If you’ve ever tried your luck at prospecting, chances are it involved a lot of sifting through rocks with a tin pan and a very little gold to take home in your pockets. David Hyslop’s job is to convince you there’s a better way to make like a 49er.
He heads up business development and marketing for Gold Rush Nugget Bucket, a patented gold panning kit. The company is based in Eugene, Ore., where Hyslop grew up. The University of Oregon grad lives in Seattle now and works remotely.
“I live in Capitol Hill in Seattle and reflect on my decision to move here as the greatest decision of my life,” he said. “Seattle offers such a cosmopolitan and eclectic culture that my inspiration comes from simply getting outdoors and being around the people here.”
Meet our new Geek of the Week, and continue reading for his answers to our questionnaire.
What do you do, and why do you do it? “I am the Digital Marketing Manager and Business Development Lead for a startup called the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket, LLC. The company was seen on ABC’s Shark Tank and invested in by Robert Herjavec and his company, The Herjavec Group. Gold Rush Nugget Bucket is a patented gold panning kit, meant to be used by anyone to enjoy the outdoors and find gold.
I do what I do because it was a fantastic opportunity offered to me from a former client, whom I instantly connected with and trusted. As with all my friendships, I want to help others succeed. Soon, we will be starting a new business together as well. Running a business is in my blood. My father and both my grandfathers were business owners. Being able to control my own destiny as an entrepreneur inspires me to think that I don’t have limits.”
What’s the single most important thing people should know about your field? “As an entrepreneur, though I have a defined job role as a digital marketing manager, it’s very difficult to stay disciplined. I work from home, which may seem like a dream to many people, but it’s been very hard on my social life. Knowing the potential growth of a company, as well as my quality of life, comes down to how quickly I respond to most of my emails can be taxing. It’s amazing how many texts I don’t even think to send to friends because I’m caught in the moment juggling responsibilities. With that said, it’s essential for me to love what I do. It’s very important for me to compartmentalize my responsibilities from my social life as well, always trying to find a balance.”
Where do you find your inspiration? “My inspiration has been, and always will be, to make others feel important and valued. I never enjoyed school because the structure of it didn’t work for me. I’d much rather talk, brainstorm, and get creative instead of doing homework when my teachers couldn’t explain to me the reasoning behind why it was beneficial. I didn’t realize until after college what I actually wanted to do, but that’s much easier said than done. We spend so much of our lives working, so why spend that time doing something that isn’t fulfilling? With that said, self-awareness is the key to identifying what you want to do with your life, and for me, I realized that I needed to start asking more questions. Being more curious.
I realized talking to a mentor recently that I get my energy from thinking ‘big.’ A lot of ideas or dreams most other people would essentially disregard before. How many small ideas led to technological and societal innovation, though? It was always a dream of mine to own a business. It was also a dream of mine to be on Shark Tank. I now work for a company that was on Shark Tank and we’re launching another business this year! How cool is that?”
What’s the one piece of technology you couldn’t live without, and why? “My headphones. It’s my ‘me-time’ when I am wearing them. When I am working out, at a coffee shop, or walking places, I need to be listening to music or a podcast. Besides, I’m not going to say I haven’t listened to ‘Sorry’ by Justin Bieber on my way to get food, and it’s less embarrassing with headphones.”
What’s your workspace like, and why does it work for you? “A huge blessing I have is that my workplace changes. It really depends on my mood. If I feel as if I need a “think tank’ to get creative, then I stay at home during the day while my roommate is at work. If I feel like I need to be around people, get a cup of coffee, and walk around, then I live in the best neighborhood in the PNW to do that. I roam, and sometimes I think of my best ideas in between destinations. The photo is a picture of Seattle from my apartment’s roof. I’ve done some work up there when the weather’s nice and seeing everything inspires me to always want more.”
Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.) “Organization and processing. Whether externally saying something or by writing things down, things do not exist for me until I either say it or write it. With that said, once it’s out there, then I have to attack it, and fast. With being a creative, it’s essential to learn tricks for executing so I am never blocking my business partner or a vendor from getting to the next task.”
Mac, Windows or Linux? “Mac.”
Kirk, Picard, or Janeway? “Kirk.”
Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility? “Time Machine.”
If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I would: “Figure out a plan to make $10 million back and pay off the $1 million as quickly as possible.”
I once waited in line for: “It’s A Small World After All…”
Your role models: “My dad and deceased cousin. My dad is the kindest person I know and has sacrificed so much for his family. I want to treat my parents to a vacation to Scotland, the place of our ancestry, if I am able in the new few years because I know it would make them both very happy.
My cousin passed away when I was in 8th grade, and my entire family says I remind them so much of him. It’s a lot to live up to. He was an environmental engineer who wanted to travel to South America to protect the environment there. He was taken too soon, but I’m constantly inspired by him. His name was Skye, and he had no limits either.”
Greatest Game in History “Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic.”
Best Gadget Ever: “Drones. I am trying to figure out a business idea that utilizes drones just to own some. I grew up on flight simulators and it’s a real-life version.”
First Computer: “I think it was a 128K Apple Computer. It was old…”
Current Phone: “iPhone.”
Favorite App: “Business Insider.”
Favorite Cause: “Gold Rush Cure Foundation — [artnered with our company to provide gifts to children with cancer.”
Most important technology of 2016 “Drones.”
Most important technology of 2018: “Self-Driving Cars.”
Final words of advice for your fellow geeks: “Always stay curious!”
