One of the most important lessons we learned is that our lives and our businesses will teach us along the way. We don’t need to know everything on day one because the challenges we face on day will likely be ones we are already equipped to handle. As we overcome challenges we get better and better and as the challenges increase in difficulty so too does our ability to tackle them.

We asked members of the community that we admire to share important lessons their business or career has taught them and have shared some of those responses below.

Douglas Sweet | Photographer

No is not the end of the world. A no isn’t personal, it isn’t a failure, it’s just a no. You can’t be afraid of a no or failure for that matter . Both are indicators that there’s another path you should be trying to find or build. What you have to offer isn’t for everyone. If you keep getting a no and you believe in your soul that what you’re doing is your path, then build your own way or take an honest look at what you’re attempting and make sure the problem isn’t you. Read more>>

Jess Engle | Artist & Illustrator

By far the most transformative lesson I’ve learned is how to be an artist. Not just in work, but in every moment. To stop placing value on my output, and orient myself to being fully present in the process of creating. This has meant stopping a lot of the things I thought I had to do to run a business, things like regularly updating social media, that took more of my energy than they gave in return. I’ve learned how to slow way down from the fast-paced life I’d adopted in NYC, to create enough space in my days to be able to see the beauty around me. Tuning in to a different rhythm of life. It’s from this space, this rhythm, that creation flows naturally. I can’t always get there, but usually when things start feeling too forced I know that rather than keep pushing, it’s better for me to step back. Read more>>

Mel Frontino | Owner and Head Flower Chick at The Flower Social

It has taught me not to be afraid to set into something you are curious about! I simply loved flowers as a hobby and wasn’t super clear on what I wanted to create within the space of floral design, but as I stepping into doing what I loved more the ideas came flowing and the business was born. Read more>>