Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kris Mathis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kris, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
I believe to be successful in business it’s important that one understands what success truly means. The word “successful” is subjective so it’ll look different for everyone.
After one understands what it means to be successful they now have to develop a laser focus vision and an unstoppable hunger to achieve it. A hunger that can only be fulfilled by achieving the goal. Nothing else will suffice.
You must feel that your life is incomplete without this goal being reached. You’re willing to pay whatever the price is to make success a real thing in your life.
I believe these are the beginning steps to achieving success.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The term most often used to describe me is, I’m a serial entrepreneur. Ha ha!
I have this crazy passion for business and helping others win! I’ve learned to use what I’ve learned to not only grow my own businesses, but to also help others grow their businesses as well.
I fell in love with business at a young age after taking a business class in high school when I was 16 years old. I didn’t really know what type of business I wanted to be in. I just thought that maybe if I did this it could become the thing that could change my life one day.
After years of studying of business, marketing, success, failure, etc. I finally found my lane and my happiness in this space. I began to build my career in marketing.
After that, I decided I wanted to share my story with others and tell them how I did it. So I began my career as a Motivational Speaker.
Fast forward 15 years later, I’m a speaker, author, business coach, and serial entrepreneur with business ranging from real estate to food and beverage.
Never in a million years would I have believed that one day this poor kid from the inner-city of Grand Rapids, MI. would one day be known around the world for the work that I do. I simply didn’t think it was possible and I definitely didn’t see a path as to how it would get done!
I would say one of my most popular and well known businesses is Raise A Glass Tours, the first city-style wine tour company in Michigan. We offer all-inclusive wine and beer tours around the city to celebrate wine, beer, food, and culture! Our guests come in from all around the world and visit our city. When they do some of them make our Raise A Glass Tours a part of their visiting experience. We’re always humbled by the support we receive and by those who love our passion for great wine and food pairings!
The one thing that all of my businesses have in common is that each is designed to serve our customers. If you’re looking for a peaceful weekend (or longer) retreat then our Blue Water Lake House vacation rental on Lake Michigan is perfect for you!
Or maybe you need help with starting and/or growing your business. Full-Circle Coaching is the place to call.
Everything that I’m involved in is all about help people. This is what drives me everyday to do the work that I do.
When it comes to my journey, I would say my most proud accomplishment is beating the odds that were against me.
Society has told us as black men for decades that based on studies, I should be selling drugs, in prison, or dead. I thank God everyday for seeing fit for me to not fit any of these stereotypes. I’ve been fortunate enough to overcome the challenges of my past and go on to have a successful career, but also be a help to so many others all over the world. I’m just thankful that I get to do what I do.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I call this story, The Day My Fear Almost Won.
On February 10th, 2014, I was preparing for a meeting to discuss an upcoming speaking tour that I was working on at the time.
As I was getting ready I asked my wife Chawntrell if she could stay home with our then 4-month old daughter Laila until I came back from the meeting. That way I wouldn’t have to take her to our babysitter. She told me that she had to be at work and it would be best if I dropped her off. Less than five minutes later Chawntrell comes back and says she changed her mind. “I guess I can stay here with her and go into work a little late when you get back,” she said. I told her I would only be gone for an hour. I then left Laila at home with my wife and I headed out for my meeting.
As I drove down the street that morning, I was in my own little world. I reviewed my notes and details over and over again in my head while Jay Z play in the background. I then passed the street where I would’ve dropped Laila off.
I drove by and out of nowhere at the next street I saw a flash of burgundy on the passenger side of the car. I then felt the impact of something big hit me! Before I could even process what happened my car quickly shifted to the left and crossed over the lane next to me barely missing the car coming up in that lane! I cranked the steering wheel to the right attempting to get the car back on track, but it was too late.
In the median of the street was a mountain of snow sitting in between two trees. It was so big that I couldn’t see over the top of it. I knew that on the other side of the mountain was traffic flowing the opposite way. I also knew that if I drove through this snow I’d be crashing full speed through “death’s door” and possibly taking someone with me if I hit someone on the other side.
I hit the brakes over and over again and the car didn’t stop! I then hit the curb and the front-end of the car became airborne. Seconds later the airbag exploded without warning hitting me in the center of my chest and the bottom half of my face knocking me back into my seat! My seatbelt forcefully locked me into into place after leaving its lacerations and bruising across my chest and shoulder! I then drove through the mountain of snow and came crashing down and to a stop on the other side of the street just missing two cars as they drove by. I opened my eyes and I quickly realized I was facing the wrong way with oncoming traffic coming straight at me.
As I sat there, I felt pain like I had never experienced in my life. I was dazed, in a ton of pain, and unable to move. My heart was racing and I felt life slowly draining from my body and my fears beginning to take over and fill me up. I was paralyzed by fear and the shock of what had just happened to me.
I remember sitting there and thinking to myself, “this is it. This is how it all ends.”
I thought maybe I would see a reel of memories from my childhood to being an adult, just like in the movies. Instead, I thought about my life and what was important to me. Within a few seconds, I saw my wife and I thought about how we were supposed to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary this year. I then saw my daughter Laila and remembered her 1st birthday was one week after our anniversary. Then the trailer ended and I came back to reality. Right after that, I realized that I may not be here to see either of these special occasions.
This was one time I needed God to know that I am not ready to go – not now – not like this!!
I then mumbled aloud through the pain and in a groggy tone as I looked on at the traffic coming directly for me, “God… Please… Don’t take me now… My family… Needs me.”
In that second, I heard God speak to me and He said, “I am with you.”
I then sat back in my seat and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath in and then struggled to exhale due to the pain in my chest.
When I opened my eyes again, the traffic coming for me began to slow down and come to a stop just feet away from my smoking car.
A guy pulls over and jumps out of his truck to help me get out of the smoking car. I attempted to stand up and when I took my first step I instantly went down to my knees in pain from the hit of the two cars colliding. I then dragged myself out of the street and I lay on the sidewalk until the ambulance showed up.
I lay in the ambulance and the EMT began to check my vitals.
I looked up at him and I mumbled, “please don’t let me die.”
“I think you’re going to be ok,” he said.
He then asked me, “do you have kids?”
After I heard him ask this question my emotions took over and I instantly broke down into tears (the good kind).
“Yes, I have a daughter,” I said. “She was supposed to be in the car with me, but my wife decided to stay home with her at the last minute,” I told him.
From there, I began a two-year journey toward a full recovery. Over the next two years my fear tested me in ways I didn’t know were possible. I felt defeated as I sat there everyday unable to pick my daughter up. I spent her first birthday on the couch watching as she blew the candles out on her cake with a little help from my wife. I was on pain meds daily and in therapy four days a week.
I had allowed my fear to back me down into a corner. I didn’t think I could go on. There were times when I thought about giving up. Then there were times when I did give up. Then I would be reminded that my challenges and setbacks were strategically placed in my life to later be used as inspiration for others and to set me up for greater successes when I could tell others what I had overcome. I knew I had to keep fighting everyday to defeat my fear.
I watched my fears pile up and they began to feel like failures. I was watching my career go down the drain due to my inactivity and inability to do what I loved.
Today, I’m thankful to say that I am alive and well and back to doing what I love!
Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?
The time that comes to mind is when I didn’t know if our Raise A Glass Tours would make it through the pandemic.
During the pandemic, Raise A Glass Tours was shut down for almost two years right along with the food and beverage industry. These were definitely challenging and stressful times to think through, but I also believe this is part of when entrepreneurs are made.
I once heard Chris Gardner (from the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness) say, “you don’t become an entrepreneur until you’ve had to make payroll out of your own pocket.”
This quote rung in my head over and over again during the pandemic as we though through how to take care of our team.
Then the day came when the money had run low. We were forced to cancel numerous tours due to the state shutdown. This is when I realized that I would have to step up and take care of our loyal team who have stuck this thing out with me. According to Chris Gardner, I became an entrepreneur the day I paid our team out of my own pocket.
I couldn’t imagine some of our staff not making it during this time. I also believe this comes with the responsibility of being an entrepreneur and leader. You don’t let your team go down if you can help it. So I had to step up and help make it happen during one of the darkest times in our business.
Today, we’ve bounced back and are doing well! Our team is in place and we’re having fun again now that the pandemic is mostly behind us.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.krismathis.com
- Instagram: @krismathis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kmathis1/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krismathis1
- Twitter: @krismathis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kmathis00
- Other: www.bluewaterlakehouse.com www.malamiahjuicebar.com www.raiseaglasstours.com