We were lucky to catch up with David Slagle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, David thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

The best boss I ever had is my current business partner Elate “Danny” Mustafa. Danny found me at a time I was in a low place but still seen my value. Gave me a opportunity to run a brand new business. My first day was the first official opening day. Dan had a idea to open a vape / smoke / CBD shop. I reached out to him when I learned about the opportunity. Got a interview. During the process I didn’t think he liked me lol. He was real and straight to the point to what he wanted and expected for the position. Now at the tenth month mark, I’m proud to say I’ve become a co – owner with Danny on our Puff N Roll shop ! Located in Elyria, Ohio ! In the beginning Dan seen my potential, after working very hard to grow the business, showing how dedicated I was to it,I had mentioned to him I was interested in becoming a partner. I’m very grateful for him letting me become a business partner from a employee level. Most bosses I feel may not give such a chance or take a risk like Danny did. He’s been a great mentor to me and I love him like a big brother.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

What sets me apart is I’ve always had a entrepreneur mindset. Working for myself. My dad has owned his own business since around the time I was born. I really give thanks to his drive and mentality. That’s where I get it from. My dads more old school , “hammer & boots” type , real hard American working man. With my generation I’ve found I could work for myself in other ways and still add value to the world. My dad helped forum and finish structures of real estate to give people shelter. I make music as therapeutic expression,the people who listen to it relate to the substance and it helps them just as much if not more than it does me while I’m making the music. I also educated myself to the point I sell courses , I’m working on e books , I’ve spoke at schools in entrepreneurship classes. To help give knowledge to help inspire people. Me being me is the best service , product or creative thing I can provide to the world. I’m most proud of my drive and my will to not give up. To figuring it out no matter how difficult it may seem. Trying every solution until it works. From opening a smoke shop to doing music , I seem to take on the most difficult business ideas and concepts lol . What I’d like you to know most is I put my heart into anything I give my time to. If my hands touch it you know it’s gonna be quality and efficient every time.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A story I could share that illustrates my resilience is in 2016 I was living in a apartment with my girlfriend, we both worked at a domino’s pizza. I had gotten fired from the job due to a mishap, I was twenty two years old. I was helping pay for my mothers apartment. She was sick , dying of Ovarian cancer. A week after I got fired , my car was repossed, my best friend has taken his own life , and then my mother passed a week before thanksgiving. I was evicted from place. We were losing my mothers place and had to bury her. Going through all this I felt very manic , very lost, I wanted to die right beside them both. I come from a very poverty stricken place. I felt I was never gonna come back from this. As I was going through it all, I was applying for jobs. Any job I felt I could take on. I came across a job listing for a door to door sales men on a salary with potential to make a decent earning. By this time we were living with my girlfriends dad flat broke. I interviewed at this sales job in jeans,boots and a hoodie, long hair. I also had the flu. I didn’t even wanna go. Sounded to good to be true. I felt intimidated by the higher class environment it was in. In the interview I told my story , I explained how being a pizza driver I set certain goals to hit with getting tips and making a certain amount. They seen I was young and a little rough but they gave me a shot ! My first year there I learned what I would’ve learned in 2 years at a business college ! I made over fifty thousand after taxes my first year there. The opportunity felt like a reward for going through everything I had just gone through. So even now at twenty nine , when life gets hard I think about how beautiful it may be on the other side of the bad days. Keep going through it ! Never know how close you are to what you want !

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Having ADHD , I’m not the biggest reader lol . I know how to read and I’m efficient but it’s hard having to read the same page ten times over because I keep getting distracted lol. A few books I have read is The Art of War , Rich Dad, Poor dad and Everything you need to know about the music industry. These books gave me knowledge about business, discipline and self worth. All beneficial to my development into who I am now. I watch interviews often of business minded & introspective people. People that inspire me. Shaq, Nipsey Hussle , Jay Z . Warren Buffet , other creatives and entrepreneur minded individuals. People like Steve Jobs. Discovering how I can add more value to the world. I don’t look at the money or anything material. It all comes down to the Value. That’s what’s gonna get you where you wanna be.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.slagleswebsite.com/
• Instagram: @ayeSlagle
• Facebook: @ayeSlagle
• Twitter: @ayeSlagle
• Youtube: @Slagletv

Image Credits
Thank you Dan , Beba , Chase for helping with the photos ! Thank you Momma Cherie for the picture of Grandma and I , in my shop !