People often ask about the best decision, but we think it’s also very enlightening to learn about people’s most difficult decisions and the frameworks they used to think through those decisions.

Mecyia Elaine | Fashion model & Content Creator

The most difficult decision I’ve had to make was to put action behind every thought that would contribute to building myself. It was scary to go within and truly understand my weaknesses as well as my strengths. I had to make a choice to push through getting a trade, working, and having my grandmother on hospice in my home. Making those decisions to strive for the best out of life is what she wanted for her grandchildren. The decision to move forward and grab life by the neck was truly inspired by her and my mother. Read more>>

Giulia Corda | Writer & Filmmaker

I came to the United States after an early career working for RAI, the Italian national broadcaster (our BBC). Things are changing in Italy now as well, but at the time I was convinced that a writer had to wait for inspiration to produce their best work. Around the first days of school at USC one of my professors mentioned a quote that stuck with me. It is a pretty famous one, but I hadn’t heard it before. Read more>>

Chris Fritton | Letterpress Printer and Author

Don’t have heroes. It’s great to have people that you admire; it’s great to have aspirations, but the moment you elevate someone to the level of a hero, their success becomes an obstacle to your own success. It can plague you with feelings of inadequacy, and instead of making your own way, you’ll constantly be comparing your progress to theirs, and their achievements to your own. Read more>>

Jesymar Claro | Custom gifts designer

As silly as it might sound, probably the most valuable lesson I have learned is that I can do it. I have been doing it and I can do anything that comes through my mind. Jesy Decorations has been a reality check for this. It has taught me that I am capable of completing challenging tasks and achieving many things I always saw very far from reality. When I was younger, I dreamed about being any kind of art teacher. Nowadays, I get the opportunity to teach my art to both the English and Spanish community and positively impact people with my custom gifts. Read more>>

Meera Vaidya | Creative Producer

From the very beginning of my education and when I started working the one thing I kept in mind was making the best out of every opportunity given to me. For every opportunity, what mattered the most was what I did with it. I realized that each job and project allowed me to grow and pave way for even more opportunities. Read more>>

Jad Mallah | Actor

The most important lessons my career as an actor taught me is that patience and commitment is key. we actors start excited with so much hopes of getting roles and then we get surprised when we get rejected and start questioning ourselves ” am i a good actor ? ” ” Am i that bad ? ” oh man i think im not capable of doing this ” Read more>>

Alana Lah” Nedd | Actor | Digital Entertainer “

I think the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make is the one that I’m still making everyday. The decision to pursue a career in the acting/entertainment field rather than a more “traditional” career. And I can honestly say everyday it is an extremely difficult because life is happening everyday and it doesn’t care about what bills you have to pay or the vacation you desperately need or the family that needs your help. Read more>>

Whitney Woods | Go getter

The most difficult decision I’ve had to make/ am currently making is remaining consistent through it all. Of course it’s easy to be consistent on a good day. It’s the bad days that require you to reach deep inside and pull out the will to keep going. Having to push through on bad, sad, moody days is the real challenge. I used to think it was all about conquering fear until i realized that we’re all scared, we’re doing it anyway. Read more>>

Kelsey Mitchell | The First Black Female Hookah Lounge CEO/Owner in LA

There are so many lessons when starting a business and it changes when you’re maintaining your business probably even gets difficult as your business progresses.The ultimate lesson within it all is TO BET ON YOURSELF taking that LEAP OF FAITH that what you’re doing is the right decision and it’ll be all worth it the end. I guess so to say my business always taught me to believe in myself. Read more>>

Alicia Coulter | DE&I Executive

My business has taught me many lessons, however, the success from my business has taught me the most. I want to set the foundation prior to sharing exactly what my business success has taught me. When I obtained the LLC for Advantage Health Now, I thought, “hey, let me get this LLC to protect my side hustle.” As time proceeded, my side hustle turned in to my full-time career that I absolutely love, adore, and do not take for granted. Read more>>