There are so many factors that can play a role in determining our results, performance and ultimately our success, but some factors matter more than others. We asked folks what they felt was the most important factor driving their success.

Mike Decker | Cleaning Expert & Entrepreneur

The most important factor behind my success would have to be compassion. Over my 25-year career in retail and 10 years as an entrepreneur I’ve come to realize that the moments I look back on as the most fulfilling are the ones where I lead with compassion. In those moments I was able to help improve someone’s life, if even in a small way. I wont say that I’m great at being compassionate, though. I can also look back and reflect on stumbling blocks, times where I wasn’t successful, and see that it was my lack of compassion. Life is messy, and life can be complicated and hard sometimes. The ability to see a situation from another person’s perspective and help them to achieve their goals always lead me to a successful deal or relationship. Relationships and business deals that both parties feel like they were listened to and understood have been the most fulfilling, and generally leads to more success. Read more>>

Marisol Garcia | Co-founder and CEO

In one word: authenticity, reflected in many forms. The recipe for Cascabel Salsa Gourmet is originally from Jalisco, Mexico, and has been passed down from generations. We use traditional ingredients and preparation methods, keeping faithful to the original recipe and ensuring our flavors remain authentic Mexican. In this ever-changing modern world, there is one thing that grounds us and that we can always count on, and that is family. Cascabel originates from a family recipe, and we like to think we are keeping our Mexican traditions alive with every single jar we make. Read more>>

Ashlyn Jensen | Aspiring Screenwriter & Creative Professional

Finding success as a writer has been an obscure and chaotic process for me. In fact, I’m positive that if you tracked any writer’s success on a graph, it would look like random groupings of lines and squiggles. There is no real rhyme or reason to it. So, I’ve learned that being successful largely relies on your magnitude of passion for the craft, and learning to love each corner of it that you explore. More to the point, find a way to fall in love with the thing that’s directly in front of you, being a writer looks different every day. This notion became especially apparent to me after I got my first job as a blog contributor. For a short time, I worked for a non-profit organization. My contribution to them was a series of informative, non-fiction articles that were published on their website at the end of each week. It’s worth noting that I am not a non-fiction blogger in my heart of hearts. I am a screenwriter to the bone. Read more>>