Jared Brick - Zen Hustler Profile

Profile: Jared Brick
Age: 42
Work: Brick House Media Co
Role: Founding Media Director
Santa Cruz, CA
bhmedia.co
@bhmediaco   #bhmediaco

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Favorite place to visit in the world and why?
I have been fascinated to visit Japan for many years now. The impressive beautiful culture, the mountains, the temples, the food and to experience it all first hand… awesome!
 

One person you want to meet alive?
Richard Branson, as I am constantly inspired by him as a role model, entrepreneur and visit him on his private Necker Island, and want to learn how to kitesurf there with him!
 

One person you wanted to meet?
Robin Williams, he lived near me in San Francisco and I had hoped to meet him one day, to thank him for all the laughter and joy he brought to my life and the world. Have a great laugh with the comic genius.
 

How does your work fulfill you, your purpose in life?
The reason I started a multimedia company was to be able to indulge in my many creative passions and outlets I possess. My work allows me to support bold entrepreneurs and thought leaders so they may be able to have a bigger positive impact in the world.
 

What are you reading now?
Currently reading Flow, Planet on Purpose and Zentrepreneur, all listed on our reading list here. Just finished Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, about how to excel and leverage flow states for increased productivity and essentially hacking our own human evolution!

What are you watching?
As a media guy, it is my duty to watch and absorb content… plus I love it! As humans we have been watching people since the dawn of time and now that video is everywhere, hard not to be into it. Currently, I have been watching Philip K. Dick series on Amazon, Electric Dreams. They are short science fiction based shows and quite intriguing about directions we could go in the near future.
 

What do you do to really relax?
I play with my kids, two wild boys ages 4 and 7, I read often, watch streaming shows, practice some yoga, listen to music, ride my mountain bike and go to the beaches here in amazing Santa Cruz.
 

When are you most in flow?
When I am shooting a video behind the camera, working with people, I am lost in it. Sometimes also in the editing phase of a project I am so focused an tuned to my work. When I get a chance to speak to people, I am present and time slows for me to be with people deeply.

 

Do you meditate or practice mindfulness? 
I do and I used to do more yoga and that was my home practice… I am using breath, the 5-4-3-2-1 countdown method from Mel Robbins and also learning body tapping from Nick Ortner’s work.
 

Who taught you how to hustle?
I grew up in NJ, so enough said! No really, I think seeing firsthand my family running their own small businesses, mom and dad, working with my grandparents who ran a commercial packaging business and factory in the 80s, plus working on the factory line as kids, earning a bit of money. Hustle is a part of you, you can learn it but it comes from deep within, a need to get shit done!

What keeps you up at night?
Work, mainly working on passion projects, like this one. To be able to do all the things in life I want to, it takes hours of my time. I sacrifice sleep, rest, relaxation time to get all this stuff done, stuff I want to be proud of and there is simply not enough hours or support in the day.
 

Do you exercise? If so how?
I bike, using a rowing machine at home, surf occasionally, do yoga and have just started to workout at my client's gym and a trainer in Santa Cruz… always finding new ways to move better!

 

What community’s inspire you? 
I started a Meetup to support and collaborate with the creators in a community, called Gryp Media Creators. It is an inspiring group and we meet monthly. Soon enough Zen Hustlers will have events and then I can support and inspire this new community too!
 

Are you more Hustle or more Zen?
The reason I started Zen Hustlers, was once we moved away from the dense and busy San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Cruz, I realized I needed more balance in my life. The move was a tangible external trigger to make changes in the balance I was seeking, plus we moved to a house on 5 acres of redwoods, so it felt right. I am now working on my Zen side more so, being much more mindful, present and attuned to life around me. It is all a constant journey, moving through the river of life.
 

What would you do if you did not do this business?
I would work in film. I have also always wanted to work with comedians and on feature films. I experienced a bit of it in NYC circa 2004 and also on Maui crewing on a small indie feature film, 2009. Working with comedians, seems like a gift to be around them, when their laughing. I routinely watch the outtakes of funny films and think it looks incredible to be on set.
 

How do you define work/life balance, and how important do you think it is?
It is a constant dynamic flow, and it lives in the moment. I have to be present and focused to acknowledge how I can be here and now, and not get too wrapped up in the hustle only. It is easy for me to be in hustle mode, so the zen work-life balance is critical. I turn off my phone, I play with my kids, I walk/bike/skate around and take time in the mornings and nights for myself.

 

Are you married? With kids? How has this affected your balance?
As the father of two small boys (almost 5 and 8) plus being married since 2006, I will admit it is not easy, but certainly rewarding. When I think about what I am most proud of it is my family and how we strive to be great at it. Admittedly I could focus on work more and be more targeted in my life, but honestly, I am not sure what else it would be for, they are my reason, inspiration, and motivation to do better in this life now.
 

What is some advice you would give to new or struggling entrepreneurs/hustlers that seem out of balance?
Take small steps, look at what is not working in your life and start to gain some perspective. Travel outside your home area, state or country to see how the rest of the world lives. Realize that you have this one precious life and don’t waste it. Always be learning and sharing yourself, your work and your desires. Allow yourself to celebrate the journey not just some end goal.

What advice would you tell your younger overworked self?
I always say I did my life in reverse… ages 18-30 was spent traveling, playing and having a blast. Then 30 to now, has been much harder at work and digging in more to my career. Appreciate when you are not married yet or have no kids as you can certainly dive in deeper, take different risks and hustle harder, but it is all relative in life.
 

What's one issue you are out to change in the world?
I want to support the founders, entrepreneurs and professionals to live with balance on the edge, so they may be able to have a massive positive impact in the world.
 

Your last 2¢?
Realize everyone is always evolving… even the experts and masters we tend to put on the pedestal. None of us are ever done learning and it is a lifelong pursuit!

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Jumping for joy at TEDxOakland, I was a media partner and hope to speak on-stage soon!

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Jared Brick holds an MBA in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School, and a Studio Arts photography degree from University of Colorado. He loves to learn, thus education continues to be a core component of his work. Jared developed Brick House Media with custom services after completing this MBA program; to better the world through business, as a medium.

Connect with Jared on...

bhmedia.co
instagram.com/bhmediaco
Break On Through - Thought Leadership Development course
Block Chain Media
Gryp Media Creators
MOV- Motivational Outdoor Videos

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