We asked some of the brightest folks in the community to open up to us about the most important lesson their business or career has taught them. We’ve highlighted some of those responses below.

Alex Walter | Ceramicist

The most important lessons that my ceramic career has taught me is “don’t get too attached to dirt.” In ceramics there is often failure, from forms collapsing on the wheel to kiln catastrophes. If you become too attached to your creations such events can feel overbearing. I’ve learned that you cannot take that too seriously and you cannot let it deter you from continuing to create. Read more>>

Katie Bowman | Comedian & Artist

It’s important to find a few of your most original ideas and put 100% into all of them until you find reasons to slim it down and define one single strength worth profiting on. Read more>>

Trevor Gass | Photographer

The most important thing I have come to understand from starting and running my photography business is that one should never stop learning. Continuously learning ways to improve my craft and level of service ensures that my clients always receive my absolute best effort. A complacent photographer is destined to be quickly surpassed by those who are hungry and have a competitive edge. With the development of new technical, artistic, and service related technologies and best practices, there is no shortage of new things to learn and try. In addition to helping me stay on top of industry trends, constantly searching for ways to streamline my processes also helps keep my job fresh and engaging. You can never be become bored if you’re always looking for new ways to approach old problems. Read more>>