Happy World Entrepreneurs Day

Did you know that August 21st is not only a Wed. this year, but “WED”? That stands for World Entrepreneurs Day! The purpose of WED is to create awareness for entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership throughout the world. We took a few minutes to chat with our favorite entrepreneurs* on what this day means to them.

Q: What does entrepreneurship mean to you?

Adam: Entrepreneurship is about creating something that enriches the lives of the people who interact with it: the employees, customers, and community members. When it is done responsibly, the planet is left in better shape than we found it. Todd: Entrepreneurship is like a never ending puzzle. As soon as things are just so, they change. To me, it means treating your people well and pacing yourself because, if you're not careful, you'll find yourself sprinting a marathon. Andrew: Entrepreneurship to me means self-actualizing your latent inborn talent. Finding your true form of creative expression and activating it.

Q: What lessons have you learned or can share with fellow and future entrepreneurs?

Adam: - Go with your gut. - People matter most. - Make a budget to start up, then double it, then double it again. - Don't do it unless you are passionate about it. - If you are looking for an easy way to make money, this isn't it. - Be scrappy for as long as possible. Todd: - Trust your gut, it'll never lie. Your head certainly will though. - Hire like your life depends on it...because it does. - Maintain fiscal responsibility even after you're funded or have positive cash flow. - Measure twice (thrice) and cut once. - It takes grit, lots of grit. - The best (only) way to properly motivate yourself and your team is to lead with, and communicate often, a compelling vision. - And something that I learned from construction that is relevant here...it's either going to take twice as long and cost three times as much, or it'll take three times as long as cost twice as much. Andrew: - Pick partners that compliment your talents rather than sharing them. If two entrepreneurs are good at the same thing, you don't need both. - Be willing and ready to grow as a person, learn to quickly dispel ego-driven behaviors, and resolve conflict as openly and quickly as possible by leading with your own needs and vulnerabilities.

*Meet the Boochcraft entrepreneur trio:

Adam Hiner: An innovative and multifaceted entrepreneur, Adam has helped to create, build, and scale impactful businesses across many sectors. He got his start launching a revolutionary online mortgage company before transitioning into an industry that was calling to him: food & beverage. Prior to Boochcraft, Adam co-founded an organic farm-to-table catering company called Eco Caters, followed by his own restaurant, Local Habit, where he served up his kombucha homebrew. Today, Adam spearheads the Sustainability and Impact efforts at Boochcraft. Todd Kent: Todd has been a serial entrepreneur for the past 22 years. In addition to leading business strategy, operations, company vision, and all other aspects that enhance the company’s cash flow, Todd keeps the human factor in perspective. At the foundation of his role, Todd looks to create a culture of community, striving for that sought-after “family feeling” inside the office. At Boochcraft, he has without a doubt succeeded. Andrew Clark: Andrew had been unknowingly working a side hustle at his corporate job for years. That hustle? Brewing his own beer, wine, cider, mead, and (of course) kombucha. When Adam, his brother-in-law, came to him with the idea of starting a kombucha brewery, Andrew didn’t think twice. In addition to being the mastermind behind all Boochcraft flavor innovations, Andrew was the original conceptor of the brand’s “hard” twist on regular kombucha. We have him to thank for the wonderful 7% ABV buzz found in each sip.