FEATURE STORY CONT .
8 . PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Originally , Hawk had a partner at Birdhouse Skateboards . The two of them kept taking pay cuts and cutting costs to make the business work at a time when skateboarding wasn ’ t popular . Gratitude for being able to remain in an industry he loved was what kept him going . “ We both believed in it so much ,” says Hawk , “ and there were a couple of times where we had heavy conversations like , ‘ Are we going to have to give this up ?’ And then we would make another cut and we would stay afloat . Eventually , it came back around . It took a lot longer , and it was tricky , but all the while , I was just thankful we were still doing it . We were still in the business . When it did come back around , it came back around in a way we never imagined in terms of how big it got .”
9 . BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAM
There will be pressure to give up . There may be family members who look at you like you ’ re a failure . Even when others don ’ t , you must believe in your dream until you make it a reality . Nobody paid attention to skateboarding for years , so it had undergone a revolution as it moved underground . It turned into a street activity with new moves and styles , so when the inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 , it became a catalyst for people to start paying attention to skateboarding again . “ It took a lot longer for my business to succeed , but I believed in it so much ,” Hawk said .
10 . FIND YOUR TRIBE
Hawk has dealt with a lot of bullies throughout his entire life , including his elders within the skate community . Growing up with bullies , criticism , and hate taught him how to ignore criticism . “ It was weird because skateboarding was such a small community at the time , so we ’ re already outcasts from mainstream sports ,” he said . “ And now I ’ m an outcast within this little outcast community . It was very isolating . But at the same time , it taught me resilience and to just believe in what I was doing . Because it gave me so much for my sense of confidence and mental health , I just ignored all that noise . I found salvation in my peers because I did have friends who were of the same mindset . We had the same type of approach to skating . We would bounce ideas off each other , and I always felt validated by them . That was my big help . Having the skate park was where I found my crew , my tribe , and my direction . It ’ s where I developed my own style . That ’ s very much why I started a foundation for public skate parks because of what it brought to me as a kid .”
11 . DON ’ T DO IT ALONE
To scale , Hawk built a team around him that he trusts . “ I have an awesome team behind me that will filter and vet things before they even get to me ,” Hawk said . “ They have the same sort of sense of values and aesthetics that they know what ’ s authentic to skateboarding or what ’ s authentic to what I do or my brand or video games . It ’ s more about surrounding yourself with those people you trust .”
12 . KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER AT A DEEP LEVEL
Through experiencing both success and failures in the skateboarding industry and being face-to-face with his customers , Hawk has developed a tremendous understanding of his ideal audience . “ I have a radar for authenticity and know what will resonate with our customers ,” he said . “ That just comes from walking the walk and skating . You can ’ t fake skating , and you can ’ t cheat at skating . It takes so much perseverance and so much effort . You ’ re literally in the streets , so I have that to my advantage where I can tell if something looks authentic or if something is going to resonate with the skate community or with the action sports or street culture community .”
13 . CELEBRATE HOW FAR YOU ’ VE COME
What gets Hawk charged up and keeps him excited is to see how far he ’ s come and how far the sport has come . By staying the course and remaining involved in the industry , he has been able to enjoy experiences he never would have thought possible , such as being invited to the Olympic Games and being the first skater to ride the Olympic course . “ It ’ s so exciting to be alive and to be part of the skate scene , to see it thriving so much , and to see it become this international interest and phenomenon and so inclusive ,” Hawk said . “ For me , that ’ s what fires me up — to see how far skateboarding has come and that it ’ s for everyone . That it is truly international .”
As you strive to grow your IT business , take risks and stay committed to the process . Believe in yourself and figure out how to push through the tough times . As you reach new levels of success and achieve the top of your profession , Hawk advises you to release yourself from the pressure by giving yourself permission to fail . Continue to push yourself but focus on your strengths rather than doing something completely outside your wheelhouse . Says Hawk , “ Embrace your failures . Don ’ t rest on your accolades .” Most of all , Hawk says to figure out and know what your priorities are . When you do that , you ’ ll always be a success in the things that matter most .
14