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.

Heather Bostick | Owner and Floral Designer

This quote by Christian Dior signifies the profound beauty and importance of flowers in life and work. It reflects my deep appreciation for the elegance and allure of flowers, which I strive to capture and convey through my floral designs. Just as Dior valued flowers as one of the most lovely gifts from God, you too may see them as an essential element in creating beauty and enhancing special moments, especially at weddings and events. Read more>>

Kimmy Almon | Owner & Buyer for Kimmy’s Boutique

My end goal for Kimmy’s would be for my children, whether jointly or just one of (maybe specifically my daughter, Annie) to take over the business. My “why”, obviously, as a mother is my children and my family. For me to have worked so hard throughout decades and be able to build something that provides my children and their children — gosh, I cannot think of anything more fulfilling for me personally. At the end of my career, I would love to truly retire; but pop in to consult with my children on things like buying and/or the inventory planning side of things. And on the subject of consulting, I love building relationships with other boutique owners and have had the thought that I would love to share what I have learned with young business boutique owners starting out. As much as Kimmy’s is my passion and only hobby currently, I do keep in the back of my mind that at the end of the day, it is “just a job”. So, someday the goal would be to move on and enjoy being a grandparent, time with my husband, and traveling, too! Read more>>

Ashley Haynes | Artistic Director and Founder of Sienna Dance Project

Work smarter, not harder Read more>>

Viraaj Nindra | Junior at Memorial High School

Sharing with others is the most important principle to me. I am a follower of the religion Sikhism. Sikhism teaches us an idea called Sewa(serve others). I have done sewa throughout my life whether it was in food banks, my non-profit called Small Support, or in a club called Second Serve. Seeing the looks on people’s faces after I have donated/helped fills me with joy and motivates me to help even more. Read more>>

Hannia Yeverino | Writer and Director

Even if you’re making a film with homies, or by yourself– you’re always going to run into some form of challenge. Whether the weather was bad that day, no one’s availability lined up, you forgot something at home, and so on. I think what has helped me finish projects is sticking with it and not losing sight of the vision, even if things come up. I started focusing on my writing more since 2022-ish and at times I’ve run into major writer’s blocks. I would work on a script, and then not pick it up for months, and wonder if it was too late to even finish it. It took me a while to realize, who is keeping track of the time? Unless of course, you’re under contract or deadline… but this is more towards independent work. As long as you hold yourself accountable to finish, and film that story when the time is right, you have succeeded. I guess success is vague and looks very differently for people, but I think if you finish a film you have succeeded in that. Long story short, I hold myself accountable to not lose hope even if it’s hard sometimes. Having a support group, whether your friends, family, mentors, etc. also helps with this immensely. Read more>>

Brittanie Braggs | Realtor for Houston & Surrounding Areas

I find my greatest inspiration in striving to be a resilient mother and provider for my two boys, Mason and Noah, and in making my family proud. Witnessing my mother’s extraordinary feats as a single woman has instilled in me the burning drive to create a wonderful life for my family. Additionally, my passion for people fuels my commitment to delivering top-notch service to my clients in every aspect of their real estate journey. Read more>>

Selah Sapphire | Creative & Poet

One book that had a significant impact on me is “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl. This book, written by a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, explores the author’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps and delves into his psychotherapeutic approach known as logotherapy. Read more>>

Brodie Casaova | music producer, music engineer, artist

Success in music is subjective and can vary greatly depending on individual goals and aspirations. For some, success may be measured by commercial achievements such as album sales, chart placements, or awards. For others, it may be about artistic fulfillment, the ability to connect with audiences on a deep emotional level, or pushing creative boundaries. Additionally, success can be defined by personal growth, overcoming challenges, and staying true to one’s artistic vision. Ultimately, success in music is about achieving fulfillment and satisfaction in one’s creative endeavors. I just want people to enjoy my music. Read more>>

David Mills | Community Leader

The most important factor behind our success is the people within our organization and their passion for our mission. People make all of the difference and without a great team there is no success. Another important factor behind our success is staying true to our mission and core values. Read more>>

Ariana Jazaeri | Paralegal & Entrepreneur

I feel like there is only one true principle all of the most successful and powerful individuals have in common: it is the power of NOW. Shifting my mindset into into the urgency of now changed the trajectory of my life. My commitment to act is what I owe all my success to. There is a ripple effect that results from the ability to complete tasks without delay. Having immediate feedback and dialogue allows the human mind to comprehend and make the most quality decisions in whatever their craft may be. When I am managing injury cases, our clients get justice based on our persistency in handling insurance companies. Everything needs to be done yesterday. In a world where the use of robots has emerged, you have to figure out a way to automate a system no matter what line of work you’re in. In sales, you’re more likely to close over a robot. It’s how you streamline your workload in order to increase your selling time that is what is going to make you most successful. Read more>>

Irina Navarrete | Fashion model, modeling coach, state director of the beauty pageant

Me being in a Fashion and beauty industry for 20 years made me a strong and confident person who wants to help other ladies all over the world to find themselves and believe in themselves. Read more>>

Anh Nguyen | Digital Marketing Consultant

In both my business and personal life, giving back and making a real difference in the world are important to me. This sense of social responsibility was carved into me because of my life experiences. My family were refugees after the Vietnam War. We were able to make a life in the United States because of my Dad’s service. We were fortunate when many others weren’t. We received help from sponsors, who stepped up to help a young family that were strangers to them. Read more>>