We’ve been fortunate to connect with so many brilliant, thoughtful entrepreneurs and creatives and we regularly ask them about the most important lessons they’ve learned over the course of their careers. We’ve shared some highlights below.
Christopher Myers | Lawyer and Real Estate Broker
The most important lesson that my career has taught me, is that everyday is an opportunity to learn and develop my brand from interactions with my clients, colleagues, and vendors. I am constantly in appreciation of the feedback from my clients. Through this feedback I am not only learning how to be better for the next client but I am developing as an individual. Alongside that, this approach allows me to connect with my clients and make them feel appreciated. That level of comfort enables me to understand their needs and to make sure that I am able to meet those needs. Read more>>
Alexandra Garcia | Illustrator and Nature Lover
The funny thing about the most important lesson my career has taught me is that I still haven’t fully learned it. I have to keep re-teaching myself this every single day. The most important lesson I’ve had to learn is to be 100% true to myself all the time. Being authentic is the priority, not only in business, but in every day life as well. When you are true to yourself, you attract the situations and people in life that are meant for you, and things become almost effortless. Pretending or trying to be who you THINK others want you to be brings so much stress into life. I’ve had to learn that in life, all I can be is myself, and I will do everything I can to be the best version of myself. Comparing myself to others isn’t productive or helpful because every person is on their own journey that has nothing to do with me. Instead of focusing on what others have that I don’t, I try to appreciate my own achievements. From my experience, when I am authentic, everything falls into place. Read more>>
Michelle & Judith Dupin | Esthetician’s and Beauty Salon Owners
The most important lesson our business has taught us is to believe in yourself. We are capable of accomplishing anything we put our minds too. Trying something new can be overwhelming and scary. Our minds instantly brought up questions like “what if it goes wrong or what if we fail?” We envisioned our dream business and diligently worked towards making it a reality. Have courage, do research, and show up as the version of you that has a successful business. Our business has grown so much because we always give our best work and never give up even when faced with new challenging tasks. Read more>>
Carolina Baena | FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Passion can move mountains, Passion can make me enjoy the hardest moments and celebrate the beautiful ones. Passion allows me to wake up every morning with a smile in my face and with a new goal to pursue. Passion disappear the guilt in my mind when I have to be away from my family, because building a business also means sacrificing some things. Passion is the most beautiful thing I can show to my daughter, so when she’s building her own dream has the inner power to go for it, for difficult or impossible appears to be in the moment. Passion allowed me to create a business far beyond just making money, it allowed me to have a meaning, to make the change in the NOW and to the future of this planet, not only for me but my loved ones. PASSION IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL FOR SUCCESS. Read more>>
Isaac Mead-Long | Cinematographer and Film Director
Probably the most important lesson that working as a freelance cinematographer and director has taught me is to always take chances. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been called for jobs that I thought I was considerably under-qualified for and I’ve almost passed up those jobs. I’ve learned that by always taking these jobs and pushing myself out of my comfort zone I’ve only progressed in my career and earned even bigger job opportunities. The toughest part in the beginning was just the anxiety of feeling like I didn’t know everything I needed to perform on set to the level I needed to. But right in the beginning I decided that I would say yes to as many jobs as I could, as long as they were right for me, and I can’t tell you how well that has worked for my career and my overall confidence as a DP and director. Read more>>
Karli Evans | Photographer + Director
The most important lesson I’ve learned as a full-time freelancer is to find a way to make the work you want to be getting paid to make. There is often a conundrum for creatives: to land work (especially with big brands/publications), creatives need to have experience – but to gain experience, they have to be given an opportunity to work. To show what you’re capable of, I think sometimes you have to make your own opportunities. Even if it’s just a proof of concept, there is a lot of value in figuring out how to scale an idea and execute it based on time, resources and budget. The savvier you can get at that, the more you’ll be able to accomplish in the long run – and the more credibility you’ll build for yourself along the way. Read more>>