He is the Chief Executive Optimist of Fullsteam Brewery: a plow to pint brewery in Durham, North Carolina
Where did CEO title come from?
as working as a lobbyist for craft beer. Didn’t see a whole lot of people in the industry enjoying themselves. He thought it should be fun! Title is to remind himself that what he is doing should be fun.
Remember that beer is fun, but it also permeates to others. 2006 he had a kidney transplant donated by his wife. It was a new chapter in life.
What kept you going when things got tough?
A great support system from his wife. Risk tolerance and aversion, but it’s also where we find happiness. He loves being in charge of a creative endeavor.
For younger folks getting started it is a question of what path do you want to take yourself on because the entrapments of life can really set in.
The mission of Fullsteam? A Southern Beer Economy.
He truly believes that his purpose in the beer world is to create opportunity in a post tobacco North Carolina. Creating wealth for agriculture entrepreneurs and farmers. 27% of spending last year on ingredients was through local purchases.
Cocoa Cinnamon shout out! 90% purchases of local ingredients.
How can we be the pioneers and innovators of this movement so that half of what we buy helps the people within 300 miles of Durham, North Carolina?
It won’t work as a quest, or a passion. It requires others to join us in the innovation, and supporting the pioneers to make our goals, reality.
The beer (product) has to been tasty (good). Then there is an underlying story, meaning, purpose, of the beer that people catch on to.
How do you balance work and family?
Working from home helps out. He could work all the time because he loves what he does.
What do you tell your kinds to help them along their path of being happy?
You have to respect the journey and the time frame. Along with interests and uninterests. If the journey to be truly happy takes forty years, so be it.
Is college worth it for most people? Yes.
The socialization, learning, and transition from being a dependent to independent is really important. Fewer people are going on the direct path from high school to college, and take a gap year, do some online learning, etc. Some of us need undergraduate and graduate schools to develop the skills that we will need later on.
Sean’s advice to high school and college graduate advice?
Zig when they zag. Line up meetings with professors, interviewing, and asking, what people like about their job. Where are their opportunities to volunteer? It comes down to the hustle that we put in. It is a mindset. Doing that one thing, because 99 out of 100 people are not going to do it. Those who hustle and ask questions are the ones who get what they want. Make an impression and write a thank you note when you’re done!
What is your definition of happiness?
A lot of it is just being in the moment. Do little things. Go for a walk, be in the moment, break away, and enjoy being outside. Be thankful for each moment.
His favorite life quote.
“Leap and a net will appear.” Take the leap knowing that everything will work out.
Book recommendation
The War of Art by Steve Pressfield.
Overcoming resistance of anything from writers block to starting your own thing.
He is the main artist and creator of TEKSTartist and fivespotderby.com
TEKSTartist started when Jason was a graphic designer and built his business over time. He leaped into it full time when there was too much work to ignore it anymore.
He launched his brand by selling a piece of art everyday of 2012. Yes, 365 pieces of artwork. A year filled with all-nighters and hard work.
There was no way to scale that, so what to do next? Five Spot Derby.
Since 2013, he has had 89 individual releases of artwork.
He has sold pieces to all 50 states, and 24 countries around the globe. He has even done work for Jason Mraz and Gary Vaynerchuk.
Think Here blog (the original entrepreneurial start for Jason).
Where do the creative juices flow from?
Sitting down and forcing out whatever is to come. The deadline is the creative motivator. It comes down to, “this is the best idea I have right now, and I just have to let the chips fall where they may,” aka, the art of procrastination.
You are your own worst critic. “I could spend every minute of a week working on something, and it doesn’t resonate with the community. Put something together in a few hours, and everyone loves it.”
What and who inspires you as a creative and a business owner?
Entrepreneur first. Artist second. Elon Musk is superhuman. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Gary Vaynerchuk. His book Crush It. Mark Cuban. People that have “true grit”. The eternal hustle that no matter what success happens they keep going. Leaving the world a better place.
The artist side: Banksy and Sheppard Ferry. They are playing the game a different way.
Mentors: it is really nice to have a soundboard that knows your perspective and you can bounce ideas off of them. It helps to reaffirm your own beliefs too.
Being a starving artist vs. a non-starving artist. Jason’s article (he calls it a rant) on the difference between the two.
Michael Gerber: E-Myth Mastery Revisited. People go to work in their business not on their business. Work on building up your business. How can I put systems in place to build my business? Validation is sales. The only thing that matters is if what I make, people want to buy.
Sam Almond: Codifying your processes.
Anyone everywhere is a sales person. If you think you are not a sales person, you are wrong. The toolkit of sales can only help what career path you are in.
Have you had any bumps in the road that turned out to be good?
The highest highs and the lowest lows. There are always roadblocks.
50% of anything is showing up. You don’t get what you don’t ask for.
If you are out doing your own thing, people generally rally around it. If you ask for specific things, people are generally willing to help.
Find the person at the organization that needs a win and make them a hero. Focus on what they suck at, and what you can do to fix that pain point for them. If you can get someone to help champion you, you’ll be that much more successful.
Don’t be afraid to hear a lot of “no’s.”
Where the hell is, Matt? Video.
One of his favorite life quotes:
Rumi- “Set your self on fire and seek those who fan your flames.” Takeaway? Only surround yourself with those who will bring you up.
What is your definition of success?
Wake up when you want, do what you want, go to sleep when you want. Enjoy where you are at when you are there. We all have an Internet connection, and a roof over our heads. We are all already quite successful.
As long as you don’t let what people say get you down, you’ll be okay. It is funny how the things that seem so important starting out are so trivial later on.
Advice to college students.
“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.”
What is your passion today? Try that. Care about it until you don’t
He is the main artist and creator of TEKSTartist and fivespotderby.com
TEKSTartist started when Jason was a graphic designer and built his business over time. He leaped into it full time when there was too much work to ignore it anymore.
He launched his brand by selling a piece of art everyday of 2012. Yes, 365 pieces of artwork. A year filled with all-nighters and hard work.
There was no way to scale that, so what to do next? Five Spot Derby.
Since 2013, he has had 89 individual releases of artwork.
He has sold pieces to all 50 states, and 24 countries around the globe. He has even done work for Jason Mraz and Gary Vaynerchuk.
Think Here blog (the original entrepreneurial start for Jason).
Where do the creative juices flow from?
Sitting down and forcing out whatever is to come. The deadline is the creative motivator. It comes down to, “this is the best idea I have right now, and I just have to let the chips fall where they may,” aka, the art of procrastination.
You are your own worst critic. “I could spend every minute of a week working on something, and it doesn’t resonate with the community. Put something together in a few hours, and everyone loves it.”
What and who inspires you as a creative and a business owner?
Entrepreneur first. Artist second. Elon Musk is superhuman. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Gary Vaynerchuk. His book Crush It. Mark Cuban. People that have “true grit”. The eternal hustle that no matter what success happens they keep going. Leaving the world a better place.
The artist side: Banksy and Sheppard Ferry. They are playing the game a different way.
Mentors: it is really nice to have a soundboard that knows your perspective and you can bounce ideas off of them. It helps to reaffirm your own beliefs too.
Being a starving artist vs. a non-starving artist. Jason’s article (he calls it a rant) on the difference between the two.
Michael Gerber: E-Myth Mastery Revisited. People go to work in their business not on their business. Work on building up your business. How can I put systems in place to build my business? Validation is sales. The only thing that matters is if what I make, people want to buy.
Sam Almond: Codifying your processes.
Anyone everywhere is a sales person. If you think you are not a sales person, you are wrong. The toolkit of sales can only help what career path you are in.
Have you had any bumps in the road that turned out to be good?
The highest highs and the lowest lows. There are always roadblocks.
50% of anything is showing up. You don’t get what you don’t ask for.
If you are out doing your own thing, people generally rally around it. If you ask for specific things, people are generally willing to help.
Find the person at the organization that needs a win and make them a hero. Focus on what they suck at, and what you can do to fix that pain point for them. If you can get someone to help champion you, you’ll be that much more successful.
Don’t be afraid to hear a lot of “no’s.”
Where the hell is, Matt? Video.
One of his favorite life quotes:
Rumi- “Set your self on fire and seek those who fan your flames.” Takeaway? Only surround yourself with those who will bring you up.
What is your definition of success?
Wake up when you want, do what you want, go to sleep when you want. Enjoy where you are at when you are there. We all have an Internet connection, and a roof over our heads. We are all already quite successful.
As long as you don’t let what people say get you down, you’ll be okay. It is funny how the things that seem so important starting out are so trivial later on.
Advice to college students.
“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.”
What is your passion today? Try that. Care about it until you don’t
