Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brian “Paco” Alvarez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Brian “Paco”, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Embarking on a journey of risk-taking and self-discovery, I found an unparalleled mentor in Tony Hsieh, the visionary CEO of Zappos, through his seminal book “Delivering Happiness”, let alone the fact that I worked for him at Zappos.com. Tony’s candid recounting of his entrepreneurial ventures and the philosophy of fostering happiness as a business model profoundly reshaped my approach to risk. His bold decisions, driven by a passion for innovation and an unwavering belief in corporate culture, taught me the significance of embracing uncertainty as a gateway to opportunity. I was inspired by Tony’s conviction that true success stems from chasing dreams and the courage to fail, I learned to navigate risks with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. This transformative experience not only honed my risk-taking abilities but also instilled a deep-seated conviction in the power of happiness as a guiding principle in both business and life.
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?
The one word that describes me is “passion”, and that is what defines my brand. For years people would tell me that I am the brand. So anything I would touch, whether I curate an exhibition, a work of art, give a tour or a public lecture, that it would be a story that only “Paco” could tell or create. Its the reason I am very protective of my personal brand and that is reflected in all the work I do. Especially the work I do through my two start-ups, Psionic Arts Works and or Very Very Vegas Tours. I have an uncanny ability to give clients what they are looking for especially in the art and tourism realm. As a Cultural Anthropologist I view culture and society holistically and dig deep to understand the needs of my clients by understanding what makes them passionate about what they do. That’s how I always find the right artist to create the perfect project or create the perfect experience that make my clients go WOW!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three key aspects of my professional and personal journey have always been leadership, society and education. I never ever stop learning. I thrive on learning new skills, learning about history, science, art and leadership. I also consider myself a zeitgeist and always live in the moment, and I love being a man of my time. I stay on top of trends especially in music, art and culture. I always tell people that change is the only constant and that there is nothing wrong with embracing change at any age. The late great fashion icon Iris Apfel always mentioned that, “she was the oldest living teenager”. Iris has been a huge inspiration especially since she did not start her interest in fashion until she was in her 80’s! People like Iris are the very reason that we should never stop living, learning and inspiring.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am definitely looking for other people, in particular entrepreneurs, who want to join my world of curating amazing works of art for individuals and other businesses. Especially those who see art as a way to drive business, tourism and the wider economy forward. It takes visionaries to be able to convince other businesses that art can help them and their employees capture more customers. The creative industries are not always seen as drivers of economy and I want to build a team that will change that power dynamic. The world has always been a better place when artists, musicians, performers and the other multitude of creatives come together for a common cause. Creativity is the backbone of being human.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://psionicartworks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasvegaspaco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.Paco.Alvarez/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianpacoalvarez/
Image Credits
All images are courtesy of Brian Paco Alvarez
