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.

Tyler Skinner | Founder/Speaker for impact/ Community Builder

Learning to trust myself more. My ideas, my creativity, my inner wisdom. When we take all we’ve experienced and worked on and transform it into something we can stand behind and stand for, that’s the most important thing we can have as entrepreneurs…to make an impact by following our intuition and not listening to too many outside influences. Read more>>

Ashanti Miranda | Therapist, Consultant & Life Coach

I envision my legacy as a reflection of the diverse roles I’ve embraced and the lives I’ve impacted. As the founder of “Uncommon Coaching,” I’ve dedicated myself to guiding individuals towards realizing their full potential and leading more fulfilling lives. My non-profit organization, “Veterans of Hope,” stands as a testament to my commitment to supporting those struggling with mental health, drawing on my own experiences post-military service. My four years in the USN endowed me with invaluable leadership skills, an appreciation for diversity, and the ability to manage crises effectively—skills that have been instrumental in my work as a clinical social worker and therapist. My academic pursuits, from Point Loma Nazarene to a graduate degree in social work from USC, have not only fueled my personal growth but also enabled me to share my knowledge and inspire others. I want to be remembered as someone who, through perseverance and a deep sense of community, has helped hundreds chart a course to a more hopeful and empowered future. Read more>>

Mitch Dembin | Singer/songwriter and retired federal judge.

I follow the guidance of Satchel Paige: “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.” For me, that has encouraged me to always move forward, not to dwell on the past and not be satisfied with the status quo. More deeply, it means that I am motivated more by fear of failure than the allure of success. It also supports my belief that you never know where the next opportunity will come from so that one always should be to open to conversations and to peek inside doors. Read more>>

osmar Martinez | Quinceanera Designer

I think that any person that is an entrepreneur is a risk taker. the uncertainty of opening a business and not having a steady income is a high risk. When I decided to quit my job to pursue what i love to do, it took me through a huge mental struggle. The fear of not being able to support myself was very much present, but the fear of failing was greater. it was that fear that made failing not be an option and it allowed me to take the risk. Taking risk is the only way to grow, it is recognizing the fear and to fully trust yourself. Read more>>

Danielle Birks | Creator of Lioness Pole Den

Taking risks is so important to the process of an entrepreneur. It empowers us to trust our intuition and express our creativity. Lioness Pole Den would never have opened had it not been for taking a risk. Read more>>

Dante Plush | Youth Engagement Specialist & Youth Advocate

I don’t even think it’s my industry that this is exclusive to, but I think that people are probably unaware of the fact that the majority of mid-level managers and up and in most employment sectors have actually no idea what they are doing, like at all. I also gather that most of these people are aware that they don’t know what they’re doing but really embrace the “fake it till you make it” mindset and invest more energy and resources into making it look like they know what they’re doing instead of just getting proficient at the work that they’re supposed to be experts in. Of course, only fools deal in absolutes and there definitely are many passionate experts sharing knowledge and skills in their workplaces, but I’ve personally come across more of the former than the latter, and through conversation after conversation, I’ve heard people come to strikingly similar conclusions. Read more>>