Meet Julian Spence: Design Specialist. Sneaker Enthusiast.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julian Spence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julian, what matters most to you?
What if we all took a leap of faith and went after our wildest dreams? What if we all failed our way to success? Or, what if we didn’t? My name is Julian Spence, professional graphic and web designer by day, sneaker connoisseur, entrepreneur, and 1988 C4 Corvette owner by night. I’m here give a sneak peek into my journey and what inspires me to continually overcome obstacles and strive to be better than I was yesterday. In my experience resilience and discipline are the two most important factors in success; whether it was business, sports, college, or my first professional job these principles have never led me astray. Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. When creating a brand or business from scratch many obstacles will try and stop that progress but with a mindset of “by any means necessary” even the toughest problems can be turned into victories. Discipline speaks for itself honestly, in my perspective it means doing the things that you know you need to do daily, that you don’t feel like doing in order to reach your goals. Once I accepted this process of growth and pushed through my own mental blocks I really began to see what life has to offer to those who take control of their own destiny. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Perseverance has always been a key factor in my life; playing basketball since the age of 7 has taught me the value of not giving up and making solid decisions in high pressure situations. As I made it to middle school here lied my first lesson in this game we call life. All the work and effort I put into my skills seemed to instantly disappear as I lined up on the baseline waiting to hear the names of the players who made the team. My name seemed to have been misplaced from the meticulous lips of the coach, and feelings of fatal sorrow swept over me. I looked over to my dad who gripped my hand and lead me to the car. As I sulked and slumped in my chair I looked up and saw the illuminated lights of a sneaker store and my spirit instantly recharged. While inside I was in heaven as I selected my shoe from the wall. That day inspired me for years to come and eventually led me to wanting to open my own sneaker store AKA The Sneaker Chemists. Life, much like basketball requires tremendous amounts of confidence and the ability to take risks. About 2 years ago I was stuck in my 9 to 5 routine, purposeless and purely wandering through life. Everyday was a mix-up of stress and unfulfilled potential, until I risked it all. Imagine waking up everyday with your soul playing a figurative game of tug of war with your mind *show the struggle of a tug of war portray the feeling you felt* the joy you once felt has dwindled down to a generic “Good Morning” greeting to the receptionist as you walk to your desk. But besides that, who really leaves a good paying salary job WITH BENEFITS at 26 years old off of pure faith in the Lord and themself? This guy. Weeks after that momentous decision my life began to change for the better. I was able to live my dream of working for myself and creating whatever I wanted on a daily basis but I had overlooked one small detail, you can’t pay bills off of happiness. But the joy that I now had fueled me to push myself harder than I did before because of two reasons I had the man upstairs behind me and if i didn’t make something happen my life would never be the same. Ever since that day my life and business have grown exponentially.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow, a tough question because there is so much to do in the city! First, I would hit a couple of the top sneaker stores in the city like Premium Goods, Proper, and the Nike Clearance store because who doesn’t like going sneaker shopping? It’s a couple others I cant name drop because I need to keep some secrets for my self lol. Second, I would have to take them to my favorite vinyl store in the inner city called Sigs Lagoon to check out some vintage records and soak up the creative vibes that being in that type of environment bring. Lastly, I would go and grab a bite to eat at one of my favorite BBQ spots called Brookstreet BBQ!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ever since I was young I always observed older people and kept a sharp ear out for advice and opportunities, with that being said there are so many people that I’ve crossed paths with I can give credit to for my success. First, I have to shoutout God himself because there has been times in my life where I wouldn’t have made it through situations without a divine touch. Second, my family, strong family values were instilled in me early in life and has always been a backbone and support system for me to count on no matter what situation I’m facing. Third, my true friends, there’s way too many to name but my philosophy has always been that if I call someone a friend they are like family to me, unless that bond is broken. So I keep my circle really tight and we all support and lift each other up to make life even better than it already is. You know who you are! Also a special shoutout to my fiancée for all of her love and support of every idea this brain of mine can come up with!

Website: www.jspence.net / www.sneakerchemists.com
Instagram: @Suspenceful___ / @Sneakerchemists