Ben Ramirez Reed’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Ben Ramirez Reed and have shared our conversation below.

Ben, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
integrity. I think intelligence can always be learned and improved. Likewise, energy can be trained and worked on. But I believe there isn’t much that’s as foundational as integrity. Without it, how can you trust someone? Without trust, no work gets done. Friendships become unpleasant. In short, everything falls apart. I think integrity is a constant choice. You choose to act with integrity (or, at least, you should). Viktor E. Frankl said “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom”. I believe integrity is what should inform that choice.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure, my name is Ben Ramirez Reed, I’m the owner and founder of Frost & Ember Creations, LLC. We offer artisan made leather accessories to magical dogs and people!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly, my parents taught me the most about work and how to run a business.
My father was a dairy farmer, now retired. The traditional rise early, injuries are ignore-able, don’t take a day off type of farmer. When I was 12 to 14 years old, I helped him nurse and raise the calves on the farm. Although I enjoyed the work, he insisted that I wouldn’t be a farmer like him. Something I thank him for these days. But I learned a lot about reliability and showing up for work from him. And how to work to the end and get a job done through focus and perseverance.
My mother runs her own business, a successful dog daycare and boarding facility with multiple employees. I was part of that business for nearly 18 years and learned a lot about entrepreneurship from her. How to make a schedule, how to deal with clients and employees, and some accounting. I can remember many times when I was there that she and I would argue about how something should be done. She would usually say to me “I hear you, but this is my business. So we’re going to do it this way. When you have your own business, you can do it your way.” The joke’s on me these days. Now I do have my own business and I use a lot of her systems for myself.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. I think for most people, they would point to struggling during the recent global pandemic. For me, I struggled and was worn down just after the world began returning to normal. My business specializes in two main areas: leather costume and reenactment gear (think leather armor and accessories for Renaissance Faires) and leather dog supplies (collars, leashes, etc). During the lock-down caused by the pandemic, it seemed everyone had adopted a dog to keep them company, shelters were empty and homes were suddenly full. All those puppers needed collars, leashes, and harnesses, which I was lucky enough to make. After the pandemic, everyone suddenly wanted to be outside, and Renaissance Faires became the perfect place to reconnect with friends outdoors.
These two situations overlapped for my business and created a sort of perfect storm of work and demands. I didn’t know how to handle it. On one hand, I was incredibly grateful for the business and support. On the other side, my work is still artisan and handmade, only I could make these things at the time.
The weight of the business, the long hours of work, the physical demands, and the sudden juggling of an over-full schedule, left me depleted and exhausted. I remember, for the first time, sinking to the floor in my kitchen, head in my hands and wondering if it was worth it. If I could handle my own business or if I should just give it up. I remember my friend at the time making a comment that “sometimes success can sink you as fast as failure”. It struck a cord inside me.
Thankfully, I didn’t give up. I designed a course to train apprentices to help me in my work and I tried my best to streamline my process. I learned a lot then, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Forgive me if this sounds cringy or redundant, but I believe that self-improvement can never be over stated. If you want to invest in something. If you want to work on something. Why not work on yourself? After all, I don’t know who said it first but, “where ever you go, there you are” is unarguably true.
For my self, I try to read constantly. Thankfully my work allows me to listen to audiobooks during my day, so I usually have at least one headphone in with an audiobook going.
Aikido, a Japanese martial art, is another passion of mine. It’s a great release of emotion and energy in a controlled, safe fashion. It’s also often mentioned by the great teachers that Aikido helps connect the mind and body. I think the exercise of both the mind and body, perhaps together, really helps me appreciate my life more. It’s one of those activities that *gives* your energy, rather than sapping it.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
So I keep two horses next to my leathershop and two German Shepards with me in the shop. Often in the mornings, and sometimes after work in the evenings, I saddle one of my horses and ride out onto the trails around me. My dogs trot along at my side.
It’s out on those trails, in those woods, that I find the most peace and quiet. There’s a trail that rides down a dirt road, across a bridge, and up the other side of the valley. At the top of that ridge stands a tree. And from that tree I can turn around and look across the valley and see my home and business (they’re on the same property). From that distance (two miles, to be exact), my place, my life seems so small. So manageable. Without any people around, standing on that hillside, everything seems much quieter.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Models: Lisa Bradley (in the fur cloak), Ben Ramirez Reed (sitting on the log), D’lynn Molyneaux (in the spotted dress)

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