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.

 J.K. Lynch

When I first started teaching, something crazy would happen in my classroom- a kid said something or did something, or worse, I’d do something crazy. I just felt like I had to tell someone, so I started emailing friends at work and some relatives. Eventually, I had a mini-mailing list of co-workers who wanted to hear my stories. It was then when coworkers and friends suggested that I write a book. Read More>>

Angie Patterson

It never really occurred to me to give up. I think I always knew that this would be a career without any guarantees, and that I’d just have to keep going. When I graduated high school, my parents really wanted me to have a backup plan (rightfully so). But I didn’t want to give myself anything to fall back on. Read More>>

Andrea

Risk has never felt like recklessness, it’s felt like alignment.
In 2015, I traveled to Rio de Janeiro alone. By that time I had this familiar feeling in my stomach, one that I tried to capture with a word I created. Alove. It was meant to describe this feeling of uncertainty in your gut but unclear if it’s a calling or a caution.
I wasn’t familiar with the term anxiety at the time and I am glad because it allowed this feeling to be anything, to be limitless. Read More>>

Harvey Middleton

My daughters, being a father gave me that extra boost i needed to be great in life! There is absolutely nothing better than being a girl dad, just to know that it’s a piece of me roaming this earth forever and watching them grow is amazing. The are my reason for everything and I will stop at nothing to insure that all 3 of them(Gilani, Peyton, and phoenix) have their hearts desires! The unconditional love and support you get from your kids is definitely unmatched. Read More>>

Uriel Rubio-Uribe

The end goal is to inspire a new generation of filmmakers through my work. The title of Film Director is what I strive to be every day, but that is not where my goal ends.

One of my biggest dreams is that I want to direct a Spider-Man feature film with Sony.

I also want my films to push the limits of what the medium can do, and through hard work and dedication, I hope to build a school of arts where students, both nationally and internationally, can come together to learn and create thought-provoking films that continue the legacy of pushing the medium further beyond. That is the plan by the time I retire. Read More>>

Paul Jaraysi

One of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made was choosing to stay in the game when everything in me wanted to walk away. Running a restaurant isn’t just about food—it’s about leadership, sacrifice, and pressure from all directions. There were moments I was mentally and emotionally drained, watching everything pile on—financial stress, staffing issues, long hours, constant fires to put out. It felt like no matter how hard I pushed, the progress was slow, and quitting started to sound like relief. Read More>>

Megan Harper

The most important lesson that my business has taught me is that no matter what you always have to show up for yourself. The work you put in is a direct reflection of your success. Ultimately, it’s up to you to show up and put in the work to grow and remain successful. Read More>>

Haoran Chen

he most important lesson my career has taught me is how to thrive under pressure while maintaining clarity, composure, and balance. As a producer, my job often requires delivering a complete feature film within an extremely condensed timeline—sometimes just two to four weeks. This pace demands more than just efficiency; it requires a deep capacity for short-term planning, rapid decision-making, and above all, emotional resilience. Read More>>