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.

Matthew Nuth | Author and Business Consultant

My perspective on this topic changed significantly once my oldest child entered middle school. He was growing up quickly as were his two younger siblings and I realized how fleeting this time of our lives together truly was. I won’t suggest that I cut my effort or my hours at the office; personal accomplishment is part of me that will never change. Read more>>

Kristen Rud | Owner of MM Women’s Wellness

I recently became a full time caretaker of two teenagers, which has drastically shifted my necessity for work life balance. Prior to stepping into a motherhood role, I was 100% dedicated to my business. As a birth worker, it’s often required to work days on end, overnight, and with little to no notice.  Read more>>

Heather Thelen | Business person, performer and active community member

My Husband, Mom, Dad and I sat down and wrote up what we were most interested in; what we were passionate about. Mom was into gardening, quilting, canning, housewares; Dad was into hardware, equipment, tools, I was most interested in animals both livestock and pets, my husband said he was passionate about comics and donuts. Read more>> 

Armand King | Speaker, Author, & Staff and Youth Development Expert

The journey to where we are today was not easy. I was driven by the heartbreaking cycle of death and incarceration that many at-risk youth face. Having lost many mentees to gun violence and drug overdoses, I felt compelled to embark on a mission to save our youth. Intervention is crucial, and we believe in providing proper mentorship as early as possible to break this cycle. Read more>>

Laine Wiesemann | Artist & Magazine Creator

Ok, can I cheat and name 4 books?! I’ll list in the order of how I read them. The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management- While I read this one about 15 years ago I remember being inspired by making your values and the things in life that are most important to you your priorities in planning your days. At a time when I felt like I knew what I wanted but was lost on how to execute them, this book helped me sort out my time better. Read more>>

Bingo Wathen | Second Generation Winegrower and Winemaker

Nature. Winemaking is all about working with what nature gives you. Sunlight, temperature, rain, wind, fog, soil. All of these elements go into growing grapes and can (and should) impact your final product: the bottle of wine made from those grapes. Read more>>

Marina Anta | Painter

In my view, happiness comes from gratitude. For me, it’s about embracing the present moment and appreciating what I already have in my life. When I focus on gratitude, I find joy in the simple things around me every day. It’s not about constantly chasing after more or better things, but about valuing and cherishing what I have right now. Read more>>

Arianna Towns | Dog Trainer and K9 Handler

Integrity.. Staying authentic to what you say that you are or will do is critically important to me. I am an open book, and I live very authentically. In my work, I let clients know from the get-go that I am human, and therefore imperfect. I give folks the utmost grace and understanding whenever I can, since I know that there are times that I also need to ask for grace. Read more>>

Johanna Rose | Founder, Strategist

One thing about our industry that outsiders are probably unaware of is the profound impact and importance of brands investing in multicultural creators, as well as ensuring these creators are fairly compensated for the value they bring to collaborations. This core principle is the foundation of why I founded 33rd Ave LLC. Read more>>

Fernando Martin-Gullans | Ballet Dancer & Founder

Oh, that’s a tough one! I generally see goals more as signposts than endpoints – they help me determine my direction and get moving, but aren’t necessarily something I have to achieve (the same applies for ideals, but to a greater extent). Read more>>

Denise LaPalm | Founder, L’Beauxtique

I was born in London to hardworking immigrant parents who instilled in me the values of stoicism and practicality. Growing up, I learned the importance of resilience and hard work from a young age. These values gave me the courage to chase the American Dream during the ’90s economic boom. I hit all the milestones—marriage, career success, raising a child—relying heavily on my British “stiff upper lip.” Read more>>