Meet Stix Nilsen

We were lucky to catch up with Stix Nilsen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stix, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
Great question. This may sound very elementary, but I walk away from whatever I’m working on for a reset. What I mean by “reset” is, I disengage from the stalemate I may be in and engage in something completely different. This could be catching up on the numerous blogs I read, (when in season) go snowboarding (I’m 1/2 hour from my home resort), going to the gym, calling a friend whom I’d been meaning to catch up with, meditating (yes, I actually slow down sometimes), cleaning my house, etc.

If you’re in a rut, the worst thing you can do is chase your tail. Take a break. I heard somewhere the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. That’s a recipe for meltdown.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Mike (Cessario – co-founder/CEO of Liquid Death) let me assemble a Lifestyle Marketing team that I guarantee no other brand out there has. They’re all professionals in their own right and bring unique skills and personal networks to the proverbial table.

For instance: one is the bass player for Ozzy Osbourne. One is the two-time Thrasher Magazine Skater of the Year (aka “SOTY”) which in skateboarding is like being a two-time Super Bowl winner, one is a well-established adult film actress etc, etc. The list goes on!

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?
1) Be a great listener. – I get the world is moving at the speed of “now” but no one should be so self-absorbed they can’t stop for a moment and give the respect of a listen. If there were more active listeners in the world, I guarantee we would have less conflict.

2) Do what you say you’re going to do. – In my opinion, there are a lot more “talkers” out there than “doers”. Be a doer and always deliver. Always. It’s sad that people like myself stand out in some circles by just doing what we say we’re going to do. Over-deliver whenever possible.

3) Admit when you’re wrong and work tirelessly to make it right. – The world is full of finger-pointers. I could not have more respect for those who admit their faults and do everything to rectify the situation instead of trying to pass the proverbial buck. Our world would be so much more productive if people admitted – then fixed – their mistakes.

Lastly, the advice I would give is: the toes you’re stepping on now could be attached to the ass you’re kissing later so be cool to everyone you meet……even if they’re unsavory. I’m amazed at some people I have met over the years that were very condescending/rude to me yet later in life pretend we’ve never met as I’ve had success in my career. I have the memory of an elephant and know who’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Good luck and good riddance.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
They taught me never to look down on someone unless you’re there to help them up. If everyone followed this advice the world would be a better place.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Image 1: Live Nation Image 2: Liquid Death Image 3: Stix Image 4: Liquid Death Image 5: Liberated Brands Image 6: Family Style Fest

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