Alex Hanse, Leader of the ‘Foolies’ Movement

"Empowering the people who are foolish enough to fulfill their dreams"

I had the luxury of meeting Alex at the peak of my transition, the day before graduation. Alex was my tour guide of the Full Sail University campus. Aside from being one of the dopest tour guides with hilarious side bars about the campus, there was this realness about him. With his impression stained in my memory, I had to know more about his story. So, without hesitation I reached out to him to speak more about his company and the daily struggle of an entrepreneur. Check out the full interview below.

We are apart of a generation where jobs are difficult to come by and we are forced to create jobs for ourselves. What is one of the many challenges of being an entrepreneur?

Mentorship is being lacked. I wish I would have had a little guidance. Finding a mentor, someone who can guide you. Someone you can refer to every now and then for your business. Mentorship is crucial to building your career. Unique insight into the business. Shake more hands and connect with more people.

What types of things do you need to keep in mind to pursue and successfully create a brand in society today?

You have to know the why? If you don’t know the why, it makes it difficult to function and succeed within your business. Keep this question in mind: Who is this product serving? If we removed your company from the ground, who would miss you?

If Apple shut down, people’s lives would be altered. People would be saddened, lost and confused. And hundreds of thousands of people would be out of jobs. How many schools would be affected? Apple invests in so many schools.

If you want to separate a great company with a legacy vs. the company that just wants to make money, its about making an impact. Trust me, with that you will change the world.

I love the irony found within the term ‘foolie’ you’ve created. Tell me how you came up with the term and what it means to you.

The term was created accidentally. I was rapping trying to break into the music world. I read an article about branding for an artist and how you need to have an identity. A way for your audience to connect to you. I was thinking about the rappers that had something like taglines. I remember seeing a kid looking like Wiz Khalifa, thinking man that’s crazy. You dont know what you can do as an artist to impact people. People don’t look at artists as lifesavers, but they are. Their songs may save someone’s lives. I was thinking about songs that saved my life. A lot of songs I used to get through losing my mom. I thought about an identity for my music.

My brother from another mother, Billy (Co-founder of Foolies) and I thought it was silly of us to try and do this, so we must be fools. After my songs I would say, ‘Foolie’ and began putting the word out there. I joked that we were ‘foolies,’ people who are foolish enough to fulfill their dreams. After listening to a song I would say, “That’s foolie’

They didn't see what we saw, so they called us foolish. We started living the brand and it has its own entity now. Our company is all about changing lives. I can’t stop pushing and promoting the brand. Whenever we send out our shirts we send back a personal message of inspiration. People are more impacted by the letter. What happens when I take ‘foolies’ out of the ground. We are starting to become the company that is making them feel like their wounds are healed. 27 years ago the company was divinely designed to come to life. ‘Foolies’ is for you. The brand is for them. Those people that dream big does have our inspiration behind them.

People, family and friends always has an idea of what they want you to accomplish and what they see fit for you? Tell me how you were affected by this preconceived notion?

At the heart of it all. Everybody cares and they want what’s best for you. Everyone has a series of things that they’ve been through based off of their personal experiences.

The concept: Who’s the most powerful person in the room? There’s a lot of power in keeping it to a minimum. While people are thinking big titles, Entrepreneurs are looking at success different. Mark Zukerberg made facebook to connect people. Very simple, but extremely powerful. How many things are on Google just to let you have a better life? People reference Google like a guide. They created these many powerhouses. What can you do for the world that is free and helpful? Whatever is on your heart is what you should follow. What is on your heart? What has you not being able to sleep peacefully because you're not doing it? Family should focus on what is making you empty and how do you fill it up?

What was your best sacrifice?

Sleep. I know I have to get my videos and blogs out there. I don’t want people to lose sleep, but be willing to put in an extra hour or two. Be smart, cool and know your body. I sleep on the floor to not get too comfortable with life’s luxuries to humble myself. I write late at night and you can see when I’ve gotten tired. But it is all worth it.

I found your ‘Foolies Friday’ video very interesting about ‘The New Rachet.’ What inspired you to create that video? Are all of your videos preaching to you or to the choir?

I never really know what I’m going to say. I just press record. I go with whatever I’m feeling. I get the grace of the word, ratchet. But who gets to define this world? It is kind of messy of you walk out of the house with your hair all over your head, but what about not chasing your dream? That’s ratchet. A lot of my videos are freestyle. If I have something that’s on my heart, I’m going to say it.

Sometimes I am preaching to myself, self-accountability, how could I preach about living out goals and dreams but I’m not living it out. As a man I have to keep my word. And as long as I’m not keeping my word, you can openly call me a liar. When a friend of mine passed, I realized there weren’t a lot of videos of what he did (his craft). If you missed me you could go back and listen to me through my inspirational videos. You could go back to my page and be re-inspired. Sometimes I go back a listen to ‘Foolies Fridays’ videos like who is this guy? Is that me? Sometimes I don’t even believe in me. If I don’t put out my videos I’m being selfish because I’m stopping someone from being blessed. The videos are a lot of testimonies of things I’m learning about me.

Explain a time you felt discouraged about moving forward and how you were able to overcome that feeling.

I feel discouraged everyday. But ‘the why’ is what keeps me going. Somedays I wonder why I am here? The company isn’t going anywhere. There’s not enough money in the bank. Everyday is a struggle. I make sure when I get a tweet or facebook post it comes directly to my phone, just for daily inspiration.

I know I’m going to make some big impacts and changes, yet everyday I feel defeated and I’m not doing enough.

One word to describe yourself.

Magical. Being an entrepreneur is like creating magic. Giving the allusion that the trick is going to work, even if you don’t know it will. It's like pulling a rabbit out the hat. You’re doing a lot of whimsical things and make it happen. Nothing seems real.

For more information on Alex ‘Nemo’ Hanse and the ‘Foolie Movement’ click here!

Stop by www.thefoolies.com today!