We were lucky to catch up with Tanner Sutton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tanner, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I think the last few years have been tough for everyone. From the pandemic to all that followed, it seems everyone has had their struggles. I definitely wasn’t a stranger to that, and believe those hard times helped me hone my resiliency. However, I developed it through the sport of wrestling. I was lucky enough to succeed in my younger days and eventually competed at the Division 1 level. Competing at that level is a grind. Everyone’s very talented. Everyone was the best in their hometown. When you get to that level, all that goes out the window immediately. It’s resilience and consistency that leads to success. Again, mostly everyone is training hard, eating right, has high-level practice partners, etc. So it’s what you do when you’re faced with difficulty. What happens when you don’t eat for a while to make weight, you have a nagging injury, and your team and coach need you? Do you deliver then? Or do you fold? Lucky for me, 5 years of college wrestling gave me plenty of opportunities to be resilient, and I carry that into everything I do. Who cares about what’s in front of you. Go make it happen.
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?
By day, I am a Sr Data contributor for an international Sushi Company. Though I’m not here to talk about that much, I think it’s important to note I am an absolute nerd over good data and spend most of my days analyzing it in one way or another. My educational endeavors also seem to be neverending, but I am finally working on my dissertation to finish my Doctorate in Strategic Management. I’ve learned so much through my educational and professional journeys thus far, which allows me to be well-positioned to pursue my passions through Business Ownership, leading me to The Garden DIY. The Garden DIY is a music collective and house venue (at my house) that helps artists in the Greater Kansas City Area get a chance to share their talents with the community. We have events at the house, partner with local businesses to host Open Mic’s and other pop-up events, and try to foster collaboration with artists to generate a better local music scene for all in Kansas City. I was lucky enough to create this concept along with many amazing people. I now reside in the organization’s CEO role and collaborate with our 8-person board to create unforgettable moments in KC! I couldn’t be more excited for what’s coming in 2024. We’re starting with a fantastic NYE party at Englewood Arts Center on 12/31. We’re going to be bringing in the new year with all our favorite people, and I can’t wait!
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 most impactful lesson I’ve learned (and re-learned) is to surround yourself with the right people. I’ve had to make some complex changes due to making the wrong choices with people I’ve surrounded myself with at different points in life. Though the changes can be challenging, the reward for getting rid of people who take away your light is worth more than gold. If you’re talking in a business sense, that needs to be elevated to another level. You need to bring along people who share your mission, vision, and values, and you need to move away from those who are not aligned. If you don’t, they’ll cost you more than you might have bargained for. Even if they mean well; if they are worried about themselves and not the goals of the organization, they’re poison. No matter how hard it is, know it’s business and move in the direction that serves the business the best.
Other than that, figure out how to work hard on a consistent basis and never stop learning. If you surround yourself with the right people, truly know what it means to work until you can’t anymore, and never stop learning and expanding, you’ll see yourself moving more and more toward the person you want to be every day.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Today, everyone seems to do multiple things, and people are following their passions more than ever! I love to see this, but now and then, we all bite off a little more than we can chew. Sometimes, for me anyway, it just seems like there’s not enough time in the day. However, I’ve learned that when that time comes when you’re completely overwhelmed, you have to raise your hand. Whether it’s for help from others or to let someone know you’re dealing with too much, communication is key. More often than not, people will understand and work with you if you communicate, but if you don’t, they probably won’t have any idea of what you’re dealing with. Yeah, it can be scary and humbling to ask for help or admit you’re overwhelmed, but it’s a superpower. I bet you’d be surprised by how many people run to your side if you raise your hand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/thegardenkcdiy?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=fb4b7f30-fd05-49e0-9e87-78f4eda0a1aa
- Instagram: @TheGarden_KC_DIY + TannerSutton_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-sutton-56a850b9/
Image Credits
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