Meet Ryan Dills: Water & Hemp Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Dills and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
‘Good things come to those who wait’ In general, the above is a sensible sentiment but I feel handcuffs more than empowers with respect to business and entrepreneurial ambitions. It assumes a more passive approach, an almost bystander mentality to one’s own life where ‘seize the day’ begs more relevance. Ask yourself- what are you doing today to further align yourself with the reality you wish to create? Patience is no doubt a virtue and both sentiments demand an ideal balance but too often it seems folks wait for the perfect time to start a business, to have a baby, to take that trip, and so forth. The time is always now with respect to getting your thoughts right, your words, your actions, your focus, your commitment. Expect ‘failure’ and bumps, hardships, unforeseen challenges. That’s normal. That’s life. There are hurdles en route towards any successes. The key isn’t avoiding these bumps or tiptoeing around metaphorical land mines. What’s important is learning, adjusting, pivoting, being proactive, leading with intent, acknowledging new variables, avoiding self-sabotage, and never giving up. Believe in the mirror. Believe in your authentic intent to build something that benefits and expands the marketplace. Waiting for the perfect storm is typically rooted more in fear than practicality. Which isn’t a criticism. That’s what unites us- managing the fear with the desire to risk who we are today in order to become who we dream we can be tomorrow. Inches lead to miles. Stay focused on the inches, on the small manageable day-to-day tasks; it’s in these details that most get tripped up by- due mostly to disorganization and distraction. Assess your daily variables, process and manage the best you can, repeat daily, proceed. All while keeping a clear vision in your mind as to what the mission of your business is. And then aligning your thoughts, words, actions with that vision. And anytime something appears out of alignment, re-assess/pivot and proceed the best you can. And repeat. It’s simple, but not easy. Avoid a victim mentality or dependence upon luck, and invest in what you can control- your efforts, your preparedness, your intent, your ethics. Surround yourself with folks with comparable intent and authenticity, trust the law of leverage, and enjoy the ride, as anything worth having and/or achieving requires discomfort, perseverance, and humility. Accountability and pro-action. Do the best you can where you are with what you have. Continually evolve and adjust, being guided by the fluid template of the reality you wish to create. Good things come to those who wait perhaps. More relevant and fitting things in alignment with your being await those bold enough to follow their feet. Be honest with where you are in the process and balance endeavors accordingly, knowing that risk exists regardless of your perceived choices. Challenge yourself, stretch the boundaries, and know that to get to uncharted territory- a shift in your usual mindset might be required. Cheers!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are The Georgia Hemp Company and being in the cannabis industry definitely has its unique challenges, mostly with respect to payment processing, financial products, and marketing. There’s definitely a game to be played in order to operate as efficiently as possible as a small business with such limitations as mentioned. We operate on the mentality of ‘inches lead to miles’ and being as intentional and authentic in our actions as possible. Our third location is about to open and we recently were in a NY Times article that my business partner Joe Salome contributed to. Our online sales have since exploded, straining our systems but we are getting caught up. We have learned to stay within our means and that the inches do indeed lead to miles. We’ve focused on keeping a clean balance sheet and retaining all equity, and so the road has seemed a bit slower than a traditional small business would have to travel- but has had its advantages as well of course. At the end of the day, we want to feel good about the service, education, and products represented by our brands, and with a huge thanks to our staff- we are able to do that, and that feels pretty damn good.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The battery has become a go-to spot in the Atl area as it has countless options all in one spot, highlighted by being at the Braves stadium. From a variety of restaurants and bars, recreational businesses, live music, and outdoor interaction, it’s a perfect spot to experience many different vibes. And Atlanta of course is full of hikes and outdoor recreational options, thus such would definitely be a part of any visitor’s itinerary, as well as museums and the botanical gardens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Being small business owners, my business partner and I definitely appreciate the importance of our team/staff. They continue to exhibit a vested interest in the well-being of the company, easily seen through their individual work ethics, emphasis upon customer service, and desire to improve protocols and efficiencies. The cannabis/hemp industry continues to enter uncharted territories as regulations evolve and the plant’s many uses become more known and recognized, especially from a wellness standpoint. Team members at The Georgia Hemp Company promote advocacy with a prevalent optimism that no doubt proves contagious to customers and vendors, contributing to a company culture we’re proud to be associated with. Shoutout to each team member and the synergy displayed as it’s been critical to our viability in the marketplace.

Website: www.thegeorgiahempcompany.com

Instagram: thegeorgiahempcompany

Linkedin: Ryan Dills

Twitter: @georgiahempco

Facebook: @thegeorgiahempcompany

Yelp: @thegeorgiahempcompany

Image Credits
N/A, The Georgia Hemp Company