Hardwork? Luck? Good habits? What would you say is behind your success? We’ve shared some thoughtful responses below.

Ashleigh Ewald | First East Asian Student Body President of Oglethorpe University, Youth Radio (YR) Media writer, podcaster, Voters of Tomorrow Georgia’s State Director, and community advocate.

Resilience has become the most important factor behind my success for many reasons. Since the beginning of life, I have had to face my circumstances of being an orphan and later on for a couple of years as a foster child. Being adopted twice and placed in such a disadvantaged upbringing unexpectedly taught me how to be skillful at public speaking and being able to learn how to build meaningful relationships. I struggled with relationships due to lacking the mother-child nurturance that is most needed for children to grow and flourish. It was my ability not only to move on but also to learn and accept my undesirable past. This change in powerful mindset from victim to victory allowed me to build instead the determination to make something out of myself while, most importantly, helping others do the same. Read more>>

Anniedi Essien | Chief Swagger Officer | B2B Sales Strategist for Corporate Consultants

Swagger is the most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand. I consider myself an accidental entrepreneur who overcame burnout and built a thriving biz after a layoff from a corporate executive job. I discovered that who we are is way more important than what we do. After decades of chasing fancy job titles, promotions and success on paper I named myself a Chief Swagger Officer when I became my own boss. It was a personal invitation to reimagine the path ahead, reinvent my career and redefine success on my own terms. Read more>>

Raioni Madison | Executive Director, 3D Girls, Inc.

When it comes to the success of both myself and 3D Girls, Inc., it would be disingenuous to say there’s just one key ingredient. It’s a complex hodgepodge of calculated risk-taking. But if I had to identify the one element that serves as the foundation, it would be my faith. Read more>>

Dr. Selena Smith, PhD | Mental Health and Addiction Specialist

The most important factor behind my success as a Founder, CEO, and specialist in Trauma and Addiction is undoubtedly my unwavering faith and dedication to my craft and my deep-seated passion for making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Read more>>

Georgia House | Owner & Lead Wedding Planner

The most profound factor contributing to the success of Georgia’s Finest Events is the seamless integration of passion, dedication, and a deep-seated faith in the Lord that serves as the guiding light for our endeavors. Founded in April of 2023 with a background in venue planning and coordination, our journey began with a commitment to excellence and attention to detail, values that echo the teachings that inspire us. Read more>>

Jennyfer Crawford-Williams | Small Business Advocate & Marketplace Curator

Being personable and caring about the success of others is the most important factor in achieving success for my brand. It has shown that prioritizing building genuine relationships with my audience and customers, which has lead to long-term loyalty and support. Additionally, having a clear purpose and working towards it has provided a strong foundation for my brand’s growth and success. Read more>>

Danielle Mitchell | Business Owner & Tutor

The most important factor for me for my tutoring company is making sure that the students that I teach can get an understanding of what they need to learn. I am an early college student, so I know the value of working hard in school so it is very important to me that I focus in on the needs of all of my students and make sure that all my students receive a fair chance at a great education. Read more>>

Kenneth Forrester | Filmmaker, Actor, Poet

To me it was how I redefined “success.” Many people in America see success as lots of money, nice cars etc. Those things can be nice at times. But if you cannot gauge your success based on how you are received as an artist first, the other things will not feel earned when they come. What do I mean by that. Well, If you show your film to 10 people and they all love it, quote it or recommend others to you, then you have to view that as just as much a success as you would if you won and award or made money off your project. Art is for the viewer. It is my opinion that if you can make a single person react to your work because they truly felt connected to your work, then you are a “successful” artist. Our company has won 13 awards and been nominated for several more. But I am always much more interested in what the audience felt about the films than the awards themselves. Read more>>

Jovan Patrick | Music Producer & Performer

Patience and taking the time. Lots and lots of patience. I’m still building my brand and there’s so much that I want to do with my own music. Live performances, travels, touring, and making more albums. As much as I’m constantly building as a performer/Producer, I want to jump ahead and get there! However just being patient with your growth is always the key! Read more>>

Lex Marie | Multidisciplinary Artist

Not boxing myself in or allowing others to box me in has been a major factor behind successes in my art career. Often in the art world artists are expecting to pick a lane and stay in it, whether that be the subject matter of their work or the materials they use etc. I made the decision to not let others dictate how I should be creating and always leave room for continuous growth and changes in my art practice as I see fit. Read more>>

Suzanne Peters | Award Winning Speaker & Communication Coach

The most important factor is knowing that my ideal clients are the old version of me. When I began my entrepreneurial journey, I faced countless challenges without any support. It was a daunting task to keep myself afloat. However, this experience made me realize the immense struggle that women entrepreneurs go through. That’s why I decided to build a business dedicated to providing the very support I wished I had back then. Read more>>

Rachel Petsiavas | Actress and Model

Separate from the career of acting I chose to pursue, I began at 46 years old never having done it prior. I feel that what I want to get across to others is that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. No matter how old you are, your life isn’t over and it’s never too late to achieve success. Read more>>

Yo’ Sis | Spoken Word Artist, Visual Artist, Creative and Humanitarian

The word “brand” has always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I have often backed away from that word because it feels so impersonal. That’s why I picked this question. It was the one that challenged me the most. Read more>>