Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.
Ellice (Lisa) Halpern
I think that a lack of trust can break the bond between people. Sometimes, a genuine apology can help to restore trust. How do we ensure that apologies are sincere? Rabbi Amy Schwartzman quoted from the book ‘On Apology’ by Aaron Lazare in a sermon she delivered on Rosh Hashanah in 2013 at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia. Read More>>
Naeemah Purcell
Bad or no communication. If you don’t feel like you’re being heard when you are trying to have a conversation it makes you not want to be around that person that makes you feel that way. Communication is key in all relationships and bonds with others. What would restore bonds would be having open communication where you aren’t being judged for being yourself. Read More>>
Courtney Roten
I believe in the age we are in today, so many people are divided by what they see on their timelines and pushed in their societies. The one thing that unites us all is our pure love for animals. I have dogs, cats, and many different species of reptiles. I can related to just about any animal lover. Read More>>
Lee Benton
Breaks Bonds – Mistrust, disloyalty, betrayal. Restores- Forgiveness and how we are able to forgive and bless them which is not an overnight fix. Read More>>
Debra Lee May
The weight of unexpressed emotions. When you’re busy managing your internal emotional chaos, you can’t truly connect with others. You show up guarded, reactive, or emotionally unavailable because you’re carrying so much heaviness. When you clear those stored emotions, it restores your connections and allows you to be genuinely present. Read More>>
Shaun Rylee
The concept of interpersonal relationships and how they shape our identities and how we interact with people on a larger scale has always been of interest to me and my creative endeavors as well, so I enjoy this question. I am a constant observer from the very first impression. Multiple things break even the strongest of bonds. Read More>>
Savii Callender
Doing nothing is easy, right effort is key when there is miscommunication and when life gets hard. It takes a certain type of strength to create and maintain a bond. The challenge is different for each person. I think one way to restore a bond is to ask yourself, “How do I want to be remembered💭” safe travels Read More>>
Areli Rivera
Bonds between people are often broken by a lack of communication, unmet expectations, or the absence of trust. Misunderstandings, unspoken hurts, or actions that make others feel unseen or unvalued can slowly create distance. In my own journey, I’ve learned that silence and pride can be as damaging as harsh words. Read More>>
Rof Roc
Mostly the bond between two people would be broken if the relationship is one sided and beneficial to only one person. Also situations like betrayal of trust can also be a conduit for breaking of bonds between people. When a bond is broken, both sides need recognize the fact that things aren’t how it used to be. Read More>>
Jeff Fulkerson
I think fear separates people. We can be so afraid of losing something, either physically, emotionally or financially, that we steer clear of others. I think understanding closes that gap. Most of us want the same things out of life, and when we can see each other as fellow travelers on the same road, we can restore the unity that we’ve lost. Read More>>
Stephanie Saunders Marshall
Wow, this is a deep one. I think bonds are broken when trust is broken. Trust is something that has to be earned, always, and it can take just one bad experience to lose it and have to start all over. Read More>>
James Wolfe
What breaks bonds between people is mistrust. Trust and communication are the biggest bond breakers in relationships, especially in a society where people are so easily offended. What can restore trust is time. Time of proving to be trustworthy. Trust is one of the most challenging things to regain once it has been broken. Read More>>
Tamara Dopwell
I believe that unspoken Pain. When wounds go unaddressed, silence grows louder than connection. Restoration begins when we have Hope. When we believe that we can heal, this is where it starts. Yes, even if we’re still hurting. Read More>>
Paul Greene
That life is happening for you, not to you. I can’t scientifically prove it, but I’ve lived enough, fallen enough, and risen enough to know in my bones that even the hardest moments are part of a bigger unfolding. Sometimes the detour is the path. The obstacle is the way, often times the thing that breaks you open is the thing that sets you free. Read More>>
Rachel Van Kluyve
Faith. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 Read More>>
Angel G. Henry
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about Amulet Consortium is that we’re just another “training company.” People hear leadership training and assume it’s a one-time workshop where everyone gets hyped up for a day, then goes back to business as usual. That’s not what we do. We’re not handing out binders that collect dust — we’re walking leaders through real mindset shifts. Read More>>
Katrina Julia
No one talks about this part of being a full-time creator…
Instagram Caption:
Everyone says:
✨ “Just post every day!”
✨ “Go viral!”
✨ “Turn followers into clients!” Read More>>
Javier Alvarez
A key misconception about my business is that it’s only for serious competitors or those who want to learn how to fight. In reality, our focus is on personal development, discipline, and physical fitness for people of all ages and skill levels. Read More>>
Daniel Salazar
Most people think learning a language is this huge, intimidating journey which… it is. They treat it like something they can dabble in casually, like downloading Duolingo once and hoping for the best. At our language school, we’re upfront: real progress takes structure, consistency, and community. Read More>>
kelly madole
I think people sometimes assume running a candle business is just melting wax and pouring it into jars. In reality, it’s so much more — it’s picking out scents, testing and tweaking, making sure every ingredient is clean and safe, designing labels and packaging, updating the website, and so much more. There’s a lot of detail and thought that goes into just one product. Read More>>
Maria Ferrer
That it is just a little fun thing to do from home instead of a real business. Many people don’t understand the level of compromise and dedication it takes to build a successful business, especially after being a mom. Read More>>
Freeport Jackson
The most common misconception that I think most people have about independent artist is that they think we are trying to get rich or become famous. Most people I have come into contact with, including myself is the fact that we have a passion for the art. Read More>>
Dianne Vavra
Running a luxury vintage boutique is often a misunderstood business. Some people think of vintage and think dusty, or thrift or consignment. Some think donation. A curated vintage shop is a rare gem. Like walking into a gorgeous life size jewelry box full of surprises. Read More>>
Lisa Becker
When it comes to romance novels, sadly many people seem dismissive of the category without realizing it’s the number one selling book genre worldwide. I think these stories are so popular and resonate with so many, because what could be more universal, more compelling, more necessary than the search for love and acceptance. Of course romance novels show a protagonist falling in love. Read More>>
Melissa Oesch
I often have people make comments towards me about how I’m doing my passion or living my dream. These statements feel loaded. They tend to be filled with a ‘must be nice to be you’ attitude, sometimes jealousy, or, at best, a ‘good job’. Read More>>
Sassy Trucker
I think what’s most misunderstood about my business is that people often assume trucking is just about sitting behind the wheel and moving freight. The truth is, it’s so much more than that. As drivers, we’re running full-fledged businesses on wheels. We’re dispatchers, accountants, mechanics, safety managers, and customer service reps all rolled into one. Read More>>
Julie Freeman
Ah, such a great question and one that I posted on briefly the other day! Are you a dietitian or nutritionist? My response to this question is both AND with a capital A, N, D. Read More>>
Sara Alepin
That’s a great question, and it’s something I think about a lot. The biggest misconception about my business- and probably about business in general – is that networking has to be a soul-sucking, transactional chore. So many people view it as this high-stakes, anxiety-inducing event where you’re just trading business cards and rattling off your elevator pitch, hoping to get something out of someone. Read More>>
Natalie Cass
What’s Misunderstood About My Business One of the most common questions I get when I tell people I’m a professional artist is, *“Is that all you do?”* or *“Do you take pictures of weddings and families?”* The reality is far from a hobby or a side gig. Read More>>
Maggie Rodriguez
A candle is not ‘just a candle!’ Many people think candles are simple products, but in reality, creating a luxury or branded candle involves artistry and chemistry. Choosing high-quality wax, testing fragrance blends, balancing wick sizes, and ensuring safe, even burns is a meticulous process. Customers often don’t see the hours of testing behind each candle. Read More>>
Jessamyn Dodd
I am a news reporter. Where do I start? One thing that readers do not understand is that sometimes we don’t have a say in what we write. Sometimes our outlets push certain agendas. You have to choose between keeping your job and feeding your child or walking out. Read More>>
Marisol Amezcua-Hernandez
I think one of the biggest misunderstandings about cake decorating is that people often see it as “just baking a cake.” In reality, it’s an art form that takes years of practice, patience, and skill. Behind every custom cake is hours of planning, baking, decorating, and problem solving. Read More>>
Miriam Calleja
One of the biggest misunderstandings I encounter is around the value of writing. So many people think they’ll ‘get to it later’—after retirement, or when they finally have the time. There’s also this belief that writing isn’t urgent or essential, especially during moments when the world feels like it’s on fire. Read More>>
Robin Marriott
My business isn’t about the typical manners that people think about, like dishes and table settings. My business is learning about updated strategies to gain client trust and respect, boosting employee morale, increasing EQ, learning about phrasing, body language and incorporating all of these things plus more to increase ROI, create a positive business image and superb executive presence. Read More>>
Van Ethan Levy
One of the most misunderstood things about my work is that it’s “just therapy,” or “just education,” or “just advocacy.” or ‘Only relevant to LGBQTPIA2S+ folx’. In reality, everything I do is rooted in survival, resistance, and a deep desire to dismantle systemic oppression in clinical spaces and beyond. Read More>>
Evgenia Ribinik
Boudoir photography is often misunderstood as something purely provocative or overtly sexual. In reality, that’s not what boudoir is when it’s done as an art form. If it were just about lingerie and poses, I’d be out of a job—the internet already has that covered. What I create at Evgenia Ribinik Studios is about confidence, artistry, and transformation. Read More>>
Theresa Faleti
One of the biggest misconceptions is that what I do is just about dance, or that it’s only a dance class. In reality, dance is the vehicle I use to help women step into their power. It’s about feeling confident in their bodies, trusting their movements, and being inspired to show up authentically in their lives. Read More>>
Maurice Harary
That only big companies should be submitting competitive bids, contract opportunities, or Requests for Proposals (RFPs). But RFPs aren’t just for established big-box businesses. In fact, we cater specifically to small and medium-sized businesses and organizations. So many clients come to us with no previous experience in the bidding process. Plenty come to us at the eleventh hour, stressed and overwhelmed. Read More>>
Borderless Frames
One common misconception about film competitions is that they exist solely to hand out trophies or titles, and while recognition is a part of what we do, Borderless Frames is built on something deeper. Our mission is to provide a global platform where independent filmmakers can share their stories, connect with audiences, and gain visibility that extends beyond the awards themselves. Read More>>
Richard Knight
Well, general speaking, my core business is helping my clients protect their ideas, their creations, their secrets, their inventions, and their freedom to operate. Read More>>
Emily Strulson
It is not linear. At any time I have several applications submitted for art shows, I am preparing for shows, following up on past shows, meeting with clients/buyers and often talking to someone who will lead me to my next exhibition or sale. Being an artist is an organic and intuitive journey with turns one can never anticipate. Read More>>
Lindsay Scherr Burgess
At Green Wallscapes, we have niched down our business to be excellent at preserved moss walls that are for interior use only. We get calls all the time from people asking us to put these outside. Read More>>
Sean Thomas
Be More Today is a fitness company that provides health and wellness inspiration and information to be the best version of you. Many people misunderstand why being more is so important. For some, they believe they are doing fine and don’t need to change anything. For others, they believe they have too many obstacles to overcome so being more is not a reality’. Read More>>
Eileen Corse
Being a professional artist, I wear many hats. Not only am I an artist, but I am also a promoter, a website designer, an accountant, a delivery person, a photographer, a packaging person, an estimator, and the list could go on. Many people assume that being an artist is glamorous. It is hard, hard work. Read More>>
Tracey Lancaster Miller
Being a cannabis business, there is a lot of misunderstanding about us. What we do, who we are, who we serve. Much of this stems from the stigma attached to cannabis. Our bright, welcoming environment surprises many people on their first visit. Read More>>
Bonnie Perry M.S., CCC-SLP, CMT®
Honestly? People think I just teach tongue exercises all day! The reality is so much deeper (and way cooler). My work is rooted in uncovering the root cause of how the face grows and functions—because how we breathe, eat, sleep, and even smile is all tied to how our jaws, airway, and muscles develop. Read More>>
Linda Borgmeyer
In the realm of rehabilitation therapy, there’s often a misconception about the nature of our interactions with patients. Traditionally, therapy has been seen as a one-way transaction where the clinician holds all the knowledge and makes decisions on behalf of the patient. Read More>>
Michele Harper
What’s most misunderstood is that I simply offer beauty, styling, or healing services—as if they’re separate things. But what I actually do is transform how women see themselves. I don’t just pick the right lipstick or outfit, I align your outer expression with your inner truth. Read More>>
Thomas Swanson
I would say the most common misconception is that I’m willing to work with anyone and everyone, my time is valuable and I try my hardest to only work with people who have good character and help me solidify my legacy. Read More>>
Ebony Beser
I think the misunderstanding about ECBC, LLC is that we are like other crochet artists/brands/businesses. ECBC, LLC is a Luxury crochet brand, the ‘luxury’ behind the brand being that all pieces and products are hand made with an intentional style and or design. Read More>>
Anthony Hicks
Let me address both sides of my business separately here. Flying is getting more and more dependent upon automation and procedural adherence. Due to this, many people believe that pilot skills and judgement are not as important as in the past. Read More>>
