We love rebels and people who challenge the status quo, conventional wisdom and mainstream narratives and so we asked some really bright folks to tell us about one piece of conventional advice they disagree with.

Scott Hendler | Entrepreneur, Master Craftsman & Jiu Jitsu Black Belt

“Jack of all trades, master of none.” In the craft & fabrication industry, we are told to find something you’re inherently good at and stick to it. Painters stay painters and carpenters stay carpenters. Most will say that this business model is the easier road. I do not believe we were created to pursue only one thing in life. Instead, I try my hand at all fabrication methods, materials, and mediums. I wake up every day as a student of life. When I clock into work every morning, I become a student of my craft. At Scotty Wonders, I am constantly challenging our team’s capabilities and adapting to new projects and skills. Stay curious, experiment, try, fail, succeed… it is all part of a multi-faceted journey and life well lived. Practice endless discovery. Read more>>

Barbara Santiago | Photographer & Owner

One piece of conventional advice that I always disagree on is when my  Colleagues tell me  “Hey use photoshop” or “edit your pictures” I don’t like doing that. I love the natural lighting ,I love how you can angle your camera and take a picture that can make a person look a certain way. That’s what I like. I don’t like to modify my photography.  Don’t get me wrong ,I do have clients that want me to edit their pictures a certain way, and I will , gladly. But my preference is all natural. Read more>>

Amanda Mallo | Owner

We’ve all heard it before: you must graduate from college in order to succeed. I’d have to say, as someone who took 10 years to finish their bachelor’s degree, that’s not always true. I think the biggest issue with that advice is that somehow a bachelor’s degree is your ticket to financial freedom. It isn’t! Granted, you do need you bachelors to get many entry level jobs but it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be successful later in life. The piece of advice I would give instead is, learn as much as you can! Take all kinds of courses whether at a university or not. Once you graduate, keep taking classes! You don’t have to work towards a masters degree but the information you learn from taking new classes is the key to success! Never stop learning and growing. Read more>>

Celia D. Luna | Photographer

I disagree with the saying: “Work hard and hustle harder”. I’ve learned that life flows when you make your joy your priority, This doesn’t mean that you’re not working, it means that you’re consistent about applying joy into your life and in consequence, you’re a better entrepreneur, a better mother, a better daughter, a better person. Work is not driving you, joy is. Why make work your drive force when the beauty and real success (to me) is in the little moments. Read more>>