[quote style=”boxed”]I like to think that my “good idea meter” is pretty accurate (everybody does). When I come up with an idea that I think is great I get a huge jolt of motivation and energy. I try to bring those ideas to life as fast as possible (before my newfound motivation and energy goes away). I’ve got an obsession for perfection, aesthetics, and making sure I do things the “right way.” If I’m able to bring an idea to life with my stringent requirements I’ll be proud of what I’ve done, even if it’s not successful.[/quote]
Jameson Morris grew up in a small mountain town in Wyoming with a passion for the outdoors, environmentalism, and pure non-toxic living. As a young entrepreneur at age 14, Morris raised money to start a successful local hot dog stand. At 16, Morris was competing as a professional ski racer and directed a feature length ski film, which garnered significant attention in the independent film world. Morris began working with websites and online marketing in 2001. Since then, he has been able to work side by side with experts, gain valuable skills, and put his own ideas into motion. Morris has consistently wowed seniors in the field with his unique ideas and aggressive, yet well-balanced approach to expanding audiences, strategically harnessing the power of social media and building successful brands and business models. In early 2010 Morris sought out to share his passion for natural, sustainable living with world and founded Organic Soul, which in less than a years time grew to become one of the largest organic living publications online. More recently, Morris and his team have launched “Conscious Box” a new monthly subscription service for everyday people to discover unique, conscious businesses they can trust.
What are you working on right now?
We just launched Conscious Box! Conscious Box is a monthly subscription service focusing on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. Each month, we curate boxes for our subscribers, filling them with the most conscious businesses we can find.
This is a project that I’m particularly proud of. Every little detail of Conscious Box was very carefully thought out and executed. We spent 3 months alone just developing the box and the “experience” inside. The Conscious Box itself has the logo’s iconic green window die-cut on the top, providing a conceptual ‘window of consciousness’ that is filled with a different photo every month, depending upon the theme. This month’s theme is “Gratitude.” Additionally, we went to great lengths to find materials and a manufacturer that were environmentally conscious. The boxes are made from 100% recycled materials, printed with vegetable inks, and manufactured in a wind-powered facility.
What does your typical day look like?
Now that we’ve moved our operation into an office my days have actually gotten a little more productive. Unfortunately, I now commute over an hour each way.
The office dynamics have been pretty awesome though. It’s a nice open space so we’re all able to bounce ideas off each other on the fly. I usually start my day by building the daily newsletter for Organic Soul. I’ll then usually catch up on customer support e-mails or answer questions and comments on our Facebook pages.
These days I spend a lot of time working with and developing relationships with businesses that we feature on Organic Soul and in Conscious Box.
What is the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Out of all my many odd jobs from Golf Cart Cleaner, Starbucks Barista, and RadioShack Sales Associate to Dishwasher and Yogurt Shop Attendant, the one thing I’ve learned is that whatever you do with your life, make sure you can find passion in it.
3 trends that excite you?
1. Wellness/Alternative Health
2. Sustainability
3. Subscription business models
The first two have turned into full-fledged movements and are getting away from the “trend” label because of their sheer necessity and importance. I’m excited to see those movements progress.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I like to think that my “good idea meter” is pretty accurate (everybody does). When I come up with an idea that I think is great I get a huge jolt of motivation and energy. I try to bring those ideas to life as fast as possible (before my newfound motivation and energy goes away). I’ve got an obsession for perfection, aesthetics, and making sure I do things the “right way.” If I’m able to bring an idea to life with my stringent requirements I’ll be proud of what I’ve done, even if it’s not successful.
What inspires you?
Natural beauty, the outdoors, rain, clean air and pristine environments inspire me. Wellness and people and businesses that actively share their knowledge of “better living” also inspire me.
Where did you grow up and how did that influence who you are today?
I grew up in Portland, Oregon and Teton Valley, Idaho. I spent my teenage years in Teton Valley, a beautiful, pristine landscape with the Teton Mountain Range towering over it. Clean air, clean water, beautiful streams, mountains and forests, I didn’t realize how awesome this was until I moved to Los Angeles.
Growing up in such a beautiful environment allowed me to look at the city and even the whole world from a different perspective. People aren’t connected with our natural environment like we used to be. We aren’t “grounded” anymore and we’ve lost touch. I now know what really matters. This appreciation has turned into a passion and a mission to help others see how beautiful our planet is and why sustainability and environmental responsibility is so important.
What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?
I’ve made many mistakes but I’m able to look back and see how those mistakes influenced other very important decisions later on. If it wasn’t for certain mistakes, I may be doing something completely different with my life.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A food stand or food truck that only sells toast. Different varieties of toast: Toast with jelly, cinnamon toast, toast with almond butter, etc.
What do you read every day, and why?
Every day I read the amazing articles on Organic Soul written by our extremely gifted writer/editor Jesse Richardson.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and why?
Anyone interested in the organic versus conventionally grown food debate should read the Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe.
What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?
I’ve recently started using Evernote to organize my thoughts and picture notes. I often will take pictures with my phone thru the Evernote app when I find a cool product or business to feature on Organic Soul or in Conscious Box. The Evernote app will then automatically sync with my laptop.
Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?
I would recommend that you interview Matt Prindle, a young serial entrepreneur who just recently launched Kuborra, an amazing clothing/action sports lifestyle company.
Connect
Organic Soul:
Conscious Box:
Twitter:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.