We asked the community what factors they felt were responsible for their success and we’ve highlighted some of those responses below.

Kimberley Pugh

The most important factors behind both my personal success and the success of my brand is the power of community, compassion, higher education, and humanity. As someone who had to start life over with very little, I would not be where I am today without building relationships with like-minded individuals who understood my journey and supported me along the way. Read more>>

Jem Puriti

The most important factors behind my success and the success of my brand are communication and creativity. Strong communication allows me to build meaningful relationships, understand the needs of others, and bring ideas to life effectively. Creativity helps me think outside the box, solve problems in unique ways, and create experiences that stand out. Read more>>

Savannah Prewitt

The most important factor behind the success of Small Town Salon has been creating a place where people feel genuinely seen, comfortable, and cared for — not just another salon appointment. In a small town, relationships matter more than anything. Clients come for the hair, but they stay because of the atmosphere, trust, consistency, and connection. Read more>>

Jack Mullikin

I think the most important factor, and biggest factor, in my success for my business is 100% my reliance on Jesus, and also my unique creative perspective for how I get certain shots or approach shoots that maybe aren’t fully ideal or perfectly aligned, as you could say. Read more>>

Curtis Henderson

Honestly, I got tired of building other people’s dreams while putting mine on hold. I wanted freedom, ownership, and the ability to create something that actually reflected my vision, values, and work ethic. I’ve always believed if I was willing to put this much energy into helping others win, I could build something meaningful for myself too. Read more>>

Edvique shaver

Looking back, I think the growth of my work has come from a combination of authenticity, curiosity, and a willingness to keep evolving. While I’ve trained in a variety of approaches over the years, the thread that connects everything I do today is helping people create greater safety in their bodies so healing can happen from the inside out. Read more>>

Dominique Jones

Authenticity. As the owner of a mental health practice, I believe that the Black/queer community that I serve gravitates towards the person, rather than the academic accolades or accomplishments that look good on paper. In the age of technology, social media, and the notorious AI like, ChatGPT and Gemini, people want to connect with someone real. Read more>>