Meet Chandler Richmond | Surfboard Craftsman

I have, more often than not, a free-swinging kind of attitude. That’s not for everybody, but I think life is too short not to go for things you really want. Deciding if it is what you truly want is the hardest part, for me at least. I never really doubted if I wanted to own my own business though, or really put much thought into it . I’ve been doing my own thing for a long time. it’s what I understand the most from growing up with a family of entrepreneurs, I didn’t really think much about the alternative. I did have some oddball jobs here and there, but not anything I paid taxes for. For me it was the other way around, I think about how nice it could be to have a 9-5 and earn a regular wage and forget about work as soon as I clock out. I feel like I’m not cut out for a traditional career path, but I really admire that kind of person just as much as some business owner. Each path can be extremely challenging in my opinion and it’s all relative.

I hate to admit it, but I recently started taking budgeting more seriously. Now I realize that it may be the most important financial practice for growing your business, and just life in general. I’ll say, I have a lot to learn with financial organization, but I do really think it comes down to organized systems, solid accounting, and sticking to financial goals.

I try to keep business and personal expenditures separate. Pay my employees on time and make sure they’re happy. SPEND Money.You need to spend money to make money. Don’t be afraid of a little debt. That’s the way our system is designed.

Lifestyle is a very important factor. I’m adaptable with my lifestyle according to what phase of my business I’m in. If it’s a heavy investment period, it’s time to chill and live frugally. If you’re overworked and it’s affecting relationships, spend that bread. Give yourself a break and enjoy the privileges.

I don’t know how much of an original concept I can offer as far as taking risk, but maybe I have a unique perspective. I recall reading one of your articles somebody regarded to ‘taking risks as being more of an ability to grow comfortable in uncomfortable situations’… I think that definitely rings true for me. I dont think it’s exactly about taking risk as much as it is embracing or confronting our willingness to change our dispositions. Are you willing to rise to the occasion? We are highly adaptable and capable beings and sometimes to achieve something, we need to confront our own habits and put ourselves in an uncomfortable position for a while until we adapt to the new state of habits and work ethics required to meet our goal.

I come from a family of entrepreneurial minded individuals and thinking about it now, we all are pretty comfortable pursuing our own path. We aren’t the most connected family as far as spending quality time together, but we definitely get along well enough. When we work together that’s another story.

My dad was also a surfboard builder before he started building paddleboards for racing (similar process of manufacturing). He is an all around craftsman with the kind of mind capable of learning any craft it seemed like. He’s very much self taught in most ways of his career. I think his self reliance was a bit of a shortcoming though. In more dynamic ways, but as a business/ craftsman man he was very succesful. In my approach, However, I think there is a lot to learn from others. Perspective is really important. Mentors and the lessons they can offer will help dramatically. I try to learn from everybody though, even if they aren’t in a position to give qualified advice. We all have something to offer. I deffinitly want to give my pops credit though for all he accomplished and lessons he passed down to me, whether directly or indirectly, he taught me a great deal..

Like him, I was also mainly self taught in most facets of my life and business. Unlike him, I had much less opportunity for financial stability. Times are just different though. I wonder how much it really helps to compare our selves to our parents. We’re growing up in a totally different world it seems like.

I moved from home freshman year in high school and was living with my oldest brother here on the central coast where he and my middle brother moved a couple years before. I was really fortunate that my mom was selfless enough to let me get away from the toxic environment we were living in to come live with my brothers. I was 15 years old and I know how hard it was for her.
My dad had another family with his second wife in the south bay where they still live now with their two daughters. My mother was the one who raised me. Her love was vast, but she struggled just as immensely with personal insecurities and later in life with alcoholism. She passed away from cancer when I was 20 and I’m sure that experience along with the incredible display of selflessness and dedication she had to loving her family and children and others, had a great effect on my life and the way I am. I believe the way you’re raised makes all the difference, However that can be assumed in so many ways. Some might say my folks f*cked up pretty bad, and she definitely believed that, but I think they’re are key elements that can outweigh any mistakes made as far as what your child may become… I think my upbringing helped give me the love I bring to the business I’m growing, not just for the business, but also the love and dedication for the crew, and how I try to conduct my business with honesty and good intention.

My oldest brother helped raise me in my late teens and was more of a father figure than he is probably comfortable to admit. We butt heads like crazy, but he’s the only one I worked with so we’re tight as far as my family goes. He taught me the most about building surfboards actually. He’s living with his wife and two little girls now and that shit impresses me more than anything. He probably didn’t know what he was signing up for, but raising children is maybe one of the most challenging things I can imagine doing. Especially coming from a relatively poor background and if you weren’t broke before, you will be after. I’m sure the reward is balanced with the struggle though. I just understand that my ability to take risks has a lot to do with not having children.

I TRY to be humble and remember life is for learning. I do believe we all should put others before ourselves, but not to the point it becomes self destructive. I don’t think living only for yourself will make you happy. we’re just passing through so what better way to live life than trying to leave it all better off than how we found it. Easier said than done of course.

The most important factors I imagine for success is finding balance and sticking to our goals. Goals can change over time, but a mentor of mine said something like this this, “We should draw a line under our priorities, then stay above it.” In other words, define what matters the most to you and stick to it. Losing track of your values and what it’s all about can make the challenges much more challenging. Also I believe in the power of manifestation. The ability to visualize every step of the process to achieve an end goal might be the best skill you can have for building a business.

I personally value community and friends above all things. Family is next in line, but we choose our friends and for some people that’s the only real family they have. Maybe when I have children they should become equally important. Having each other through the loss and hardship in life is what it’s all about. The good times are a bonus, but the support through the inevitable pain we’ll face is more valuable than anything.

Back to what I said about success, I base success on how balanced we can make something. whatever degree that may be. Start strong, finish easy. Eat a balanced diet. Work hard and play hard. Reach outward then reflect inward. Work for others and work for yourself. Be generous, Be selfish. Balance is beautiful.

I try my best to find out what’s happening in the world. First hand, not through media or any hearsay even though that is also valuable. I feel we should get out there our selves and learn through experience. I’m usually just traveling for surfing, but Im in New Orlean right now with my partner at a cafe near the french quarter, and it just happened to be mardi gras. Pretty random experience, but it is a really amazing city with a ton of culture and an outstanding standard for music. I would have never really known if we didn’t go.
We live in a bubble in Central California, and don’t get me wrong at all, it’s an incredible place to live, but there is so much happening in the world. Diversity helps us grow. Fortunately our community is relatively diverse in its hobbies and arts and the perspectives we share with each other. I’m incredibly grateful to have the friends I do and to live in this growing hub of like minded individuals, as long as we keep it balanced and keep it real. I want to say, I have plenty to learn about balance though and I realize it’s a life long journey.

My end goal is to essentially establish a foundation attractive enough for potential successors. strong enough to maintain any influence for following generations. I want our company to grow into something we are all proud of and feels like a life well spent. My personal goals aside from business, someday I would like to own a home, travel and surf often, eat great food, go to shows, work with my best friends, or at least stay close to them, have a social outlet, shape whatever surfboards I feel like or work more leisurely. It’s never been about the money for me. Money is a tool for a balanced lifestyle in my mind and to gain new perspectives. As long as I’m still learning…

I’m not sure if I’m more of an artist or a craftsman. I swing both ways. I have a pretty mechanical mind and enjoy numbers and I’m good at solving problems. I’m definitely a nerd in a lot of ways. I pursued the artistic/ creative path, because that’s what I enjoy and that’s what I’m good at. I have plenty of shortcomings though and I try to acknowledge them, but I try to build up my good qualities and expand on my talents. I focus on what I’m good at, and even if it’s challenging to make a business from it, I think I’ll be happier than picking a path just because it’s cool or makes me money. Maybe I’m just trying to make best with the cards I’m dealt… I realize I’m fortunate in a lot of ways and try to focus on those qualities as much as possible.

Pretty much everything by Steinbeck is gold I feel, but I related a lot with Tortilla Flats and how my friends are probably going to burn my shop down. Hermann Hesse is pretty essential, Demian is great and Siddhartha probably the most impacting story of my life. Dharma Bums is my favorite Kerouac novel. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay is incredible. All monumental books for me. Sorry, it’s hard to pick one. Right now I’m reading All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy- Pretty cool if you like cowboys and country tales… I guess people say we live in the last little stretch of the wild west on the Central Coast I’m not sure about all that, but there’s definitely some ranchers and our shop is located on a georgous ranch, I’m told the first property ever built in Cayucos.