Local Community Advertising
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.
What is your name?
Jeremy Becker.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I was born in Germany. I moved to Canada when I was 5-years-old and I’ve lived in Kelowna ever since.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
Anyone I haven’t met before. I love getting to know people, hearing their stories and understanding what they want to create in this world and why. Everyone sees the world differently. There’s something beautiful about that.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Without hesitation, New York. The busyness of a massive city is inspiring to me. A place where people are just doing their own thing, trying to build their dreams, living their lives
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
I love hanging out at Bean Scene Downtown. It’s always busy which gives it a great atmosphere to zone in and get some work done.
What is your favourite activity?
Designing and building software products. I’m a UI / UX Designer and Full Stack Developer. In other words, I design apps, that look good, are easy to use and I build them for your phone and on the interwebs. In addition to having done freelance work over the years, I’ve started building a bunch of different little app ideas. Hopefully someday soon I’ll make the time to finish them up, add some polish and release them.
If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
My mom told me to never pick favourites, but obviously tacos.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Years ago I was sitting with some friends in Bean Scene talking about our dreams in life. This fellow, whom I’ve never met, overheard me sharing my dreams. He pauses, looks directly at me and says, 'Do you feel worthy of what you just said you wanted to accomplish? If you don’t, you’ll never achieve it ', and then he walked away. That moment has forever changed how I view my goals.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Back in 2011, I was working to produce a community outdoor music event in Penticton. I was thirteen at the time, and my application for an outdoor events license went to the city council to review. The council meeting was live streamed and I was able to watch it get unanimously approved. A surreal feeling for sure.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I volunteer as the Production Lead at the Kelowna campus of C3 Church.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Enable every person to lead life with empathy.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
I love experiencing the views Kelowna has to offer.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
So difficult to answer! It really depends on what mood I’m in. I love going to Dilworth Mountain Park and looking out over the city. We really live in a stunning part of the world!
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
I’d love to see a more robust and reliable public transportation system. Every person I’ve talked to, who has moved here, agrees that the current public transportation options leave a lot to be desired. Better transport could lead to increased affordability for young professionals to consider Kelowna as home.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
It’s the perfect place for every season. No matter what you love to do outside, there’s always something you can do.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) Build a big business
2) One-on-one impact a million people
3) To travel, specifically to Europe and South America
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
One day, I’ll run to be elected as Prime Minister of Canada.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
What is the name of your business/organization?
Herbata Tea Company.
Why did you get into/start this business?
I’ve been an entrepreneur my whole life. From mowing lawns, to event production or artist management, to freelancing web development, I’ve never had an off switch. Building business is what I do. It’s what makes me happy! At the time of starting Herbata, I was working on another business that I’d been grinding along on for 18 months with no real progress. We weren’t focused enough, and were just spinning our wheels making excuses for our lack of progress and ultimately we decided to move on. Originally, Herbata started as a conversation between Michael Vlasaty and myself. I off-handedly said it could be fun to start a monthly tea box subscription business as a side project to test some marketing ideas and ad strategies. As any great entrepreneur, he responded, 'Why don’t we?' We chatted for another 45 minutes and figured out the basis of the business model and a list of potential people whom we could partner with that would round out our team with expertise in tea. Forty-seven days later, we launched.
What is the goal of your business?
Herbata combines our love of story-telling with our obsession with experiences. It’s an experience, an expedition into the world of tea unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. We don’t just send you tea, we provide you with a complete experience. We create original cocktails and recipes for you use your tea in unconventional ways. We’re driven a simple belief: experiences are valuable.
What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
Honestly, I feel super blessed to be alive and living in Canada. No business struggle could ever really be worth sharing here. Yes business has tough days, but we have the opportunity to always try again.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
The same. Everything in my short 19 years has brought me to this point. I feel ridiculously blessed and have nothing but gratitude. I believe life is about following our passions, despite the cards we’ve been dealt. Above all, no matter how hard life is for anyone right now, you’re alive. You have the opportunity to change whatever you’re not happy about. So do it.
What do you always find yourself saying?
Follow your heart. Honestly though, once you realize how lucky and blessed you are to be in Canada, and in Kelowna for that matter, you start to have a different perspective on life. You are alive, you’ve already won. You live in Canada, you’ve won again. The only thing between where you are now and your biggest ambition in life is your willingness to work hard every minute of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year. Anything worthwhile requires sacrifice. We are alive in the best time in history. Any dream you want to accomplish you can, but you have to be we willing to put in the work and have tremendous patience. Once you know who you are and what you want to accomplish every decision becomes marginally easier. You don’t have to wonder anymore about if it’s smart or not. Does it bring you closer to what you want in life or not? You will regret not trying more than you’d ever regret failing. I think about that with almost every decision. When I’m 90, what will I regret the least, and then I do that. Don’t wait for permission from anybody else. You have one life. Make it count, it’s your life. Follow your heart.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Scooter Braun.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
It supports local entrepreneurs and more importantly, local families. However, local businesses should definitely step up and leverage technology in all forms to compete with larger companies. For most people, speed and convenience trumps all. If both consumers start to make a shift to focus on local businesses and local businesses make a tremendous effort to provide customers with even greater convenience, something truly incredible could start to take place!
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
When I launched my first company, Taste Locally.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Jordan Ambrosio and the whole crew at RareBreed. They’ve just stepped onto the scene and are doing some awesome and creative stuff. Props to them!
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Justin Goodhew, Co-Founder/CEO of Biznas Innovations Inc.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
'Live life as though everything is rigged in your favour.' - Rumi
'Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.' – Einstein
'Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.' - Martin Luther
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna.
Local Community Advertising