Today we’d like to introduce Rick Priest.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My friend Gavin Hassett and I started Zihana.io as a way to help artists, creatives, businesses, and entrepreneurs transition into the digital age.
My journey as an entrepreneur started a long time ago. I was born in Oceanside, however, my family moved around while I was growing up. I spent time living in Norcal, Socal, and Hawaii. It was while I was living in Hawaii I started my first business, mowing lawns for my neighbors. Like many before me it was a failure, not because of finances, but because my heart was not in it. It took me many years to realize in that instance, I had created myself a job rather than a business. My path would zig and zag many times after mowing lawns.
There were points throughout my life where I found myself presented with opportunities to join corporate America and I would wonder if I was meant to be an entrepreneur. I was in my mid-20’s and had decided to go back to college. I graduated from the University of Miami (FL) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a Minor in Urban Studies. After graduation, I interviewed at Morgan Stanley. During the interview process is when I realized I wasn’t cut out working for a large corporation. So, I moved back to San Diego and entered real estate. It was through my real estate contacts that I was first introduced to cryptocurrency.
Gavin and I first became friends when we met in middle school in Hawaii. We are more like brothers now. Gavin was born in Los Angeles and also moved around a lot with his family. He spent time living in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and New Mexico. Gavin’s entrepreneurial spirit became apparent at a young age when he started walking dogs for his neighbors on Bainbridge Island. This early independence and self-reliance is what caused Gavin to realize he wanted to make his own way in life.
Gavin began his career as a personal trainer, a natural fit for his lifelong passion of martial arts. After building a successful book of clients Gavin took a brief sabbatical to pursue MMA. This went on for a couple of years before he realized MMA fighting was not meant for him. He returned to fitness and quickly ventured into opening Crossfit gyms. In 2014, Gavin took a break from his fitness business to help care for his grandmother. It was during this time he wanted to find a flexible work environment. Cryptocurrency offered him financial opportunity and the ability to care for his grandmother simultaneously.
It was in 2016 I first learned about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. My dad, a successful real estate developer and knowledgeable businessman, and I were invited by a colleague to go to a Bitcoin seminar in San Diego. The idea was to learn about an exciting new form of electronic money. However, little did we know, most of the seminar turned into a pitch for a multi-level marketing scheme involving Bitcoin mining (there are legitimate mining pools but the company at the seminar no longer exists). I left disappointed, my dad even moreso. He quickly assumed it was all a scam including Bitcoin itself. I, on the other hand, was still very intrigued by Bitcoin and its underlying technology, blockchain.
Coincidentally, Gavin became aware of cryptocurrency around the same time I did. Over the next year and half, he and I became entrenched. I began frequently trading crypto assets and researching new blockchain projects. Gavin bought a couple of ASIC Bitcoin miners and began mining at his house in Washington. It was an enjoyable time until December of 2017. The cryptocurrency market crashed and Crypto Winter set in, a period known in the cryptocurrency industry for its low volume and reduced interest in investment.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Crypto Winter taught me a valuable lesson in entrepreneurship. Most of the people Gavin and I knew in the cryptocurrency industry exited the space or went out of business. We both tailored back our operations as necessary yet we proceeded to stay involved in the industry. Ethereum really had hit a stride with its smart contracts and the possibilities it created for new forms of commerce. Now, before you go and ask, No, Gavin and I did not have a lot of experience with NFTs at the time. Ironically enough, now a lot of our clients are artists who work with NFTs. We didn’t see it at the time but our resilience, passion, and long-term perspective for blockchain is what easily kept us involved with the industry.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Gavin and I co-founded Zihana.io to fill a void in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. While blockchain and cryptocurrency are becoming more known, very few companies, creators, and entrepreneurs understand how to utilize its technology. This is where Zihana fills the gap. At Zihana we offer a full suite of services including business and technical consultations, project incubation, and strategic partnerships. We have a very talented and passionate team who loves conquering challenges. Our clients and associates are scattered across five states, three countries, and two continents. Not only are we able to enjoy freedom with our work but the people are really what makes Zihana.io great. We feel more like family and less like colleagues.
While the team is busy innovating, Gavin manages our client relationships. His background in personal training really gave him the skills necessary to connect with people on a personal and professional level. On the flip side, I handle the business management. Our roles suit our personalities and our goal to streamline the onboarding process into Web3.
What makes you happy?
Happiness to me takes many forms. In business, I gain enjoyment and fulfillment in giving it my all and never holding back. As an entrepreneur there requires an urge, a burning desire, to create something special. This something special also needs to provide value for your customers. This is why I am so happy to be able to share my background and experience with our clients. If I can help others seamlessly adapt to a new, evolving marketplace with infinite opportunities for success, this is what makes me happy with what we do at Zihana.io.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@zihana.io
- Website: www.zihana.io
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zihanacrypto
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/zihanacrypto
- Other: https://t.me/zihanacrypto
