What’s a decision that changed the direction of your career?
For the first 11 years of my career after I graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with my Bachelor of Science-Business degree, I worked for several different hospitality and retail companies in Hawai‘i focusing on sales and marketing.
Those years were very formidable in my career as they provided me with exceptional opportunities to learn and grow. I looked at it as a time that I could contribute to a company while it paid me to experience and learn.
The decision that changed the direction of my career was when I decided to start my own company after the 11 years of working and learning from the companies and ventured off as an entrepreneur. This was a very exciting time and changed the direction of my life and career.
What’s a daily habit you can’t live without?
I strongly believe that retaining and adhering to good habits are essential in life.
Good habits enable you to become more resilient and adaptable. They provide the stability and structure to adjust to the many changes and challenges our business and/or life throws at you.
The habit I cannot live without is training and fitness. Training everyday provides me with a place to release stress, stimulate blood flow and expand my endorphins. Training and fitness (gym, surfing, canoe paddling and snowboarding, for example) free my mind when I feel frustrated or stuck in a rut. I also prefer to train in the mornings. It invigorates my mind and body and gets my day off to a great start.
What’s something you once feared in business but now embrace?
Failure or losing a valuable client…I always feared failing or losing a piece of business that I’ve cultivated and supported and having it leave although not because of my company’s work or accomplishments. More due to change of ownership or direction of the company and its products or services. Whether it pertained to a creative campaign we developed or a relationship with a company that had been established and cultivated over a long period of time, I no longer fear losing it but embrace it.
I realize over the 28 years of owning JB Brands, things come and go. You have control of some and no control of others. Nonetheless, things typically work out for the best. When one door closes, another door opens.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about failure?
Failure is an opportunity to reflect, learn, and grow. If you are not failing, you are
not trying enough. You will never be perfect. Be honest with yourself and reflect on your failures. If you can, you will learn from those mistakes and will grow to become better.
How do you stay focused in a world full of distractions?
Stay committed to your path and stay within your guardrails. Continue to strive on being the best you can be at the skillsets you have. Have a strategic plan and stick with it. Have faith and trust in your analytics and your intuitions. Do not let all the other distractions in the world and in business take you away from your plan and blueprint to success.
