From Do-Rags to Riches with Ross Simmonds

From Do-Rags to Riches…

How do you go from selling do-rags (a.k.a. durags and doo rags) in high school to launching and managing not one but FOUR successful companies? With dedication, daily habits, and consistent growth mindset, that leap is not as insane as it may sound.

Ross Simmonds shares his inspiring story and advice on how he started his entrepreneurial journey. Ross is a wealth of information, resources, story, and motivation.

Inspiring Quotes from this Episode:

“I truly believe in this idea of experimentation in life and through out everything.”

~Ross Simmons

“I have a four word model that I’ve ingrained in everything I do:

Build. Ship. Learn. Decide.

Build something.

Ship it out to the world.

Learn how they respond.

Decide if it’s something you are going to continue with.”

~Ross Simmons

“It is in the journey that the way becomes clear.”

~LeAura Alderson

“Content can shape culture.”

~Ross Simmonds 

“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”

~Malcolm X

“The community we serve can only be better if we’re willing to serve as well.”

~Ross Simmonds 

“The internet is my mentor.”

~Ross Simmonds 

Topics Covered:

• Ross’s origin story
• The 4-word formula Ross uses for decisions
• Hustle & Grind startup story
• His partnership that led to coffee selling
• Nuts ‘n’ Bolts on the apparel platforms and selling
• Global shipping costs & procedure
• The currency issues they face in global shipping
• Ross’s role in all four of his companies
• The one thing that gets Ross excited every single day
• How Ross empowers disadvantaged youth and minorities in his community through volunteering his time speaking
• His paid speaking at companies and events for marketing and content creating
• How Ross manages his employees remotely
• How Ross empowers his team through “volunteer” time in their communities
• Navigating the remote work culture for successful businesses
• Ross’s daily creative habits and structure
• The one foundational aspect that ties all Ross’s businesses together
• People that have inspired Ross on his journey
• His current biggest struggle

We learned so many actionable tips and advice from this episode and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Listen on iTunes – Listen on Stitcher

Resources: 

• RossSimmonds.com
• HustleAndGrind.com 
• GetCrate.co
• FoundationMarketing
• Printful.com – what Ross uses for apparel
• Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?: How Reginald Lewis Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire Quotes – by Reginald Lewis
• Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
• Rework by 37 Signals 
• The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen
• The Tanning of America by Steve Stoute and Mim Eichler Rivas
• Remote by 37 Signals
• The One Thing by Gary Keller &‎ Jay Papasan 
• Geoff Woods on Narrowing Your Focus
• Jeff Hoffman on Team Management 

LeAura Alderson

Hello! I’m LeAura, owner and co-creator of iCreateDaily.com®.  As an autodidactic philosopher, generalist, personal development advocate, entrepreneur, writer, editor, author, ideator, media publisher, and podcaster, I’m passionate about helping others achieve their best possible life! Our small family of entrepreneurs, writers, investors, educators and creators own and run websites around topics we enjoy, such as gardening, health and fitness, creativity and pets, with more to come.

While my greatest teacher is Life… my formal training includes certifications in mediation, fitness, and strategic intervention coaching, including marriage and family. Today, the synergy of creating websites, articles and podcasts, brings together all my favorite things: family, learning, growth, creating, connecting and contributing. To share these with you is a privilege, that serves my lifelong aspiration to help others.

My personal areas of creativity are in writing, masterminding, ideation, synthesis and bringing ideas to life through business and entrepreneurship, all with a pervasive spiritual foundation with a focus on elevating the lives of others.