We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful William Scott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with William below.

Hi William, thanks for joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I’ve actually lived both realities at the same time. I launched my startup while working full-time as an engineer during the day. So I know firsthand the trade-offs and benefits of each path.

A stable 9-to-5, especially one with a good salary, provides something that’s incredibly valuable: consistency. You know when the paycheck is coming. You know what’s expected of you. There’s a certain peace of mind in that predictability.

But when you’re building something of your own, especially in the early days, there’s none of that. No guaranteed check, no clear roadmap, and plenty of uncertainty. However, what you do have is hope. You have a deep sense of fulfillment and a vision that keeps you going. There’s nothing quite like waking up with the feeling that what you’re working on has the potential to grow into something big, something meaningful, and that the ceiling on what you can earn and accomplish is entirely up to you.

I remember one moment vividly. It was around 2 a.m. on a Tuesday night. I had just finished packing and labeling orders, updating my website, and replying to customer emails, and I knew I had to be up for work in just a few hours. I was tired, mentally and physically, and for a split second, I thought, Why am I doing this to myself? I could just clock out at 5 and be done for the day.

But then I looked around at the products I created, the brand I was building, the reviews from customers who felt inspired by what I was doing, and I remembered this is bigger than a paycheck. This is purpose.

So to me, both paths have value. It just depends on what season of life you’re in and what you’re optimizing for. One isn’t better than the other. They’re just different routes to fulfillment. I just happened to choose the one with more risk, more late nights, and a whole lot more reward.

William, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Will Scott, and I’m the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Elite Level Status, a luxury lifestyle brand rooted in wellness, balance, and elevated living. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a positive, aspirational environment that shaped many of the values I carry into this brand today: ambition, intentionality, and a love for excellence.

After graduating from Cimarron High School in 2008, I received an academic scholarship to Arizona State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2012 with a degree in Construction Management. For the next 10 years, I worked as a Project Engineer and Estimator at The PENTA Building Group, where I had the opportunity to contribute to the design, pricing, and construction of some of the most luxurious properties on the Las Vegas Strip. Places like Wynn, Aria, Caesars Palace, and more.

That experience gave me a front-row seat to what successful business culture looks like, and I was fortunate to learn from some of the most influential entrepreneurs and executives in the city. I saw firsthand how high-level deals were planned, negotiated, and executed. I also developed a deep appreciation for luxury, hospitality, and the kind of attention to detail that sets elite experiences apart from everything else.

All of that helped shape the vision for Elite Level Status, a brand that offers luxury wines, wellness-focused home goods, activewear, and accessories, all designed to help people feel balanced, confident, and elevated in every area of their life. Whether it’s our Napa-produced Rosé and Cabernet, our ultra-soft activewear, or our stress-relieving scented candles, every product we create is thoughtfully designed to embody the luxury and attention to detail I’ve been exposed to in my career.

What sets us apart is the intention behind everything we do. We believe in creating experiences, not just selling products. Our brand blends style, luxury, and wellness into one, reminding people that success isn’t just about hustle, it’s also about peace, clarity, and presence.

What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built a brand that resonates deeply with professionals who want more out of life. People who work hard, dream big, and are looking for products that reflect their lifestyle and mindset. I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that Elite Level Status isn’t just a brand: it’s a movement. A reminder that you don’t have to sacrifice your wellness to chase success, and that living well is the standard.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When it came to funding my business, I did something a lot of people might advise against: I used my own money.

To most people, the concept behind Elite Level Status doesn’t make immediate sense. Wine and activewear? Those two industries don’t traditionally go together. But that’s exactly why I believed in it. No one else is doing it, and to me, that meant no competition and a clear lane to create something original.

I didn’t wait for investors or outside validation because I didn’t need it. I had 100% belief in the vision, and I proved that by putting my own capital behind it. I knew this brand was bigger than just products: it’s a lifestyle rooted in balance, wellness, and elevated living. I believed in that message enough to fund it myself, even when it raised eyebrows.

To this day, I take pride in the fact that Elite Level Status was built with personal conviction, not just financial backing. When you’re willing to bet on yourself first, it changes how you approach everything else.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn early on was the idea that I needed to launch with everything at once.

When I first started Elite Level Status, I had 20 to 30 different products I wanted to sell under the brand. I was excited, passionate, and full of ideas. But once I actually launched, I realized how unrealistic that approach was, especially for a startup. The amount of effort, focus, and attention to detail it takes to successfully sell one product is intense. Trying to do that with dozens of products at the same time? It spreads you too thin and dilutes your impact.

I now think of it like climbing a ladder. If you focus on one ladder, you can climb step by step until you reach the top. But if you’re trying to climb 20 ladders at once, going up a few rungs, then coming back down and switching to the next, you never make meaningful progress on any of them.

That was a humbling but necessary mindset shift for me. I had to learn that less is more, especially in the beginning. Focus builds momentum, and momentum is what allows you to scale. Once I started narrowing in on a few core products that truly aligned with the brand’s message, everything became more clear and more effective.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elitelevelstatus.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elitelevelstatusofficial?igsh=YTY4bDhqNmI3cHU2
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZZJGrMVrz/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-level-status/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@elitelevelstatus?si=a8aDDclo-PGWPrup