There are so many factors that can play a role in determining our results, performance and ultimately our success, but some factors matter more than others. We asked folks what they felt was the most important factor driving their success.

Roxy Merari | Comedian and Founder of Comedy at the Wench

I think my success has to do with repetition and refinement. I keep doing the same things but each time I look at what is working and what isn’t and I just keep repeating the things that work and cutting out the things that don’t. I use mentors and I am not afraid to ask questions. My brand is built one fan at a time. People come and see the show and I think it is apparent that my soul is in it and people relate to that. Finding a partner to produce my show with was instrumental. Having someone to collaborate with and, more importantly, share the workload with really gave me some confidence and increased my efficiency. Read more>>

Jesse Flores | Owner of Commercial Door Business

I would like to start out by saying thank you for having me back on your platform. The term success is kind of open ended and perceived differently by each person. For example, success can be measured by money, time, status etc. I would say my success is because I don’t focus on the money or status, but solely on the branding. Read more>>

Ben Scharffbillig | Cinematographer & Content Producer

Efficiency. I make efficiency a pillar in my approach to business and life in general. Any time I engage with new client, they realize that I want to maximize our time together and deliver upon their expectations. I find that being prepared by developing a plan and sticking to it is the key to producing desired results. Having clear laid out expectations of deliverables is critical before you even hit the record button. Read more>>

Landry Brown | Owner + Designer

There’s not just one factor but a combination of them. The first factor to Border & Brown’s success has been knowing our audience. I do my best to get to know my audience and I do my research. It helps a lot that I grew up in Arizona, so some insider knowledge has been ingrained in me since birth. But I love to reach out to different communities and ask them what makes their place so special to them. Is there an image that represents their neighborhood, a phrase, or a landmark? I really try to tailor each design to the community I’m creating for. Read more>>

Duane Daum | Self-taught custom/luxury home designer/builder

One of the most important factors behind my success, in my opinion, is that I love drawing and building homes. I get a kick out of building them and even driving by them after they’re built. To me, they are in effect a semi-permanent memorial of my life. I take pride in my homes and love the fact that my customers are equally enthused about them. Many of my new customers are referrals from previous customers. Read more>>

NaTyshca Pickett | Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Arizona Coffea Magazine

The most important factor behind the success of my brand is my authenticity. As a journalist, I have the duty to provide information to my audience to keep them educated on what’s happening in their community. When I started Arizona Coffea, it was with the idea to create a platform with this mission in mind; To change the narrative of how the Black community is viewed in the media. With each story I tell, picture, or video I share, I am doing exactly what I set out to do. Read more>>