Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Sean Jordan of Santa Monica

Sean Jordan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Sean, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now? I’m being called to take a vacation — my first one since starting my business more than a year and a half ago. It sounds simple, but for me it’s a big deal. When you build something from scratch, it can feel impossible to step away.

In a bigger sense, though, I think this business itself was the real calling. For a long time, I was afraid to do it — afraid to fail, and afraid to lose the sense of identity and validation that came with my last job at Hulu. Starting this company meant letting go of that safety net and trusting that who I am isn’t defined by a title or a brand.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I run Something New — an event entertainment provider on a mission to make the world a more playful place.

We design & operate custom, turnkey carnivals and one-of-a-kind carnival games that reintroduce play in unexpected, unforgettable ways to people in Los Angeles, Orange County, and greater Southern California. From Squirrel Throwing and Hot Dog Fishing to Bigfoot Hunts and beyond, every game is designed to surprise and delight — whether you’re 8 or 80.

What makes us special is simple: we make every event better. I haven’t found one yet that couldn’t use a little more fun.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a kid, I didn’t think I was creative. Back then, “creative” meant you were good at painting or drawing — and I wasn’t. So I put myself in a box and decided that creative jobs weren’t for me.

Now I know creativity comes in so many forms — building, imagining, connecting, experimenting. It’s at the heart of everything I do. I can’t imagine doing anything but creative work now.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I don’t really think in terms of failure — everything’s a learning lesson. And in the first year of building the business, I had plenty of those.

I started with a bunch of hypotheses about what would work, and nearly all of them turned out to be learning opportunities instead. Every “miss” helped me understand our audience, refine what we offer, and get clearer about what actually makes Something New special.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Playfulness. Not just because it’s core to my company’s brand, but because I genuinely believe a playful approach to life leads to more happiness.

When you’re playful, you’re less tied to outcomes and more open to trying new things. You take yourself a little less seriously — and that’s where creativity, connection, and joy really start to thrive.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
Honestly, nothing — and that’s the goal. Something New is bigger than me. We’re building a brand and a team that can carry this mission forward well beyond me.

If I retired tomorrow, I’d hope our customers wouldn’t miss me — they’d still have the same joy, playfulness, and unforgettable experiences we’ve always delivered.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.somethingnew.rsvp
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somethingnew.la
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/something-new-la-llc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558084206535
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/HuKtFk7qS_JYUZdlbVQzRQ