I had the opportunity to interview pro snowboarders/entrepreneurs, JJ Thomas and Josh Sherman and discuss everything from the competitive snowboarding circuit, Winter Dew Tour, “A Day in the Life,” with Josh, JJ’s music, “Pee Wee Sherman Rail Jam,” and YEA.NICE their clothing company that just saw its official launch in October of this year. Check it out below and see how these guys are not just wicked boarders, but also guys that effortlessly embody our generation and have fun while doing it. We should all be so lucky!

JJ, they say with big risk comes big reward, do you feel like your decision to step away from the competitive circuit in favor of movies was just that, or would you quantify it more as a growing experience?

JJ: It was definitely a growing experience I had to go through. At the time that’s where my heart was. Now its back in competitive snowboarding.

JJ and Josh, what are you two looking forward to most about the Winter Dew Tour? Do you guys still get the same thrill from riding as you did when you first started competing?

JJ: I am very much looking forward to competing this year. I never thought I’d be as into competitive snowboarding as I am right now. I think I’m making up for all the time I half assed it in my past due to my addiction to riding powder.

Josh: I’m looking forward to watching the YEA.NICE crew handle business. Our entire snow team is in the Dew Tour this year so it’s gonna be a hell of a show. As for me… I don’t have any plans to compete. I’ve had a great last 6 years competing and filming as a pro… but I see a light in pursuing other dreams of mine such as my clothing brand YEA.NICE, and using that as my creative outlet. I’ll be at each Dew Tour stop and I’ll definitely be partying just as hard as I did when I started competing – maybe even harder since I’m not trying to make the finals… does that count?

YEA.NICE founders Josh Sherman and JJ Thomas

JJ, having been around the block so to speak, do you feel pressure to keep up? What about riding today differs from when you first started?

JJ: Well there’s always pressure, but for me there is probably a little more then most due to my age, but to be honest I seem to thrive under pressure so in the end it’s a win/win for me.

What inspired MileHi? Do you find yourself more satisfied through music, or is it more of a combination of all of your experiences that truly satiate your ambitions and fulfillment?

JJ: MileHi is just something my friend Jeff and I decided to do and kind of see what we could come up with. It’s really just good fun and good way to challenge ourselves. As far as fulfillment goes nothing competes with snowboarding, yet.

Josh and JJ, you guys describe your clothing company, YEA.NICE as “embodying the youth of our generation.” What sets you apart as a company, as a brand?

Josh: Perhaps your looking into that quote a bit too much. JJ and I are both in our 20′s, we live and breathe the values we put out through our brand. We’re not just selling some gimmick, or making another clothing brand… like we really live this lifestyle. Since we are YEA.NICE, we are the youth… does that makes sense?

How did it feel for you two to “officially” launch YEA.NICE in October of this year?

JJ: Felt great but also was a reality check. By that I mean deadlines and all of the business stuff became a lot more real at that point, but that’s what we wanted and now it’s here. So far so good.

Josh: I felt proud, we’d all worked to deliver unique designs so to be able to have people wearing our clothes felt good.

Chris Miedenar, JJ Thomas, Josh Sherman at YEA.NICE Launch Party

With both of you having your hands in various forms of “art” whether it is snowboarding, designing, film/television, or musically what inspires or drives your creative juices?

JJ: I seem to get most inspired by all the talented people I’m lucky enough to be around and know. I feel fortunate to know so many driven people. It helps push me.

Josh: For me, my creativity is inspired through my life experiences. Maybe it came from a song that day, or a joke someone said, a random moment, a shitty date… really it can come from anywhere with me. In a nut shell my life is a train wreck with inspiration coming from all walks and experiences I have.

Josh, what inspired “A Day in the Life?” There is no denying that your episodes are entertaining. How often do you film? Is it completely random, or is there a method to your mayhem?

Josh: I was inspired to create short stories that would make people laugh. I made those to portray my sense of humor to the public and I used my snowboarding as a platform to reach them. They are completely random, no scripts, no schedule… I made them with an inexpensive camera that I ended up losing, and I haven’t made one since I lost it! Active Ride Shop hired Neil Goss to film one with me to see if any networks were interested in it, but I don’t think Neil ever showed it to anyone. Each episode was getting around 20,000-25,000 views so people seem to be into it. I’ll release the next one whenever I get inspired! Or buy a new camera…

Tell me about “Pee Wee Sherman Rail Jam.” How fulfilling is it for you to give back to the kids?

Josh: I created the Pee Wee Sherman Rail Jam to give back to a place that gave so much to me. It gives me the biggest smile to see kids having a great time at my event, and just doing what snowboarding is all about… having fun. So it’s very fulfilling…I’m excited for this upcoming Pee Wee Jam in March at Tyrol Basin!

I think people relate to each other through experiences, what about your experiences through “A Day in the Life” do you think will affect people. Do you do it for entertainment, expression or is there a bigger picture out there that you want to get across?

Josh: For me, life is never about the destination, it’s about the journey… as cliche as that saying is it rings true with me. I put a message in each episode whether people get it or not. The overall point I try to convey is to just have fun with life… as general as that is to say, my message is simple. Have fun.

What can we look out for from Josh and JJ in the future?

Josh: You’ll see a new clothing line from YEA.NICE dropping next year, and were collaborating with some crazy good artists. More of my webisodes and signature events being released. You can probably be looking out for JJ to knock off a couple podiums like last year… and I’ve been taking a lot of vitamins lately so you might see me grow from 5’4 to 5’5 this year….anything is possible.

What is your MaleStandard?

Josh: Treat people how you want to be treated.

JJ: Go hard at whatever it is your doing, and if you find yourself doing something you don’t want to do day in and out then change it because life seems to fly by, so you might as well do things you love while you are here.

Check this out

Make sure to check out JJ Thomas and Josh Sherman’s clothing line YEA.NICE

Though, not his first trip there who could blame him for his undeniable excitement as he just unveiled his wheels on Paul, Jr.’s first bike for Paul Jr. Designs. Even before delving into our interview he proudly showcased the pictures from the event all the while complementing his genius photographer, Paul McKelvey. This is just the beginning of the clear admiration and dedication that he has for his co-workers. I say co-workers because when Chuck talks about his staff it is clearly as equals and not as support. He is very vocal in that these people are not just replaceable employees. No, these people are family, which is a truly refreshing contrast to today’s employer’s interchangeable attitude toward employees. He had me at hello.

Chuck, you seem like a man that goes after what he wants and has a clear vision of what that should be. What brought you to Renegade Wheels?

The beginning of Renegade started because I missed bikes. When I got married and had kids my wife said that she didn’t want me on a bike. Once my daughter turned six, I decided it was time. As I knew my wife did not want me on a bike I decided that it would be perseverance and not rashness that would make that happen. I started by putting a picture of a Harley Fat Boy on our refrigerator knowing that one day I would have one. For a couple weeks, day after day, my wife would throw away the picture, and I would put it back up on the fridge. Then, one day I came home and it was still there. It just so happened that recently thereafter my neighbor asked me to go down to the Harley dealer with him. I knew it was time. I told my wife I would be late and came home with more than just a new picture to put on the fridge. I got my Fat Boy. That was beginning of Renegade – where the first thought of it came about.

What about finally getting the Fat Boy prompted you to get in the custom wheel business? What started this journey toward custom wheels?

Chuck Frederick relaxing on his bike

Once I had my bike it was apparent that it needed to stand out and be different from my friends and other riders. This was further evidenced in that one of my good friends had the exact same bike as mine and it was difficult to tell them apart. We had to make a conscious effort to acknowledge whose was whose. He was in the car wheel business for 35 years and had contacts in the motorcycle business and the wheel industry in general. I wanted to differentiate my bike and what better way to do that than custom wheels.

We went to various wheel companies, both local and large and we could not find wheels that we could get in less than 6 weeks. Who wanted to wait six weeks? Certainly not me, even if I had that type of patience. We decided to do it ourselves. We found a blank supplier; a forging company and a friend had a machine shop. It was there that we cut our first set of wheels. People liked what they saw on our bikes. We continued to get asked to make wheels for their bikes and so we took it to the next level and brought our wheels to a motorcycle swap meet for a weekend event. We showed up with a banner, logo, rack and three wheels and that’s how we got started.

In an industry that already has “big dogs” selling your specialized product, what differentiates you from them? What did you want to do differently?

Number one, we are American made. Not many companies can say that any longer and it is important to us. Secondly, when you call and order one of our wheels, hundreds are in stock. There is no waiting six weeks. We are ready to ship, and you will have it on your bike that week. Who doesn’t want that?

Why “Renegade Wheels?” What prompted you to come up with that name?

Renegade Spearfish Wheel - Made in the USA

Renegade developed because we wanted to do things differently and not move in the same direction as other wheel companies. The motorcycle lifestyle is a kind of a renegade lifestyle. You’re taking the road less traveled. We want to set the bar, not meet it. The word Renegade exemplifies that.

What differentiates Renegade Wheels from your competitors? Our wheels are forged, which makes them better and stronger. There are cast wheels out there but they are subject to snapping, and you can visually see the grain in them. When somebody looks at our designs they see clean visual perfection. Disappointment or even mediocrity is impossible.

You have a specialized niche with the process of your wheels, but who has the creative mind behind the designs?

We collaborate on what the designs are, but ultimately I have the final say. It may start out as something relatively simple – a more stock design, but as adjustments are made such as additional spokes, contouring, specific detailing, it’s the evolution of the wheels’ end design that set us apart. I can guarantee you that you could walk into my store, drop off your bike and regardless of what wheel I put on there you would be nothing less than completely satisfied. I have that much confidence in each and every design that we offer as a company.

How often do you unveil new wheels?

We unveil new wheels once a year in February at a trade show in Cincinnati.

Circling back around, it’s hard to deny the excitement that is exuding out of you after your trip to Sturgis to showcase your wheels on Paul Jr.’s bike. How did that collaboration come to light?

Paul Jr. stands by Spider Bike with custom web wheels designed by Renegade

It was a surprise. The collaboration wasn’t something that was pre-planned. Paul Jr. had intended on making his own wheels however he was in a real time crunch and knew he likely would miss his deadline without Renegade’s assistance, so he had Vinnie give us a call. It turned out the timing was great for us and we could get right on them.

Was the custom design specific to just that bike? 

Yes. Most of Paul Jr.’s bikes are theme or corporate and get very unique one-off wheels.

How was the design process different with Paul Jr.?

In most cases, Paul, Jr. will sketch up something. We will then create a solid model in 3D Cad software for approval. The new software is excellent at rendering exactly what we are making. This way our customers can visualize exactly what they are going to get. After approval we get cutting on state-of-art CNC milling machines.

With all the exciting activities currently happening with Renegade Wheels, what can we look out for in the future?

Presently, we fit Harleys only. We’re going to go into metric cruisers and the race bike sector. We are also in the process of expanding our products beyond wheels to other bike related projects. I don’t want to say too much now, so you will just have to wait and see.

One last question Chuck… what is your MaleStandard?

Chuck Frederick at Sturgis 2010

Every man needs an identity, a defining persona that uniquely sets him apart. For some it is the family unit created by marriage and having kids. For others it is the work in which they do. I am a “pleaser.” I truly enjoy the reaction given to each and every bike, which graces our wheels. I enjoy the many friendships I gain, while completing someone’s identity, as many have turned to their Harley as a way to complete themselves. Renegade is a way of life, a lifestyle, and unique by definition.

After having witnessed Chuck’s passion and enthusiasm for his company, workers and product, I for one, can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

CHECK IT OUT – RENEGADEWHEELS.COM. AND DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT RENEGADE WHEELS ON AMERICAN CHOPPERS SENIOR VS. JUNIOR ON TLC.

Get these life repairs into your schedule, and soon. Make a real, conscientious effort to reinvigorate, organize, and adapt these key areas of everyone’s life:

Miscellaneous You
These are things you can do at random to clean up the many intricate parts of your life. The first month you could teach yourself something useful for your job. Organize your garage the next month. Consolidate any miscellaneous email accounts that provide electronic clutter in your life. Face a fear, such as the fear of freeway driving, which could save you time. Get an RSS feed or use www.feedly.com to consolidate what you view on the web. Basically, make your life easier everywhere via organization!

Family & Friends
Grab your phone and put your close family and friends birthdays in it. Update that dusty address book or online document. Rotate calling your parents and grandparents every few weeks to keep in touch and let them know you care (especially if you can never see them on standard vacations/events). If you have any quasi-friends who soak your time up like a sponge, slowly phase them out of your life with ease until they get the hint or make a serious life change. Delegate your time accordingly; you don’t always have to go out at night, as brief lunches and smoothie breaks are always enjoyable for a face-to-face.

Work
Use your sick days and holiday time to clean up your life, especially if you risk losing them for any reason. This is your company giving you both time and money back, so take them up on the offer and stop complaining about them! Practice perfect posture at work, while taking short breaks from whatever you do. Don’t waste your office time emailing every five minutes, as this distracts from overall work progress – instead check it every thirty minutes or so. Stressed people work poorly, but instead of a smoke break try lighter forms of meditation or put on some headphones and rock out for a few minutes.

Love Life
Get those tasks she wants you to complete out of the way, they are probably useful. If your girlfriend(s) seem to be too much of a distraction, limit your time spent with them but try and increase the frequency of the visits. Five minutes on the phone at night could save you three hours the next day, especially if you sound exhausted. Hire a professional maid service every now and again to give you both a break from the day to day home cleaning grind.

Home
Clean out your closet and get rid of anything that is outdated, including donating to organizations or handing down to younger family just starting out. Transfer your digital possessions to free online storage accounts and clear up some hard drive space. In fact, take a quick class on whatever computer and operating system you have, specifically geared towards maintenance and routine cleaning. Reorganize your kitchen, including: pantry, shelving, cabinets, refrigerator, and countertops – your kitchen should be as open and easy to access as possible.

Physical and Mental Health
Go for a monthly hike with a group of coworkers, family, or friends and try for a new place each time. If you drink alcohol regularly (even if not excessively) you should do a dietary detox every now and again. There are numerous out there with different goals and ingredients. Use your benefits and go see your doctor for a cholesterol test and a general physical. On that note, call your dentist and schedule an appointment with them too, as regular visits there can save you both time and money.

The backbone of my interviewing approach is being over prepared.  I have learned that when you take the time to research the company and familiarize yourself with the job description you will be less nervous allowing yourself to tactfully move through the interview.  These are the steps I take prior to all of my interviews:

Step 1 – Research the Company

The goal of this step is to determine what type of company you are interviewing for and what your role will be within the company.  More than likely the interviewer will ask you what you know about the company; this is a great opportunity to show them that you are taking the job opportunity seriously and have done your homework on the company.

Start by creating a research document where you can save all of your findings and notes.  If you are fortunate enough to know someone that works at the company make sure to rack their brains about the company and its culture.  If you do not have an inside connection, use the internet, it is a powerful tool.  Begin with the Company’s website; this is where you can get the basics on the company like what products/services they offer, what customer groups they are targeting, their company goals, etc.

After exploring the company’s website start to look for employee and consumer reviews on the company.  There are many websites that post reviews by past employees, current employees, as well as consumers that that can offer insight into the day-to-day practices as well as the quality or products/services the company offers.  Make sure to take notes regarding any positive or negative feedback you find about the company; this will help you formulate what types of questions to ask during your interview.  It is important to keep in mind that the reviews online are bias to one persons point of view.  When bringing this stuff up in your interview make sure you present it in a non-combative way.  You do not want to make the interviewer defensive.

Once you are familiar with the company’s products/services and are armed with some insight on the culture of the company, you can start to think of specific things you can do to help the company achieve their goals.  Try to include your ideas into the interview; anytime you can add a comment about how you think the company might be able to grow or better serve their customers, you are demonstrating proactive thinking.

For instance when I was interviewing for a marketing position, I once recommended a company improve their website because it was out of date and they were not utilizing it to its fullest potential. After I explained how improving their website would help increase sales, the Director of Marketing told me they had recently been kicking the idea around.  I got a job offer the next day and my first project for this company was to create a brand new website. Even if your recommendation isn’t something they are thinking about, chances are they will be impressed that you are already trying to come up with ways to contribute to the company.

Step 2 – Familiarize yourself with the Job Description

The next step is to go through each bullet point on the job description.  When you are doing this think of answers for questions that may come up for each of the bullet points.  You want to be able to speak about each of the items listed in the job description.  Include things such as relevant experience, things you have learned, past success with each of the tasks, as well as provide positive examples.  It is a good idea to take notes as you go through the job description so that it is easy to review you responses later.  I usually copy the job description provided and paste it into word and write down my answers/notes bellow each bullet point.

One of the bullet points on a job I interviewed for said “Required experience managing others,” and I wrote down how I managed 11 employees at a previous company. Always elaborate on your answers to explain what you learned from the experience and how your actions were effective.  After telling the interviewer that I managed 11 employees, I added how I learned that you can’t treat everyone the same because everyone has different personalities and responds differently to various types of communication. You might have to be hard on one of your team members to get them to perform while another person might need a softer approach.

After answering all the bullet points, read them all over again to make sure you didn’t leave anything out.  Always print out the document and take it to the interview so you have notes to use if you forget how to answer the questions.  At one interview I actually gave the interviewer my bullet point document. He was very impressed at the amount of work I put into it.  It shows the interviewer that you came prepared and that this interview is important to you.

Step 3 – Find typical Interview Questions

As many people know, an interviewer will rarely just ask you questions straight off of the job description.  The interviewer’s job is to make sure you can both execute the various responsibilities that come with the job, as well as determine if you have the work ethic and personality to fit within their organization and company culture.  It is important to prepare yourself for the “personality and work ethic” questions so that you can accurately and positively portray yourself during the interview.

This is another case where the internet comes in handy.  If you run a basic search for “typical interview questions” you will multiple lists of questions to familiarize yourself with.  Once you have looked at a few websites you will notice that there are about 20 or so typical questions that pop up on almost all of the lists.  Take these typical questions and start building a list of your own.  Create a word document where you can store the questions and answers.  Go through each of the questions and think about why someone would ask that particular question; this will help you formulate an answer that is precise while further expressing why you are a good candidate for the position.

It is very important to write your answers down for these questions because as job descriptions change from position or position these questions virtually stay the same from one company to the next.  You will be able to reference and tweak you answers for future interviews for many years to come.  Also, by writing your answers down, you will have a greater chance of remembering your answers during the interview.  I typically remember about 70% of my answers just by writing them down and by going over them again and I am able to remember the other 30%.  In general, it should be fairly easy to remember your answers because you lived them and they should already be in your memory. The document you created will help you organize your thoughts so that you can thoughtfully express them in a high pressure situation like an interview.

Step 4 – Review your notes

Once I’m done with the first 3 steps I re-read everything again just to make sure I know how I am going to respond to the questions that will be asked.  It is a good idea to do this one last time before you head into your interview to ensure all of your answers are at the top of your mind, this will also help you relax since you will be reminded of all the knowledge you have to share during the interview.

Step 5 – Interview the Interviewer

Approach every interview with the mindset that you are going to interview them as much as they are going to interview you. Come prepared with a list of questions that you want to ask about the position, the company, and managing style of my potential boss.  It is important to make sure that the job fits you, your goals, and your personality.  By asking questions about the company, and the position, shows the interviewer that you are looking to make a responsible and educated decision about the job opportunity.  This will show them that you are confident in who you are and what you are looking for and have long term goals in mind for both yourself and the company.  Always tell them that you are not looking for a job, but looking for a career and want to make sure that the partnership is going to last. If you are desperate for a job and don’t care what the job is, I still recommend you ask a lot of questions because it shows them you care and that you want to make sure it’s a good fit for both parties.

To impress the interviewer, you need to be confident in yourself. That confidence will come with the proper preparation. Put time, effort and thought into your interview. Always be over prepared. These helpful tips will provide you all of the knowledge and confidence you need to “Ace that Interview!”