Society has its myths about where we learn – internships, books, school, etc. However, in our conversations with some of the most interesting and trailblazing entrepreneurs and creatives we noticed the biggest lessons they learned about work often came from unexpected sources. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Sydney Kirsch

Honestly? My ops team. When we started One Experience over 10 years ago, we were building everything from scratch, writing our own playbook, figuring it out as we went, and duct-taping systems together with sheer will and coffee. But now, things have evolved. Technology has changed, expectations are different, and thankfully… so are the resources. Read More>> 

Claudia Hackl

The first 90 minutes of my day are pretty focused on starting off positive and balanced. I’ll do some affirmations, then stretch and get in a light workout. After that, I have a healthy breakfast—usually a smoothie with good ingredients and either oatmeal or eggs, depending on the day. It helps me feel energized and relaxed as I ease into work. Read More>> 

Kathy Dahdal

Something that has been bringing me joy lately is spending time in my own kitchen cooking. As a high school assistant principal and entrepreneur, I usually don’t have much time to prepare my own meals or explore new dishes—I’m often on the go and ordering food out. But since I’ve been off for the summer, I’ve had the opportunity to slow down and really enjoy the process of cooking for myself. Read More>> 

Shevaun Poole

What I’m most proud of building that nobody really sees is the trust and emotional comfort behind the grooming process. On the surface, people see a freshly groomed dog who looks and smells great—but what they don’t see is the time, patience, and care I put into making sure each pet feels safe, calm, and respected throughout the experience. Many of the dogs I work with are nervous, anxious, or have had negative grooming experiences in the past, and creating a space where they feel comfortable and cared for is something I quietly build with every visit.  Read More>>

Samara Byrd

Right now, I’m learning the most from Christ. Through my relationship with Him, I’m learning how to be a better person overall how to approach life with, compassion, and patience. Christ is teaching me how to grow as a professional, to work with excellence and humility. He’s guiding me in becoming a better partner, someone who loves selflessly and communicates with grace. Most importantly, He’s showing me how to live as a better Christian, which I believe is the foundation for everything else being grounded, finding true success, and staying close to Him. Read More>> 

Lisa Jaimes-Toon

I have come to realize I am chasing legacy. I am wanting to prolong the celebration of my grandmother, her impact on me and in return dedicate my “flavors of heritage” to her. Chasing this dream has led me down a path of a creative outlet, an extension of myself, of Carolina to hopefully grow into a generational company. If I were to stop, my life, to my own standards, would not be incomplete. This is something that is within me, ignoring such creative call would be letting myself and those who know me best down. Read More>> 

Christopher Corr

Lately, I have been focusing on maintaining a consistent practice of working out, getting active, and most of the time playing basketball. I feel that it is a great way to get out (especially when working remote), connect with new people, stay healthy, and of course have a little competition with playing sports and growing those skills. Read More>>

Dr. Veaunka Gulley

I think I’m in my season of becoming — becoming more of who I am, and fully embracing both who and where I am.
It’s funny how the very things we fear are often the things we’re meant to run toward. For the longest time, I’ve had this dream stirring in me: to start a podcast that blends my love for cooking and sharing recipes with honest, soulful conversations about Jesus. A space at the table where food meets faith. Read More>> 

Mrs. Crystan Johnson

One of the biggest misconceptions about my business is around two things: PAY and what virtual assistants actually do.

Many people assume that virtual assistants are just low-level task-doers or only handle things like data entry and calendar scheduling. In reality, skilled VAs, especially executive-level ones, are strategic partners. We manage operations, create workflows, handle client communication, streamline systems, and contribute directly to business growth. We’re not just assistants, we’re business support specialists. Read More>> 

Orna Feinstein

I am an artist passionate about making art, and as such, never regarded making art work. However, outside my studio time, I travel the world. With over 200 countries around the world, there is a lot to see, appreciate, understand, and care for. We are all humans occupying the earth, and yet every trip is a journey to a new landscape, customs, culture, foods, and language. Read More>> 

Lorraine C. Ladish

I would for sure. Because I am dependable, professional, get things done and figure out how to do them if I don’t know. I will admit when I don’t know something and when I’ve made a mistake. And I’ve been meeting deadlines for 40+ years now. Read More>> 

Solomon Ngo

A battle that I have been avoiding fully getting into is the battle of placing myself as the face of my brand. I am determined to tackle this challenge that I have been avoiding for so long and figure out a way to effectively communicate with my customers and future customers. As an introvert, approaching someone to start a conversation, building on that initial engagement, and maintaining relationships has always been a struggle for me. However, with my business, it’s essential for me to step out of my comfort zone and engage with my audience, my customers, through social media. Read More>> 

Camila Oopp

The first 90 minutes of my day are everything, they set the tone for how I show up, not just for my clients, but for myself.

I usually wake up around 9 am, then I head outside, barefoot if I can, and drink coconut water or a smoothie, sit in the garden. Just feeling the air on my skin and listening to the sounds around me, it reminds me I’m alive, that today is sacred. Read More>> 

Nahuel Hilal

Home is my happy place. After 21 years I’m still head-over-heels for Sabina, and our son Rocco keeps life playful—hanging out with him never gets old. Add two goofy dogs and one mischievous cat, and there’s laughter in the house every single day. Read More>> 

Bobbie WeinerBloody

Integrity is the most important word in my vocabulary. To me it means the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. When I started my own business 30 years ago in a garage I had no place to go but up. I believed in myself and even when faced with difficult situations I said to myself, “I Can Do This”. There were times when temptations were there, but I seeked answers to my questions and always went with my gut feelings about each situation I was confronted with. There was always a lesson to be learned. I always wanted to be treated by others like I treated them. With my beliefs and values and being trustworthy and reliable. Read More>> 

Ricardo Bello

I am learning from life, the lessons that our day-to-day experiences teach us. In current times, I see that it is necessary to have a lot of faith, calmness, patience, and perseverance. The days are not easy. Every day we face battles in our lives. Some face fewer challenges, others more, but we all have obstacles to remove from our path and move forward. As a song by Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento says: one must have strength, one must have determination, one must have desire, always. Strength to fight, to live, to dream, to make things happen, and to always seek to be a better person, having God as a guide for our lives. Read More>>