We asked folks to tell us about the most important decisions they’ve made along their journey and have shared some of the highlights below.

Dr Jen Freed | Psychological Astrologer and Educator

My single best ongoing decision is to be transparent and authentic. I have never chased success because I wasn’t motivated by approval. My deepest desire is full self expression and to inspire that in others. My greatest joy is lighting up life in others and joining in the revelry of being totally human. Flaws are jewels in disguise. Read more>>

Michelle Gomez | Latina Spiritual Life Coach, Author, and Latina Mother Wound Healing Conduit

Making the pivot in January 2021 away from career coaching and spiritual life coaching, has been one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my business. I had experienced success as a career coach (i.e. full roster of clients, paid virtual speaking gigs, growing online community that followed my work), but it felt more like an obligation than a calling. Sometimes, you have to start a business with what you’re good at, in an effort to get things off the ground and revenue flowing. After two years of that, I was able to follow my path as a spiritual life coach and Latina Mother Wound healing conduit; facing the fear of ‘losing it all’ as I announced this pivot. Luckily, I had all the support from Divine Power, my family, clients and my online community to make this pivot and it feels great to stand in my truth and be able to help women heal through my offerings. Read more>>

Raymond Laurent | Actor and Writer

The most important thing I could have done is starting to work out at a young age. It shaped the way I live my life now since it taught me discipline. It all started in my freshman year of high school. I joined the football team, and I was terrible. We started doing early morning lifting sessions, and that is where I found my favorite thing to do. I began to lift weights on my own because it gave me a sense of achievement every time I broke my records. That feeling is what I am after anywhere in life. At times, you will hit a plateau but once you power through them, it is the greatest feeling of all time. All in all, I am trying to say that people should work hard for their achievements and not back down after hard times. Everyone can achieve what they want with strength and discipline. Read more>>

Patrick Dean | Songwriter and Musician

I would say making the decision to go to school was paramount in my music career. Being able to communicate using the language of music invaluable, especially when there is a language barrier between players. It is also important to know and understand the rules, if you intend to bend or break them. Read more>>

Ariel Mancanares | Aka Aryy, Musician

when after graduating Dental school and getting my Masters degree, I decided to leave it all behind and move to the US to pursue my dream of being an artist. Read more>>

LaRae Wilson | Film Producer, Writer and Costume Designer

The single most important decision I made was to never give up on my dreams and to never let ANYONE stand in my way even if that person is ME. Read more>>

Don Richardson | Comedian & Entrepreneur

The single most important decision I made that contributed to my success was following my dreams. My dad was the type of person who shot down dreams like a sniper with a laser cannon. I had already been taking acting class for a month before I finally decided I was going to tell him. And it wasn’t going to matter how mad he got. This was my decision. I’m grown man and I’m following my dreams whether he likes it or not. So one Saturday I told my dad about my dream of pursuing a career in modeling and acting, fully expecting him to shoot me down with “get a real job.” Much to my surprise he said, “go for it. You can do and be successful at whatever you want as long as you put your mind to and work hard at it.” Wait, WHAT?! Who is this guy and what did he do with my dad? I was in such a state of shock at his uncharacteristic approval that I was speechless. I’ll never forget it. Later that night my dad was killed in a car accident. Read more>>

Michael Hiller | Tax Accountant and Real Estate Broker

One of the single most important decision I’ve made that has been a key factor to my success has been never giving up on my dream. I think believing in yourself and in the work you want to put out into this world plays a huge role in anyones success. Yes I can say going to college was an important decision I made towards my career but I never was a great student and studying didn’t come naturally to me. However, no matter how hard a test was or even a job was I never gave up on myself. I always took it as a learning opportunity and as a push towards completing my dream of being a successful entrepreneur. Getting an education is important but believing in your dreams, never giving up and having the perseverance to take failure as learning opportunity is a vital key to anyones success. Read more>>

Rebecca Nguyen | Deitii – Musician, & Meditation Guide

I think the single most important decision I’ve ever made was to start going to therapy after a really bad car accident in 2016. Physically I was doing okay, but mentally I was not. The PTSD was intense and I started developing anxiety that began to impede my everyday life, making things that I would normally do like driving or cooking or even talking to people really difficult. I want to start off by addressing the stigmas and taboos surrounding mental health. Some believe it shouldn’t be talked about, some believe that “its all in your head.” These types of beliefs create a mindset of denial to our subjective experiences, and when we begin to reduce ourselves in this way, we start to look outward for validation and become increasingly disconnected from our own truth. After 2 years of weekly therapy, I’ve witnessed my levels of peace and positive connections increase the more I addressed my mental health concerns and talked about what was happening within me. Read more>>

Monique K. Rose | Fitness and Financial Consultant

One of the most important decisions I made that contributed to my success was improving my credit and shifting to a minimalist lifestyle. When I became a mom, I established financial goals for myself to ensure I could afford a quality lifestyle for my son but I didn’t have the credit score to live that lifestyle. I yearned learning more about financial literacy so I began reading books by Robert Kiyosaki, Napoleon Hill, and Patrice C Washington, just to name a few. As I learned, I grew passionate about applying what I learned but did not know how. So I enrolled in Financial Education Services as an agent to improve my credit score and learn various financial solutions. Little did I know that I would get paid to learn and help people by sharing the information and services. For example, my membership included credit my rent, which reported my monthly rent payments to the credit bureau, increasing my points 10-50 points monthly. Read more>>

Laura Santoyo | Production Designer

I would say the most important decision has two parts, first one is working with people that I admire and the second one is to choose projects that I believe in. I have been very fortunate to work with other successful production designers that were so generous sharing their knowledge and experience with me as well as working with very talented directors, producers, cinematographers, costume designers that inspired me and taught me so much and who challenge me all the time to be more creative. The decision of working in projects that are meaningful to me is also crucial because when I believe in the story we are telling I want to portray it in the best way possible. I think those are my two biggest motivations in my work, it’s what pushes me to be better every day. Read more>>

Lee Howard | Social Entrepreneur & Artisan Candle Maker

To not solely focus on the bottom line, but to be intentional in creating a beautiful high-end product line that provides an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I made the decision to model my company after the scripture verse Philippians 2:3-4 that says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others”. Doing this has given me the passion and drive to ​keep going even in the hard times. Read more>>

Ayla Kell | Actor, Producer, Writer, Musician & Professional Human

Walking away from a career. I danced professionally for years and was contemplating company contracts with a burdensome heart. I was 18 and already felt the pains of the stress on my body. The toll it took on my physically made me fall out of love with it mentally. I had worked my entire life for what I had in front of me… and I hated it. I had fought, bled, killed myself for ballet- all with a tiara and lipstick on. Dance was all I had ever known, it was the plan. I finally admitted to myself this wasn’t what I wanted my future to be. I walked away. I ran away. I would say I danced away, but that might be dramatizing. I for the first time in my entire life had no plan. Nowhere to be for the first day ever. I was able to sit and ponder for myself what was it that I did love about dance for so long. It was storytelling. I love telling stories and taking an audience with me. Read more>>

Janelle Renee Pearson | Director | Writer | Producer | Actor

It’s a decision that I make every moment of every day, which is to do in spite of fear, to show up every day for what I love even when I’m scare shitless I’m going to fail. Subsequently I’ve also had to decide to give myself grace on the days where it doesn’t feel like I’m showing up as my “best”. I’ve learned and truly believe that the biggest obstacles that I’ve faced in my career/life have had to do with my perspective and the stories I tell myself that keep me stuck and unwilling or unmotivated to create. It’s been a process but I’ve felt more momentum in my career as I decided that no matter how things “looked” on the outside every day that I show up to get to do what I love and what I want I AM successful. Read more>>