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.
Brett Rein
I’m stubborn to a fault—I once passed out on the side of a mountain during a winter race because I refused to quit. I’ve always believed I could outwork anything. But after years of wandering—two master’s degrees, odd jobs, living in my car, moving states, and working my way up in education—I found myself completely miserable. Read more>>
Meredith Brooks
Yes! I wanted to give up when i was not patient and in the beginning of my journey with Lil’ Angel I felt that i should be getting commissions when noone even knew about me or understood my process. I wanted to give up on the whole idea of pursuing an art career. Read more>>
Meghan Landry
People love to use the phrase ‘art for all’ because it sounds inclusive. But from what I have seen firsthand behind the slogan, art is often still gated by money, location, privilege, ability, or who feels “welcome” in the space. Read more>>
Shannon Mack
I’m being called to let go of control and any attachment to outcomes. Consequently, I’m also being called to slow down to a natural human pace. It has felt safer for me to move faster than is healthy—essentially to trip over myself. At least then, I have “evidence” that I’m making progress as an artist, that I’m not letting opportunities slip through my fingertips. Read more>>
David Wilkerson
Success refines your technique; suffering shapes your voice. Suffering teaches humility, compassion, and resilience. Those dark days force you to confront your limits and discover new ones. Success rarely asks you to question who you are, but suffering demands it. And in that confrontation, you grow in ways that make you more grounded, more self-aware, and more capable of seeing yourself and others clearly. Read more>>
Mario & Kelly Crobu
I think that while ‘suffering’ might not be the right word (or maybe it is, lol!), one of the biggest lessons we have learned while building our business is the value of being ‘scrappy’. We have found that you learn more lessons when you are stretched than when things are handed to you. Read more>>
Jill Lees
As a child, I used to believe I was weird and not worthy of friendships. I carried that feeling for a long time without realizing how untrue it was. Through a lot of inner-child work, I’ve come to see myself in a completely different way. I’m quirky, kind, fun, and absolutely worthy of love and connection. Read more>>
Holly Sisa
Treating people like humans and remembering that people are human. Read more>>
Sharon Dickerson
I hope the story people tell is that I cared—truly and wholeheartedly. That I treated every person who walked through my doors with compassion, respect, and a belief in their ability to heal. Read more>>
Michael Gault
When I get in the zone in the studio, time seems non-existent. I’ve been a professional artist for 50 years, so my regular job is to go into my studio. The best studio days are the days when I start a new painting or the follow-up days where I’m building the painting and not dealing with the business side of things. Read more>>
Jaiya Jermulowske
One project I’m deeply committed to, no matter how long it takes, is developing the Babysitter Academy Hub. This hub is designed as a central resource for new and aspiring babysitters, particularly those in middle school or high school who are eager to empower themselves and start their own babysitting ventures within their communities. Read more>>
Tatianna Clanton
A moment that truly shaped how I see the world was becoming a single mom and stepping into my own place for the first time. That season forced me to rewrite the story I’d always been told — about what motherhood “should” look like, what being in your 30s “should” look like, and what women are “supposed” to do with their dreams. Read more>>
Beezo
When I started my business, I was living in New Orleans for my whole life. In Spring 2016 I took a train ride to California to promote my clothing brand and myself at the HighTimes Cannabis Cup. Before this my only time traveling was for Hurricane Katrina when we were forced to evacuate. Read more>>
Jesse Priest
For me, energy is the most important. Intelligence and integrity are both valuable, but energy determines how those qualities are expressed and felt by others. You can’t fake or manipulate genuine energy — it’s something people naturally respond to. Read more>>
Lisa Touzinsky
Ha. Definitely not tap dancing, though I might wear some tap shoes tomorrow just to drive my colleagues crazy 😇. I actually don’t think we need to be crazy excited about our careers. I really like what I do, find it to be a good contribution to the world, and in general love working with other nurses, but honestly my job is my job. Read more>>
Nelson Pratts
I avoid nothing, I address it all the fearful, the hurtful, the uncomfortable because avoiding means you are not clearing the clutter that allows the space needed for your growth. Read more>>
Mike Moore
I believe that our childhood is shaped by quality time and experiences with friends and family and no toy or ‘thing’ will shape your character as much as the sum of those experiences. When we are old and we look back we can only hold on to our memories and our health and those experiences we’ve chosen and who we’ve chosen to share them with. Read more>>
Bryce Fluker
How it works in general. That is why I typically schedule a Zoom session with potential clients; I emphasize that they don’t necessarily have to be on camera, but I like to share my screen to show them the communication method, platform used, and types of data that I will be analyzing to better tailor each workout to them and their goals. Read more>>
Nikki Novak
The most misunderstood thing about my business is the name of what I do: “permanent jewelry.” It’s honestly a terrible name! At markets, people often approach my booth with this cautious, almost nervous tone and ask, “So…what exactly is permanent jewelry?” I get it—when I first heard the term myself, I assumed it had something to do with piercings or tattoos. Read more>>
Samantha Archuleta
A meandering career means there are moments of exploration. Moments of setting a destination, walking the path towards it, and then realizing there is a turn towards a new destination that calls a little louder. There was a time where was I walking the path toward a Doctorate in the medical field. Read more>>
Robert N. Ruesch
Smart people do not realize that there is a saving grace in Jesus Christ. Smart people rely on their intellect when their knowledge comes from the highest power, the creator of our universe. When people, anyone, realize that we are created from intelligent design, then the magic of living happens. Read more>>
