Meet Jerel Flint

We recently connected with Jerel Flint and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jerel 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 father spoke to me with words, but also laid a foundation of decisions that I could learn from. He beat the odds and was able to earn a spot in the NFL for 5 seasons. We spoke a lot about the work it took to get there, the sacrifices he had to make, and what he learned about life during and after his career. Everything eventually comes to an end, but you have to be prepared for the moment when the opportunity arises. You have to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready and you’re not going to get much done if you work only on the days when you feel like it. So the work has to not only be done, but done the right way. He set a tremendous example about work and the importance of smart work.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I manage everything surrounding the Dawg Food brand, from crafting the artwork and designs to sourcing the fabric and apparel, I have a great team I work with that runs our social media and website content. The most important element of Dawg Food brand for me is that it was created as a way to honor my father who passed away from prostate cancer. He spent the majority of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns. I was born in Cleveland and when I was growing up, people that met him and remembered his playing days always had the utmost respect for that era and those teams. I wanted to create something that paid homage to him and the city that embraced him and gave him his shot in the pros. This year is the second year of Dawg Food brand and we are adding new designs and products for the upcoming season.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three things most impactful qualities on my journey have been patience, persistence, and preparation. When I first started I was in a rush to design and make a bunch of product, which increased my start up costs more than necessary. That mistake, along with a few others, made me realize that I needed to slow down and analyze my moves rather than just making moves. The persistence is doing something each day, even if it’s just for 5 minutes to stay engaged with the business and customer base. The preparation ensures that any opportunity that arises, the business is in the best position to maximize it.

The best advice I can give to anyone that is at the beginning of their journey is that small consistent steps are much better than giant steps, especially if you don’t have experience starting a business. Any project requires dedication and commitment, but the amount required changes depending on the desired outcome. If you start it, do whatever it takes to see it through.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Fail Fast, Fail Often: How Losing Can Help You Win is at the top of my list as far as how it has helped me develop. We are trained to believe that failure is to be avoided at all costs which is really a breeding ground for mediocrity. Failure is different from lack of effort. Repetition and consistency are what you are after. The more experience you get with the task, project or material, the more you can experiment and build on top of your foundation of knowledge. Success is an on going process, not a target on a dart board. You have to constantly learn, adapt and evolve.

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Profile pic: ElvnTwelv Photography

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