We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
In the beginning I took this business very seriously. It wasn’t until later on in life that I realized that this business is just business. But the business that we are in is making people happy, supporting those around us. Skateboarding itself has taught me to be kind to love all people. That’s the unique thing about this industry, we’re different, we’re built on a foundation of fun, a fundation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I came from a city that I coined the city of haters. It was a struggle the entire time. I was 16 years old when I started the brand with my friends. So people would look at me like I was some punk kid who didn’t know anything. And I didn’t I was learning that’s the best part about skateboarding. I saw about 20 plus brands come out of my hometown after me and they are all gone. I learned not to worry about the competition about others and just focus on having fun and what I’m doing. Not being afraid to ask not being afraid to push limits try something new that’s what kept us going. My love for skateboarding will never diminish and neither will the brand.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If it was a Sunday I would start by going to JKwon in Koreatown. Getting a skate session in grabbing some coffee at the Starbucks across the street. Then I’d swing over to Sung Nong Dan for some Korean BBQ for lunch. LA is so vast with so many rad spots, I’d probably just go explore.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I was young I was fortunate to have older kids looking out for me. They pushed me to progress. So I got to thank Abel and Lex Trevino first. Brent, Jojo, Lawrence, Rich, Charlie Bryan, MD surf and skate in Corpus Christi Texas. Those guys really made me believe in myself and without that I wouldn’t be here today.

Website: https://Makeshiftskateboards.com

Instagram: Makeshiftltd

Youtube: Makeshiftskateboards

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