My path is a road less travelled, but my background and experiences in Professional Baseball made me the person I am today. One of the pivotal moments in my life was in my early 20s when I came to the realisation that I trapped myself by defining who I was as just a baseball player – coming out of that realisation I began to dig deeper. It was more than baseball. It was problem-solving, team building, losing, winning, relationship building, planning, executing and being a part of something bigger.

There’s always a lightbulb moment before the beginning of a new venture. What was that moment for you?

I met someone from FedEx in 2019, they sent me spiralling down the rabbit hole. At the beginning of my embarkment, I began spending time at a local Kohl’s, intrigued by how Amazon was handling their returns, where I built our business thesis. Fun fact, I was actually politely asked to not come back to that Kohls after 4 months of “volunteering” my time!

How do you prepare for all the unknown obstacles when running your business?

It’s about applying learning from the past to the present to shape the future, listening to what others have to say but making it your own.  

Tell us about your experience prior to launching your business?

Before Pollen Returns, I pursued a professional career in the MLB where I found success, but due to unforeseen circumstances, my career was cut short. Always in love with the process, I implement the same mindset and learnings to Pollen. 

What inspired you to launch your business and what is the end goal?

I feel like I fell into launching Pollen because I love this and it felt right. My vision is to impact the world, analysing problems differently as new ways to capitalise on impactful solutions, and as long as our team can continue to push Pollen forward – it’s a success.  

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far as an entrepreneur?

Listen, take advice, and try new things, but ALWAYS do it your way. I can live with failure, just take one look at my batting average back in the day, but failing by doing it someone else’s way… that’s a hard pill to swallow. 

Do you have a morning routine or ritual to get your day started on the right foot?

My constant is Wim Hof breathing. The Wim Hof method creates a present state of mind and I believe we need to be more present to truly appreciate and execute what is happening in our day-to-day lives. 

How did you conquer those moments of doubt that so often affect entrepreneurs or stop many with great ideas – what pushes you through?

I diagnose what has been thrown at me, formulate a plan of action, and implement it. Having a reason for what or why I go about something allows me to be confidently proactive and if I feel like I am being reactive I chew on it for a little before diving back in. 

What are your responsibilities as a business owner?

Showing up as my best self every day and providing my team with opportunities for them to perform as their best self. 

If you could be in a room with 4 entrepreneurs, who would they be and why?

1. Coco Chanel – A rebel of her time period, she built an iconic timeless brand that had all the odds stacked against her. Much to say, her cultural endowment lives very much on today, with her legacy stacked on resilience and grit expanding beyond all four corners of a room. She succinctly coalesced the arts with innovation and entrepreneurship, and it is through this multi-pronged approach, that I aim to also be steadfast in all my business decisions. 

2. Joe Rogan – What a unique path, and coupled with his rise to podcast stardom, I would like to learn what he holds close from everything he has seen and heard. Transcending all thoughts and to prowess, such a breakthrough from a small-margin industry is just one of the many desirable qualities any entrepreneur can take heed from. Success is only a half-seeded goal when done without spirit. 

3. Steve Jobs – I love watching videos of him, he had special energy where people wanted to hear what he had to say. I find comfort in his entrepreneurial work ethic, starting an organisation from the grass-roots level, thinking big into achieving big. His profound thoughts procured profound achievements, and his articulate words of wisdom are one’s I always sought to live by. You should be in to win it, and my drive is always doing so that I can be achieving greater than my own personal expectations - “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” 

4. Sam Walton – The first to turn retail logistics into strategy, adding meaning to what it means to be a true visionary. His vast expertise and innovations within the retail sector demonstrated how limitless true drive and change can be. Groundwork can start from somewhere small but can climb to extraordinary feats if you’re willing to keep climbing. That same rigour that Walton was able to profess into what would change the face of retailing forever, is the same mindset I hold close to my chest in all my endeavours.