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.

Allison Kierman

Consistency. I feel being consistent is the most important key to success for business owners. You have to show up – mentally, physically, and emotionally – every day. Even when you do not want to. You have to market, reach out, solicit, and communicate daily to ensure your client base. You have to meet deadlines and fulfill your promises, to every client, every day. You have to be nice and friendly and funny to everyone; even when you’re experiencing a hardship. You have to make a connection with someone new every day, even when it seems like you have nothing in common. Read more>>

Holly Robertson | Owner, Kinkan Gifts

The Japanese concept of “ikegai” has helped guide me in my decision to start my own business. Ikegai roughly translates to “the thing that gives you purpose or a reason for living”. Your ikegai should consist of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can make money doing. I had first learned of the concept several years ago, while I was still working in a career I hated that I mainly chose because of that last concept: making money. Learning about ikegai made me feel uneasy, because I realized that I didn’t have a thing that gave my life a purpose. It was the concept that ultimately led me to choose to drastically change my career and start Kinkan Gifts, doing something that I loved and helping build my local community. Read more>>

Dillon McClelland | Co-Founder & Creative Director | Goldwater Brewing Co.

The idea for Goldwater Brewing Co. came from our family’s deep love for brewing. My brother Chad McClelland and I grew up surrounded by the process, thanks to our dad, Greg McClelland, who has been an avid homebrewer since 1986. We spent countless weekends in the garage with him, learning the ropes and developing a real passion for craft beer as a family hobby. Read more>>

Chris Reed | Online Custom Fitness Plans

I started DB3 Fitness as a way to help the people who feel stuck in their routine and need guidance to get their fitness journey back on track. I’ve been in the fitness world for 12 years now and have noticed that people tend to start hot with a new fitness plan and fizzle out, or are doing things that are not built for their body type and they end up getting hurt. Both of these outcomes end up pushing people away from a fit lifestyle so DB3 was created to help show people how to fit the correct fitness path into their life, instead of trying to force somebody else’s way on them. I combine my backgrounds in athletic training and performance to blend rehab principles into strength training to provide a unique fitness plan that attacks weaknesses and bolsters strengths. All of this is provided via app with video instruction by me, so our clients have a personal trainer in their pocket at all times providing a flexible environment to succeed in. Read more>>

Christopher Buzis | Drone Pilot & Content Editor

Something I found to be surprising is that the hummingbirds will try to intimidate my drone. It’s cute but I wish I could explain to them there’s no chance of us taking over their territory. Read more>>