We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Fresco a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Fresco, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

You can ask a million people this question & you will get a million answers, which are not wrong or right. But in my opinion it’s different levels to success, & it’s based on the individual. Success to me may not be the success you seek or made. For example, some feel like success is reaching a point where your management on the job, renting a nice 4 bedroom house, a nice car, small family that’s success to them. Nothing is wrong with that at all but it’s success for that person. Me on the other hand success is completely working for myself, my business I currently own grows to my ultimate end goal, owning a couple properties, several vehicles, have generational wealth lined up for my kids.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

Well my name is Pierre Hamilton aka Fresco. I have a few business ventures but the one people mainly know me from is Up In Smoke promo. For those that don’t know Up In Smoke is my promo/marketing group. We create/host events throughout the DFW area & recently obtained a spot in Cali, the Bay area. S/O Dezzo & Voodoo Hookah Lounge. I’m originally from Milwaukee, WI born & raised. To be exact 40th “Burleigh zoo” gotta give love to my uptown center street family as well. The main thing I want others to know is when it comes to Up In Smoke “WE WORK HARD n PLAY HARDER” I rarely speak on myself because it’s not just about me it’s about my entire team. If one eat we all eat. Sure I could be greedy & do it all by myself, have the bragging rights to say it did all by myself. Or I can be smart create a team of like minded individuals that each have their own creativity, motivation, drive & have a wider but stronger foundation. On a business level I’m proud of the fact I was referred to do this interview. I have always said the way people rock with you in public is different then privately. I love gettin text or phone calls based off referrals that goes to show it’s more then partying, we handle business the right way.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I really dislike speaking on it so much because then it’s looks like I’m dwelling on it or I’m hurt by it but I’m always asked about SUPPORT. One of the biggest lessons I have learned while in this business is that “It’s all good until you do it” Before promoting people would hit me up like where we at today? What’s the play? We make a decision go & pay whatever the charges was no questions asked. But now things are different. Now it’s still people hitting me up but the conversation is different it’s more can I get in yo spot free, can I get a discount on this or that.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

Maybe a lil off topic but it’s relevant in a way. So I never bought a business but I was offered to be an investor in a dispensary back while I was in college. I real good patna of mines hit me yo bro I met this guy blah blah blah & he looking for investors. At the time I was prolly about 24 or 25, I was a sales manager at sprint also had made my street money I was eating. My patna said the guy needed $50k, so we would split $25k a piece. Again me being young I’m like well how soon ima get my bread back 2 months 6 months or what? Like not thinking about the long run. So I ended up not doing it, long story short my patna put up the $50k by himself now he owns 7 or 8 dispensaries now. After that I learned first had you really miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Officially_fresco2x
• Facebook: Fresco Hamilton
• Other: Promo team IG is @upinsmokepromo

Image Credits
Stephtheshooter_ DjDoesItAll amirmogulcurry