Society has its myths about where we learn – internships, books, school, etc. However, in our conversations with some of the most interesting and trailblazing entrepreneurs and creatives we noticed the biggest lessons they learned about work often came from unexpected sources. We’ve shared some of those responses below.
Jeffrey Pickett
Absolutely. I live by the motto that anything worth doing is worth doing well. I approach each piece of artwork as if it could hang in the Louvre, every animation as if it might be reviewed by Pixar, and every graphic as if it will be measured against the work of Milton Glaser or Andy Warhol. Read more>>
Katie Vaughan
Absolutely. I’ve never done my best for recognition or praise—what really drives me is seeing the people around me thrive. Whether it’s supporting my team, helping a member succeed, or just making sure things run smoothly, I give everything my best because I care about the impact it has, not the applause. Read more>>
Bill Bradshaw
Everyone enjoys praise and affirmation; however, they do not determine the motivation behind performing at the top of my game. In order to give my best, I have to remove all the distractions and personal hurdles that life throws at me. Read more>>
Jeff Miguel
I think my students would miss the lessons, classes, and ensembles I teach. Read more>>
Ire Evans
My customer service and my personal touch Read more>>
Chad Chisholm
My problem solving skills both in pre-production and on set. In hospitality, things change constantly and there is always something that comes up. In the 20 years that I’ve been shooting commercially, I’ve been able to navigate those spaces and I believe my clients appreciate that skillset and would miss that on-set energy. Read more>>
Mariah Medina
To me, bonds can break when people stop really seeing each other. Life gets busy, distractions pile up, and connection fades. What restores them is slowing down and being present. Whether that’s through conversation, shared experiences, or even art. Photography, for example, has the power to remind us of what we might overlook and bring people back to a place of connection. Read more>>
Jen M Torres
At the core, it’s trust. Trust is what holds relationships, teams, and communities together. And when it’s broken—whether through harm, miscommunication, exclusion, or power being misused—it creates distance. It makes people shut down, pull away, or protect themselves. Sometimes that rupture is loud, like a conflict or betrayal. Read more>>
Patricia L. Meek
For me, this is a complex question. Healing is an inside job. The hero’s journey is the archetypal “road less traveled,” which is an invitation to turn inward and tend to our own inner orphans first. When we learn to sit with our shadow, dare I say to love our brokenness, we become capable to extend more compassion to others. Read more>>
Rustin Hughes
What breaks bonds between people? Fear. Pride. Misunderstanding. When people stop listening to each other and start seeing differences as barriers instead of bridges, connection begins to unravel. Pain isolates us, and when we hide our struggles instead of sharing them, we drift apart. What restores bonds? Vulnerability. Empathy. Presence. Read more>>
Ashley Ellis
Consistency and honesty are the building blocks of any relationship. Lack in either is what breaks most bonds in society. As a professional I have learned that being honest with a client even when it’s saying I can’t do what they’re asking has a better chance of maintaining integrity and trust. Providing consistent results maintains the longevity of each individual. Read more>>
Jason Polk
What breaks the bonds between people is essentially too much selfishness. For example, if I operate in a relationship where my needs are prioritized, and I expect you to recognize and meet them at all costs, then that’s likely to break the bond with the person I’m in a relationship with. It’s a ‘power-over’ way of thinking, rather than a ‘power-with’ way. Read more>>
Tonia Martinez
In my experience, the bond between people often breaks when trust is eroded. Whether through miscommunication, lack of transparency, or unmet expectations. In both the workplace and in life, when people don’t feel seen, heard, or valued, connection begins to fade. Silence, avoidance, and assumptions can quietly fracture even the strongest relationships. Restoration begins with vulnerability, accountability, and a commitment to honest dialogue. Read more>>
Jennifer Ward
I think what breaks the bonds between people is disconnection—when we stop seeing each other clearly, stop listening, or stop making time for real moments of presence. It happens when we feel too busy, too guarded, or too exhausted to show up fully. Add in a culture that often celebrates hustle over heart, and it’s easy to drift apart, even from ourselves. Read more>>
Grace Hall
Often times people hear the words ‘professional organizer’ and they assume that I’m ‘type A’ or ‘perfectionist’ Actually, quite the opposite is true. To be a great organizer you have to be okay with not knowing the right answer, constantly trying new things, problem solving and thinking creatively. Read more>>
April Stites
As the owner and an interior designer at A Lue Designs, a prevalent misconception regarding interior designers is that our role is merely to enhance aesthetics. In truth, this perception is quite misleading. Read more>>
Alicia Ramos
One of the biggest misunderstandings about the aesthetics business is that it’s simply “beauty treatments” or vanity services. In reality, medical aesthetics is a highly skilled field that blends science, artistry, and patient care. Practitioners aren’t just making people look good—they’re addressing skin health, confidence, and often complex conditions like acne scarring, pigmentation, or aging concerns that can deeply affect self-esteem. Read more>>
Lauren Hribek
I think the biggest thing that is misunderstood, or pershaps better put by saying unthought of, is the immense work, time and heart that goes into the a session outside of the face to face 75 minutes. Much effort goes into creating a class even before someone steps into the studio. Read more>>
Kent Youngblood
Although film and video production is creative, there’s also a lot of problem solving involved. Schedule hiccups, budget increases, location issues, crew and equipment bookings… there are logistical and technical problems that need be solved all the time to keep everything moving smoothly. Read more>>
Jodie Roth Cooper
People see only a tiny part of what goes into the work artists do to survive. I think the perception can be that as an artist one leads a relatively simple life, where one just goes about their business of making art and getting paid to do so. The reality of the complexities and stresses involved are starkly different. Read more>>
Melissa Parr
Many people believe that interior designers are too expensive, but I’m here to dispel that misconception. Sheer Interiors offers affordable design services that provide value and timeless style, all for an hourly fee with no minimums, allowing clients to use our services as much or as little as needed at any stage of their project. Read more>>
Viper Cameron Lovell
Acknowledging these silent struggles is the first step to creating a healthier, more empowering space for artists, models, and creatives alike. Read more>>
Dennis Herrera
I think people are struggling with finding their creativity. It’s an often overlooked avenue to sooth ones crowed mind. Change the way things look..not what they are right now. The escape. Read more>>
Shannon Price
So many people are secretly suffering from mental illness because they’re afraid of being judged. They’re scared their struggles will be seen as weakness, or that others will treat them differently. So they smile, they keep quiet, and they carry the weight alone. Read more>>
Katie Sutton
The important truth that very few people agree with me on is this: we evolve through our emotions. Emotions are not scary or “bad”—they are the KEY to nervous system regulation, healing, transformation AND connection. Society has taught us that negative emotions are dangerous and that feeling them will trap us, but that’s simply not true. Read more>>
Samantha C. Prestidge
An important truth I’ve learned is that business can be both simple and human. Most people will nod their heads at that idea, but very few actually execute it well. Somewhere along the way, simplicity gets mistaken for laziness, and being a good human gets mistaken for being a pushover. Read more>>
Matthew Lee Moore
Profit doesn’t drive me. Obviously it matters, but it is not my focus. Most people assume that if you run a business, your main goal is to scale fast and make as much money as possible. For me, that’s not it. What drives me is having a balanced life. Being home for dinner. Taking my kids to school. Not missing these years while they’re young. Read more>>
Tiffany King
My painting day actually begins the night before, when I carefully pack my backpack with all my oil paints, brushes, panels, pochade box, and enough food and water to last a full day in the wilderness. At 5 AM, I leave the house and head toward the mountains, which are still cloaked in darkness. Read more>>
Molly Box McCarty
My day is the true definition of work/life balance! Or having it all. Or living just on the edge of chaos, I’m not sure which! My husband leaves very early for his job, so I rouse, feed, and dress the kids every morning. I try to get in a workout before or after dropping our oldest daughter off at school. Read more>>
Tyler Vrtiska
Working a 7am-4pm maintenance job for apartments and then I stream almost daily at 7pm until 10pm Read more>>
Mike Crofts
My day usually starts with my puppy who likes to wake up around 4:30am every morning. Usually consists of taking him out on walks, playing with him without waking up my wife too much, and generally setting myself up for the day of work and other things needing to be done. Read more>>
Destiny Auckerman
A typical day for me begins with a morning walk with my dog Willow, followed by breakfast and photo session editing. Then I head into the mountains, where I have the privilege of capturing unforgettable moments for the amazing couples I work with. Read more>>
Marissa Schulze
One of the reasons I started Haymaker Marketing is because I wanted to time to travel, and that is what I’m doing right now! Currently, I’m in a seaside town in Portugal–so my day starts with a good look at the ocean, and then I usually walk to a local cafe and get some work done. Read more>>
CJ Jaramillo
Well, to break this down in the best way, I wake up and grab my coffee and head out the door to work. To be honest I really am a little out of the norm when it comes to work. I’m a blue collar woman that loves to model so I guess you can say I’m the best of both worlds. Read more>>
Tuneishia Harris
My relationship with my son has shaped how I see myself more than anything else. Becoming his mother gave me a mirror; it showed me both my strengths and the areas where I needed to grow. Read more>>
