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.

Ken Ingold | Pastor

My wife, Pam, and I have used Excel spreadsheets to track our budget since 1994. It is very interesting to look back, 30 years ago, at our income and expenses, and wonder how we ever made it. But we did! Every December we sit down and go over our expenses for that year and anticipated income and expenses for the upcoming year and establish our new budget. Because we each work and are responsible for separate budget items, we actually keep separate budgets and track them individually. Pam is a bit more precise in that she enters her income and every expense to the penny. Read more>>

Lisa Townsend | Intimacy Director, Performance Maker, Movement Teacher / Therapist, Theater Director, Choreographer, Performer

If I am curious, learning, weaving ideas together, making connections, sparking joy and uplifting creativity and confidence in others, if I’m being challenged to get out of my comfort zone – I keep going! If I am met with resistance and struggling to find a common language, I don’t give up – instead, I surrender to the moment and open myself up to new perspectives and possibilities. I have always loved these two Beckett quotes: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” & “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order!” Read more>>

Shir Shelef | Content Creator & Entrepreneur and Coach

Taking calculated risks is essential to my well being. When I was younger, my parents would always say to me “Try it, whats the worst that happens?” or “If you never try, or you dont ask, you will never know” For me, I knew all my life that if I did not risk something, there would for sure be no reward. So how I think about risk now, at 23 years old, is simple; If I do not try, I will never know. If I do not ask, the answer will always be no. What is risky for someone else, may not be risky for you. Understanding the difference between taking calculated risk, rather than emotional risks, allows for you to actually think of all the possible scenarios that can occur. Read more>>

Emilio Linares | Owner and Operator of SD Light Guys

As a holiday and event lighting business owner, I view risk as an integral part of growth and success. Taking risks has been crucial in my career, allowing me to seize opportunities that set my business apart. Whether investing in new method or technologies, expanding services, or entering new markets, each calculated risk has brought valuable lessons and rewards. Embracing risk has enabled innovation, client satisfaction, and business expansion, ultimately driving my success in a competitive industry. Read more>>

Michael Thomas DeLano | Film Director and Writer

Quentin Tarantino’s book, Cinema Speculation. If you are interested in the history of film. This is a must read. It is a rare treat to hear one of the master directors of our time give his thoughts on a pivotal time in the film history. The end of the 1950s through the 1970s was a tumultuous and fascinating time for films and of course he gives it a flair and perspective that only he can give. The parallels between that time and now are startling and give a pretty solid clue to where the industry can and should go in the near future. Read more>>

Vicki Carson | Business owner

Staying in top of all the things that need to get done. Read more>>

Dawn Myers | Leadership Coach | Community Builder Human Resources | Speaker Trainer Mental Health Advocate

Early in my Human Resources career I was told that I needed to treat all employees the same and I call bull-you-know-what! Effective leaders treat employees differently. In speaking to various leaders on this topic I use various analogies to demonstrate what I mean: I am a mom to two boys who are vastly different – one is very structured, while the other is more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants personality. One is a quiet rule follower, and the other is outspoken and lives in the grey. Neither one is better than the other, they are just different and need to be treated as such. One needs structure while the other needs freedom to be at their best. Read more>>

Matt Stewart | Professional Biohacker, Athlete, Holistic Nutrition & Health Coach

I’ve been fortunate to call many places home – SoCal, NorCal, Texas, Utah, Indiana and Arizona! For me personally, moving around at an early age in life allowed me to experience constant change, to have unique experiences, to see the world through different lenses – for better or worse, and in turn learning how one must adapt to their surroundings to survive and thrive. I’ve always taken risks – both personal and professional. I’ve failed and I’ve succeeded. I am an athlete, former hotel executive & entrepreneur. Read more>>

Trishika Tabuena | Business Owner, Baker & Cupcake Designer

I was born in the Philippines and moved to California when I was 15 years old. I went on to finish high school then joined the US Navy in 2010. I have been lucky to be stationed in San Diego my entire 10 years of service and I consider San Diego home. I came from a modest family, each member working hard to find better opportunities for our family’s future. I joined the US Navy to take advantage of the educational benefit but little did I know, the endless opportunities that came my way helped mold who I am today. Read more>>