Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erich Caudell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Erich, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is mental toughness, mental fortitude if you will, that is derived from the environment you are subjected to during your life. My resilience comes from my parents, my family and my life experiences. My father who was a builder, Policeman and pilot showed me what never quitting can accomplish. My mother who was an RN for over 40 years showed me how focus leads to success. My family who were farmers, construction works and immigrants from Scotland showed me how one vision can lead to a life time of fulfillment. Being married , having 3 beautiful children taught me why it all works. The tragedy of losing my first wife and daughter taught me that when your world is turned upside down and all is lost, taking that one step forward every day prepares you and makes you more resilient then you could have every have been.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a Tobacconist, pipe maker and entrepreneur. I have a deep passion for the premium tobaccos and the serenity they create when you make the time to properly enjoy them. I started my journey in this industry when I was in the military and started learning the pipe manly because of the sent of the burning tobacco. that smell would immediately begin to relax me in a way I never experienced before. You see premium tobaccos are a lot like fine wines, they have their own flavor notes depending on region that the tobacco was grown. When you have a master blender that understands how to put the different tobaccos together to create an ensemble that is tantalizing to all your senses it gives you an experience you just have to stop what you are doing and take that hour to enjoy the art.
I create Tobacco pipes as well, these are mostly made from a wood know as brier which is imported from Italy. My grandfather used to make toys from wood out of his shed and I was always fascinated by the craftsmanship of the work he did. So with my passion for tobacco and pipe smoking I decided to give it a shot. I carve them all by hand and I have my own line of pipes as well as commissioned pipes that are totally custom and one of a kind. These pipes that I create help me be creative and brings a unique aspect to my business.
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?
If I look back and think about qualities, skills and knowledge that were the most impactful in my Journey I would have to say it would be Resilience, Integrity and risk-taking.
Id like to start with Resilience because this quality is by far the most important and impactful in my journey. Learning from my past experiences and dealing with the lose I endured of my wife and daughter at a young age has been pinnacle in my business. Having to grow and adjust to the changes in my life and bouncing back one step at a time has taught me to move in a direction decisively, purposefully and with veal. People pick up on this and it infectious, it makes people want to be around you and support you.
Integrity is a quality that is hard learned but imperative in business. Without integrity your reputation means nothing. Your customers wont support you and businesses and organizations wont help you get established. Integrity is key to being able to be resilient as well. Taking a stand and holding to your beliefs gives you focus and the veal you need to get through the tough times.
Risk-taking is tough to wrap around, It is not something that comes naturally to most. Risk-taking is another component to being successful. If you don’t take a risk on an idea you will never see the success you could gain from that idea. You will need to utilize risk sparingly and purposefully so you don’t swamp yourself. Proper Risk-taking boosts your confidence which boosts your resilience which boosts your veal for your business.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I make it a point to surround myself with people how I trust to give me the honest truth and who can be candid with me about my direction and thoughts. Surrounding myself with people that I can do this with help me grow and flourish as a person. You can learn a lot by being open minded, listening to different opinions and trying new ways of doing things. A friend of mine once said ” If you talk you teach, When you listen you learn” this quote was so impactful in my journey that it changed the way I think, not only in my business but in my personnel relationships as well that I implement it in every aspect of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rampantlionpipes.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/therampantlionsc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRampantLionSC
Image Credits
Erich Caudell
