We asked some of the brightest and most thoughtful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives in the community to tell us about something they believe that most people in their space disagree with and we’ve shared highlights below.

John Gianoulidis

“The Customers always right.” I grew up working with my family in the pizza business. They were Greek immigrants that worked factory jobs to save enough to open their own little place in Ct. called Johnny’s Pizza, (named after my Dad and myself.) My father believed that the customer was a guest in our restaurant. Accordingly, we had a responsibility that every guest be treated equitably with good will and tolerance. It didn’t matter that they were spending their last dollars or had pulled up in a limo, their race, gender or orientation. Everyone deserved equitable and mannered treatment. Read more>>

Waladi Ali

Something I truly believe people in the comic book, manga, arts, graphic design business or entrepreneurship in general may disagree with heavily, is taking breaks. And I don’t mean just hourly, but a full 24 hours to rest, recuperate and take time away from your passion. Surely, we may feel that since it is our dream, that the gift of continuously working towards our goal is everlasting, but it is unrealistic. It pains my heart to hear about the tragedies my favorite manga artists have incurred over the last 20-30 years over in Japan, due to harsh work schedules “inhumane” deadlines, chronic illnesses and even worse, death. I myself have gotten better at resting and taking breaks in my twenties, because honestly before then I had qualms with sleeping. Read more>>

Jennifer Patterson

While I believe there’s a growing shift in the HR industry towards a more strategic and people-centric approach, there’s still a pervasive misconception that HR is primarily about enforcing policies and procedures. Many people see us as the “bad guys” who lay off employees and have difficult conversations. My journey in HR has completely changed my perspective on this. I’ve seen firsthand how HR can be a catalyst for positive change within organizations. When I was starting out, I worked in a manufacturing company where morale was low and turnover was high. I realized that the HR department wasn’t seen as a partner, but rather as a barrier. Read more>>

Sarah Vega

As a multi-hyphenate creative, I have built many businesses based on what was lacking at the time. Dique! Media was built because there was a lack of positive Dominican representation at the time. Lujo Wellness was built because there was a lack holistic ways to care for your teeth. In the oral care game, many dentists and dental professionals disagree with my product because it’s activated charcoal based. It is argued that activated charcoal is terrible for your teeth. The teeth of my customers tend to say different. I believe in my product because 1. it was God given and mandated. 2. I have been brushing my teeth with my product for decades. It is proven that taking care of your oral health keeps most of the body healthy. For me, regular toothpaste was never a way to take control of your oral care. I never cared for it and I found it made your breath worse. I know most people consider my product pricey for 25 dollars a pot. For someone on a budget, those 25 dollars buy your health improving via your teeth, a longer lasting product vs toothpaste, and new found sense of confidence with a new brighter smile. I will never disrespect the knowledge and schooling a dentist or dental professional had to go through. However, Lujo Toothpolish has proven over the last four years how taking the time to budget and make time for your teeth with a natural product can bring lasting results. Respectfully. :::wink::: Read more>>

Jillian Reyna

Something that I believe in that is often disagreed with is “less is more.” Less is more can mean a lot of things – less volume, less intensity, less stress. Specifically in the endurance sport space, the popular thing to do is train at high volume and potentially high intensity and that isn’t always completely necessary. Starting with volume: you don’t have to run every single day of the week to make progress and meet your goals. You also don’t have to run super high mileage to accomplish your goals. Cross training is a great substitute that can be included in a training plan to reduce impact while still getting volume, which can help reduce injury. Read more>>