We asked rising stars from the community one of our favorite questions:  other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

Vaneshia Smith | Yoga Teacher & Spiritual Healer

I had to decide to block out the noise and listen to myself. My decision to just go for it without knowing anything was the best decision I ever made. I told myself I would be successful if I follow my hearts desire to heal myself and my community and let the Universe guide my path. That’s all business is to me. Finding your passion by doing what you love and sharing it to help others. Read more>>

S. Jones Thompson | Photographer

Photographic distinction really started to develop when I stopped doing what I had been taught previously. I threw out old ideas and methods and embraced the highest values of my inner instinct. Once I realized that this body of photographs didn’t have to follow any previous artist’s specifications, I was free to push the limits and discover my own path. Read more>>

Michelle Gainey | Event Designer + Planner

Not worrying about what anyone else is doing. It’s important to set your own path based on your experience, skills, and talents. I think too often people are too concerned with what their competitors are doing and make bad decisions based on that. Read more>>

Bianca Rush | Marketing Coach

Learning how to run paid advertising to amplify my marketing initiatives. Read more>>

Nominate someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.