Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Randy Myers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Randy, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on would be a project I created about ten years ago called “One Hat at a Time”. For every hat I sold, I would donate a hat to children in need throughout Michigan. Each month, I would do hat drops by meeting with non-profits, youth centers, and area homeless shelters where I would donate and personally hand out winter beanies and baseball hats to children, teens and young adults in need.

The project was so meaningful to me because growing up, I loved baseball hats. I loved to collect them and wear them. Beyond that though, my hat made me feel better about myself. It was comforting to me in a world that didn’t feel comfortable. As a late diagnosed autistic, I realize now why my hat meant so much to me as a child. I wanted to create the same feeling for children within Michigan. My small hat project came full circle when it ended up on the head of one of my favorite music artists, Mike Posner.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Soaring Coastal is a culmination of many years of my efforts to create and build a brand centralized around my love for water, woods, and wildlife within my home state of Michigan. I designed a logo 13+ years ago to represent me and others like me. I called the design MIFLAG (My-Flag). At the time, I didn’t know I was autistic. However, I couldn’t envision my black and white logo with vertical Stars and Stripes within the lower peninsula of Michigan, to be any other way. One challenge of Autism is black and white thinking. I connected the dots recently when I was clinically diagnosed and my vision from years ago brought even more depth and meaning toward my mission.

Within the realm of photography, I am presenting my brand by drone. I like to find cool, unique spots to launch and explore from the sky, soaring over the trees. As through the eye of an eagle, a drone offers the ultra unique vantage point of landscapes in which we rarely witness. Locations that may be frequently visited take on a new perspective from the sky.

Through Soaring Coastal, I will have branded items focused mainly on canvas prints, hats, and accessories, embodying the beach and outdoor lifestyle. “A Gift from Randy” is the slogan for all products leaving my hands.

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

I like to consider myself inspired by a mix of Rick Rubin, Mike Posner, and Mr. Rogers. An odd mix to many but, to me, Rick and Mike help promote inner love, happiness and confidence for those pursuing creative aspirations. Rick’s book “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” is probably the single best on the go reference manual for easy to understand inspiration. There’s significant value in every page. Mr. Rogers inspires me through kindness, openness, and vulnerability. My near future goal is to write a children’s story based around my childhood, my love for my baseball hat, while also connecting my journey with autism. The wisdom of all three of these individuals aide in helping me feel I can accomplish this goal.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The ongoing goal for me is to Keep Going. The ongoing mission for me is to be a light for others on the verge of pursuing their passion. Creatives need as much light as possible throughout the waves of roadblocks and bursts of positive energy flow. Inspiring the next generation to utilize their interests to positively effect society well beyond simply a drive for money is something I learned reading “Start Something That Matters” years ago by Blake Mycoskie. Blake showed the world that purpose can walk side by side with profit via his Toms shoe line, selling yet donating millions for those in need.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.soaringcoastal.com
• Instagram: @soaringcoastal

Image Credits
Randy Myers, Soaring Coastal.