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.

Rick Weber

Risk taking is a necessary evil in life and in business. Risk is both something that you want to avoid or mitigate, but it is also essential to take risks to achieve your goals and ambitions. I find that when making decisions that have risk making pro and con lists and having discussions with those around you for input on the risk tend to allow you to take risk, but do it in a smart way that already has the worst outcomes and the best possible outcomes mapped out before taking the risks. Read More>>

Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha

I’m inspired by a mix of creativity, culture, and storytelling across all mediums. Books have always been a guiding force for me. Lynda Barry’s What It Is shaped my entire visual arts style, and Alice Walker is someone I return to again and again. Lately, I’ve been revisiting The Temple of My Familiar and Hard Times Require Furious Dancing, both of which continue to shape how I think about identity, history, and resilience. I don’t usually reach for art books, but I picked up Carrie Mae Weems’ Kitchen Table Series recently, and flipping through it feels like stepping into a conversation about intimacy, power, and the nuances of everyday Black life. Read More>>

Kira Takei

Put simply, I’m inspired by everything. By friendships, summer heat, morning light, winter air, rain, my dog, heartbreak, my sister’s laugh, etc… I find life in everything, and I always have. Read More>>

Wendy Gavin

At Fat Cat, we want our legacy to be one of warmth, community, and creativity. Our goal is to create a safe, fun, and inviting space where families feel welcome and where teenagers have a wholesome place to gather. We believe in building real relationships with our customers, getting to know them, and becoming a trusted part of the community.  Read More>>

Kelsey Mard

Send the email — Some of my greatest opportunities have come along because of emails I was almost too afraid to send. Do your due diligence, make sure your email is well written and respectful, be afraid, send it anyway. Read More>>

Ward Carson

“Good things come to those who wait” – Wrong! So much of success in life comes down to taking chances. Most people simply will not take a risk in almost anything: approaching someone they are attracted to, trying a new type of food, standing up and making their opinion known and of course the financial and lifestyle risks associated with starting a business. Every self-made successful person I know has a story about taking a chance, often when everyone told them not to do it. Read More>>

Charlie Roberson

Never stop! Whether it’s learning, dreaming, trying new things, meeting new people, making connections, or improving yourself or your product—never stop the pursuit of just creating. Fear of trying something new is what will hold you back the most. Even if that new thing fails, the knowledge you gain through trial and error shapes you in ways success never could. It’s in those moments of uncertainty and discomfort that magic happens! Read More>>

Kamesha Portress

That I need to focus on what value and gifts I bring to the marketplace. Sometimes, we can get so distracted by looking at what others are doing that we become stagnant or afraid to make a move. I’ve learned to lean into my own uniqueness and skillset, and as a result, it has opened other avenues for me to grow in my business. Read More>>

Catena Bergevin

Growing up, I was the youngest of four children. My older brothers were all creative and inspired me at a young age. Each one had a different artistic passion. My oldest brother Gerald loves books and writing, my brother Dennis was a hair and makeup designer and painter, and my youngest brother Paul is a music enthusiast. Together, we put on plays and musical numbers; Dennis was always our costume designer. Read More>>

Andy Braitman

*”Work-life balance has always been a central question in my journey, and my perspective has evolved over time. When I started out in 1974 as a recent graduate, my sole focus was figuring out how to sustain both my basic needs and my passion for painting—a passion rooted in self-discovery. At the time, balance was survival: paying for housing, food, and, of course, paint. Read More>>

Aimee-rose Wilson

Overtime my work life balance has shifted with the growth of my family. I started doing my painting events when I was also just starting out as a full time art educator. Juggling a full time job and a side hustle was really difficult at first, and took me awhile to find my groove. As I got older and my husband and I began growing our little family I decided to leave my full time teaching job to stay at home with our children.  Read More>>