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I receive emails, instant messages and interview requests from all over the world. The top three questions people ask me: how did I get on Shark Tank, land Sir Richard Branson as a business partner and get a licensing deal with major toy company, Wham-O It was hard work and my parents helped me figure things out. However, the fact of the matter is, God put the right people in my life at the right time. This is a 6 part holiday series telling my story.
Everything that has happened to me has been a total blessing. God has put specific people in my life to help me. When I was 7 years old, my parents helped me create my first product, Streetubez (a kid friendly version of tarp surfing where riders get to experience surfing and getting tubed right in their own front yards, so kids can surf anywhere...anytime!).
One day, while we were in the elevator of a hotel during a family vacation in Mammoth, this man walks in wearing a sweatshirt with a Shark Tank logo on it. My Dad asked if he had been on the show. He said his name was Max and he was one of the producers of the show.
I loved Shark Tank, so I jumped into action and told him about Streetubez. I grabbed my Mom’s phone and showed him pictures we had just taken at a lake with me and my friend Sierra playing with it. I literally gave him an elevator pitch. At the time, we only had one prototype and hadn't sold anything. Max loved the idea, but he said I wasn't ready for Shark Tank. He gave me his business card and said to keep in touch. It turns out his name was Max Swedlow and he was one of the Executive Producers of Shark Tank!
For four years, every six months we would give him updates. When Max heard about what I had done with Locker Board, he told me I was ready for Shark Tank.
Max walked into that elevator at EXACTLY the right time. A lot of things like this have happened to me on this journey that I will be sharing over the next 6 weeks. My parents have taught me that when God gives you opportunities, you have to be willing to put yourself out there and take a chance. God can open the door, but you have to be willing to walk through it. If I hadn't had worked up the nerve to talk to Max, none of what followed would have happened.
Here's the picture I showed Max in the elevator:
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