Meet Jackson Nies

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Jackson Nies again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Jackson, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
Hello, I’m Jackson! I am the CTO and co-owner of Steel Shire Design. I also own two other businesses. One as a Denver DJ promoter (Ajax Studios) and another that sells holistic beauty products (Holistic Dragon). I tend to be a visionary that is task oriented. Dreaming of goals that I want to accomplish and taking functional steps to turn them into a reality. My parents are both entrepreneurs, so growing up I was able to learn first-hand what it takes to enter into the world of business ownership.

Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
Since we last spoke, I have had to shut down the Honey Bunnery bakery. It was eating up too much time, and as a side hustle, that is not what I wanted. It was unfortunate, because a lot of people were still asking about how they could purchase our products.

However, new adventures and hobbies have risen in place of the bakery. I have been learning how to be a DJ and show promoter this year! I have met so many wonderful people in the industry, and I look forward to more gigs and helping promote local DJ talent in the Denver area. We had our first DJ show in October, and it was completely sold out! We had 7 DJs spinning in three rooms. There was a retro gaming room and a VIP lounge. We also had some local vendors be a part of the show. I love locally owned businesses and teaming up with them to support each other. It has been a fun and exciting adventure, leaning and creating new memories with like-minded people.

Another passion of mine is health and wellness. I started working out and getting into fitness when I was 15 years old and have been doing it ever since. Helping people in and out of the gym is something I care a lot about. I decided to take the steps of opening a small holistic product line that I can share with people for their vitality, peace and balance. Creating functional beauty products that have health benefits. Our mainstay is the chap-stick line that combines proper hydration with energy and vitality. There is even one for rest and relaxation. Another for mental clarity and focus. It has been very exciting working alongside an apothecary chemist to curate recipes and work the production line.

As these adventures unfold, I look forward to making new relationships with people in all three industries. One aspect of life that has become increasingly important to me is meeting new people and creating lasting friendships and business networks.

Alright, so let’s do something a bit more fast-paced and lighthearted. We call this our lightning round and we’ll ask you a few quick questions.

Favorite Movie: Tombstone

Favorite Book: Harry Potter series

Favorite TV Show: Yellowstone

Favorite Band or Artist: In Flames

Sweet or Savory: Sweet

Mountains or Beach: Mountains

Favorite Sport (to watch): Football

Favorite Sport (to play): Golf

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Football and Basketball and Golf

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: I wanted to own an upholstery business

French Fries or Onion Rings: Onion Rings

Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Chuck Rhodes

Favorite Cartoon growing up: He-Man

Favorite Childhood movie: Alice in Wonderland

Favorite Breakfast Food: Pancakes

Life is often about tough choices – can you talk to us about your thought process, strategy or philosophy when it comes to making difficult choices or tradeoffs.
Life is indeed full of tough choices and obstacles. For every choice there is a consequence, good or bad. When approached with a tough decision I try my best to think through each scenario of the optional choices I have. Staying calm and collected is a very important factor when making a tough decision because the outcome can affect so many different people. I have been studying the philosophy of stoicism, and it teaches us to remove emotion where appropriate, so you can clearly make the best choice. It’s all about slowing down, staying grounded, and being kind and humble to those around you. The biggest take away, for me, is to always be kind to each other. You never know what someone is going through and your decisions will affect others, and sometimes in a monumental way.

Image Credits
Barbara MacFerrin