“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.

Jordan Parrish | Model, Creative, & Entrepreneur

Integrity. This firm adherence is something that I find many people are often afraid of, but I’ve found it to be immensely freeing in both opening up and expanding my moral and creative values. I’m quite an open-minded person, always looking for opportunities to learn from other people and experiences. In knowing what I believe and why I believe it, I then feel that I’m afforded the chance to tailor and alter my view(s) and beliefs. It sounds like a dichotomy but it’s served me well and has greatly increased my worldview while protecting what means most to me. Read more>>

Ali Starrlight | Recording Artist & Songwriter

The principle of integrity is my north star. Integrity with yourself, listening to that inner voice telling you something is not right or to definitely take the risk thats real to you, a life you want. When it comes to my writing process, there’s a moment when I know I dug deep enough to grab the right lyric for the pocket, for the moment. When it comes to preparing to get up on stage the work matters so I can let it all go and be in the moment. Taking care of my body and soul to live the life I want, so I cant continue to create, this is all guided by integrity within myself. It was also one of the valued principles my father lived by who was one of the biggest influences on my life, R.I.P. dad. Read more>>

Anne Staveley | I am a artist creator, a builder, a photographer, a mother, a friend, a partner, a lover of nature, and a human:)

My values and principles actually have changed a lot recently, in April 2023, I had to have emergency brain surgery to remove a 2 1/2 inch cyst from the back of my brain. I have to say that changed everything. So there is The ME before and The me after. The question I have been contemplating over the last eight months is who am I. Because I feel so good now, and in that reflection, I realized how not good I have felt for many years. It’s a process from stepping out of doing an into being. This process actually started after taking the circle of doors, tarot project to Burning Man in 2022, I arrived back in Santa Fe with covid totally worn out from the past eight months of working and hustling to get our art installation out there, thinking… “what the fuck am I doing, I am going to kill myself” so I stopped… and then the brain tumor really stopped me. Surrender, acceptance and patience was my mantra over and over and still is. Also, the question of how do I want to spend my time, I turned 55 this year. And I actually had the realization, that I had done enough, 25 year career and portrait, photography, large scale, photo muralist, an amazing collaboration with Jill Sutherland creating the circle of doors tarot, and so many other beautiful, artistic endeavors. I built my own house, raised two amazing children , who are doing great in the world. I did it!! Anything else I do or accomplish is just icing on the cake :-). I have learned to high-five myself often. If you put it in” values or principles” . I truly value the opportunity to have life on this earth. To be present and available, active, loving the people in my life. Open honest, authentic vulnerable relationships, the space to be in nature and move my body daily, laugh with friends. and to let go, let and let some more of those old places and patterns in ourselves that are not serving us and that are causing us suffering. Can I show up as my true self, I think only now, for the first time in my life I really understand what that is. Be kind to the Earth, and to each other, this has been a really hard one to even understand what it is, but forgiveness, of myself most of all, tomorrow’s a new day 🙂 the people will show up who are meant to be there. No grasping, no making, no needing no wanting no pushing no pulling… What does allowing feel like? A deep long exhale with a side of surrender Read more>>

Julie Orr | Owner & Director of Art Lessons LA, Artist

To me, bravery is one of the most admirable qualities in a person. A lot to times we see uber successful people at their peak, whether it’s an Olympian or Grammy award-winning musician, but don’t witness their failures and struggles along the way. In the book “Outliers,” Malcom Gladwell, analyzes different success stories and says he has yet to see a person get “lucky” with their success. He argues that people at the top have commonalities: they put in a very high amount of work, face difficulty, and seize an opportunity. There is no success without hardship so I believe you have to be brave enough to endure difficult times, naysayers, and disappointments, in order to be a master at something. Read more>>

Joseph Focil | General Contractor / Business Owner

The principle that matters most to me is integrity. I feel integrity is the essence of a persons character which cant be shaken or broken. Adhering to a strong moral compass is my pholsophy to building long term relationships. Those who live there life with this virtue surround themselves with great people. Even when your world may be fallen apart and the easiest path may seem to cut a corner, you push yourself to move in the right direction. Integrity is what connects your character to your soul. Something so powerful that cant be changed. Read more>>