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

Hi William, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my career in the cubicles of Wall Street doing investment banking. It was the best job I could hope for out of college, but I continually felt unfulfilled. It felt soulless. What was I working so many hours for? There was no mission I could get behind and no tangible output from my efforts. I decided to take the leap from stability to purpose and work in early stage companies where my successes and failures would translate directly into black and red ink on a P&L. It was a leap of faith, but one that I’m very grateful I had the courage to make.

So, in short, I started my own businesses to have the results of my daily work show up in a tangible way in the world.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are redefining the meaning of energy at Magic Mind. Jittery, unrestrained “energy” is out; present, sustainable alertness is in. We developed a mental performance shot that gives your brain and body everything it needs to function at its best. You take one Magic Mind as part of your morning routine (after or in place of coffee…up to you!), and it will dial in your day.

We’ve been at it almost four years, and there have been countless challenges and exciting moments along the way. I always tell young founders to try to have “90 day trailing average emotions” because the ups and downs of entrepreneurship are so frequent and violent, that they can crush you if you ride every hump in that roller coaster.

Some humps in either direction that come to mind: Having to fire good friends; spending weeks traveling alone to factories, warehouses, and sales calls and missing the company of my wife and our friends; being mentioned on the Joe Rogan podcast; seeing sales come in massive waves and then seeing things dry up unexpectedly.

There is no dull moment in this business, but the sum total makes it all worth it because, at the end of the day, I go to sleep proud of slogging through the mud knowing that there are tens of thousands of people taking Magic Mind every day to have a positive impact on their lives and community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Activities: Live Music at Penmar Golf Course on Fridays, breakfast burritos at Bluey’s Cafe, paddle tennis on the Venice Boardwalk, biking down the entire beach boardwalk, hiking Sandstone Peak or Los Leones, drinks at Calabra, dinner with fresh tortillas at Casa Blanca, tacos and beers on the beach for a sunset picnic, concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

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?
I am very grateful to the broader founder community in LA and across the country. People who start businesses in the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry are always interesting people, and I’ve found this industry to be full of very helpful advice-givers. Friends at Dr. Squatch, Javy Coffee, Kettle & Fire, and BRAMi have been particularly helpful.

Website: https://magicmind.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicmind/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-cree-hicks

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