We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jordan Dye. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jordan below.
Jordan, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I think one of the hardest parts about being a creative/entrepreneur/business owner is keeping your creativity alive. Whether it’s getting burnt out on the other business aspects, or just getting into a creative rut, you’re bound to run into creative blocks. I think the constant phone, computer and tv screen time in our lives makes it gets easier and easier to get stuck. There are a few methods that I always find myself going back to, when I feel like I am lacking creativity.
One of my go to’s when I hit a creative block, is to exercise/move/just get out in nature. I think a lot of my best thoughts and ideas come while my body is moving. My favorite way of doing this is getting outside and going on walks. I like to listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks. This sometimes can also help spark creative ideas. During the pandemic, I purchased a Peleton, and that has become another one of my favorite ways to get moving. I think a lot of times, we get stuck just sitting around on our computers and staring at a screen. I’ve found that it sometimes it helps to just break the day up a little bit by going on a walk outside.
Another way I like to keep my creativity alive is by traveling or just getting a change of scenery. Two of my favorite places to travel are Seattle and Denver to visit family. I think being around people that you love can also help spark creativity. I love visiting my 6 and 10 year old nephews in Seattle. I always feel like I leave with a new creative energy.
My other favorite way to get out of a creative rut is to explore expressing different mediums of art for fun. My favorite outlet is cooking. I love to try new recipes and ways of cooking to channel my creativity. Some other ways I like to use arts to get back into a creative flow are drawing and painting. These are things that I am not as talented at, but they are a nice outlet and way to get the creative juices flowing. I also have been exploring new arts and taking classes, such as a rug making. I think one of the biggest things that I’ve found helpful is finding ways to create different types of art and get back in a good creative state, without being as worried about the end product. You also may find a new talent or a new love when trying out different types of creating.
Creativity can come strong in waves, but it is also easy to get stuck in creative blocks. Each person is different. When you are feeling burnt out creatively, really focus on finding the things that spark your creativity again and do those things more often.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I started my first business/clothing line, Shepherd Goods, while I was in working at a clothing and sneaker boutique during college. I was going to school for marketing and entrepreneurship. I always loved shoes and clothes, and the store that I was working at had a screen print studio in the back, so I decided to try making a few t-shirts. After getting a few designs together and setting up a website, I had my first shirts made. I fell in love with the process of designing/creating clothes and seeing them in real life, but I never imagined how much else went into running a business. It took some learning and adjusting, but with the help of my entrepreneurship classes and a few mentors, I was able to figure out the ins and outs of running a business. After a year of learning, experimenting and finding manufacturers, I decided to start a second brand called Lamb Chops. Most of Lamb Chops is completely cut and sew, which has allowed me to offer more premium quality products and more of my creative designs and ideas. I have really enjoyed being able to test out and introduce new and different products.
Over the years of creating and building my businesses, I have learned so much and met some really incredible people. It has also allowed me to work on and be part of some really cool collaborations and partnerships.
One of my favorite partnerships that I have really enjoyed and appreciated is having the chance to work with the Twin Cities Pro Am basketball league. I have sponsored and managed/coached a team for the past three summers. Some of Minnesota’s best high school, college and professional basketball players play, and it has continued to grow more and more each year. It has been great to see my brand on the jerseys and to link my business and brand with my love of basketball.
After learning so much starting my clothing line and business, I partnered with my friend Patrick’s company Imago Supply, to help create products for other brands, companies and hospitals. This has allowed me to utilize the skills and knowledge that I’ve learned in a different way and create another source of income.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, there are a lot of qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have really impacted my journey and made me who I am today. I think that three that have been most impactful for me are resilience, creativity, and being genuine.
Resilience is one of the biggest qualities or skills that has been the most impactful on my journey. There will always be setbacks, challenges and uncertainty when running a business, but if you are really committed, you will build resilience by working through the headwinds with a clear vision for your business or product and a stronger overall belief in yourself. There will be plenty of times that will get tough, and you may want to give up, but it is important to stay confident in yourself and your craft. Keep pushing forward.
Another skill that has been impactful in my life and career is creativity. Never underestimate your creativity and potential to bring fresh ideas to life, especially early on in your journey. It is important to find ways to trigger and keep these creative juices flowing. Like I talked about earlier, everyone ticks a little bit differently and different things work for everyone. It takes being self aware and finding what works best for you to bring your creativity into your life and business.
The third quality that I would say has been one of the most impactful along my journey is being a genuine person. I think a lot of times, we can get so caught up in trying to fit in or follow the trends or impress people, especially with social media, that it can be easy to lose ourselves. Being yourself goes a long way. Everyone is out here trying to make it through life, so I think treating people with kindness is very important.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
One book that has played an important roll in my development is Atomic Habits by James Clear. I heard about the book on a podcast right when it came out and have made it a point to try to read or listen to the audiobook a few times a year to refresh some of the main takeaways, as well as find new little nuggets of wisdom.
One of my favorite messages throughout the book, is the importance of incremental/small improvements over time. Doing things to make small improvements each day can go a long way. It may not always feel like we are getting better right away, but getting 1% better every day can really compound. I have found that in running a small business I need to stay focused on that steady improvement and not get frustrated when the growth doesn’t come as quickly as I would like. If we continue to focus on getting a little bit better every day, it can make a big difference. Some days are harder than others to get going, but it is important to push to be better than the day before.
Another message that I found helpful from Atomic Habits and that ties into getting better every day, is creating winning systems, and not just goals. A system is a collection of habits that you follow. If you have winning systems and habits in place that are working towards our goals, it will be easier to reach and exceed them. Keeping my attention on systems is so important but can be challenging. It requires discipline and intentional thinking and planning. Making good habits, that work towards within these winning systems, easier for ourselves or more automatic is huge for this. Some things I try to do every day, to continue to get better and grow are design something, get outside/go on a walk, workout, and read/listen to audiobooks.
Contact Info:
- Website:sglambchops.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/jordandye4
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.dye.395/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordandye4/
- Twitter: twitter.com/jordandye
- Other: ImagoSupply.com
Image Credits
Ayka Bri Beth Schrock Jordan Johnson Josh Englert Katherine Coria
