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.

Joshua Ortega

This business was created by our friend group known as, ‘ The Mijo’s’. We saw an opportunity to bridge gaps, particularly in football, where Hispanic/Latino representation is limited despite the immense passion and support from our communities.

With one of the founders of ‘Mijo Things’ — being NFL offensive lineman Will Hernandez, we decided to use our brand as a platform to uplift others, give back, and show future generations that they can achieve great things while staying true to their roots. Read More>>

Mary Ann LaRoche

As the sibling of someone with autism, it was always on my heart to try and come up with something that would help my brother Paul find his voice and a path through the difficult ability to connect with others. It wasn’t that he couldn’t communicate, but that his style of communication left a disconnect with him and those he encountered. People can be cruel or disengaged when they don’t know the tools to interact with someone who is different, and it left a hole in my heart to watch Paul be enthusiastic to want to participate, while not having it reciprocated by others. Read More>>

Charmy Brahmbhatt

Success, to me, is the ability to break free from limiting beliefs and step fully into my own power. It’s not measured by titles, accolades, or external validation, but by the confidence to express myself authentically and the impact I create along the way.

For a long time, I believed I wasn’t good enough—that I was always an option but never the chosen one. That belief shaped my subconscious and held me back in ways I didn’t even realize. But true success isn’t about being chosen by others; it’s about choosing yourself, rewriting your own narrative, and proving to yourself that you are capable, worthy, and unstoppable. Read More>>

Elora Calhoun

I’ve asked myself this question more times than I can count. Life has a way of throwing challenges, heartbreak, and disappointment at us—but it’s also full of promise, encouragement, and growth.

When I feel the weight of it all and find myself wondering whether to keep going or give up, I try to remember why I started in the first place.

For me, photography has always been about holding onto memories—especially when they’re all you have left of the people you love. Photos aren’t just pictures; they’re stories that play on a loop in your mind. I’ve lost people unexpectedly—my stepsister, my grandpa, my aunt, my grandma—and those photos are how I keep their stories alive. Read More>>

Tajia Junior

Starting a business has had a significant impact on my children’s lives. It has helped break generational cycles and foster a sense of ownership and integrity in them. From the outset, my children have been actively involved in our business, participating in various roles from cashiering to assisting with preparation work and attending events to accept awards. This experience has also made them more health-conscious; they recognize the importance of health and how a business can positively affect the community. Read More>>

Gabe Schillman

Happiness is not necessarily something I seek. My goal is to work towards making others happy and taken care of. When everyone around me is happy, I’ll be happy, but only then. Until then, I’m content to keep working, happy, sad, or otherwise. Read More>>

Josh “Crisco Kidd”

Conventional advice that I’ve always disagreed with is the idea of “staying in your lane” or that anyone should just “play it safe and find a career in the corporate world.” Simply put, this advice is just too limiting for the God-given potential we ALL possess.
While following a traditional career route—climbing the corporate ladder, earning a stable paycheck, and sticking to predictable roles–does lead to stability, long-term success and happiness for some, I knew it wasn’t for me. From an early age, I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be; it was just a matter of how and when. Read More>>

Bryan Pierce

The most important lesson that I have learned working in the museum field is that everyone’s voice/story matters. Read More>>

Victor Irizarry

Over the years, my perspective on balancing work and life has evolved significantly. Earlier, when I was younger, I used to think of work-life balance as maintaining a strict division between professional responsibilities and personal time. However, after experiencing burnout back in 2018, I realized that this rigid separation wasn’t sustainable or fulfilling. At the time I did not understand what was happening to me or had the tools to deal with mental health awareness. Read More>>

Teresa Bitler

I’m primarily a travel writer although I do write about other topics. Because my job involves travel, it has been a challenge to have work life balance at times. When my kids were younger, I couldn’t travel as much. I also had to limit how much I worked so I could volunteer in the classroom and shuttle them to practices. As they got older, I traveled a little more, eventually working my way up to international travel when they entered high school.  Read More>>