There are so many factors that can play a role in determining our results, performance and ultimately our success, but some factors matter more than others.  We asked folks what they felt was the most important factor driving their success.

Victoria Cartagena | Licensed Esthetician & Lash Artist

I am very personable up front. Sometimes that quality can backfire as a business woman however it is a quality that has served me well with the success of my brand. Building honest relationships and authentic following is key. Having to show up for yourself first and foremost is important but now that you have this platform it’s your obligation in my opinion to use it as your own form of expressing positivity. Read more>>

Karson McGinley | Yoga Teacher, Community Leader, and Founder of the Happiness & Bliss Kula

I believe that the most important factor behind the success of Happiness & Bliss is a focus on the Kula (Community) and anticipating their needs. I am so grateful that I was set up for teaching yoga online before the pandemic hit, because I was able to pivot from offering only pre-recorded content to livestreaming my yoga classes immediately without getting hung up on the technical aspects of offering my services online. Before the pandemic, I had 88 members in my virtual Kula, and as of today, I have grown to over 220. Read more>>

Stephanie Mantiply | Photographer

In order to have a successful brand what I’ve found is that you must be constant, and you need to be true to yourself as an artist and person. I’m not just “taking photos” I’m selling who I am and I’m also “selling” an experience they will enjoy so they can feel comfortable. When that happens, I get authentic photos that they will cherish with happy clients who enjoy the process and the end results. Your brand is so much more than pretty fonts and colors, it’s YOU and what you bring to the table. Read more>>

Sade Burrell | Inspirational Speak, and Author

The most important factor behind the success of my brand has been the ability to remain authentic. As black woman, it has always been a priority to me to remain true to who I am as a person. Remaining true to myself as a person, includes any brands or businesses I attach myself to. People know when your brand isn’t who you truly are and you’ll lose customers, investors and yourself by trying to be something or someone you are not. Read more>>

Adriana Vargas | PMA-NCPT

The most important factor about the success of my career and my brand is my true passion for helping others through Pilates, either clients that need help with their physical fitness or students that want to jump start a career on the Pilates Field. I love guiding and teaching them the way. Read more>>

Tchanavia Lastie | Photographer & Videographer

One of the most important factors behind my success and the success of my brand is just being my authentic self. I am a big geek and a little bit goofy and high energy. I try to convey that from the very first interaction with a client. I add exclamation points and emojis in my emails. When we talk on the phone I try to convey just how excited I am for the client’s upcoming session. When I show up to a photo session, you will likely see me in a geek-themed shirt and full of energy. I will lay on the ground or wade in the water to get my client that amazing shot. Read more>>

Alexis Rawlins | Illustrator and Artist at Tiny Bee Cards

Determination and stubbornness. When you’re creating a new brand and product line, it’s easy to not be seen by algorithms, search results, etc., and it’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see results at first. As soon as I had a few items up in my brand new store, my focus was on how to get seen. I edited and changed out keywords, tried out advertising, tried social media, until anything at all started to work. You learn something each time something works or doesn’t work, and most entrepreneurs have probably been discouraged more than a few times. Not giving up on it was probably the best thing I did for my business. Read more>>

Nathan Serrato | Queer Mindset Coach

The most important factor behind my success is the success of my clients. Queer people in this society are taught to hide, to make themselves small, and to fit into boxes. There’s a shift that happens during the coaching process when they recognize just how capable they are… Sometimes it sounds like a laugh. They realize they’ve been letting the world call the shots for them. Other times it looks like tears. They realize just how harsh they’ve been on themselves. And other times it’s just silence. For a split second, it’s like they’re able to question everything the world has ever taught them and finally have the clarity to move forward in their most queer, authentic way. Read more>>

Cassandra Rico | Hair & Make-up Artist

I would say the most important factor behind my success is building solid, trusting relationships with my clients and co-workers. Read more>>

Tyler Johnson | OL’TJP Films – Top Tier Cinema Quality Media Production

I value my time so incredibly much and because of that, I try my absolute best to not waste anyone else’s time. Since the beginning, I sent a standard and a goal for myself to only put out content that either stops you in your tracks, alters your perspective, and or leaves you feeling a great emotion. Through social media, we’ve seen every inch of the earth and in it’s best form, which leaves me with the challenge to deliver more unique and complex ways to capture, creating wonder, confusion, and joy through my work. Read more>>

Tiana Lee | Lifestyle Blogger & Piano Teacher

One of most influential factors in my success would probably be my perseverance and self-passion. It is something that was embedded in me at a very young age from my parents. Although I was given the necessary tools to succeed, I had to fully utilize all my resources and put in the time and effort if I wanted to be successful in that area. Another thing that I believe is a determining factor is one’s success is inner passion; also known as the flame that forms inside of you to keep going. Read more>>

Sarah Lanza | Executive Director

Integrity is central to every aspect of the work being done at Adoption Center of San Diego. It is so important that I am clear in my language, honest about expectations, and honoring of both birth parents and adoptive couples. Adoption is beautiful and fragile, filled with joy and sorrow. In these most vulnerable moments, it is crucial that the process and the people involved are treated with extreme care. Read more>>

Sarah Considine | Plant-based private Chef and health Coach

I would say the most important factor behind the success of my business is staying true to myself, consistency and being loyal to my clients. I am a very dedicated person and when I believe in something, I show it. I have had most of my clients since the very beginning and we have developed a real life relationship. They know they can trust me and I know they also have my best interest. I love connecting with this community and I feel very much supported. Read more>>

Katie Titi | Transformational Environments Coach and Teacher

The most important factor behind my success has been perseverence. That “no-matter-what-ness”. Read more>>

Zeina Marrush | Intuitive Healer & Empowerment Coach

The most important factor behind my success is saying yes to myself. No one will give you permission if you do not give it to yourself. If you lack confidence, if you doubt yourself, others will feel it and will want to keep you safe by convincing you not to go after what you want. People get behind you when you are behind yourself and your dreams. And if they aren’t right now, they will when they see the success begin to roll in. The reason the success rolled in is because you said yes to yourself and chose to believe in yourself – despite the odds and the circumstances. Read more>>

Jess Riemer | Fiber Artist

I believe the most important factor behind the success of my brand has been authenticity. From the beginning, I felt a deep connection to what I wanted to share through my art: love and kindness through handmade items. I feel my perspective for conveying these attributes comes from a place of genuine belief, that if I pour my entire heart into what I’m creating, my clients will feel that love and in turn, want to share it with others. This might not allow my work to turn over as quickly as other industry leaders. Read more>>

Sara Brown | Event Producer and Consultant

Perseverance is a major factor in the success of my business. Especially now with a pandemic and Covid 19 shutting down the event industry as a whole. Being successful in this industry is requiring a full professional pivot from in person event expertise to full virtual adaptation. It is no longer about being an event producer/planner. You have to be an event producer and a video producer. As an event industry business owner, being able to “pivot” despite the difficulty of getting to the end goal for the client, will be the deciding factor on which businesses stand strong and those that will not. Read more>>

Lady Maximo | Fashion Stylist & Wardrobe Consultant

The most important factor behind the success of my brand is my belief in myself, my talents and my skills as well as my ability to create and recognize potential opportunities. Read more>>

Jennifer Uy | Founder of Empower Public Relations

The most important factor of my success is consistently showing up, whether it be good days, incredible days, frustrating days, down days… all of it! I had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and knowing that great things take time. It’s the same message I tell my clients– PR takes persistence, consistency and hard work. Read more>>

Salma Hernandez | Lash Artist and Body Sculpting & Contouring Specialist

I believe the most important factor for me was my son and my fiancé. Having my own business not only fulfills me completely but it also helps me be available for my family whenever I want to be. Being a business owner can be difficult but I make sure to always remember who I’m doing it for. Being determined and visualizing where I want to get to also helps me keep pushing forward. Hustling, determination, organization, and most importantly commitment are also the key factors to my success. Read more>>

Zaneta Owens | Women Entrepreneur & Designer

The most important factor behind my success is collaboration. Being true to yourself and constantly growing are equally important but my lasting success is from the lasting relationships I am able to build in and across industries. Read more>>