We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allen Janzen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Allen, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My business, Firefighter Crafted, gives back to injured, disabled and fallen firefighter families in their time of need. We also support local fire stations by selling station apparel to raise funds. I have been blessed by the generosity of others and want to find ways to be able to give back. Firefighters risk their lives and sometimes pay the ultimate sacrifice for others. Giving back to firefighters in this way brings me joy and I love being a part of that!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Los Angeles City Fire Department. At 10 years old I knew I wanted to become a firefighter after seeing live demonstrations at an LAFD fire service day. Seventeen years later I achieved my childhood dream of becoming a firefighter paramedic.
I am also the Founder of Firefighter Crafted, an online marketplace for firefighter business, fire stations, and nonprofits to sell their crafted products, art, and apparel. Together, we raise money to give back to injured, disabled, and fallen firefighter families.
It’s exciting to say that we have had an international impact with sales in 10 other countries! We have given thousands of dollars back to injured and fallen firefighter families and to fire station needs. We are a firefighter family and unite others through the love of art, creativity, and everything fire! Check out our website www.FirefighterCrafted.com to learn more. Connect with us on social media @Firefighter_Crafted. Thank you!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities of my journey were: having a big vision, a heart of compassion and generosity, and a determination to excel still more.
When I first was developing my business ideas, I had a big vision to find ways to help firefighters in their time of need. Early in my firefighter career, I experienced the tragic loss of a brother in the fire service, and others with life altering injuries. I wanted to find ways to give back to those who had sacrificed so much including the surviving families from a line of duty death. I knew many fire stations sold apparel to visitors touring the station. I saw many hand-crafted products made by firefighters and even local firefighter owned businesses. I had the vision to combine all of these into one online platform called Firefighter Crafted. Firefighter-designed products sold raise money for fire stations, local firefighter businesses, and injured, disabled firefighters and their families. I wanted to make all of this accessible online to create a network of creative firefighters giving back in these many ways. This vision created the Firefighter Crafted brand, website, product fulfillment, and charity fundraising.
Having a heart of compassion and generosity is what drives my ultimate goal with Firefighter Crafted. This is an “others focused” endeavor. Firefighters come to the rescue at a moment’s notice but often at a great personal sacrifice. Injuries, permanent disabilities, and even possible death are too often the outcome of many emergency responses. I want to come alongside these firefighters, their families, and unite the community in giving back with generosity. Proceeds from each product purchased on our website will go to these firefighter families. We are grateful for the compassion and generosity of our community and customers around the globe.
None of the goals would be accomplished without the determination to excel still more. Every aspect of running a business has a learning curve. Each new problem requires an out of the box perspective to help solve it. Failure is only failure if I fail to get back up again. I’m grateful for the many people who have come alongside me to encourage, help navigate obstacles, and to remind me of why I started Firefighter Crafted in the first place. I’m determined to excel still more in all aspects of being a firefighter, business owner, husband, and father to my three boys.
My advice to anyone on a business journey would be to find a need that you are passionate about and to look for ways to help solve it. Your “why” behind what you do will determine your drive to accomplish your vision and goals. Know that it won’t always be easy and there will be times when you may feel like giving up. But, when you keep your focus on the reason you started and continue learning along the way, your endeavor will be worth it.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Firefighter Crafted is a network of firefighter businesses, local fire stations, and a generous community, with a goal to give back to injured, disabled, and fallen firefighter families. We look to partner with like-minded firefighter owned businesses. We have an online platform to sell local fire station apparel, firefighter hand-crafted products, and assist with various fundraisers for firefighters.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, visit our website at www.FirefighterCrafted.com. Connect with us on social media @Firefighter_Crafted or send us an email at ContactUs@FirefighterCrafted.com. Please help share our mission and support firefighters by purchasing our Crafted products, that all have a story of their own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FirefighterCrafted.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firefighter_crafted/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirefighterCrafted
- Other: Email: ContactUs@FirefighterCrafted.com
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
