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.

Kayla Leiws | Community Engagement Specialist and Program Designer

Self-compassion is the most important lesson I have learned. I grew up in a hard-working black family. From an early age, I was told that I had to be better than the rest of my peers due to being a black woman. Over the course of my academic and professional career, I have sailed to great heights due to my actions that have stemmed from such a belief. Although success has accrued over time, such narratives left a deficit in the love that I showed to myself. During this past year, I have worked hard to undo harmful narratives that have propelled my previous success. Read more>>

Kimberly “kimik’al – K.i.m.s.productions Samuels | Studio Manager/Producer/Audio Mix/Master Engineer

The most import lesson that my career has taught me is to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Listening is a very important characteristic to have in the music business/industry. Everyone is so quick to want to be heard but they never listen first. In my line of work this is a must. It is also a key factor to having future business endeavors with clients who require you to listen to their needs as well as their expectations. My grandmother would always say if you don’t listen you will miss the lesson. Read more>>

Sarah Hubbard | Art Quilter & Nature Lover

The most important lesson I’ve learned is to always be creating and paying attention for moments of inspiration. Making something or writing doesn’t happen just in the studio. You carry it with you in all aspects of your life. You have to put yourself in the way of life to be inspired to create something. Complacency has no place in a creative life. You must keep your imagination alive and active. You have to have experiences that put you on the edge of comfort to force you out of your comfort zone so that you can grow. You should always been working towards the mastery of your craft. Read more>>