Many of the most impressive entrepreneurs and creatives in our community exhibit a high degree of self-discipline and so we asked some of them to share their backstories of how they developed their self-discipline.

 Jules Grande

Discipline, for me, has always been a survival mechanism. I grew up closely surrounded by both small and large business owners, watching them navigate the constant highs and lows of running a business. Their struggles were real—never sugarcoated—but they still showed up every day with energy and determination. From them, I learned that consistency is essential to success, and that growth often requires real sacrifice. Read More>>

Alex(Hyeonzi) Wang

My self-discipline comes from practicing Taekwondo from a young age. I trained for a little over 10 years and even dreamed about becoming a professional athlete at one point.

Through Taekwondo, I was taught to embody the five core principles of Taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. These weren’t just words- I was taught to practice them and apply them, especially during the training sessions where I shed a lot of tears and sweat. There were many times I wanted to just walk away, cry, or even give up. There were also times I felt so frustrated and couldn’t control my emotions. But over time, I learned to endure, overcome frustration, and push beyond my limits. Read More>>

Skelly G

It mostly comes from the way I grew up. I saw my grandparents wake up consistently at 4am every morning to go to the farm. That really stood out to me as a young child. Read More>>

Marisa Jean

Self-discipline is a lifestyle you have to choose every day. Anyone can work hard for a day or even a week, but the need for consistency is what challenges most people. When you turn your passion into your profession, something that once felt like pure fun will inevitably start to feel like work. But that doesn’t mean the joy is gone. It just means it now demands more of you, and you have to decide whether you can rise to that challenge. You have to mature with your passion. Read More>>

ZOE CASTANEDA

Having to be constantly understanding of what’s happening in the world, while also trying to live a comfortable life as an artist, I had a challenge with discipline. Not only did my creative developments need to be adapted for any new trend that could turn to profit, which was nearly impossible due to constant commercial demands, but managing multiple jobs took a hit on my creativity altogether. Read More>>

Wesley Ahart

Before beginning my journey as a filmmaker, I was a diver. I’ve been diving since I was 7, and what I initially thought was a fun way to spend summers flipping off the springboard at my community pool, turned into a lifelong tool for managing time, working towards a goal, and instituting self-discipline. Fast forward and I became a Division I diver, training 4 hours almost every day. When I was recruited to dive at The University of Pittsburgh, I knew my coach was taking a risk with me. Read More>>