BC Business
BCBusiness will announce the 2017 30 Under 30 winners on April 13. In the meantime, here's what a 2016 winner had to say last year
To help us choose last year’s 30 Under 30, we sent each candidate a series of questions to see what made them tick. Here’s how Andrew Hall, who co-founded the MealShare Aid Society, responded.
What motivational quote gets you going?“‘As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.’ —Leonardo Da Vinci” Beyond family and friends, who inspires you to succeed?“Right now it’s Elon Musk. The guy’s insane! The biggest thing that inspires me about him is how he finished school and then decided he’d commit his life to solving mankind’s biggest problems and opportunities. It’s such an inspiring way that he approached life.”What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?“When my dad would train me for running as a kid, he’d make me do one last repeat when I was done and exhausted and ready to stop. Then he’d tell me that the last one was the only one that made a difference in progressing. So there’s the literal application of that theory to running, but it also speaks to how the work you do at the margin, when you want to quit, is what sets you apart. Just ‘going for a run’ or just showing up at work are the table stakes. It’s what you do beyond the minimum that makes a difference.”
What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?“I don’t know that there’s such a thing as bad advice. If someone’s giving you advice, (assuming it’s genuine), they’re obviously basing it off of their own experience. Their advice might not be right for your situation, but it’s an opinion to consider. I think the most commonly given bad advice is to be too cautious—that you can’t achieve something. People tend to be limiting, but once you try something outside your comfort zone, that’s when awesome things happen!”
What’s your biggest fear?“My biggest fear is getting to the end of my life and thinking, ‘Shit. Can I start over?'”
What’s your biggest regret?“I really try to live life without regret (it’s got its own section in my life-planning document). Wanting to go back and change things isn’t really gainful—learning from experiences is. But usually, my regrets are looking back on opportunities to meet or interact with people and not seizing them. It’s amazing what even a ‘hello’ can open up for opportunities.”
What’s your favourite TV show right now?“I don’t watch much TV any more, but it’s still a nice release once in a while. I’ve worked through Mad Men over the past year, and I’m almost done. I like how I can at least appreciate some good marketing/advertising fiascos while I veg.”
Favourite magazine?“Fast Company”
What song is on repeat on your device right now?“Still kinda hooked on ‘Lazaretto’ by Jack White. I saw him at Deer Lake Park last year. He’s unreal.”
A little-known fact about me is “I’ve never paid for a haircut (I cut it myself).”
Meet the 2017 winners at the 30 Under 30 celebration.