Pro skateboarder Tony Hawk bought his first house at the age of 17. Refinancing that home to launch his skate company, Birdhouse Projects, he later teamed up with Activision to create one of the bestselling video game series of all time. As the president of Tony Hawk, Inc., these days it’s nothing but smooth skating for the athlete/entrepreneur.
1. My business mantra Maintain integrity, and keep control of your brand.
2. What I had to learn on the fly How to deal with constant travel, how to overcome jet lag and adapt to different terrain quickly – and how to handle prima donnas and overzealous fans.
3. In my carry-on you’ll find a MacBook Air, deodorant, iodine, oversize bandages and my skateboard.
4. Always listen to Nine Inch Nails, the Clash, Beck, Arcade Fire, Jane’s Addiction, The Black Keys, Joy Division.
5. My go-to gadget Google’s T-Mobile G2. It’s my communication device, entertainment system and portable Wi-Fi network.
6. In business, now’s a good time to create cool. Don’t wait for it.
7. The biggest risk I ever took was living on Top Ramen and Taco Bell for five years to start my business.
8. My eureka moment When legendary skateboarder Stacy Peralta asked if I would skate for his company at the age of 14. I had doubted my abilities up until that point.
9. Best place for a business lunch Any In-N-Out Burger in SoCal (number two, no onions).
10. Window or aisle? Window, so I can lean against the wall and sleep without fear of drooling on my neighbour.
