We asked all of our 2015 FACES of Louisville and our FACES of the South to share advice for life or business. Together, the list is impressive and provides words to live by. Enjoy!
The Best Advice From Our FACES of Louisville, 2015
What is the best advice you have received in business?
Find something that I love and find a way to make a living doing it.
What is the best advice you have received in business?
Same as life, take risks, put yourself out there and scare yourself.
What advice do you treasure?
The best advice is simple: just to keep doing what I am doing. Being passionate and creating a great product is the best road to success.
What is the best advice you have received in business?
You can’t make everyone happy.
What advice do you treasure?
My grandfather taught me to paint and construct things, and he told me when I was a child, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” That always stuck with me and drives me to work with utmost attention to craftsmanship. There’s so much advice I treasure from my husband, who continually inspires me. I have his voice in my head a lot when I work and have the mantra “create dangerously” hanging above my workbench. It drives me to take risks and be true to myself in my work. I feel the freedom to create without the fear of failure or aspiration for money, but with the concern for doing good work, and, eventually, the work becomes its own currency. And to always remember that mistakes are where learning takes place.
What advice do you treasure?
My dad told me on my first babysitting job, “If a task is once begun, never leave it ’til it’s done. Be the wages great or small, do it well or not at all.”
What advice do you treasure?
(From her parents) Their sage advice: “You can do anything you want to, as long as you set your mind to it.”
Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?
My mentors are, far and away, my parents, who have taught me that I can dominate a male-dominated industry (like martial arts). The advice I treasure the most from them is not to be bound by any barriers and to always move forward, even in the face of great adversity.
Your background is in sales and marketing … how have those skills helped you in this job?
I learned that sometimes it’s all right to be mouthy, not to be intimidated because you might not “fit the mold,” to not give up until the job is done and that having an obsessive attention to detail is a great way to keep a plan on track.
Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?
God is my mentor. And the advice I treasure is to stay faithful, work hard and give back, and He will guide you.
What has been harder, doing these great physical feats or being the president of a college?
Rowing an ocean is easy. Being a university president is difficult. … Building competence and good judgment takes time, and one hopes to gain these things without learning from one’s own incompetence or bad judgment. It is essential for a leader to be self-aware and willing to own up to one’s flaws and shortcomings, otherwise no one should follow you.
What advice do you treasure?
Don’t be afraid to be told “no.” You have nothing to lose. If you can dream it, you can do it. And my personal favorite, TO DREAM anything you want to dream is the beauty of the human mind. TO DO anything you want to do is the strength of the human will. TO TRUST YOURSELF to test your limits is the courage to succeed.
What advice do you treasure?
Listen, pause and then speak. Whether it’s in a newsroom, a media scene or with your children or friends, I’ve learned the value of listening first and then opening your mouth.
What advice do you treasure?
Advice I treasure: (1) “Every loving thought is true,” from A Course In Miracles. (2) You can do anything. You just can’t do everything.
Fill in the blank. You’ll never see me without my:
Mascara and a little lipstick. I’m from the South, and we don’t even answer the mail without a little mascara on. I was brought up with the mindset that you get up, get dressed and go, and I do that to this day.
Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?
My grandmother (Minx Auerbach) was definitely my mentor. She always pushed me to be a leader and really saw more potential in me than I ever saw in myself. She’d always say “I never started my career until my kids were grown; imagine what you could accomplish if you started now.” She encouraged me to get on boards and taught me to not be shy about fundraising. Truly, I feel an immense sense of accomplishment for my age, and I always attribute that to my grandmother’s prodding.
Why is it so important for your home to be green?
Mindful and conscious shopping not only supports a healthier environment, but each purchase contributes to the well-being of communities. When you shop mindfully, you are led to healthier products that do not off gas or jeopardize the indoor air quality of your home or your health.
What is some advice that you can give our readers about taking care of your body?
I think just maintaining a healthy diet and moving every day in some way. Use the stairs, park in a spot that will force you to walk to your destination, rather than holding out for that open spot by the front door. Walk your dog. Drink plenty of water. Maintain a healthy mental attitude.
What advice do you treasure?
If you can go out of your way to help someone, you should.
Who are your mentors, and what advice do you treasure?
My parents have really been my cheerleaders since the beginning. They are incredibly inspiring to me in the way they conduct their businesses and deal with people. I feel lucky to have them guiding me.
What kind of a difference can fresh food make in someone’s life, especially for someone who would not otherwise have access to it?
Access to food that nourishes us, as opposed to food-like substances that poison us, can mean higher academic achievement, work productivity and safer neighborhoods. Our bodies have the opportunity to heal from horrible food-related illnesses, and we can become better engaged family members and citizens.
What advice do you treasure?
Fall in love with yourself first, this is not a dress rehearsal, stay open. And then from my mother: You gotta take the bitter with the sweet; if you don’t want anybody to know, don’t write it down.
Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?
Martha Neal: Marilyn Hohmann is the one woman who was a wonderful mentor to me. She is wise and brilliant. She told me that if I had something important to say, people would listen. She was referring to the eighth graders I was trying to teach in 1968, but the message holds true for all.
Diane: Martha Neal has been my mentor, teacher and friend since we embarked on this journey in the world of retail. Her example and words of wisdom have been invaluable.
Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?
My dad. Some of the best advice he gave me was that I am in charge of my attitude and my behavior, no one else. To be kind, honest, work hard and have fun. After that, he says, the rest will come.
How long have you been involved in theater? Is it something you have always had an interest in?
What I value most about theater is its power to impact lives: theater can be cathartic where you learn about yourself, theater can be educational where you learn about others and theater can be simply entertaining allowing you to escape. Theater definitely increases empathy and leads to a better world.
What advice do you treasure?
One of my creative writing professors at Ohio University once told me, “Write what you know,” and I’ve been following his advice ever since.
What advice do you treasure?
Advice? For me, it’s simply stay curious. Also, good things come to those who …work their asses off.
What advice do you treasure?
Today, I have a few colleagues who tell me, “Breathe.” That is advice that I treasure. For me, it translates to: “It’s okay. Take a moment to gain perspective.”
What advice do you treasure?
I was once told that the most important part of my job is to always make people feel welcome, so I try to remember that.
What advice do you treasure?
I strive to live by my favorite quote by Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Always be conscious of the way you treat others because we have the potential to greatly affect those around us for the better.”
What advice do you treasure?
For wit and wisdom, I revisit artist Stefan Sagmeister’s 2007 book, Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far: “Worrying solves nothing.” “Trying to look good limits my life.” “Low expectations are a good strategy.”
The Best Advice From our FACES of the South
Do you have a professional mentor? What’s been a powerful piece of advice for you?
I think all my great teachers have been my mentors — Dr. Weil, Dr. Oz and Dr. Low Dog, to name a few. I think everyone has just been positive and encouraging, and forced me to believe in myself and be confident!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Feel the fear, and do it anyway.” This quote from author Susan Jeffers was shared with me by a mentor many years ago. This doesn’t 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 won’t 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 is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 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 who’ve gone before me. What a lucky generation we are. Luci Swindoll tells and texts me this message constantly: “Just be you.” 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 bee’s knees.
As a breast cancer survivor, what would you offer as advice to another woman struggling with similar challenges (or those watching loved ones face similar challenges)?
My advice is don’t show up with sadness, or sad eyes, or pity. That is something you can sniff out when you are going through an illness. A lot of it is treating the person as you always would have. Look at them with the future in mind, and not with such sadness. I think as a breast cancer patient, you have to surround yourself with people who lift you up … people who inspire you. You realize how strong you are when you go through something. One day, I got the four words: “You can’t scare me.” Suddenly, you become empowered and emboldened because you have overcome something that could have stopped you in your tracks. You now know what scary is and you have your priorities on what really is frightening and what really is something to spend time worrying about. You hold on tightly to the ones you love, and your life snaps into focus. You suddenly have a realization and that is one of the gifts — I hate saying you get gifts from an illness, but I really do think you get a few. Image: Peter Kramer/NBC
What’s been your most treasured advice you’ve received?
Never give up. My dad regularly told my sisters and me this, encouraging us to be strong, no matter what. Even though it’s pretty straightforward, it’s pretty indicative of how my career has gone the past couple of years. I’ve had challenging times along the way, but they all lead to growth.
What are some basic words of wisdom you can offer based on your professional experience?
I would simply say that you shouldn’t 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: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” Great advice.
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, “If you are not pretty on the inside, you are not pretty on the outside.” And to always wait on God. It’ll be worth the wait.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve 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, “Make 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.” Image credit: Disney
Is there a quote or piece of advice that you have relied on that you can share with our readers today?
Sally: Treat people as you would like to be treated. My father always told me to treat the garbage man like I would treat the president. It has served me well.
Sarah: The sky’s the limit. I’m really learning that hard work has its benefits and can be fun at the same time.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve 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 weren’t going to accept who I was and how I talked; my accent was thick, and I was pretty country. He just always told me, “Just be yourself, and if they like you, they like you, and if they don’t, they don’t.”
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 Risa Steinberg and my teacher, Zvi Gotheiner, who now give me guidance as I move forward in this 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 keep my sense of humor. I treasure all this advice. Image: Kentucky Center
A special thanks to our wonderful FACES of Louisville photographer Adele Reding. She always captures the inner beauty and spark of all of our FACES. To see more of her work, click here.
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About the Author
Heidi Potter