

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.
Candice McField

Recently, I took a trip to Roatan, Honduras. We kicked it off with service at the medical clinic and it was such a joy!! We donated the 200 Spanish copies of Jesse Vaccinates. They also gave us a tour and I then stayed to help the pharmacist sort pills to fill prescriptions. The experience was super cool and heart-warming. Read more>>
Esmeralda Lole

I would tell my younger self that she is beautiful and perfect the way she is. I was told at an early age by an adults around me that I wasn’t as pretty as my sister, that I needed to stop eating so much, and that I was weird. All those unkind words made me view myself in a harsh way. Read more>>
Angelica Ahumada DeJesus

I would go back and tell myself that I grew up to be the person I always wanted to be. I am what I thought I never could be. Read more>>
Karyn Morrow

I mean, what day is it? My gosh, I have moments of giving up on a weekly basis, but it’s not who I am as a person. Quitting isn’t in my DNA. In my humble opinion, one of the greatest skills you can develop is the ability to figure it out. If you run a company, there’s always a workaround you have to figure out. Read more>>
Amancio Gomez

Yes, there was a time I almost gave up. The first few years after opening the restaurant were the hardest—sales were low, and no matter how many different tactics we tried to bring customers in, nothing seemed to work. It felt like we just couldn’t crack the recipe for success. Read more>>
Dametri Jackson

One of the biggest lies the industry tells itself is that you have to “go viral” to matter. People act as if your video doesn’t hit a million views, you failed when really, the goal should be connection, not clout. I’ve learned that one genuine laugh or message from someone who says, “Man, that made my day,” means more than ten thousand empty likes. Read more>>
Michelle Worley

What I’m most proud of building – though it’s largely unseen by the public – is Launch, the internal training and development program at Great Oaks Therapy Center. While our clients experience the care and expertise of our therapists, what they don’t see is the depth of intentionality behind that work. Read more>>
Valencia Beagle

The greatest thing I’ve built though no one may see it is myself. I went through two back-to-back challenges that weren’t easy, but they made me stronger and helped me grow in ways I didn’t even know I needed. They taught me to focus on my girls and myself, and to always lean on God, not people. Read more>>
Destiny Ladron

Suffering has taught me to be resilient. It has taught me how to make something out of nothing. It taught me the value of a dollar. It taught me that no matter how down bad I am, I can get back up and be better. Read more>>
Phax 100

As a child, I believed I wasn’t good enough for this world and often thought I wasn’t smart because of the way I was made to feel, especially by my mother. Over time, I grew out of that belief. Through life experience, self-reflection, and resilience, I’ve come to understand my worth, my intelligence, and the value I bring. Read more>>
Felicity Hendricks

Well the first 90 minutes of my day consists of waking up, doing some stretching, brush my teeth and head to the kitchen. I will usually make a heavy metal detox smoothie for breakfast or if I’m really hungry I will scramble some quick eggs if I don’t already have some boiled. Read more>>
Crystal Turner

The first 90 minutes of my day consist of reading my devotional, prayer , the gym and coffee. Read more>>
Nick Gittemeier

The importance of discipline and working towards something everyday even if you take a tiny step everyday as long as you are moving towards your goal that’s what matters. Read more>>
Petra Tupy

Something I’ve come to understand deeply is that a mom’s well-being and mental health are just as important—if not more important—than the number of ounces pumped or how breastfeeding is going. At the end of the day, your baby needs love, connection, and a healthy parent far more than they need a perfect feeding record. Read more>>
Audra Ashlee

Like so many others, the fear of failure and what others think of me held me back so much in my early life. I was so concerned with how I’d be perceived, that I allowed many opportunities to pass me by. Experience gives us so much perspective but I wish I could go back and give my younger self the confidence I have now. Read more>>
Whitney Pearce

My closest friends would say that nothing matters more to me than the happiness of my family: my three children, my partner, my friends and myself. For me, that happiness depends on balance: working hard, pursuing dreams and goals, and guiding my children as they grow so they feel empowered to follow their own paths. Read more>>
Christine Faltynowski

When we moved to rural Belton and obtained land, we decided to skip mowing. What happened was an entire world blossomed on our property. We found medicinal flowers, weeds that fed all pollinators, every bug you can imagine, numerous different birds and native flowers essential to our environment. We had so many monarch caterpillars this year, it was truly amazing! Read more>>
Hillary Youngblood

Definitely integrity! Intelligence comes down to the genes you inherit from your parents so you don’t have much control over that, ignorance is a different story. Energy is something that comes and goes during life, sometimes you have a lot to give and other times you don’t. Read more>>
Tonya Round

Integrity – everyday of the week and twice on Sunday! Intelligence can be obtained with work and perseverance. The ability to be open and learn new things, opinions and change are extremely important in my role as an owner of a catering company. Energy seems to rise when it is needed for me. Read more>>
Zakkiyya Jahaan

I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power when I realized that my struggles weren’t weaknesses, but were lessons. For a long time, I tried to appear like I had it all together, especially as a new mother and entrepreneur. But it was exhausting, and it felt like I was dimming my own light. Read more>>
Rich Berry

I feel most at peace at the end of a 3-4 hour gig, or when a piece of my art finds its home. Touching people with my creativity is everything to me. Read more>>
Patricia Powell

I would have to say my husband is the person who saw me before I could see myself! Because he has always encouraged me, to do what I need to do me personally and my business!! He has never left my side or have do it on my own! Read more>>
Ashley Kukay

I think I’d stop trying to control everything. So much of my life has been about planning, managing, and keeping things together — both at home and in business. If I only had ten years left, I’d want to step out of my head and just fully live, leaning into the things that truly bring me joy. I wouldn’t waste energy on fear or doubt. Read more>>
Candy Masuch

If we retired tomorrow our clients would probably miss our heart and hustle. We treat every deal like it’s our own home on the line and we never stop fighting for what’s best for them. Whether it’s calming nerves, finding creative solutions or going the extra mile to make sure everything feels right we pour ourselves into every step. Read more>>
Autumn Green

I once read that as a writer, the characters you create have full control of the story; you’re simply the narrator giving life to people who were never born into the real world. I still believe that to this day, even without tangible proof. Read more>>
John Murry

It’s ok to just cut people out of your life. Read more>>
Brittany Kelly

The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is definitely the one I have with my daughter. It’s been an incredibly rewarding and eye-opening experience! She inspires me daily, keeping me grounded and reminding me of what truly matters. Her unconditional love and encouragement have been my guiding light on the journey to becoming an author and navigating life’s challenges. Read more>>
Brittany Thompson

Truth, without question. Especially in how we communicate. We live in a culture where advertising, media, and even politics often bend the truth for profit or power. I see honesty and transparency as cultural values worth protecting, because without them, people are left vulnerable to manipulation. For me, protecting truth in communication is about protecting people. Read more>>
Popular
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Local Highlighter Series
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Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
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Who taught you the most about work?
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What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
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What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
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What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?