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.

Dani Gelley

Parenting is challenging, and no matter how much we strive for perfection, there will always be bumps along the road. One thing I’ve done that I hope will positively impact my kids’ lives is focusing on my own growth. We all bring some baggage into every relationship, especially the parent-child dynamic. Personally, I’ve had to do a lot of rebuilding and rewiring to become someone I’m proud of. For me, this means prioritizing self-care—through exercise, healthy eating, maintaining good habits, and plenty of therapy. By taking care of myself, I can be the best parent possible. Read more>>

Joseph Miranda

I feel that taking risks is necessary to get anywhere you want to be. Diving into something and putting all your focus on it tends to find a way to work out. I think people should trust in their ability to figure things out as things come up more. You’ll see that there isn’t much you can’t do or learn how to do, or even get help from someone who knows. If you keep momentum you will see it come to fruition. Read more>>

Michael Jacques | Author, Coach, Actor and Musician.

To stop asking for permission. “The power of NO”, as I’ve often taught is the key to success. Saying “No” removes the fear and obligation to barriers in one’s path. As an Actor, Coach and published Author, setting boundaries of what one will and won’t do is essential. I’d also stress that helping others is the solution to living a productive life. Read more>>

David A. Vargas | Producer, Director and Writer

I once heard someone say that if you never ask a person for their help their answer will 100% of the time be “no” – obviously because you never even approached them. If you do ask for that favor you’ve just increased your odds of getting a “yes” by 50%. This is how I’ve viewed risk-taking in my life. Deciding not to try something new will always result in not creating positive change. On the other hand, the new and exciting things that have occurred in my life have always come after finding the bravery to walk directly into the unknown. Read more>>

Kelly K Stalnaker | Dancer & Choreographer | Coach | HUMAN

This is such a beautiful question. The first that comes to my heart is, authenticity. Authenticity is our lifeblood. And it doesn’t care about outcome. It isn’t attached to the result. It’s stripped. It IS. And it frees us from bondage. THAT is the value or principle that matters to me most. In myself and in others. Because words are so important to me, I tend to research the original definitions of them to get a sense of what they Actually mean. Read more>>

Michelle F. Solomon | Arts Writer & Editor

I grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., three hours from New York City and two hours from Philadelphia. I was a child performer and started singing professionally at the age of about 5. My mother was a teacher but had a passion for theater, so she would wake me up at 5 a.m. and we would hop on a bus to see show after show on Broadway. I studied theater and believed I would be a Broadway actress or work in television when I grew up. I went to Emerson College in Boston to study theater. When I went to New York City the summer of my junior year before becoming a senior in college, I auditioned for Broadway shows and worked as a waitress.  Read more>>

Yashi Gondwal | Pilot in training and model

I pursued an artistic and creative career because it has always been my way of expressing myself and connecting with the world. From a young age, I was drawn to the arts, whether it was through fashion design, dancing, or modeling. Each of these outlets allowed me to communicate emotions, tell stories, and explore different aspects of my identity. Read more>>

Lynette Barbieri | Financial Expert $ Senior Director of Sales + Business Development for BELLA Media + Co

I obviously have more personal time now that my kids are grown so it is a little easier to keep my life somewhat balanced, but there is never complete balance. I just learned to integrate all things into my life and make it all work together. Read more>>