Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.
Nick Smith
I’m really after freedom – freedom from my own thoughts, financial stress, and living life on autopilot you knows? If I can tap into what makes me unique and turn it into something special, I know it’ll resonate with others who feel the same. I can’t even imagine stopping because it’s so much bigger than just me. Read more>>
Max Hoven
I ask myself this question almost every year. My guess is that every creative person who works hard to build a career in art and entertainment will eventually rethink their path and make changes to their goals. And all of us debate quitting the game, I’m sure. In a specific sense, I’m chasing financial freedom. Read more>>
Ella Ervin
As a business owner, I’m not just chasing success—I’m chasing purpose, healing, and a legacy built on love. My entire business, FaceCard, is rooted in my brother Lance’s belief that there’s beauty in everything. Lance was the most loving, loyal person I’ve ever known. He saw me when I didn’t even see myself, and poured belief into me in a way that changed my life. Read more>>
Trent Lizana
I’m doing what I was born to do, and that is to create meaningful art. Whether it’s a painting or a stunning custom, diamond and gold piece. Each work of Art is meaningful and touches peoples lives in different ways. Read more>>
Lindsay Stockhecke
Absolutely. Every version we ever embody holds a piece of us, whether we like it or not. As I mentioned, we are all performing our identity, and even the act of choosing the performance, however misaligned it may feel, is coming from a real part of you. Read more>>
McCrae
Life flows like a river’s current. You can swim against, but ultimately nature’s pull will outlive the strength in your arms and legs. Helplessly, you’ll be carried downstream. Life’s kind of like that. You can swim sideways, grabbing at rocks, pulling yourself ashore for brief moments- only to find that the moment you dip your toes back into the water, the current still pursues, unchanging. Read more>>
Reese Bond
I’m most proud of building the culture within my team that often goes unseen. On the outside, people see the finished results—beautiful hair, happy clients, successful launches—but what they don’t see is the intentional training, mentorship, and support I’ve built for my team behind the scenes. Creating a space where stylists feel valued, confident, and inspired is the foundation that allows everything else to shine. Read more>>
Dr. Keith Driscoll
As a child I was always told that I was limited. it would only be able to obtain certain goals in my 20s. I was held back because of stereotypes in my 30s. I became a single parent and so I had to work. any job. in my 30s also obtained my masters degree and was able to do better for my first born. Read more>>
Ethan Healey
Well growing up you know I got 6 brothers & 2 sisters we didn’t really have a lot. I was right in the middle so I was just always kind of by myself a lot. Read more>>
Lauren “Lern” Elwell
The first 90 minutes of my day is a blur. I wake up at 3:30, snooze until 4, and rush to look like an actual human being. My tortie cat, Clover usually follows me into the bathroom and “gets ready with me” by meowing the whole time. Read more>>
Imene McCoy
This one is easy for me—my team. They are the heartbeat of Savvy. Most people see the beautiful gowns and the happy brides, but I know that none of it works without the people behind the scenes making it happen every day. My job is to build and maintain the infrastructure that allows them to shine—clear systems, strong training, and a culture that supports them. Read more>>
Nakeisha Hill
The biggest fear that has held me back was me not believing in myself! Read more>>
Olivia Orman
For me, it is music and the whole process around bringing songs to life. I have always enjoyed listening to various styles of music, but when I wrote my first songs in 2018, it wasn’t necessarily because I aspired to become a musician. It was kind of accidental (no pun intended!) in a way, but has become an ever-evolving pursuit. Read more>>
Sabrina English
Being creative in any media always puts me in a flow state. From drawing, to sewing, to silversmithing, if I have unlimited time to be creative and work on a project, that is the best opportunity for me to lose track of time. I find myself through working on projects, pondering new ideas, and learning new skills that will advance me in my artistic pursuits. Read more>>
Ross Christopher
Capturing and creating beauty. In whatever form that may be – photography, art, architecture, songwriting, cooking, etc. Being able to create is amazing in the first place. So being able to observe and recognize beauty and create something that hopefully resonates with others, to stir a bit more beauty into the mix, is the goal. It’s life. Read more>>
Kid Da Vine
Omnilessism!! My own self created structure of finding your own beliefs and not being force to adhere to the ones that already exist. I believe everyone is an Omnilessist at heart, because everything and nothing is simultaneously true. So YOUR path can be anything YOU choose it to be. Read more>>
Katie Jett
There have been many pivotal moments in my life, but one that stands out occurred in 2008, when I had the opportunity to travel to Peru on a medical mission trip. My role on the board of the organization was typically focused on operations, but this time I was one of only two nurse practitioners traveling with several nursing students. Read more>>
Kathleen Lees
There’s not really just one, but I’ll name a few. Every time I see one of my students succeed or when I work on a story that has the potential to create positive change. Instances like these keep me focused on the future. They inspire me to make a difference in society for the better, despite the magnitude of injustice and suffering in the world. Read more>>
Aaron Perlut
It’s funny, but in addressing my anxiety, I did a 180 on this. I used to think my happy place was maybe with a bunch of my friends taking a boys trip and drinking a lot. Today I’ve become much more solitary and really just enjoy my quiet place, with my wife and sons, maybe rehearsing with the band. Read more>>
Andrew Caldwell
I wanted to ignore everything else about me. I thought that if I didn’t pay attention to the negatives about myself, eventually all that would be left was positives. And by only being the positive parts of myself I’d be my “true self”. Then, I was sure, I’d finally be comfortable being me everywhere I went…. because I’d be “perfect”. Read more>>
Jenna Barbosa
Oh, this one is a challenging one for me. I’ve learned I enjoy achieving things and being recognized for that achievement as an affirmation of my competency. It is connected to my sense of value as a human in my relationships. When I don’t get the recognition I struggle to feel valued for my gifting. Read more>>
Tiffany Mariie
I always give everything my best, my 100% all the time because I treat people and things how I want to be treated. Also, it’s not for them it’s for me so as long as I give it 100% of me every time that’s all that matters. Read more>>
Reggie Moore
Instead of hiding it , I started to project that pain into my music , because music always have stuck with me ever since I was in 2nd -3rd grade. I played the piano , drums and guitar so I always had music in my veins. Read more>>
Beth Horton
Yes! Early on in my photography journey, I had the chance to say yes to every type of photography job that came my way. I struggled with thinking that I needed to say yes to everything that came across my path. I’m really glad that I did not act fast and instead waited to define what I really love – lifestyle, family, branding photography. Read more>>
Bill Duvendack
Foundational shifts take time, and in this case it means that when it comes to identifying the difference between fads and foundational shifts; fads will fade in a few weeks or months, but foundational shifts will take months, if not years, to play out. Essentially, you have to give shifts time to develop, so you have to watch it for a long time. Read more>>
Anasiah Clark
If immortality were real, I would build a legacy of empowerment that never fades—a movement where families, especially mothers and daughters, can build businesses together and pass on both confidence and wealth. Read more>>
Maurice Parisien
If I had 10 years left on this earth, There is one thing that I’d want to quickly put behind me. That is to leave behind feelings of ‘would da’ ‘could da’ ‘should da’, and live for today to make every minute left in this world count. Read more>>
Dominique Ayers
I think my clients would miss the great conversations and the feeling of truly being heard. They’d also probably miss the fun, engaging environment —where it feels more like hanging out with a friend than just an appointment. Read more>>
Frank Chappell
I hope that my customers would miss seeing me and sharing joys and laughs. In all honesty though I would miss them more. In the years I’ve been doing this I am still seeing families that I visited during my first year. Read more>>
Dean Robinson
I miss my children that were wrongfully taken from my custody by Rutherford County police in Tennessee when I paid for a family camping trip on someone’s private property to see my father before he passed. They made up lies to take my children and said we were ‘living in the woods’ and I have been through hell trying to get them back. Read more>>
Keisha Mabry
A normal day for me right now is a blend of family, community, and leadership. I start my mornings with a little me-time—whether that’s journaling, reading, or moving my body—before grounding myself with my daughter and husband. Read more>>
Steve Wiegenstein
As an author, I’m used to delayed gratification. Read more>>
Elisa Courter
The most frequent way I see bonds be broken is by betrayal of trust, lack of communication and disrespect. I’ve seen this on the leadership level all the way down to the employee level. The moment trust is broken or a team member feels disrespected is the moment your workforce starts to decline. Read more>>
Muriel Smith
I think bonds between people break when trust is broken and respect is lost. When we stop believing in each or stop honoring each other’s humanity. Sometimes it’s caused by a single hurtful moment, other times by small things that pile up. What restores those bonds is choosing to show up again—with honesty, humility, and a willingness to listen. Read more>>
Charlotte Meier
I believe that every experience we carry—joy, grief, pain, and love—has its own frequency that lives within the body. Even though science cannot yet fully measure these frequencies, emerging research supports the idea that our bodies hold these vibrational imprints. Studies on sound therapy and vibroacoustic healing show that specific frequencies can shift nervous system activity, ease tension, and enhance overall well-being. Read more>>
Andrew Gaffigan
I believe that every experience we carry—joy, grief, pain, and love—has its own frequency that lives within the body. Even though science cannot yet fully measure these frequencies, emerging research supports the idea that our bodies hold these vibrational imprints. Studies on sound therapy and vibroacoustic healing show that specific frequencies can shift nervous system activity, ease tension, and enhance overall well-being. Read more>>
Tammy Heet & Kay Miller
Vintage is such a broad term; it’s essentially something that is over twenty years old. We consider Assassin Vintage to be a true vintage shop – we mostly sell pieces that are from the 70s/80s and older. What people may not think of when buying a piece of clothing is that the constant that vintage brings to the table is quality. Read more>>
Keri Lemmons
People often misunderstand my work as just ‘pampering’ or a quick-fix relaxation session. Something that is luxury and not necessity. But I’m not in the business of surface-level calm. I’m here to help people remember who they are beneath the stress. My sessions restore more than just energy. Read more>>
Aaron Perlut
I think human nature is that people judge a book by its cover. I think based on my past behaviors—before I stopped drinking and addressed my anxiety—people will more than likely judge me based on my life up until those things were addressed. Read more>>
Dr. Imani Robinson
I didn’t ask or desire to be in the public eye. To have so many hats. To be a community leader, a radio personality, a business owner, a trauma overcomer and spiritual force. I didn’t choose to love the way that I do. Pain, disappointments, failure for years seemed to be my life direction.. Truth is, they were the stepping stones to my divine destiny. Read more>>
Brandan Garner
You cannot coddle, groom, or nurture your pain! I believe that pain just is. It happens to everyone – sometimes unjustly and without reason and the world keeps spinning. It’s unfair for sure. However, I think sometimes people believe that pain gives them an out to stop trying and/or growing. Read more>>
Marna Coleman
A normal day for me right now is anything but ordinary, as my role as a Neighborhood Stabilization Officer (NSO) keeps me deeply involved in both ongoing community needs and disaster recovery efforts. Each morning typically begins with reviewing updates from the city and FEMA regarding the May 16 tornado, which devastated parts of our community. Read more>>
Esther Lee
Normal looks different depending on the day. Sometimes it’s matcha, emails, the gym, and catching up with friends before I dive into editing. Other days, it’s an airport run and a camera in my hand for a destination wedding. Honestly, I kind of love organized chaos—it keeps life interesting! Read more>>
DeJuan Strickland
I’d say one pain I struggle to face head-on is not being taken seriously. I do philanthropic work in my community to combat food insecurity and child hunger, raising money to help pay off students’ negative lunch balances. I work to raise awareness about the impact hunger has on kids—how they’re expected to learn and thrive at school while running on an empty stomach. Read more>>
Kylee Gross
My husband has always encouraged me to go for what I want even if it’s scary. Without his support, I don’t think I would have taken a few jumps in life that have led me to where I am today. I really owe his security and encouragement for taking the risks to believe in myself and go for what I dreamed. Read more>>
Chris Geden
My mentor Rob West, we were like brothers and he always challenged me to do more and always providing me with the opportunity to see what true leadership looked like while always remaining a humble servant leader. Read more>>
Mia Mudd
Being kind. It comes like second nature to me, and it takes no effort to spread a bit of kindness. Opening the door, giving out a complement, and staying positive can improve someone’s day more than you would know. Being able to walk away from the day knowing I tried my best to be kind to others feels very rewarding. Read more>>
Kaelen FElix
The earliest memories were from when I would sit down at the family room table and start illustrating. It didn’t even have to be a crayon, a marker, or paint. What mattered to me was…I was enjoying myself, I felt motivated, powerful, and unstoppable in a way! And, I still do feel that every time I am doing a creative piece. Read more>>
Bates
The guy at the corner store caught me stealing a bag of ranch Fritos when I was 7. He told me to go get my mama, and my slow a** did. I told mother I didn’t do it, and despite evidence, my mother defended me and told the man to never accuse her daughter of stealing ever again. Don’t judge me, yo. Read more>>
Colure
We don’t think any of us will ever regret starting this band. We all enjoy writing and playing live together, and we’ve gotten to play a lot of really great shows and make some new friends along the way. Read more>>
Black Millennials Mamas
Parenting gets easier the older the kids get….…which is incorrect. Parenting kids at their different ages is still a struggle no matter what age they are. You start out helping them do EVERYTHING. Then it gets to a point where you have to help them less and less, little by little in order for them to learn and grow; that can be hard at times. Read more>>
Morgan Moody
I changed my mind about dating after falling hard. I haven’t had the best history with dating and therapy made me realize that. I was tending to date people who had a lot of trauma and things that they needed to handle first. I always felt like I could fix someone to be with me or have to prove why someone should be with me. Read more>>
Reba Rice Portwood
I felt the most love when my son was alive. That love was unconditional, and if love were enough, my son would still be here. Read more>>
Ksandra Roehr
If we define “smart people” as those who lean heavily on logic, intellect, and constant data collection, then I would say what they’re getting wrong is the belief that this alone means they have it all figured out. The rational mind is powerful, but it’s only half of the equation. Our emotional and energetic bodies are just as essential if we truly want to thrive. Read more>>
