Through our work we have been constantly amazed at the incredible things people in every neighborhood are working on. What’s even more exciting is that they all have different stories, backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses. That there isn’t a single formula for success means that everyone can take their unique set of strengths and characteristics and turn it into a success story. We recently reached out to some folks we admire and asked them what characteristics they feel are responsible for their success.

Ben Stewart | Director of Web & SEO

Learning from your mistakes and being open to feedback in every way, shape and form, which is how I try to approach life. There’s always more to learn and there are always way to improve your process, and realizing that I think has brought PufCreativ a long way. When we onboard a new employee we always make it a point to let them know that if there are parts of our process we could improve, we genuinely encourage that feedback. Read more>>

Critz | Music Producer & Dj

For me, the most important thing behind success, is to always be genuine in everything you do. Being genuine and authentic in every interaction helps me to make longer lasting connections, engage with people more, and express who I am. Anytime I’ve met an artists and they are genuine with me, it makes me feel like I am connecting with that person on more than the surface level of their art. Read more>>

Karen Larrea | Reality TV Star, Influencer, Dating & Relationship Coach, Mom & Entrepreneur

I believe that the most important factor in the success of my brand is being tenacious. You have to keep your goal insight and not allow the negativity or opinions of others to determine your goal. Read more>>

Madison Goering | Capital Access Manager & MSW/MPH Candidate

We are character-based lenders. Traditional lenders prefer to make large loans and require borrowers to have established credit, collateral and audited business financials. We believe small businesses make communities stronger. Prairie Rose Development Corp and Kiva Colorado provides the missing micro-loan in Colorado so that small businesses can build their borrowing potential and grow! Read more>>

Angie Quintanilla Coates | Artist and Illustrator

A big part of my business strategy is looking after my mental, physical and spiritual health. This is often my no.1 priority. I believe I’m able to do my best work, be creative and make savvy business decisions because I fiercely protect my most valuable resource: me! It seems self-indulgent but as a small business owner, I know I can’t afford to not look after myself. I work hard and rest hard. Everything else you can learn and figure out along the way. Success shouldn’t come at the expense of our health. Sometimes that means I sacrifice growing my business. But growth for the sake of growth has never interested me. True success for me is having enough without burnout. Read more>>

Justin Daniels | Distance Runner

The most important factor behind my success would have to be consistency. I have been running and raising awareness for COPD since early 2013 and when I made it my mission to be the voice for the people that don’t have one I went all in. Just like many things in life if you go after it with everything you have you will succeed and from the beginning I knew this was something that I wanted to do for my dad. At times it has gotten very tough of course but I knew that in the beginning and made sure to keep pushing forward and doing what I needed to do because my toughest days were nearly as tough of what they were going through. Read more>>

Anna Leer | Vice President of YouthBiz with Young Americans Center for Financial Education

YouthBiz is, at its heart, dedicated to empowering young people with financial literacy and self-sufficiency. The process of transforming a young person’s perception of their own financial power is a cornerstone of the YouthBiz mission. This laser focus on the experience of the youth we serve, I believe is the most important factor behind the success of YouthBiz. We work very hard to check our egos at the door, so to speak, in order to be in complete service of our students. This materializes in many different ways, Read more>>

Selina Delangre | Business owner and author

The Celtic Sea Salt brand was built through relationships. Everyone has an audience rather 5 people or 50,000 people, and if you build relationships with people that truly care about what they are sharing with others because they trust the brand. Selina Naturally the home of Celtic Sea Salt, has been around for over 40 years, and in those 40 years we have become the one of the most recognize brand of sea salts in the world. Read more>>

Sparky LeBold | Artist

The most important aspect of being a successful Artist is your “intent”… the honesty of purpose and the pursuit of process…there are many “so-called” Artists that simply make images for the pursuit of money and/or goals of praise from an uneducated public. To be true to oneself and the realization of God’s gift to be an Artist is vastly more important than fame or sales…Art is not about your skills as an image maker, whether you are an accomplished “wrist” or not…it is about laying out your heart and interpretation of intent which creates “success” in one’s own being. Read more>>