Meet James Hastings

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful James Hastings. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with James below.

Hi James, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
It started with the discipline instilled in me by my grandparents. They were the model for what hard work meant to me growing up. Watching them get up at 4am + & preparing for the day starting with work and taking care of family. That showed work ethic & discipline to me. I thought ‘man.. I should follow those same footsteps as far as working and doing the things, that I need to do to be accomplished in life’ … My grandfather didn’t play that. So I didn’t have no choice. I couldn’t lay up in the bed [and do nothing] if he knew I was laying in the bed he’d be like ‘get up, it ain’t like you finna lay in the bed sleeping all day’ … For me that payed off because it kept me from being lazy. I have to be constantly doing something.

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

Right now, I’m investing in a major comedy club in downtown Fort called Big Laugh Comedy. It’s located at 604 Main St. Fort Worth, Texas.  That’s my most public endeavor, but I’m also very excited about another one of my investment projects. I’ve invested into the success of a company called Credit Rich that teaches something that I find to be one of life’s most important skills, financial literacy. The founder Angel Rich had already been recognized by Forbes, the White House, and other notable organizations for her contributions to tech and financial literacy so this was an opportunity that just naturally aligned for me. You can find out more about Credit Rich at creditrich.com

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?
My top 3 keys to success at anything you want to do would be:

  • confidence
    • networking
    • and just believing in yourself

No one’s going to see the vision clearer than you will. You just have to believe in that vision and know that it will work. Networking is probably one of the most important skills to master. A lot of times the opportunity that you want is more about WHO you know than WHAT you know. The skills and what you know are obviously important because that’s what’s going to keep you in your position but just getting in the door sometimes is all about having the right connections and confidence to see it through.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I have to give props to my business partner, Brian Westbrook. I’ve known Brian for 30+ years and I trust whatever input he has on whatever it is that I’m working on. Whenever there’s a situation that I may not be too well verse in, I trust that Brian will be there to help me make a decision or help me to weigh my options. If ever there’s a time that I maybe lost or stumped, it’s Brian’s opinion that I trust period. You can get to know and follow Brian on Instagram @Bewest1

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