We asked the community what factors they felt were responsible for their success and we’ve highlighted some of those responses below.

Michael Elsner | Guitarist/Composer/Producer

The most important factor behind my success is that I focus entirely on the value I can provide to my clients. Whether that’s as a guitarist playing on TV Shows and Films for the composers who hire me, serving the needs of the production companies, ad agencies or trailer houses for the tv shows, commercials and film trailers that I write music for, or the independent musicians who come to me looking to learn how to get their songs into TV and film. Every individual I work with on a professional level, is serving the needs and requests of their own client, so ego must be removed entirely from the creative process, and it must be replaced with a value-oriented mindset. When I first began my career in the music industry, I was an assistant to a number of engineers and producers. I saw first-hand how malleable they were to the wishes of the artists they worked with. Their role was to bring the artist’s vision to life… I then saw how many of the composers I ended up playing guitar for would change direction, or re-write the music under various scenes, without putting up a fight. Meanwhile, it was the amateur musicians who wouldn’t budge when a suggestion to change a song was made. They let their ego get in the way of advancing their career. Once I realized that dramatic difference between the professionals and the amateurs, adopting a value-oriented approach, and focusing on serving my clients, was a very easy decision. Read more>>

Lily Thrope | Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

The most important factor behind my success is my relationships with others in my field. Through my own openness, authenticity, and dedication to consistent networking, I have been able to forge deep personal and business relationships with my peers. These connections with like-minded therapists, dietitians, doctors, psychiatrists, etc. are important for trusted referrals. When they refer clients to my practice they know that I will be answering the call or email and giving each client my attention. Putting a strong focus on my fellow providers in addition to my clients lets me share my authentic passion for mental health and professional expertise due to my own personal experience. Read more>>

Everton Gordon | Chef/ Restaurant owner

The most important factor to my success would be the ability to grow it organically. Organically, meaning limited money or support. Growing a brand organically allowed me to cultivate my ideas from things I already know or was taught to me during my upbringing. I never knew all the qualities for running a business lied dormant inside of me, placed there from the shared up bringing from my parents, grandparents, and cultural environment. Read more>>