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Interview: Scott Jordan, CEO of SCOTTeVEST
presented by SCOTTeVEST
Scott Jordan is the CEO of SCOTTeVEST, an apparel company known for their travel clothing designed with tons of hidden pockets. He knows a thing or two about EDC, having pocketed his gear for decades. In this interview, he shares his daily setup, speaks on how the practice of EDC shaped his company, and reveals his secrets for making it in the business world.
What's in your everyday carry?
View Scott Jordan's Full Everyday Carry
Most of my EDC items are electronic or meant to support electronics. Battery life is a HUGE concern, and I’m a power user of devices, so I try to keep my devices topped off at all times. I’m always looking for the best gadgets, and these are the best out there right now.
Tell us about your company. What’s a day at work like for you these days?
My company SCOTTeVEST creates and sells stylish clothing with tons of hidden pockets that are designed to carry gadgets and EDC items. I founded the company in 2000 so I could carry all my EDC stuff without a fanny pack or a man purse. Since then, I’ve appeared on Shark Tank, written a book and grown my company to a $50 million business. These days, I spend close to half my time touring the country in my Polaris Slingshot three-wheeled motorcycle to promote SCOTTeVEST. I live a very mobile lifestyle and stay in constant contact with my mountaintop headquarters in Sun Valley, ID with just what I can carry in my (many) pockets.
It’s rare to find clothes that put an emphasis on the practicality of pockets. What inspired you to start making clothes that do? What inspires you to keep going?
When I first started SCOTTeVEST, I was inspired by needing a solution to my own problems. I was a gadget guy and I always EDCed tons of items… Discman, headphones, wallet, etc. Hey - it was the year 2000! After I caught a headphone wire on a doorknob and almost ripped my ear off, I invented a way to run wires through the lining of clothing… an invention that I patented (If you watch Shark Tank, you know the full story behind this).
Now, I get inspired by traveling and meeting fans around the country and sometimes around the world. But no matter how far I travel or how cool my new EDC gadgets are, I always love to come home. That’s what inspires me the most: the road home to my wife and three standard poodles.
What sort of hobbies interest you?
When I was a kid, I was really into transistor radios. I had the world’s smallest radio… and then the next month’s world’s smallest radio. That hasn’t really changed much, and I’m even more passionate about gadgets today because they are so much cooler! I also tend to be a few steps ahead of the curve with gadgets. For example, I see a lot of people carrying around selfie sticks lately. I don’t. I had carried one in 2010, so they’re old news to me now.
Why do you EDC?
I’ve been EDCing long before that was a well-recognized term. It has always just made sense to me. I love feeling connected and being able to get things done at any time when I have a spare minute. The only reason I’m able to run my business and travel at the same time is because I EDC the items I need to use every day, and because I have refined my processes to take full advantage of technology. It IS possible to be a mobile entrepreneur if you have the right equipment, and it does you no good to be sitting in a drawer back at the office. I built my whole company around the concept of EDC, so I am a true believer.
As a gadget lover, what’s the next piece of kit you want for your carry? What gear gets the most use in your current setup?
Right now, I really want the iWatch! It’s small, so you don’t need to pull out your iPhone, which is pretty important when you are toting a big phone like the 6 Plus. It’s a workout just to answer a call.
My ultimate EDC product would be a fully functional Google Glass with great battery life. It has so much potential to be game changing, but they don’t stay charged long enough to wear it all day, every day.
I don’t know that I have a favorite item, but my most useful is the iPhone 6 Plus… it’s like a digital Swiss Army Knife. But without extra batteries, it’s just a paperweight, so extra juice is critical.
Do you have any recent accomplishments or interesting projects in the works that you'd like to tell us about?
I wrote and released my first book a few months ago titled, “Pocket Man: The Unauthorized Autobiography of a Passionate, Personal Promoter.” It’s received great reviews, and it sparked an idea: I really am Pocket Man. I started my own business around putting hidden pockets in clothing in 2000, and I haven’t looked back.
So now I pimped out my new Polaris Slingshot, which is a three-wheeled cooler-than-the-Batmobile motorcycle and travel the country promoting my book and company. I was invited to speak at Google and UCLA, and it’s been a blast. Since the Slingshot has zero storage, I pretty much need to travel with just my EDC items and a change of clothes. It’s the ultimate test for my multi-pocket SCOTTeVEST clothing. I can run my whole office with what’s in my pockets as we work toward our next $50 million.
As a successful entrepreneur, what secrets would you share for anyone going down that path?
Use technology. Use it. If you want to succeed, survive, thrive and grow in business (and still have a life) learn to use technology. I use apps to remind me to follow up on emails and projects. I use live-streaming through Periscope to expand my brand reach. I use Basecamp to keep tabs on projects. The more you can automate and streamline your life using technology, the more time - and therefore freedom - you can enjoy.
After all, having the tools you need when you need them - that is, EDCing - is all about finding freedom, isn’t it?
Keep up with Scott on Twitter, and check out his line of pocket-heavy apparel at their site, SCOTTeVEST.
Photos courtesy of SCOTTeVEST
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