We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until you’re clear on what your values and principles are. Without values and principles to guide you, making decisions can seem impossibly difficult. Given how important setting values and principles is to decision making we asked folks we admire to tell us about the values or principles that matter most to them.

Sam Stokes | Musical Artist

Art and music an incredible form of servitude. It is an opportunity to transmute your pain in a way that helps someone else transmute their pain. It is a way to gift someone hope so they may feel inspired for tomorrow. It is a reflection of an honest human experience that is relatable to any human experience. Music and art is my form of service and gift to the world. Read more>>

Chaim Machlev | Tattoo Artist & Designer

I take tattooing very seriously. For me, since the result of the process can never be 100% perfect as the medium is on live and breathing skin and is a handmade craft, I feel like I need to do everything I can that my starting point will be as close as possible to perfection. I tattoo one client a day, I do not tattoo everyday and I don’t have other tattoo artists working around me in my studio, nor other clients. Read more>>

Mary Crescenzo | Author, playwright, Jazz singer, teaching artist and public speaker on arts advocacy

Honesty. I this is my abiding principle because deception is a waste of time. Read more>>

Morgan Thompson | Director, Storyboard Artist, and Children’s Book Illustrator

To me, the most important value you can have in life is to have fun. When something is fun, then you’re more likely to continue to come back to it even when you’re frustrated. It’s why I love having an artistic career. I’ve worked in storyboards and kidslit for the past few years and I wouldn’t keep going back if I didn’t enjoy what I was doing. Read more>>

Joslyn Rose Lyons | Award Winning Director, Executive Producer, Filmmaker

I value authenticity. And in order to create great work, I believe we must align with what is authentic to ourselves. I value this principle because in order for our work to be authentic, we must first be vulnerable, and vulnerability requires courage. I value the courage to create. Read more>>

Courtney Sell | Filmmaker & Artist

Integrity and being entirely honest with yourself. As a Filmmaker and Artist, it’s certainly easy to fall down or be lead astray on the wrong path with enticing offers from others that eventually leave you hung out to dry. While they may feel promising at first, if, in your gut you don’t feel entirely into it, it’s best to simply walk away. I’d certainly tripped up many times in the early days of my career and now I simply listen closely to my heart and soul with each project I either accept or make myself. Read more>>

Dena Dawson | Celebrity Nail Artist & Creative

Integrity. Integrity is your reputation’s currency. Read more>>

Sam Sedghizadeh | Antique dealer & Retails & Modeling Agency

The most important principle is transparency and being humble and have manners and not giving up on your dreams and don’t ever compare yourself to one another because everyone coming from different backgrounds and different life paths Read more>>

Sarah Carroll | Model •|• Aspiring Nurse •|• Mother

There are many values that matter to me such as discipline, consistency, optimism, etc. but the principle that is most important to me is integrity. Staying true to myself is one of the best things I’ve done along my journey. As a model, I am exposed to all different types of people, habits, and environments. Read more>>

Bianca Turner | Artist/Painter

I appreciate when someone has integrity. Being ethical is also something very important for me. And of course, I consider that common sense is necessary in our day by day modus operandi. I hate the hypocrisy and when people are taking the persons who are modest, nice and polite for granted. Unfortunately, in the world of art I’ve met a lot of artists and art curators who were not trustworthy and just took advantage of any possible collaboration for their own goods. Read more>>