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.

Antonise Crane

The quote I live by is “Keep Moving Forward.” I first heard it in the movie Meet the Robinsons when I was about eleven years old. Back then, it just felt like a nice, uplifting line — I didn’t realize how much it would stick with me. Over the years, it’s become my personal mantra. Life is going to keep moving whether we’re ready or not, and challenges are part of the journey. We always have a choice: we can stay stuck and focus on what’s wrong, or we can take a deep breath, learn what we can, and keep moving forward. For me, those three words are a reminder that even the smallest step counts as progress. Read More>>

Graham Ware

I was 10 years old with a Mark McGwire rookie card in my hand. I was wanting the Frank Thomas rookie card a fellow classmate was holding. Staring each other down during recess, I agreed to the trade, giving into my appetite for one of my favorite players. The Mark McGwire card I gave up, today, goes for more than $1000 while the Frank Thomas card, I still have to this day, goes for a somber $7.00. As I grew older I never forgot about that day. We are surrounded by risks even when we may not realize it, in moments as simple as trading baseball cards. While I am comfortable with calculated risks over a reckless gambling risk, I’ve had to learn that my personal comfort or desires cannot dictate the company strategy or even when it comes to my personal goals. I’m naturally a cautious person, a trait that can be a strength as it forces me to analyze situations thoroughly. I’ve heard people and business owners say “no risk, no reward” to which I tend to reply “no data, no decision.” Read More>>

Robert Cole Jr.

I grew up in Southern California, where music was a constant part of my life. My three older brothers are all musicians, and some of my earliest memories are of us playing Guitar Hero together and watching American Idol as a family. I eventually joined a band with two of my brothers, and those years taught me how to collaborate, perform, and connect with people through music. In 2016, I moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University, which meant leaving the band behind. Even though that was a big change, the experiences I had growing up in such a musical family continue to inspire me and fuel my passion for making music a lifelong career. Read More>>