A big part of making decisions is determining what our actions and choices have been inspired by. So we asked decision makers from the community to tell us about what they are inspired by.

Holly Guenther | Artist & Small Business Owner

I’m inspired by so many things in daily life! A lot of my designs are based on puns or word play and I can be walking around and suddenly see something like a tree or hear something in a meeting that my brain immediately turns into a pun. I also love looking at all the colors and shapes in nature for my more traditional illustrations and going to art museums. Seeing other artists’ works pushes me in my own creative process. Read more>>

Leila Elgersma | Mural Painter, Children’s Illustrator

A huge inspiration for me is in knowing that what I’m doing is going to brighten up a child’s life. I paint murals in a lot of pediatric clinics and urgent care facilities and knowing that a child who is sick or hurt will go into that clinic and feel better or happier because of a picture I painted on the wall is everything to me. Even a school or daycare, making it a cheerful fun place for kids to go to every day, that’s amazing. Read more>>

Racheal Smith | Licensed Lash Artist

1 What was your thought process behind starting your own business?- To be completely honest there wasn’t a whole lot of thought into it. I have a regular full time job so i started this as a side gig to make extra money to put up. Never in a million years did I think I would be as busy as I have. 2 What’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?- I disagree with the advise “Go to college to make good money, support your family, and be successful in life” I went to college right out of high school in the medical field and I didn’t do anything with it. I was a kid and it wasn’t a passion. Read more>>

Val Spurger | Esthetican & Lash Artist

I am inspired by other entrepreneurs in the beauty industry that have become successful. I look up to others that started out small, like me, and now are opening other locations for their businesses. I know if they are capable of being that successful, I am to. It inspires me to see others doing great and drives me to stay focused because my time will come. Read more>>