We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.
David Windsor
Ego, hubris, and—these days—politics are the quickest things to break the bonds between people. Want to repair that bond? Drop the ego, approach each other with humility, and don’t be afraid to apologize when you should. Most relationships heal when both sides stop trying to “win” and start trying to understand. Starve the ego and feed the soul—that’s where real connection lives. Read more>>
Anna Chernikova
Bonds break when people feel misunderstood, isolated, or stressed — especially when you’re new to a country and everything feels different. But they’re restored through connection: spending time together, sharing activities, even something as simple as sports or a quiz night. Read more>>
Carly Ko
Of course,I don’t want anyone to ever think that I’m a carbon copy of anyone else. I used to believe that I simply don’t belong in this f’d up world. I didn’t believe in the principles, the politics, the business is business model, planetary destruction, greed, etc. I thought I was better and was drawn to the people who thought like me. Read more>>
Sandy Combs
Make your life and work honorable. The attributes of truth, gentleness, and humility will take you far. Deception and lies will break bonds for me. It causes chaos and confusion. Acknowledging your indiscretion and seeking forgiveness may restore the relationship, or it may not. Read more>>
Rana Florida
Research from Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab podcast and creator of Yale’s most popular course, shows that human connection is one of the strongest predictors of happiness. Harvard’s Dr. Robert Putnam, in his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, revealed how the decline of social and community life has frayed the fabric of society. Read more>>
TAO HO
I believe the question “What breaks the bonds between people?” is a complex one. For me, it begins with a kind of awareness—an awakening that sometimes appears in a sudden flash, and other times emerges through embodied experiences. This awareness comes early for some and much later for others. Read more>>
MICHAEL SHAPIRO
Social media breaks the bonds between people – it disassociates people from reality and fills minds with disinformation and misinformation based on algorithms designed to exacerbate tensions and division. We can restore these bonds by building community, bringing people together through platforms that unite rather than divide, and inform rather than disinform. Read more>>
sara stites
I’ve always believed that art has the power to bring people together. In my own work, I try to make images that speak to the shared experience of being human – the joys, the struggles, the contradictions – rather than to a specific ideology or message. Read more>>
LaKesha Myrick
I think bonds break when hate enters in — when we stop seeing each other as human and start seeing each other as problems. Pride breaks bonds. Assumptions break bonds. The moments when we choose our ego over understanding. And honestly, the biggest one is when we stop communicating. Read more>>
Dawn Marie Morris
What breaks bonds between people and what restores them is the same—communication. Understanding that communication only takes place when these things happen cyclically, talking-listening-understanding-responding, the inability or refusal to actively participate in any one of these leads to broken bonds. Read more>>
Julie Thurgood-Burnett
I wholeheartedly believe that kindness—real, everyday kindness—can change the world. I can’t chart it on a graph or back it with data, but I’ve seen what happens when people genuinely care for one another, when communities lift each other up, and when someone chooses compassion over convenience. Those little moments ripple outward in ways we’ll never fully see. Read more>>
Shan Michael Evans
That there is a Great Big Love behind the entirety of the universe and this life, forever and ever. Read more>>
Marc Tarczali
The film industry has the power to influence the reality of its audience. The films we make aren’t a reflection of reality, they are a reflection of the audience’s perception. Extrapolating even further, each person’s unique reality is also completely subjective- – that’s what makes cinema so special, each viewer has their own unique experience with the film. Read more>>
Cherie Jones
What’s most misunderstood about Poise & Paper is the heart behind it. People often see the pretty stationery, the chic designs, the planners and stickers—but what they don’t always see is the mission that created it. Poise & Paper was born during one of the most overwhelming seasons of my life as a mother. Read more>>
Marlo Lyons
Most people assume coaching is about fixing problems or supporting individuals who are struggling. But coaching isn’t remedial. It’s not a punishment. That’s one of the biggest misconceptions about my work. When done well, coaching is actually a strategic business tool that strengthens culture, accelerates leadership capacity, and directly impacts performance and retention. It’s a proactive investment in culture, capability, and organizational longevity. Read more>>
Matthew McComb
Most people think a personal chef just “comes over and cooks.” They picture a nice dinner, maybe a little meal prep, and that’s the whole story. What they don’t see is that this business is really logistics, systems, and precision disguised as food. Read more>>
Amy Hawkins
One of the things that I think that is most misunderstood about my business is that cabinetry is all built the same. Clients often believe that the “higher quality” cabinetry a client can buy at a big box store is just as good as custom cabinetry, but at a cost savings. Read more>>
Stephanie Wells
I make so many funny memes and jokes about being a Brazilian waxer. While that is a huge service that I do the most of, I also specialize in full body waxing and brow services. I also offer spray tanning, custom facials and chemical peels, and tinting services. Read more>>
Camille ‘Yuyang’ Zhang
People often underestimate the role of design in business. They think as long as the product is good, it will sell itself. But that’s rarely the case. In reality, design is one of the fastest and most powerful ways to communicate a brand’s value to customers. A strong design isn’t just about making things “look pretty.” It’s strategic, research-driven, and grounded in commercial goals. Read more>>
Dr. Jack Paduntin
What I think is most misunderstood about my field is the relationship between education and business. In many academic circles, even suggesting that education operates like a business can feel almost taboo—as if efficiency, strategy, or financial responsibility somehow cheapen the purity of learning. Yet at the same time, society expects schools to behave like high-performing organizations: to be accountable, sustainable, innovative, and outcome-driven. Read more>>
Cleo M
Thanks for the interview and the opportunity to share my story! As to your question, it should be painfully obvious to anyone who actually listens to what I’m saying, but there are two huge misunderstandings about my content that I repeatedly run into, and find infuriatingly frustrating every time: 1. Read more>>
Carolina Sobrino de Montenegro
One of the reasons why I didn’t get into real estate earlier on in my career was the inner-fear I had from the bad connotation surrounding brokers trying to sell you anything and everything to make a quick buck. Read more>>
Ruth Larbi
What’s often misunderstood about my business is that people think creativity has a finish line. They assume that once God gives you one gift or one assignment, that’s the end of the story. But in reality, God never stops unfolding purpose. He uses one gift as an entry point to introduce you to the next level of who you’re becoming. Read more>>
Rah Deluxe
That its easy to do.Its hard to come up with original metaphor’s ,punch line’s analogy’s and substance let alone ones that rhyme. Read more>>
Stephen Payne
I’m a photographer and before telephone phones had cameras, photography was seen as a skill. These days, everyone with a camera/phone thinks they are a photographer, but they aren’t. Think of it like this, you could hand me a 1957 Les Paul guitar and I would make it sound like a cat being squashed ….. because I don’t know how to play guitar. Read more>>
Avaleigh Baugh
Many people are quietly battling fears they rarely admit. These fears are rooted in the pressure to be original, the anxiety of creating something and being scared of what the final outcome might reveal about them. They struggle with the lack of space or confidence to express themselves honestly, so their real thoughts stay tucked away behind practiced smiles and careful words. Read more>>
Gina Tiritilli
I listen to a lot of people talk about what bothers them most in life but they hardly ever have a solution or a way to change how they feel. I believe many individuals secretly struggle with the dissonance between their self-perception and their aspirations. This internal conflict arises from societal pressures, personal expectations, and the constant pursuit of self-improvement. Read more>>
Rene Garcia
I personally believe that the majority of people are struggling with self-worth, confidence, and financial issues. I also believe it’s not dependent on social status because celebrities, athletes, and your average person all go through the same struggles. Read more>>
Brigitta Dau
Many people are secretly struggling with the gap between what they SAY they want, and actually making the changes necessary for them to achieve their goals and desires. They feel called to grow, but their old patterns, unprocessed emotions, and lack of support keep them looping in the same stories. This often shows up as self-sabotage, procrastination, or chronic overwhelm. Read more>>
DJ Hamilton
I’ll speak for men specifically. I believe that society places numerous expectations on men to protect, provide, and fulfill other roles more than ever now due to unrealistic expectations due to social media. Read more>>
Afronite Stoic
Most people take or avoid certain decisions just because they are afraid what others would think. Read more>>
Nabila Nugroho
Speaking from a creative’s point of view – when we are about to start our creative endeavours but secretly have a few to little idea on how to start. Or even when you are already in the middle of your journey, sometimes you can’t help but question yourself : is it gonna be worth it? Read more>>
Patricia Angelin
I think people are struggling with varying degrees of anxiety in their lives, art, and workplace. And if they are not struggling consciously with their anxiety, they’re struggling with an increased degree of emotional reactivity that makes them frustrated, annoyed, more frequently pissed off, and generally have a shorter fuse. Read more>>
Edoardo Gastaldi
People often hide deep within their souls the weight of their emotional struggles — may it be a long-term family discomfort, an intrinsic vulnerability to face intense feelings, or an emotional barrier that keeps people busy in everyday tasks, suppressing their human need to express sentiment. That is one of the core reasons why I decided to create music. Read more>>
SYLENT EGO
I feel like most people will misunderstand the process. To some people or many it actually may look like it was all easy looking from the outside in because they weren’t there to be inside of the journey behind the scenes. Read more>>
Shelli aka Rochelle Lipton
When people hear the word “museum” their minds often jump to exhibits and artifacts. When they hear “Woodstock,” they think of a concert marked by sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. And when they hear “legacy,” they imagine something grand and monumental. But our truth is different. We are a struggling museum—not a static relic—but a living museum. Read more>>
Nicole Jocleen
My evolution might be confusing and people may assume that I’m playing a role. I’m not. Ninety percent of the time I’m just as surprised to be in certain spaces as the average person may be seeing me in that space. I’m strategically placed by God not myself. I didn’t choose this. God didn’t give me a choice. You know like a parent. Read more>>
Obafemi Kinsiedilele
I think that people think that since I’m very committed to liberation, that I don’t like to enjoy life, have fun, laugh and smile! Read more>>
Josette Gastonguay
Should I be so blessed as to leave a true legacy, I think the part people may misunderstand is the why behind everything I do. From the outside, it might look like ambition, aesthetics, or simply a love of fashion. But the truth is, my intention has always been rooted in something much deeper. Read more>>
Kieara Celina
I think the thing people misunderstand about my legacy and that of creators like myself is that we’re ‘just nfluencers’ , that our job is easy.They think we simply get behind the camera and record a quick video that happens to perform well, but in reality, there’s a strategy, planning, education and a lot of hard work that goes into creating meaningful content. Read more>>
Nedy Johnson
I appear strong because I’m not allowed to be weak. Read more>>
Mas Moriya
The false label I still carry is that I’m not good enough—not smart enough, not handsome enough, not successful enough. I know those things aren’t true, but they echo whenever life gets hard. People tell me they admire my work ethic and discipline, that what I’ve built is impressive, but when the results don’t match the effort, the old voice creeps back in. Read more>>
Rev. Joslyn Farray Pierre
The truth most people resist is this: healing is not always gentle. Real healing is disruptive. It will ask you to leave familiar environments, break inherited patterns, set uncomfortable boundaries, and even disappoint people who benefitted from your silence. Everyone wants healing to look soft and inspiring, but the truth is—true transformation rearranges you before it restores you. Read more>>
Jessi Sheridan
One important truth that very few people seem to agree with me on is that you can find balance, but only if you define it for yourself. I don’t believe balance is this perfect 50/50 split or a life where everything gets equal attention. To me, balance is a personal definition. Read more>>
Tanu Ojha Singh
That’s a fascinating question, and it brings up a truth I hold deeply, though it’s often met with skepticism in many environments: I fundamentally believe that true, intentional healing absolutely works and is profoundly transformative. The disagreement I often encounter stems from a lack of faith or belief in the process itself. But the problem is the expectation that Healing must be proven externally. Read more>>
CAROL TICE
Every coach of coaches is out there saying, ‘You need a $10,000 offer or you’re never going to make it! And if you give ME $10,000, I’ll teach you how to have a steady stream of $10,000 clients.’ Selling high-ticket just didn’t resonate for me. I didn’t want to have to do the amount of marketing it takes to sell such a pricey offer. Read more>>
M. M. De Voe
I think that people are inherently good, or at least that they wish to be. Read more>>
Sam Hendrian
Each person matters, and no one is morally superior to anybody else. We are all capable of evil under the right/wrong set of circumstances, and we are only as good as the worst impulses we know about and choose to rise above. Read more>>
Shelly Fitzpatrick
That animals truly do suffer because of us – through the food and beverage choices we make every day. Many people want to believe this process is done humanely, but the reality is far from that. I think awareness is the first step toward compassion – and compassion changes everything! Read more>>
Aaron Schmit
The truth almost nobody agrees with me on? Pain, chaos, destruction — they’re not enemies. They’re guides. Most people spend their lives chasing comfort. Chasing neat houses, predictable routines, polite conversations, the illusion that life is under control. They’re told that suffering is bad, that fear is weakness, that chaos is something to run from. And most of them obey. Read more>>
Charley Sabatino
My day usually consists of teaching, practicing and composing. I really try to keep up my craft and expand my knowledge so I can share it with my students and have it help me create. Read more>>
Abigail Yeung
A normal day right now is working on casting for three short films but I am always looking for another projects to work on as a casting director. I’m open to anything such as short films, feature films, commercials, fashion campaigns, print magazines and many other mediums. My daily tasks include scouting for new talent, reviewing self tapes and setting up auditions. Read more>>
Beezy Vandross
Normal day well the first thing you got to thank God and then you know you got to you know get yourself prepared before you go out in the world because we could be a cruel place. Read more>>
Scribbles Who
In this chapter, I don’t have normal days. One day I’m shooting a music video, the next day I’m decorating like a little house wife, the next day I am on the other side of the world. It’s a blessing only the wild ones want. Read more>>
Tony Brinkley
I am very retired, and at 77, I feel I am living in the present (for the most part happily) and with a fading past and not much future. Often this feels enlightening. On most days, I begin with coffee, then try to write or work with photographs (poems without words) while also trying not to fall asleep. Read more>>
