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.

Nic Crainshaw

I think success can be defined many different ways. The way it looks or feels can really vary from person to person. For me personally, success is when you have the freedom to do something you have a passion for that allows you to provide for yourself and your family. Read More>> 

Sylwia Thornton

I’m an immigrant and come from generations of entrepreneurs that endured true hardships and managed to create successful and prosperous businesses post WW2 and before. I came to the US at 14 barely speaking English. Straight into high school after my parents won a visa lottery. Toughest four years of my life but they taught me major resilience and persistence. At 27 I decided to leave Denver, CO and head to Wall Street to pursue a career I never truly imagined I’d be able to have. Read More>>

Eve Turek

That you have to be competitive in order to win, that you have to “beat your competition.” That competition model of business doesn’t work for me at all. I prefer to be collaborative rather than competitive. Our brand identity is as a fine American craft and local/regional art and photography gallery. Read More>>

Scott Kulikowski

I realized making art is what I enjoyed doing the most. I chose tattooing specifically because then I not only get to make art basically everyday, but I get to meet all kinds of people and be able to bring their ideas to life. Often times those ideas are subjects I wouldn’t be thinking to draw in my own free time, so I really love the ability to learn about and draw those new ideas for my clients instead of doing the same thing every day. Read More>>

Rev. Whittney-Marie

Over time, my understanding of work-life balance has completely shifted. In the beginning, I was caught in the cycle of being booked, busy, and broke—doing 5-7 weddings a month at rates well below the average for officiants in my area. I was constantly working but not seeing the financial return that matched my energy and expertise. Read More>>

Holly O’Connor

Authenticity. My radio cohost and I have always committed to being who we are and conveying that on the air. Read More>>

Molly Wilcox

From the start, our mission for Cup & Saucer has been simple: to serve extraordinary things in our cups and on our saucers, the best way that we know how. We believe that simple food and drink made well can be the most wonderful thing. It sparks creativity, community and is the simplest way you can show someone that you care. Read More>>

Abrea Waddell

What made me pursue a career in freelance sports photography is because it was a challenge to me. Being a black woman, me personally it isn’t common to see people that look like me in those spaces. I took a chance on myself and poured what I already knew about photography and what I learned from the people around me and made a small name for myself. For me, storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to connect with people, and creativity has always been the way I express myself. Whether it’s through photography, social media, or content creation, I love capturing moments and emotions that tell a story. Read More>>