Meet Ryan Wallace

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ryan Wallace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ryan, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I’ve learned that taking risks is an essential part of achieving success. My ability to take risks didn’t develop overnight, but it’s been a journey that has been shaped by my experiences, both good and bad. Taking risks is not just about jumping blindly into the unknown, but rather, it’s a calculated move based on careful planning and a deep understanding of oneself. It’s about having the courage to pursue opportunities and to challenge oneself to grow beyond what is comfortable or familiar.

One of the key inspirations that fueled my ability to take risks was a gift from my mother – a poem that has become my personal mantra. “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley includes a powerful line that says, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” This resonated deeply with me and motivated me to take control of my life, stand for something, and not be afraid to take risks.

During my 9 years of military service, I ventured into austere environments around the world where I welcomed the fear of life, death, loss, and love into my heart. This experience showed me that if I could lead security forces overseas at the age of 22, I could do anything I put my mind to. It gave me the confidence to face challenges head-on and to embrace the unknown.
I have faced setbacks and failures, but I’ve learned to view these as opportunities to learn and grow. What really pushed me to take risks was when I learned to see my value where others just saw my potential, and I refused to accept anything less than success. My father taught me to be a winner, and those lessons stuck with me throughout my entrepreneurial journey. I pray, study, meditate, and plan to ensure I am always moving forward and not stagnating. I’ve also come to realize that resilience is key to overcoming challenges and setbacks in the journey of entrepreneurship. Another important lesson that I’ve learned is the value of surrounding myself with positive, supportive people who believe in me and my vision. These people have encouraged me to take risks, challenged me to think outside the box, and supported me through both successes and failures. A negative person, no matter how close to you or how much they love you, can poison you and set you back on your milestones of achievement. I promise you, sometimes it’s better to love those kinds of people back from a distance.
Breaking out of comfort zones is another crucial element of taking risks, and I’ve learned that nothing ever grows in comfort zones. By embracing new challenges and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, I’ve been able to achieve success beyond my wildest dreams.

Most importantly, when I truly became self-aware of the cards that I’ve been dealt in life, I realized that there are thousands of things that I say and do today that would’ve put my life in jeopardy as a Black Man in America. There are thousands of places where I’ve ventured on this planet that would have been damn near impossible barely 50 years ago. That’s barely a lifetime, and I REFUSE to take that for granted. I choose to consciously make my family and my ancestors proud.

At the end of the day, I am the architect of my future and the engraver of my destiny. As an entrepreneur, I know that taking risks is essential to achieving my goals and making my dreams a reality.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hello and Rich Rising! I’m Ryan A. Wallace, a 30-year-old US Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and proud first-generation American from Mount Vernon, New York with Jamaican roots. (I must also mention Fordham Road and Red Hook since every New Yorker has 3 answers to the “where are you from question!” ). I studied Business Administration (associates) at San Diego Mesa College, Applied Sciences and Applied Technologies (associates) from Central Texas College, and Management Information Systems (bachelors) at San Diego State University.

My time in the Navy allowed me to explore over 28 countries, exposing me to diverse cultures that have influenced my perspective on life. I learned that anything is possible if you put your mind and heart into it. In 2015, while living in Spain during my final years in the Navy, my best friend Lovans Florial and I conceived the idea of starting an apparel brand dedicated to creatives looking for a creative way to find themselves. Thus, in 2016, Lonely Floater was born. We later realized that the people that gravitated to us were music and visual artists and they needed to grow on digital platforms. So we expanded the clothing brand business to become a Multimedia Marketing Agency that operates in Arts & Entertainment, with a focus on the progression of Hip Hop, Electronic Dance Music, and Rock & Roll.
Our community is inclusive of creatives finding unique ways to express themselves. We embody individualism within the masses and pride ourselves on floating above adversity. Please support us by purchasing some of our clothing that’s on our website: www.LonelyFloater.com Our purpose is to provide a platform for those who feel left out of the mainstream with something inclusive to share. We aim to share with the world an alternative approach to today’s artists, pop culture, underground events, and music festivals.

To achieve this, I teamed up with Matt Wallace, Max Wallet, Zach Heinrich, Jake Moats, and Johnathan Mackie to create a new entity: The San Diego Unified Bass District (SdubD or The Bass District). SdubD is a grassroots multi-genre musical and artistic movement focused on showcasing the talents of emerging musicians from all of Southern California and beyond. We separate ourselves from the traditional norm of a “genre-locked” artist collective by giving artists from various musical backgrounds the opportunity to connect and collaborate. Our success lies in our determination to succeed by any means necessary and the creativity that has arisen from our diverse team.

We host an annual music festival called Moonlight Mirage, featuring House, Bass, Hip-Hop, and Rock and Roll artists on two hand-crafted stages. Our festivals are unlike any other, with a genre-bending line-up that no one wants to miss. Moonlight Mirage is an immersive musical and artistic collaboration, providing a unique and varied micro-festival experience. After starting Moonlight Mirage, Sdubd (or The Bass District) wanted to improve our offering and make an even larger impact in the southern Californian culture. So we later decided to team up with the innovative and ambitious River Manochio, Maxim Storozhenko, Cole Brandt, and Jonathan Day from a popular Santa Barbara Collective, The Wookpack who were already making waves as musicians individually. As a team on the verge of our 4th Musical Festival occurring in October 2023, we aim to make our Moonlight Mirage festival a unique and immersive experience. We have local artists, food vendors, and restrooms for our guests to feel comfortable in our camping experience under the stars. Our sponsorships range from the likes of Liquid Death, Cananabis Companies, Flying Ember, and JuneShine.

My personal mission statement ends with this line: “My success is not the final landing, but a departure point to conquer the stars.” I get a kick out of being told that all this is crazy or insane. It’s because when my team and I have been meeting every Taco Tuesday for the past few years, those pressures go away because I’ve made visions come true with the likes of my crew. So, in a nutshell, this is what I do.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First and foremost, self-love was crucial for me. It allowed me to truly believe in myself and my abilities, and to push forward even when faced with obstacles or setbacks. Developing self-love is an ongoing process that requires patience, kindness, and understanding towards oneself. It’s important to practice self-care, set boundaries, and celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. I would advise anyone early in their journey to prioritize self-love and make it a daily practice.

Secondly, emotional intelligence was another key aspect of my journey. As a March Pisces, I struggled with expressing my emotions and making sense of them internally. Working on emotional intelligence helped me to understand and manage my emotions, empathize with others, and build strong relationships. Emotional intelligence involves being aware of one’s emotions, regulating them effectively, and recognizing and responding appropriately to the emotions of others. Developing emotional intelligence takes practice, but it can be done through self-reflection, mindfulness, and seeking out feedback from others.

Finally, forward momentum was essential in my journey. It’s easy to get bogged down by fear or doubt, but it’s important to keep moving forward towards one’s goals. This requires setting clear intentions, taking consistent action, and staying committed to one’s vision. I would advise anyone early in their journey to focus on building momentum, even if it means starting small and taking incremental steps. Celebrate small wins along the way and keep your eyes fixed on the end goal.

Overall, my advice for folks early in their journey is to prioritize self-love, emotional intelligence, and forward momentum, and to seek therapy if necessary. I spent years convinced that, as a man, it was weak to seek professional help. However, it’s important to recognize that seeking therapy is not a sign of weakness, but a brave step towards self-improvement. However, it would be unfair not to acknowledge that there are individuals and groups actively working to change this narrative and break the stigma surrounding mental health. So… These three qualities have been instrumental in my own journey, and I believe they can help anyone achieve success in their personal and professional lives. Remember to be patient, kind, and persistent, and never give up on your dreams.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Sure, I am always open to partnering and collaborating with like-minded individuals who share my passion for creativity, innovation, and social impact. As a musician and entrepreneur, I am particularly interested in working with music artists, event promoters, graphic designers, music festival collectives, videographers, photographers, music A&Rs, and anyone else who believes they can contribute to society through their magnificent bodies of work.

The qualities that I value most in potential collaborators are relentlessness, open-mindedness, and a progressive mindset. I am looking for individuals who are not content with the status quo and who are constantly striving to push the boundaries of what is possible.

If you are reading this and are interested in collaborating, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can connect with me through my website or social media channels. Let’s work together to create something truly amazing and impactful!

Lonelyfloater.com
Instagram.com/lonelyfloater

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Festival photos – Dark Matter. Graduation photos – My Father The rest are by me.

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