Meet Zaach Cooper

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zaach Cooper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zaach below.

Hi Zaach , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Whether I knew it or not at the time, resilience is something that started early for me. In my youth I had a biological father who was either not a good person or not around at all. I was fortunate to have. a fantastic “step father”, who was actually my father in all the ways that matter, who died unexpectedly when I was a senior in High School. I’d been enlisted to join the Marine Corps at the time and, given the recent change to our family, my mom asked me not to go. Instead, I tried to go to college and basically just ran into one failure after another. But fortunately, I have no quit. In the early years, I sincerely don’t know if it was stubbornness, resiliency, naivete or some lucky combination. But by the time I actually enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2008 with that foundation, which could fill in the blanks and support the new elements being established and honed like discipline, leadership, accountability and mindset changes like “improvise, adapt and overcome.” Resiliency became an easy necessity! Frankly, I’m over two years into my current business venture and we still don’t have the doors open. If not for the “hurry up and wait” experience that was the Marine Corps, I may not even have made it this far.

In my time getting out of the USMC and transitioning back to civilian life, the necessity for resiliency and coping skills were once again required and tested. The journey that I faced, as well as what I was seeing with so many of my closest friends, felt, at times, unbearable. It was at this time that I started relying heavily on therapy and other resources that were available. I will admit, shamefully, that there was a time in my life when “therapy” may have sounded like a dirty word. But one of my greatest resiliencies is my willingness, and desire, to learn and grow. By embracing access to these resources I was not only able to work through, process and understand so much more of what I was going through, but it also became very apparent to me that the very skills required to truly work on one’s-self, courage, commitment, integrity…These were the very principles that are preached throughout the military. By failing to commit in therapy, I’d be failing to embody the very words that were instilled in us when we swore to uphold the values and principles of what it means to be a Marine.

I mentioned past traumas and some of the coping mechanisms that came from those experiences but it was really only in therapy where I was able to reflect on my response to those events and evaluate what mechanisms I was, or wasn’t, using to protect myself and move forward. It’s amazing how once you’ve identified those strengths and weaknesses they become your superpower. If you know what they are you can recognize when they are important to utilize, or perhaps eliminate, allowing for even better coping skills and even greater resiliency.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My story is a bit of a ride, taking a pretty non-traditional, non-linear, path. After an all-expenses-paid trip to Afghanistan thanks to the USMC, I returned home to Marine Corps Base Hawaii and started working toward one of the biggest goals I’d set as a Marine, which was attending and graduating from Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival School (MCIWS). This is a course that was widely recognized as one of the hardest offered by the Marine Corps and at the time, had something like a 70% attrition rate. It is hugely demanding physically, as you would expect, but also incredibly rigorous mentally, given the importance of the role. It was during this program, probably 6-7 years removed from high school, where I learned for the first time HOW to learn. Up to this point in my life I mostly thought I’d be a career Marine, and certainly never thought that I’d go to college. Once I figured out how to learn, I couldn’t get enough of it! After an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps at the end of 2012, I was enrolled at THE Ohio State University for the beginning of the academic year in 2013. There, I used the GI Bill and got a degree in Security and Intelligence with a minor in Arabic language. At the end of this program I did a study abroad that took me to England, Ireland, and Jordan with a focus on Conflict Resolution. This was another moment that lit a flame as that study abroad introduced me to the Rotary Peace Fellowship, which is a full ride Masters program created by Rotary International, for which I was fortunate to be selected. I have so many stories and experiences tied to that program, but as it relates to this conversation, it was during this two year period from 2017/18 that my passion for my current business was forged.

While attending University of Bradford (Bradford, England) I had the incredible opportunity to travel a bit. When visiting a new country my keepsake of choice was almost always a hat (I’m a HUGE hat guy!). I started to have a recurring theme when looking for a place to pick a cool hat, in which I would often end up in various men’s style retail stores. They, hearing my. foreign voice, would often ask about what brought me in and inevitably, I’d end up having these incredible conversations, often, for hours at a time. During one encounter, a gentleman offered me a beer while in store, to which I happily accepted, and he walked over to what appeared to be a normal wall and removed a hidden hatch, only to expose two draught beer taps. My mind was blown…it made my day, and frankly, it stuck with me for a very long time. While later finishing my masters degree, and eventually transitioning back home to Cleveland, Ohio, I started thinking about where I could get a comparable experience back home. Because I didn’t know of any place that could offer what I was dreaming, I started keeping a notebook and writing ideas I had. What kinda clothes I would sell, the types of entertainment and programming I could put together, where it might be successful, what it could look like, be named etc. And that was pretty much it from 2018-2021. At this time I was working in a pretty successful sales role but that fact of the matter was that I was miserable. Friends and family could see my despair, and oftentimes my enthusiasm over my retail concept became regular conversation. I don’t know if they actually believed I was crazy enough to pull it off or if they were just sick of hearing me talk about it, but it was those closest to me who began to push me, encouraging me to stop the notes and start taking some action and see what comes of it.

So that leads us to today! I’ve purchased an 8,000 sq ft property in a very cool area of downtown Cleveland known as Ohio City (did I mention the building was a funeral home for about 90 years?). After a couple years of hoops and hurdles, we finally have our construction permits from the city. Currently, I am personally (with the help of a couple family members) undertaking the entire demolition portion of the project myself. Unfortunately, the Marine Corps didn’t leave me with a massive savings account so the demolition was one area where I knew I had the skills to save some money. We are nearing the end of this process and I have the bumps, bruises, scrapes and calluses to prove it. After that, we roll into the meat of the renovation which is a full gut job. I’m HOPING that we can be putting finishing touches on things and preparing to open up in about an 8 month period…but anyone who has construction experience knows that is liable to change.

In addition to filling a neighborhood gap that currently has deficiencies in retail, we will feature a hidden entryway that takes you from the retail area to a large space filled with a full bar, pool table/golf sim, a lounge area and several other means of entertainment. I look forward to programming that will embrace small live concerts/events, local art galleries, bourbon tastings and so much more. But the true niche that I have a vision for would most easily be described as “Say Yes to the Dress”, catered towards the groom/groomsmen side of wedding. I’ve got additional programming/packages that will target these parties, truly creating an experience that i’ve not seen anywhere else. My vision and focus at the moment are on getting the doors open and then building the business. That said, I believe there is a significant national market for this type of concept and if I can successfully pull off this location…well, I’ve got a new notebook going where I write down those dreams.

While we wait for renovations to be completed, I”ve rented a small footprint at a local shopping venue known as CIty Goods where I do custom suiting, rentals and also have a boutique selection of off the rack garments. I”ve also got a limited selection of goods from my personal brand, Jack WIld, that can be found in our current space as well as on our website www.sartorialcle.com.

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?

Be Curious: A phrase that was commonplace during my time in the Marine Corps was “complacency kills.” Thankfully, in civilian life, the meaning of this usually isn’t quite as existential. However, for an entrepreneur/business owner, the meaning definitely swings back toward the more serious interpretation of the Marines. Your consumers, your competitors, your vendors and pretty much everyone else, they are looking for ways to improve, grow and increase the penetration of their markets. If you’re not, then you are probably falling behind! That said, I believe curiosity is the antithesis of complacency. If your asking questions, encouraging feedback from peers/staff, and just generally finding ways to improve…then you will avoid the trap of complacency and its consequences. If you’re looking for an easy way to improve here, start by reading a book. There are SO MANY incredible books out there with endless subject matter. Leadership, business, self improvement, finances, whatever it is, there is almost always something to be learned that you can apply to some current/future issue that you, your business, or someone in your community may be dealing with.

Be Adaptable: There are countless quotes and parables conveying the fact that the only true consistency in life is change. One of my favorite quotes related to the matter is credited to Charles Darwin, saying “it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is the most adaptable to change.” During my time in the Marine Corps the words “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome” became far more than a motto, it became a way of life.
I am going into business with a specific idea about who my ideal client is, what their ideal price-point is, what styles they will prefer and so on and so forth. But one thing I can tell you as a matter of fact is that, if my “educated assumptions” are wrong…if we aren’t doing enough business or are targeting. the wrong market, I will be prepared to pivot without hesitation! And if we are at the point where action is necessary, then I will most certainly have been considering the best option for pivoting for some time.

I believe in many ways that this also ties back to being curious. Curiosity requires humility, a willingness to learn from others and to find, at times, that you may have been wrong. It doesn’t matter what books you read or what lessons are presenting themself to you if you are convinced you already know the way and/or you know a better way. That doesn’t mean there aren’t times when we should listen to our guts or stick to our guns. But, especially in times when things are hard and you may need to consider a pivot, consider the fact that the solution does not always have to come from you! Seeking guidance from mentors, peers, industry experts, or whoever else you may have access to doesn’t mean you couldn’t do it yourself. It means you were curious, and that means there is a pretty good chance that you will get through whatever your dealing with. “You can’t fill a cup that is already full” Zen Proverb

Just Do the Thing!- There have been so many instances in my life where I thought “I have no shot of getting this.” But in nearly every single one of those situations I went with the old “i’ll throw my hat in anyways’ and, guess what? In nearly every single situation where I threw my hat into the ring…I’ve ended up with the outcome that I’d hoped for but didn’t believe could possibly happen. Whether it’s getting selected and completing a highly competitive military training program, to a full ride masters degree overseas, to the ownership of an 8,000 sq ft commercial property. Those experiences, among many others, were numerous opportunities to get in my own way. I sincerely didn’t think I had a chance and it would have been very listen to myself the countless times I questioned why i was wasting time with applications or various other details. At this point I couldn’t imagine what my life would be without each of those, as each different experience provided something that has ultimately led to my current endeavor.

To be clear, there are absolutely times within a project when it’s important to wait for the right moment, and each scenario has its own nuance. But if the question is should I go for it? Then the answer is almost always, YES, just do the thing…NOW!

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

No hesitation for me on this one, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. I make a point to reread this book at least once a year and I regularly find myself turning back to its pages when i’m dealing with various hardships in life.

For those who may not be familiar, Marcus Aurelius, often referred to as the “Philosopher King”, was schooled in the field of Stoicism and his book has been become core reading for the field. Without getting too deep in the weeds, the 4 pillars of Stoicism are Justice, WIsdom, Courage and Self-Control (often referred to as “temperance is Stoic literature). I believe that any person who strives to embody these values, whether in personal or professional life, has a good chance of success. The book was originally kept as a personal journal and, as far as we know, was never actually meant for public consumption. That is part of what I find so inspiring. He wasn’t writing with the goal of making money or even with the intent of having a massive impact on the many thousands of people who have/will read his words. He was writing TO HIMSELF! These were his personal reminders, written over 2000 years ago, on topics that are wildly relatable all these years later. He speaks about motivation, things as simple as finding the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. He provides reminders to be lenient with others and strict with yourself. About a willingness to occasionally indulge, but the importance of preventing indulgence from turning into greed or gluttony. And speaks about a life without all 4 of the pillars is actually a life without any.

I could speak on countless lessons I have drawn from mym readings of this book but there is one that always stands out for me. One of the major themes of the book is that there are very few things in life for which we truy have ownership over. Whether we like it or not, there are very few things in life that CAN’T be taken away from us. Physical items, 401k’s and stock portfolios….our freedom, or even our lives, can be taken from us without our consent. One things nobody can take from you, unless of course you relinquish its control, is your reaction! Every single person, at some point in time, is going to be faced with a hardship, a loss…some annoying person that you have to deal with, or whatever circumstance life has provided on a given day. No matter the situation, your decision to respond with anger, malice, kindness, respect, or whatever other reaction feels appropriate, is entirely and SOLELY of your own control. It is all too easy, and frequent, that many of us get lost in the emotion of the moment and respond to something poorly, only to leave ourselves vulnerable or in a worse situation than we were in prior. Then, all too easily, we pass responsibility over to whatever it was that set us off in the first place. In doing so, we are taking the one thing we truly possess and handing it over to outside influence. If someone has the ability to annoy, tick you off, or even if they are the only person that “makes you feel happy.”, tehn that is a person who has control over you. The situation, as so often is the case, is completely out of your control…but your response, that is yours alone!

This is a principal that I work to remind myself of almost daily. I know I will have heartaches, I will interact with annoying people, plans will change, things will get screwed up….these are facts of life that are inevitable. But the ability to own my reaction…to know when it’s time to move on from things, ignore the uncontrollable, greave appropriately, or pour effort into a response. This is knowledge that can create healthy boundaries enabling success in all walks of life. I hope I’ve done the subject some justice as this is obviously a massive simplification of a very deep topic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sartorialcle.com
• Instagram: SartorialCLE
• Facebook: Sartorial CLE
• Linkedin: Zach Cooper

Image Credits

HIstoric Photo- Unknown

Hyper-Color Photograph of my building- Jason Toth