We asked some folks we admire to share one piece of conventional advice they disagree with.

Tinisha Ransome | Home Baker & Primary Care Physician

I don’t believe that we need to have it all figured out before we try something new or take a risk. Sometimes figuring it out as you go works better than overanalyzing every detail. I’ve learned so much on this journey of starting my own business and I continue to learn new things everyday. I think it keeps me more open to change and keeps me flexible when I need to pivot away from something that doesn’t work. It’s also a whole lot more fun. Read more>>

Christa Leonard | Farm Development Director

While driving over the holidays I was looking back on 2020 as a whole and my life as a whole and as the Talking Heads Once in a Lifetime states, “And you may ask yourself, well, How did I get here?”. And so when I hear this question I think to myself, who started giving the advice that being emotional around work was not a strength? Do I want to be conventional? Esther Perel says “We want our love and our work lives to give us a sense of identity, a sense of belonging, a sense of self-worth, a sense of purpose.” And conventionally, we’ve been told to leave our emotions out of the “board room”. Traditional ways look down on the profoundness of feeling. But, our world is no longer traditional. We are lacking our typical social connection, work remotely, and really this is the time to realize conventional advice is so 2018. Take risks, trust your gut, be creative, love what you do, be in awe as much as possible. Read more>>

Andrius Maddox | Fashion Stylist & Infulencer

Its often stated to employees and entrepreneurs that you have to be focused on one thing in order to be successful. This is a total misconception of what success is. I believe that you can try and do anything that peaks your interest. You never know what untapped skills you may posses that can enhance your skills to further your brand and/or career aspirations. Read more>>

Alex Wolf | Paper Artist and Montessori Teacher

“Make something everyday” I find this completely unrealistic. Especially as a part time artist, and full time in home teacher. I believe that realistic expectations for yourself and your work is far more important. I decide whether to make art day by day. If something comes to me and I’m itching to create it, then I will find the time. If i come home exhausted, having finger painted all day with my little ones, I may not want to draw, I may want quality time with my husband or pups. A major stepping stone in my own mental health as an artist, was realizing my output did not determine my artistic abilities. My patience with myself and my craft is what allows me to create work that better represents my style and process. Give yourself grace, and give yourself the peace of knowing that art will come, it cannot be forced. Read more>>

Christian Mejia | Entrepreneur

“Go to college and get good grades so you can get a good job.” Although this is the traditionally safe route, I think people have way more potential than that. Education is important, however it is not the only way to build a successful career for yourself. Travel, learn new skills, pick up some hobbies, meet REAL people. This will ultimately propel you further in life than the traditional route – financially, physically and mentally. Read more>>

Todd Mack | Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Speaker, Activist

Don’t quit your day job. If everybody followed that advice, we’d live in a world with far fewer artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders. The statement should be “know when to quit your day job”. I think for many of us who do, it is a similar trajectory. Work a job in order to do what you love so that ultimately what you love is your job. It’s all about timing, building your passion and the business infrastructure around it to a level where its a calculated risk quitting your job and doing what you love full time. For me, that was seven years. And that was 26 years ago. Read more>>

Cole Chappell | Freelance Photographer

“Jack of all trades, master of none”, as the saying goes, is not quite advice but rather a figure of speech that I tend to stray away from, in life and in photography. Going back to childhood, my parents always preached the importance of well-roundedness and I am thankful for my introduction to another common phrase at a young age, variety is the spice of life. For example, they strongly ‘encouraged’ mandatory piano lessons, participation in as many sports as possible, and friendships with people spanning all ages and races. As a result, I believe a great foundation was built in me to support a variety of career paths and interests as well as relationships that helped me view the world from unique perspectives. Which brings me back to one of my main goals in photography and life in general, seeing the world through a different lens. I also strive to expand my portfolio by varying the genres of photography i’m focusing on so I would definitely say, in that sense, i’m more of a generalist than a specialist. Read more>>