What’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?

We love rebels and people who challenge the status quo, conventional wisdom and mainstream narratives and so we asked some really bright folks to tell us about one piece of conventional advice they disagree with.

Ashlyn So | Fashion Designer and Activist

When I was in montessori preschool i learned to sew small things such as stuffed animals and christmas ornaments. I got older and at 6 years old I decided I wanted to go to a sewing class. I begged my mom to let me go and when I finally went for the first time, I fell in love with fashion and the idea of creation. I started sewing outside of class on my own at home and designed new things everyday. When I was 9 years old I was invited to show my collection in Texas and I designed and made a whole collection for the show. Soon my mom decided to document everything I was doing and put it on instagram. Soon after I started my fashion brand, Ashlyn So, and it has come a long way since. I have done a couple of NYFW and PFW. I most recently was able to show my collection at my first solo show in New York . I currently sell my pieces at ashlynso.com. Read more>>

Teju Aluko | Chief Experience Officer

This may be an unpopular opinion, but get the future out of your head as a business owner. Getting the future out of your head enables you to focus on what’s important now. We are perpetually taught to have a 5 year plan the minute we begin and continue our business journey & that’s just one piece of conventional advice that I disagree with. I’ve learned that if you make one decision, based on your trade-offs, said decision will alleviate many decisions to come — allowing you to focus on the now. I inherited this way of life from a book that transformed me, essentialism — it’s been the catalyst for my development over the years. It reinforces this notion. Read more>>

LIANNA | Singer-Songwriter

That you need to have a “backup plan” when you choose an Artistic career path. The truth is, you have to be ALL IN if you want to succeed, and have faith that the Universe has your back. The only difference between someone who has achieved their wildest dreams and the average person, is the desire to try and try and try again. Every successful person has failed more times than they can count, I guarantee you that. But failure is a great teacher in this life, and every failure brings you closer to achieving your dreams. And failure builds character(It is important I remember that too! Haha) Read more>>