- Jason Rivers founded Oasis Energy Drink with his best friend, Wesley Fowler.
- The two met by playing football pee three decades ago.
- Rivers says that their complementary forces allow the company to succeed.
This test as told is based on a conversation with Jason Riversco -founder of Oasis energy drink. It was published for duration and clarity.
Wesley Fowler and me were friends Since the fourth year. It was then that we met, playing football outside Atlanta, where we grew up. We all played together in college and high school. Our families were intertwined and we were the best friends. I was even a man of honor at Wes’s wedding.
We have always had an interest in become entrepreneurs together. I was a serial entrepreneur, with some more successful companies than others. Wes has mainly worked in the business world, although it has also entered entrepreneurship.
The co-founders of Oasis, Jason and Wes, have known each other for 31 years With the kind authorization of the co-founders of Oasis Jason and Wes
Some time ago, we headed a promotional company together in Atlanta. It worked well, but Wes moved away from about three months. Since then, we are still talking about possible collaborations. Two years ago, we found one that we really thought of working: oasis, a natural energetic drink.
Our complementary skills are our superpower
Working with Wes is not the first time that I have set out a business with a friend. I had a business with a friend in the past, but it didn’t go well. I managed to save friendship – I just recently Assisted to an NFL game With him – but the company was simply not supposed to be.
What makes things work well with Wes is that its strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa. I had the idea of Oasis, but Wes is the market genius that gave life to my idea. I am good with figures and operations, when he has a creativity that I envy. When we come together, we feel like we have great power.
One thing we have in common is that we like to do things with a feeling of urgency. We never let the problems accumulate, and we are constantly working on the company together, even when it means telephone calls at the end of evening after the sleep of our families.
We keep our friendship in the foreground
Friendship is always the foundation of our relationship. We have been friends for 31 years now and business partners for two years. We relate to each other to man first. Sometimes this means understanding family obligations. My children are older, but Wes has two small children and is in a more intensive parental phase. I assure myself that he has space for that.
As we have such a long story, we are not taken in the ego. We respect ourselves and trust ourselves, but we do not try to prove anything. Sometimes I will make a call thinking that I know exactly what direction we should take. Wes will have a different idea. I am humble enough so that I can hear it and change my mind if what he says makes sense.
Jason and Wes prioritize their friendship. With the kind authorization of the co-founders of Oasis Jason and Wes
We also give ourselves a lot of autonomy. Wes make marketing decisions without needing my OK, and I do the same on the side of operations. This frees us to spend our time together talking about more important decisions.
We are used to solving problems together
Being an entrepreneur means constantly solving problems. We have had a lot in the past two years, but we have been able to work on them all because of our friendship. Wes and I have both a high emotional intelligence and never lose our temperatures. We can say to ourselves when we need more time to think about a decision, and we hope we are together. After 31 years, we can not know anything else.