Meet Kevin Cruz | Lifestyle Entrepreneur

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

Hi Kevin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
That is a great question. Risk is a chance you take to achieve things that an average person wouldn’t take, whether it be for yourself or an opportunity that will help you grow as a human. Risk is single-handedly the main reason I am in my position and something I constantly think about when I start to yearn for more. Now, with all my accumulated experience, it has become more about calculated risk. Seven years ago, that was not the case. If it weren’t for me being courageous enough to leave the small island I’m from called Guam; my life would be completely different. It would be hard to say where I would be or what I would be doing, but I’m proud of myself for taking a leap that not many people where I’m from take. I knew I was destined for a future I didn’t see around me, so I had to do something different. A quote resonates with me: “To be successful, you must be willing to do the things today that others won’t do to have the things tomorrow others won’t have.” That is why I owed it to myself and my family to embark on an unknown journey. So I could see what more was in store for my life in hopes of impacting their lives too. I owe a lot to my support system because they helped me in many ways to overcome the fear of leaving the only place I have known my whole life. I am going on my seventh year since relocating to Texas in 2016. Those same people and new additions in my support system still encourage and push me in everything I wish to achieve, even the crazy ideas.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is my personal journey; A process of pursuing my passions to uncover more of my authentic self. For a long time, I didn’t believe they were synonymous. Since realizing that, I try to express myself in the most authentic way I know while acknowledging the idea of constant creativity and self-expansion. That is what I feel sets me apart from others – harnessing my god given abilities and finding ways to contribute to the world in a positive way. Living my truths. We live in a world of the influencer, so by default, I see how easy it is to try to be someone you’re not for attention and fame. That isn’t me. I’m most excited about how much time I have left to be the person I was destined to be. I arrived where I’m at today by trusting my intuition, investing in myself, doing the right thing, and surrounding myself with great human beings. In no way was it easy, and I don’t believe life should be easy because the struggle and hardships give us a sense of gratitude for life. I would say I’m not like most people, and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. I tend to seek out challenges and discomfort because, throughout my life, that’s where I know the growth lies. There are many lessons I have learned in my 32 years of life. If I chose one, it would be to “believe in yourself.” Society has a way of talking people out of their dreams, which is why people grow restless, depressed, and lose that vitality for life. What I want the world to know about me, my brand UPWARD collective, and my story is that no matter your circumstances, you have more potential than you believe to be the person you desire and achieve things you can’t fathom right now. You can do this by being patient, working hard, pursuing your passions, and more importantly, being your most authentic self. That is the UPWARD mentality.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a regimented person. I try my best to indulge and explore on the weekends. During the weekdays, I meal prep for convenience, stick to a strict routine of handling my personal and professional obligations, and do a lot of physical training. On the weekend, I would bring them to one of my favorite restaurants, depending on the cuisine their heart desires. But first, I would start off with coffee. I mean, how do people function without coffee? My go-to cafes are Blendin, Tenfold, and Agora. For lunch and dinner, some of my favorites are Handos, Oporto, Cafe Piquet, Local Foods, Street Food Thai Market, etc; I’m a foodie, so I have a Rolodex of places to eat. As far as sites, I would take them to the museums and parks if that’s what they are into. I don’t drink too often, but I would take them to Axelrad or Heights Bier Garten for the experience. Most of the time I have friends visiting, I like the experience to be more intimate. Yes, partying is fun, but there’s a time and place for it. I prefer deep conversations about life and ideas, reminiscing about the past, and discussing future plans.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Great successes not only in business but in life are never done alone. In my life that serves to be true and there’s not one single person or entity that I exclusively owe all the credit to. There are many people I owe credit to for helping add value and perspective in my life. It would be wrong of me to share that without recognizing all the impactful people that have invested in me. So for those that have contributed to my personal growth and overall well-being, small or big. Thank you! You know who you are. I’m blessed and grateful for each and everyone of you.

Website: www.upwardcollective.co

Instagram: @k_krews @upward.collective

Image Credits
Paul Fullerton Chris Vu Scott Fukubayashi