The Importance of Celebrating Your Wins as a Small Business

Running a business often feels like sprinting a marathon. There’s always a new goal to reach, a new challenge to solve, or a next step waiting for you on the horizon. In the middle of that hustle, it’s easy to overlook something that doesn’t always feel essential: pausing to celebrate how far you’ve come.

At Stoke, we know small business owners and founders work hard every single day. But here’s the truth: celebrating your wins isn’t just nice, it’s necessary.

Why Celebrating Matters

Celebration is more than balloons and cake (though we always love a delicious slice of cake!). It’s about creating momentum, boosting morale, and building resilience.

• Momentum: Every milestone, no matter how small, fuels your next big leap.

• Morale: Recognition gives your team, even if it’s just you, the confidence to keep going.

• Resilience: Celebrating helps balance the stress that naturally comes with entrepreneurship.

When you make celebration part of your business culture, you give yourself and your team the encouragement to keep pressing forward.

Celebrating Stoke’s 9th birthday

What Counts as a “Win”

Wins don’t have to mean doubling revenue or opening a new office (though those are awesome!). Wins can also look like:

• Signing your very first client.

• Launching a website or new service.

• Hiring your first team member.

• Completing a big project you’ve been working toward.

• Simply making it through a tough month with lessons learned.

If it moves your business forward, it’s a win worth celebrating.

Practical Ways to Celebrate

You don’t have to throw a party every time you hit a milestone (unless you want to!). Small, intentional moments of recognition can have just as much impact.

• Share your milestone on social media to inspire your community.

• Treat your team to coffee or lunch.

• Write a thank-you note to clients or collaborators who helped make it possible.

• Create a “wins wall”, this can be physical or digital, to track your progress.

• Take 10 minutes to reflect and simply say out loud: “We did that!”

Celebration can be public or private, loud or quiet,  the point is to acknowledge progress

The Ripple Effect

Here’s the best part: when you celebrate, you don’t just lift yourself up, you encourage your team, your clients, and your community. Celebrating wins shows that your business is thriving, builds trust with your audience, and helps create a culture of gratitude that attracts both customers and talent.

By sharing your milestones, you also remind other founders and small businesses that progress, in any form, deserves recognition.

As you look ahead to what’s next, take a moment to reflect: what’s a recent win you can celebrate right now? Maybe it’s landing a new contract, finishing a rebrand, or even just surviving a busy season.

Whatever it is, don’t rush past it. Take the time to celebrate, because every step forward is worth honoring.

Now go out and celebrate! 

Spotlight: Anthony Najera of Colectivo Creative Media

We’re excited to highlight Stoke member Anthony Najera, founder of Colectivo Creative Media. With over a decade of experience producing video content in the DFW area, Anthony and his team bring stories to life on screen, especially those that raise awareness for causes and spark meaningful change.

Anthony shared more about his journey, the inspiration for Colectivo, and how he continues using storytelling to make a difference. Here’s a look at his story:

What inspired you to start Colectivo Creative Media, and how did the idea first come to life?

My old boss actually gave me the idea after chatting about how to better represent my work to potential clients. I’d been working for years just as a freelancer under my own name, but struggling to land the larger projects I wanted to take on. By starting a company, a potential client would see me as much larger than I really was and able to tackle projects beyond the scope of a single person. 

In mid-2020, I finally decided to move on the idea, utilizing much of the free-time I had during lockdown. Built a website, portfolio, LLC, bank account, all the things a small business would need. Then in 2021, I left my full-time job to be completely on my own, under Colectivo Creative Media.

Can you share the meaning behind the name Colectivo Creative Media and why it felt like the right fit?

Colectivo (collective) was chosen with the intention of inspiring collaboration and a team of creatives that it takes to take on any project.

The name has a few origins and details that are important to me. Primarily, the name needed to signify the services we provide. I didn’t want someone to just see a single word and wonder, “huh, what does Colectivo do?”  Incorporating “Film Production”, “Videography”, and ultimately “Creative Media” was important. It was also vague enough that we could potentially take on projects like photography, animation, or other similar mediums.

Additionally, being Latino owned, I wanted to incorporate Spanish in some way. One, as a personal touch, and two, as a way to signal to clients with similar cultural backgrounds that there’s a production company for them in their community.

Anthony Najera - Colectivo Creative Media

What has been your proudest moment since launching your company?

The proudest moment was the transition from working on other peoples’ projects to being able to  sustain my business through my own projects. At the beginning, I often played a role in someone else's production and doing the job for the day. About 3 years ago, I essentially stopped working on other production company’s projects and solely focused on my own. Each year, we’ve steadily grown in the amount of projects Colectivo is doing, producing larger budget projects, and increasing the overall revenue from our projects in a year.

Lastly, I’m incredibly proud about the amount of jobs we’ve been able to create with our various projects. While Colectivo does not have any additional full-time employees, the film industry is built upon freelancers and we’ve been steadily increasing the amount of freelance opportunities available. It feels great to see friends and collaborators paid and to be a part of that.

What’s one challenge you faced early on in building Colectivo Creative Media and how did you overcome it?

There are quite a few, but one that sticks out is knowing my worth, both in time and money. As Colectivo is a project based company, there are moments where work is slow and I’m itching for income. I’ll get an inquiry where the proposed budget is well-below standard (maybe insultingly) and/or the client seems like they’ll be a challenge to navigate. In moments of desperation, I’ve taken those projects and regret them every time.

It can be a challenge to turn away work when you’re hungry, but in the long-run it's proven beneficial. I’m not killing myself over peanuts and it allows me to focus more thoroughly on my awesome clients. This was very tough to manage the first couple of years in business, but in the long run it increased my standards as a company and the services I can provide.

How has being part of the Stoke community influenced or supported your business journey?

Stoke has been a great resource in my business journey. I’ve been able to find collaborators and use the community as a resource in my business needs. It's also been fun to help others who are starting their journey who are looking to the Stoke community and their resources for help.

What kinds of projects or clients do you specialize in, and what makes your approach unique?

I think we specialize in working with clients who are looking to take narrative risks and tell a unique story. Sure, we can do the standard paint-by-numbers corporate approach that can be ubiquitous in my field, but when clients have allowed us to tackle their project with creative freedom, they’ve always been blown away by the results.

How do you hope your work with Colectivo Creative Media impacts your clients and the broader community?

While Colectivo does a lot of work with larger corporations and brands, I love when I get to work with local organizations and businesses. This means creating content and media that has an effect on my community directly and will be seen by my friends and neighbors.

For the past 2 years, I’ve made it a point to focus more on not only working on local projects, but keeping our budgets and spending local. That means hiring local freelancers for our crews, offering opportunities to film students at UNT, utilizing local locations for filming, and even ensuring our food and coffee is provided by Denton based establishments. Keeping money local is what would really impact the broader community.

What does a “day in the life” look like for you as a media company owner?

You want the real answer or the #entrepreneur-life answer…

Every day is different and depends on the projects we currently have in development and their stage in the production pipeline.

If a project is on the horizon, I spend a lot of time preparing for that shoot. Meetings with stakeholders, other production partners, crew, and talent. Visiting potential shoot locations, building documents so my team knows how we’re approaching the project and what we’re delivering. Lots of emails, crossing T’s and Dotting I’s to ensure everything is in place for the actual shoot days coming up.

Shoot days can be exciting because it looks so glamorous. Big camera, lenses, lights, crew. Lots of moving parts that come together to make a pretty image on screen. These days can be very long, as a standard shoot day is 10hrs, plus commute and all of the extra time I put into it to ensure it goes well. This is where I’m having the most fun, honestly, but also the most exhausting part of it all. 

After a shoot day, we begin post-production, so either myself or someone on my team will begin editing the project. This turnaround can be days (lighting fast) or months. Once that’s completed, we’re onto the next one, or finishing another project that’s happening simultaneously. 

While that all seems like a lot, there are many days with very little “production” going on and it's much like any other business. Paying bills, answering emails, and a whole lot of waiting for a new project to reach out. When it's busy, it feels like you don’t have enough time, when it's slow, you’ll wonder if you’ll ever work again. 

What’s next for Colectivo Creative Media, are there any exciting projects or goals on the horizon (I already know there are!)?

Last month we produced a fun project announcing the new Garland Public Library. This project was a lot of fun and a blast to shoot. The turnaround time was incredibly fast (1 week), but we managed and are super proud of it. 

Check out the video here: https://vimeo.com/1101284800

On the horizon, we’re continuing to produce content in virtual reality for use cases in public health. We may have an opportunity to go to some really breathtaking locations for the project, but that’s still in the works.

Anthony Najera - Colectivo Creative Media

For more information on Colectivo Creative Media visit the website here.

Why Supporting Local Businesses Matters, Especially for Small Businesses

When small businesses support other small businesses, the ripple effect goes far beyond a single transaction. It’s more than just buying a product or service; it’s investing in your community, strengthening the local economy, and creating a cycle of support that uplifts everyone.

Strengthening the Local Economy

Dollars spent locally tend to stay local. Studies show that for every $100 spent at a small business, $68 of it is reinvested back into the community, through wages for employees, local suppliers, and neighborhood improvements. When small businesses choose to hire, shop, or outsource locally, that money circulates multiple times, building economic resilience right where it’s needed most.

Building Community Connections

Small businesses aren’t faceless corporations; they’re owned and run by neighbors, friends, and fellow entrepreneurs. Supporting each other creates a web of trust and connection. When one business thrives, it often opens doors for others,  whether that’s a delicious local coffee shop sourcing pastries from a local bakery, a marketing agency hiring a local photographer, or a boutique collaborating with a local artisan.

Creating a Greater Impact

The truth is, small actions make a big difference. A single contract, a purchase order, or a referral from one small business to another can be transformative. Unlike working with large corporations, where your dollars disappear into a much larger system, supporting your neighbor has a visible, immediate impact. You’re not just fueling business growth, you’re fueling dreams, stability for families, and opportunities for your community to flourish.

Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

In times of economic uncertainty, small businesses are often the first to feel the squeeze, but also the ones most capable of adapting, innovating, and leading with heart. By intentionally choosing local and supporting one another, small businesses create a collective strength that helps entire communities weather challenges and build a brighter future.

Supporting local isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a powerful strategy. When small businesses collaborate and invest in each other, they create a thriving ecosystem where everyone wins.

9 Years of Stoke: Fueling Denton's Creative & Entrepreneurial Spirit

This summer marks nine years since we opened our doors at Stoke — Denton's coworking space and entrepreneurial hub — and what a journey it's been.

Back in 2016, Stoke started with a vision: to create a space where creators, founders, freelancers, and dreamers could come together, find support, and grow their ideas into thriving businesses. Today, we’re proud to be the home base for a dynamic community of entrepreneurs and innovators who are actively shaping the future of our local economy and culture.

We’ve evolved over the years, and today Stoke spans over 9,000 square feet of coworking space which includes twenty private offices, thirty dedicated desks, and shared office amenities. Our members enjoy access to conference rooms with whiteboards and TV’s, reliable printer/copier/scanner access, and a shared kitchen that’s always stocked with coffee, tea, soda water, and locally brewed beer.

Programming That Powers Progress

Over the past nine years, we've built a strong foundation of entrepreneur support programs and community-focused events that meet people where they are and help take them where they want to go:

• 9 years of mentorship and coaching to help entrepreneurs navigate the highs and lows of building a business. Early on mentorship was office hours and 1:1 mentorship. It evolved to small group mentorship with an expert since 2020, which was virtual through 2024 and we began hosting these in person in 2025.

• 7 years of Flint Conference — our annual day-long event which draws 100 creators and founders each year looking to learn, grow, and connect which started in 2019. This event has showcased dozens of speakers, breakout sessions, hands on workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with 100 local entrepreneurs - all designed with the needs of local entrepreneurs in mind.

• 5 years of AccelerateHER our incubator program designed specifically to support female founders in building scalable, sustainable businesses. Since it’s inception, we’ve provided workshops, coaching, accountability, and access to our work space for the over 35 women that have been through this program and continue to support the AccelerateHER Alumni through quarterly meetups.

• 3 years of hosting Denton Pitch Competition through which we’ve providing local startups with the platform and resources to attract funding, feedback, and visibility. Since 2022 we have coached the 28 business that pitch their plans for growth to a panel of judges , and have put over $30,000 directly into the hands of Denton based entrepreneurs.

• Just last year, we launched a new series of networking events tailored for Denton's vibrant community of creatives. Spark Creative Mixers are a way for creative entrepreneurs to come together to connect and gain knowledge about running a business in a community of their peers.

These programs have sparked new ventures, accelerated growth, and created ripple effects across our local economy and culture of creativity and small business that thrives in Denton.

The Impact We’re Making

Stoke has become a cornerstone for Denton's entrepreneurial landscape — a place where hundreds of people have come not only to work but to belong, to be challenged, to get support, and to take bold steps in their business. We've helped local founders turn side hustles into full-time careers. We've supported artists in building creative businesses. We've helped innovators find co-founders, clients, mentors, and meaning in their work.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking to the future. We are excited to be expanding our footprint into an additional 3,000 square feet which includes 8 private office, and improved mail/copy room, and a multi use room that can be used for trainings, workshops, and large meetings.

More space, more programs, more support, and more stories of people who took the leap — and found what they needed to keep going right here at Stoke. We’re proud to play a role in a Denton that is more collaborative, creative, and entrepreneur-friendly than ever before.

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just recently discovered us, thank you for being part of this community. We’re here because of you and we are here for you. You may have to work, but you don’t have to work alone.

Here’s to the builders, the creatives, and the big dreamers. Here’s to 9 years of Stoke.

FlintConf 2025: Denton’s Creatives and Entrepreneurs Lit the Spark

On May 8, 2025, the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center creatives, entrepreneurs, service providers, and big-dreamers packed the space for FlintConf 2025—a full-day event built for connection, growth, and unapologetic honesty about what it really takes to run a business.

Presented by Stoke with support from the City of Denton, FlintConf is more than a conference—it’s a home base for Denton’s doers. Here's what made this year’s event unforgettable:

The day kicked off with breakfast and coffee sponsored by The Local Circuit. Heather Gregory, Executive Director of Stoke, opened the morning by sharing why FlintConf exists: to create space for inrpiration, shared learning, and the good that can come when entrepreneurs gather together..

Educational and Inspirational Speakers

Emily Roden, founder of ReadyRosie and Frankly, delivered a keynote that was equal parts inspiring and enlightening. She shared the behind-the-scenes realities of building a tech-based educational platform from Denton—highlighting the pivots, doubts, and lessons learned along the way.

Elle Hall of Girlfriend’s Budget led a dynamic workshop on “Budgeting Like a Boss.” Elle brought her signature mix of financial wisdom and empowering energy, helping attendees break down how to manage money in their businesses without shame or confusion.

Juli James led an interactive session - MVP Prototype Showdown, a rapid-fire session showcasing early-stage business ideas. Participants saw firsthand how experimentation and feedback can transform an abstract concept into something tangible. The ideas prompts were challenging, the ideas were inspired, and the pitches were hilarious.

Creative Connections

We added a few new components this year as we thought about what would be helpful to the attendees. We offered free fun headshots with Will Milne during the lunch hour were a great way to provide professional photography assets to attendees. Additionally, we invited anyone who wanted to the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business to help ignite connections during our networking breaks.

Two rounds of breakout sessions in the afternoon gave attendees a chance to go deep on topics like using AI to enhance and streamline processes, learning tools to address burnout, and understanding how to fight imposter syndrome and find your confidence in the works of entrepreneurship. These sessions were designed to be tactical not theoretical and the feedback was clear: people left with tools and knowledge they could use the next day.

The final speaker, Monique Segovia of The Brown Thumb and winner of the 2024 Denton Pitch Competition closed the day. In her talk, “Rooted in Growth: How Authentic Marketing Can Build a Loyal Small Business Community,” Monique showed how marketing can be an act of care, not just strategy. Her story of building a plant business grounded in identity, accessibility, and joy brought the audience to their feet.

The day wrapped with Happy Hour at Harvest House, where the conversations kept flowing. Over beers and kombuchas, FlintConf attendees reflected, celebrated, and continued planting seeds for what’s next.

You showed up. You asked brave questions. You celebrated each other. You reminded us that business building doesn’t have to be lonely—it can be collaborative, creative, and human. We’ll see you next year for FlintConf 2026. Until then, keep building, keep connecting, and keep that spark alive.

Why You Can't Miss FlintConf 2025

Big ideas. Practical skills. Real community. FlintConf 2025 is Denton's premier event for creatives, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners who are ready to spark their next chapter. Presented by Stoke Coworking, this high-energy, one-day conference is your chance to step out of the daily grind, plug into real inspiration, and leave with the tools and the people to move forward faster.

Whether you’re launching something new, scaling something great, or figuring out your next move, FlintConf is built for you.

Here’s why you need to be there:

Five Reasons You Should Attend FlintConf 2025

1. Gain Real-World Business Skills from Proven Entrepreneurs
FlintConf speakers aren't just talking theory — they're sharing personal, battle-tested lessons. Emily Roden, founder of ReadyRosie and Frankly, will dive into The Critical Trimesters of a Start-up, helping you anticipate the early challenges every new business faces. Elle Hall, of Girlfriend’s, Budget, will show you how to Budget Like a Boss, ensuring your finances can fuel (not sink) your dreams. Whether you're launching, growing, or pivoting, these sessions will give you practical tools to strengthen your business foundation.

2. Connect With Denton’s Boldest Creative and Business Minds
The conference is intentionally designed for authentic connections. You'll start the day networking over coffee and breakfast, have a chance to collaborate during breakout sessions, and wrap it all up with a relaxed happy hour at Harvest House. We’ve also made sure to make a little time for connecting to the folks in the room throughout the day through, the Starter Offer Lab Workshop with Juli James (Eqall and Stoke Coworking), networking break, and an hour long lunch. Whether you're a service provider, a creative entrepreneur, or a budding startup founder, you’ll find your people here.

Headshots provided by Will Milne

3. Walk Away With a New Professional Headshot — and a Stronger Brand Presence
It's time to update that LinkedIn photo (no more cropping yourself out of a wedding photo!). FlintConf attendees get a professional headshot included with their ticket during the lunch break. Great branding starts with a strong, approachable presence — and this small but mighty perk helps you level up your digital footprint instantly. These aren’t any old headshot either, they will be creative and colorful (the photographer will create colorful shadows) so they are perfect for designers, musicians, and folks looking to add a more artistic headshot to their brand assets.

4. Learn How to Innovate, Market, and Scale Authentically
Beyond big-picture talks, FlintConf gives you tactical strategies for marketing and innovation. Dive into Rooted in Growth with Monique Segovia of The Brown Thumb to learn how authentic marketing can build a loyal small business community. Plus, breakout sessions after lunch allow you to dig deeper into niche topics with experts and peers who are navigating the same challenges you are.

5. Spend a Day Investing in Yourself (With Great Food, Great People, and Great Energy)
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen when you step out of your routine. FlintConf gives you permission, and the perfect environment, to focus on yourself and your growth. You’ll be fueled by great coffee, a delicious lunch, new connections, and tangible momentum to take back into your work. Plus, a celebratory happy hour at Harvest House ensures the day ends on a high note, Denton-style.

Ready to Stoke the Fire?

FlintConf 2025 is more than an event — it’s a spark for something bigger.
Join us on May 8 for a day of learning, collaboration, and celebration with Denton’s most creative minds. Let’s build businesses, brands, and communities that thrive together.