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-toface 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 . “ Embrace your failures . Don ’ t rest on your accolades .” Most of all , he 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 . n
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