We recently had the chance to connect with Chris Miller and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chris, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. Integrity speaks to your core motivations. Intelligence can often times be learned and cultivated, energy can be harnessed out of people if given the right motivations, but integrity is something that I think develops early on in life. Lack of integrity leads to deception, thievery, and in my opinion, lack of it is the fastest way to kill a company. You can’t take anything with you when you die, except your name. Don’t do anything to tarnish it. Keep your word, own up to, and learn from your mistakes, and do right by people.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chris Miller, and I am the founder and CEO of Godzilla Raceworks. We are a parts manufacturer and performance brand specializing in the Classic Datsun and Modern Nissan market. Datsuns are often regarded as the forefather of modern tuner and hot rodding culture for import vehicles in the US. Every Classic Datsun or Nissan has a story behind it, and we don’t want to see the final chapter in those stories. So we take modern solutions with modern technology, and apply them to these aging vehicles to keep them on the road, so that newer generations of gear heads and future car enthusiasts can continue to enjoy these cars. We want to see another generation of car enthusiasts, much like we were inspired by the Fast and Furious movies in the early 2000s.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My mother. My mom is a Filipina immigrant, and she grew up in a rural part of the Philippines that relies heavily on agriculture. She was one of 9 siblings, who all contributed on the family farm. At an early age she understood that hard work builds character and discipline. All through-out my childhood, and even today I still watch her work her ass off at everything she does. The woman simply just does not quit. I think observing that as a child instilled the same level of hustle in me, even though I didn’t know it at the time. I actually hated how active she was because that meant I was getting voluntold to do things haha.
Now that I am an adult with a family of my own, and a small business, I see the value in being exposed to that from an early age. Don’t be scared of hard work, and doing it for a sustained amount of time. Nothing good ever comes easy.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me how long I can go in between high points, whether it’s in business or in my personal life. Don’t get me wrong, I have had a very good life, and I feel very blessed, and am fortunate that I have not had it as hard as I could have. That being said, the struggles I have experienced are still valid, and they have taught me just how much pain I can take. Consistency is key with anything in life. Consistency helps you power through challenges in life, and having a consistent goal to reference when times get tough is a great way to power through. Often times I will look back and realize that I went through struggles that were 2 years long, and made it through to the other side. The next time life gets tough, I know I made it 2 years previously, or 4 years, or however long, and I think having that perspective makes your troubles much more manageable. It’s a good way to stay grounded, because sometimes troubles come and go in a week, or a day. No sense in getting all worked up when it could end tomorrow and you’re back on your feet. Embrace your successes and savor them as long as possible, so when times do get tough, you can keep your eye on the prize.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
What you see is what you get. There is true value in coming as you are in this world. Some people don’t appreciate it, some people perceive it as brash and off-putting. One of the best traits that I find in other people is their ability to shoot it straight and keep it to the point. I try to put the same kind of energy in the world. I can be a lot to deal with, but you will never question whether I am giving it to you straight or not. It goes back to the integrity we touched on earlier.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Definitely what I was born to do. I’ve always rebelled against the status-quo, at a really early age. I got a pretty hard shake at life early on, I’d say 9-10 years old, and it taught me a lot about how the world works. You play by the rules, you play it safe, you’re just a cog in a machine, and the only constants you get are how unfair life is. So if no matter what you do, life remains unfair, you might as well buck the system and do what you love, within reason. Don’t be self destructive, but chase your passions if you’re able to. You only get one life. I have never fit into the traditional expectations that society has for people, I did the things I liked doing, and abhorred the things I didn’t like doing. If it’s important, you’ll find a way, if it’s not important, you’ll find an excuse.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://godzillaraceworks.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/godzillaraceworks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-n-miller
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/godzillaraceworks
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/godzillaraceworks
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