We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shannon Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shannon, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I definitely got my work ethic from my parents. They worked hard to provide for our family and give us a good life. I remember my dad working night shifts and always working overtime but he never missed my little league games and always volunteered as assistant coach. My mom never stopped taking care of the house and working her own job and just never stopped moving. I was raised to believe, if you want something in this life, no one is going to give it to you. You have to go earn it yourself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
This year im focused on developing and remodeling a property along the mad river in Dayton that will serve as a hostel for surfers, paddlers, kayakers, and cyclists who travel to Dayton called Eddy Out. It will also be the head quarters for Surf Dayton and full retail surf shop as well as a seasonal outdoor bar that will be serving barria style tacos and other delicious items to devour after a long day of adventures. We hope the hostel to be open by Winter and Surf shop and Bar by spring 2024.
Im also working with a partner to develop a huge property into a food hall and beer garden downtown called The Silos.
I just want to keep making Dayton more awesome and give back to my community the best way I know how.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think never giving up and giving everything I do 100% of my attention and effort. I try and be absolutely relentless with my work ethic and bringing ideas to life and doing everything possible to make it happen. Failure only happens if you dont give something your all or you give up
I never stop being a student of life. I always try and be a sponge and soak up everything, learning new skills, whether its business, carpentry, graphic design etc. We literally have youtube and google at our fingertips to learn absolutely anything we would ever want and need to know.
Dont let opinions or fears of others dictate your actions. If i was told I couldnt do something, or that something was going to be too hard, I told myself I had to do it then. When people doubt you, embrace it and prove them wrong everytime.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I learned to compartmentalize my life. I dont let business interfer with my home life and I dont take criticism or stress of business or clients personal. Its just business and I try and take emotion out of it or atleast the negative emotion. Positive emotion in business can be motivating. I ask myself, will this feeling or what im struggling with matter a week from now, or a month from now. Most of the time, it definitely wont so I move on.
This past spring, I was renovating my wife’s new building for her business, having to go back running day to day operation because of unforseen circumstances, renovating my own property. I slept 6 hrs a night max and worked every waking hour but I didnt care. I was tired but I woke up and attacked everyday with everything I had. I had goals and a timeline that I needed to make so I told myself, what I was feeling didnt matter, and did it anyway. I stayed relentlessly positive throughout, enjoying the work I did, and being productive. I never got burnt out, I just stayed as disciplined as I could
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sthomassup.com
- Instagram: @sthomassup
- Facebook: facebook.com/thomas937
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJbdtKVwK0W77pEYCW04isg
Image Credits
none. Self took