Over the past decade, we have been profoundly impacted by the wisdom of the community. Every person has wisdom, every person has had experiences and observations that combined with their unique personality let them produce rare gems of understanding and so this question is one of our favorites. Check out the responses from some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs and creatives from within the community below.
Liz Hansen
Every person has inherent value and beauty that deserves to be celebrated. Sexy is not a size, an age, or a stage of life. It is a state of confidence and self-acceptance that belongs to every woman, no matter what her body looks like or what season she is in. Too often, women put conditions on their worth. Read More>>
Kayla Lawson
What I understand deeply that most people don’t is how essential it is to feel truly seen and heard. Beneath the surface, everyone carries fears, struggles, and emotions that often go unspoken. When someone takes the time to listen, really notice, and offer understanding without judgment, it can be profoundly validating.
Catherine Curry-Williams
The thing I understand deeply that most people may not is. Grief. Not just the kind that breaks you but the kind that transforms you. The kind that rearranges your soul and shows you truths you never asked to learn. When I lost my infant son Shane, I was cracked wide open. There’s no manual for that kind of loss. Read More>>
Bre’Yanna Mitriece
If I had to name one thing I understand deeply that most people don’t, it would be love. I believe I have a deeply spiritual understanding of love, whereas many people only see it from the surface,through feelings, family teachings, or society’s definitions. Read More>>
Krista Hovsepian
That our light is forged by going into our shadows, into the darkness, not by avoiding it altogether. Our capacity for light lies in direct proportion to our tolerance for or capacity to dive head-first into the shadow parts and meet our darkness with curiosity, loving kindness, and compassion. Read More>>
Pash Ga;bavy
Mask work has helped me understand on a profound level that our personalities are not us. Generally, who we think we are are actually only parts of us that are fleeting and changeable. The good and bad parts are just aspects of ourselves that need to be identified and acknowledged so that they can be absorbed into a more integrated whole. Read More>>
Katie Buxton
Something I understand deeply is the practice of meeting pain head-on; that the way to peace and fulfillment isn’t running away from discomfort, but rather looking right at it, holding hands with it. I still experience discomfort in life all the time, but one skill I’ve honed is listening to what it has to tell me so that it doesn’t control me. Read More>>
Craig Sotkovsky
I’ve gotten to live in different cultures on this Volcanic Meatball and the greatest thing I’ve learned is that we are all similar. We all want better for our families, kids, friends. The one thing I can say is that I have realized through all my ups and downs is that Nobody Laughs or Cries in a different language. Read More>>
Courtney Graham
In order to be successful you have to put in the work. There is no fast track or easy path to success. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were our skills, our clientele, or our education. It’s all about continuous drive, and being consistent even when you don’t want to be. Read More>>
Anthony Mictchell
One of the things I’ve come to understand on a deep level is the difference between power and influence. Power is positional—it comes with titles, roles, and authority. But influence is relational, and it extends far beyond formal structures. I’ve seen leaders with tremendous power fail to move people, and I’ve seen individuals with no official authority inspire entire movements. Read More>>
Rachel DeCavage
I’m not sure that I’m really an anomaly here but I often feel isolated in my belief that capitalism is the worst. Hahahaha! I’m a business owner; I engage in capitalism every day. But capitalism kills! As Americans we need to engage in capitalism because its the basis of our economy and our country. Buy sell buy sell buy sell. Read More>>
Kelly Callaghan
I have this deep belief that we’re all here on this earth for a purpose. That purpose is going to look different for everyone, but I think at our core we all want the same things: to be happier, more free, and to live life on our own terms. Read More>>
Violet Hategan
I understand that so much of what we’ve been taught about spirituality has been filtered through fear, control, and projection. Most people don’t realize how much of their relationship to God, Spirit, or their own gifts is shaped by narratives meant to make them small. Read More>>
Jamie Baldanza
What I understand deeply is that animals are sentient beings who deserve a voice. Spending years with wild horses has also shown me the complexity of their social structures and the importance of family bonds within their herds. That compassion and awareness shapes the way I move through the world and fuels my work to protect them. Read More>>
Andy Denson
What I understand deeply is that true artistic expression doesn’t require external validation or universal understanding. Most people are still catching up to what I’m creating as Andy Denson—there’s a wealth of my work out there, but I believe my best is still ahead of me. I’ve come to realize that as artists, we’re not meant to be understood by everyone. That’s actually liberating. Read More>>
Valoramous
I understand that there are no shortcuts and that success and excellence are a process. Instant results are an illusion. Read More>>
Tiffany Castagno
The Human Spirit and our Capabilities in a way that I feel so intuitively deeply that not everyone can understand- even my fellow Empaths. I love knowing without knowing. I love being a Safe Space. I love reflecting and being in Community, and knowing what I don’t know until the moment arrives. Read More>>
Crystal Perez
Hair appointments aren’t always about the hair. It’s about the connection. The time we spend with our clients. The laughing. And memories we make with them. The growth. Great hair is the bonus that makes them feel amazing day in and day out before coming back to us. Read More>>
Alrecus Ford
I think a lot of people, especially in my generation, believe they have to be relevant to be favored by God. And that’s just not true. Chasing relevance can make you trade away parts of yourself for likes, followers, and influence that don’t last. It can even tempt you to sell your soul just to stay visible. The favor of God doesn’t require a platform. Read More>>
Lyrical Foxx
Contrary to popular belief everyone doesn’t have the same ’24 hours’. Every person is at a different point in their journey. In short don’t waste energy comparing your life to other people, what you see in the media, or even in your own environment. Everything happens in divine timing. What is meant for you will come. Read More>>
Brandon Cheng
Tomorrow isn’t promised — we’re on borrowed time. During COVID, I had the realization that, God forbid, if I passed away during the pandemic, I would’ve died a clown. I was never serious, I was going through the motions of life, I didn’t have a purpose — and that’s not how I wanted people to remember me. Read More>>
Anne Dezort
The first 90 minutes of my days are very similar. I spend the first 30 with Adam, my boyfriend of 16 years. We make coffee every morning and relax outside with our cat pizza. We take this time very serious and NOTHING can happen until that peace has ended. Then I hop on the computer and open my daily 15 tabs and work through them one by one so that way when my employees get in at 10 I have a good healthy list and answers to their questions. Once they get in and the stores are open my chat starts chiming and the rest of my day is putting out fires or answering team questions. Read More>>
James & Natasha King
We believe in keeping God at the center—always. Not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s not. In a world that often forgets Him, we choose to stay grounded in faith. And in a culture that pushes constant striving, we choose gratitude—even when it’s not popular. We’ve learned that when God is the foundation, everything else aligns. Read More>>
Akiel Cyrus
I understand deeply what it takes to be genuinely happy, We often are stuck in loops of comparison, which leads to subconsciously devaluing the things and people you have in front of you. Often times resulting in a shallow lived life with materialism being the pinnacle of the gaze one desires from the masses, just to feel happy about themselves. Read More>>
Christine Clawley
I understand that everyone has a story to tell and that listening to someone compassionately is one of the most precious gifts in life. I understand how harmful stereotypes and projections are and to never assume I really know someone. Read More>>
Hazel Alvarez
I have a remarkable gift: the ability to remember what it feels like to be a child. Though I’ve carried this gift my entire adult life, I only consciously recognized it in 2021. This awareness transformed me as a teacher. Read More>>
Zitong Li
Time, I have a super deep connection with time, I think time is the only measurement of this reality Read More>>
Toni MSN, PHN, RN
What I’ve learned—through nursing, personal healing, and watching whole organizations fall apart—is that self-care isn’t an indulgence; it’s infrastructure. Most people still treat it like a spa day or a guilty pleasure. They miss that the micro-choices we make to rest, move, breathe, and refuel are the very scaffolding that keeps our minds clear, our bodies resilient, and our emotions steady. Read More>>
Gina Marciniak
What I understand, and what most people don’t always realize right away, is that love doesn’t show up just because you want it. It shows up when you’re truly ready to let yourself be seen. We think ‘The One’ is about timing or chemistry, having a solid checklist or good communication skills. Read More>>
