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Get to Know: Josh Miller

Get to Know Josh Miller, Co-Founder, Owen's Craft Mixers

Co-founder, Owen’s Craft Mixers

First Call: In one sentence, describe what you do for a living.
Josh Miller: I make high-quality craft cocktail mixers with the goal of selling them to every person on the planet. In other words, I'm a mixer salesman. 

FC: Where are you and your company located?
JM: I am located in Hermosa Beach, California. Our company, Owen's Craft Mixers, is based in New York City, but spread out across the country.

FC: What is your handicap index? 
JM: 12.

FC: What time do you wake in the morning, and what time do you typically start the workday?
JM: 6:30 a.m. every morning. Starts with a walk by the beach with a cold brew or espresso in hand. Then I start working around 7:30 a.m.

FC: What are key elements to leadership or to being a good leader?
JM: Showing not telling. A mentor of mine told me it's far more important to do the heavy lifting yourself, but also explain step-by-step how it's done so you can teach others to do the same. Some days you're the founder, and other days you're the janitor. 

FC: What changes, if any, have you made based on the events of the past year?
JM: The entire world went through a pandemic together at the same time. This gave people the opportunity to realize what's most important in life, but also overcome adversity together. This led to me finding new passions in life -- golf being a major one. Prior to the pandemic, I never slowed any part of my life down. I am now trying to enjoy more aspects of the job, with golf being one of them. The best part is my family and friends have become super into golf, so it's a passion we get to share together.

FC: Who is your role model?
JM: My father, John Owen Miller. He was an elementary school principal by day, and a business school professor at night. He worked over 100 hours per week his whole life to provide my sister and I with an amazing life. His work ethic is what inspired me to want to do what I do now. 

FC: What’s the last book you read?
JM: “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey.

FC: What’s the last movie you saw?
JM: "Casino" for the 1,000th time.

FC: What’s on your playlist?
JM: Billy Joel, Lee Brice, Neil Young, Darius Rucker, Kanye West, CCR, 50 Cent and Foo Fighters. Eclectic to say the least.

FC: When I’m not at work, you can find me ...
JM: On a golf course, on a run or hanging with my Frenchie, Levi.

FC: What is your greatest extravagance?
JM: Donuts, bagels and breakfast burritos. I am in love with all three and refuse to try to make them on my own. 

FC: What are the favorite golf courses you have played?
JM: Too many to share, but Cypress Point, Pinehurst No. 2, Ballyneal, Prairie Club and Tobacco Road. 

Josh Miller - Llama

FC: Which golf courses do you belong to (if you care to share)?
JM: Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

FC: What's the secret to your success?
JM: Relentlessness. I will never give up, even if I hit continuous roadblocks. I'm a firm believer in finding solutions and other routes to getting around problems or "no's". I also try to stay connected as much as possible to work. It certainly affects life in other ways, but it helps me feel like I'm fully in control of my own / the business' fate. 

FC: Knowing what you know today, what professional advice would you give a younger you?
JM: Do not let the lows bring you too low, and do not let the highs get you too high. I have always been very passionate about what I do and keeping my emotions in check during good times or bad have always been something that I try to continually improve. Also, I would remind myself that I chose this path because it's what I always wanted. So it's important to enjoy the journey and not necessarily just the destination.

FC: What was your path to the golf industry?
JM: We noticed very early on during the pandemic that golf was going to be one of the only physical activities that provided natural social distancing. We recognized that the golf industry needed a new cocktail. We created the first ever Transfusion Mix to help golf courses provide a refreshing cocktail with ease on the course. The new product mix was so successful that we now sell it in over 12,000 retail stores and over 1,000 golf courses nationwide.

I started golfing May 2, 2020. I play three-four times a week, and it's clearly a full-blown addiction.


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