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.

Taylor Huggins | Small Business Owner

My business has taught me that it is safe outside my comfort zone. I am a very anxious and introverted person who has a hard time talking to people in social settings. I stumble over my words, my body gets really shakey, and I say weird things I don’t mean to say. This has affected my life in more ways than one. I started setting up booths at market events about two years ago, and that has given me more confidence than I thought I could have. I still get anxious at every event, but it’s way more manageable now that I have had the practice. Not only have markets dramatically helped my sales and given me confidence, but they have also given me the opportunity to make friends and connections. Read more>>

Marcel Glenn | Graphic Designer, Digital Producer & Artist

The biggest lesson my career has shown me is not to give up and ensure to set goals for yourself. When I was graduating from high school, I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer and a teacher literally told us to write about our future goals. It’s easy to get distracted by our lives or our own personal struggles. A good habit is to always set short-term goals and long-term goals for yourself. Before I went to college, I made a lot of long term goals, which included graduating from university, ensuring I had an art focused major, and making my parents proud. Additionally, after college I made sure to work at an internship and then I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer for different brands, and luckily I stayed vigilant and applied to those opportunities and I’ve been able to graphically represent major corporations. Read more>>

Ada Denise | entrepreneur/Model/Artist/creative director

I would say the most important thing that my career has taught me is how to have thick skin ! When your a model and seen for your image it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes in a good way & bad , but Just know that for every no you get there will be a few yeses right around the corner & to keep your vision and the faith! Read more>>

Amber Jordan | ENTREPRENEUR

The most valuable lessons I’ve learned from my business is the importance of creativity, consistency, staying in my lane, and working diligently. There were times when I felt discouraged because my business wasn’t as far along as I had hoped. I’d often look at other successful business owners and be disheartened by my lack of sales for months. However, one key lesson I’ve embraced is the need to stay committed to my own unique journey. Being a business owner isn’t easy, but taking pride in it being YOUR BUSINESS is crucial. Your journey is what makes your business authentic, so avoid comparing it to anyone else’s. Read more>>

Staton Brady | Custom Clothier

The most important lesson our business has taught us is that persistence will get you there but consistency will keep you there. It’s not about what you’re able to do but what you’re willing to do. There’s a world of difference between being able to go the extra mile and being willing to go the extra mile. Read more>>

Erik Loomis | CEO & Co-founder, Pahhni Premium Alkaline Water

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there is no “perfect time” to do…pretty much anything. There will always be pros and cons to almost any decision you will ever make. The trick is to stack as many cards in your favor as you can. Do your due diligence, talk to experts, consult with friends/family/mentors, but don’t over-analyze every single little thing – there are usually 2-3 big criteria that you will need to have your ducks in a row. Otherwise, you can figure out a lot of things as you go. I am a big fan of doing something vs. doing nothing (and actually, doing nothing is a conscious decision to take an action). If your conviction is based in solid fundamentals, you will do just fine, it may just take some time to get where you want to go…and that’s ok. Read more>>

Nay Dismore | Owner, Snacks With A Twist

Always be honest and upfront about everything. Whether it’s dealing with a difficult employee, customer or vendor – don’t try to bend the truth in any situation. Even when a customer is trying to squeeze you for a better price or more product, be upfront and it works best for you in the long term. Read more>>

Mara Delirium | Body Piercer & Suspension Practitioner

To be humble. It’s perfectly acceptable to be proud of what you do, and to have great pride in your work, but to have a huge ego or be high and mighty is guaranteed to be the downfall of what could be a great artist. Read more>>