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.
Andrew Williams
That’s a really profound question. For a long time, I think I was doing what I felt forced to do, or maybe what I thought I should be doing. There were expectations, both from my family and from myself, that didn’t quite align with who I truly am. Read more>>
Jesse Schliebe
At this point in my life, I can honestly say that I am on a path. The path is following Jesus the best I can and know how to. This walk isnt easy but I will say ever since I asked Jesus into my life, life has significantly improved. Read more>>
Ms. Blacq
I am definitely walking a path however I’m also a wanderer. It’s Balance! Read more>>
Jean-Jacques Corbier
I would say, ‘You were right.’ You CAN dream big, you CAN create a world you want to live in. There are obvious practicalities to the real word you become privy to as you get older. However, the world is so messed up due in large part to people thinking it’s impossible to live in a world outside of the status quo. Read more>>
Donte Dodson
Multiple times. Sad to say but I’ve almost quit multiple times. Sometimes when things aren’t going as smooth as you thought, when things seem like they are not working out it’s difficult for me to stay calm & positive. I’m my biggest critic & I put myself under a lot of pressure to become successful so I can take care of my family one day. Read more>>
Erika Lobati
I almost gave up filmmaking my sophomore year of college after experiencing a traumatic health event that shook my life at the time. I was forced to slow down so much that I felt that I had lost the creative and academic abilities I once had. Read more>>
Teela Maxwell
One of the biggest lies in the fitness and wellness industry is that there is a single formula for success. We often see images, programs, and plans that make people believe if they follow a certain diet or routine they will look like someone else. The truth is that everyone is different. Read more>>
Adrian Elmore
Suffering taught me everything success never could. Success shows you what works, but suffering shows you who you really are. When things fall apart, when you lose people, when you’re broke, when your name doesn’t carry weight, yet that’s when you meet the unfiltered version of yourself. The part that doesn’t need applause to keep going. Read more>>
Tristan Gonzales
I hope people remember me as someone who never gave up on his dreams and lived my life to the fullest with everything. And also remember me as someone who was genuine and always had good intentions. Read more>>
Gena Kearn
I hope that when I’m gone people will talk of the moments where crossing paths with me brightened their day or made them feel better. I hope that they will speak of the times they saw the light of Christ in my life, and the ways that the art I created brought that light, hope and peace into their lives and homes. Read more>>
Rachel Guffey
This is a deep one, friends! It’s also something that I’m actively working through as we speak: embracing domesticity and leaning away from being the #bossbabe I once dreamt to be (and quite frankly, I think I achieved it!) I realized that not only can I not do-it-all, I don’t want to. Read more>>
Janna Coglizer
My closest friends would say my faith, my family and my relationships matter most to me. Those are the things that guide everything I do. My faith keeps me centered, my family reminds me what’s truly important and the relationships I build — both personally and professionally — bring so much joy to my life. Read more>>
Dana Satterwhite
There are a few things friends might say matter to me. Those who know me well understand the value of integrity. I mentioned my dad previously and he was a man of utmost integrity. Quiet. Calm. Easy-going. Moral character as deep as could be. I like to think a little of that rubbed off on me. Read more>>
Liney Blu
I’ve always believed in the transformative power of live music. Working both as an artist and in live event production, I’ve seen firsthand how it can touch people’s lives. No matter the size of the crowd, a live performance has the ability to move, inspire, and even change someone. Read more>>
Nia Marie
I would say my best friend Edy! I’ve always been inspired by her work ethic and her attitude towards her work. She is always striving to improve and get better at what she does. Whether that it’s in Journalism or Content Creation. I’ve learned a lot from her and continue to learn and get inspired to this day. Read more>>
Kira Harkins
Hard work is in my blood. My family comes from generations of Midwest farmers. My family always emphasized the importance of working hard and finding a passion, so that work doesn’t feel like work. I am thrilled to be a business owner and get to do what I love in our community. Read more>>
Bethanie Lamb
A curious child who spent time daydreaming in the sunshine. A little girl filled with wonder, creativity, always searching for treasures and the belief that anything was possible Read more>>
Emilie Jackson
Many times, actually, acting quickly can be a virtue. But in some situations, taking time and allowing things to be seen in a different light can make all the difference. Fast forward to about ten years ago — we were looking for a space for our business, and a friend found a location that, on paper, looked ideal. Read more>>
Jan Gephardt
There’s a lot of buzz about ‘disruptive innovation,’ and how such things will transfigure ‘everything as we know it.’ I’ve lived long enough to see (and study in history) several of those leaps. They do disrupt and change sectors of our lives, and they do make lasting changes. But in many cases I think people leap to readily, either to disaster scenarios or utopian assumptions. Read more>>
Michael Young
A dream. A modeling dream to be exact. I inspire to create change within myself and others. My modeling career is one of my biggest passion(s). I know if I stopped now then all my talents and work wouldn’t mean nothing. Plus changing my life and family life. Read more>>
Tonya Tomory
Communication and comprehension will make or break every relationship you have. This is something I drilled into my Communication students’ heads every semester as an instructor, and what I live by in my own life daily. The root of every failed or strained relationship in one’s life stems from miscommunication or lack of communication. Period. Talk to one another. Communicate openly and often. Read more>>
Heather Lopez
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about my business is that social media marketing is just an added expense rather than an investment. My goal isn’t to take tons of money from small businesses—especially in times like these when the economy can feel unpredictable—but to help them grow sustainably through high-quality, authentic marketing. Read more>>
Gina Stockdall
I think the most misunderstood thing about Marilyn Jeanne Designs is that people assume we are a hybrid or traditional publisher. We are not. We are a full-service self-publishing support company that equips authors to bring their books to life on their own terms. We do not take ownership of their work. Read more>>
James Lewis
Spending the day shooting photos, unwinding with my family, and then heading out to work on a film project — a perfect balance of passion and peace Read more>>
Dorothy N Betts
“One foundational truth in my life is something my mother often told me: just do the right thing. Over the years, it became ingrained in me, so much so that when I fail or even when I’m simply weighing my own opinions, those words find their way back into my mental conversation. And now I hear myself saying the very same thing to my children. Read more>>
Leigh Anne Taylor Knight
For a long time, I believed that if you worked hard, did your best, and hit your goals, success would naturally follow. Failure taught me that it’s not always that simple. You can give everything you have and still not achieve goals. That realization has shaped the way I approach my work at The DeBruce Foundation. Read more>>
Dayonne Richardson
There was this one moment that I will always carry with me. It was at a school event, after a book reading. A little girl came up to me, kinda shy, and said, “Thank you for writing a story that looks like me.” She hugged me tightly. In that moment, I felt more loved than I ever had from an audience or applause. Read more>>
