Every industry has its myths—stories insiders repeat until they sound like truth. But behind the slogans and the spin are unspoken (and sometimes unnoticed) realities – we asked some of the wisest folks we know to share what lies they’ve noticed in their industries.
C.J. Benoit
That you have to sell out to succeed. You don’t have to. Sure it’s a pain in the ass, but at the same time, the victories are more genuine to me because my decisions are my own. The failures sting a little harder, but the victories? Makes it worth it. Read More>>
Brandon De’Sean
The biggest lies that my industry tells is that everybody getting money, have a place to stay, whip, have jobs and more. A lot of people be lying in their music or showing off things they don’t really have. Everybody isn’t well mentally either so there’s that. I wish everyone the best though. Read More>>
Kaelyn Tweed
One of the biggest lies our industry tells itself is that this is easy—that you can go to hair school, graduate, and suddenly make six figures without putting in the work. Growth does not happen halfway, and success does not happen without going all in. If you want to be a successful hairstylist or a small business owner, there will be sacrifice—period. Read More>>
Brandon Bal-Lance
One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that a cosmetology license leads to only one job, working behind the chair. That belief limits people before they ever get to see what’s possible. We are business owners, educators, mentors, creatives, innovators, and corporate leaders. We run LLCs, build real companies, influence global brands, and shape culture. Read More>>
Raffa & Camilla DeFaria
We don’t even have to think that hard: the biggest lie our industry tells itself is that success and fame are the same thing. This misconception hurts so many new artists, especially with social media today. The idea that if you don’t have at least 10,000 followers you’re “nobody” couldn’t be further from the truth. Read More>>
Ashley Conyers
One of the biggest myths in the personal development space is that purpose is something you have to figure out on your own – that life and fulfillment are all about me, my hustle, and my self-discovery. I’ve lived that narrative, exploring paths and experiences thinking I had to “find myself,” only to end up spinning in circles and feeling empty. Read More>>
Kiarash Dadgar
The biggest lie is that visibility equals value. The industry confuses attention with meaning, exposure with impact, and productivity with purpose. It rewards speed, noise, and constant output, not depth, coherence, or longevity. Another lie is that more projects mean more relevance. In reality, most careers collapse from dilution, not failure. There’s also the fantasy that storytelling is about “content.” It’s not. Read More>>
