Just Swayy'n

Can changing your mind be a strength? What's the difference between that and flexibility? While Megan is still on the fence about the difference, Sth touts the importance of being able to change directions on a dime. Contact UsOur Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This EpisodeSwayy UpdateWe skipped an update episode =[] Most business concepts apply to life Seth has been training for a triathlon70-mile bike ride Early morning, minimal sleep By mile 20 he was struggling The discipline required to train has applied to life and business Going to sell out of inventory imminentlyAll marketing is on hold Trying to figure out how to pay off debt Working on a counter sample with the new company May be sharing a booth at a trade show with Premus manufacturer Can trigger Premus production at any time, but currently not for 2 reasons:Don't want to take the risk Was working on a licensing deal with Legit Camping, but they've gone darkSeth spent a lot of time working on the licensing terms Frustrated by the silence "The testing of your faith produces patience" Seth recognizes the need to practice patience but doesn't want to do it this way If you get to choose how you practice patience, are you really practicing it? Specialty contractor from US Government who supplies Seal teams with outdoor gear contacted Seth about offering Swayy hammocks in their new catalogWant to do a preorder Instant cash if they order Would also spread the name Because it would be batch, they could do custom stuff Lots of little opportunities like this seem to pop up as a glimmer of hope, then fall and don't work outThis may be another one that falls through, but sometimes you need something to keep going Decided to hire someone to prepare taxes this year since things are more complicated Seth wants to do some consultingSpecifically wants to work with and on teams He's gained a lot of varied experience, but not on teams In a personal setting, Seth is a very social person, but when it comes to business he tends to like to do things on his own terms Feels he lacks tact Wants to work on flexing that muscle Self-awareness is the first step, but after that, you have to seek out opportunities to improve Would also help with interpersonal relationships Changing Your Mind Can be a StrengthBlitz scaling - if you have an idea that has potential, jump off a cliff and build as you fall When you move quickly, being able to change your mind is a strength When a company starts out, they usually have a small, innovative team who is searching for something that worksOnce they find that thing, they often stick with it until it becomes tradition The world continues to change, and they risk getting stuck in the past The established process becomes less applicable Being able to change your mind is a strength because if you get stuck with something that doesn't work, it can cause analysis paralysis When doing different things, it's a strength to try it, see if it does what it was intended, and let it go if it isn't Is changing your mind different from being flexible?If you have a goal in mind, you have to be flexible and try different things to achieve that goal If you change your mind, the goal itself changes The ability to have the leader of an organization change its mind frequently and the organization have enough flexibility to be on board and make it happen is important Enables quicker progress What point are you moving towards if things are always changing? Success and efficiencyUsually, you change your mind because something isn't working Bring in things, mindsets, projects, or processes that push you to the next level The goal is growth SuccessPersonal = happiness Business = monetarily tied, create value Changing your mind is a strength if it leads you towards success Swayy is pivoting from manufacturing potentially towards licensing Seth would like to do Research and Development for other brands An idea is good, being able to bring that idea to fruition is good, but interpersonal relationships are what allows things to move quickly and be accomplished It would be awesome to use Seth's network to do R&D for others, but Swayy has to make a name for itself first Waiting on the breakthrough momentYou have to have some recognition before people take you seriously You have to prove to people you're worth it

Contact UsOur Website  Instagram  Facebook  Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com  Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast!  Find us on Amazon On This EpisodeSummer after Freshman Year Snowing and cold Summer break, Wyoming still cold 3 main goals: Let's have a lot of fun Do it cheap Cold with not good equipment Accomplished all three goals Justin had “vehicle”, run off diesel and natural gas 2 most abundant fuels in the west We’re not rednecks . . . White 1990 Suburban Couldn’t fit all gear, had to have a big rack Hitch is not stable, always slightly tilted Left on a Monday, early in the morning, drove up through Ohio to outside Chicago Why was it so cold? That year was record breaking snowfall and cold for that part of the year mid-May 6 people Jeremy Justin Daniel Mitchel Christian Jonathan Natural gas tanks were all in the trunk, so no inside storage Took the middle seats out of the car - only had front and back seats, middle where seats would be was filled with gear Disgusting limousine Had to pull over every 100 miles to add transmission fluid and coolant Also had Jolene, Daniel’s car Spent night in Ohio, had only good meal of the trip, kept going Just a guy's trip - 2014 First night, driving out through countryside, hadn’t planned to stop, looking along the side of the road to stop (in the badlands) Driving in the middle of the night, didn’t know where they were, parked the vehicle on the side of the road, didn’t even set up tents, just laid out in the middle of a grassy area Next morning was incredible, waking up was amazing with the huge sand dunes Out in the distance, there was a plateau Not sure how they made it through the night, woke up frosted, but not freezing Christian had not been to North Dakota, it was his 50th state, so he drove 2-3 hours over the border, took a picture, and came back Jonathan is 3 states short, and ND is one of them Badlands were amazing Trying to hide from park security trying to climb the highest dunes It got really hot that day The next day, they decided to go to the Black Hills (where Mount Rushmore is) and Mount Washington Christian met up with the gang Goal was to go as high up in the mountains as the Suburban could go with chains, so now they’re in snow Went until it got stuck, camped right on the side of the road, didn’t have a “let's go here”, more of “here’s a road with snow” Daniel’s car somehow made it in the Suburban’s tracks a way away Hiked in a bit further to a beautiful camping spot Only time they’ve seen Mitchell not happy (Mitchel is always smiling) He was cold and didn’t feel good, but woke up the happiest they’ve ever seen him There was no firewood, but they found a couch cushion that they burned, it burned well, but smelled terrible Christian said he wouldn’t go to the restroom in the woods (This story is embellished) So Daniel built a toilet out of snow If you’ve got to dump in a water-based toilet, it’s just better, according to Christian You gotta do what you gotta do On to Wyoming The next morning had a beautiful view McDonalds breakfast Cody Wyoming Stopped at Sierra Trading Post, then to a gym to take a shower Once a week whether needed or not This trip confirmed Daniel’s theory that if you’re dirty for long enough you body self-cleans Got a chance to dry stuff out in the parking lot The next night was their favorite Really cool camping spot, between Cody Wyoming and Yellowstone Remote mountain road, maybe pass a car every 30 min, there was a plateau over the side of the road, everyone agreed it would be the perfect camping spot Huge valley, mountains in the background, like the side of a mountain with a rock table covered in grass with a beautiful view Built a huge fire, pretty much put an entire dying tree there As much fire as you could possibly burn Had to hike down a ravine to access the spot Mitchel and Justin took a different path, everyone else thought they were lost for a bit People thought to be police officers were concerned for their safety, but the crew was worried they were going to kick them out, so they were almost trying to hide their campsite Then they got into a screaming match because they couldn’t hear each other “ARE YOU OK?” “YES WE ARE!” So the police walked away, the gang started cheering, but their cheering was mistaken for cries of help Yellowstone National Park - kinda the goal of the whole trip (from North Carolina) Next stop was “Mount McClannahan” - just chose a random tall mountain, 60 mile gravel road, hike up to the top and camp Just found it on Google Earth and thought it looked good Didn’t end up doing it because of an incoming blizzard Saw Old Faithful Got passes to camp in the back country Spent 2 nights in a valley Park was mostly empty Beautiful mountains in front of you, off to the left is a bunch of elk, and on the other side was a bunch of buffalo They had to deviate from the path because of an angry buffalo They are massive About a 5-mile hike Set up camp by a river Found fully intact elk antlers After the first night, woke up to a buffalo by their fire Hiked up mountain after mountain trying to find the top Got to a mountain that had a bunch of huge rocks, they just pushed them down the mountain (“mostly accidental”) At the top of the mountain, everyone checked their grades to see how they had done Verizon had cell service Also Swayy hammocks are great of Yellowstone has higher elevation, so it’s colder “Are you guys post holing”? No idea what that meant Park ranger told them 2 things: 1: they are the only ones wanting to camp in the back country 2: he did not want to have to hike in and get them They got their passes and went on their merry way At first not too bad On the way back it started to snow, and it gets deeper, and deeper, and deeper Late afternoon, hiked about 3 miles, but felt so much longer Each step was grueling Post holing: You take one stop, leg fully submerges in snow. Next step, also fully submerged in snow - each step is a “post hole” going down to the ground Eventually their feet weren’t even reaching the ground because they had on backpacks, which increased their surface area and caught them a bit By the time they got closer to the top, the 16 ft markers were at eye level They were looking forward to a fire and food They were soaked by the time they got to where they were going They had none of the right gear No one had any idea how much danger they were actually in, but they all had fun “The Bowl” was different because it was protected from the sun by shade, so it was pure powder. It was more like swimming than like walking Felt helpless because they couldn’t turn back, but it took forever Park ranger was adamant about building fire in fire ring, but it was beneath 12 feet of snow Finally made it to the lake, but it was frozen over with more snow, so they could hardly tell they were there They had a hatchet, but couldn’t cut through the ice They made a fire, but it would melt the snow and just keep sinking, and then it wouldn’t get as much air, so there wasn’t much heat They didn’t bring much water because they figured there’d be a bunch of snow, but it was so dry that a whole pot-full of water would be a negligible amount of liquid Trying to boil snow to cook with and drink, but it’s stale snow with pine needles and stuff in it Daniel set up a tent he didn’t end up staying in Justin and Jeremy slept in their own tent, but Daniel abandoned his and joined the 4-person Body heat was crucial Never been so miserable ever Sleeping bag was a 30-degree bag, which means it’s probably comfortable around 60, butt his night it was in the teens, windy Everyone put their boots outside Christian didn’t get much sleep, but he thought his feet were going to freeze and fall off That was the only thing he thought of Their shoes were all in the vestibule, but Christian didn’t want to get up, so he unzipped the tent, and ate muddy snow trying to get some sort of hydration That was a bad night Probably good for the immune system? Luckily the sun came out the next morning Christian couldn’t get into his shoes because they were frozen solid - just a block of ice The lake was beautiful - snow covered, pristine, surrounded by pine trees, all Christian could think about was his feet falling off He just started walking home Jeremy ate breakfast Justin wore dry bags over his socks to keep his feet dry for the rest of the trip As they hiked out, it was fairly uneventful, the snow was still a bit crusted, so it was easier to walk out Jonathan left his hat on a log, the next group came through, and there were huge bear prints It was there right between the two groups Daniel lost the charger to his tablet somewhere along the line, it’s now 2020, Daniel just now got the pictures, it was like a time capsule Made it back to the vehicles, tried to dry off as much as possible, then off to Idaho Went to a hotel that night At some point, the Suburban stopped shifting, but they were able to fix it with zip ties Jonathan got a parking ticket while driving - middle of Wyoming, speeding a little bit, pulled over by a tribal police officer, he wrote a parking ticket, if they went to court, they would dismiss it. In Wyoming, they can put you on speaker on the phone, so Jonathan plead not guilty, and the ticket was dismissed It was a $55 ticket - it was the principle of the matter Idaho falls, stayed in a hotel, got a good meal, crammed all 6 people into one room, Christian had to fly back to North Carolina for something Down to 5 people Started driving to Idaho, where Daniel is from, which is why he brought his vehicle (stay the summer) Because there was so much snow, they were to a park called Craters of the Moon Everyone should go once It’s almost like you’re on the moon because of the lava formations - black broken up lava rocks It is incredibly hard on shoes; they will wear out quickly Stayed inside on of the craters, had to stay out of the wind Rocks would periodically roll down Most consistently windy place - 48 hours of non-stop wind Conveniently located next to the town of Atomic, population of 4 The stars were beautiful Even though stuff is in the same state, it’s hours and hours apart Everything is so vast and rural It was a lot of fun just going between the different places There’s something about being long ways from home, traveling doesn’t seem so far. If you’re 30 hours away from home, 6 hours doesn’t seem like such a big deal Daniel rode a moose . . . It was fun to travel west with a fun group of people Sitting around the fire talking Daniel’s car got stuck in a field on the edge of the road, only reason it was stuck was because the parking brake was on Spent an hour, straining, trying to move the car, that had the parking break on 2-week trip Daniel stayed in Idaho, the 4 remaining drove straight back to Carolina, spent one night in Missouri in Mark Twain State park A lot has changed as far as their gear is concerned, they’ve gotten more appropriate gear, but Mitchell’s cooking gear hasn’t changed $215 per person, almost 2 weeks on the road, food, lodging . . . It was an excellent trip Go Swayy the world. Be your best self in every cranny of the west. Take the opportunity to bond with people People don’t regret the things they do, they regret the things they don’t do    

Contact UsOur Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast!Find us on Amazon Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram Ashley's Instagram

Seth and Megan talk about where Swayy is and the direction it's (hopefully) moving Contact UsOur Website  Instagram  Facebook  Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com  Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast!  Find us on Amazon Seth's Instagram  Megan's Instagram On This EpisodeSwayy UpdateCheck out the last blog post, Painful OpportunitiesPeople reached out and offered encouragement Trying to enjoy the process, but ready to enjoy the upward process Working on negotiations is fun (mostly)Emotions can get involved, which makes things hard Seth got advice from Mike Parnell (former CEO of Oakley, who did a lot of licensing-type deals) With that Seth was able to present more firm expectations, it gave him better ground to stand on It's all a game of confidence tempered with cooperation Reflections on dealing with confrontation in middle and high school When someone attacks Swayy's value, it can feel like a personal attack because of how invested Seth is in it Got a new sample from the new Eira manufacturerA lot is right, but a lot needs work Check out Seth's IGTV Small-batch run, validate with 60-100 customers, then license productLicensing is appealing because there' minimal upfront investment Becomes almost passive income How I Built This podcastGotta get used to being uncomfortable Personal brand continuing to growTraveling to Nashville and California for different speaking opportunities Nashville - eCommerce for the South East California - Judge on a panel for pitch competition and speaking for different panels Reached out to 21 brands for potential licensing dealsHeard back from 4 Trying to be more strategic about reach-outs Working from two angles Reaching out to employees on LinkedIn Website contact page Pivoting the company to where we can associate Swayy's name with bigger brands and build credibility Process for follow-ups Taking another swing with the podcast, back to what we were doing before Going to keep telling stories Let us know what you think!

Contact UsOur Website  Instagram  Facebook  Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com  Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram  Megan's Instagram  Ashley's Instagram On This EpisodeSwayy UpdateThis is only our third try recording this episode . . . Hope you enjoy it! Long-term problem-solving Trying to figure out production for the company that went bankrupt We can't have more inventory before business =( We are working on a brand-partnership licensing deal Bring in cash to help develop new products Bearly an EncounterRead the blog post about this story here Seth and Ashley went camping last September Previous camping trip at a barn was one of Swayy's first prototype tests Black Balsam Knob North Carolina Got there late afternoon, early evening, but the weather made it feel later in the day There was a heavy fog resting on the bald Picture 1 picture 2 Eventually the fog turned to rain, so they decided to set up camp Of course as soon as they were set up, the rain moved through and they were able to enjoy their evening When they decided to go to bed, they sealed all the food, put it in a backpack under the tent vestibule Because it was windy, it was heard to hear much The moon was super bright Suddenly there was a loud noise, they thought someone stole their bag They realized it was a bear, and suddenly, there was silence Seth decided to try to fight the bear, but it had disappeared The food that they had cooked was actually in the tent, not in the bag, so they started throwing everything out of the tent While Seth was trying to use a flashlight to see, the light was refracting off the fog into every-which direction, but he could see the silhouette of a bear It came to get the food they had thrown out of the tent Seth was banging on a pan with a knife Ashley was concerned about people sleeping The bear was completely unfazed As the bear took off, Seth was worried it was going to come back, so he kept watch There were lots of prayers Eventually, Seth tries to go back to sleep, but the sound of the tent opening keeps re-playing in his head As soon as dawn began, Seth found Ashley's backpack You can see a YouTube Video about what they found (backpack taken by the bear!) All of their food was gone, so their trip was cut short Apparently other campers had bears steal food from them too, some of it in bear bags Bears were on the rampage!

Ever wondered where hammocks came from? So did we! Here's what we found. Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Swayy Update Swayy is on Amazon! It takes time to build traffic and rank well. You can help us out by clicking on this link. If you use the affiliate link to buy anything, even toothpaste, it will help us out. Swayy has socks Made in Istanbul, Turkey 59% wool, 22% cotton, 18% polyester, 1% elastane Best socks ever! Because of factory changes, there have been a lot of delays in manufacturing and production. Swayy was working on a licensing deal, but it seems like we've been ghosted. Check out the blog post about patience. Seth was invited to be on an advisory board for an entrepreneurial event. History of Hammocks An abbreviated aside about alliteration and assonance (seriously, Megan cut about half of it out in post) Hammocks have been around for a long time, probably way longer than we have record of. They appear to have originated in the Americas. Columbus talks about them. Arawakan word with debated meaning, fishnet or stretch of cloth or a hamak tree whose bark was used to make hammocks. Later were made of sisal fiber. Because they were made of very organic materials, hammocks didn't last very long. The Spaniards brought the hammock back to Europe and started constructing the hammocks out of cotton and canvas. Hammocks kept people off the ground and away from snakes. They would build coal beds under the hammock to stay warm (no CBS here). Podcast about Fire 1570, Portugese Explorer Pero de Magahales Gandavo 16th century, hammocks used on ships Hygiene Safer on rough seas Saved space Used as life preserver Canvas was a lot hotter than the mesh fish nets that originated in the Americas 18th century, first mass produced hammocks in South Carolina YouTube video Megan mentions 1886 White Mountain Hammock Chair Hammocks used to help eradicate yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal because they could easily be enclosed in mosquito nets and got people off the wet ground Hammocks were used during World War II for basically the same reasons. Hammocks became popular when they were initially discovered. Jungle hammocks Hung in trenches so soldiers could avoid getting shot. Would also solve the problem of CBS Jungle hammock is the name of the hammock that was issued to soldiers. Had an integrated bug net and rain fly Vietnam War - M1966 Hammock At one point they were made with waterproof bottom panels, which led to soldiers sleeping in puddles of water. Hot tub hammock discussion Back to military stuff – Viet Cont forces would create hammocks out of scavenged American parachutes. This is thought to be the birthplace of modern day leisure hammocks. Ticket to the Moon 3 main types of hammocks Leisure Camping Military Parachute material, nylon, or netted, often bridged, hammocks Bridge–net between two bridge points that create a big square Gathered-end hammocks Asymetrical hammocks Brief discussion of Swayy's beginning Polyester, nylon, or cotton Do you want to hear a podcast about hammocks and health? Let us know!

Contact Us Our Website  Swayy on Amazon Instagram  Facebook  Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com  Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram  Megan's Instagram On This Episode Carl Wilkens worldoutsidemyshoes.org Facebook   We can’t do anything about other peoples “posture” but we can do something about our own. Find the good - in every situation, there is good to be found, and as we find the good, we build positive pathways that affect other parts of our life.   Carl’s [condensed] history with Africa Adventist Development and Relief Agency 6 months into their time in Rwanda, war started in Northern part After 3 years, a peace treaty was signed Get were able to go back home, back to a good life But a storm was brewing - led to a genocide that killed 1 million people in 4 months 3 main people groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa Rwandan Patriotic Front - mostly Tutsi refugees, Rebels Apartheid-type system between Hutu and Tutsi Most extreme weren’t at the peace table, they’re the ones who launched the genocide in April ’94 Used the shooting-down of the president's plane as the catalyst to start the genocide Risk Carl took in staying in Rwanda - only American to stay behind, refused evacuation Everything happened super fast When the plane was shot down on Wednesday, Carl and his family were close enough to hear the explosion. The embassy said they weren’t going to evacuate, but come Friday they said to evacuate, by Sunday everyone was gone. They were told to bring family, but not any Rwandan’s. This rubbed Carl and Theresa (Carl's wife) wrong because they had a Rwandan women who lived with the family who belonged to the minority group, and they couldn’t justify leaving her there. She loved them, they all loved her, and they couldn’t leave her there to be killed. No one though the whole thing would, or even could last more than 2 weeks The Rwandans had given  foreigners enormous privilege, Carl figured they could use that privilege to help in some way The older Carl gets, the harder it is to explain that risk, it almost looks like suicide to stay during such and atrocity Something a lot of people have trouble appreciating is Theresa’s support - its one thing to take risk for yourself, it’s another to take risk for your family and the people around you For them, their family had expanded, it wasn’t just the 5 of them (Carl, Theresa, and their three kids, Mindy, Lisa, and Shaun), there was a young lady and young man who had become a part of the family - that was the core of the situation Carl’s dad was visiting at the time and could help take the family to safety Risk and entrepreneurialism - people look at the decisions others make, potentially putting their family’s well-being on the line, or maybe putting another interest above interest of your family, that’s a real challenge people face People can ask “where’s your priorities”, and that’s a really important question The face that Theresa and Carl had talked beforehand made a big difference when it came to actually making the decision and taking the risk. The mission was very clear in front of them, and the privilege Rwandans gave foreigners was huge. This was a choice that couldn’t be put off, it was now or never Relationships built prior to the genocide offered leverage for what was to happen during and after the genocide. Carl wasn’t there alone - throughout the Genocide, there was a team around him There was a Hutu pastor and his wife And the colonel who was a leader in the Genocide Help came from a lot of unexpected places There was no safe place, but somehow an orphanage became a safe place, probably because of the relationships the orphanage director had formed Found help from lots of very unexpected places Everything was always about relationships Each person has a story, a history, and choices to make. If we simply see them as the enemy, we may be missing some of the most valuable allies for specific situations 7 months after the genocide ended, Carl, Theresa, and the kids went back to Rwanda to work for another year and a half, and then they came home after a total of 6 years in Rwanda. After that, Carl didn’t go to Rwanda for 9 years, and that was the really difficult “go back” Every corner was full of memories, most of them horrible  While things had changed enormously, in his head a lot hadn’t changed, because his brain had been firing pathways about the genocide People had moved forward in so many ways, but it took Carl years of going back to Rwanda and creating new memories, finding new stories. Today, he loves going back to Rwanda. There is no hesitation, and he’s back, because he’s eager to see what they’ve done next. Stories of people healing, forgiving, getting free from anger and resentment, there is all kinds of energy, life, and optimism. New constitution says at least 30% of all decision-making bodies have to be women. There’s a lot of growth happening Economy is booming “Reinvent yourself camps” (prison camp) If we only define people by one thing, we strengthen one thing and diminish the other qualities By being intentional about what we think about people, we may not be able to get rid of our dominant, negative viewpoints, but we can strengthen the positive ones to the point where they become our default We get burned and betrayed, and every time we think about that person, we think of the negative thing. If we don’t allow people an opportunity to reinvent themselves, they never will. But we can build new pathways that allow a greater potential for change How to build a habitat that promotes change National Level The first thing you need is security Police presence in Rwanda is pretty obvious Rwanda very strict about bribes, that kind of thing is nipped in the bud right away The government is very intentional about building a secure environment so people can feel safe building new relationships Rwanda isn’t built on tribes anymore, but on unity You can set up a business in 6 hours in Rwanda Financial, technical hub for central Africa Personally, what can we do to build a habitat for healing and growth? Believe that people can change We don’t have to be defined by what we’ve done, we can be defined by what we do next When people can have shared experiences (genuine encounters) in a safe environment, driven by necessity, they have the opportunities to build new pathways Some of the hard questions to find answers for, maybe the value is not in the answer, but in our stance while looking for the answer We can’t do anything about other peoples “posture” but we can do something about our own “What next?” Find the good - in every situation, there is good to be found, and as we find the good, we build positive pathways that affect other parts of our life Once you start pathways of gratitude, they bleed into other areas of our life. Find the good, it’s a super important strategy for healing and building new pathways. It injects us, fills us with a hope that often is not logical from the outside, for someone who hasn’t been through what we have, but hope is what keeps us going in some of the darkest times. Hope is not logical, in some ways it is sub-atomic, in the very fabric of the universe

Curious about how fire works? So were we! Here's what we were able to find out: Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Swayy Update Seth back from China Visited a different city every night Talked to a lot of suppliers Working on getting Eira ready to be made in the same factory as the Premus Fundraising time Always aiming to make fewer mistakes Funding seems perpetual Startup costs All funding rounds have been relatively small Swayy is on Amazon! Feels like starting a new business Sent product to Memphis so Amazon can distribute it to be ready for Prime shipping Need to drive traffic to the listing so it gains traction Not ranked yet Arrington Overland Expo Selling socks at the expo Coming soon online Seth's gross sock habits . . . . Fire Looking into the flames . . . Universal Touches every part of our lives So good, but can be so harmful Fire = Heat + Fuel + Oxygen Flames are hollow - say what?! Very localized chemical reactions happening Conical shape caused by gravity Different fuels burn at different temperatures Pyrolysis - whole earth can be decomposed by heat In Space, fire burns in a spherical shape The less efficient the fire, the more smoke there will be Video about backdrafts Air composition: 78.09% nitrogen 20.95% oxygen 0.93% argon 0.04% carbon dioxide and a bunch of other stuff Quantum Theory Pyrolysis isn't what makes fire hot, it's new bonds forming that create heat Loop between endothermic and exothermic reactions is what makes fire self-perpetuating Flammable vs. combustable Products of fire: CO2, H2O vapor, heat, and light Color: somewhat has to do with heat, but also the chemical reactions happening Valence electrons Black Body Radiation Chart There's always more research to be done Seth's bibliography:[1] Paul A. Tipler. College Physics. Worth Publishers Inc., 1987, section 29.1. [2] Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton and Matthew Sands. Lectures on Physics. The Definitive Edition, Volume III, Addison–Wesley, 2006, section 4-5. [3] A. Daeschler, G. Camponovo. Elettrotecnica. Edizioni Casagrande, Bellinzona, 1974, sezione 11.1.3. Swayy's article about Fire Building

Rhodium Radio In this week’s episode, we sit down with Seth Hill, Founder of Swayy Hammocks to talk about manufacturing in China vs. the United States and the short and long term implications. He just got back from China and enlightened us on some things. Rhodium Radio is a weekly podcast where ideas are shared that challenge your worldview. We are on a quest looking for fellow disruptors who want to make their lives and the lives of their friends, families and firms more remarkable.   Apple Podcasts Spotify   RhodiumRadio.com RhodiumRule.com

Kyle is a friend of Seth's from college. During this episode, he shares some of the highs and lows of his trip across the Trans American Trail, or TAT. Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Adventures with Athena Kyle Raymond's Instagram Adventure with Athena's Instagram Friends with Seth from College Loves engines, went to school to get an Automotive degree (which included some business classes) - world traveler/adventure biker Trans American Trail 4x4 overlanding Grew up adventuring, it's embedded into Kyle's system Just had to do TAT, he wanted that adventure Youtube Channels Kyle watched: Adventures in Real Life MrDuhfactor Bought KLX250 because of its hight mobility (ability to be modified) After Kyle bought the bike, he only ever rode it, never drove anywhere "You'll never find a motorcycle outside a therapist's office" Transforming experience Something about being on the open road at sunset There's a connection and vulnerability to everything around you The bond between you and a motorcycle is greater than between you and a car Riding the line between in control and out of control You shouldn't want to live life being in control of everything - stories don't come from being safe on your couch You have to respect the machine and know your limits Nothing worth doing has no risk. Where there's risk, there's reward Preparation Started @advwithathena Adventure instagram profile Wanted to inspire others to take risks and go on adventures In January, set TAT date for Summer 2018 Jack of all trades master of none, but quite often better than a master of none Finished modding bike Bought gear Dry bags Rack system (to carry stuff) By April bike was running Life Advice: Start small, build your confidence, and work your way up. That way you don't live constantly intimidated Started noticing some issues with the bike Wouldn't start, when it started it blew white smoke Had a blown head gasket Contacted a guy who made custom parts to overnight him 2 head gaskets 3-4 weeks out from the 5,000 mile trip, didn't even have a working bike Last min found a different bike to take on the trip that didn't need nay modifications Named it Achelouis, the greek goddess known for washing away pain Biggest regret: having a time constraint If you're going to do this big of a trip, don't limit yourself America is a big place, there's a ton to see, so take your time Drove from Chattanooga to South Carolina, from there to Savannah Georgia Bike had to touch the Atlantic and Pacific oceans Trail isn't truly mapped from coast to coast, starts pretty far inland in the East, but they had to do it Went to Tybe Island Probably illegal to be on the beach, but the bikes had to touch! Trail actually starts not far from Chatt They had 3 wees to make it to the West coast Throughout the trip, they only spent 2 nights in hotels, and camped the rest of the way Met Connor From Buffalo, NY, rode down to do the TAT Ended up meeting up with him several times along the trip Only other group they were aware of doing to trail was a group of Jeeps ahead of them Mississippi was the worst, bad roads, bad drivers Eastern and central Oklahoma surprisingly pleasant Hard-packed dirt roads Collin got a flat tire around 4:00 one evening in the middle of some rolling hills with meadows of really tall grass By 6:00 when they got the bike going, it was dusk Kyle considers this experience to be amongst the top 10 of his life West OK, 30 miles of completely straight roads, ended up doing 70 mph just to pass the time Low points: Got sick in NM Took 3 ibuprofen, bundled up as much as possible to sweat it all out, woke up the next morning feeling ok Collin got Sick at one point Snowed at Big Lake, bike wouldn't start Figured out moisture was getting into the ignitor coil and shorting out There wasn't a bike store for 100 miles Ended up selling the bike to Collin's brother, doubling up with Anthony on his bike, and riding to somewhere outside of Portland Anthony wasn't able to finish the TAT because of time restraints, so Kyle took his bike from there Utah gorgeous, got to ride on the Salt Flats Got to stay at a friends house with a friend who had a pond with Sturgeon If you're going to do the Trans American Trail, be prepared for all 4 seasons, no matter what time of year you go Oklahoma to Oregon is the prettiest part of the trip Advice: The more you think about it, the less likely it is to happen. If you want to do it, you have to set the date, make the sacrifice, and do it The true currency in life is experience. If you do something like this, you will have so many experiences, stories, and you will grow so much

  Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode We're Back! Welcome to Season two, where we're changing things up a bit Episodes every other Thursday 1 episode will be about a topic (ex. fire) and the next will be a "story from the trail" Oct 10: Bearly an Encounter Oct 24: Fire Building Nov 7: Crazy Trips Every episode will have a Swayy update Let us know if you have a story you want to share, or a topic you'd like to hear about Swayy Update About 2 months ago, Jeff decided not to join the team Product is almost sold out Premus is gone Still a few Eira's Click Here if you want to buy one! Eira manufacturer is going out of business Ace, owner of the company who manufactures the Premus, is going to be taking over Seth is going to China to work out details Both hammocks are getting an update Hoping to order by Oct 1, so that by the time product is predicted to run out in November, there will be new product to take its place Not going to have as many colors to help streamline costs By the end of the year, it should be clear whether Swayy can stand on its own two feet, whether more financing will be needed, if we're going to close up shop It's nice to have a clear goal and problem to work towards Seth got a job offer; it was validating to know that the skills he's developing because of Swayy can be recognized Looking at potential summer products Going to be putting Swayy products on Amazon Have new people joining the team Listen to criticism, tune out negativity Draw lessons from the hard times Encounter More!

In the episode before last, we talked about energy and the sprint vs the marathon - right now, we're taking a breather. Want to WIN a Swayy Hammock? Check out this ReddyYeti Giveaway for a chance to win over $3,000 of prizes, including a Swayy Hammock! Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Swayy Update Conversations with Jeff continuing Hand over a lot of input Make more "educated mistakes" Manufacturing changes still in discussion Hammocks finally sent off for temperature rating testing New fabrics for Premus V2 - hoping to launch in September Success=many failures Hiatus Going on pause for a bit – Did you enjoy the interview with Cam? We need to do some planning Our ultimate goal is to add value - how can we best do that? Send your input to hello@swayyhammocks.com, we'd love to hear from you!

You may have heard Seth talk about how he works for Bellhops as one of his side gigs. In this episode, he talks to Cam Doody, the President, Founder, President, and Chairman at Bellhops. Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Bellhops Cam Doody Twitter, LinkedIn Swayy Update Sorry we didn't get an update in on this one - be sure to tune in next week for another one! Entrepreneurialism with Cam Doody Had the idea for Bellhops during college, but started the company 2 years after graduating How Bellhops is changing the moving industry Leaning into tech Asset Light Transparent Pricing Started long-distance moves within the past year Started as "Dorm Movers" Made a bet on tech in a niche market The truck doesn't matter to the customer, what matters are the people Have focused and hired based on maintaining a culture There can only be one #1 Talk about failure Startups are brutal Challenges get harded, but the team gets better What matters more, luck or skill? Consistency is key Find what you're good at, lean in fully, and don't compromise

Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Want to text or call Seth? You can reach him at 828-448-8767 Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Swayy Update Working on new sales channels Touch of Modern negotiations fell apart Partnership with Fancy is looking promising ReddyYeti The Coolector article about Swayy Premus manufacturing running behind Working with Eira manufacturer on some updates Comfort, Security, and Warmth episode Awareness of Energy We've both been burning the candle at both ends Megan's bosses at the farm are out of town, so she's having to do more management than usual Working on two new podcasts that may potentially launch in the upcoming weeks Seth is almost a month into working at Bellhops Blog Post Marriage and Entrepreneurship Find the Wife of Swayy episode here Don't spend time worrying about how to get stuff done, spend time doing it Take breaks Seth's absent minded story Time = Energy? When we estimate the amount of time something will take, we usually assume it will take way longer than it actually does Everything seems bigger in our minds until we talk about it or write it down Time is always constant When we're stressed and time seems to be flying by, we need to take time to reset Discussion about our society's "Treat yo self" mentality What needs to be done right now, and what fires can we allow to burn on their own? Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman and Chris Yeh Keep pushing, but it's ok to take a break if you need too Matt D'Avella Youtube The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Podcast: The Ground Up Show When will Swayy's sprint end?

Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Want to text or call Seth? You can reach him at 828-448-8767 Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Swayy Update Outdoor Retailer Touch of Modern Sunken Stone Fancy Manufacturing Network = Net Worth Seth's mom was a connector - anytime anyone needed contact information, she was the go-to person Seth saw the value in this, and integrated it into his life Networking is what made Swayy possible Initial Connections that moved Swayy into existence: Mark Parnell, former CEO of Oakley Manufacturer in Asia CoLab The Lamp Post Group George Brown Aegle Gear Charles Wood Having connections in a wide array of areas outside the outdoor industry allows for multiple perspective Making connections can be hard, but at the end of the day, they are just people Technology makes networking a lot easier Work to get an introduction with someone outside of your network People like to feel like they're adding value If you have a dream, you have to be willing to take the first step Go do the hard thing

Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Shoutout to Drew Forsey for leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts! Check out Forsey Films to see some of his awesome work. If you want a shoutout, Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com. We want to hear what you have to say! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram Mitchell's Instagram On This Episode Mitchell Hagan Forsey Films Swayy Update Working on Swayy hats Connection made at the Canton Fair Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) - Production run vs sample run? Continuing to have conversations and build relationships with Jeff Outdoor industry typically runs on a 2-4 year planning cycle Advantages of carrying debt vs paying off debt What if Swayy started manufacturing smaller pieces of gear that constantly updated on a subscription model to vary the product mix? Still coming: Pictures of Sock Packaging Swayy According to Mitchell Seth and Mitchell met in high school Had some classes together in college Mitchell currently works in hospital administration A lot of the strategy aspects crossover to the outdoor industry While training for a marathon, Seth and Mitchell had a lot of time to talk about life and business Mitchell helps with some of the finance stuff for Swayy We often learn more from failure than from success Where Mitchell sees the company going: Swayy needs to make it easy for people to get outdoors Have the right equipment to be set to go Need to come up with more products and work on product mix Spending time outdoors, away from technology is a way to truly connect with the people around you Road trip story! The memories that last aren't always the best experiences at the time, but they make for the best stories Try new things, push boundaries, and have the courage to Encounter More

Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode The Ultimate Hang (original CBS graphic) Jason Dull Adventist Review Outpost Centers International (OCI) Bellhops Swayy Update Working to make a CBS (cold butt syndrome) animation with Jason Dull Suspension update Working on decreasing cost structure What it takes Seth's projects Swayy Selling advertising for Adventist Review Website maintenance for Outpost Centers International (OCI) Working in sales for Bellhops Working on system automation with Erlanger Children's Hospital and Regional Obstetrical Consultants To hear more about Ashley, check out Ep 6, Wife of Swayy Time Management - don't let it pile up! You become like the people you spend time with - choose wisely

Seth spent a year in the Phillippines as a student missionary. It was during this time that he became more familiar with entrepreneurialism, became interested in business, started to recognize the opportunities he had, and met people who would help him start Swayy. To stay close to it's roots, Swayy dedicated a percentage of all sales to help build village schools in Papua Indonesia. While currently in between projects, Swayy is a company inspired by and rooted in making a difference. Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Swayy Update More info about the Premus insulation ratings What Seth views as his main competitive advantage Working on a new marketing brochure Socks! And other warm stuff Mission Quick rewind to high school Seth Early college experiences Dissatisfaction left Seth looking for something different Through a series of fortunate events, he was able to be a Student Missionary in the Philippines Wanted to be a "light in a dark area" only to discover that his habits had followed him half-way around the world Came to a point of breaking and handing everything over to God Realized how much opportunity was around him Met Gray, who helped co-found Swayy Became inspired to learn more about business How Swayy is contributing today

When Seth and Ashley met in 2014, Swayy was in its infancy. Now, 5 years later, Seth and Ashley are celebrating their 2 year annivesary and Swayy is gearing up for it's second round of manufacturing. Join us in the episode to hear more about Swayy from the wife's perspective. Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Follow Ashley Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode What is it like being married to an entrepreneur? Daily creativity Problem solving Seeing energy and joy Being jealous of seeing someone do something they love everyday What's the hardest part? And the best? How open the future is Flexibility offered by creating your own schedule The highs and lows of entrepreneurship How they can affect a marriage relationship The importance of familial (and financial) support to a young company How making the dream happen is easier when its shared Predictions for the next 5 years of Swayy Swayy-sponsored, mission oriented trips?

Has there ever been a project that you wanted to do, but you talked yourself out of it because you convinced yourself you couldn't do it? I know I have. In this episode, Seth and I explore some of our personal struggles with negative self talk, delve into the differences between self-esteem, confidence, and pride, and try to identify a path towards circumnavigating negative self-talk Contact Us Our Website Instagram Facebook Email us hello@swayyhammocks.com Rate and Review us, take a screenshot, send it to hello@swayyhammocks.com and we'll give you a shoutout on the podcast! Seth's Instagram Megan's Instagram On This Episode Start with Why by Simon Sinek Carl Wilkens Swayy Update Side projects to make money to invest in Swayy Podast distribution, email, and feedback Suspension Changes Titanium Clips Working with a 3D artist to design them Deciding between cut-out vs mold clips Webbing Premus sample ready to be tested for temperature ratings Negative Self Talk Self image How to break habits of thought What is true vs what we perceive is true Brain pathways - specifically towards positive thinking Create new habits Envision success The line between: Pride and Narcisism Confidence and being Egotistical Humility and Self-deprecation Where is your focus? World of Social Media Usually, negative self talk is surrounded by fear How does it come together? Be ok with who you are Look for an opportunity Believe in a positive future Work towards that future Be content - not complacent - with who you are and the journey you are on That can give you the confidence to go for it Don't make excuses Ask questions Talk about it Where is your idea/drive coming from Envision where you want to go Go do it