Stories, Lessons & Insights

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.

Amandelyn Taylor | Yoga instructor

I am disabled veteran with PTSD and my journey towards wellness began when I started practicing yoga and meditation several days a week. This significantly improved my overall health and well-being.

Wanting to share these benefits, I completed my 200hour Yoga teacher training certification.

A few months after my certifications, I had a vision to open my own studio to share with others the benefits of Yoga and wellness. Read more>>

Debra Bybee | Hobby Farmer

The idea to start a small farm to teach others about gardening, self-sufficiency skills, farm animals and to make money while doing it came after my diagnosis and recovery from breast cancer. We had always wanted a small farm and decided that life can be cut short and now was the time to live our dream. We bought an acre and a quarter of bare land in Arizona seven years ago in 2017 and began our journey. Read more>>

Tifanny Anton | Professional Organizer

In 2013 while reading Real Simple Magazine I imagined myself organizing friends and families homes, not realizing home organizing was an actual profession. I have always loved organizing and coincidentally a month later a friend told me she was taking a job with home organizing company. I leapt at the chance to join the same company and instantly knew I had found the career I had always longed for. The salary was a bit less than I had hoped for, but I loved going to work everyday, helping others clear the clutter and find peace in their homes. Over the years I honed my skills and made numerous business connections with local home builders and interior designers. When the company I was working with made some changes to their business model, I knew it was time for me to take on clients of my own and start Let’s Organize AZ. Read more>>

Danielle Halbe | Owner Green Acres Farm AZ

We have a property of 5 acres that we are slowly turning into a farmstead/Homestead in Coolidge AZ. The goal was always to be as self sufficient as possible on our own. Meaning we try to grow our own food in our gardens seasonally, we raise and process our own meat and poultry, and of course we cook most of our food from scratch without preservatives. The best part is the Bread! I fell deeply in love with all things sourdough and immersed myself. Read more>>

Xavier Derégel | Web consultant, graphic and photographic designer

My vision of the world is simple: I don’t identify with today’s society. Our world is overrun by violence, corruption, and environmental destruction – consequences of historical decisions that have created situations that are now uncontrollable.
Although I’m fatalistic about my ability to change things, I’ve chosen to focus on the beauty of our universe. Through my art, I seek to capture and share the visual poetry of our environment. As a miracle. Read more>>

Jasmine Parker | RN | FMCHC | Author | Founder

My business idea was born from personal experience and my life’s purpose of helping and healing others. Four years ago, I had a health crisis, and as a medical professional, I had no idea what was happening to me, where it came from, or why. I was on the round-a-bout doctor visits, and no one could help me figure out what was wrong. It wasn’t until I was introduced to Functional Medicine that a provider could identify precisely what was happening, why it was happening, and how to heal so I could feel like myself again. This personal experience changed everything for me! I kept thinking to myself, “Why doesn’t everyone know about this? How is this not the way we practice medicine?” I then jumped into entrepreneurship and spent some time figuring out exactly how I wanted to serve women with Hashimoto’s, like myself. Read more>>

Heather Ferrari | President The Women 360

I am deeply inspired by empowering others, especially women and business owners, to achieve their goals and navigate challenges. My Christian faith is my guiding force, anchoring my pursuits and resilience. I’m drawn to creative and meaningful ventures, whether it’s organizing impactful events like The March to Wellness health fair, or fostering sisterhood and community through The Women 360. I thrive on collaboration, relationships, and making a difference in people’s lives—and serving my sisters at The Women 360. Read more>>

Nathaniel Hawkins Jr | Deejay and Event Coordinator/ Promoter

Punctuality, Consistency and Flexibility. However the core of these three habits is Respect. Respect your time as well as anyone else’s.
Respect yourself shown in the effort you put forth on a consistent basis.
And respect that though you are a part of many moments, you are not the center of them all so be open to any and all changes that may come. Read more>>

Jesse Keenan | FOUNDER/OWNER of Semper Fi Heating and Cooling

The idea behind Semper Fi was inspired by my military background. I served as a Marine from 2001 to 2005, with multiple deployments during that time. The values and lessons I learned in the military, especially the importance of serving others, became the foundation of this business. One of the core principles I carried forward is the commitment to service—something I instill in my employees. As a result, we pride ourselves on providing top-notch customer service. Read more>>

Tai Kathine | Creative Director for ChoZen Arts, MSW, H.Y.R. Accessories

“Let your light shine” is a motto of life I live by. Everything I do, I am mindful about letting the light inside, outshine the darkness, tragedy and hardships that life surrounds us with daily. I believe that the arts has a way of helping people to express their light in ways that words may not always allow. With ChoZen Arts and ChoZen Arts Global (Jamaica Chapter), dance is the vehicle that is used to promote healthy self-esteem, self-confidence and self-care. I also teach others to connect with the spiritual side of themselves. Dance can be used as a prayer, worship, praise and as a way to communicate the innermost feelings of reverence or pain. Behind Closed Doors is the adult version where I teach relaxation and self-care techniques through movement which encourages therapeutic healing of any mental or emotion wounds; especially those created by childhood sexual abuse or trauma. Read more>>

Josh Logan | Co-Founder | Director of Training

I am inspired by helping others. As a retired police officer and veteran of the United States Air Force, I have spent a lifetime of service to this country, my community, and others. Now as Co-Founder | Director of Training, I am blessed to lead a team of industry-leading instructors and consultants in helping our communities in preparedness. Our clients have ranged from John Q. Public, mothers, fathers, grandparents, corporations, churches, business executives, to police officers, SWAT teams, and military personnel from across the world. We have had the amazing opportunity to train people ranging from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and across the United States. Read more>>

Khristena Figgins | Operational Manager

One thing outsiders may not be aware of is how deeply we stand behind our core values in the grooming industry. It’s not just about the grooming itself; it’s about embodying qualities like patience, excellent customer service, and teamwork. We prioritize transparency with our clients, building a sense of community, and most importantly, showing genuine love for animals. We aim to please, operating with integrity and a commitment to high-quality care. As a local business, we take pride in staying connected to our community and always striving to provide the best for both pets and their owners. Read more>>

Dawnielle Edwards | Children’s Author and Educator

A healthy work-life balance is delicate no matter who you are or what you do for work.
Being a full-time educator, mother of two, and now a children’s author has certainly made my own work-life balance a more complicated juggling act.

When I first began my teaching career (17 years ago), I often wondered how my mentor teacher balanced motherhood and her full-time profession. “How do you do it all?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “Not very well!” Read more>>

Alexis Wilson | Volunteer Organizer, Public Speaker, Digital Creator

I think it’s incredibly important to consider what an ideal work-life balance structure would look like when you’re trying to build the life you want. For the average working person, that balance is often filtered through the job they have and their work expectations.

I remember a time when my work-life balance was mostly work. With three jobs, I didn’t have much time or energy for hobbies or a personal life, and I was tired and stressed all the time. Now, I have more balance in my life. I have time for my hobbies and personal pursuits, and while I still may get tired or stressed sometimes, it’s usually manageable when I take time for to care for myself. Read more>>