Most people say they want success, but when you ask them what success means you get wildly different responses. We recently asked some of the best and brightest in our community to tell us about how they define success and have shared their responses below.

Dawn Paul aka The Dr. Dawn®️ | Certified Life Coach, Author, Media Personality & Speaker

 

Success is subjective, and my definition is based on purpose, not popularity. I don’t define it by images portrayed on social media, a certain number of likes and followers, or other people’s opinions and definitions of what success is/should be. What success is for one person is not necessarily the definition for another. Success for me is living in my God-given calling, making sure I am purposeful, leaving my positive impact and footprint at each opportunity. So many sell out or sell others out for success. And though those individuals may obtain (or seem to obtain) prosperity, they have no peace. If it is meant to be yours, you don’t have to lie, cheat, or steal to receive what is destined for you. What God has for you is for you! So while you do have to work hard for positive results, you don’t need to use manipulation to obtain the promises God has for you. Read more>>

Mike Watson | Luxury Wedding DJ

Transparency. When a potential new client reaches out to me, everything they might want to know is laid out for them to see. I share pricing up-front, let them know exactly what they will and will not get, and let them see me as a person who’s there to support them and to be their advocate on their wedding day. Read more>>

Krishna Buford | Owner

Success is a consummate and passionate pursuit of goals that expand and evolve as one grows. We should always be attaining goals and reaching for, creating new goals as life changes. Read more>>

Gregory Gomez-Mira | Administrator & Owner

There are many words that come to my mind. Perseverance. Resilience. Grit. These are all characteristics that have helped me grow my business since 2013. When I purchased my business, it had already been in operation for twelve years. Fortunately, the company had a good reputation and existing client base with a referral network established. I saw a tremendous amount of potential in this business and the brand. The goal and challenge was to grow the business. Perseverance. Resilience. Grit. These were all necessary and required for me to grow the business over the last seven and a half years. We have encountered obstacles, made mistakes and experienced growing pains; however, we have always focused on quality and providing the best service possible to all of our clients. Read more>>

Jimmy Phillips | Wood Sculptor

Whatever measure of success I have found is in most part due to lessons learned in my prior life as a salesman. There are countless talented artists that have no sales skills, even a certain disdain for selling in general. I am shameless in my self promotion, and seek out all opportunities, such as this shoutout, to tell my little story, show off my work, and meet as many people as possible. Read more>>

Jimmy Houston | Fine Artist

My definition of success has certainly transformed throughout my career. Starting out, I simply enjoyed the illusive dream of being a full-time artist. Success was measured by the ability to create for a living and to be able to quit my day job. I wanted my work to be seen. Those dreams came true. Later, success became the desire to be shown in a gallery, to sell paintings and have my work recognized. Those ambitions came true as well, and my idea of success has continued to develop. Now ten years into my creative career, as I contemplate what it means to be truly successful my perspective is very different. Today, when I enter my studio and face the canvas I leave all the “business” of art outside the door. My focus now is making work that resonates in the hearts and minds of those who see them. Read more>>

Mikayla Mae Glover | Artist

Success to me is being happy with what you’re doing in life. It’s finding something that you love to do and can be proud of. Success for me would be breaking routines in my life that make me too comfortable, and being able to express myself to the fullest extent. There will come a time when I am able to wake up ready to start the day because I am doing something I love, and when that day comes I will have obtained what I define as success. Read more>>

Stacy Parsons | Interior Designer & Event and Wedding Planner

The most important factor behind my success is making myself available to my customers. I connect to them on a personal level. When doing my social media live videos, I laugh, I mess up what I’m saying, I give my honest opinions and I honestly believe people feel as if they can relate. The success of my brand is attention to detail. Staying up to date with trends and popular styles. Read more>>