We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until you’re clear on what your values and principles are. Without values and principles to guide you, making decisions can seem impossibly difficult. Given how important setting values and principles is to decision making we asked folks we admire to tell us about the values or principles that matter most to them.

Sandra Gonoretske | Compliance Officer

Work Ethic. Being reliable, honest, accountable, professional, and respectful, are the essential key to success. More and more nowadays, companies, clients, employees, contractors, vendors or any third party don`t want to do business with those that are dishonest or that are negatively exposed in the media. Those that are not ethical tend not to be in the business for long. Doing business in a higher professionally and ethical manner will positively affect your reputation and may expose you to great opportunities. Read more>>

Bianca C. Wilson | Brand + Squarespace Website Designer

Integrity is a value that I constantly aim for in business and in life overall. When you do your best to lead with integrity, you don’t have to constantly live “looking over your shoulder” or have this nagging fear of “being caught”. Instead, you know that everything you say and do is done to the highest level of excellence that you have to offer. And in my experience thus far, leading with integrity has opened certain doors because people felt like they can trust me, even if they didn’t know much about me. Ultimately, integrity shows who I am as a person (character) and not just what I can do (work). Read more>>

Marian Marval | Yoga Teacher, Creator of Yoga with Marian

One of the principles that I value the most is willpower or self- effort. It was one of the greatest lessons from my parents: have a dream, but make it happen through discipline and willpower to achieve it. I think that during my life I have had to work with discipline, determination, and passion to achieve my goals and help others to conquer theirs as well. I believe if we are not focused or determined enough to put any effort in our dreams they will be only projects floating in the air. I think that we can be disciplined and happy trying to achieve our goals, but if we no succeed at the beginning, we can keep trying without any discouragement whatsoever. Read more>>

Spence Levy | CEO

I happy partner. A partner can be a customer or a vendor. I believe in good business for all. I believe in building long term relationships with people we do business with for a lifetime. Providing good customers service with quality products has been the backbone of our company. When you do a good job people remember and refer you. This has made our company grow year after year. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Read more>>

Pedro Luna | Yoga Instructor

Integrity is the value or principle that matters to me most. Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. If you uphold that in everything you do you will be successful. I believe it in my heart and live it everyday. Read more>>

Gabriella Payne | Social Media Manager & Brand Strategist

Honesty. Integrity. Being who you are is the foundation of my business. It’s about being able to show up as who you are with no regrets. I personally developed my business because I worked in operations as a manager and consultant in the beginning of my career. I constantly felt like I had to be what everyone else wanted me to be. Entrepreneurship to me represents the ability to be who you truly are – and brand design and strategy is all about using your personal story to connect to your customers and build a meaningful community. Read more>>

Loren Abbate | Artist, Educator, Art Therapist and Entrepreneur

One value that matters most to me is reverence for Nature. It is clear to me that many of Western societies problems stems from a deep disconnection from the original intelligence on Earth planet. Rocks, minerals, flora, fauna, trees and the vast animal and oceanic kingdom have so much to teach humanity. The real, deep education about who we are or why we are here is embedded within nature. Thats why I have chose a creative career and ultimately started my own therapeutic arts and education business called Wild Indigo Arts. Creativity and energetic awareness can lead to better understanding and developing relationships with Nature. I believe we can work harmoniously with nature again; it just takes a few inspired and creative leaders to remind us of the beauty, awe and wonder of it all. Read more>>

Natasha Jean | Visual Artist / Graphic Designer

One principle that I have latched onto in my creative ventures is the idea of “failure”, and how it is portrayed in society. I used to think that everything had to be “perfect” and I’ve learned that everything really is a lesson. Always a way to better yourself and improve. The things that you can take from something that did not go your way is endless. The possibilities themselves are endless. I feel as though allowing myself to experience these failures with a different perspective has allowed me to flourish in ways I didn’t even realize was possible. I take this on with great pride and truly allow myself to have patience with the process and with the growth. Everyday we are always learning something new about the world and ourselves. So remembering that everything is a lesson keeps me going and is something I have to affirm with myself everyday. This allows me to be the best version of myself. Read more>>

Laurie Alfano | Creator of Noga Movement and Astrologer

No matter what we do in life socially or professionally, we still have to be able to sleep at night. I feel integrity give us the sound mind to lead by example and always put our best foot forward. When you have integrity you gain trust, support and loyalty from anyone you connect with. Read more>>

Vee Escarment | CEO, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Host, Award Winning Singer, and SAG AFTRA Actress

The most important value to me is integrity. Great leaders exhibit integrity at all times. They do what’s right, even if that isn’t the best thing for the current project or even the bottom line. Whether it’s giving proper credit for accomplishments, acknowledging mistakes, or putting safety and quality first. Great leaders always maintain a level of transparency, regardless of how difficult it may seem. It always pays off in the end. Your word has to be your bond. Being a person who does what he or she says they are going to do. There’s nothing more despicable than dishonesty. When someone’s trust is broken, it can rarely be gained back. This is something that holds true both in our everyday lives and our professional ones as well. I believe that you must constantly strive to be the best you can be, to develop and expand your skills and talents in order to make significant contributions to the world. Read more>>