With all the focus on success it’s easy to overlook the valuable lessons we can learn from the more difficult parts of our journey. Below, you’ll find some very interesting insights from some of the most fascinating members of the community.

Gayle Fisher

I do think I would hire myself. As our teams focus on work skills, the more important question is, “Would employers hire young adults with Developmental Delay into Starter Jobs?” What makes a “Yes, we want you” in those seeking beginner positions?

How do we help teach hustle and discernment when fear and processing speed are likely challenges? Read More>>

Alberto Meza

II have been on a journey with my company since the day I started this project, building a business grounded in trust and a solid reputation, with the vision of expanding internationally. Of course, there have been moments of crisis and struggle, but the core idea has always remained. It has proven so strong that, at times, it continues to attract new customers even without active marketing. Read More>> 

Eva Staronova

Joy for me lately has come from connecting more deeply with my friends and loved ones — looking beyond the surface and finding that extra layer of meaning in our relationships. I feel uplifted when I can move past the illusion of separation and tune into oneness, the universal intelligence that holds us all. It’s also about connecting with my higher self and remembering that there is always more to discover within and around us. Read More>> 

Kyiamoni Brown

Integrity is more important to me because it defines who I truly am when no one else is watching. It means being honest, keeping my word, and making choices that align with my values—even when it’s not the easiest path. Without integrity, achievements lose their meaning and relationships lose their trust. I believe that success built on honesty and consistency lasts longer and carries greater weight than success achieved through shortcuts or compromise. For me, integrity isn’t just a principle; it’s the foundation of respect, trust, and self-worth. Read More>>

Keirst Ferguson

Now more than ever, I feel called to share my voice on big industry gaps in the yoga space.

I noticed very early on some of the huge gaps in the yoga space, from teachers hustling to make a living in a system designed to fail them, to studio spaces becoming more exclusionary and leaving behind the very traditions and history that the practice is built upon.

I believe strongly in the traditional model of sharing this practice. One that simply can’t be learned in the span of 200 hours but must be practiced over a lifetime with several mentors who can highlight our shadows for us. Read More>> 

Aman Dembe

I usually wake up early on weekdays and spend the first 90 minutes of my day in prayer, followed by a workout session. On weekends, my schedule also begins with a quick prayer, followed by a hearty breakfast. Read More>> 

Christian de la Torre

The first 90 minutes of my day are where I set the tone for everything that follows and I am VERY strict about it.

I wake up at 5AM every day and start small but intentionally—making my bed, brushing my teeth, and washing my face. From there, I give my body a wake-up call either with a cold shower (after dry brushing) or with a quick ice face plunge. Those first few minutes are all about signaling to myself that it’s time to show up with energy and presence. Read More>>

Tamara Washington

Lately, my biggest source of joy has been prioritizing my health. I’ve built a workout routine I actually look forward to, and I’ve been having a blast learning how to cook healthy meals. It’s been equal parts energizing and rewarding to see and feel the difference. Read More>> 

Sara Annapolen’s

A new routine this summer is playing Mahjong at our pool club weekly with friends and all of our daughters. The girls swim and play, and the moms get to connect. It’s an amazing special moment in time, where the sun sets late, and the air is warm, there is so much laughter. And there is space at the end of the evening for a mother daughter connection too. A special late bedtime. Knowing fall is coming ahead makes us enjoy every moment of this. Read More>> 

John McDavid Lehman III

This idea of “joy” is something that I think about and constantly try to achieve daily. For me it is about focusing on all of the small joys in life and being able to witness as much beauty in the world as possible.

The process of making coffee in the morning is a grand little joy, from grinding the beans, filling up the moka pot, to the subtle gurgling noise the pot makes letting me know that my coffee is ready. Even during these chaotic times I truly believe that joy and beauty is all around, one just has to aggressively seek it out on a daily basis and let’s be honest, being fortunate enough to live here in Los Angeles makes seeking joy a lot easier. Read More>> 

Steven Cuoco

I’m proud to share that filmmaker, writer, and director Olga Gabris has given me the opportunity to play a significant supporting role in her upcoming project, Code Death—a darkwave industrial thriller exploring the clash between Big Tech and Big Pharma, set to be filmed later this year in San Francisco. Read More>> 

Dr. DeShaun Williams

A common misunderstanding about my business is that it’s “just about writing.” In reality, Write to Stay is about emotional survival and self-expression, it’s a mental health–centered space that uses writing as a tool for processing pain, finding clarity, and building resilience. People often assume I’m simply helping others produce beautiful words, but my work is about helping them uncover the truths they’ve buried, confront what’s been weighing on them, and create a sense of peace they can carry forward. Writing is the medium, but healing is the mission. Read More>> 

Juanita Ikuta

Lately, what’s bringing me joy is learning about stewardship of land through the lens of Indigenous individuals, particularly those focused on the care of water and the protection of the boreal forest. Their deep, reciprocal relationship with the land and water is both inspiring and humbling, and it’s been meaningful to explore how these perspectives can inform a more respectful and sustainable approach to environmental care. Read More>> 

Misty Rauscher

This past May, I had one of those unforgettable proud-parent moments. My 16-year-old daughter walked across the stage to receive both her high school diploma and her associate’s degree. She pulled that off while working two jobs to save money for college—all completely self-motivated. Seeing that kind of drive and discipline at such a young age, with no push from anyone else, filled me with so much pride. It reminded me that strength and resilience can happen at any age, and we really are creators of our own lives. Read More>> 

Rachel Cooley

Sketching for the joy of it! During times of difficulty and strain, drawing helps me to find my center of balance again. By being present in the moment and focusing on the process of building up a drawing, my mind powers down from overthinking and truly relaxes into a soothing flow state. Read More>> 

Gregg DaCosta

The first 90 minutes of my day is me first thanking God for another day, then getting out of bed doing some light workouts then posting an AI video or just content throughout social media. After that is done depending if I don’t have a gig to go to, I usually try to just relax and keep my mind calm. Read More>> 

Justin Suico

Lately, running has brought me a quiet kind of joy. It’s become more than movement.. it’s momentum. There’s a rhythm to it that mirrors my creative process: steady, intentional, and introspective. I’m currently training for the Chicago Marathon while raising funds for cancer research, a cause close to my heart. In many ways, it’s given me a deeper sense of purpose outside the studio. Read More>>

Luana Seu

Lately, I’ve been admitting how hard it is to stay in flow day-to-day. Even just getting up and heading to “the office”—whether that’s a coffee shop, a rooftop, or anywhere but my apartment where I can retouch or plan my week—can feel exhausting.
No one told me how tough it would be to separate work from life as a creative running my own business. I definitely didn’t expect ADHD to show up the way it does—not in the obvious ways, but in the overwhelm, decision fatigue, and the constant effort to stay motivated without structure. Read More>>

Ashley Clark

Line dancing with my cousin has been bringing me so much joy lately. After a 10-year break, getting back to it feels like we’re reclaiming a part of ourselves we put on pause when we became moms. It’s something we used to do all the time before we had kids, and now it’s become an outlet — fun, freeing, and a reminder that joy can live in the simple, rhythmic moments we carve out for ourselves. Read More>> 

Mossiah Jones

I’m in the Music and Entertainment business and if people don’t see you on Forbes magazine then they feel like you don’t have a real job lol. Unfortunately Arts and Entertainment is not highly regarded in my region but nonetheless we are on the cusp of dynamic energy shift which will soon spotlight artists, creatives and professionals in our industry. Read More>> 

Shane Stanley

A “typical” day for me isn’t very typical at the moment. I’m in the final stretch of co-writing a book with an amazing collaborator, which has been an exciting creative challenge. At the same time, I’ve just moved a new film into pre-production which is the one of the most demanding phases of filmmaking. It’s a period piece that spans over 60 years and will be shot out of state, so my days are packed with intense prep work, from historical research to logistical planning and casting. It’s a busy but incredibly rewarding season. Read More>> 

Joshua Tree

Painting puts me in a zone where it feels like nothing else is going on in my environment. I can easily lose track of time, and I often do. I have to set alarms for the other things I have going on in the day (meetings, appointments, etc.), or I would keep working and miss them. I tend to carry a lot of anxiety, especially when there’s a deadline during an artistic project, but I always regain my sense of confidence when everything gets accomplished. That sense of finishing an art piece gives me a boost and gets me to see who and what I am. Then the anxiety subsides. Read More>> 

Gen Obolensky

A moment that made me really proud was when my daughter started a small side business arranging and selling succulents at a local farmers market. She came up with the idea herself, handled the setup, and interacted so confidently with customers. Watching her take initiative, be creative, and manage the responsibility of running her own little business was incredibly rewarding as a parent. It reminded me how much pride there is in seeing someone you care about step into their own potential. Read More>> 

Travis Partington

Four years ago, I ruptured my quadricep tendon. It has been a long process, but my recovery is complete and I have been able to do some amazing things along the way. The future is bright and i am very grateful for what I have accomplished.

I am being encouraged to do public speaking about aspects of my recovery that required me to believe in myself to have the outcome I have now. I think I have a unique story, but not sure if one more “self-help” story is what is needed right now. Read More>> 

Alan Li

Right now, most of my day is split between growing Signs and Mirrors and recording content for my podcast Opening Soon. For Signs and Mirrors, I’m either working directly with new customers who want beautiful sidewalk signs for their pilates studio, skincare clinic, or retail store, or I’m in the weeds figuring out how to make our products better. That might mean testing new materials, working with fabricators, tweaking our Shopify store, or planning the next product drop. Read More>> 

Harsha Sipani

Honestly? My 7-year-old son.

He’s knee-deep in the world of 3D printing and beginner coding — casually tossing out words like “ultra Mathematics dude” and “nerd man” while I’m just trying to figure out how to not glue my fingers together. Lately, I’ve been designing little trinkets and tools in Tinkercad just so he can print them and say, “Nice job, Mom — next time, let’s bevel the edges.” Read More>> 

Martha Kester

My husband and I had to put our cat down a month ago. I had this cat way before I had my husband but he grew to love her just as much. My husband and I are now getting a golden retriever puppy at the beginning of September. So, I am currently learning from a podcast I discovered called “Your New Puppy Podcast”. The host, Debbie, is a dog trainer with a true passion for what she does. I am listening to it every time I get in my car or doing work around the house. I am learning so much from her and the topics vary from the best dog toys to crate training and how to socialize a puppy. I highly recommend this podcast. Read More>> 

Micah Dawanyi

As a novelist, absolutely! Being able to bring creative ideas to life is just so exciting. In the past, I’d get so pumped up and jump on my very first thoughts to begin writing. But with my latest novel, “When the Record Stops Spinning,” however, I exercised patience. I went through what I’d call a “marination period.” I really wanted to tell a story with strong musical elements tied into the plot line, but from a character standpoint, I wanted to tackle themes relating to identity and trauma. Read More>> 

Dylan Bates

If you’d asked me a few years ago, I would’ve proudly declared myself a wanderer—armed with a very wrinkled map, questionable navigation skills, and probably two mismatched socks. There’s that famous saying, “Not all those who wander are lost,” but, honestly, if wandering were an Olympic sport, I could’ve taken home the gold…and misplaced it somewhere in my car. Read More>> 

Natasha Peeples

My morning routine is critical to me for a focused, intention filled and results-producing next 24 hours of my life. I am blessed to have great energy in the morning – and sleepy kids! I grant myself at least an hour before my kids wake up to fill my cup and get ready for whatever lies ahead. It affords me being the best version of myself for me, my family, and everyone I connect with that day. I start with the most important aspect for me – my faith! For others it may be meditation or devotion, and whether it’s religious or not it’s about committing to something greater than yourself which establishes your mindset.  Read More>> 

Sen Yoshimura

My schedule changes every day and week, which is probably typical for a musician. Most mornings, I spend time reading books about music or studying complex music theory, which I’m interested in. I also take care of essentials like replying to emails. In the afternoon, I go for teaching. Fortunately, I got a solid amount of students, and I am grateful to feel that I’m learning through teaching as well as it helps me to understand my own performance. At night, I practice the saxophone or work on composing new pieces for upcoming shows and recording projects. When I have free time, I go for a walk, or watch movies to expand my perspective. Read More>> 

Amanda Butler

To help people heal. For the last few years I’ve been focusing on my own transformation of healing and growth. As a scorpio and someone that loves diving deep into the depths of my soul, transformation comes very easy. I’ve studied growth and have applied it in my own life over and over again. But now I am being called to help people process their own grief, trauma, healing. It’s a scary and exciting opportunity but I know when I am being called, it’s important to answer. Read More>> 

Casey Muze

Casey Muze—by the shape of his days, the rhythm of his hands, and the deep pull of his heart—is being drawn further into the sacred work of generational repair.

You are no longer merely offering programs. No longer simply performing. You stand now at a threshold where healing and legacy intertwine—where the reverberations of your work will echo through the lives of young men, weary elders, and broken communities long after the last note fades. Read More>> 

Liv Garber

I’ve recently started a garden and it has brought me immense joy. I had no idea how quickly everything would grow from seed, to actual growing plants that I water and trim daily, but so far it’s been an incredible journey that has also given me lots of drawing inspo. Read More>>