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.

Antoinne Duane Jones | Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine CEO/Photographer

I’ve always been somewhat of a futuristic thinker. Which means, I tend to see things 5-7 years before they become popular. As a member of a fraternity and also being a celebrity photographer, I saw that there was an unfilled niche of creating a magazine that would strictly focus on content of minority fraternities and sororities. Read more>>

Melinda Miné | Spa Success Coach & Revenue Strategist

Honestly it was birthed from (what some might call) my biggest failure. You see my first attempt at being self employed as a licensed esthetician ended after only 1 year. Flash forward 20 years later i realized that if only I had access to resources such as funding, coaching, financial, marketing and business knowledge my doors might still be open today. Read more>>

Yung Skinny Tay | Visual artist (graphic designer, illustrator, painter, etc.) & Recording artist/producer

To me, success is about setting a goal and accomplishing it. The journey itself is an essential part of success. The highs, the lows, the struggles, digging deep within oneself finding the courage/strength to persevere no matter what obstacles may stand in the way. Working hard towards what one wants for themselves and going to get it by any means necessary. Read more>>

Michelle Rouse Fox | Founder and CEO Foxygen Consulting

In Viktor Frankl’s book Mans Search for Meaning he recounts the mental attitudes he adopted in order to survive a German concentration camp. He discovered that even in the most extreme and devastating conditions, a human could never be stripped of their “freedom to choose one’s own attitude in any given set of circumstances and to choose one’s own way.” Read more>>

Latasha Morrison | NYT Bestselling Author of Be the Bridge and Brown Faces, White Spaces. Founder & CEO @bethebridge

I would like to be known as the builder of bridges. I want my legacy to be that of love and concern for others. In my work at Be the Bridge, I want people to know me now and remember me as a great leader who loved others well. I want there to be a thumbprint of justice and righteousness that I leave behind. Read more>>

Whitney Gilliard | CEO & Founder of Gilliard and Company

I don’t believe that you should just do what you want to do. I believe that you should do what you are meant to do. This perspective deviates significantly from the conventional belief that passion and desire should be the primary drivers of our actions. While following one’s passions can be fulfilling, it might not always lead to a meaningful or impactful life. Read more>>

K.Janea’ Daniel | Travel & Lifestyle Content Curator

One of the most important lessons I have learned thus far is to stay consistent. Consistency can take you very far and grant you opportunities you may not have otherwise received. In my profession as a content curator, I cannot expect to build a relationship with my supporters if I’m only engaging with them every once in a while. Read more>>