How I've Achieved My Fashion/Sneaker Design Dream, And Became A Lace Up Finalist?! | Nester Phan | The Hustleman Show - Episode 7

In this episode of the Hustle Man Podcast, Mohammed Easmael sits down with Nester Phan, a shoe designer contestant in the show Lace Up. After escaping from Vietnam to New York, he wasted no time in finding work. After getting an inspiration quote from a random UPS Driver during work, he would attempt to do whatever it takes to make it. After gaining an interest in fashion, he would pull his heart, sweat, and tears into this passion. This level of passion was enough for him to lead him to a sneaker design school called Pencil. During there, he will find himself as a contestant on what would become the show Lace Up. During this podcast, Nester would talk about his journey, to his experience in the Lace Up show!

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Transcript

0:05

I only love that energy, competition. They inspire you, we just basically inspire each other, you don't see that in the fashion school right absolutely you don't see that in that man, you gotta have teamwork, don't use the fast barrier is in your team. So you were getting only paid 25 bucks a day. And then you have the UPS or FedEx guy comes to you, he goes, you see, you should get an education, or else you're gonna be stuck here. People always say like, Don't look back to the past, good, sometime to look back to the past because the past will make you be proud of what you are today. Man, you know, like how a young designer artist or the new beginner designer is like, I can do better than this is I better, but they don't realize that is the bigger world a big, very sophisticated, like, very difficult industry, if you believe in, like, Whatever God you believe in. Right? You don't put on the work. God's not gonna give you that. (Sure) you need to have put on the work. And then, right? You're tuned in to another episode of the hustle man show. So if you've been, if you watch some of our previous episodes, you've seen that we've had a lot of different kinds of people on here. We have people that are business owners, people that are starting, you know their music careers. We've just had a very wide array of people that are really, you know, they're trying to make it, and whatever craft they have the next guest is no trick no stranger, they're trying to make it. I got a very very very interesting story for you guys. I'd like to welcome Mr Nestor The Man Phan to the show. Nestor, how are you, pal? Thank you. I'm good, thank you so much for inviting me. And thank you for your team. Absolutely. We're happy, I'm happy to have you. So I've known, I've known you for for a little while, right? for a couple of years.(Yeah.) And I came to know you, through a mutual experience that you had and I had through watching. So if you guys don't recognize Nestor, Nestor was on a show a few years back a YouTube special called Lace Up. (Okay.) Isn't it very very, it was a very interesting show and it really captivated my attention This is, this is like what I would like into, like the real world of sneaker design. That is that fair. You know the show the MTV show the real world. It's like a real world of sneaker design by getting drunk and all that little less getting drunk and getting crazy. Honestly I I don't really watch a show. (Okay, that you're not) Too busy for for your life. I got you. I'm not busy enough so I caught the real world episodes a couple of times before. And what I what I what I noticed was that it was very very, it was like a very similar setup, so they take like this group of people, they put them in a house together. This is like the, the narrative of the show Lace Up, they take a group of people together, they put them in a house together. Right? And in your case and nachos case you guys were all trying to be, you're trying to break your careers in sneaker design right? is that that that was the idea of the show right? I think so because like, it depends on the tech, the designer or whoever attended to that show they what they call it, you know, my goal is, I want to prove this to my parents, my families that they always really, really harsh on me, you know, since very young age. They're always like, okay, you know, Asian is that we always need to like when we immigrants from like the other country like Vietnam, like for me like, come to America you only looking for, like, you know, Asian, they only looking for like to be a doctor or lawyers. But, um, and I'm not really into that. Um, I was really focused on like since a young age at eight years old, I already know like, how to put buy fabric right set up my money for my entire years and then set up, go to the fabric garment district to buy fabric and go to the straight to tailor. We just I'm just telling them like, Hey, can you put this design together together and create my original, clothing. So I always was like, always into design, and I know I have the creative mind, but I don't know how to, like, explain, short, like explore it until I come to America. So, I had more opportunity to do it. So when, when you, when you came when you came to America, that the idea was, I guess your family brought you over your mom brought you over your father brought you over. how did you get here? Tell me a little bit more about that, but before you do that, I just want to expel (well), hold on one sec, before you do that I want to explain that, that part of the story that that mean you got to know each other, right? So, because of that show I reached out to him, And I said, Listen, I felt like his creative ability on that show was like very very very very extraordinary relative to the people around him. So I reached out to him, and we lit, I literally met up with the guy. And that's how our friendship started, right, so let's take it a little a little bit further back, right? You get to America. Now, tell me a little bit more about how you actually got here. Oh, very beginning of beginning of the story, when it was like just one umm, when on North Vietnam over the South Vietnam. During that time, of not a lot of Vietnamese they flee to like other country to fight the freedom, the land of freedom, like America. No, (right) but however, a lot of people stopped in the South Vietnam, but they're still trying to flees after 1975. So my mom. Before that, my dad came to Thailand, in a UN camp. We were stuck there, and my family had been my family was stuck in there. Um, my dad stopped in the UN camp. my mom, missed missed my dad so much, and she gave birth to me like when it was one. And she was like, I missed your dad so much. I have to go. So she basically flee. During that time, it's very dangerous to flee outside like to run away from communist, the South, because the South Vietnam already is over, like unity between the North and the South is done. But, um, what's crazy is the military is still patrolling around the sea, you know, because they know people still gonna flee. They want to run away from the South Vietnam. So, (right), like they want to leave my, my mom. Carry me like swimming in the dark sea, they couldn't see anyone in front of you, until you actually reach to the boat. And then, when she, we got into the boat, and I was like, very hungry for crying he told me the story because I was the one obviously I'm not gonna know our story. And she was like, okay, we stopped in the islands, these islands, the, the, the people were just barely alive. (That's crazy) Like we cost, above those people like, but just buried a lot. And then we went to like Finally we met. Until I met my dad and my dad a Cray another child like with my youngest brother, and then into, like, but we couldn't somehow the documentary like we missing some documents. Push back to Vietnam, and then we just create a another file we file a new one into 2004, we finally got into this great country. So youre (is) youre one years old when this whole happens when you leave Vietnam, like your one years old. (yeah), so you're one years old and then you go (yeah) from South South Vietnam, Thailand to Thailand. Gotcha. And you guys left to Thailand, and your mom literally carried you over the, over I see, like on a boat. Yeah, yeah, swim, you have to swim to the because you have to the boat not gonna come to closer to the land, you know, because they'll shoot it down(the middle right) just voting will shoot you if you see you, (they'll shoot you.) Right, right there. So, you got a, you got to do what do you got to do to find freedom. (survive)(So, so you got) to survive. So you guys go from, from Vietnam. Your parents decide to leave because they're just, they're not they're not they're not happy with the current situation in Vietnam. there was a war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, and then that war ended, and then there was a unified Vietnam, and they decided to leave because they just weren't there was not enough freedom, there was not enough opportunity for them so they leave your one years old. Your mom is carrying a one year old, trying to cross the sea into Thailand. Thailand. (Yeah) that's that's that's insane bro. One of the islands, we get into one of the islands. They have got the guidance, the guidance. YouTube like cost through the forest, through the forest and it's passed this uh this is one. And we just we just passed through that. The, the guy, the logo guys. He say, a lot of people just got buried alive. (That's crazy) Why did just cos I didn't know about this story, because why did they get why did they get buried alive exactly? like what what was the issue exactly? I don't know, I don't know, she told me like when they caught you. The communists soldier,(I got you), so that's like rebel against them, or after the war, you know, the lose the ruler can get eliminated. I understand I understand I understand, so that the North took over the South. And then when they took over the South, whoever was not friendly to that situation. They either had to leave, or they had a short life, put it that way. Yeah short lived. (Yeah.) Are they gonna go back to the concentration camp to re educated about the communist government. She's doing that so not just Vietnam No, that was that there wasn't a lot of that was a lot of place (yeah, I'm aware. I'm aware) that wasn't a lot that happened in a lot of places. So, so you guys go from Vietnam. And you go to Thailand. Right? We stay there for two years. in Thailand, somehow, the documents. Yep, we missing some documents, and we have to go back. But, but that time. They say you guy have to go back because we're gonna we're gonna help you guy when you got back to your country. So, basically like trust the UN, which we trust the UN, you know maybe the US government. The United Nations in Thailand told you to go back to your country, and then they would help you to get the proper documentation to leave correctly. Gotcha. (Yeah) that's very, very interesting. So in 2004. To 2004 We're finally here in New York. (Yeah. How old were you hi) I never forgot. Probably 18. When you finally (team), and you finally got here? Wow! (Yeah) so it took a very long time,( I think, 18 or 17. Man, that's a very very long time) 15, even 15, or 16, I don't remember about that Yeah but even if it's 15 years that's a long time like it didn't happen overnight between the time that you went back to Vietnam, until the time that you came here it's over a decade, it's over 10 years. (Yeah.) So in that, in that timeframe. The, the goal for your family was we got to get out of here the whole time. No. The goal was, my, my dad was just. Okay. We like as the parents. They told me that they want to sacrifice their life for our future. Yeah, because, well, I'm in my family we have four kids, you know, we still young and we have a better future if we got into America. So that's why we come to America, but is not what my parents expected, expected. Don't they want us to become successful like lawyers, they had a different idea and they are you know how Asian, you know you know how Asian is like most of the parent, Asian parent, is most, most likely like that but my mom is just told me, Hey, you can you just do what, whatever you want. (Yeah) so it's just certain points you understand after that, it's not just Asian, it's, it's, there's a lot, a lot of people share that same idea. And, you know, my family's from the Middle East. So there's very similar perspectives. I have people from friends from all over the world and I hear very similar story. When, when people migrate to this country, and they sacrifice so much. They just expect their kids to go into the same process as they normally would back home or what they thought they would do. Right, so you get here, and you're about 15 years old. You spent a large portion of your life in Vietnam. Right. You come here and do you have an idea in your mind that you want to go into design? or what do you like what do you do when you get here? You're thinking yourself I want to go into design or what do you like at 15 years old 16 years old? Do you have any idea what you want to do your life? Well, I have no idea what I want to do in my life but I know in fact that I know. I like fashion and design. Only into that. But most. I think I would rather to be free. Then just like somebody to control me when I work. You know I got used to that ideas of like the free freedom to express yourself, that is more. I think it's just more like for the fashion people they we enjoy that more than just, like, yes, of course you need to think about the purchase the money that you the salary that you're going to make right but most people I just feel like it's more like you are fully express yourself. If you want fully express yourself, the only thing that you need to do if you work for yourself. I understand, so (you know), your parents come here and you're 15 years old, where do you settle like where do you go? You go straight to Florida, you come to New York, like where do you go exactly? So my parents would stay here for a couple years in New York, Brooklyn, because my uncle, my uncle was live, live here in New York for like decades after we set out here just for a week. Next week my mom already start working.(That's crazy.) Just like you know some people would just come here just show like for a month, you know, but we basically come here with nothing. We don't have anything. The only thing that we carry is a lot of blanket. Yeah, because we know, New York is really cold. We bought some very deep deep blankets, from our country and is carried all the way here, that's pretty much we don't really have anything we basically we come here just bare hand, we don't have money, cash in hand, which is a couple 100 farm, my relative in the state, send it to us. (Wow.) And then we I remember, we got here, I think, on, on Tuesday or Wednesday. My mom already started working the next Monday. Crazy. Crazy. So your your your parents get here, your mom works almost immediately. Right. She works almost immediately. A next day like a few days later, she's already found a job. How many, how many family members, you guys are to get like? did you guys come with your mom? your dad? your brother? your brothers? like you have you have three brothers or do you have any sisters as well? No, we don't have sister. (Oh, brother.) Only Okay, I have three brothers, yeah entire family here, I gotcha. So you guys came here and got you guys came all together. (Yeah.) Gotcha. Okay, your mom finds a job. And then what's, what's the next few years look like for you before you decide you want to go into design. And then, I guess you apply for pens, you apply for the show. Tell me about the next couple years. And then what gave you the idea to go try to go to the show in order to follow your dream as a designer. Talk, talk a little bit more about that. So, so doing guys come and work in high school. And he was like a but I still want to love like design and nice clothes where I was just like, hey, but I need to make some money, right. I haven't. I don't speak. Zero English, when it came here was I only know how to say, I know. Yes, I don't know what to say. I've been up the dough wars. Stand high school for like almost a year, during the summer for a job. My uncle, Rick, Asian, I work in the Chinese gift, Chinese gift shop you know or a tourist shop like they sell key chains, or that kind of stuff like that for tourists, where was that? was that was that I was that new? on on Broadway in Chinatown, (though) Chinatown in Manhattan so your, so your uncle had a gift shop and you work for him for a little while? And my uncle friend. (Yeah.) Yeah. I work there was just like, to organize our ship. We got pay only 25 bucks. Sometimes, like, but we have to sit outside, you know summer in New York is so humid. Yeah, it's so damn hot (yeah) it was I. Okay, cool. I'm just working for the summer, but that's a one time that during that time that's a FedEx, UPS guy. They were so hot. And then they delivery some of the package, through the store, and that guy told me like you see. To get a better education, you need to work better you can sit in office with the air conditioner, not sitting like this. It's so hot out here, man. And then you just click me. Just click me right away I was I just that I was a. I didn't complain that much. I didn't complain at all. I'm just like, hey, but this long hour but 25 bucks, I mean money you know you got to make you got to make what you want to make like 25 bucks, but I was like, oh, but I can get that pants with my this money I can get this hoodies, my own money, you know, get hustle, you know, (sure) whatever you you you go it just sucks sacrifice that for what what you want. (Sure.) So, basically work for like a couple years and do that I was like, hey, um, but my one of my friend was introduced me to break dancing. I was breakdancing doing the breakdancing we were ripping breakdancing in a while and then doing the holiday which is breakdancing on the train making money again hustle. (Wait, hold on) making money, it was like, (Wait, Hold on, hold on.) The guy, the guy that told you, you need to get a, you need to get an education. Hey, you got to get an education. Who was that guy that? What did he say to you exactly that was impactful like why did that stick with you? It was just the UPS guy or FedEx guy like why did he tell you why the random guy random guy? So what was it the way he said it? or what was what was why did it stick in your head like why was it so impactful? It must have been something about the way he said it because I think because I know I work more than 25 bucks a day. (Okay, you know i i know) more than that.(So-) more than that. So you were getting only paid 25 bucks a day. And this guy, and it was humid and hot horrible situation. And then you have the UPS or FedEx guy comes to you He goes, you see, you should get an education, or else you're going to be stuck here. And you're like, Yo, this dude is fucking right. This dude is right. Right. (Okay, yeah.) Yeah, when you, when, when you are really down. (Yeah,) you just feel like there's no hope. (Right,) yeah. that's just a voice like that, just a voice like that somebody walks some positive voice sure gonna stick with you right unblocking right away is gonna click, man. That's how I was like, man, he's damn right. So I think Do I need to. I think sometimes people take for granted what they say to other people. Sometimes Sometimes you say a lot to other people right you don't know what's gonna stick and what's not. But shit sometimes takes (right) the right. The Right Stuff sticks. Yeah. Okay, so you you're sitting, you're sitting there the guy's like, yo, you know, you got to get this education. It clicks in your head, then you start breakdancing for money in New York as well you started doing like your breakdancing and they were giving you like tips and shit. How long did you do that? I do that into I actually got into fashion school fit (in New York). How long, how long were you bringing (York) How long were you breakdancer like three to four years. (Wow) until they actually ban people that dance on a train. Wow. We got caught my, my crew got caught some more time. We're not allowed to dance, and, but I think during that experience. I had the best time of my life right having fun. (Yeah) I love having fun. I love what I do, and able to express myself, and I make money. That was the best time of my life, even though it's like, okay, the call you dance on the street is dirty, but who give a shit, you know, (yeah) like your joy, right there, that's your joy right there. And people didn't know that like breakdancing you can make, like, average 50 bucks, just one hour. (Thats crazy) That's what make 50 bucks an hour.(Yeah) that could be like a freaking. Is that gonna be a master degree? you're gonna make 50 bucks an hour. (Sure.) It was the best time of my life, if you're if you're really good, and you're a dancer or a musician in New York, you can make some money for sure. I see I seen it. Yeah, but I mean the the caveat to that is you got to be really good. So you do this for a few years and then what what in your mind, like why did you decide to go to fashion school, you just have a, like a passion for fashion like what is it? Um, which is like, I just know I just know that I want to do fashion, but I don't know how to start, or I don't know, I don't know what school. And then, just like doing that, dancing. After the New York City. They, they announced they banned the street dancer was just like on the train, we just, I just like okay, maybe it's time for me to just, you're not you're not gonna, you're not gonna dance in the rest of your life when you get older you (No) need to have like some financial freedom when you get older. So, wondering like hey, maybe this design stuff is gonna work, too. And I love design since I was little. And I love fashion, I realized this. And then I worked so hard for a portfolio to get into the school. (How did you know) I just got into the school. How did you know to put put put the portfolio together? was it required? you had to put, they told you you have to put a portfolio? That's, that's our requirement for certain started start a major in FIT. Sure, you need to finish that requirements on that. And, and then you have to go the interview. (Sure) the faculties, the chairperson in that, in that, in that score for that major particular major there moment when I got there, got there I got interview, face to face with the chairperson I show her the my portfolio. g smile at me. I really know I got into the school, (really). And then, After the interview, I give her a hug. He told me and I will see you again so. (Wow. That's dope.) I was so happy I was so happy. I was like, Damn, this is. But the thing is, I put a lot of time on that portfolio. and now I look back to my portfolio to enter the school that look like shit. Literally is my shit But hey, that is that is the progress net you just trust your journey. (Oh, no) you look back. People will say like, Don't look back to the past. It's good. Sometimes it's good to look back to the past, because the past will make you proud of what you are today. (Sure.) That's the part that's the part about documenting that. That's the part about documenting our growth as a business. I really enjoy. Sometimes I look back at the videos I look back at what we did in the past, and I'm like getting like damn that she feels like 10 years ago was like two years ago, you know. So, you handle.(Yeah) you hand her this portfolio, and you look at her face automatic she respond. You can see the look in her eyes like she, she liked what she saw. She must have been crazy to you because you you're standing out there Dancing in the Street, and you don't know what your future is going to look like and boom, you somebody just validated you from FIT top fashion want to top fashion schools in New York. So then, that's probably what sparked the, what clicked in your mind like I could do this. Right? Yeah. Yeah, again, because I always believed that. Well I'm. My family is really really religious family we are calculate and ever skip a Sunday trust a church into like I actually 18. Right, very strict. Mom only told me, pray. But, but what I respond to my mom and my grandma is. Yes. He would work if you put on on the work, put in the work why because if you believe. Yep. If you believe in, like, Whatever God, you are believe in. Right. you don't put on the work, God's not gonna give you that (sure) you need to have put on the work. And then, right. (So) what um yeah I always believe in that. So, in Islam, we have a very similar saying, very similar. It's, pray like you're gonna die today, and work like you're going to live forever. Pray like you're gonna die today.(Right) right, because if you pray like you're gonna die today you're gonna pray with all your heart, right, and then, and work like you're going to live forever. Put in that time and that passion into your work, because it could be something you'd buy the rest of your life. That's, that's back. Yeah, so you're, you get into fashion school. How do you? What's the next few years look? like give me a, give me an idea and tell and take me through the day you decided to to attempt to get into that show like What gave you the idea to apply for that show man? and, and, and also, and also take me through like the fashion school was it worth it? Could you probably have learned that in YouTube? Like was, was it worth the money and how much did it cost? fashion school when it is enter, I thought this is like the best school, the best because like, if you're slacking in the school you're thinking this, this is like a regular college, you're wrong, because that's a lot very competitive.(Sure) in design you know anybody wants to be the best in the design and go particular like all the designs go majority they are oversee they have a lot of, like, foreign students come here to you basically compete compete with the world. (Right) In this like fashion school. And, yeah, I was trying really hard, and I'm always late, like the last person that left the studio. So the studio and the score they close at 2am in the morning, are always the last one that left into like the security common knock to your door, your studio, you're gonna leave on what 2am in the morning. So, basically packed up, like, I've been doing that for the past. I think four years, like, keep cooking, aka sharpening my crab in design, and then one of my friend who told me and I hey, you should apply for Pensole. Um, if you don't know about Pensole, Pensole is one of the best sneaker design school in the world right now. If you really want to learn snicker, that is the school for you. So so so real quick what what is Pensole? Let's, for those of you that don't know what Pensole is. I just want to get a little bit of a description on what Pensole is your friend told you to apply for Pensole, which is what exactly what is? Yeah, what is it? So, so I was really into sneaker, at first I was very into handbags, I were making handbags design handbag. I was like, really into that for a year and a half, and then I my transition to footwear. Um, I saw that as a sneaker design I think it's so cool and I look at the market it's like, Man, you know, like how young designer, are the two are the new beginner designers like men like I can do better than this. I can design better, but you don't realize, that is the bigger world a big, very sophisticated, like, very difficult industry sure now like he was like, I can do better than it Why don't they do that? Okay, let's, let's do that let me challenge myself, (right) do this, I can do this. And I'm, I've been sketching sneaker a lot during the school time and one of my friend no Pensole and it was like hey do you have you heard about Pensole? They are very good at teaching sneaker. In that during that time, there was only doing sneaker culture material designer and brand marketing. Three category (so they're like, they're like) pencil they're like the fashion design school for sneaker design. Is that correct? right but I wouldn't put pencil and fashion of schools when I first fashion is more like emotional. (Sure) yes but sneaker, um, yeah. So I applied, so I i based on basically I just like okay I'm so excited about this school. um, and you can free scholarship, one if you got picked by the founder, the wing network that do a sketch that you send it to them. They certain time of the year they have a program that collaborate, collaborate with the big brand like Asics, Jordan, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, every brand that you imagine like in the market like the big brand. So who's drinking a lot with them? who's doing that? who's Dwayne Edwards? Who is he exactly?(The guy who started pencil) Who's that? who's that? the way at work is the legendary designer, was the one of the Jordan, and one of the designers that design for Jordan, Michael Jordan was one of the best mentor, he's a he's Um, I think he changed my life. He, like he the one that I only look up to. I just feel like I want to go back there again, because I want, I want to feel that surround with the people that have the passion, like you not love the corporate people, you know, (right) okay, you come here to learn, you're not just learned about design, you're not going to just teaching you like good designer, he gonna teach you how to be a better person, that is very important, that schools don't really teach you that okay school. I you go to class, cool. If you don't, cool. Because they already got the money from you, you know, I'm the school. That is like in college, are you responsible or your, your actions. That's why school it's cool like FIT what I learned from FIT is the fundamental, the basics like for you to go to the next level. School cool but I'm not a fan of school, I just feel like if you really want to what you do in this like 21st century like everything is invaluable for you. Sure, I'm just wondering like, okay, like, why school Don't be cheaper, like, can they be cheaper, why they keep getting more expensive because the cost. That's, that's a hottest state. That's a whole different conversation, right, the whole politics behind school costs is great is crazy. (Yeah) so, so the Dwayne Edwards, sounds like he's, He's like an industry person, he's created sneaker designs for Jordan Brand like you said, then he goes on to start the school called Pensole. And you, and then a friend of yours. Tells you like look man if you really into sneaker design, why don't you apply to that school. Then there's a scholarship, so you apply to that school, and this is like a school where they they teach the design of sneaker but it seems like it's a little bit more detail, like the guy's like a mentor to everybody that's there. Right. Gotcha. So, so then you apply to the school. After fashion school because it taught you the basics. But how did you get into, like, how did how does the show come into place. I got into Pensole like my first program, but introduced me to Pensole words. Asics collaboration with Pensole and the second one I got into again. New Balance that would Pensole. Last time I was doing a collaboration with like a basketball player that signed with Under Armour so I have a chance to design for Under Armour that project. And I was like, not sure about what I wanted to do. This is why he wants to sit, looking for a challenge. This is while you're going to pencil you're getting opportunities to design for Asics, for New Balance while you're going to that school. you're already in the school. Is that what it is? No, No, I was like, I was still in fashion school and FIT. (Got it) and have it, got it right and I apply. Blackboard because that every time they have a program of collaboration with the bigger brands (yes) so what their requirement is you submit one of the sketch. (Yes) that they can go through that sketch and it's all without color. So, with all your original design,(sure.) Oh, that's a lot of like 1000s of people that apply for around the world, not just in the state. Um, and then yeah, they pick like selected. I think 20 somethings sometime it depends on the program. 20 something, sometimes 30 something, you get into like all met up at the headquarter of Pensole, which is in Portland, Oregon, and then you over there you compete with each other around the world. I only love that energy competition and that's why I keep coming back because I just feel like the benefit of Pensole that helped me to be a better person that I was from like last couple years, so only come back and I love the passion that all the candidates that come to Pensole that they have the same passion, drive the same passion, motivation, they inspire you. we just basically inspire each other. you don't see that in the fashion school right (absolutely) you don't see that in the school that much. So, so, you, you, you, you get an opportunity to design for some of these people, and they picked out. This is why you're going to fit fit fashion it's fashion school right, you get an opportunity to design for these many pick 20 designs, was one of those 20 designs one of your designs? Yes, they pick one of this and if they got free scholarship to go to Pensole come to know not from FIT that is like subgrade fit it's just like a school that I was studying in school (I understand that), but that Pensole it just, I go to celebrate the program, I got connected, I think I got, I got you. So, okay, so you're you're designing, your design gets chosen, take me through the relationship between pencil, the show, and how that like Lace Up how you get into that because I don't see the connection. What's the connection there? Oh, the connection was like, okay, they own, they have another like coming up like a year, I think have a year later, (yeah) or apply for the show. (Uh huh.) I was like, is that gonna be a longer time because the regular pencil program is only like a couple of weeks, but this is like three months. Right, for the show, do that for the show, three months. And, and you sign a lot of papers. A lot of interview, but how did you did, How did you find out about the show? and how, How did you know to apply? it just like they did on Instagram. I got so they just yeah they have an ad, and that ad to say, oh, apply for the show for the first sneaker show ever I was like, Oh, This is called a new challenge for me. (Sure.) Um, I just want to see like, oh, what's up with this kind of show like (I gotcha), and this is the new, the first sneaker show. I was I let me do this. And then I just sketch one of my original design that and send it to, they that the process took like months. Pick actual person, like the selected person, go to Portland Oregon's this Pensole, this, this show this show is more of a collaboration with Adidas. Got it. So Pensole, you took Brett. (Yes) he does. (Yeah) so that it was like they did a lot of interview and then just, like, then when you get the discus selected you thought you got selected right. They're gonna book the ticket for you to fly to Portland, stay in that hotel. Think for weeks, because they want to see how you react. I think they they're testing you like they just knock you in the hotel room is doing this time they cannot every time you go anywhere. A person follow you. We have a psychology test IQ test. I was like, this doesn't connect it to what I apply for, I didn't know like we don't know like psychology test, what is this IQ test? what is this? We're just like, Okay, this is kind of string. Yeah, and just block us into the hotel room and they keep interviewers. so there was a there was a vetting process, you will apply, you put in your design, through pencil, which is kind of like, you go there for two weeks and you get training on how to design sneakers. They, they put out this ad that they're going to have a show, you put it you submit your design. Ayt. I guess you get chosen to go out to Portland they fly you out, you go, you go to Portland. Right. And in that, in that timeframe. You don't know if you're picked or not, they're vetting you they're giving you a psychology, they still giving you tests. They want to make sure you're a stable person, because these are major corporations right they can't hire somebody that's unstable, do something crazy. Right? Right. I didn't know about that into like the day that for the final selection (yeah) in the Adidas headquarter. So, Dwayne and Adidas basketball director him up to to say, they call your name, select which one go, which which one in his team. So a team of three right that's the marketing designer, there's a color material designer. I'm a designer, like footwear designer. So that's three have to work together. Some didn't get selected on that day, got sent home. So you basically spend months, through the process. The process, they put you in a hotel for months, months, four months, I'm not gonna put you in a hotel like the process is like, to the design, the interview, when while you whatever your location is right for four months from, I remember was like. By the end of last year to beginning of the new year. That was I took place. And you have to submit one of your work. So I met one of my hand, make shoes, boots that submitted. Some people submit the artwork, some people submit the, the mood board for the colors I submit the actual physical book that I hand, I personnel had met them in, in the school in FIT. So, I was like, great communication that's, I got compliments from the developer, director, some designer that really like what I did and then. On that day, they basically call your name, the moment that he called my name. I was like, Yes, I did it. That's my name and then some people like some people already couldn't handle that they didn't get paid. They were just crying. I didn't, I feel bad for that for those people, because that's kind of harsh man like you don't know into you, the final day you already. They flew you out from whatever location you are coming to Portland. And then, plop yourself awake in the hotel, and then they give you the final on that spot that's kind of sad, how many people? (a lot of) how many people were in the hotel? How many did not get picked? Um, how many? there's 14. So, well, that was 18, but only the only the only 12 people that pick. Got it. So that so the five, the final 18, they had selected 18 people, they didn't know which 18. They wanted to let you guys a little bit more so they gave you all these tests, a couple weeks, I put you up in a hotel, and then they decided okay we're going to pick 14 of these 18 people. Okay. What, what goes on from the beginning episode? like real quick I just want to make sure that people, I just want to make sure people know the show that we're talking about guys is called Lace Up, it's, it's on YouTube, you just do do a search on YouTube for lace up, it's actually it was part of YouTube's reds programming, like it's actually a premium add on our bio, the YouTube has like a non paid section(and you pay for.) But you have to pay to watch all the episodes. I think the first episode is free, but you have to watch, you got to pay to watch the rest of them. I actually paid to watch the whole thing by the way at the time. Thank you, man. Thank you so much for your support. I didn't even know I was supporting you. I just thought the show was like really really cool. I thought the idea of having a design company for sneakers. I mean I've always loved I love design bro i mean that's that's just the truth. So for me to see like a competition about sneaker design. I thought that was very interesting, very interesting. So if you guys want to check it out it's it's on YouTubes on YouTube reds called lace up. All right, again ness Nestor was one of the contestants on there. He got chosen from literally, I don't know how you would say, around the world, all around the world, people are submitting designs. If anybody ever wants to be a sneaker designer, you're literally submitting these designs and hoping that you're going to get chosen. He's one of 14 people that's on there, take me through day one episode one to episode eight I want to understand what you know this is like a dream come true for you, bro. I know that because that validation that you get in an environment like that to be to be picked from that group of people and to know that you're good enough, coming from where you came from. That was gonna be huge for you, bro. Huge. But that just felt like I never be good enough. When you, the moment you step into pencil. Yeah, you just feel like, No man, that's a different world out there. Sure. Well you have to, like, if you I think if you think you are the best in college, and shit yeah see, I don't call it this is that, and shit. Okay, so great and shit in design. So I look at things like this, you probably got five seconds of validation and then you're back to work. So that's, that's the way. Yeah, yeah like this is dope I just want to now I'm going to work 10 times harder that's the way I view things. It sounds like that's the way you view things. So, you looked at it from a very humble perspective that you got chosen for one of those people tell me what you're telling me what goes on through your head for the, for the first episode, and try to give me an understanding. You know how the show progresses, and it gets to the ending, I'd like I'd like to get your because I seen the show and if you guys want to watch it you can watch it yourself, but I want to know the show through your eyes. What is it, how did you how did that experience work for you. You know, for us, like, people don't get it, like, one episode is only 45 minutes right. Yeah, but think about it, we shoot the entire week, just for 45 minutes sure every project. Every project, you saw 45 minutes is the whole, the whole process is like the entire week in that 45 minutes, Shawn so a lot of things that cut off, you know, um, but the moment when I get in, like, announce that I got selected by a leader, director, right footwear director. I remember that was 9am in the morning. And then we got back to pencil work right away. Wow, we work into. Wow, into 4am in the morning. Wow. So, because I was sleep there, if I, if I could, because but they're not allowed to because it's by law, you need to leave your studio. Well, you're not allowed to stay over. Um, so, and then I sleep, I woke up at seven. The first day we're like, Ah, this shit better be worth it. Because this is only three hours sleep. Yeah, you're meant mentally exhausted. Right, yeah. And then you fix it go like this better be worth it, man. Otherwise, if I just kept speaking to myself like this better be worth it. But pencil was the regular, normal program from pencil is like the same intense like that, but it is the way too much, because every time you go to the restroom there's a person that follow you. You're not allowed to dress a certain stuff, because if you wear logo they're gonna put the tape over the logo and. And when you do research, you're not allowed to use Google, you use the.com, that they give it to you, because those are PE image, because everything. There's a lot of restriction people don't know about that. Um, everything that you every time that you use a celebrity image you can pay them a couple 1000s. Um, you're not allowed to use whatever that Rep. And then they, they have they have a team that go through your entire project to see like, Oh, this is like, Oh, we, we, you're not allowed to use this image, or you're not allowed to use this logo, like very, like, very strict, and that were my first time experience that right I was like, because you so comfortable, like now people just do like they just slap on like when they do design it just. Okay, just ordered design slap on but they don't really go through the, The. What is the vetting process. So that's a that's a legal process that you have to go through to finish the project, you need to like in college, you have to keep the credit to whatever source that you find on the internet, show that in our show. Because you're on a big screen that wise, like they have the entire legal team that look at your project at the whole right they kind of source out. Oh this is, you're not allowed to use this picture you, you're not allowed to use this. That's a lot of restriction into that show. Um, but my first episode, I remember was like, Damn, like, a lot of people they don't really, because the camera, follow you. As the time, every time like you just stand up and walk, they will follow you, and they give you a mic. Everything you talk, they're gonna hear gonna record it sure they can hear everything right that's a, that's a sound guy. That's a hot dog, the steak, keep recording you. And that's it's like, man, I never feel that pressure right so much pressure, and you have a time, a deadline, everything you do have a deadline right. Um, the first project was very intense. Um. That was like, I think. I keep telling myself, I keep motivated myself that you're not allowed to call your family members. They keep all your phone away in the, in the, in the safe case. They for how long do they keep your phone for but during the entire shooting. That's crazy. Now only give you like certain timeline, you can have like 30 minutes to call, call you member, like a family member and then or whatever you want to call and then they kind of take back, take your phone back. Wow. I was like, but I usually when I focus on my thing. I don't really care who I, I, I don't even use my minutes, because they give you some minutes that you I allow you to call your family member right. I don't even use. I would use my minister. All right, whatever, because I want to just like, I want to finish the show to show my family, you know, not just like doing the process that I'm show in the middle of the wild I haven't achieved it yet. Yeah, you had you had an intended goal, and your focus your focus, you had something to prove yeah I have something to prove. And I just pocket. And then that entire. The first episode were very intent because I'm keep motivating myself, because I don't, I don't know, this is so new to me. But after the first episode. I don't want to say what happened in every episode, but you just got to watch it as three, the first episode is free, so watch it. Um, so, but the team is kind of hard, like, because, like, that's it. That's another two people in your team right in, in the school. They don't teach you teamwork. They don't teach you that, and people just have so much pride in the school. Sure. I was like, you're not allowed to tell me this is your desire not that good. While you tell me that right. I'm better than you. Or you copy mine, whatever, but here in pencil his own way like, you've got to have teamwork, showing you success or failure is in your team. It's a show it show your work. If you have bad communication with the team. Like, Muslim, communication or you have some argument or against his charter some price, he got like you, you're going to lose. So, as far as I didn't expect anything like oh this to people around the world like from out of state. I never met them before like how can I work with them but I I am a. I'm very easy on myself. Self selfless, like I willing to sacrifice myself to work with people, in order to achieve the goal of one. I mean everybody wants right in the same team. So, I'm more like that. So I have, I was saying that I usually tell the people that I work with. I say, a corporation is a is a cooperation. Yep, if you if you don't have a you if you don't have people that you cooperate with. In order to achieve a goal. You can't have an organization. Right. No, so that's why I'm. That's why you know whatever your feelings are on corporations, whatever anybody thinks about them. That's why they rule the world. Right. They write, they run things because they cooperate, and they are organized in order to achieve a goal. So because of that. Right. You know, I usually like in what we do to the cooperation aspect of it. If you don't have a cooperation you don't you cannot you can't when you're fighting against companies that are organized and they're cooperating with each other to win it no matter how good you are as a designer. It doesn't matter how good, great is there's a lot of great designers that are not successful. There's a lot of, there's a lot of great businessmen, that are also not successful. Right. There's that there's a lot of people that are content, creating great content that they're not organized enough to produce that content in consistency. So they don't, they don't reach they don't reach that goal. It's very important. So that's what that's what a corporation. That's what a cooperation does it bridges your weaknesses and your strengths, with somebody else yeah show as it will show, it's very very difficult for some people to get over themselves and put their arrogance aside and work with somebody else, very difficult for some people that the biggest problem is actually the ego cannot let go of their ego. So yeah, very interesting. So you're, you're, you're into Episode One, it takes like all week long to shoot a 45 minute episode is eight episodes so it's like eight weeks. Right, right, without ruining ruining the show for everybody. Yeah right cuz, some people may want to tune in and watch it which is very interesting, take me through your experience, right, because I want to get into that. So, That is That process is very different from the fashion design school and footwear design school because fashion is more like okay I feel, I feel this colors. It's nice, right. I feel this, this design look nice. But it doesn't happen based on facts, you know, in pencil. What the Wayne taught me was like, Okay, what is this design connected to your story. It's very important people don't know that, right, people just think when they see the market there was like, Oh, this is like trash, like basically you just look at a static of the design. You just say it's trash, you don't even know the whole story behind it, the entire process that how it's come up with this design. Sure, so I didn't learn that into I actually come to pencil but doing that I have a lot of struggle because I'm based on like, Hey, I feel these slides nice man just put the lines there. Okay this. This color is nice, I like this, colors, nice. Just put the lines there, but just put use this color red. But in pencil was like everything have to have a reason. There's a purpose, right, is a purpose on that everything. Um, either your design lines have to be functional, or the material have to connect it to your story, and also functional and also connected to the story but you don't have to entire design have to connect to the story, certain, certain elements that connected to the story. Right. That's how the way you're telling the story, like maybe you were talking about like, I use red color because the story is, for example right red colors is for the holiday season. And this. This person is love holiday because the holiday is connected to his or whatever gathering, family members, that's what he loved about family, so the red color is represent for this, for him, when you design a person is different, you know, and you see that, okay, maybe I'm these colors. Maybe this basketball shoes, this lie is the straight line like this, like, like Angular lines, because he's the directional person, you know like, the directional lines, and how you showed it on a design, there's a lot of complicated things that, like, they're gonna drain your energy though when you have to think you need to bring emotional attaches to your product. Like, why would I buy a product, because, oh, this, this desire represent for victory. You know I want to work hard for, I want to I want to be a victor. Though this desire represent me, you know, so I it's connected. It's very important to connect emotional attach it to the this, the story and tell that simple design. Yes, like the whole next level, you don't really see it in whatever in social media like social media, they designer they done like you, they, they just okay. I like this architecture. I like this street. That's why I use this color from the street, the architecture I inspire from death, but what your purpose. Your purpose on that chord you have an inspiration. But what your statement from this design. The purpose on this design, you know, because if you've got inspired from architecture everybody can do that, you know like, Okay, got it, architecture, design, like I got the color inspiration from the pizza cool but what you why. Why would I buy your, a bigger purpose than just a pizza, you know, color pizza thing like that that's that's a narrative that I'm seeing across all all products now storytelling. And that storytelling is so important. Even in the retail aspect. When you put together a store, you have to think about what the story is for a section of the product. What is the story behind this section of the store. This section of the store, this table. This retail display, we're using storytelling everywhere. So, yeah, the cop PLP sure want to purchase Absolutely. So, yeah. So, I want to I want to talk a little bit more about. I feel like the show is good you guys gonna watch it no matter what. But I want to talk about your, your role, and how it ended. And what your thoughts are on that. Right. The show goes through it goes through eight episodes, and at the end of the show, three other people, three of the contestants are chosen right to work for Adidas as sneaker designers. Right, without, without giving away the bag. I want to tell, I want to talk about that. So, you were not chosen as one of those people, for me, for me. You were the best designer on that show. Like, there's no question. Thank you. Yeah, and I, I'm telling you this from the perspective of somebody that buys, and I've been buying for, I don't know 20 years. So, I knew quickly I thought, I mean you had it in the bag. Based on what I saw and the creativity that you had. I said this guy's like, he's not, he's not the loudest one in the room by his design aesthetic is so consistent that he's gonna knock it out of the park and one way or another, he's gonna, he's gonna walk away with it so I was very surprised at the end, when you were not chosen. Let me ask you, an honest question. Were you were you also surprised. Hmm. I haven't been about that in a while. The show has been three years, um, but I I know that, um, but a lot of people told me behind state. A lot of people told me that I want. But I just realized, but the action show the entire thing. I just feel like the experience for me, because I achieved something that I never done it before. Sure, I'll first of course when I announced the winner. Our sat a little bit. Only that like a day after I a week, I just go back to my normal life right and I look back I was like, hey, but I compete. That's the people that have more experience than me. Sure, I'm just a frickin student. The people that own a store a shoe store, they run the company. Like, I wouldn't know shit I just, I haven't been at the school. Okay, I'm still taking classes in the school, I was like, so you want. You want no matter what I want that no matter what. Yes. I haven't had i the only thing that I have is my internship, from the whatever from the score that I got right. I want no matter what. And I told my myself was like damn remember an ester. The first day you say this shit. That'd be worth it because you sleep only three hours. Yeah This dish is, it's worth it. You know, you know that's worth it. You know what's interesting. You ever watch a boxing match. When, when you know one of the guys won, but he loses, and they pick another guy, but everybody knows that that guy was supposed to win he ends up being the winner. You understand that oh yeah because they began, because they don't agree with the judges. The judge, right, the judge in your scenario is not the people who chose the winners. The judges was the public. It was the people watching the show, the public, right, it was the people like myself, that paid to watch it. So you got my vote. All right. Thanks man. Yeah, yeah, I was like that that show was like drawing a lot of energy, a lot, a lot of energy, because we I but the thing is like if I want to do it again. I will do it. You know because I've already done it once. Why not the second one so you know the second one would be little. So the sneaker industry is like a $55 billion industry, I don't know, it's more than 55 billion at this point, but it's it's such a huge industry it's so iconic right you know everything that design revolves around shoes first, you know your outfit revolves around your shoes first. So, I find it hard to believe that the show would the amount of views that it had a lot of views man. Right. Yeah, millions of views, millions of views, New Orleans yeah absolutely it was it was relatively successful so why don't we see a season two like what's it what's the issue. Why, why aren't they putting out a second season. Oh, you gotta ask Dewayne man, pencil, photograph. I have no idea I have no control with that, but it's kind of crazy when the first episode launch. Um, there's a lot of common right people comment right. Sure. Um, I see a lot of people were talking trash about a show, and they say like, Hey, why don't you call whenever tell they order like custom designer or whatever like they just, you know how the current designer, they just some of the designer, they just paint the Air Force One. So, it just split like Ray Ray introduced the new material or the color blockings to the design to the existing design. Basically they don't really think about the existing design right they just flick the color whatever material on there was trashing our show. All the normal people they don't know about that, they just trashing our show, but they don't know. It's not hurting me. But it's hurt all the people that who run the show, you know like the people that behind the state, you know, it's not hurting me because I seen. to me that I look at negative feedback as as a positive feedback, it is there watching me like, because I face, like, so I've been facing my family like like that for my entire childhood. So, if your family can couldn't bring you down. Nobody is going to bring you down. Sure, you know, nobody is going to drag you down. So I look at that. And people don't realize it's like, we put a lot of work and we have a lot of restriction, and some designs that look good, like you would think, Okay, this is the final design. Yeah, but the person you you're not allowed to pick the final design. Sure. Like, like you're not allowed to do that somebody else's somebody else's picking the final design. Right then, I understand. But, but it just I just hope like people would appreciate the work I didn't tie a team, I think men, when it comes to social media in this day and age, everybody's got something to say, I don't think, I don't think negative feedback is actually negative. I think the fact that though, I think the fact that they're watching means that they're watching, make care. Yeah, they care, and at the same time I think we're living in a world of trolls peep this is what this is what people do they go online is literally like what people do, so they know their opinions don't really matter. I think the opinions of the people actually doing something is the opinions that matter. Right. Um, yeah, what some of the contestants that you were with. Did anybody end up taking that that win and really really cemented themselves as a designer. Some of these guys got chosen to be yeah does design is somebody that moved on into a real position in design. Yes. And the winner was Cheetah Cheetah footwear designer in that team. Yeah. She currently working at Adidas form, we still contact, she's great man she she's talented girl. So, she's very talented. And also, like I love to see like woman of colors in the design industry like special sneaker that's inspiring you know like I like to see that more. I like to see if my rd, like, be in the on the on the higher positions showed a big company shrink. Um, yeah I love that that's keeping aspiring we keep contacting like trumping each other about not about design, about enterpreneurship. Yeah. So, you, you, you're, you're a humble guy man. You are, You didn't take it. Somebody would have taken that situation. And they wouldn't they work in bitter about it. You know why I was not chosen, why was not chosen why was not chosen. You take it you take in the situation and, you know, I feel like you're, you're handling it well. Despite the fact that it's a couple years ago, it doesn't matter. What matters is that people really believe that you want it. And the fact that you're able to handle it that way that's, that's a testament to your character so that's pretty dope. I mean, it is what it is, I think, just like people just don't. It's not about winning or losing you know don't get me wrong I were upset when, then when they announced the winner I was upset. I remember I literally like couldn't couldn't stand. I have to hold my, my teammate shoulder. Because, because I thought that my last desire was like damn them, like, even in the industry they never nobody done it before, you know, never done that storytelling that design language in basketball court. Nobody had done it before you know. Um, but, hey, but this other that week I'm like, Man, I'm still a winner man I'm competing with like the people that actually run the, the footwear company already successful. That person is the CEO and founder of the company. And this guy was I already work in the industry like, Yo, I'm, I'm nobody but I got some shit on my shoulder so I'm good. That's dope, like that is. But I thought I was like, Okay, let's get back to the grinding, you know, you kind of really think about that too much. It is what it is. In the end of the day, you need to set another goal. Absolutely no, I was setting the article right away like after that, like working on my portfolio, do some feel and saying, this quick man just like you keep, keep, keep doing what you say it's consistency, absolutely key. Absolutely. a lot of people just, yeah just. They only consist certain months. They don't consistent more like they don't have the consistency like road, years. Absolutely. So, for those of you that want to follow nesters work and get to know him a little bit more, what's your what's your ID handle, where can they see some of your work. Um, my ID is nest, bang, and STP aka n on big. Um, I don't really post a lot of. I'm the person that don't post a lot of my work, because I don't like to do to let people know what I working on, and all I until it actually, I got there I will show people. It's more impactful than just yo today I working on a show just gonna show it there. I'm not like that kind of person you know. Sure. So let me have better let me ask you this, after the show you've moved on. What's next for you, bro. What next. Currently I'm, I'm more like, get into market, stock market. Because COVID timing, you know, I think it's the best time that happened to me. I'm more like focused disciplined. Before that I would spend, I used to spend money you know now I want my money work for me money. Born money. I don't want just make money and just spend it. I want money make money so I'm now I'm focused on stock market is that's the best time right now in my opinions, and now I'm working on a YouTube channel. So what's the what's the channel talking about his nest Fang, and he s Phan. I'm going to talk about design. Like stylings fashion. talk about footwear review. So that masa that and in the future I have a lot of gold, but I don't want to tell people yet into actually a cheap that, um, that's me I don't like to share like every step, I want to when I get there I will share to you guys. It's more impactful that's what I always. Until it actually, I got there, I will show people, it's more impactful than just, yo, today I'm working on a show. Just gonna show it there. I'm not like that kind of person, you know? Sure. Um, so so let me have better let me ask you this after the show you've moved on. What's next for you, bro? What next? Currently, I'm more like get into market stock market because COVID timing, you know, I think it's the best time that happened to me. I'm more like focused disciplines. Um, before that I would spend I used to spend money you know, now I want my money. work for me. Money born money. I don't want just make money and just spend it. I want money make money. So now I'm focused on stock market is that's the best time right now in my opinions. And now I'm working on a YouTube channel. So what's the what's the channel talking about? Is nest Fang and he s PHAN. I'm going to talk about design like stylings, fashions, talk about footwear review. So that most of that and in the future, I have a lot of goal, but I don't want to tell people yet and to actually achieve that. Um, that's me. I don't like to share, like, every step I want to when I get there, I was shared to you guys. It's more impactful. That's what I always. So what we're gonna we're gonna drop that in the description section of the video. Right? If you guys are listening to this on Spotify, SoundCloud, or you're watching this on YouTube, just hit the description section of the video, it'll take you to his YouTube channel, you could check out his channel, take it to his Instagram, he doesn't post a lot of design stuff on there. I think his YouTube channels really ways focuses attention on so you're you're working on? Yeah, I post I post my video every single week, every single week. That's your consistency. Every week. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I as new is the new channel. But I just want to let's see how I can consistent post every content every single week. Let's see how it goes for the last three years. No, that's dope. I'm gonna do that. Not a lot of people. Not a lot of people approach a scenario with a three year projected, projected outcome. They approach a scenario with a one with a one day projected outcome. So yeah, oh my god. You see a lot of people on that, like the new because the COVID a lot of people, like actually invest in stock right now. Sure. There's a lot of beginner like, they invest. They just write like, yo, they can handle the rest day. How can you have like, if you can't handle a red day, then you're never gonna see the Green Day, you know? Sure. You got to be able to deal with the loss. That's a lot of people. So what do you talk about? Do you talk about any stock tips you go into? investing or trading in there? No, on your channel? It sounds like you're passionate about that. You should be more focused on that man. Yeah, but I want I want to have multiple streaming like income. I don't want just one. Because the COVID now is like, okay, design, but a lot of people got laid off, you know, chum, you need to think about like, multi income sources. You can't really survive like now it's like, you can't really rely on one of the companies that you work for, because I'm one of my Dewayne antwort taught me this. I never forgot, right? When you work for a company, there's a deadline for you. You have to finish that on the deadline. They don't care. They don't care if you get hit by the train, the car whatever that you have to finish that submit that project on that deadline. Because in the end of the day, that deadline already there you have to finish it and if they want to fire you no matter how hard you work, when they fire you they will fire you they don't care. It's all about money right? In the in the big company. A corporate is all about money to them. They don't care that that you work your ass off. You literally don't care if you saw a lot of contact with him a guide when no one once in a while I contact him like during the beginning of the COVID I just because I, I just even though we, I don't know, I just like, love to the connection with pencil because they taught me a lot. I like extremely appreciate what you're doing. And the whole team in pencil taught me, like, put the design out of sky net ready? Well, no in design industry already, but as a person. Sure, you know, they taught you a lot. It's very important that you hold on to the right relationships, for sure. Right? Yeah, that's life. Life is a it's not just, you know, those relationships can benefit you. I think those relationships are there. They're mutually beneficial. You get to know each other more. So if you guys, so if you guys are watching this show, right now, if you tuned in to another episode of the hustle, man, you're watching my man Nestor fan. He's a designer, he's a sneaker designer. He loves to create. He's a YouTube, he's got a YouTube channel. On the show isn't the show is intended, really to inspire people, right? on how they're moving with their life. Right? That's what the theme of the show is. Right? Because everybody's got a hustle. You know, your hustle may be different than the next guy. But at the end of it, we all got a hustle, right? So if somebody is watching this 18 year old kids, 17 year old 16, whatever it is, he's watching this right now. What advice would you have to give them as a designer? What would you give them? What's the best advice you can give somebody? I got it, I got a better way of putting that you ready? I got a better way. Let's, let's say you walked into that store, where you work for $25 a day. And you saw you what what advice would you give that kid? If you knew that kid wanted to go into design? Um, I would, I would say that to my close friend as well. Like, I only give advice to them. Um, you have when you born in America, you're ready to have your day you're ready hit a lottery. Absolutely. You know, that's a lot. That's a lot of there's a lot of people are suffering around the world, you know, like, don't just take it, I think that you have in your family that for granted. appreciate what you have. If you want to, like be whatever you want to be man in America, there's no, there's no, there's no law for to stopping you. What you want to do in your life, you know, you have the freedom away, you know, freedom of choice, which is a big deal. You have a freedom of choice, you know, um, you know, like, our country we don't have absolutely or Freedom, freedom of speech. Don't take that freedom of speech for granted as well be what you want to be just. But I understand that, right? A lot of time, I felt like, a lot of time I took the first step. It's very hard, man, first step is extremely hard. You only think them I'm gonna do it. Tomorrow, I'm gonna do it. Just fucking do it. You know, that's how Nike slogan is just do it. It's very hard, it's the first step is extremely hard. When you finish the first step, you're gonna be like, Yo, I can, I've seen this once, I can see this twice. I can finish the third time. Repeat that process. Just Just go that's my advice. Get more younger, yeah, keep moving. It doesn't matter. Um, also Don't, don't caught up with social media. When you see a lot of Instagram designer, they draw a lot of cool shit, you know, like, just be focused on Yo, yo, you know, they draw a lot of cool stuff. Cool. But don't caught up to that. Don't look at that to influence your originality from design. You know, you're definitely gonna get influenced from whatever the market is. They have design, but don't look at that. Too much. Try to avoid social media as much as you can. Especially on this specialty. Like, if I'm a footwear designer, or a sensory designer, I will not look at footwear, whatever, designer on Instagram. I will try boys that. Um, I would focus on me. Because everybody unique. Individual, you know, sure heavy body unique. You cannot dislike your fingerprint. Sure. So don't lose that. Don't lose that uniqueness. So one of the things I respect about Nestor is he's authentically him. That's a very interesting thing. You don't find a lot of authenticity these days. I feel like people are, they're moving in different directions. This the channel is intended to inspire you to move forward and whatever your hustle is. This guy comes from Vietnam. His mom gets on a plane, she moves him into Thailand, they go back to Vietnam. They come to America at the age of 15. He works in the city, making $25 an hour. He breakdancers for money. He goes to fashion school lands a position or Lanza an opportunity to create sneakers for one of the biggest sneaker designers in the industry. I don't know, man. That's, that's, that's why I wanted to have you on the show, bro. That's that's the hustle. That's the definition of the hustle, man, dude. So listen, I want to thank you. I want to I don't know, man, I want to thank you for being on here. I know you're very humble guy. I want to thank you for being on here. Okay, you're gonna look out for your work. I want you guys to look out for his work. This is NASCAR fan. Make sure you check out his YouTube channel. I appreciate you being on here, bro. And I think I'm gonna have you on here in the future. You're in the future. And the next time I speak to you, it's going to be even a you're gonna have some more exciting news to tell me. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much, man. Thank you for your team as well. Absolutely set up this a connection relationship. Absolutely. Thank you so much. You guys are watching another episode of the hustle man show. This is the Nester fan episode. Remember, business is always personal. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the hustle man show. Make sure you click that subscribe button tap that bell for the audio experience to Spotify and SoundCloud links are below to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. It's at cap swag USA. Remember, the business is always personal.

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