Michael Blash shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Michael, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day I try to make my own. Wake up, take the dogs for a walk (before they go crazy lol), spend some time with my wife before she starts her work day. I usually grab a cup of coffee and read the headlines for the day. I try to take a few minutes to give myself a little perspective on the day. There are usually several different little tasks that need to be accomplished each morning for my work. I usually take a moment and list the chores I need to knock out so I don’t forget as the day gets busier. Then it’s wake my daughter up, feed her and it’s off to the races for the day!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Michael Blash, I’m a partner at Tin City Distillery in Paso Robles. I’m lucky, my job has many different facets, sales, product development, forecasting, marketing, and lots of cleaning. Being part of a small company that creates and sells several products means we all get to wear quite a few hats each day. It’s rarely the same, and often very interesting. I’m happy, it keeps me busy and allows for a ton of personal growth. Currently we are working on expanding our offerings to include food service at the distillery. I’ve had the opportunity to learn a ton of new things the past year an it’s been great.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents, I feel fortunate to have them as great role models. All of the kids in our family had jobs growing up. I started delivering papers at 11 and was working at Taco Bell down the street from my house in 8th grade, the rest is history lol. My father worked as a sales person and his job required a ton of travel. He still managed to coach our teams, and be there for all of the kids events. My mom was just as busy managing the house and kids while working. This taught me that balancing work and life is both possible and necessary. Both of my parents taught me that work and being busy is an important part of a balanced life. Creating a sense of purpose and accomplishment are just two of the things that working teaches people. My mom was especially helpful with teaching me that there is also more to life than just work and accomplishments. Burnout is real, and I’m thankful for all of the guidance she gives to me as an adult.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t stop. Everyone has been told a thousand times that it is easy to give up. It’s true. I think people often forget that many obstacles in life are truly temporary. In the last decade, our little company has weathered quite a few storms. Over time, I’ve learned that you have to keep at it, every problem has a solution. The worst thing you can do is stop, then nothing happens.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Time. I’ve always said that time is not my friend. I spent many years in the service industry working professionally prior to starting the distillery. That industry requires a time commitment from employees that often takes away from developing normalized relationships. I made the mistake for many years of not properly balancing my work and social life. This wound up costing me some valuable relationships that had taken years to develop. At this point in my life, I’d say my closest friends understand that I absolutely value the time I get to spend with them.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
At the end of a long work day. I often wake up with a bit of anxiety about all of the tasks ahead of me each day. After I go through my wake up routine and start the day it’s usually very busy until the evening. I feel most at peace when all the tasks from the day have been completed and that anxious feeling goes away…until the next morning 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tincitydistillery.com
- Instagram: @tincitydistillery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tincitydistillery/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wine-shine-and-tin-city-distillery-paso-robles?sort_by=date_desc
