and practice that has been the cornerstone of our success. Read more>>

Alex Gil | Holistic Fitness Coach and Life coach

Living in a state of gratitude and reverence. love what I do and deeply caring for people’ healing and growth. Read more>>

Alex Manitopyes | Fashion Designer

Honestly, the biggest factor behind my success and the success of SACRD THNDR is just being real and true to myself, including my identity as a non-binary trans masc person. From day one, I’ve made it a point to stay connected to my cultural roots and embrace who I am. That authenticity really resonates with people and helps them feel a genuine connection to the brand. I focus on weaving Indigenous culture into our designs and telling stories through our pieces. It’s not just about making cool accessories; it’s about celebrating who we are and inviting others to be part of that journey, no matter their identity. Another huge part of it is the sense of community. I love collaborating with other Indigenous artists and designers, and I think that diversity enriches our work. Read more>>

Rachael Bronk | Mental Health Counselor

The most important factor is the healing and growth of my clients! I am passionate about the work I do and feel joy right alongside my clients when they discuss feeling relief, growth, and personal understanding. Read more>>

Eva Katherine Coder | Transpersonal Psychologist and Spiritual Guide

The most important factor behind my success has been my surrender to God and my listening to God’s guidance through synchronicity. God has always been very clear with me from earliest days in choosing my career path. Certain doors would remain closed while others would open. In the beginning around 21 years old, this was a very frustrating experience. I was in a prestigious business school at the time and it became apparent that I was not to go in any of the same directions my classmates were going in such as Wall Street, etc. I was shown that I needed to choose a different path, or, otherwise, I would be deeply depressed as an older adult. Read more>>

John Nichols | Real Estate Agent/Professional

The success of my business is driven by three key factors. First and foremost is my passion for what I do. I genuinely love working in real estate and the positive impact it has on those I assist. Recognizing that buying or selling a home is often the largest investment someone will make in their lifetime, I go beyond the transaction to educate and inform. By sharing valuable insights about the industry and helping people get started, I aim to highlight the importance of real estate as a crucial asset in their lives. Another critical factor is the support I receive from friends, family, and the community. I am deeply grateful for their belief in my abilities and their active role in spreading the word about my services. Their encouragement and referrals are instrumental in connecting me with new clients who seek my expertise. Read more>>

Aimee Straw | CNE, CLP, CEBA and Managing Broker at Cornerstone Real Estate Rocky Mountains

Competence and compassion are at the heart of what I do. My clients are real, live, complicated humans just like the rest of us! I aim to help them through dynamic and sometimes difficult situations that come about with the purchase or sale of their mountain property. I am in this business to establish relationships for a lifetime, and my job never ends at the closing table. I am client centered, and not worried about the transactional numbers. The deals I do and that success is a by-product of how well I relate to, and serve my clients. Especially in the rapidly advancing age of technology where there is so much that can be done online, I still think that having a relationship based approach is necessary. Sure, you can look up a lot of info online, but do you have the 10,0000 hours to become an expert in that area? Personally, I know I hire out services like bookkeeping and accounting because that isn’t my wheelhouse! Read more>>

Victoria Harms, Lcsw | Owner & Psychotherapist

The most important factor behind my success has been the support and learning I have received from others. I knew I wanted a career in mental health, horses, and nature, but I would not have known where to start without the expertise of Philip Tedeschi at the University of Denver. He probably doesn’t remember our phone call over 7 years ago, but he made a huge impact on my future by helping me create a career roadmap that started me on the path toward a Master’s in Social Work, and how that could lead to a career in animal-assisted mental health. Read more>>

Shelby Mcdaniel | Owner & Licensed Therapist

I think a lot of factors go into making someone successful and those factors will be different for each person based on their own strengths. I work hard to be organized and timely for my clients, but as a therapist running my own private practice, I think the biggest factor to my success has been leaning into my authenticity. When I was a new therapist, I thought I had to be able to work with every type of diagnosis or need and basically be the right therapist for everyone; this mentality would have burned me out quickly. Thankfully, I had a really fantastic mentor who helped me see that I would actually be able to better serve clients if I figured out my strengths as a therapist and how to come with my authentic self to reach the clients who that would resonate with best. Read more>>