27 Pieces of Advice: Atlanta FACES 2015
It's that time of year when we look back at our 2015 FACES of Atlanta and FACES of the South and take their best advice to heart.
Β·
By
Melanie Preis
As 2015 comesΒ to a close, itβs time to look back at the women who inspired, entertained and taught us. We asked many of our Atlanta FACES of 2015 and our FACES of the South for the best advice theyβd ever been given or offered others, and weβve gathered all their words of guidance and knowledge into this year-end feature. Enjoy!
Our Atlanta FACESβ Best Advice of 2015
What is the best piece of advice youβve ever been given?
βFeel the fear, and do it anyway.β This quote from author Susan Jeffers was shared with me by a mentor many years ago. This doesnβt mean throw everything to the wind and haphazardly dive in; it means stop, be still, feel whatever you are feeling and then take action. So often, we as busy women think that slowing down means we wonβt be successful. However, I believe the opposite is true. Putting the brakes on and allowing ourselves to acknowledge where we are gives us the ability to boldly move forward. Practicing this has changed everything for me.
What advice do you share with aspiring stylists and makeΒup artists?
These days, itβs βYou canβt learn everything you need to know about makeup from Instagram.β
What advice would you give someone starting their own business?
To remember the saying, βRome was not built in a day.β Growing a business takes time, so be patient!
Whatβs been your most treasured adviceΒ youβve received?
Never give up. My dad regularly told my sisters and me this, encouraging us to be strong, no matter what. Even though itβs pretty straightforward, itβs pretty indicative of how my career has gone the past couple of years. Iβve had challenging times along the way, but they all lead to growth.
What advice do you give other women ready to take the plunge into their own business?
LeeAnn: Never turn down an invitation β¦ you never know who youβll meet.
Carrie: Be smart. Act smart. Think smart. Work smart. Spend smart. Listen to your gut, and be prepared to get your hands dirty!
What are some basic words of wisdom you can offer based on your professional experience?
I would simply say that you shouldnβt be afraid to take a risk for something you really want. Deciding to leave the law to pursue writing full time was the first major risk I ever took and one of the best decisions I ever made. As Mark Twain says in my all-time favorite quote: βTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didnβt do than by the ones you did do.β Great advice.
What tips would you give a young designer trying to build a brand?
Know your market, learn to sew, make patterns, any skill you can do yourself will allow you to save money and not get taken advantage of. Designing is only a part of the job. You must be involved in branding, promoting, marketing, accounting, sourcing, production and sales.
Is there a quote or piece of advice that you have relied on that you can share with our readers today?
I really try to apply, βIf you are not pretty on the inside, you are not pretty on the outside.β And to always wait on God. Itβll be worth the wait.
Who have been some of your greatest mentors, and what tidbits of their advice do you hold dear?
My greatest mentors have been my parents and my older sister, Holly. My father is a self-made man with an amazing work ethic. My mother finished her Ph.D. after she had three children; sheβs never afraid to try new things and excels at everything she does. And Holly is incredibly successful professionally, but remains one of the nicest and most thoughtful people I know. The favorite piece of advice came from a colleague and good friend: βWork as hard as you can, save as much as you can and donβt take it personally.β
What is the best piece of advice youβve been given, and who gave it to you?
Recently, after the Tomorrowland premiere, George Clooney gave me some great advice. He has said this to me before, but he reiterated, βMake the most of your opportunities. This is a movie that could mean something for you and your career. Take advantage of the opportunities as they are given to you.β
What advice would you give young females looking to pursue their career in the arts?
Be confident in what you want to do, and donβt get too caught up in the ideas of fame. Be focused and work really hard. Most importantly, be nice to people. You have no idea how far being kind will get you. PeopleΒ love kindness. Image credit: Disney
Who are your mentors, and what advice do you treasure?
I have a lot of mentors from my past in ballet and some more present-day mentors, like RisaΒ Steinberg and my teacher, Zvi Gotheiner, who now give me guidance as I move forward in thisΒ different style of more contemporary and modern dance. Mostly what I hear from them is to breathe and keep my body soft and supple, more open and free. I try to stay calm, be myself and always keepΒ my sense of humor. I treasure all this advice. Image: Kentucky Center
What is the best piece of advice you have been given, and who gave it to you?
Lennon: Hayden [Panettiere, who plays singer Juliette Barnes on βNashvilleβ] always told me to be true to yourself. When we first got on the show, we were still in public school, and it was a little tough in the beginning. We were at a new school and we were on this TV show and the kids started to be mean. Hayden started acting young, and she told us you just have to be yourself and not listen to them. She told us if this is something we want to do, we just have to go for it. She is definitely the nurturing one of the bunch.
What is the best piece of advice youβve been given, and who gave it to you?
That would definitely be from my [late] dad. When I first moved to Nashville, I was scared to death and was 18 years old. Moving from such a small community, I was worried that people werenβt going to accept who I was and how I talked; my accent was thick, and I was pretty country. He just always told me, βJust be yourself, and if they like you, they like you, and if they donβt, they donβt.β Image: Joseph Llanes
What is the best piece of advice youβve ever been given?Β What is one thing about you that would surprise people?
I am a cowgirl at heart. I think I could be equally happy with life on a farm, as long as UPS still delivered. I dream of a big, beautiful ranch out west with horses, cows, llamas, chickens and the like. I do think my caftans would look a bit out of place though.
Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?
I get to stand on the shoulders of so many amazing women whoβve gone before me. What a lucky generation we are. Luci Swindoll tells and texts me this message constantly: βJust be you.β I cannot tell you how liberating it is. I want to tattoo that on my forehead. In a season marked by so much striving, the idea of relaxing into who I am and who I was made to be with no regrets or apologies or guilt or comparison is just the beeβs knees.
What is one piece of advice youβve been given that you treasure?
That when you say βnoβ you say βyesβ to something else.
What is your best piece of public speaking advice you can offer someone?
Know your audience, and know their world. What are they worried about? Excited about? Be prepared. Be authentic. Be relatable. Be humble. Make them cry, laugh, and try to have them on their feet when you end.
What is some valuable advice youβve been given?
Take one day at a time, and take some time off for yourself.
Whatβs the best piece of advice youβve ever been given?
My father told me to always give 110 percent, and people will have your back.Β I do and they have.
If someone was just starting out in a photography career, what wisdom wouldΒ you impart on them?
Take classes and assist photographers, if you can. I assisted a number ofΒ photographers for three to fourΒ years before going out on my own. Work in a lab or otherΒ business related to photography. People skills are very important. Building trustΒ and strong relationships by meeting deadlines, budgets and expectations of aΒ project will help secure your place within a company. I have been shooting for aΒ few of my clients for 10 to 20 years. And learn the business side of photography;Β shooting is only half of the job.
What advice would you give someone looking to open a business?
Stay persistent! I canβt count the number of times that I have achieved something simply because I refused to give up. Learning is often painful! I feel that persistence might be even more important than brains.
Whatβs your best advice?
Life is long and the world is small, so be nice to people. You may cross paths again someday.
What is your best piece of advice you can offer?
Remain hopeful. Try not to think too much about the fact that weβre just a virus with shoes.
What is your best piece of advice?
Keep at it. It is not easy to get your first job in the film industry, but when you do and you work hard and do a great job, it will be easy to get the others!
What is your best piece of advice?
Ask for help. So many people who are where you want to be would love to offer their advice or support.
Whatβs the best piece of advice youβve ever been given?
Follow my career βgut.β Since I had moved to Atlanta to study law (and graduated with my J.D.), it was a difficult decision to pursue a different field early on in my career β and there were many people I met who literally told me I was crazy for deviating from the path that I had studied. I knew deep down that I was going to be much happier doing something different, and, at first, it was difficult to be confident in that. Ultimately, though, following my instincts has led me to find a perfect match for my skills and have the inspiring career that I am proud of today.
What is your best piece of advice?
Love with passion and live life with excellence in everything you do.
Thank you to all of our lovely FACES and a special shoutout to Catrina Maxwell ofΒ CatMax Photography for the beautiful photos she takes of our Atlanta FACES. Happy New Year!
