You Must Rely on Your Village: Interview with Designer Vicente Wolf
Several years ago, I interviewed designer Vicente Wolf in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:
Adam: What is something about you that would surprise people?
Vicente: My good friend, Holly, owns the fish and food shop at Gosman’s Dock out in Montauk, where I have a second home. On weekends I’ll join her to assist with various jobs, i.e. washing pots, sweeping, carrying boxes, fetching things, and sometimes even prepping the veggies. After a week of being the boss, there is something wonderful about giving in to being low man on the totem pole and taking direction. I always look forward to volunteering my time at Gosman’s – it’s a rewarding few hours of my weekend and takes me away from the design pressures of my NYC-based firm.
Adam: How did you get here? What failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Vicente: I physically got to the US by boat from Cuba when I was 15 years old. Coming into a society as an immigrant was a handicap unto itself, however, I am also severely dyslexic. At 18 I moved myself to New York City to find my place in America without a successful formal education. These challenges forced me to strive harder for ways to triumph. In those years I didn’t know what or how, but I knew I had a valuable contribution to make and was determined to take advantage of every opportunity, and did.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Vicente: Being passionate about whatever it is that you believe and commit to your decisions. It is also imperative that you know your strengths as well as shortcomings, that is not always an easy thing to face. It’s important that you seek out the right people who can complement your weaknesses. For example, computers and most things digital are not my strong suit. I make sure I hire people whose skill sets include these elements. And, always show your appreciation. In addition, I have also gained more than I’ve given when I mentor and teach. I enjoy working with interns, lecturing, and situations where I can inspire the next generation of interior designers.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Vicente: You must rely on your village; the people who you surround yourself with. Success requires a good support team. Use your team wisely. When you are aware of what each of them brings to the table, you will know how to utilize them to the fullest, even inspiring them to challenge themselves. Remember, nothing lasts forever so enjoy it while it does. Enjoy the road.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Vicente: Trust your gut.
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter at @adammendler and on LinkedIn and listen and subscribe to Thirty Minute Mentors on your favorite podcasting app.