We asked some of the city’s rising stars about why they think they have been so successful and we’ve shared their responses below.

Njeri Wainaina | Co-Owner of NYCE Mobile Bar Experience

I would have to say the 3 key habits that have helped me succeed in business and all aspects of life are consistency, reliability, and strategy. I really pride myself on consistency. Being consistent in the small things, such as daily workouts and affirmations, to the big things – doing what I say I will do and showing up where I am needed, make me reliable. To make sure that brand of reliability is intact I must be strategic. I enjoy finding ways to work smarter, not harder, so that I can effectively execute any task at hand. Read more>>

(1) Nikki (2) Kimbrelia (1)Summers (2) Dixon) | (1) Weave Enthusiast & Nurse (2) Weave Enthusiast & Therapist

Nikki: What really helped me was having support from family and friends. I also made sure to prioritize praying and meditating. I’m so grateful to have family/friends, as well as my business partner, to help redirect me in times when I felt discouraged or stressed. Kim: The biggest thing that I had to learn as it relates to habits is that self-care should be prioritized on the list as well. We all know that things like waking up early and staying organized are beneficial but it is vital that we also get into the habit of taking care of our minds and body. Read more>>

Alisha McKiver-Carson | Chef/Caterer

I believe the practice of gratitude has tremendously influenced my success. Just being grateful for the small things has made way for larger blessings. Gratitude really gives you a different perspective of life and adds to one’s happiness. The happier you are, the more functional you are, in business and in life. Even while experiencing a loss or failure, you can see how it has added to your life in some way and be thankful for the experience. Read more>>

Lilian Chen | Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder

I’m definitely a creature of habit and love building them! Especially since I work from home, forming habits has been instrumental in creating routine and structure in my day. I get up at the same time every morning which has helped me be productive early on in the day. Oftentimes, I will meditate (I use Headspace) for 10 minutes to help clear my head and set intentions for the day. As a team, our team has a daily meeting at 9am each morning, which has been useful for all of us to sync up together in the morning as well as catch up with each other. I also personally use my calendar and running To Do list to help me stay on track with my daily tasks. Once a quarter, our team has a quarterly summit to help us set bigger-picture goals to drive us towards our larger vision for the company. Read more>>

Ray LeJune | Artist & SongWriter

The habits that have helped me along the way, is being constant with delivering quality work. If your known for being reliable with delivering great work, your bound to have a solid fan base that will always support and look forward to what’s to come. Read more>>

Joe Menendez | Television and Film Director/Producer

1.) I am a habitual learner. A sponge for my craft. I make it a point to learn something new every day — every single day — that will make me a better director, that will give me an edge. Even though I’ve been a director for over 30 years, I still feel I don’t know enough. So, I continue to seek out knowledge, which in turn fuels my growth and makes me a better director. Read more>>

Gretchen Norman | Pastry Chef/Owner

Getting a good nights sleep is one of the best habits I have. Without being rested it is a lot easier to make mistakes. I am not the best I can be without my 8 hours. Also, taking time to excersie is vital to keeping my body healthy. This job is a lot harder on the body than many would ever imagine so doing a little yoga, pilates, and weights makes a big difference. Also, eating healthy foods keeps me energized. Read more>>

Rikkia Holmes | Entrepreneur | Real Estate, Tax Accounting, and Business Formation

As an Entrepreneur for over 20 years, many of the habits that help me succeed are discipline, time management, connecting with people, counterbalance, adding value to others, keeping a positive mindset, and operating my business like a business and not a hobby. Over the years each of these habits and many others have been paramount to my past success and ongoing success in my businesses. Developing these habits early on and being consistent will surely set you up for success. Read more>>