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.

Anita Culler | Self-Employed Artist

I live on disability and I’m grateful for the taxpayers which allow me to eat, live, and not actively work in the traditional respect.
I allow myself to spend small amounts, like $75 on clothes, $40 at the theatre, and $25 on dinner twice a month, and that’s it.
When my money is extra low, below $100 at the end of the month, I try to hold on to my money for safety reasons. Living on a budget of disability means I have to save in case of emergencies. Read more>>

Cara Paige | Singer/Songwriter

I think I want to start this out not with how I would define success, but that success can be ongoing and take a while. If you never give up, then you can’t ever fail. If you never fail, then you are destined to succeed. As long as you are continuing to work hard and not give up, then in my eyes you are succeeding. If you give up, then you have automatically failed. Failure comes much faster and easier than success. But again, success is ongoing and as long as you are working towards your goals, then you are on your way to succeeding. Read more>>

Brooklynn Jayde | Indie Artist/ Actress/ Filmmaker

Knowing when to keep going or to let go is a question I’ve faced a few times on this journey, and one of the most pivotal moments came a few years ago. Matthew and I were faced with some major changes outside of our control when having to part ways with a very talented bandmate. The split was painful, and it was a moment when we could have easily walked away from music. But after taking time to process and heal, we realized that music was more than just something we did. It’s our life force, our way of processing emotions, and, honestly, a necessity for our well-being. Read more>>

Sean D Davis | Atlanta Based Photographer & Music Aficionado

Personally, I let my inner voice decide if I should keep going or shut it down. From the beginning, photography has been a relaxing pastime for me. For example, when I feel the urge to grab my camera and go on a random ‘photo walk’, I just do it. This allows me to approach my art freely without preconceived notions and get some bonus cardio exercise at the same time. I keep my eyes wide open to capture a wide range of subject matter, while relaxing at the same time. I’m really looking forward to traveling more in the future to expand my portfolio and photographic experiences abroad. Stay tuned!! Read more>> 

Shackisha Clark | Tax Professional & Health and Life Insurance Broker in 41 States

The most important thing I’ve done as a parent in terms of the impact on my daughter is to spend quality time with her. The first relationship a child get to experience is the relationship with their parents. I want my child and future children to know that no matter how busy I am, I am still here to listen to you, laugh with you, nurture your growth, communicate, and all the things that come with having a great bond with your kids. My child knows what love is outside of a busy mom. Read more>>

Brandi Williams | Designer, athlete, firefighter, survivor

“JUMP!” by Steve Harvey Resonated with Me. So, there was this moment when I decided to take a leap of faith and quit my job to chase after my dreams—dreams centered around building one of the most sought-after brands in the world. Yeah, pretty ambitious, right? To keep my budget in check, I moved back in with my mom, which turned out to be a solid backdrop for some serious self-reflection and growth. During this time, I picked up Steve Harvey’s book, JUMP!, and let me tell you, it was a total game-changer for me. Read more>>

Thành (mike) Nguyễn | Creator & Collector

Creating makes me happy. The idea of turning a brainstorm of thoughts into something tangible is very rewarding in a sense of bringing something from nothing into something very real feels very surreal to me. The work I do never feels tedious, as it’s fueled by my drive to spread my version of creativity into the world. But in the end, having a family and girlfriend that’s supportive of me gives me the drive and passion of doing what I do. Read more>>

Meet Laura Coleman | Former educator turned unschooling mom, creator of Raising Twig and Bananas

One piece of conventional advice I disagree with is, “Kids need structure to succeed” or that “Quality earning only takes place in a classroom.” Don’t get me wrong—structure can be helpful, but the idea that rigid schedules and standardized lessons are the golden ticket to success? Nope, not buying it. As an unschooling mom, I’ve seen firsthand that learning doesn’t always fit neatly into a 9-to-5 framework. Kids are natural learners—they’re curious, creative, and, honestly, a little unpredictable (in the best way). Read more>>

Vindhya Carter | Singer-Songwriter, Multi-Media Specialist, and Entrepreneur

One piece of conventional advice I disagree with is the idea of choosing one path and sticking to it for a lifetime. More specifically in my case, that you must choose between music and filmmaking or acting to succeed in the entertainment industry. This perspective overlooks countless examples of multi-talented artists who excel in various disciplines—Beyoncé, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, Method Man, 50 Cent, and Teyana Taylor, to name a few. These individuals prove that pursuing multiple avenues can lead to remarkable success. Furthermore, music and film are inherently intertwined; one often enhances the other.  Read more>>