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.

Alvin Lesoli | Fine artist, Art curator & Engagement specialist

About being in artist, most people think it’s all just about producing paintings or drawings or the likes, but more that 70% of it is being able to write well, articulate yourself better and being knowledgeable in multiple areas of social, cultural, and political issues. Even if your work as an artist comes comes from internal inspiration, you really do not have the luxury of being ignorant. Read more>>

Jesus Lopez | Create Director

“I believe the hardest thing I had to let go of” is the idea that I’ll be happy and rich working a 9/5 and following the rules/ norms that every US Citizen must do to have that “American Dream“ life. I understood that chasing a creative career was a death sentence to my life, given that I lived in the lower income areas, and I’m Latino and the only boy in my family with two older sisters. It wasn’t looking too hot for me, but I had to follow a path and fast. Read more>>

Destiny Brennan | Registered Nurse, Registered Dietitian, Gestalt Counselor & Reiki Master

Over the past decade, my understanding of and approach to work-life balance has significantly evolved. A decade ago, I was working 12-hour overnight shifts as an ICU nurse, which represented the peak of imbalance in my career. It was during this time that I felt an intuitive pull towards reiki energy healing. I pursued this calling and became a master in three reiki traditions, forever transforming both my personal and professional lives. Read more>>

Marcial J. Paredes | Entrepreneur

Achieving a healthy work-life balance has always been a bit of a juggling act, but lately, I’ve been getting better at it. With more control over my time, I’m finding it easier to carve out moments for myself amidst the chaos of entrepreneurship. Of course, it’s still a work in progress—being my own boss means the demands can be relentless, and it’s all too easy to let work take over. But I’m learning to set boundaries and prioritize self-care, making sure I have time to enjoy life outside of work. and most importantly. Read more>>

Taylor Haines | Foodie

I have a food page where I promote restaurants and small businesses. I believe my kindness, creativity and ability to understand others sets me apart from others. Growing the page was not easy, and I am still overcoming challenges such as not being able to grow my following as it’s been stagnant at 8.5K for about a year now. With the algorithm shifting I am hoping that will change. I would love for everyone to know I am always here to help and love chatting with new people and businesses. Read more>>

Emma Mati | Young Entrepreneur & Buisness Owner

My motto in life is “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”. For the majority of my life, I would always complain about things that I was dissatisfied or unhappy with. “I hate my job… I hate my body… I wish I made more money… I wish I had more free time.” I constantly lived in a state of disapproval & will admit that I had a “victim” mentality. Read more>>

By the Apollo

It’s about nailing our sound, owning the stage, and getting the crowd pumped. It’s about writing tunes that resonate, making people groove, and leaving them craving our next gig. It’s when we wrap up a show knowing we killed it and left our mark on the scene. Read more>>

Jão Fadário | Psychoterapist, Novelist, Producer

Hello! Thank you for the opportunity to share more about my work and passions. As for what inspires me, I find inspiration in a multitude of sources: Human Resilience and Growth: One of the most inspiring aspects of my work as a psychotherapist is witnessing the resilience and growth of my clients. Seeing individuals overcome adversity, confront their fears, and emerge stronger and more empowered motivates me to continue supporting and advocating for their well-being. Read more>>

Noah Laidlaw | Bassist & venue manager

This particular question is something I think about frequently. Personally what I’d love is to be remembered for being someone that helped others , and someone who treated others with kindness and gave absolutely everyone a chance , a little selfishly I also hope that when the time comes I’ve at-least inspired a few to play bass or possibly push themselves to be the best they possibly can! Read more>>