We asked some brilliant folks from the community to tell us about the most important lesson their business or career has taught them. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Adam Thacker | Videographer, Editor, Visual Effects Artist & Animator

That lesson actually came pre-career, while I was still at Ithaca College. During my freshmen year, a professor in a required class (who was well aware most of us were all there because it was required, and not out passion for box office and budget analysis) would often tell stories about his time working in the film industry to keep us engaged. One story he told was this almost unbelievable chain of events on how he went from a very entry level position to much, much higher up purely by asking if he could get promoted. Read more>>

Jaeda Stone | Multidisciplinary Artist: Dancer, Singer, Actress, Model, and more

I think the biggest lesson I had to learn, and am still accepting, is that a performer’s career is filled with endless learning. There is never a moment where we as artists know it all. I thought I had to know it all the moment my adult career started. Well, it has started… still don’t know everything and I don’t want to. Besides being physically impossible, it would be so boring! There is so much joy in growing and learning new things in each class I take, or from every mistake I make? Each lesson we learn shapes us, the ever-evolving artist, helping us find new limits to push in our art as we become better artists. Read more>>

Michael Sartain | CEO and Founder of Men of Action Mentoring

The most important lesson is that you really have to focus on providing a solution for the customer. When you come in with an idea of what the customer wants, but they tell you they want something different, you need to be dispassionate. You have to set aside your ego and focus solely on what the customer needs. Sometimes, you might be solving a problem the customer doesn’t even want solved; they just want to feel better. Read more>>

Adam Parrot | Tattooer and Illustrator

There’s always room for improvement. It’s important to constantly outdo your previous attempts at something and never settle even if it’s the easy way. Read more>>

Marifer Gomez | Fashion Designer- Crochet

The most important lesson my business has taught me is keep going even when you feel like you’re failing. It’s incredibly hard to do but I have a support system that helps me when I’m down. I’ve also learned that you only really fail when you stop trying. Read more>>