We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea & Matt Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea & Matt, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Although success is different for everyone, for us, it’s a state of mind, something that comes from within. We consider success to have 4 key points…

Happiness-

Getting to follow our passion, waking up everyday and getting to do something we love. It makes us happy to be building a brand that represents positivity and inclusion. Just seeing how far we’ve come makes us feel successful and puts the biggest smiles on our faces. For us, success is being fully content with what we are doing and where we are at in our lives.

Growing-

Achieving a win at the beginning of our journey pushed us to strive for even more. One win one week, followed by two the next, it’s definitely true what they say… “Small victories helps to achieve a big target”. Now we strive for a win everyday, no matter how big or small. Which is helping our business grow faster than we ever could have imagined.

Fulfillment-

We are working towards a dream of ours which is the ultimate fulfillment. Seeing everything come together has been so rewarding, from ideas on paper to the business we are today. Remembering how we felt before we started our business journey, and how we feel now is night and day. Going to bed every night knowing we did our absolute best while working towards ourselves is the ultimate reward.

Letting your true self shine-

Being able to work on something that is such a large part of who we are as people has been the biggest confidence boost. Creating a brand where it is so much more than just a product, it’s a lifestyle, an attitude and a mindset. This business has given us the bravery to do things in our own Unlikely way. Developing the confidence to create a product or execute an idea while never looking back has taught us to always bet on ourselves… It’s truly rewarding.

What should our readers know about your business?
Taking the leap of faith is the first step to starting a business. If you believe in yourself and the vision that you have, then everything else falls into place. Just like anything in life, it’s never easy. But, constantly overcoming challenges and realizing that you can truly figure out anything will definitely help move the process along. By dropping the ego and accepting humility, we have been able to conquer so many challenges in our business. By being ourselves, people resonate with the authenticity of our brand, which tugs at the heart strings. We are relatable and our brand portrays that… Social media has a bad habit of only showing the ‘good’ highlights in life, but as we all know, that’s not what real life is like. Life is messy and hard, we wanted to be able to be that escape and gentle reminder for everyone. Life isn’t just a highlight reel, it’s always a work in progress and nothing ever goes as planned. It’s how you deal with the challenges day to day that make the process so rewarding. The biggest lesson we’ve learnt along the way is to always be yourself no matter what. Someone will always have something to say, but pushing through and putting yourself first is the most important part of business.

Our piece of advice for those who take life to serious- Learn to lighten up because life is too short for the bullshit!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Anywhere local! We have amazing local breweries and restaurants here in Vancouver, there is always so much to experience. We have a ton of awesome farmers markets and weekend night markets, with tons of local vendors, artisans and makers. We have endless amounts of attractions to see and do here in B.C. You could surf, ski and hike all in one day. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful province!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our community is at the top of the list. They are our role models, closest friends and biggest supporters. Without our community our business would not be where it’s at today. Their belief in us and our vision is overwhelming, they drive us to keep progressing, developing unique products and staying true to who we are.

Our second shoutout would definitely have to be Gary Vaynerchuk, he is a legend in business and keeping a positive mindset. Business can be hard and you can definitely have your tough days, but listening to Gary and really letting his perspective sink in has always been the fuel we need to keep this fire burning. His book (Twelve and a Half) is our secret weapon!

Website: www.unlikelycitizen.com

Instagram: @unlikelycitizen

Facebook: @unlikelycitizen

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.