Support Artists, Fund Causes, Look Great with Jay Buys

0:28Who's ready to rock today, Fire Nation? the challenges of running an apparel company. Talk about business being a force for good, building something from nothing, the power of asking for help and oh, so much more. And a big thank you for sponsoring today's episode goes to Jay and our sponsors. Are you ready for the ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies? Build funnels, automate follow-ups, manage clients, and even white label your own software. Say hello to our featured partner high level. and visit highlevelfire.com to start your free trial today. Jay, say what's up to Fire Nation and share something that you believe about becoming successful that most people disagree with.

1:15What is up, Fire Nation? It's great to be here. It's great to be back. I love we're starting with hot takes. So I'm going to share a controversial or maybe controversial opinion. I think it's starting to change, But I think that being successful is not about money. Money is certainly a metric. We should absolutely aim to make a profit if you're an entrepreneur and to measure that. But for me, I think being successful really comes down to freedom, the freedom to do something that you love, to not hate your job the way so many people do in this country, to work with who you want, people that you care about, to work on stuff that matters, to work where you want, to be able to travel.

1:59all that kind of stuff. And probably more importantly, doing something that matters, doing something that makes an impact on the world, doing something that helps you sleep at night. I think if you lead with that, lead with your values, then the money will follow. Speaking of which, we're talking about supporting artists, funding causes, and looking great. Now in that looking great part, Jay launched an apparel company and I would love to really dive into the aha moment, Jay, that you had of launching that apparel company. First company that I built, Visceral, we've been working with nonprofits for about 20 years now.

2:32And nonprofit fundraising is tough. You know, there's a lot of really great people out there that are doing really great work. But, you know, we're typically relying on grants or, you know, donations from either large institutions or individuals. And so my aha moment was, you know, imagine a company that could be a funnel to things that we care about. by just buying a t-shirt or buying a hoodie, can we direct money to artists who are making amazing design work, as well as nonprofits who are really out there fighting the good fight? So can you really, with your purchasing dollars, have an impact on things that you care about?

3:11So that's the aha moment that Jay had when it came to launching an apparel company. And I want to talk about the challenges, Jay, because I know there's people in our audience that are like, you know what, I have an idea for a product, for a service, for, you know, something maybe in the world of apparel. And, you know, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There's some challenges, struggles, obstacles as well. Talk about some of those challenges. There's supply chain issues to deal with. And, you know, as well as, you know, marketing for an e-commerce brand, you know, which is a lot of social media, a lot of influencers getting the word out there.

3:44So it's a different world to be in. And sort of just, you know, how we go about tackling those challenges, I'd say two things. We live in a time now where there are more resources available than I think any other time, really. You can watch a TikTok video on some of these things or a YouTube video. You can ask AI for help on your business plan, things like that. There really is a ton of resources out there. So you're not alone in any endeavor, whether it's an apparel company or any other crazy idea that you have. If you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur these days, there are a lot of places you can go for help.

4:24And then the other thing is just asking for help, finding the people that have done it before. I just came from the Engage for Good conference where I met a ton of people who are, you know, working in corporate social responsibility. They're trying to do good things, you know, so just networking with people and, you know, just quite frankly, asking for help. I think there's a lot of people that are excited to share their expertise or excited to get involved and excited to help others. So, if entrepreneurship is something that you're interested in doing, find some folks in your community or online and ask them for help.

4:53Now, you created a new kind of apparel company. Tell us more about that. So, the quick pitch is imagine a company that gives back half of its profits to support artists and nonprofit organizations that are trying to do something positive in the world. So, So we hire aspiring artists and illustrators and pair them with an affiliated nonprofit to design some cool merchandise. I live in Southern California, so it's a lot of T-shirts, a lot of hoodies and things like that. So imagine you buying a T-shirt with a cool slogan and graphic on it in support of, say, climate change or something like that.

5:29And 25 % of the profits goes directly back to the artists who designed that shirt. And 25 % goes to an affiliated nonprofit. So again, just trying to find a way to do something cool, do something fun that we love. Everyone likes cool graphic t-shirts here in San Diego. So how can we use that to really, as a vehicle, to fund all money to artists and nonprofits, things that we care about? Now, can a business be a force for good? I mean, you're kind of proving that cause, but I mean, are you an outlier? I mean, can businesses in mass really take this on and be successful? So I think they can be, and I'd actually argue that they have to be.

6:07You know, without making this into like a crazy political podcast or anything like that, I think we can all agree that there are there are problems, there are challenges in the world that we need to be that we need to be solving. Right. You know, wages haven't kept up with inflation. And, you know, it's in a lot of places in this country, it's difficult to find affordable housing. You know, we have, you know, climate crises and wildfires in California and we had flooding here in San Diego last year. And so if we look at the problems that we have, you know, it doesn't matter like sort of which side of the line you want.

6:37I think we can agree that government is oftentimes slow, bureaucratic, and ineffective. And then nonprofits are doing some really great work to make progress on some of these issues. But nonprofits are always resource constrained because they're relying on grants or donations and things like that. So a sustainable business model that has values and impact built into it or a corporate nonprofit partnership can be a really great vehicle for driving social change. And the flip side of that, which I think maybe most people don't realize yet, is it's also good for business. Edelman released a study last year that said Gen Z, up to 92 % of them are more likely to buy your product or service if they believe your business shares their values.

7:24So the people are paying attention, especially younger people, and they're hungry for businesses that are aligned with their values, that are trying to make an impact and trying to do something positive in the world. Fire Nation, this is real data from somebody who is actually studying it, who's seeing the results and making an impact as a result. So we have a lot more to talk about around this topic when we get back from thanking our sponsors. energy, focus, and recovery are critical for high performers like us and finding the right supplements can make all the difference. Quicksilver Scientific makes advanced liposomal supplements your body can use fast Quicksilver Scientific is a US-based company that manufactures advanced liposomal supplements in everyday terms this means nutrients are easier for your body to absorb and put to work quickly I've been using Quicksilver's The One which helps restore mitochondrial function for lasting energy and clarity and when you knock out seven podcast interviews in one day.

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11:26You talk to tons of entrepreneurs. I've listened to a bunch of your different podcasts and no one really has the same journey. But I think what is sort of unique and maybe common that I learned along my way is there's not really a lot of rules when it comes to business. Yes, there are certain, you know, legal obligations and regulations as there should be around some of these things. But other than that, you know, you as an entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to really create whatever it is that you want. You know, so can a company give back half of its profits? You know, can an organization work with nonprofits to facilitate, you know, some sort of solution to a problem they see in the world or a cause that they care about?

12:08And so, you know, when I talk to other young entrepreneurs and things like that, that's the one thing that I try to encourage everyone to remember that, like, you can kind of do what you want, which, you know, makes for better workplaces, better culture, you know, more fun, engaging work. as well as, you know, as I said earlier, all of those things can also lead to increased profitability. So if you're leading with, you know, your values and building something that is unique to you and to your organization, to your cause, I think, you know, you have a better chance of being successful as an entrepreneur as well.

12:39Now, one thing I know that a lot of entrepreneurs do struggle with, it's asking for help. I mean, a lot of entrepreneurs are type A, they're kind of hard chargers, they're, you know, very confident, they have a lot of things that are kind of going for them in those areas. But one of the drawbacks to that can be they just want to do it all. They don't want to ask for help. They look at that as a weakness. So talk to us with your experience of the power of asking for help. Yeah, absolutely. And so I'll say at the beginning of my sort of entrepreneurial journey, I was exactly like that. I hated asking for help.

13:14It's still sometimes tough for me because I think we have this idea that we can do it all of ourselves And there's almost like a badge of honor in being able to say, well, you know, I'm overworked, I'm stressed out, and I'm working 24 hours a day and things like that. But I'm also going to tell you, that's dumb. Stop doing that. there's so many people that are willing to help and excited about helping and so I think I certainly hear where those people are coming from whether it's sort of pride and hubris that stops you from doing it or whether it's the opposite side, the introverted side people like me that are like I'm scared, I don't know these people I can't reach out there's a whole world out there of entrepreneurs and business owners and non-profits It's whatever fields you're in that are excited to help you on your journey because, you know, like I say, rising tides live all boats.

14:10People really want to be helpful. And with that, I would say I have an ask and an offer for everyone here. So my first company, Visceral, we've built brands and websites for nonprofits. We've been doing that for over 20 years. And so if anyone, you know, needs help or counsel on that type of stuff, we are always happy and willing to talk to people. You know, advice and strategy is free. We're happy to get on the phone and offer our help because we want to see nonprofits and philanthropies and social enterprises succeed. On the other side, I'm going to ask for help from your audience. You know, like I said, we're trying to build an apparel brand that gives back half of its profits to things that I believe in, which is supporting artists and nonprofits.

14:49So if that sounds cool and interesting to you, come check us out. You know, buy a product. That'd be great. Follow us on social media. Give us feedback and advice. Like I said, we're making this up as we go along. It's a, you know, entrepreneurship is oftentimes just a crazy idea that people are like, well, let's figure out how to manifest this. So if you've got any ideas on how we can do that quicker, you know, better or anything like that, we would love to hear from you. And what a great example of the power of asking for help in the actual moment. I mean, here's Jay saying, hey, I can help other people.

15:23I'm willing to do that. I'm willing to help you for free. Just, you know, this is what I can help you with, but I need help as well. Like I'm being vulnerable and I need help. And this is how you can help me. Now let's talk about how anyone can be an entrepreneur these days. You know, you have AI, artificial intelligence. You have all these automation tools that exist. I mean, it just makes it a lot easier. And at the same time, it can make it more difficult, if that makes any sense. But it always comes back to how gratitude is everything. So talk about that. I think back to, you know, to my father who was a mechanic, worked for General Motors, and had his own business on the side in the 70s and 80s and things like that.

16:04And starting your own business back then was rough. You had to know people, even just filing the proper paperwork and whatnot. Where did you even go for that information? Whereas right now, it's a quick Google search. It's a quick YouTube video, a quick chat TPT question. There's so many resources now that I think make it easier than ever to do that. So if it's something that you're really interested in, And I think the resources out there, and again, like connect with your community. You know, there are, wherever you live, there are probably other people that are, that are trying to do, you know, similar things, you know, look for, for meetups or, you know, chamber of commerce is, you know, that kind of thing.

16:43Or, you know, like in San Diego, we have a group called business for good San Diego, which is exactly what it sounds like. It's local business owners, you know, that are trying to do something positive to impact their community, you know, better business Portland. There's a lot of different organizations out there that are focused on things like that. And, you know, when it comes to, like you said, gratitude is everything. That's, this is going to sound, you know, kind of, you know, contrived. And it's certainly not an original idea, but I think your mindset goes a long way in terms of being successful.

17:13It's easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of work or by what you read the news. It's easy to get, you know, frustrated and disillusioned because running a business is hard. Being an entrepreneur is hard. But, you know, at the end of the day, there's always something good. there's always a little nugget of positivity and everything that you do, everything that happens. And so focusing on those kinds of things, you know, will really, I think, you know, cultivate a mindset where you look for opportunities, you look for, you know, partnerships, you look for, look for the good things, look for the areas where you can improve and make progress.

17:47And that really will change the way that you look at your business. And one more quick thing on that in terms of gratitude. I'm very fortunate. I get to do a lot of podcasts and public speaking things these days. And it's really, really, it's fun and exciting. And I love doing it. But the very first time I ever did something like this was on a little podcast called Entrepreneur on Fire. I don't know if you know that. That was 10 years ago. And I was crazy nervous to do it, but it was exciting and it was fun. And so I just want to say that I appreciate you for giving me that opportunity. And I appreciate the platform that you've built to really connect with other entrepreneurs and disseminate this message of, you know, this inspiring message of like, yeah, like we need more entrepreneurship.

18:32Like we need to help and support each other. I think it's just such a powerful thing. So thank you. I appreciate you for what you do. Well, Jay, I received that. Thank you for the kind words. And let's end with this note. You giving Fire Nation one takeaway from our entire conversation that you really want to make sure that they get, that they walk away with, then ask for help. Give a call to action again for Fire Nation to really take that next step and help you. And then we'll say goodbye. My takeaway is that if you have any inkling whatsoever of becoming an entrepreneur, if you've had any idea, if you've seen something in the marketplace where you're like, that's not good.

19:07I could do it better. I have a cool idea. I wish this existed, but it doesn't. We need you. We need more people to become entrepreneurs, to build businesses and companies based on values that are trying to do good, positive things in the world, but also cultivate like good working environments, you know, paying livable wages, providing health care, finding good jobs for people. So if that's something that you're interested in, you know, do it, ask for help along the way, you know, including from some of the people that you're listening to on this podcast right now. It's a powerful thing. I think we need more of it.

19:41And then my last ask is, like I said, we're trying to build an apparel company that funnels a bunch of money back into causes that we care about and artists that we want to support. So if that sounds interesting, check us out on the web, fervorandzeal.com or currently on Instagram at fervorandzeal. We'll probably be on TikTok at some time in the future because that's the future of this kind of thing. But also I'm an old man, I'm terrified of TikTok. So if any of you want to help with that, come please. We need your help. All right. One more time and go slow. the URL. fervorandzeal.com Fire Nation, you're the average.

20:15Of the five people you spend the most time with, you've been hanging out with JB and JLD today, so keep up that heat. For links to everything we talked about, including the website, visit eofire.com, type J, J-A-Y in the search bar, and the show notes page will pop right up. And Jay, thank you for sharing your truth, your knowledge, your value with Fire Nation. For that, we salute you and we'll catch you on the flip side. Awesome. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. Hey, Fire Nation, a huge thank you to our sponsors and Jay for sponsoring today's episode. And Fire Nation, over the last decade, I've interviewed more than 4 ,000 of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, and I've created a revolutionary 17-step roadmap to your financial freedom and fulfillment.

20:54I put it all into my first traditionally published book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success, which is personally endorsed by Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk. The Common Path to Uncommon Success is the step-by-step guidance that you need to achieve the lifestyle of your dreams, visit UncommonSuccessBook.com. I'll catch you there or on the flip side. Are you ready for the ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies? Build funnels, automate follow-ups, manage clients, and even white label your own software. Say hello to our featured partner, High Level, and visit HighLevelFire.com to start your free trial today.