We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until your clear on what your values and principles are. Without values and principles to guide you, making decisions can seem impossibly difficult. Given how important setting values and principles is to decision making we asked folks we admire to tell us about the values or principles that matter most to them.

Sonny Nevarez | Real Estate Professional and Client Advocate

Authenticity and enthusiasm above all else. The old adage “there is only 1 of you” has so much wisdom and value in it once you see it as a truth. Embracing who you are is a lifelong process, but once you do, lean into it and be the best version of whoever that person is. Your friends and clients will see that authenticity and appreciate it because it is so uniquely “you!” It has taken me many years to find my professional voice and personal style. In the beginning, I emulated those around me who had found some success. With time, the voices I had emulated faded into the background and my voice emerged.  Read more>>

Matt Mascio | Founder/ Sport and Performance Psychology Specialist

To me, empathy has become the value that matters the most for my business and I. Providing a safe space for athletes to discuss their challenges and victories with someone who can relate—and who has recently been in their shoes—is the cornerstone of our work. Whether the meeting is with myself or one of our active NCAA or professional athletes, practicing empathy and being able to put ourselves in our clients’ shoes is what we do best. Read more>>

Amanda Ellis | Art Teacher

I teach art classes for all ages and abilities. I work with a lot of students who get frustrated when things are not turning out the way they envisioned. I am a recovering perfectionist so I know how hard it can be to push through those feelings. My kids are neurodivergent and used to struggle deeply with their art not turning out the way they wanted, so we came up with a phrase we use all the time: “Take a mistake, and turn it into something awesome”. This is a mantra I teach to my students. I give my students full decision making when these situations come up, offering ways we could try something new, a way to reimagine what we made, or to just start over. Read more>>

Mariko Nakawatase | Assistant District Director – County Supervisor Joel Anderson

Growing up, one of the best values I ever heard was “fearless empathy” fearless empathy, is the ability to deeply understand and share the feelings of others, as a strength not a strategy. In action, it helps build stronger relationships by fostering open communication and trust, while also encouraging inclusivity in diverse environments where everyone feels valued. Read more>>