Hi everyone. How are you doing? My name is Dylan Nicholson. And I want to welcome you to the dill Journey podcast these podcast will share the stories of how entrepreneurs are living their best lives. Obviously, all of them have their trials tribulations and this podcast will delve all into them the key objective. I hope the listener can get from this podcast would be to ignite that dream of yours and take that leap of faith. Faith also give an insight into the importance of mental physical and spiritual well-being. Now. Let me introduce you to the first guest of this podcast Dan Jones director and co-founder of weapon where an aesthetically pleasing range of workout gear that you can wear to grab a coffee and still turn heads this brand aims to create a culture around bringing men together as a unit helping motivate each other to become stronger healthier. Happier while achieving success along the way this is something I strongly believe in and after speaking to him. He is aligned his company with his passions for sport and man becoming stronger. So enjoy awesome Abdel I'll delve into it. So thanks again for joining the podcast and green. Come on. I've never met you before so and I'm sure a lot of the audience don't know much about you. So you could tell us your 30 seconds story like yeah age what your brand is and what your role is in it and like how you got there. Just quick 30 second condensed angry, you know, I say, yes, my name is Daniel. 36 years old come from a background of graphic design. My father is actually tile about try. So I've always had that kind of fashion clothing background from there basically with the background of design and fitness boss control martial arts things like that. It's something kind of merged into what we have today. You know long story short down co-founder with us is the guy that I started a street wear clothing label with that went. Okay, but then we found there was a bit of a shift in what we were doing as far as lifestyle and fitness and also the industry growth in Fitness of how and Where as you call it? So basically yes, Aaron I co-founded what is weapon today? And we basically started it from the ground up focusing on stylish Athletic Apparel that had you know technical aspects but also aesthetic design that was you know, understated and could be worn in multiple environment. So yeah, that's kind of Of you know a quick run through of how it all started. Yeah quick 2 Min it once so it was young Danny Boy always so entrepreneurial like did you want to what did you want to become when you're in high school? Not so much entrepreneurial, but definitely driven. I've always been driven and probably competitive. So yeah early on it was sports for me. So basketball with my life. I wanted to do an MBA, you know, I want to see you know, the next Michael Jordan. I'm sorry. I was completely driven by that and succeeding in that that then went on to martial arts. So being in martial arts for over 20 years now, and so I quickly took that drive to martial arts and went pretty far in that as well. So the drive to succeed and challenge myself has always been there and I think just having Creative Flair as what really pushed me into wanting to do my own being and you know have control of the whole process. And of course we saw a gap in the market something that we were both passionate about kind of evolved the yeah, so That leads me to my next question you touched on a little bit about it. What led you to actually starting weapon and if you could tell us a bit more about the brand values and what it believes in because I know you talked a lot about the mental health for your men in all that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So essentially when we actually did a trip to the states, I was in America for about 6 or 7 months when I came back. Like we still had the street wear clothing label at that point and when I came back I got back into training because I wasn't trying too much over there. That's when I really saw the lack of aesthetically pleasing as I would call it apparel. That wasn't just, you know branded to the Max and wasn't one of the big Brands like Nike or Under Armour and although so I thought to myself is Gap here for you know, I'm more personal brand that career is really community-based and has a you know a community by behind it, you know so down and I had a quick chat looked into into the market and really found that there was a lack of specially for men about like women activewear. I mean, there's endless amounts of Brands but for men actually not so many other than the big brands that you see today. So yeah, that's basically basically where that came out of and originally we were mainly focused on bringing that technical sportswear into a lifestyle space, but it then evolved into something that we could find. I real, you know, why of giving back we've always wanted to give back and everything we've done even before with the previous brand and at the point of starting the company. We never really had the exact cause that we were passionate about our we knew we wanted to focus on and through some experiences of our own with Stress and Anxiety it really just Just evolved and it was almost like a lightbulb moment. When Dan came to me and said look my of been going through a few things and its really dawned on me. That meant mental health is such a big issue that really overlooked and not spoken about enough and that was it. I was alive all moment where we both thought this is this is the cause this is what we're giving back to this. This is what we're going to make our mission. And then we took it from there. So it's yeah, like I said of old to what it is today where we running weapons sessions and things like that donating 10% of the profit towards the awareness. Yeah hundred percent arguments. Awesome. Like what you guys are doing with the mental health because there's definitely a strong stigma around that needs to get rid of with young men and also any age men that you know, it's okay. Speak up. Yeah, but you had experience with mental health issues or you say co-founded did or what was the go there? Yeah for myself personally, probably more so Stress and Anxiety is is a big thing not so much depression or anything like that and I probably would put that down to a few factors one of those being Biologically, I feel like luckily from my parents. So I am quite a grounded and chilled kind of guy. So, you know, I don't intend to have those issues as much but more so Stress and Anxiety where you know, you're trying to balance business and lifestyle, you know, making money versus following your dream. All the stresses that come with being an entrepreneur and things like that. So I've definitely dealt with those and still do you just got to know the signs and work with the tools that you have to you know, avoid getting anxiety or being able to reduce it down also went through a very stressful period with with other job that he has And trying to balance the two and you know, that was extremely overwhelming for him at the time and I think he has his own story. But yeah, I think those two aspects that are very similar on both ends of myself and really were the reason to that sparked us to move forward with this with this Mission and you know even just looking into the statistics. It's overwhelming really really sad and alarming how about it is so and the funny thing was as soon as we started this mission to raise awareness for mental health. The amount of men that came out of the woodwork and just said look, I've gone through my own issues and and people just started opening up and we were like wow, this is This is is great. But also super allowing Jack almost, you know, every second guy would come to us and say I've gone through depression on I had severe anxiety. So it's great that we're able to help and there's a lot of guys that we can't help but it's also quite scary to know that so many men deal with this and don't really speak up about it. Yeah hundred percent like I think I was reading some statistic. The Institute was saying how like, it's more common to dive mental illness and it is skin cancer yet like skin cancers much more promoted and you hear nothing about mental health. So I just yeah something that definitely you're putting your voice to him needs to be more spoke about. Yes. Listen to me Greg. Yep, and now on to our next segment of the interview talks about all things personal growth. Because I believe it's such an important thing to have when being an entrepreneur like your desire what your why is because when it does get tough, you need to know that because not to give up I yes and so personally believe in always trying something new currently doing this right now with the podcast. So I throw the question to you. What is like a new skill that you're learning or one that you maybe want to try that. You haven't really yet delve into me skill. I've just gotten into bouldering. Well there ya go indoor rock climbing thing without ropes. I yeah just sort of watch the feed docos and thought to myself, you know, that looks like something that taped. Not only a lot of physical skill, but I think mental until skills as well. So I have been doing that quite a bit lately and it hasn't it's intense, you know hanging from the smallest little grip hold and it's really a mental thing. You got to sort of get over some mental hurdles with that in regards to other things. Don't really relate to Fitness. I guess I've I've been working on I mean I've been doing this for a while now, but making it more of a an everyday thing where that meditation is such a big part or my life and you know coming from the martial arts background. We waited Chinese martial art. So there's a lot of breathing aspects to it. She going and things like that where it's more about internal healing and internal breathing and stuff like that. So I kind of had that background and tried to shift that into my everyday life so that I can ya help with Stress and Anxiety of everything that comes with running your own business and it's helping a lot for me and you know just aim to do two sessions a day. So, you know do a bit of a meditation In the morning and just before I go to sleep, so a couple of newest things that I'm done trying out. Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah, I'm starting to get into the most a meditation realm as well. I I do the 10 minutes a day sort of thing on the on the app. So it's awesome. I've also got into a float therapy if you tried that. Nah, I haven't had it been you got to give it a go. You literally you go into another world in there. It's crazy. So the next question is do you seek discomfort? Like do you believe that through experiencing discomfort? There's opportunity to grow in like unfamiliar situations. Yes, definitely. I wouldn't call it personally. I wouldn't call it discount that I was getting out of your comfort zone. I guess which might be a little bit uncomfortable but I don't find it. Yeah, I wouldn't call it discomfort but definitely getting outside of your comfort zone and pushing yourself and believe me being a entrepreneur running your own company. You have plenty of opportunities to get out of your comfort zone. Yeah, you know cold calling to sell your product to doing events and you know getting in front getting up in front of crowds of guys to talk about the brand and who you are and and you can even down to doing podcasts like this like there's always something new and I'm definitely Italy for everything outside of your comfort zone because he's from things like this is how we really grow. I'm actually quite afraid of comfort zone because when you comfortable I feel like you're not progressing so, you know, if everything is super easy with with the company things applying. Well, that's all I know thinking. Okay. What can we do we need to be doing more or we do? Pushing all getting out of our comfort zone and try something new and yeah, I'm all for it. That's a good that's good. So another thing I believe in is making sacrifices. So could you tell us like some sacrifices you've made to start the business or if there has been I'm sure there's been a few here. Yeah, honestly, I don't need to yeah, you don't even need to try and make sacrifices. Has unfortunately, it just comes with the job. So you have to sacrifice time as probably the biggest thing time and and and financially, you know you sacrificing a lot for the future. Yeah, but you know when you look at it in a positive way. Like if you're looking at it in the light of you know, this is going to be successful. We will be success or is it something that you're willing to sacrifice because you believe in it, you know and you believe in the cause itself as well. So and when you can see that you're helping other people's lives not only through the clothing and the brand and everything it stands for but we've man's world and everything like that is It's worth the sacrifice, but you definitely sacrificed a lot time is a big thing, you know, trying to juggle, you know, your personal life trying to give my wife a last time in the back of my mind. I'm always working like and it's really hard to switch off be honest because the business and ever really stopped and like we have guys working for us that You know, we use slack through communication and it never turns open we constantly in discussion and I have to put things aside when it's time to have personal time. You just got to switch everything off. Otherwise, I can't go off, you know, if it's even when you even when you go on holidays if you want to lose it really takes a bit of time to disconnect from everything work. So yeah, I'd say time and answers. And to a certain extent Health not so much health, but you know extracurricular activities where you may have taken them for granted like, you know, I would working out in a five five six times a week, but sometimes you have to sacrifice a bit of that time because you know, you have deadlines or the new product really. That's something that I'm really trying to work on balancing because I feel that staying healthy and keeping up your business and health routine is crucial to not only being successful but you know having a clear head and being more productive with your work. Yeah. I'm so that's one thing is I find quite difficult to do at the moment because we're just so busy. It's something that I've wanted to grow important and I have to just have some pointers truck things and say no more. I'm going to the gym. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, awesome. So now on to the last segment I call it the five four five. So it's basically five quick questions and they yes or no answers. Yep. See ready mate. Yeah, it looks good cold showers. Yeah, yep. Join the club coffee. Yeah yoga. Yes early mornings. I don't like it. But yes, yes and optimistic definitely. Yeah, listen killed it. So the last question is for any aspiring entrepreneurs out there. What would be one piece of advice that you would give them? Just keep going. Yeah, you know you can give up. Yeah, don't give up. That's that's the one thing. I mean, I'm every day. You know, there's something that makes you feel like you want to give up and just go through it. This is never going to happen. But you just keep plugging along and then all of a sudden something does happen you like hang on a second. There's hope this can happen and I think the ones that really are successful the ones the night and never gave up, you know, yeah, so yeah, just keep going and don't give up. Yeah, awesome. And I think I think that's I think as you know, like that's an actions and also mentally, you know, don't give up what you do day to day but don't give up the hope, you know, and the belief that you will be successful, you know, yeah. How do you how do you do that? So do you have like a goal just have like a vision board and you constantly remind yourself or yeah bad system buds are different than vision boards definitely vision boards and more for like, you know, getting that instant spark of, you know, inspiration and motivation like this is where we'll be and you get that good feeling inside also do affirmations and meditation where I will be Visualizing the visualization I think is a big K. So when I meditate or visualize the the the goals we have in mind or the success or you know, whatever may be visualized it while I'm meditating and actually I am to get the feeling that it gives you with that success not just saying it in your head but actually feeling that goal being achieved. I think you have to be part as well. So yeah, yeah, obviously I'm a visual learner. So I visualize it happening. So anyone who's listening to a podcast and wants to connect or follow your journey. Where would they do that? Like through Instagram Facebook or I'd say yeah Instagrams probably where we most active. Yeah, so wpn. Where is Hand and yeah, just check us out there and you'll see all the updates you product releases or you know, what concessions events that were running in their cities. Yeah, that'll be the place to go. Awesome. Well, thanks for jumping on and doing the podcast. I really appreciate and I'm sure many people have got something out of it. Thanks. I appreciate it. Thanks again to Dan for jumping on and like he said if you want to see more of his brand and followed WP and we're on Instagram tune in next time as I interview Glenn Richards founder of Australia's largest pet care company and investor on Shark Tank. Thanks again for listening and I'll catch you soon.
Background to the PODCAST. I'm super excited to share with you guys the first episode of the "Dyl journey" podcast. The goal of this podcast is to inspire the youth, that there're endlessly possibilities and give you some motivation to take that leap of faith by interviewing a wise range of entrepreneurs . When 18, 22, 30  you are expected to have your life sorted like what degree you want to study or trade. No questions asked, but i encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself is this really what lights me up on the inside because if its not then run. Try new things until you find out what will get you up early and keep you up late at night. As corny as it sounds you do only have one life, so go out there and try new things everyday! fail, learn from it and then repeat the process and you will find something that will light you up. 1st EPISODE W/ Dan Jones' Dan has always been a sporty person having aspirations to go big with basketball at a young age and that desire to always be the best in what ever he does. This led him to starting as he calls it an ascetically pleasing sports apparel brand, that brings style to the workout industry that is struggling with a sense of style. He has got his creative flares from his father and Dan loved graphic design. Also the company has a strong message around mental health and one that he is very passionate about and myself included rasing  much need awareness. So enjoy! listen in the car, walk, gym, during a lecture at university or on smoko. 