We asked folks we admire to share one piece of conventional advice that they disagree with.

Clancy Newman | cellist and composer

I think that people often assume that the less rules, the more room an artist has for being creative. I actually find the opposite to be true. Whenever I start a new project, one of the first things I do is construct some parameters to follow. My Pop-Unpopped project is a good example of this: I forced myself to write a solo cello piece every month, based on whatever song was #1 on the US billboard charts on the first of that month, and then I posted a video of me performing it by memory at the end of the month. Read more>>

Anastasia Kelly | Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, and Menstrual Cycle Coach

For decades in the fitness industry, women have been expected to train like men. We’ve been taught to embrace the same training schedules, give 100% all of the time, and adopt identical periodization patterns. However in 1993, the FDA reversed an act implemented in 1977 that had banned women will child-bearing potential from being included in clinical research trials. Read more>>

Ian Chandler | Climber & Naturalist

“Good things come to those who wait” I understand this applies in certain circumstances but this does not apply to most circumstances. If you have the ability to make a move, then do it. You’ll either succeed or learn for the next time around. Make friends, start the business, climb the mountain, take a risk. If you don’t take action your life becomes stagnant.