The Deciding Factor: What’s the most important factor behind your success?

There are so many factors that can play a role in determining our results, performance and ultimately our success, but some factors matter more than others. We asked folks what they felt was the most important factor driving their success.

Rocheal Matthews | Business Owner & Photographer

The most important factor behind the success in my business is how I define success. I think when a lot of people begin to experience financial success after starting a business of sorts, their definition of success starts to take form and base itself on numbers. Couple that with living in this world full of instant gratification and love of Pinterest-worthy *things*, and boom. You’re in the rat race again. Read more>>

Curlese Benson | Curlese Benson | Realtor® & Education Champion

The most important factor behind my success, and the success of Purposed Realty Group, is building genuine connections with my clients and being present to serve and advocate through one of the key milestones in their lives through real estate investing. Whether it’s helping a first-time buyer find their dream home, assisting a family in selling a beloved property, or working with investors to scale their real estate portfolio portfolio, my mission is to cultivate longstanding relationships. Real estate isn’t just a transaction—it’s about guiding people through some of the biggest decisions of their lives. Read more>>

Ambrose Carroll | Founder and CEO of Green The Church International

Sticktuitivenes is the most important factor behind my brand. Green The Church was born I’d say in me. For the past 15 years through multiple Pastorates, and a growing family, the need or desire to help bring forth the Beloved Community upon this crusted earth has been something that I just could not let go of. The notion of Green The Church Haunts me. Read more>>

Marsha Dubé | Licensed Aesthetician/Licensed Aesthetic Instructor/Assistant Licensed Laser Practitioner

As an esthetician and spa owner, the most important factor behind my success has been creating exceptional client experiences while staying innovative and adaptable. Building trust and delivering consistent results for my clients has helped me establish long-term relationships. Additionally, investing in continuous education, staying ahead of industry trends, and offering high-quality, in-demand services like the head spa have allowed my business to stand out. Balancing passion for the craft with sound business strategies has been key to sustaining and growing my brand over the years. Read more>>

Ushma Desai | Wedding Planner & Designer

The most important factor behind the success of my company/brand is my positive mindset, never-give-up attitude and relentless hard work. Having a good postive mindset is extremely important because quite frankly no one wakes up feeling motivated every morning. I derive motivation from watching an inspiring movie, listening to a meaningful podcast or reading a good book. I also like surrounding myself with people who constantly uplift my spirits and believe in me. My never-give-up attitude comes from my personal life experiences and I live by the mantra of giving my 200% to everything I do. Lastly, I do what I do with a good intention (trust me that goes a long way!) Read more>>

Janelle Newell | Beautician, Cosplayer, Artist & Founder of ATL Black Fae Fest

The success of ATL Black Fae Fest is powered by so much more than just the hard work of our core team and amazing fairy ambassadors. It’s also fueled by the vibrant, enthusiastic Fae community who shows up to support and celebrate with us—and by the shared desire within the Black community to bring more magic into our lives! Read more>>

Jazmin Crumley | CEO & Founder of The Outlet for Vocal Expression; Vocal Director, Contractor & Celebrity Coach

For me, success has been the fact that I get to do what I absolutely love and am called to do and still get to live well everyday. I’m just honored. I believe that our success has honestly come from having really strong faith and a sense of purpose from God. That’s what guides me. Working in a field then building a business where almost nothing is guaranteed and the future can be hard to predict can be the greatest and scariest leap of faith, but when you know that the purpose is bigger than simply fulfilling your own desires, you choose to let faith overtake any fear. I’ve done my best to pair those 2 things with striving for excellence in what we do and how we consistently present it, understanding our audience and making it both a personal and professional standard within our company, to treat all people with intentional care and a sense of warmth. Read more>>

Iamdouglas | Recording artist, Songwriter, Brand owner

For my brand to become successful it needs to remain transparent. Music is the catalyst, for the greater mission of developing a safe space for those who struggle internally and are afraid they’re the only ones. For this to succeed, I need to shine light on my own mistakes, struggles, and failures. However, I’m human and sharing these vulnerabilities is intimidating at times. Having a team of people that support me and remind me of the greater mission helps give me strength to speak up, and continue to move forward. Read more>>

Valentina Ramirez | Graphic Designer

The most important factor behind my success with Valen Creative has been discipline. Building a brand from the ground up takes a daily commitment, especially in the beginning when you have no clients, no established credibility, and very few people who even know your name. Discipline pushes me to show up every day, even when results are slow, and to keep believing in the vision when only family and close friends are the ones cheering you on. By showing up consistently, over time, you start to see your brand grow, gain trust, and eventually become profitable. This journey has taught me that true success lies in the quiet work you put in when no one’s watching. Read more>>

Candace Malone | Personal Injury Attorney

Integrity. Unfortunately, there is a surrounding personal injury lawyers, well really lawyers in general, that we are only in the profession for the money. My desire to become a lawyer was never financially motivated, as I spent my early legal career working in public service either pro bono or for a nominal salary. My objective has always been to help my community and to really personalize the lawyer/client relationship so that people feel comfortable coming to me for help. Currently, my firm has almost 150 clients, yet each client gets a hands on experience with me and has my cell phone number. This approach has fostered numerous client and colleague referrals. We are truly grateful! Read more>>

Heidi Huttunen | Wedding Stationery Designer

She Is Everli is a wedding stationery brand, offering premium printing and digital templates. Staging the stationery for future brides-to-be has been the most important factor behind the success of She Is Everli. This allows brides to envision the stationery in a setting which they can replicate themselves for their wedding day. Along with this, I have seen the value of this style of content, as this often lands in a bride’s mood board and is shareable across social media. Read more>>

Sha’kobe Tidwell | Entrepreneur & Developing Individual

Diverse Perspective. One of the most crucial factors that has fueled my personal and professional success is my commitment to cultivating a truly diverse perspective. To me, a diverse perspective is an ability to step outside of your own experiences to appreciate and observe the layers that make up someone else’s journey, perspective, and identity. It’s about understanding that everyone’s story is unique and is shaped differently by their struggles, values, and influences. This openness has not only enriched my interactions but also deepened my understanding of myself. It has enabled me to build connections with people from various walks of life, fostering respect and empathy in every encounter, from random compliments to networking opportunities. Read more>>

Ticarus Bunch | Actor / Writer / Director

My wife, Dr. Latonya Bunch, has been the cornerstone of my success and the success of my brand. Not only is she my biggest supporter, but she also plays a pivotal role in my journey as my audition reader and sometimes coach, guiding me through many film and television auditions with unfiltered feedback. Similar to the influence of Majorie Harvey, she also has helped me transform my wardrobe into a more modern and distinguished gentlemanly look, in both style and career. Graduating honorably with a master’s degree in Journalism was made possible by her tireless dedication to her own pursuits, including counseling individuals and couples, all while managing our demanding schedules. Her unwavering support and constructive criticism continues to inspire me to believe in my limitless potential to reach my goals are reachable no matter how high they are. Read more>>

Juniper Fizz | Burlesque dancer, cabaret singer and pin up model

It’s been a whirlwind few years for me since I launched my burlesque career, and I absolutely couldn’t have done it without the help I have gotten from The Candybox Revue. For many people burlesque is a solo endeavor, but I couldn’t be happier to have such a wonderful and sparkly community to make art with. Read more>>

Hannah Linzay | Professional Strongwoman & and Scottish Highlands Games Athlete

Throughout my whole strength career, I think the most important factor that has influenced my success is grit. I’ve battled through many obstacles with injuries, relationships, working a very physically demanding job, amongst many other trials and tribulations. But I’ve always been able to follow through with prep and compete while showing up on comp day. Read more>>

Johann Heemurz | Painter, Fashion Designer, Trendsetter, Investor, Influencer, Model, Personal Stylist, Content Creator, Music Producer, Guyanese Rapper, Singer, Visionary, BeatMaker, Personal Coach, Philanthropist

The most important factor behind my success is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make anything happen, and as they say, He works in mysterious ways. Over the years, I have faced the unknown while pursuing my dreams and remaining committed to my mission, even when I didn’t know what the finish line looked like. Having faith, trusting Him, and allowing Him to move through me and my talents have opened doors and showcased His true power. Everything I have accomplished is by His grace, and I want the world to know that. Read more>>

Nicole Garris | Photographer

The most important factor behind my success is the experience my customers have with me. I really pride myself on delivering the best possible experience for my customers. I am also a very detail oriented person, so I make sure my work reflects that aspect. I truly enjoy what I do and being a photographer has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. In my case, the old saying “Do a job you love and you will never work a day in your life” is very true. Read more>>

Lyric S. Thomas | Owner & CEO of Teddy Bare Body

The most important factor behind the success of Teddy Bare Body is our unwavering focus on meeting the needs of our customers. We strive for excellence not just because it’s essential for business, but because we genuinely believe in the power of exceptional customer service. By truly understanding our customers’ emotions, struggles, and daily lives, we can connect with them on a deeper level. At the core of our brand is a commitment to building a strong, supportive community—one that is rooted in customer-centric principles. Read more>>

Jack Mcadoo | Podcaster, Human Potential Coach & Mindfulness Keynote Speaker

The most important factor behind my success is authenticity. I’ve been through a lot, from some pretty intense trauma to moments of rebuilding myself. Going through that changed me and gave me a perspective that’s not just about chasing success for its own sake. I focus on being real with people, sharing my story, and connecting with them on a human level. Read more>>

Nataly Villa Popes | First Lady CFO fashion brand D’BPHOR, Candle Maker/Owner of Avil Candles, Int. Model

God. Keeping God in the center of it all and trusting his timing. I learned not to rush but to trust the process and my faith has grown so much stronger because of it. My blessings come because of my work and dedication to the word before the work. My work is not something many are aware of but it is a business meant to be felt and be impacted by. Read more>>

June Wood | Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

The most important factor behind my success is my Spiritual Journey…seeking God, getting my education, helping others and making a positive impact without worrying who gets the credit. Read more>>

Trinity Davis | Founder and owner of Trindy Cosmetics

The most important factor behind the success of Trindy Cosmetics is my faith in God and His guidance throughout this journey. From the very beginning, I’ve relied on prayer and trust in His plan, especially during moments when the path felt uncertain. Starting and growing a brand is full of risks, whether it was stepping out to launch the brand, making decisions that felt bigger than me, or pushing past doubts. But believing in a bigger plan has kept me grounded and given me the courage to keep going, even when the results weren’t immediate or guaranteed. Read more>>

Robtaevious Madden | Sports Photographer

Consistency. One thing I learned early when I started Ry Media Company was that if I wanted to grow my business, I had to be consistent. Picking and choosing when to shoot, to edit, to network, to film, any of that would not help my business grow and I’d look up years from now and still be in the same spot. Learning that early is what helped Ry Media Company Sports be a success. From August til December, every single Friday I’m at a high school football game capturing photos. On Saturdays, I’m at a college football game capturing photos. I could be at a high school here in Atlanta or I could be driving on the road somewhere.  Read more>>

Dvir Ohana | Kitchen & Bath remodeler

The most important factor behind my success in remodeling a space is my commitment to honesty and transparency with my clients. I believe in being a straight shooter from the start, sharing all the details upfront so that there are no surprises along the way. By setting clear expectations and maintaining open communication throughout the process, I ensure that clients feel informed, confident, and comfortable every step of the way. This approach builds trust and leads to better outcomes for everyone involved. Read more>>

Michelle Lynch | Licensed Real Estate Sales Consultant

The driving force behind my success has been my unwavering “why”—a burning desire to help others achieve generational wealth and home security through land and home ownership. My journey has been anything but easy; I’ve faced adversity that many would consider insurmountable, from homelessness to significant financial losses. Yet, each challenge I encountered only strengthened my resolve, making me hungrier and more determined to succeed. Read more>>

Mark Hill | Spaceship Engineer

Hard work and dedication is the reason for my success. Starting a business from scratch is not the easiest thing to do. Constantly having to motivate myself throughout the hard times. When no one believed in me I still strived to be great because this was something I wanted to leave behind for my kids. Read more>>

Gabriel Stewart | Model

My creativity has always been able to bring me far with my success. Being into the arts creativity comes natural to me and I’m able to incorporate my ideas into my acting, songwriting, or modeling. Read more>>

Paris Bennett | Singer & Actress

The most important factor behind my success is my stand to be completely unapologetic in my authenticity. I mean since I was little I have always had a love for more than just one type of genre and more than just one type of musical or acting opportunity. Knowing that, my family allowed me to venture into formulating who I’d be in the field of entertainment from hair, clothing, all the way to stage approach. In all those things I aim to be just who Paris is so when it catches eyes of fans or others in the business they are drawn to the real me and that’s what real success is. Read more>>

Bankroll Ruby | Reality tv Star & ARTIST

Clarity of Purpose, Growth Mindset, and Courage. Without purpose, it is hard to have a clear direction. Read more>>