Life gives us many opportunities to learn important lessons, but that’s the hard way.  The easier way is to learn from others and so we’ve been asking folks we admire to share their most important lessons learned with us.

Charae Tucker | Entrepreneur, Author, Personal Wardrobe Stylist

The most important lesson I have learned is to surrender all my plans to God and stay open to change. There have been countless times when I have attempted to do things my way but God had something better in mind or an easier way to go about it. Being a business owner it’s easy to get stuck on an idea and become one-track minded to where you don’t see better opportunities that may arise or a better way of going about something. Even if you are not a person of faith, it’s important to stay open to change. Read more>>

Michael Wilson | Real Estate Agent/ Firefighter

This is such a great question because along the way there are so many important lessons to learn. Things such as patience, the ability to continue after hearing no, and realizing that even though you do your absolute best not everyone will choose to do business with you (and trust me even some of your best or closest friends won’t). These and more have been such important lessons I’ve learned in my years of Real Estate but, by far the most important lesson I have learned is to “Amor Fati” which means to ‘Love Fate’. Read more>>

Jazzella McKeel | Creative Branding & Lifestyle Photographer

The most important lesson I have learned along my journey has been self-awareness. There has so much value in truly learning who I am. When a person is self-aware they can be free to walk in purpose, on purpose. Being self-aware has caused me to be more emotionally intelligent which lends to greater communication and decision making skills. The journey of awareness is not an easy one, but it is most definitely worth it. Read more>>

Matt Kaplinsky | Painter

Patience and understanding. Let me explain: It took a long time for me to learn several truths about art and what it means to be an artist. Your work does not go flying off the walls giving you pockets full of cash when you start out, mid career, or even when an artist has “made it”. Being an artist is like putting on a hard hat, picking up a pick ax and becoming a miner. Most of what you will make should not live up to your expectations and it won’t – it’s dirt. Garbage art. But you keep working away putting long hours of swinging a pick-ax into the ground, clearing away dirt, tunneling deep into the Earth and every now and then you break out a gold nugget. Read more>>