He sings with Elmo, grows avocados, and has great advice for entrepreneurs. Read singer Jason Mraz’s five tips for running a business.
Jason Mraz is best known for his music, but he’s also an entrepreneur. In 2004, still in his 20′s, he was looking for a quiet place to work on his next album and ended up buying a house in a secluded area — on a avocado farm. Now, he’s the head of Mraz Farms and was #1 on the list of “40 Farmers Under 40.”
Mraz notes: “I haven’t had much experience in the past because I was youthful and all I was doing was smoking cigarettes and chasing girls and having fun in the music business and dancing and trying to make people laugh. Entertainment was my only background, but now as I start to have more and more life experience, I certainly do want to speak up when appropriate.”
Now, it seems like he’s found his calling promoting sustainability and has a variety of innovative ways of doing so: singing about the outdoors with Elmo on Sesame Street, playing at the Farm Aid concert (which was founded by fellow musician/entrepreneur Willie Nelson), partnering with friends to launch eco-friendly Blend Apparel, and growing avocados. His next venture? Perhaps a go-kart course: “It’s the perfect place, winding through the avocado groves. We’ll put out some hay bales and start up a Jason Mraz Grand Prix,” he says (jokingly?).
Here are his five tips for entrepreneurs who want to change the world (watch the video over on MSNBC’s Your Business):
1. A passion for your business is essential — it creates the excitement that keeps you in the game.
2. Community is a resource. Instead of spending your time researching, ask a neighbor.
3. Create an environment of respect. It keeps business light, fun, and possible.
4. Ask for and take advice. Others have been in the business longer than you — look up to them.
5. Be inspired. Create a life where you can inspire others.
Photo courtesy of MNN/Bil Zelman.
Tags: Calling, Pop Culture
Posted in Featured Entrepreneurs
Although I think it is great Mraz is venturing out of his comfort zone and starting different businesses, is there anything to be said for being an expert in a field and having some sort of “mastery” in the industry you decided to venture out into? I don’t see how he can run a successful farm without having any previous knowledge or experience in farming or running a farm? It seems like mistakes would be costly (although he can probably afford them).
I know what you mean. At least his seems different than the typical celebrity branding scheme and is more about a singluar cause than cashing in on your name. The stuff he’s doing is pretty varied but it’s all focused around the environment or music which is what he seems passionate about. Maybe he hasnt mastered farming techniques or T shirt sales (though who knows, passion does make it easier) but in the video he seems willing to learn and pretty educated on the big picture/sustainable practices part. Seems to be pointing (hopefully) more towards the Newman’s Own route than the Paris Hilton perfume route.
Good business tips, regardless…
Well, like the 5 tips say: ask for and take advice. He might not have had experience previously, but why can’t he learn as he goes? Statistics show that most people end up in an industry/field they don’t necessarily major in- aka have little experience in. Sometimes we fall into things and sometimes we must take what life gives us, and I think its admirable of Mraz to attempt farming if that’s what he’s passionate about. We should always be pushing ourselves to get out of our comfort zone and try new things. Let’s just hope his music doesn’t suffer. I’m a big fan!
So often tips like these come across as reductive, empty. These “tips” aren’t anything that haven’t been said before, but the problem is that so often, despite how much this type of advice is given, many don’t listen.
So I’m glad Mraz is the one giving it now (and what an awesome little business he’s creating!), and I hope that the more it’s said by influential people, the more it’ll really catch on.
I agree VCMatt, his advice on passion is told upon by thousands of great entrepreneurs. Why don’t most of us follow our passion if this is what every successful individuals relays to us? Jason Mraz is doing something I have always thought was the perfect route for anyone already famous/successful; “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” He has understood that living with one career, one job, one of anything will only take you so far. Jason Mraz is one of those individuals that went for more than just settling into a single routine. The need and want to try and do more for the community and for ourselves should naturally flow through our system.
Jason Mraz in the farming business? Who would have thought?
It’s nice to see celebrities step out of their comfort zone and create small businesses like this. I feel that celebrity entrepreneurs are becoming more common, especially in Los Angeles. For example, you see lots of celebs opening up their own restaurants like Ashton Kutcher’s upscale spot, Dolce. It’s just another way for them to boost thier image and get a steadier paycheck. I’m curious to see what Jason Mraz’s farming business will look like in the next ten years. Hopefully he’ll gain enough success in this industry that mainstream radio won’t have to play “I’m Yours,” ever again.