Meet Chad Makerson Michael

We recently connected with Chad Makerson Michael and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Chad with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic stems from 3 key places. First and foremost, it has evolved most from embracing failure as an integral part of the beeline towards success. It took me many years to recognize and be comfortable with failure. Being truly comfortable is the most difficult part. To not look at failure as a roadblock but as a stepping stone. Every setback comes a lesson, always serving as guide to either narrow in and correct mistakes or to the opening of entirely new avenues where success is more probable. Overall, this is the belief that with persistent effort, even in the face of failure, success will inevitably follow. You can be smart and have a brilliant idea but without persistence it will die. This trait is what has enabled me to elevate my work.

In my career I’ve developed and designed over 100 spirit brands and accompanying extensions. A few select brands include Slane Irish Whiskey, St. Laurent Distillery, Devil’s Botany, Gold Bar Whiskey, and Stonestreet Bourbon which is set to release early 2024. As each brand is completed and produced I’m left with a physical package design that represents the accumulation of months, sometimes years, of work. Holding that final piece in my hands not only feels amazing but also fuels my fire for the next project. It’s like hitting a reset button on my creative energy.

To sum it up, my work ethic is this mix of learning and thriving from failures, celebrating the wins, and always striving to top my own work. It’s the whole journey—from the ups and downs to the ‘aha’ moments—that keeps me hooked and hungry for more.

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?
My name is Chad Makerson Michael, and while I juggle various roles, my core identity lies in graphic design. Back in 2014, I kickstarted Chad Michael Studio, a snug design hub. Since then, it’s blossomed into an globally recognized studio in branding and package design, specializing in crafting identities for alcoholic beverages and specialty goods.

Our ethos is simple yet powerful: we only dive into projects where our enthusiasm for the brand matches, if not surpasses, that of our clients. Unwavering fervor and a dedication to creating standout brands are the cornerstones of our success. It’s really consistently pushing to create brands that are not regurgitations of what has already been done. Doing something truly new is easier said than done. It typically takes a strong amount of exploration to reach a level where the design as whole or at least in part feels inventive and new.

Since our inception, I’ve had the honor of breathing life into more than a hundred from-scratch brands and accompanying brand extensions. My forte? My passion? Crafting brands from the ground up. Our studio weaves stories, creates brand names, sculpts brand narratives, designs bespoke glassware, and, of course, crafts all the packaging that defines our clients’ products.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m overwhelmed, I have a routine that mirrors what many successful entrepreneurs do, with my own twist:

  • Exercise to clear my mind.
  • Soak up some sunlight for a mood lift.
  • Make a priority list and focus on ticking off the top tasks, which instantly boosts my mood and productivity.
  • To remind myself that life’s short. While most of us aim to have a legacy, to be at least a chapter in the history books, a majority of us won’t be remembered in a century. Remembering this oddly helps me put things in perspective. The odds of being here, now, are incredibly rare, so I try to appreciate that uniqueness.

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