“If you stand for nothing, you fall for everything”

We asked the community to tell us about the values and principles that guide their lives and businesses.

John White

Integrity. The main reason why I started a label was because I worked at a major label prior to the pandemic and I got to see all of the hands that were a part of every artists’ career. Those hands decided what they couldn’t and couldn’t do, taking ownership out of their hands and into somebody else’s. I think if you’re an artist, the most important thing is to be able to keep your integrity and do what you really want. It’s an expression of who you are as a person and how you see the world. I also think a team is important, but I think the overall creative decisions should come down to you solely. The legacy of my label, White Noise Records, is to be a home for artists who want to create freely without worrying about other hands, opinions, or ideas trying to control their narrative. Read more>>

Halley Strongwater

Loam is founded on the basis that helping more people interact with the natural world, through plant walks, medicine making overnights, or our products will help them value the earth more. When you start to appreciate the simplicity of plant-based medicine and skincare that can make a tremendous difference in your overall health without fragrance, chemicals or preservatives you start to realize how crucial it is to maintain the health of every ecosystem. Read more>>

Bernice Ye

Being authentic matters the most to me. At the beginning of my career, I had moments of self-doubt and felt pressured to conform to certain expectations. However, as I delved deeper into the essence of why I do what I do, I realized that my true passion lies in making genuine and real human connections. To achieve that, I needed to embrace my authentic self and let it shine. Read more>>

Austin Jay

For me, authenticity matters more than anything. I try to remain sincere and authentic in my music and how I present myself articlally to the world. I’ve been to a lot of music meetings where it felt like people were telling me how to talk, to dress, what image I must present, but I have to have the confidence to say no, this is who I am and this is what I want to say. All of the music artists I’ve ever loved have had a unique vibe, a differentness about them that made them stand out. They had the autheticity to be themselves and stand out. That is excactly the kind of artist I want to be. Read more>>

Rolando Aqui

Being honest, communication building trust making the right financial moves. Read more>>

Daniel de Souza

One of the most important values for me is authenticity. The reason behind this is that, through my photographs, I seek to capture genuine and real moments that reflect the essence of what I am photographing. Read more>>

Susan L. Chobanian

I place great importance on privacy and the best results for my clients because I understand the struggles they have to go through. Read more>>

Vyolet Blyck

Integrity. As an energy healer working with my client’s energy is an honor and a privilege. Choosing a healer to assist with your healing or rebalancing is a deeply personal decision. When I was first beginning I was co-creating an event with a yoga teacher and there was a mix up with the time and the event started an hour later. I didn’t think we should charge since what we promised was not delivered. The yoga teacher was so desperate for money she wanted to charge. We did not agree and I chose not to do the event because it was out of integrity for me. When working with clients I consider every touch point and want to ensure that someone who is trusting me and is paying for a particular experience that I am their safe space and ensure that they have an amazing experience. Read more>>

Jackie Liu

When things get tough, I always go back to gratitude. Appreciating what I already have – rather than what I desire – tempers the insatiable striving, makes failure more palatable, and allows me to live more mindfully by shifting my temporal focus from future to present. Gratitude also reminds me that my journey is not a solitary endeavor, that my successes are thanks to the support of countless people along the way. When I remember that I already have more than enough, I am able to approach the world through a lens of abundance, rather than scarcity – a foundation essential for germinating creativity. Read more>>