“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.

Kathy D. Carter | Energy Healer & Spiritual Coach

The other day I read that when you cannot make a decision it’s because you don’t know what you value. I have thought about this statement a lot and realize how very true it is. Even when you cannot answer even a small easy question of what do you want to eat or what movie to watch, it reflects that either you don’t know what you value or it doesn’t mean much to you. If we do not value ourselves first, then we cannot affect change on the collective consciousness. By valuing our self first, we value our physical care and health, our emotional well-being, our mental health, and our spiritual needs. We put our self first always. It is just like putting on your oxygen mask before helping others. If our cup of self love is not full and overflowing we don’t have the extra to share with others without giving away what we need to survive. Read more>>

Steve Deitz | CEO/Founder of 900lbs, Experience Design Agency

There are a lot of 4 letter words that could describe 2020! This year has been the biggest reminder of how external macro factors (that are completely out of our control) can pose extreme threats to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Thankfully, 900lbs has been really strong through this pandemic. Turning obstacles into opportunities has always been a core mantra of our team. We are diversified and agility and adaptability is in our DNA. In a year of rapid change, our culture and team needed a lot more focus. As a leader, I needed to listen more and gain a better understanding of my team’s headspace. We were missing the cultural adhesive that binds our team together. Our original core values were created several years ago. They were scripted and not discussed or applied enough in our week to week. They had lost their meaning and relevance. We needed a stronger compass. Read more>>

Justin Bynum | Lawyer

There is an unwarranted aversion that exists between the members of the public and the legal profession. Many people believe that lawyers are without ethics, though, in reality, this could not be further from the truth. As a lawyer, the foundational principle upon which I’ve built my practice and life is integrity. Integrity is paramount to the success of not only a career, but also a life. For this reason, I seek to ensure that everything that I do begins with the principles of honesty and truthfulness. Read more>>

Anna Tagliabue | Founder and Creative Director of Pelush

I consider my best achievements in life, my personal accomplishments as a human being. Through internal growth, open mindedness, awareness and always searching for deeper layers, through meditation and the purity of a higher consciousness. Awakened conscious. And not let the ego prevail. That’s why I feel so close to the animal cause, started a #ReFAUXlution, became an animal rights activist and a vegan. Because of the nature of my business and as a new fashion designer I felt it was my obligation and responsibility to understand what was behind the fur industry and fashion in general. What I’ve found was and still is abhorrent, cruel and unjust. This I why I pledged to use high end luxury fashion as a mean to spread awareness, open people’s heart, reconnect them to the animals and nature and encourage to reject all exploitation and injustice of non human animals and human animals alikeI consider my best achievements in life, my personal accomplishments as a human being. Through internal growth, open mindedness, awareness and always searching for deeper layers, through meditation and the purity of a higher consciousness. Awakened conscious. And not let the ego prevail. That’s why I feel so close to the animal cause, started a #ReFAUXlution, became an animal rights activist and a vegan. Because of the nature of my business and as a new fashion designer I felt it was my obligation and responsibility to understand what was behind the fur industry and fashion in general. What I’ve found was and still is abhorrent, cruel and unjust. This I why I pledged to use high end luxury fashion as a mean to spread awareness, open people’s heart, reconnect them to the animals and nature and encourage to reject all exploitation and injustice of non human animals and human animals alike. Read more>>

Brittany Foster | Boutique Owner & Mom

Something that is really important to me is empowering women in all aspects of life. A major goal of mine is to harvest a woman to woman commerce culture through my business. I try to source as many products as possible from small women owned businesses especially local ones. A lot of female consumers out there really want to support other women in business and owning a women’s boutique gives me the opportunity to make sure this happens. Read more>>

Jerry Stanley | Interior Design Consultant

I think the primary factor in a good business relationship is mutual confidence and trust. Therefore, I would say my guiding value is that of integrity. I want to be open, honest and transparent with my clients…and hope for the same in return. I want them to know both my capabilities and limitations. I want them to understand the scope of a project…and what to expect during the process. I was taught as a young boy that “honesty is the best policy.” That policy still remains in the framework of Mission Accomplished Design. It’s at the heart of who we are and what we do. Read more>>