Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Smartt.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been blessed to have lived a life with many chapters. I graduated college and went to Prague right as the Eastern Block countries liberated from the USSR. I taught English, was a cook at a Czech-Mex pub, and eventually landed a job in marketing for the Coca-Cola Company. I worked with Coca-Cola throughout central Europe and then back in the states. Over time I became burned out on corporate politics and left the corporate world to start a business with a ‘sol’. My vision was to create a destination for outdoor lovers by merging my passions for sculpture and gardening. Sol’s Texas Institute of Creative Expression, also known as Solstice, was born in October 2007.
Over time the focus of solstice became landscape design and installation for Austin and the Hill Country. My approach is to balance hardscape aesthetics with native and adapted plant choices to create outdoor living spaces that mature with grace.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are no lack of obstacles when starting and building a business. Managing people is probably the biggest obstacle. That said people are also the most rewarding part of owning a business. Employees, clients, investors, etc. all bring energy to the table. Harnessing that energy is the key to overcoming the obstacles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I approach my art and landscape projects with an eye on balance and flow. Based on the context of the project this manifests in different forms. More contemporary designs take careful use of straight lines and height. More traditional freeform designs take careful attention to flowing curves and texture. In all cases the end product needs to feel as if it belongs to the space. I almost always know I got a project right when after complete it seems like it had always been there.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Our world is a melting pot of random occurrences of nature. Luck is only one of many unseen forces playing a role in building a business. I am a believer in the power of willing your own destiny… visualize what it is and more often then not ‘luck’ will deliver.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://solsticeoutdoors.com
