Deciding to work for yourself is often cited as the best decision folks in our community have made. Hearing the same response over and over led us to ask them about the next best decision folks have made and we’ve shared their responses with you below.

Melinda Santiago | CEO / FOUNDER

Building Wealth and changing my mindset and really learning about economics and the IMPORTANCE of it. Read more>>

Sashe Omogiate | Transformational Speaker & Motivational Strategist Coach

The most important decision I made in my life that contributed to my success was being intentional. I always was focused on leaving a legacy and building generational wealth for my family. However, when I consciously wrote out a plan to create the life I want that’s when I knew what needed to be changed. I needed to serve people with my gifts and talents in order to live a successful life doing the things I love. By helping others change their life I’m indirectly helping myself and generations to come. Read more>>

Grant Wallace | Landscaper, Musician, & Shmoozer

Blind determination. Not being afraid to try something new when you don’t have a clue what you’re doing. After I dove in the first month, I was getting a lot of good feedback from customers trying to help me figure out exactly what I wanted to do. I had a mower hanging out the back of my trunk and was constantly running into problem after problem. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help. At the end of the day as long as you tried your all at something it’s still a win/win. Either you found the thing you like or you found the thing that wasn’t for you. Either way you know now and that’s half the battle. As Dori says, “Just Keep Swimming”. Read more>>

Media Prince | Entertainment Journalist & Editor-In-Chief of TheMediaPrince.com

Understanding that failures and mistakes happen and they do not deter your success however enhance it. The decision to keep going regardless of setbacks is the most important decision I made that contributed to my success. People tie success to tangible things but its the mental and emotional factors that gear your success, shifting my mind and spirit and understanding my lessons are the epitome of success, if I did not make that decision, The Media Prince and all entities that come with the brand would have never existed. Read more>>

Jasmine Hood | Licensed Massage Therapist, LMT

Keeping my relationship professional with my clients. With being a massage therapist i get to know my clients personally, but i have to keep my boundaries. It’s easy to fall into that friend/client relationship and i always let them know that it’s business relationship. Whether the client is male or female setting those boundaries are important. Read more>>

Dr. Laklieshia Izzard | Licensed Professional Counselor & Professor

I would have to say making the decision to continue moving forward no matter what comes across my path. Moving forward in the face of challenge and adversity is never easy. However, once you have made the intentional decision to move forward there is a tenacious drive that pushes you forward despite the obstacles. Moving forward is what gets you to the finish line to become a success. I have been blessed to be a success in many areas to name a few becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, Doctor of Education, Entrepreneur, Professor, and serving as a founding president for the American Counseling Association of Georgia. These areas of success continue to shape new successes and levels of leadership in my life. Moving forward has helped me to discover my potential and higher heights of opportunity. I am grateful for the success principle of moving forward and making the decision to do it at such a youthful age. Moving forward despite the obstacles keeps me focused on being my best self. Read more>>

Michelle Armas | Artist

I can honestly say the most important thing that has lead to my success is to TRUST MY PROCESS and that lives in my body and my mind. I trust myself when I can’t paint for a month, or more. Once it was three months and nothing but mud cam out of my brain. I trust myself when I have an idea that I wan’t to try out and I waste materials, paint, expensive stuff or my time stretching and re stretching canvas. Whew. I have majorly blown time and resources trying to get an idea out. Every time it has lead to something. Maybe not what I wanted, but something great came from it. I know that I need a regular schedule of time alone in my studio, I know I need a lot of sleep, I know I need a walk a day or I start to turn into a monster. I KNOW these things and I take them for myself. I had to learn to do this b/c I am a woman in this society, and I have been conditioned to put off my own work or my own needs for my family. One day I decided that I don’t want to paint, I NEED to paint. Read more>>

Kennedy Dumas | I Am a 20 Year Old, Atlanta Native. I Am a Junior In College Majoring in Biology, and a Successful Business Owner.

The decision to understand that my mindset controls my external world is the most important thing that contributed to my success. My mindset controls everything about me; how I think, act, feel and maneuver through my life. As cliché as it may sound, I know that I can achieve anything I put my mind too. If I can envision it in my mind, it can become tangible. All I have to do is believe that it will come true, and it will. Read more>>

Kel Cadet-Lyons | Artist & Designer

For busy artists looking to turn their work into a business, one of my key pieces of advice is to learn to ask for and accept help. There is no way I would have been able to row through the currant of 2020 as a small business owner without assistance. We tend to proudly be a jane of all trades. However, in order to preserve yourself and all that you are looking to attain, one must learn to delegate and task those that are exceptional in the area where you are not your strongest. If you are not able to officially employ a team, lean on your village as much as they will allow. This will enable you to focus on the parts of the business that you do enjoy and curb burnout. Read more>>

Dolphin Coley | Philly Style Water Ice aka Italian Ice Manufacturer

Relocating from Philly to Atlanta. wasn’t any easy decision but I needed to be an a market where the demand for my product was much higher. Read more>>

Skye Estroff | Owner of Skye Estroff LLC | a Marketing & Social Media Company

When I first started working, I devoted all my hours to my 9-5. I didn’t allow myself time for other activities and, in turn, I felt out of balance. I didn’t like the feeling of being so one-track-minded and my value only determined by the success of 1 part of my life. So, I made the decision to keep developing and learning outside of my job. I added in yoga classes and a RYT 200 certification, TV hosting appearances, radio appearances, reading, taking classes and more. The more I said “yes” to the things I felt connected to outside of my job, the more my “job” evolved into something I felt more connected to. Read more>>

Brielle Bahr | Make-Up Artist

The most important thing that I have done in the process of starting my own business is investing in my resources & my education. Even when I can look at my work and be so proud of what I’ve created, I always acknowledge the fact that nothing I do is ever absolutely perfect and there is ALWAYS room for growth (and this can apply whether you’re just starting out or an expert in your field). Investing in furthering my education & always striving to do better has meant paying for courses that teach me new techniques & styles of doing hair and make-up and subscribing to organizations & groups of women who are like-minded in that strive to learn more in my industry. And an important thing to note–‘investing’ doesn’t always mean you’re forking out loads of money… sometimes your time is also a very valuable investment to furthering your skill. For me, this meant taking the time to practice my craft on my ‘days off’ and blocking out time to reach out to other artists who work around me and asking for advice or opinions. Read more>>