We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan Cooper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan below.
Ryan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
My parents did alot of things right to help shape me on my journey! My Mom probably had the biggest impact in my life! No matter how bad life got arrests, getting the shit kicked out of me,broken ankle, the end of my rugby career, car crashes, the shooting that almost ended my life and took my finger…. No matter what ever the obstacles I’ve hit in my life she has always been there with a warm smile and kind words like “well honey it could always be worse, everything happens for a reason” and just endless positivity and optimism. Which is something I’ve adapted in Buisness and my everyday life shit happens but if you have a positive attitude it usally makes that shit a whole lot less shitty. She’s also had my back and encouraged every decision I’ve made in life bending over backwards and spending every last dollar she had to help me succeed. I could never thank her enough for this! My Dad has always tried to teach me how to be a Man & to do stuff the right way don’t lie don’t steal and don’t cheat. Hunting fishing or sports he taught me to do it with respect and not take short cuts. He would always say “Straighten up and Fly Straight” usally in a not so friendly tone when i strayed off course.He has also been a huge supporter of 9 1/2 Fingers Survival almost acting as a walking bill board he has helped me sell tons of cooler straps,gun slings & dog seat belts he also has been a Rockstar customer. And special shout out to my step mom and Step Dad who is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met and has always tried to instill hard work in me. With out these people in my life I wouldn’t be the man I am today!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Oh man where to start My Names Ryan Cooper! My Friends call me Coop or R.W. & I’m the founder of 9 1/2 Fingers Survival Gear. About 6 years ago after 14hr drinking bender on St Patty’s day I was involved in a shooting that almost ended my life and took my finger with it (hence the name). That was the day that changed my life forever I quit drinking that day & havent had a drop since! during my recovery I went to see my Goonies in Greentown the small town I grew up in and me and all my friends were sitting around the table feeling sorry for myself with my buddy Jt said well Coop you can either cry about it or do something about it….. That night I went home and thought up the idea of 9,5 Survival and the goal of the company is to help relieve some financial burden for the family members of our brave Men and Women in the US military. Because if I didn’t have a brother in the Navy like most Americans I would never have realized the financial burden it can take on someone when thier loved one is coming back or leaving for deployment and all you want to do is be there for them and not worry about if you will be able to cover rent this month or the plane ticket or hotel. So if we could relieve just a little bit of that burden by paying for a Soliders Brothers Electric bill so he can see his Brother off to war or Pay for a Grandmas plane ticket from Texas to Virgina to see her Sailor arrive home would be worth every last cents we have to make it possible!
Have you ever had to pivot?
I had to make a big pivot in my personal life I’ve played Rugby for over 11 years and Drank just about every day of those 11 years! That was unfortunately kinda who I was the Drunken Rugby player who always just had a little bit to much fun! So 6 years ago I snapped both bones in my ankle during the playoffs prematurely ending my rugby career then about 10 months later was the shooting incident and the end of my drinking career. So all the sudden I had this huge void in my life I spent 7 nights a week at the bar and 3 days a week at rugby. So it took a very long time to re find myself which is an everyday work in progress. Alot of my drinking and rugby friends I didn’t see anymore. It took a long time to mend relationships with friends and loved ones I’ve hurt and let down over the past decade of drinking and there were alot I fought and punched just about everyone I could during my drinking days including friends and family, but I am proud to say since I’ve put the bottle down I haven’t been in 1 fight other then throwing out the occasional Drunk at the Browns Games where I work security which is alot seeing how I got in my first fight in 2nd grade and then every year since. Just because your one way now doesn’t mean you can’t change yourself your mind set and your entire world around you and I’m living proof of that.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
My advice is just lead by example doing the small stuff and hard stuff Noone wants to do! If your teams standing out in the cold Rain and snow you better be right out there on the front lines with them! Treat everyone with respect and keep the negativity out of it everyone has problem so keep yours at home don’t gossip or talk bad about people it’s a terrible trait in my opinion and always share your gratitude and positivity
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