Deciding to work for yourself is often cited as the best decision folks in our community have made. Hearing the same response over and over led us to ask them about the next best decision folks have made and we’ve shared their responses with you below.

Rita Liu | Illustrator & Tattoo Artist

I was born in Los Angeles, California, and my parents brought me back to China when I was very young. I attended primary school and junior high school in China, and my introduction to painting was in the sixth grade. At that time, I loved watching anime and began to copy the characters I saw on TV. My parents were always supportive of my decisions and dedicated to nurturing my interests. When they learned about my passion for painting, they helped me enroll in a formal painting class. It was then that I started to study art systematically. During my time in the hobby class, my teacher provided me with a lot of encouragement and praise, which sparked the idea of turning my hobby into a career. In high school, I returned to Los Angeles and began to create an art portfolio for college applications. Read more>>

Jared Tavasolian | Health Coach, Pain specialist and Trainer

Living an Authentic life begins with feeling good in our bodies. So many folks struggle with digestive distress, nagging injuries, bone-tired exhaustion, and stress that steals their joy. In my practice, I guide people back home to themselves – to tune into the wisdom of their bodies. When we come out of the dark, fend off scarcity, and stop hustling to prove our worth, we can respond to life’s challenges instead of reacting from that crowded place of discomfort. We can begin to lovingly address the shame and fears underlying our physical unease. We have to put on our own oxygen masks first before assisting others. Parenting my son Jaiden is the most important brave work I do. More than my words, he absorbs my actions and integrity day-to-day. Read more>>

Kevin Gerald | Singer Songwriter/Performer

In my experience, once I decided to make music my business, I found that I had to make decisions everyday. I try not to place too much value on the importance of any one decision because, for me, once I classify a decision as “important,” I begin to lose track of the enjoyment of the process and focus too much on the outcome. I define my success as a singer songwriter/performer in terms of how many people am I able to reach with my music. Hopefully, the numbers will always be growing. Of course the financial aspects of business are important and I think we all want to to thrive financially. If you’re like me, it’s deciding everyday to take on the necessary creative, promotional and educational challenges to make it happen. Read more>>