We were lucky to catch up with Cody Curtis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cody , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I believe that my resilience comes from a few different places, and by that, I mean I draw inspiration from different people, places, goals, and situations that are in my life for instance I am dad to two beautiful girls, it is my job to give them a strong dad figure for them to look up to. Every day I wake up, no matter how I feel I know I have to bring my “A game” because that is what my little girls need.
When it comes to my career in skateboarding my resilience comes from the excitement of landing the trick and the sense of accomplishment that it comes with.
That can be anything jumping down a big gap or skating a big stair set, and I am trying a trick that I haven’t done yet and no matter how many times I have slammed or how hot, tired, and flustered I might become but I remind myself how great it’s going to feel and I am instantly hyped back up, feel no pain, and ready to go again!
When it comes to my business, I draw my resilience from trying to come up with graphics that are not only original but also have some type of meaning behind them which can be a challenge but when I do come up with a great idea, I know it’s going to be a hit I get a deep gut feeling and to this day it has never steered me wrong!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I grew up in a small town outside of Nashville called Smyrna. I lived with my grandparents; they had adopted me because my parents had some unfortunate addictions. My father was around off and on due to him being in and out of jail a well as moving around all the time. I unfortunately never got to meet my mother due to my own anger I had been taught to have against her, but we did manger to have our peace and have a brief “mother-son relationship” before she passed. My father and I were a bit closer, but the addictions made the “father son” relationship difficult at best. My grandparents did everything they could to fill that void or course, and they gave me a lovely home, and raised me with good morals and values and gave me the all the love a kid could want but as I got older the generation gap did start to hinder our relationship for instance, I wanted to make a career out of skateboarding, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it (back when I was 12/13) I was met with a little bit of aggression/confusion which all stemmed from a lack of knowledge and understatement but I was left on my own to figure everything out for myself because out of all my friends I was the one willing to go for something this big.
My friends wanted to go to college or start their new jobs so again I was on my own. I started skating more and I started to progress and learn new tricks and build confidence on my board as well as I started educating myself about how sponsorships work and how someone breaks into the industry.
It wasn’t until years later that my family and friends started to recognize and understand how serious I was about my decision.
I had been skateboarding for at least 10 years before I decided to start actually designing and pressing my own skateboards for my brand before this decision, I was just ordering premade skateboards with my graphics, which was fine, but I wanted more freedom to make my skateboards and my brand different and more unique!
I begin to study how skateboards are made and then try repeat that process at my house for less. It took many years and a lot of trial and error, but I have designed, and 3D printed my own skateboard mold, and I successfully pressed 100+ skateboards and still going! I am also happy to announce that my skateboards will be sold in most skateboard shops here in TN, as well KY, FL, Al and New York!
I also have just recently dropped a new skateboard graphic, and my brand is working on our first skateboard video and we will have our 1st contest next summer (2025)
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?
The three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge are
1. motivation
2.discipline
3.a “never quit” attitude
These are just a few important qualities that anyone who is trying to achieve anything in their life. Motivation to get you going and to get you hyped, Discipline because your motivation will run sort, you’re going to get hit with challenges both big and small and you got to be able to take the hits, learn to roll with punches and when to strike back. and last but not least the “never quit” attuited will get you through when you get upset or have a big setback or even worst if you have to start over for whatever reason.
Always remember, it is hard to beat someone who doesn’t give up!
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I believe that when you are first starting out its important to play to your strengths and see what you can accomplish on your own with what you have and once you get going then seek outside guidance for the things you do not know. I have come to find people are more willing to help you achieve your goal if you have a your already started.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thekhaozskateboard.com
- Instagram: @khaoz_skateboards
- Facebook: Khaoz Skateboards
- Youtube: Cody Khaoz
- Other: Tik Tok @cody_khaoz01
Image Credits
Photography credits: Adam K. visuals Matt Lucas with Red eye frame photography Skylar C.
