Will Hatcher shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Will, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Who are you learning from right now?
I’m currently reading Marcus Aurelius’s notes on life (“Meditations”). It has some extraordinary insight into stoicism, philosophy and what it means to be a good man.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Will Hatcher and I have 6 jobs. I am a DJ, Actor, Sport Choreographer, Stuntman, Athletic Optimization Specialist and Music Producer. Having so many different modalities for creativity and for giving back keeps life fulfilling and interesting. I don’t even know if I would be capable of a 9 to 5 office job. My goal this year is to release 10-12 tracks, I have two nearly completed for the beginning of the year and a bunch more in the works.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I lived in fear until I was about 10 years old. I was very sheltered and somewhat isolated because I lived in rural Oregon. That fear drove me to begin practicing martial arts, exploring the things that caused me anxiety and eventually to become a whole person with very little to fear in my adult life. The freedom that you acquire when you stop living in fear and accept that some things are going to be scary, like hearing no repeatedly for example, is profound.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to be afraid of failure, it set me back personally and professionally. I have a tendency to go “all-in” and fully commit to things that matter to me: career, friends and certainly romantic partnership. Getting over that fear of failure and accepting that our most valuable lessons often come from perceived failure. It drives us to become better versions of ourselves, to learn and grow or alternatively to stagnate and wither if the fear of failure wins out. I used to believe that failure wasn’t an option, after experiencing it as a growing pain I realized that failure is, in fact, the most readily available option at any given moment, that’s what makes success so admirable.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I hope so, I work hard to be a genuine person, to give back when I can, to do the right thing even when it’s hard and to express myself fully. I believe we all wear masks in some parts of our lives, some people just have a much larger collection of costumes than others.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
One of my lifelong goals is to not live with regret. I work tirelessly to make sure I say what I feel needs to be said, to experience life at face value and to cherish the opportunities that are presented to me. Living the life that you dream about is achievable, it just requires time, commitment, work ethic and creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Escapehatch.WTF
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djescapehatch/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DJESCAPEHATCH
Image Credits
Micah Cruver
Colton Duncan
Liam Gillies
Jeremie Fremaux
