You’ve heard it from your peers, friends, family, and maybe even people you met at a house party all chiming in on what you need to do to make yourself, your career, your product the next big thing. If you have something to physically show than that goes to show your commitment.
Everybody has ideas and I found this quote befitting to what I’ve encountered over my years and transition from DJ/musician turned clothing designer..
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
The Internet has connected us with unfiltered access to anyone and everyone’s opinions, about what they think, and how easily they can interact to critique what you should do. Imagine the Wright Brothers, on the heels of building their first airplane that flew and just as they land their first successful flight, one of their homeys turns to them and says to them “you guys out to make this plane go faster, farther, higher, better, stronger”. Here these guys have managed to do something revolutionary working with what they were given but the execution of success comes in phases of minuscule accomplishments. The Wright Brothers had bigger thoughts beyond their flight. Imagine if they had that Boeing plant in Seattle with thousands of engineers.
If I had a dollar for everyone who told me how to make what I’ve made better, or to get my hat to 1000 half naked influencers who are followed by people looking to see them in less clothes and if my marketing division is equivalent to that of Coca Cola. These obvious marketing strategies while may or may not be currently effective, aren’t what’s sustainable, novel or applicable in a sea of noise i don’t find enjoyment in shooting fish in a barrel.
Our generation of creativity today is not entirely based on expanding already semi-constructed ideas. Remixing, redefining and reimagining the blueprints of our goals will quickly answer if you find added value. This is why I created Record High.
As a former consumer of snapbacks, I just started with two goals. (1) can I make this hat more comfortable (2) can I make it look better?
- upgrades to the eyelets, fabrics, interior and exterior all create a clean composed look for my demographic
- my price point while higher than most is relevant to make a consumer understand that I’ve gone beyond what you’ve tried but take a closer look. Purchase one, I’m confident that once you try one of my snapbacks you’ll be back for what I have in store. Return it. Fuck it just keep it I’ll refund you.
(Photo: Hat packaging)
Transitioning from music to fashion there was no shortage of input, advice and obvious ideas on how to make it big. What I’ve come to realize is that there are two types of people in this world..The ‘know it alls’ and the ‘do it alls’.
What good are your ideas if you never execute upon them? Everyone has an idea and often even great ideas, but with great ideas, it requires navigating a mine field in order to properly execute and surmount the energy required to following through.
I filter out the noise by first seeing if the advice I’m being given is coming from an individual who has seen something through to completion. Personally speaking this is a huge component on how i value the advice being given. I find it admirable when an individual sets out a course to manifest their thoughts into tangible products, services, solutions and doesn’t let the naysayer disrupt their flow. I have been through my fair shares of hurdles but each has taught me something substantial about my approach and revision on of what it takes to overcome the next.
Nothing good comes easy, otherwise everyone would have done it already. For example, let take Record High Snapbacks. Hats have long existed but without any fashion design experience I knew I could develop what I interpreted to be a better hat.
The processes involved to construct were the first of a string of skill sets, connections, knowledge needed all the while you’ll find many tedious uncreative bureaucratic roadblocks you hadn’t even forecasted. The inner energy from within to keep you on course, no matter the cost, is what we owe our dreams and intuitions.
I am not saying that people have invaluable advice, but be cautious about who you align yourself with. Everyone is opinionated but the opinions of innovators and executioners is where I pay close attention.
In a social media driven climate, it’s easy to think that influencers are the sure fire way to getting brand awareness. Ask yourself if your product matches your influencer. I tell people I want an ambassador. Someone who is so passionate about my product they can’t help but spread the word. It’s not a numbers game for me but rather a tight knit culture of high fashion streetwear individual who want more out of what they see in their snapbacks. I want whomever has a snapback collection to choose my hat because of its elegant simplicity and all day which I know is a factor. These are the principles on which this hat company was formed off of.
Your ability to navigate the obstacles that impeded others before you to are the the testament of resiliency and unwavering mindset to accomplish goals. Whether success comes quick or in due time...
Work hard in silence and let your success be your noise.
