If you asked your best friends what really drives you—what they think matters most in your life—what would they say? We posed that question to entrepreneurs and creatives from all walks of life, and have shared some of the most interesting responses below.
Shiquasha Lynéce
When friends from back in the day express to me that “you are fire and a good friend.” That put a smile on my face because I was surprised that they felt that way, it was a relief! Read More>>
Ava Roxanne Stritt
My friends would probably say that what really matters to me is creating meaningful experiences—whether it’s a quiet moment of self-care, a shared laugh over a glass of wine, or discovering a destination’s unique experiences. Read More>>
sara sniderman
I think my closest friends would say that what really matters to me is my family. My girls and my husband always come first, even before work. In friendship, they’d probably say I value being able to wholeheartedly trust the people in my life and that I love laughing together until my stomach hurts. In my business, what matters most is connection. Read More>>
Radine Dempsey
Relationships. Once you come into my life, I never let you go. My late husband used to tease, “She has 200 best friends—the rest are just friends.” He wasn’t far off. For me, connection is everything. I will walk through burning coals for those that I care for and my friends know that—I am always one little message away. What is life without relationships? Read More>>
Jessica Cook
They’d say: Nature, Water, Flora, and Fauna—but not simply in a poetic sense. For me, these are sentient systems, alive with intelligence older than any text or theory. I believe that ecological memory is encoded in everything—tree rings, animal migrations, river pathways—and that these natural blueprints reflect the same universal architecture we see in genetics, language, and emotional resonance. Read More>>
Lauren Balterman
My closest friends would say what really matters to me is truth, depth, and impact. They’d tell you I care about people being seen for who they actually are, not the mask they wear. I care about stories — not just telling them, but pulling the meaning out of them, the identity behind them, the why beneath the what. Read More>>
Dr. Briana DeNeal-Findley
My closest friends would say that people matter to me—truly, deeply. They’d say I care about showing up for others, holding space for grief, supporting growth, and helping those around me feel seen and understood. They’d note my commitment to family, friends, and community, and my drive to create environments—whether in schools, workplaces, or communities—where people can heal, thrive, and be their whole selves. Read More>>
Jennifer Vaughn
When you’re lucky, you find people who become family and stick around for a lifetime. I have a few of them who have stayed in my corner for decades. How and why does anyone dedicate a friendship to another? I have a few ideas about that, and what I try to give back to make them never question their decision to stay by my side. Read More>>
Sue Riger
You gotta spread joy wherever and wherever you can. Every day brings new challenges and they are so much easier to cope with when we are surrounded by encouragement. Read More>>
Leila Worby
My close friends know that my family takes priority over everything. After that, what matters to me is spiritual and psychological growth. I also have a geeky passion for improving a little bit every day in the movement modalities that excite me: yoga, tango, and taekwondo. Read More>>
Jessica Limeberry
I would hope that people closest to me would say that I am kind, generous, and a good friend! I am a big believer in treating everyone with respect, and I want the people around me to feel seen and heard. This is a big foundation of how we treat customers, and how I live in my personal life! Read More>>
Lord StrapZ
“Loyalty, respect, and staying true to the hustle.” They’d know you don’t play about your circle — once someone’s solid with you, you ride for them. But the moment loyalty’s in question, it’s a wrap. You value real over fake, principles over popularity, and you hold yourself and your team to a standard that doesn’t bend just to fit in. Read More>>
Septimius The Great
My closet friends would say that I do what I do to be creative with the passion of presenting something new and different and that I would never do it for fame or fortune. Read More>>
Emmanuel Payne
Anyone who knows me knows my family is really matters to me .Money ,success, and fame comes and goes but to me none of that matters without my loved ones. Read More>>
Mike Rothmiller
Honestly, loyalty and keeping your word. These may ring of old fashion values, but they hold true to me in my personal and business life. You can’t have those values restricted to only your personal or business life. They must be incorporated in both. From major issues to minor ones, it matters. Read More>>
