“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.

Timothy Harrington | Founder Family WELLTH Management

For me, it’s all about authentic connection. It’s the foundation of everything I do—whether I’m helping families rebuild their relationships, collaborating with professionals, or just having a meaningful conversation. Authentic connection means showing up as you are, creating space for others to feel seen and heard, and building trust in a way that feels real. Read more>>

Lindsey Williams | Dancer, Aerialist and Choreographer

Self compassion has become really important to me. It wasn’t somthing I naturally gave myself growing up and I had to learn how to cultivate it. It allows me to make mistakes without letting severe judgment impact me. The reason that’s important is because then I can grow and explore as an artist instead of feeling locked down stagnant. Read more>>

Nikhilesh Singh | Filmmaker

Being a straight shooter – someone who operates with unwavering honesty, sincerity, and clarity – is the principle that matters most to me. This value has been the cornerstone of my journey from my early days in production to managing complex international projects today.

In an industry often characterized by its complexity and multiple stakeholders, being direct and truthful isn’t just a personal choice – it’s a professional necessity. Whether I’m working on award-winning features like “Not Today” or managing television productions with hundreds of thousands of viewers, maintaining clear, honest communication has been crucial to bringing visions to life successfully. Read more>>

Elena Roznovan | Artist, Educator & Mother

In my opinion authenticity is a very important value. Although it may sound simple, achieving true authenticity requires continuous introspection, vulnerability, and courage to live in alignment with one’s values, beliefs, and inner truth—even in the face of societal expectations or external pressures.

Authenticity fosters genuine connections with others because it creates space for honesty and trust. It also allows for greater personal fulfillment, as living authentically aligns your actions with your core identity, reducing inner conflict. Read more>>

Erin Sarile | Vintage Clothing and Coffee Shop Owner

I feel compassion is the foundation of growth and connection. My bio reads “vintage for all sizes and identities.” When curating vintage clothing, you’re confronted with history, a t-shirt is now a portal to the past. For example, dated phrases like “sports are for boys” or gender specified on tags, lack of people of color illustrated on designs, cultural appropriation and more. It’s a constant reminder of how we are still faced with many of the same oppressive limits today. My vintage collections can be a starting point to begin exploring broader pictures. Maybe you shop vintage or secondhand in efforts to be environmentally conscious, then you find it leads to being socially conscious as well, that’s my hope for my shop, to bridge this gap and celebrate untold stories. I’m realizing now as I’m sharing this, is ultimately, compassion brings a sense of belonging and safety in community where everyone is allowed to exist. Read more>>

Stephanie Lewis | Actress & Model

Transparency. I’ve learned not to expect honesty from people who lie to themselves. And so many people do in attempt to save themselves from shame in one way or another. But being totally honest is the road to freedom, and also creates trust. If we own all of our mistakes, short comings, or other faults, no other can use them against us. We don’t have to hide from ourselves, so we no longer have to hide from others either. This eliminates fear, and we open the way for authentic self to be met. Read more>>

Shah G. Onwuka | Actress

One of the principal values that maters to me most is authenticity. The pinnacle of discipline, hard work, gratitude and belief in oneself is authenticity -the ability to trust your gifts, your je ne sais quoi, and show up confidently as yourself. Authenticity guides us to find our purpose. Authenticity allows us to release attachment to outcomes, saves us from people pleasing and allows us to give a truly one of a kind gift to the world. Read more>>