24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. Junior investment bankers regularly work 80-90 hours a week. Many other high profile professions require the same level of commitment. Often those on the outside claim that working 80-90 hours a week is bad/wrong/terrible/silly/etc but we’ve spoken with so many folks who say working that much has been the best decision of their life – it allowed them to develop a deep and strong skill set far faster than would have been possible otherwise. In other words, by working 2x the hours, they were able to generate 5x or more the rewards. And depending on where you are in your career, investing heavily in your skills and competence can pay dividends for a long time.

Priscilla Molina | Licensed Esthetician, PMU Artist, Educator

Trust has definitely been the driving factor behind my and my brands success. Being trusted with thousands of faces and bodies really gives perspective to serving others. Also, the trust that each person gives me when deciding to take my course instead of another is truly something- after all they are entrusting me with their new career, their life, their livelihood. Read more>>

Adam Smith | Veteran Business Owner

The most important factor behind our success is to communicate with the customer and avoid saying no, while also understanding our limitations. In the beginning we took on many projects, that although stretched us thin, helped us grow. This got the word out that we were accommodating to our customers. Also, delivering to our customers was a huge value we provided that others weren’t doing. We also bucked market trends in some ways and price our products at a fair affordability rather than “market” rate. Read more>>

Melissa Moran | Destination Wedding Photographer & Videographer

Oh man, 1000% God! I would absolutely not be where I am today, and my business would not be as successful as it is without God and His grace and provision! The Lord has opened up so many opportunities out of seemingly nothing- time and time again in my life and in my business. Several years ago, I realized that my business is not really my own – that I needed to release my business over to God and allow Him to do with it what He wants! To be honest, I hardly market myself at all, and yet I have had a fully booked out year in my first year going full time! I know that wouldn’t be possible without God. It’s as simple as that. I owe it all to Him. Read more>>

Matthew Patrei | Music Teacher and Music Maker

So here’s what I think: Similar to painting, sculpture, or any kind of design, making music is a form of art practice. There are all kinds of challenges with figuring out a creative process that works for you, finding rituals to help stimulate your creative energies, and carving out the insane amount of time it takes to create the flavors of sound that express what you hope to express. So I think there are many factors for success depending on a person’s desires and hopes for their art practice. For me, I think the most important factors are the personal love and confidence that you have in the specific activities of your art. I love the tools and the process of making the music with the tools that I have. Read more>>