Mayor Megan Barry: “I have a quote in my office that says, ‘Power is about waking up every day and using that power to make a difference in people’s lives.’ Because I’m privileged to sit in the mayor’s seat – I believe that is my obligation and responsibility every day.”

Betsy Taylor: “I really learn by example. My whole life has been looking at other people and seeing what works. But when I think about something said over and over, I really do start each day thinking, ‘This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ Start each day with a smile. There is no reason to not be happy and joyful. Truly say, ‘I’m just glad to be here.'”

Sharon Dixon Gentry: “Grow where you’re planted.”

Sarah-Jane Hill: “Go every day. Every day, put on your workout shoes and go.”

Angie Cook: “Live each day fully present in that moment. Don’t let the fear of the future rob you of what is happening right in front of you.”

Alice Randall: “My biggest accomplishment, I hope, is that I have been a very good mother … “

Caroline Randall Williams: On her biggest accomplishment: “At this point in my life, I have taught over 500 students … I have helped further the education of 500 kids.”

Olia Zavozina: “I am a perfectionist, so the best piece of advice for me is to just finish! I could go on forever working on a project until it’s perfect, but I need to learn to just finish the project instead of overanalyzing it.”

Maria Fouce: “You don’t need to know and do everything yourself. Hire an expert!”

Drew Ann Long: “I have three children — one is disabled and the other two are typical children. Being a mom of three is challenging for anybody, but you throw a special needs child in there, and it becomes extra challenging. There will be dark, dark days. There are days that I didn’t even want to get out of bed. But you have to focus on the good days. There will be many good days as well. So my advice is, as a mom of a child with a disability, don’t dwell on the bad. Life’s not easy for anybody. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Get a support system. There are lots of special needs support groups. Join one of those and have people to talk to when things get hard.”

Lauren Bush Lauren: “I have this quote by Minor Myers hanging in my office, and intentionally look at it every day as my North Star: ‘Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.'” | Image: Johan Sandberg

Andra Eggleston: “The most important things in life are the things you cannot see, smell or touch. They are deep inside your gut. They are the things you must feel with your heart. Your intuition is everything, and it is important to exercise it as much as your body and your mind. It is an immeasurable tool.”

Jill Melton: “It is a worthy cause to fail.”

Tara Tocco Goldberg: “Oh gosh, I’ve gotten tons of good advice over the years. How do I pick just one? One that I have thought a lot about over the last two years is something my mother told me after I had my daughter. I was about a month into postpartum exhaustion and struggling to deal with this huge life change, and my mother said, ‘Be kind to yourself.’ When she said it I thought to myself, ‘How do I do that right now?’ It really stumped me. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. I’ve actually started to apply that to my life in general, and I find it makes me a better person both personally and professionally.”

Connie Cathcart-Richardson: “Hmmm … I am the queen of quips, but there are several that I say often. ‘There’s only one you. Just be you.’ Another that I like, and it took me until I was much older to figure out is, ‘You don’t get if you don’t ask.’ In business, throw yourself out there and ask. Even if they say no, it’s a compliment to them that you asked! ‘Love always wins’ is another. Just be nice, okay? And another that I’ve been saying lately, ‘Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.’ I need to learn to take my own advice!”

Anastasia Brown: “Years ago, my friend Laray Mayfield (a casting director) said, ‘The opportunities you say no to are just as important as the ones you accept; think quality not quantity.'”

Dolly Parton: “I don’t give advice, but I can share information. I have always tried to follow the light. I seek the good and the possible and understand that there are no real failures, just lots of opportunities to learn.” Image: Dollywood Foundation

Sara Evans: “Don’t major in the minors; don’t worry just for worry’s sake, because it doesn’t change anything. As I get older, I just realize that nothing is really as bad as it seems. Just stay calm. Typically things work out.” Image: Paul Freundlich Associates

Marcela Gomez: “My mother told me, ‘Take care of yourself first.’ You don’t have to be a parent to take that advice. I had 365 days with Esteban as a single mother, except the times he would travel to Colombia, but I made sure I had my own life and created my own identity outside of being his mother. So when he moved to New York, although it is painful to have your child move away, I wasn’t devastated, and my life did not end.”

Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green: “Don’t let someone else’s limitations define your reality, and don’t let them tell you what’s not possible. It may not be possible for them, but it may be very possible and realistic for you.” Image: Eric & Jamie Photography

Tatum Hauck Allsep: “There have been some great nuggets of wisdom passed down over the years from my parents. From my mother who is a free spirit, ‘Ride the river, hold on, laugh loud and enjoy the moment.’ And my Dad, who is more cautious, ‘Hire slow, fire fast.’ But it’s an old Polish proverb that my husband said in passing several years ago that I think of daily, ‘Not my circus, not my monkeys.’ This has been a great reminder for all of us at MHA, especially when we have an urge to venture away from our core mission.”

Betsy Wills: “FAIL. After all, this means First Attempt In Learning!”

Lois Riggins-Ezzell: “First and foremost, you can accomplish any number of seemingly unattainable goals in your career if you’re not concerned about who actually gets the credit, and, secondly, keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.”

Paige Booker: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” | Alice Trahant: “Be true to yourself.” Image: CatMax Photography

Jenn Gietzen: “Actor Chris Pratt posted this to Instagram: ‘I had to hustle hard and go hungry … And I never had a plan B. I never stopped believing. Ever. Don’t give up. Apply constant pressure for as long as it takes. It will break before you do. Go get it.’ A lot of family members have pressured me to quit and go back to a desk job. My response? HELL NO! I’m doing this for me. No one else. Proving to myself that this life is worth it, that I can do it. For me and only me.” Image: CatMax Photography

Dr. Candice McQueen: “Always listen more than you talk.”

Heather Looney: “While my son was attending basketball camp, Coach Lyle at Brentwood Academy, gave a lesson about being a fountain, not a drain. You must be a joy, an uplifter, and be a present player in everything that you do. I am grateful for his lesson that day and his selfless service for our children! Another good one is: ‘The best teacher is your last mistake.'”

Ellen Latham: “I think from my father … it is called momentum shift up (a sports term). Basically, a human body can momentum shift up or down. What it means is you see the glass half empty or the glass half full. My father — he was a momentum shift-up coach who always told his players what they had instead of beating them down.”

Kasar Abdulla: “I truly believe the best way you can change the world inside you is to read, and the best way to change the world around you is to write and speak.”

Laura Daily: “Roll your sleeves up and just get it done. Because I think when you really do some soul-searching, you know when you’re ready for a change. I had the experience and I knew that I was ready to take a next step. So, when you know you’ve done your homework and you know you’ve practiced, just do it. Don’t let fear hold you back.”

Christi Paul: “There have been so many great nuggets but there are two that stick with me: No. 1: The most important things in life aren’t ‘things.’ We can get so caught up in having stuff but, at the end of the day, what we have doesn’t equate to who we are. No. 2: If you live for people’s praise, you’ll die by their criticism. Don’t give anyone that much power over you; you’re worth more than that. Oh, and No. 3: Age, weight and salary are just numbers.”

Michelle Workman: “Two things: don’t be afraid to show people who you are with your home. It should look completely different from friends’ homes. It should very clearly tell people who lives there and what their interests are. And … do what your designer says! If you have gone to the trouble of researching for and hiring a designer, then you shouldn’t waste your time or theirs by fighting with them. Would you argue with your dentist, doctor or lawyer?!” Image: Grannis Photography

Annie Downs: “It’s all about the things you say about yourself and your daughter. The way you talk about your body in front of your daughter is teaching her how to talk about her body. The way you talk about your brain, your dreams, your heart … you are teaching her how to do it. The more you grow to love and accept yourself, the more your daughter will do the same.”

Monique Odom: “I will not say who gave me the advice, since I’m not sure she’d want her name in print, but a previous supervisor of mine told me to always ‘Think for yourself.’ That advice has stayed with me. To me, it means gather the information you need to make a decision, which can include insight from others, consider it, then make your own decision.”

Julie Newman: “I’m going to share a bit of advice I received from the delightfully inspiring Mignon Francois, owner of The Cupcake Collection: Don’t expect anyone to understand your vision. Seriously, it’s unrealistic and selfish. Get a notebook, write your ideas down and journal about it every day. Pray about it, reflect on it and piece the puzzle together — and when the time is right, you will know.” Image: Grannis Photography

Marleen De Waele-De Bock: “My dad, an Olympic gymnast and Belgian champion while working full time, taught me to alway work hard to achieve results for something you are passionate about. I have found his words to be relevant as an artist because it takes more than just having talent to be successful.”

McKel Hill: “As new age as it sounds, utilize mantras to keep your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing grounded. When you make decisions, whether it’s about your health or business it’ll come from a place of focus and intention.”

Beth DeBauche: “When you are selected for a leadership role take time to be thoughtful and strategic. Don’t feel like you have to prove your competence. People already know you’re capable; otherwise you wouldn’t have gotten the job.”

Kelly Ford: “To put my oxygen mask on first before helping others. There’s such wisdom in that instruction.”

Beth Fortune: “My boss, Chancellor Zeppos, urges me not ‘to hide my light under a bushel,’ which I — like many women — have a tendency to do. I am proud of my work and my career, but even more importantly, I am proud of my phenomenal team that contributes daily to supporting the mission of the university. They are the best.”

Sue Joyce: “Be willing to look at yourself and your part during times of conflict. This is where you will find real growth, peace and understanding.”

Anna Page: “‘Take care of your customers!’ Regardless of industry, the most successful companies have one thing in common: an intense desire to ensure customer satisfaction. I instill this belief into every team member every day. Now, almost every business person will say that but not every business actually executes it. We have been voted “Best Florist in Nashville” year after year and I know it is because we strive to exceed customers’ expectations. We don’t just deliver on the flowers; we also deliver customer service.”

Lauren Snelling: “A friend gave me this advice — and I have to remind myself of it a lot: breathe and let time work its magic because often if you are always hurrying to fix things, you will spend all of your time fixing. You need to let everything settle before you react. Knee-jerk reactions are no help to anyone.”

Vui Hunt: “Take it easy, life is short, go with the flow!”

Lisa Stetar: “Dream big and start small. I don’t honestly remember who instilled that thinking in me, but it’s been the key to Crossroads’ success and will guide our future growth.”

Leah Hulan: “‘The Lord renews his mercies everyday.’ Thank God he does, as each day is a brand new day. I’m intrinsically a happy person. I wake up happy. I do go through struggles and heartache, and business is stressful. One of the things that keeps me going is that in this business there is so much opportunity to give. And that feels good as each day I’ve given it my all. I’m replenished and fulfilled to hit the ground running again. This is my calling. That’s likely why I feel this way. There is so much opportunity to make a difference. It’s never a good day to go to jail. Pets are at home and children are at school. Who is going to take care of them? People have a lot of needs. I was put in this place to help.”

Melissa Eads: “The best advice I ever got wasn’t actually shared in words, but displayed in actions by several people in my life — namely my mom. She showed me the importance of being involved in my community, leadership and living my life in a way that is pleasing to God.”

Heather Adams: “Two immediately come to mind for me. My beloved mentor, Pamela Clements, who gave me my first publishing job in Nashville at Thomas Nelson, said to ‘always hire better and smarter than you.’ And Michael Hyatt, who was then the CEO at Nelson, told me about a book called Love is the Killer App where the author shares his philosophy on being a ‘lovecat’ – meaning you extend compassion (and love) to everyone, including those you may see as competitors. It’s never left me.”

Beth Gebhard: “I’ve always loved the advice that ‘luck is where preparation meets opportunity.’ I’ve seen this countless times in my own career, so I’ve always tried to work hard, be prepared and stay open to possibilities that come my way.

Annette Joseph: “Be present.”

Sandra Ney: “Try to keep the main thing the main thing. For me as a creative, I am all over the place, so hone in and strengthen who we are. Ever since I was a young girl my favorite verse has been Proverbs 3:5-7, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” This keeps me going. I listen and let Him call the shots. That has been my go-to for help and to assure myself I am doing what I was called to do — and that means a lot to me.”

Maria “Poni” Silver: “‘You do you.’ From a friend that’s no longer with us. It’s a good reminder that you’re at your best when you stay true to yourself.”