In order for your interview to be posted on Magazine/News Placement Sites, kindly answer the mandatory questions listed below. We would also suggest answering the “Recommended” ones though. Please understand the more questions you answer, the better your interview will look. If you want your business to be successful, you will have to be prepared to be interviewed by serious newspapers and magazines. So consider this as a Media training exercise. The list of questions we are asking are the ones most Public Relations company uses to prepare you before scheduling an interview.
Please try and be honest and avoid “cliché” answers.
Also, make sure to send in a high resolution photo (preferably headshot) with this interview. If you can send additional photos (of your company) it will help. You can also send a video of your company with the interview. Please understand that the more information you send, the better your interview will stand out from others.
Please note we reserve the final right on selecting which answers to publish as well as story angles to use. If you want to preview the interview before we post it, kindly let us know.
Please provide us suitable title for interview.- There’s a Drop of Sunshine for everyone
Mandatory Questions –
• Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Drop of Sunshine is a cannabis company specializing in hemp derived products. I originally created the Drop in Venice Beach California where I knew I wanted to combine my two passions of art and cannabis. Being an artist I wanted to bring a true lifestyle brand to this industry. Combining local artists with every package. Now with offices in San Antonio Texas we continue to bring that bright and colorful artist lifestyle to the beautiful Alamo city.
• Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Where do I start, haha. Let’s sum up this life long-journey so I don’t bore everyone. My cannabis education started at 13 years old with that first bowl and progessed into an entrepurnerial career at 19. From there I learned what cannabis is. This plant really benefits more than it destroys, and that’s coming from someone who was incarcerated at the age of 24 for a non violent cannabis crime. I watched the legalization of cannabis rise from inside, and it was until I was 27 that I was able to begin my journey once again. To me that is a major achievement, coming home and slowly building my life back. Appreciating the plant and starting Drop of Sunshine.
• What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
My life and everyone else that has truly pioneered the cannabis plant inspire me. The people who appreciate the journey this plant has made to make it to this point. Allowing anyone and everyone to jump into this industry that before was underground and punishable. So, when I had the opportunity to combine my passion for art with my love of cannabis into one lifestyle brand I was all in. I have always been an entrepuner, I don’t know any other way to live.
• What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs? Only do it if you can handle ups and downs like a constant roller coaster ride.
• What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Paitence, perseverance, and clear vision.
• How many hours do you work a day on average?
Never stop. Even if you’re not “working” you’re working. It doesn’t stop.
• To what do you most attribute your success?
My non-stop belief in what I’m doing and my goal to live as free as I can be.
• How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Marketing is tough because as a small mom and pop business with no real funding backing it, paid marketing is not a thing. Although I have just started a local targeted SEO and Geo Targeting campaign with Seedless Media. This is first stages of marketing outside of social media and word of mouth.
• Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
I haven’t raised any funding, this has been a bootstrap operation with me backing it all the way.
• What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
I said it earlier, patience and clear vision.
• Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years? Hopefully thriving with distribution in every state. • Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
There are a couple different ones, but three that come to mind are FlowKana and CannaSafe out of California. As well as Greener Things CBD dispensary in Charloteesville VA.
Recommended Questions –
• How important have good employees been to your success?
The most important! They are the back bone to any company and really are the driving force. Without good employees there is no foundation.
• How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Depends on the idea, I do my best to give something 3 months or so to show legs. If it doesn’t show me any kind of forward momentum then I have to scratch it and move on.
• What motivates you?
Family and freedom.
• What are your ideals?
Bringing unity among humans. My ideals are that we are all artists. No matter who you are, what you “do”, you are a creative beautiful human.
• How do you generate new ideas?
Ideas come every moment throughout the day. I take note of some and some fade as quick as they come. Ideas are great, similar to opinions and assholes, everyone’s got one. They mean nothing if not properly planned and executed.
• How do you define success?
Freedom to be who you see in your minds eye, while being able to provide for your family.
• How do you build a successful customer base?
Word of mouth, quality, and customer service
• What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
It’s the only way I know how to live.
• What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The branding development.
• What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
We are all working for someone else in some aspect. I work for myself and my companies. The only thing that is different between myself and others working for a company outside of their own, is that they receive a sense of security.
• What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Culture is such a key ingredient in any organization. For Drop of Sunshine it goes along with WE ARE ALL ARTISTS. I encourage individuals to be just that… their individual self.
• In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Educational
Optional Questions –
• If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t change anything. I’m still here which means I have plenty more opportunities ahead to do things differently if I so chose.
• How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
• What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Doubting myself and my abilities.
• How did you decide on the location for your business?
Venice, California has always been in my minds eye as a home, but recently moving to San Antonio TX was a family choice. I’m getting married in July and we saw an opportunity here. It’s a wonderful place with an amazing culture.
• Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Don’t just do something to do it. Execute with confidence because of the prep work. The only flip side to that is not to get caught up in the planning. There will be a moment when you have to execute even if something isn’t perfect.
• If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Salvador Dali, I would like to learn more about trusting in my own wild concepts and how to utilize this surreal thinking to get out of the normal standard of “doing”.
• Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My fiancé is one of my inspirations. She is such a hard working brilliant person.
• What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
I read a lot it’s one of my morning rituals, along with journaling. One of the books that comes to mind is “Even A Stone Can Be A Teacher”.
• What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Not believing in myself.
• How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Learn from past mistakes. Do your best to see what’s ahead of you, not just what’s in front of you in the moment. Look at the bigger picture and work for the future, but live and be in the present.
• What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Outside of Drop of Sunshine I paint. I paint acrylic on canvas, spray paint murals, and most recently digitally.
• What makes you happy?
My family and painting.
For more information visit us https://thedropofsunshine.com/