In one case, a student exclaimed, “I can’t believe I’m standing here having a conversation with you!” With nearly each student question, Tyler asked one or more of his own, often holding an extended conversation with a star-struck student. However, what struck me most was his genuine desire to connect with the students. I was impressed, though not surprised, with Tyler’s curiosity, intellect and candor. His shoes retained their unique silhouettes, but they were also functional and could be economically manufactured at scale. Unsatisfied, Tyler dropped the unhelpful brand and was delighted when his new shoe partner corrected his design errors and brought them to the market. Rather than telling him that the drawings needed to be revamped, the shoe executives placated him with flattery, without putting in the effort required to make his designs production-ready. For instance, when he began designing shoes, his initial drawings were so amateurish that his then-current shoe sponsor grin screwed him. Relish Help – Tyler described several instances in which he pursued a new interest, despite his lack of experience. Tyler expects such setbacks, noting, “If I fail, I move on. “I don’t like the word ‘brand,’ because it makes me think of a bunch of people sitting around a table… but I (proactively) do things to avoid repeating myself.”Įmbrace Failure – Tyler noted that because he is always innovating and diving into new experiences, it’s inevitable that some endeavors will not live up to his expectations. He then described how he consciously iterates his fashions, persona and music. If I meet an obstacle, there always a way to go over it, under it or blow the roof off it.” He went on to say that he’s happiest, “solving problems” – challenges are just problems that have yet to be solved.ĭon’t Get Stuck – Tyler was asked to critique several current rap artists, which prompted him to give an honest, though a bit harsh, critique of several iconic rappers whose latest releases have pretty much sucked (don’t worry Clancy, I won’t spill the beans on who Tyler trashed). Unlike most of the people I grew up with, I got out.” Tyler went on to encourage the students to not let their backgrounds, disadvantaged or otherwise, impede fulfilling their dreams.įearlessly Solve Problems – Tyler attributed some of his success to his lack of fear, saying, “I’ve never been embarrassed or afraid. ![]() Get Out – Tyler was asked about his hometown of Hawthorne, California and he responded, “ Hawthorne. The importance of diverse relationships is especially true for entrepreneurs, as breakthrough ideas typically arise when small hunches from disparate sources are combined into something new. For instance, he shared that, “In High School I was friends with the white skaters, the black rappers and the nerds.” He took something away from each of these groups and amalgamated them into his designs and music. He noted, “it may not make you popular and it isn’t easy,” but not compromising when articulating your vision will always result in a more satisfying result.įloat Between Diverse Groups – Tyler stressed the benefits he has derived from being a member of groups that typically don’t interact. He gave an example of how he directs musicians in the studio with precise language, to ensure he gets his desired results. Instead, he joked that the question was too vague and from there he pivoted to a discussion about the importance of knowing what you want and then clearly and specifically articulating your vision to your team. The following startup lessons are those which stood out to me, though they hardly capture the full extent of Tyler’s spirited, 90-minute talk.īe Specific – Early in the evening, Tyler was asked to give some general advice to the students. In all cases, I have diligently attempted to accurately captured the spirit of his comments. Thus, the statements below attributed to Tyler are paraphrased from my imperfect short-term memory. However, I did contemporaneously capture my thoughts later that evening. ![]() No recording devices were permitted and, out of respect to Tyler, I didn’t take notes while he spoke. You can also review his GOLF WANG fashion line, which Tyler plans to eventually expand to include furniture and other home goods. If you’re not familiar with Tyler, you can check out Yonkers, which has over 98 million views on YouTube.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |