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.

Starnesha Rolle | Software Engineer | Entrepreneur

Yes, I do have a budget. Managing personal finances is a priority for me, especially with a background in sales and now as a software engineer. I approach my budget with a strategic mindset, leveraging the financial skills developed during my sales career and the analytical thinking acquired in my current role. Read more>>

Vance Taylor | Life Coach, Author, Speaker, Philanthropist

One of the most influential and life-changing books that I’ve ever read is, “The Power of Now”. It helped me to learn more about the power of being present in life, and how most of our pain and suffering– anger, sadness, hurt, resentment, bitterness, etc.– is the result of dwelling on past and future. There were also powerful lessons that I learned about the mental-emotional connection, and how the two often fuel each other. How we feel and respond to a situation has less to do with the situation itself, and more to do with the mental commentary or stories we create about the situation in our minds. The more you buy into that “story” the stronger the emotional charge. Read more>>

Kofi Maafo | CEO

When I have had the chance to think through an idea and done my research, I have this habit of not taking the words “IT’S NOT POSSIBLE” as a challenge and want to prove that “IT IS POSSIBLE”. Once I believe that I can do something, I am willing to take the time to go through the process to make it work. I don’t believe in shortcuts to success. I’ve never seen that workout well for anyone because success is a very heavy burden to carry. I believe in building the roots or muscle to carry that burden of success. Read more>>

Billie Hilliard | Founder & Chief Branding Consultant at BHC, Jewelry Designer and Life Insurance Agent with American Income Life/The Prada Agency

The value that resonates most profoundly with me is integrity. It’s the cornerstone of all my ventures, encapsulated in the sacred principles of 2 Samuel, chapter 22. Operating with honesty, truth, and unwavering integrity creates a foundation for meaningful connections, enduring businesses, and a legacy that stands the test of time. It’s through this lens of integrity that I navigate my roles as a branding consultant, jewelry designer, entrepreneur and now a licensed life insurance agent, ensuring that every endeavor brings joy, stability, and genuine help to those I serve. Read more>>

Tarsha M. Green | Published Author & Founder of a Non-Profit Organization

I disagree with the conventional advice of ‘sleep when you die’. In a society that prioritizes chasing money, I believe it’s crucial to rest in the presence of God. Instead of chasing money, we should focus on walking in purpose. The term ‘chasing’ implies that we’re trying to catch something that is running away from us, which can lead to exhaustion and ultimately burnout. However, walking in purpose allows us to work without the burden of toiling. Read more>>

Gaylon Lerch | Architect

Everyone assumes architects just design and draw fancy buildings with little to no regard for budget or utility, but in reality the 90% of professionals practicing on a daily basis are actually in charge of keeping projects within budget, on time, and realistic in terms of build-ability. Architects act in many cases as the client advocate as well when dealing with trials during design and construction. Architects also have the paramount purpose to protect public welfare by creating buildings that fail strategically, and function in a way that keeps occupants safe in disaster conditions. Read more>>

Arendez Fedd | Barber & Apparel Entrepreneur

The most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make was deciding to give up a Division I football scholarship for a dream with no plan. In the midst of being in college I found out many things about myself, the most important thing being that I was living my life based on what made other people happy, what other people wanted for my future. And to give up what most people could only dream of, for a search of my own desires, was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make Read more>>

Jason Elkins | President and Founder of Thumbs Up Moving Labor

In business, it’s all about who you are working with. By being very selective and careful about who you hire and who you allow to be your clients, you can eliminate 80% of the problems that other businesses have in your industry. Most of the issues that have been very difficult to overcome in my business have been due to either employing subpart employees or allowing clients to hire our service that is not honest and forthcoming or has entirely unrealistic expectations. Read more>>