We asked some folks we admire to share one piece of conventional advice they disagree with.

Susana Illera Martinez | Designer, Writer & Award-Winning Author

«Time is money» I find that, in a consumer society like ours, we are constantly faced with workloads and economic needs that are often disproportionate. «We have to work more and not waste time, because time is money»; however, I wonder, what does «wasting time» really mean? This goes hand in hand with the notion of recognizing that money is not the only remuneration, treasure or prize that we must value and pursue in exchange for our time. Health (physical, mental and emotional), family and stability are undoubtedly more valuable. And although it is true, we strive to have work and income that allow us to survive and fulfill our most basic needs; I believe in the importance of investing time and creating responsible habits in our professional life, as long as we don’t lose sight of a balance. Read more>>

Lauren McGarrett | Film Director & Editor

It’s very common in creative industries to hear that you’ll have to do a lot of jobs for free in order to “make it.” I strongly disagree with this and the culture of exploiting new artists for free labor. While it can be difficult to avoid entry level jobs that tout “experience” as their only form of compensation, it’s important that creatives understand the worth of what they contribute to their team. If you’re not receiving monetary compensation for your work, you should examine what you’ll be gaining in exchange for your time. One of my first jobs on set was for a micro-budget film that did not have the money to pay a lot of the crew members, so everyone involved viewed it as a passion project. While I didn’t receive money for what I did on set, I had a camaraderie with the rest of the team that meant they would help me with my future projects for free as well. Read more>>

Gabrielle Pelicci | Holistic Healer

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there…” Rumi Remember when you were a kid and you believed in Santa and Superman and the Tooth Fairy? Remember when, one by one, you realized that each of these entities had a spirit of truth, but did not actually exist in reality. Remember how you were cool with it, because it made you feel like you discovered a secret. Well, welcome to my field beyond failure. Nothing in life has ever been quite as real to me as Success and Failure. Success is a sassy blond, like Marilyn Monroe, who purrs when she talks and is desired by all. Diamonds are her best friend and she dies young and immortal. Failure, on the other hand, is falling from grace like Big Edie in Grey Gardens, living in squalor and isolation for decades, surrounded by cats, fleas and raccoons. Both of these legendary women have been very real to me for a very long time. Read more>>

Jamie Rodriguez | Music Journalist I Producer I Podcast Host

You are a product of your circumstances and real change is beyond your control. This to be is complete nonsense. I am a strong believer that all the past failures and frustrations we have in life, are there to lay the foundations for a new level of living we can enjoy. If we chose to see it that way. Life doesn’t happen to us, it happens FOR us. This means that even the greatest traumas, greatest challenges, can be our allies for success and transformation if we change the way we look at them. Read more>>