“If you stand for nothing, you fall for everything”

We asked the community to tell us about the values and principles that guide their lives and businesses.

Dr. Brooke Mensah | Owner/ CEO of REIGN Aesthetics and Medical Grade Skincare line SKIN by SKN RX

“Leave Everybody Better than You Found Them.” This has been my lifelong motto and foundational theme of REIGN since its mental inception in 2018. I decided I wanted to be a Doctor in the first grade, and as I chose habits and developed the disciplines necessary to achieve that monumentous gift, I was simultaneously developing the character to be the type of Doctor that I belived everybody needed. I may not have always known what type of Medicine I wanted to practice, but I always knew what type of Doctor I wanted to be, and how I wanted to make my patients feel. As a first generation American I know the magnitude a single act of kindness can have not only in somebody’s day to day, but ultimately on the trajectory of their lives. My father is an immigrant, and his story has shaped my life and still to this day is my motivation to become somebody that leaves a mark in the lives of others, My father grew up as 1 of 9 children to a single mother in an extremely poor village in Ghana, West Africa. When my father was 7 years old, he remembers a Medical Missions group entering his village and giving him his first toothbrush. Little did those Doctors and volunteers know, my father would one day make it out of his impoverished circumstances and become an extremely successful Doctor in The United States of America. Out of seemingly bleak circumstances a beautiful picture of hope was painted because of somebody’s decision to follow their heart, act in faith, and support complete strangers half way across the world. My father has never forgotten the acts of kindness demonstrated by the Medical Missions volunteers that day, and I pray that they realize that the little boy they gave that toothbrush to that day grew up to be an amazing, capable, successful Physician that broke barrier after barrier to achieve his goals. I truly believe that their commitment to improving the lives of others changed the trajectory of my fathers life. Read more>>

LONNIE MAY | Security Architect & Player Development Coach

I value the power of belief as the highest principle in our world. Our beliefs shape our reality in our daily life. How we feel emotionally about ourselves, our abilities, and the environment around us directly influences our beliefs, decisions, and ultimately, our future selves. Our God given power of belief strengthen us to overcome all obstacles, pursue our dreams, and manifest our abundance of potential. It fuels resilience in the face of adversity and serves as the driving force behind personal growth and achievement. Having the power within you to say, I AM ENOUGH”, transforms all possibilities into realities and unlocks the extraordinary potential within each of us. Read more>>

Annette Stevens | Health Coach & Greeting Card Designer

The value or principle that matters most to me is dependability. Throughout my life, I had the blessing of being surrounded by parents and siblings who were honest, reliable, and dependable. If they said they would do something, they did it. These values are a part of who I am today, and they carry over to all aspects of my life. I work in health care and have been with my current company for 27 years. Why does this matter to me? I take pride in learning and knowing what is expected of me and then doing it and going above and beyond when possible. I take pride in knowing that my employer and my co-workers can depend on me to do my job and do it with pride and attention to detail. In the end, I have a great sense of accomplishment and, more importantly, my patients have the best care and experience possible. My passion/hobby is making greeting cards, and my deep sense of principles are stamped (no pun intended) all over the process of making cards. I understand that people have many choices when the need to purchase a greeting card arises, from purchasing them at a dollar store or at a high-end boutique. My focus is not on where people choose to buy their cards from, but I lean heavily on the actual process of creating something unique and 100% hand-made. I love creating cards that are not mass printed or mass produced. We are all so busy with our day-to-day lives and t is so easy for any of us to send a text to let someone know that you are thinking of them, but when you send a card instead, the recipient has a deeper sense of being thought of simply because someone took the time out of their day to search for, select a card, and hand write a note. Also, who doesn’t like to get mail? I know I do! Read more>>

Kaitlyn Wages | Co-Founder, Origins Birth and Wellness Collective

Integrity stands at the core of Origins Birth and Wellness Collective because it is the bedrock upon which our entire business philosophy is built. In the realm of birthing and wellness, trust is paramount, and integrity is the glue that binds our commitment to the highest ethical standards. Read more>>