Meet Brian Weathers

We caught up with Brian Weathers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I guess it depends on if we are talking about music or interior design! Always knew I wanted to play music, specifically the drums. Since I was a kid, I loved it. Always felt it was my purpose. I’ve played drums my entire life and enjoy live performances, studio recording, and the creative process. Making music is a beautiful experience. Ask any musician! In regard to interior design, I realized my passion for this while working in the music industry. Consuming myself with residential and hospitality interior design, it was just an appropriate career move. I loved the materiality of the design industry. Surfaces, flooring, tile and stone. Always admiring a bar or restaurant’s architectural details, textiles, lighting and furnishings. One of my best friends mentioned that I could be working in the design industry. I was like huh? So honestly, I probably owe finding my purpose to him! I have worked for multiple interior design firms in both residential and hospitality design in Los Angeles. Today, I’m working in hospitality design in Chicago and still consulting residential projects. I love interior design, music, and fashion as well. They all go hand in hand! My goal this year is to try something new for 2024! To be continued.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I started Design & Manage back in 2013 and along the way worked for interior design firms throughout Los Angeles. Mainly, I started my own brand to work on design projects and my Airbnb business in between touring with bands. When you tour in a band and are on the road for a month or two months, you typically don’t have a job waiting for you when you return home! So you have to start over each time. That said, I didn’t love this process and it can be a tough lifestyle. Playing drums is the most fun I have ever had in my life. I’ve never found anything to come close to that feeling on stage. Interior design was the first job I had where I didn’t feel like it was really a job in the beginning. I was new to it and started to love it as well. Lastly, Airbnb played a big role in growing my business but we can save that for another time.

My design career began with working for a luxury furniture and lighting showroom in West Hollywood. There I learned about vintage furniture and current trends. After a couple years, I started working for a residential design firm and learning the process of concept to completion interior design. That relationship would continue throughout my life. Developing an environment and understanding construction documents became stronger while working at a hospitality design firm on Sunset strip. Enjoyed the design development process, custom fabrication, and being onsite at a restaurant or nightclub to implement the design. In 2020 I relocated back to Chicago to be close to family and led the trade program at RH Chicago (Restoration Hardware). A few years later I’m back to hospitality design. Blessed to have contributed to some amazing projects over the last decade. I still play music and do a one off show occasionally. The pandemic slowed down the hospitality and music industries, but I finally got back in the studio and recorded a new song recently. We played a sold out show in December. Chicago winters are cold but people still come out to support!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

  1. Follow your heart and lead from there. People are always going to have advice or an opinion but you choose for you. I’ve always been told to choose music or design to focus on one path for the best chance at success. But what fun is that? I love both and am having fun playing drums with a band or designing a home or hospitality space for clients. I’m not rich, not at all but I’m okay and paying the bills doing what I love.
  2. Communication is key. Continue to listen, learn and grow every day. I wasn’t great at this in the beginning but have been mindful of it for 8-10 years now. Communication is a lifelong journey. Be mindful of self growth and consistent improvement in yourself.
  3. Balance is a skill many have a hard time with. I try to never let someone knock me off my square. Meaning, control my vibe or energy. I’m in control of that! Sometimes we all work way too much. I try to work the amount that serves me best. Don’t forget about balance and living a life doing all the things that bring you joy. The work will be there! Will that trip to Italy be?

P.S. What’s more valuable than money? TIME. We can’t get it back.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Good question! When I feel overwhelmed, I try to take a step back first and notice what is out of balance. Am I working too much or not having enough projects to keep me busy? Am I not getting to the gym and feeding my body and nervous system? When was the last time I meditated? Am I eating terribly? The holidays just passed, we all probably were! I think of the body or mind like a vehicle. Not one thing causes fatigue or overwhelm typically. It’s usually when a few things are out of balance.

So my advice in that regard would be to just ask yourself questions and find solutions. Not excuses. If you cope with anxiety like me, leaving those signs unattended can be crippling. So I tend to start with a quick run and maybe hit the gym for some weights. Followed by something that makes me happy. Listening to music, playing drums, meditation, or connecting with friends. Sometimes, it’s just cooking a nice meal or getting a massage. When I lived in Los Angeles I loved to go hiking. In Chicago, that’s not possible. I can ride my bicycle or hop on the Harley for a motorcycle ride. That might be my favorite! Sometimes one thing works to break the feeling of being overwhelmed, but most times for me it’s multiple things. Take a day off work and live life.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Pamela Maurer Roger Leonard Elizabeth Daniels Sandy Noto Aaron Graunke

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