Life, Lessons, & Legacies

Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.

DADA KIM

This question made me pause, because the line between walking a path and wandering is thinner than people think. To me, wandering is letting the world tug at your curiosity in unexpected ways, while walking a path is staying connected to the direction you chose for yourself. With that in mind, I’d say I’m wandering while walking a path. Read more>>

Jacqueline McGinnis Winn

Now this is an interesting question. Most mornings I’m trying to decide if my first drink should be coffee or tea! lol But, let me tell you this, the very first thing I do is talk with god and after that talk, I find that I am more equip to handle my day! Then, I feed my three Exotic Bull dogs and then walk them. Read more>>

Patricia Franklin

Every morning I wake up and thank God, I am grateful for life . From there I make a cup of coffee, put in creamer, and begin reading my Bible and journaling my thoughts. Read more>>

Lynne Newton

As I’ve gotten older, I understand a lot more that everything we do as humans has a ripple effect. It is up to us as a collective consciousness to put forth the things in the world that we want to see. We must I make a conscious decision that our planet earth is one of the most important things in the world. Read more>>

Aid Alonso

Music is about connection. Artists are people that are good at feeling and expressing and they create art that makes other people that feel less, feel something. It relies on empathy and it’s a form of communication and sharing between humans. We haven’t figured out how to make machines feel, so AI isn’t gonna replace artists. Read more>>

Kristina Menissov

I was a kid who wasn’t Asian enough, wasn’t Black enough. I didn’t fit in any box, even though people kept telling me I was lucky, that I could represent anyone I wanted. But in reality, it meant not truly representing anyone, except maybe other mixed kids who feel the same way. Growing up between worlds taught me how to create my own. Read more>>

Rachel Thomasian

Some of the most exciting work has been doing Instagram Lives. These sessions have allowed us to connect directly with our followers, offering them practical tips and tools to navigate breakups. It’s been incredibly rewarding to reach and assist a larger audience compared to our one-on-one therapy sessions, ensuring that people don’t feel alone during such difficult times. Read more>>

george kahn

I love this expression, and this is why I formed The Jazz & Blues Revue about 15 years ago. After years of playing instrumental jazz and releasing seven albums, I realized that my audiences really responded when I added vocals to the music. Read more>>

Janiece Lonvelin

Absolutely — I’ve always believed in doing everything to the best of my ability, a value I’ve carried throughout my career and now take even further as an interior designer and entrepreneur. Every detail in a home matters, whether anyone notices it or not. Read more>>

Rachel Rogers

Yes. I think life happens at a much slower pace than people realize, especially when it comes to maintaining your integrity. I work in the business world and in the art world. There are people in both who will push you to act fast. There are times when you need to work fast or think fast–the pace of work ebbs and flows.  Read more>>

Maricela Alicia Matos

For me, the difference between a fad and a real foundational shift comes down to impact and intention. A fad feels loud, fast, and temporary. Something that shows up suddenly, gets a lot of attention, and fades just as quickly. It’s usually rooted in aesthetics or hype, not in actual value. Read more>>

Lele Elisabeth Eggers

I would build what I am building now, a Divine Design Science fashion play place – with loads of beauty, designs, creation wonderful beautiful moments, and lifetimes of beauty and wonder. Read more>>

JAZZ FROM THE VALLEY

If I knew I had ten years left, I would stop overthinking immediately. I’d stop waiting for other people to join me in experiences and stop looking for constant validation. I’d focus on doing things that are fun, things that actually bring me joy. I’d choose to live life fully — with less stress, less worrying — even though I know that’s not always easy. Read more>>

Alliya Jayde Cunanan

If I knew I had 10 years left, I’d stop rushing the process and take a deep breath. I’d stop putting pressure on myself to have it all figured out and appreciate how far I’ve already come. I’d stop comparing my journey to others and focus on my own path. Read more>>

Danyel Weber

Without my role, without my name, without my possessions I would still be a father, a brother, a son and a friend. In the end it comes down to personal relationships. Those truly stay with you forever. My mom and dad will always be my mom and dad, my sister will forever be my sister, and my children will forever have me as their dad. Read more>>

Brandon Leibowitz

If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would miss the level of personal attention and transparency I bring to every project. I’m hands-on with strategy, rankings, backlinks, and analytics, and clients know they can reach me directly whenever they need clarity or direction. A lot of agencies hide behind dashboards or vague updates. Read more>>

Josh Mitchell

I’m chasing disruption — that moment when a story bends the culture instead of just reflecting it. I’m after the films that make people uncomfortable in the best way, the ones that ignite debate at dinner tables and force audiences to sit with ideas long after the credits roll. I’m not motivated by safety or by repeating what already works. Read more>>

bianca reyes

I’m chasing connection. The start of everything for me was finding something tactile that made the people in my life happy, and photography became the instrument that helped me connect to the things I found most important. Read more>>

Sai A Sharma

I’m chasing **mastery, meaning, and the kind of visual truth that stays with people long after they’ve seen it. It’s not about speed or recognition — it’s about creating work that feels alive, intentional, and honest. If I stopped, it wouldn’t just be the projects that halted — a part of me would. Creating isn’t separate from who I am. Read more>>

Aviana And The Pure Root

You know what, I recently had to admit that I secretly desire fame. My thing as an artist has always been about global impact, raising the vibration, changing people’s lives for the better, etc. Read more>>

Alejandra Rocha

I’m chasing mastery. I’m obsessed with getting better at what I do—nails, hair, esthetics, everything. I love practicing, studying, experimenting, and pushing myself to be the best version of my craft. Izar Studios isn’t just a business to me; it’s my art, my career, and my way of taking care of people. If I stopped chasing that growth, I would stop evolving. Read more>>

Harriet Bridgwater

I think I am always chasing authentic projects. Whether it’s film, theatre or TV, I want to be a part of passion projects that have something to say. Films that make people feel lost in a fantasy world, or a different era. More selfishly that make me feel like that when I shoot them. As an actor I always chase the perfect performance. Read more>>

Jason Crossman

Doing things the same way I’m doing them now. That’s what won’t pay off in seven to ten years. Because in a world of AI and global connectivity, standing still is moving backward. Your competitors aren’t the three companies down the street anymore. They’re everywhere. Our lead financial consultant and author, Bruce Raymond Wright, taught me something that changed how I think about the future. Read more>>

Mia Rivers

For me, what breaks the bonds between people is a lack of honesty — not just lying, but when someone hides their real self. When people stop communicating, when they pretend, when they act cold instead of saying what’s going on… that’s when the connection falls apart. I’ve learned that silence, avoidance, and half-truths can hurt more than any argument. Read more>>

Camille Cabrera

Well, I suppose we’re done with the icebreaker question! Haha, I have a few thoughts on this question, so stay with me. I think a ton about this for my personal and professional life. As a writer, I try to see and perceive other perspectives on a daily basis. People want to feel seen and cared for at their core. Ironically? Read more>>

Samantha Jordan

Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a military kid who moved more often than most adults ever will. New homes, new states, new people, new cultures. Every few years, the entire landscape shifted. Growing up that way teaches you to read people quickly. You learn to listen before you speak. Read more>>

Diamond Booker

I truly believe that if you are persistent, consistent, and actionable, the universe will listen and open so many doors for you. It’s so crazy looking back at my life at moments where I felt as if I had no clue what I was going to do, but the doors opened for me in such mind-blowing ways. Read more>>

Dawn Hoffman

I believe that we are all sparks of the same Creator. I believe when there are 10,000 names for ‘God,’ arguing about what someone else believe is silly. The point of this existence is to illuminate this light in each other. Read more>>

EDWARD GUSTS

Innate Talent. Do some people have a natural talent when it comes to acting, writing, or filmmaking? Yes. But… It doesn’t really matter. ‘Natural Talent’ is just potential energy. An affinity for something is great if it leads you to practice more and enjoy the process, but skills are developed over time. Read more>>

Brittany Brown

People often assume my job is just about “making things pretty” or playing with makeup all day, and while the glam part is definitely fun, it’s only a small piece of what I do. I’ve been a business owner and entrepreneur for 12 years, and there’s a whole world behind the scenes that most people never see. Read more>>

Ashley Southworth

One of the biggest misconceptions about interior design is that it’s purely about aesthetics — that designers simply “shop and decorate.” In reality, this line of work is an intricate blend of strategy, project management, and creative problem-solving. Every space we design requires an incredible level of organization, attention to detail, and foresight. Read more>>

Emily Guerra

I think a lot of people are quietly wrestling with this fear that they’re never doing enough. And underneath that, that they aren’t enough. Most folks won’t say it out loud, but you can see it in the way they push themselves past their limits, overbook their calendars, or stay glued to their laptops long after their brain has tapped out. Read more>>

Danny Falco

I believe that as human beings, we are all susceptible to our own personal struggles. Many of which we try to face privately. Often, these challenges are accompanied by feelings of guilt, shame, and other difficult emotions that can influence how we function, how we measure our self-worth, and even how we define our integrity. Read more>>

Victoria Burkard

That it isn’t meant to be explained—it’s meant to be felt. Different people will take different things from my work depending on where they sit within the culture. What I create becomes a time capsule of the tastemakers, creators, and community builders evolving in real time. I don’t think of myself as building a legacy so much as documenting one. Read more>>

Othmane El jadid

What most people will misunderstand about my legacy is that they will only see the results, not the reasoning. They might see the projects, the books, the events, the startups, the cultural initiatives, and think I was chasing success, visibility, or influence. They will mistake movement for ambition, and creation for hunger. But my story was never about fame or momentum. Read more>>

Sierra Howard

That you can create your own reality. I believe in the power of manifestation. My dad instilled this mindset in me since I was a little girl. The power of manifestation is real and you could create a positive outcome/reality for yourself if you believe it to be true and believe in yourself and your capabilities. Read more>>

Martha Lorentsen

A normal day for me is a mix of creativity, grounding rituals, and the small moments that make life feel designed with intention. I wake up early to make breakfast for my daughter, and then I carve out a quiet pocket of time for myself — usually an infrared sauna session, which I do four or five times a week. Read more>>

joza ink

A normal day for me always starts with movement and creativity. I wake up early, clear my mind, and get my energy right before I touch anything artistic. Then I head to the studio, that’s where I feel most alive. Read more>>

Josh LaCount

A normal day right now is basically a mix of creative problem-solving and building. I’m in full pre production mode for Coldemere, so every day looks a little different, but everything revolves around shaping the world of the film and keeping things moving forward. Read more>>

Tyler Visions

A normal day for me actually starts before I even touch my computer. As soon as I wake up, I hop on my cardio bike for a 30 minute ride. I have learned that if I wait, I will start making excuses so I go straight into it. Read more>>

Maria Zare

A “normal” day for me right now is very full, but in a way that I really enjoy. I wear a lot of hats in the business, so my day usually starts early. I’m typically up before everyone else, checking emails, reviewing production timelines, and looking over any design or manufacturing updates that came in overnight. Read more>>

Travis White

For a long time, I dimmed the light that made me… me. The part of me that loved creating, performing, leading, dreaming without limits. I softened myself to make other people comfortable. I hid my gifts to survive environments that weren’t built to hold the fullness of who I was becoming. Read more>>

Andrea Cordova-Caddes

The foundational truths in my life — honesty, connection, growth, somatic memory and the understanding that healing is a partnership — are so deeply ingrained in who I am that I rarely articulate them, yet they shape everything I do, how I live and how I relate to others. Honesty is the starting point for everything — healing, relationships, growth. Read more>>

Seiji Yamaguchi

One foundational truth in my life is how perspective can completely change the way you experience everything. It’s been close to me even before I had the word for it. I remember looking into the distance as a child and realizing that, even when I was observing my surroundings, it could look entirely different depending on how I felt inside. Read more>>

Karen Turadek

My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I became a mom. In that moment, I realized just how strong, capable, and grounded I truly was. Stepping into motherhood gave me a sense of purpose and confidence unlike anything I had ever experienced—it showed me that I could love fiercely, protect deeply, and rise to any challenge that came my way. Read more>>

Janiya Sherman

My earliest memory of feeling powerful would have to be pretty recently. I never thought of myself highly when I was younger and I didn’t really think I could make an impact in someone’s life unless it was my family. Read more>>

Nadira

I know I’ll regret it if I don’t travel to every country in the world. It’s something that’s been sitting in my heart for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Anna Abdulfazylova

I would regret not trying all the ideas I have — the bold concepts, the creative risks, the new approaches to décor and installations. I would regret not reaching out to larger brands, not proposing new services, not pushing the boundaries of what floral and event design can be. Read more>>

Markel Badallo

Not trying to be the best version of myself and becoming a true pro at what I do — the kind of pro that has that top 1% skill level. To get there, you have to continuously keep learning no matter how good you are. Having an open mind and absorbing everything from the people around you who are better than you. Read more>>

Will Rich

Telling the truth and living righteously. This way of being has caused great loss in my life because many don’t want to hear the truth. But we only have our convictions and the divine always knows if we have lived a life that serves that eternal energy. Read more>>

Renae Sophia Baca

Traveling around the world – I got my passport last year and still have not used it but I already have a saving to go to Japan very soon so I’m excited about it very much an can hardly wait to see thing I’ve imagined thru books for years as a child ! Read more>>

Camille Mejia

I think I’d regret not taking more chances to create and build experiences that bring people together. Whether it’s something to do with Pickle N Tequila or pursuing other passions, I’d regret playing it too safe and not putting myself out there to try new things, connect with people, and grow creatively. Read more>>

Brigitte Pollio

The cultural value I protect at all costs is the culture of freedom. I believe that freedom of thought, expression, and choice is the foundation of any healthy and creative society. Without freedom, there’s no room for innovation, art, or personal growth. Read more>>

Andrew Ow

We want to make the best games. We are a small company, so we’re not going to make a hundred million dollar budget game like Grand Theft Auto. But in the niche of puzzle adventure games, we just want to make the best ones. Read more>>

Jade Elora

There’s a classic trope about photographers: that we’re all behind the camera because we hate being in front of it. For me, that is definitely a reality; I’ve never enjoyed having my photos taken. When I first started in photography, I thought that I was an outlier and that most people were actually pretty comfortable with having their photos taken. Read more>>

Nicco Denton

That there’s no such thing as a “typical” customer — and that’s what makes it so rewarding. With SHAMS Gold, I’ve seen everyone from first-time beer drinkers to seasoned craft connoisseurs crack open a can and find something they didn’t expect. Age, background, beer knowledge — none of it predicts who’s going to fall in love with the flavor. Read more>>

Nicole Rangel

One of the most surprising things about my customers is just how much trust they give me throughout the design process. It genuinely means so much to see how strongly they believe in my work and vision. Many clients give me the creative freedom to transform their spaces, and that level of faith is something I’ll never take for granted. Read more>>

Katie Enright

The most surprising thing I’ve learned from our customers is how openly people want to talk about intimacy when they feel safe to do so. I expected a lot more hesitation or embarrassment, but instead there’s this incredible honesty that comes through when someone feels seen and not judged. Read more>>

Lara Shah

If I could have Mel Robbins speak to me all day, every day, in my ear like a little buzzy fly, that would be most ideal. Her books, podcasts, and speeches are so insightful and inspiring. There are many motivational thought leaders I enjoy, but she’s at the top of the list. Read more>>

David Ifediba

Yes, I would absolutely hire me. I’m a hardworking, driven, and charismatic leader who brings excellence and intentionality into everything I do. Whether in school psychology or real estate, I hold myself to a high standard and consistently deliver results, closing over $10 million in real estate volume across multiple states while also serving students and families in my district. Read more>>

Angeline Cruise

Yes, I would hire me. Not because I’m flawless — but because I’m relentless. I show up prepared, focused, and ready to elevate any story I’m part of. I’m drawn to bold worlds and dynamic characters: action, sharp comedy, powerful roles with presence and momentum. Read more>>

Clayton Guiltner

When I think about the kind of people I hire, I often use a simple analogy: it’s like a child wanting dessert before eating their broccoli. Everyone wants the dessert—the fun, flashy parts of filmmaking—but I’m looking for the people who can appreciate the broccoli, too. The ones who understand that the less glamorous work is what actually makes a film possible. Read more>>

Francesca Tardue

Yes—without hesitation. As a dog trainer, I bring not only years of hands-on experience but also mentorship and learning from some of the best in the field. What sets me apart is my work with truly challenging cases. Anyone can teach the basics like “sit” and “stay”—that’s the easy part. Read more>>

Matt Gerlach

Yes. I would hire me. And not because I think I’m perfect or because I have every answer, but because of how I work, how I listen, and who I’ve had to become in order to do this work. I’ve lived through the unraveling. I’ve had to rebuild from the inside out. Read more>>