Goodbye, Palloncino: Part 2

Now on the other side of starting an olive oil brand from scratch solo, I have some advice.

Not to say I’m rich or anything but I embarked on a life experience few get to do.

Here are a random collection of 10 thoughts that have stuck with me throughout this journey:

1. Living in a slummy cabin filled with bedbugs is more fun than Granada, Malaga, Athens, and Bologna combined.

2. Google Translate your way through areas that have no English Speakers. The people in those small towns will appreciate your presence more than you can imagine, and you’ll be happier because of it. Do not fear stepping outside the main city in a given country unless it’s truly unsafe. As always, do your own research.

3. Stop asking people for opinions on whether you should do something or not. You need to figure that out for yourself. Instead, when you are doing something, ask them what option they like better — choice A or choice B. For example, no one would have said “yes quit your wall street job and start an olive oil brand” but when presented 2 olive oils to use for the brand, people gave me their unbiased selection

4. For product builders: invest your time and money into design and content (video or written) over your inventory.

5. To get what you want you have to step out of your comfort zone

6. Staying in a small farming village in Spain is more gratifying than staying at a 5 star resort in Barcelona no matter what anyone tells you

7. Travelling with a purpose or desired conquest is much better than travelling to “experience a culture.” You’ll find yourself experiencing more culture than those that want to sightsee and ride bikes around a city for no reason

8. Travelling with people > Travelling alone. But travelling alone > travelling with people whose goals don’t align with yours

9. Don’t quit your job because you don’t like it. Quit because you found another specific use of your time that you’ve proven can replace the income you were receiving in your original job.

10. Driving in Sicily is a bitch. Prepare accordingly.

Much Love.

-Jack