Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Shearer.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My professional background has been in construction safety and leadership. I’ve spent many years working in Environmental, Health and Safety, eventually becoming a Safety Director here in the Austin area. That career has taught me a lot about leadership, responsibility, building teams, solving problems and, most importantly, taking care of people. Those lessons have carried into almost everything I’ve done outside of my career as well.
My connection to the water started long before Summer Daze ATX. Growing up back home in Pennsylvania, I spent a lot of time fishing with my dad, and those experiences are really where I developed my love for being on the water. Some of my favorite memories growing up were simply being outside, fishing and spending that time together. Looking back now, I think that early connection to the water played a bigger role in my story than I probably realized at the time.
The story of Summer Daze ATX also goes back to a goal I wrote down years before the business existed.
In July 2011, before graduating from Slippery Rock University, I created a 10-year goal sheet for myself. One of those goals was to own a yacht. Exactly 10 years later, in July 2021, my business partner Mike Younan and I purchased our first yacht together.
Seeing something I had written down a decade earlier become a reality exactly to the month was a pretty powerful moment for me. It reinforced something I’ve always believed in: setting meaningful goals, staying focused on them and being willing to act when opportunities present themselves.
What neither of us necessarily knew at the time was that buying that yacht would become the beginning of something much bigger.
Mike has been a huge part of that journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for the partnership we’ve built. We began learning the boating and rental business together from the ground up. What started with that one yacht eventually grew into a fleet of boats and became Summer Daze ATX.
Living in Austin, we saw how important Lake Austin and Lake Travis are to the culture and experience of the city. We wanted to create something beyond simply handing someone the keys to a boat. Our goal became creating memorable experiences where people could celebrate birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, family gatherings, corporate outings or simply a great day with friends on the water.
Building the business has definitely been a learning process. We’ve learned about boats, operations, customer service, marketing, leadership and all of the unexpected challenges that come with entrepreneurship. Every season has taught us something and helped us improve.
What means the most to me is seeing people make memories together. A boat may be what brings everyone together, but ultimately Summer Daze ATX is about the experience people have once they’re on the water.
It’s pretty incredible to look back at a goal I wrote down in July 2011, see it become reality in July 2021, and then watch that single goal grow into a business with one of my closest business partners.
We’re proud of what we’ve built, but I still feel like Summer Daze ATX is only getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a perfectly smooth road, but I think that is true of most businesses worth building.
One of the biggest lessons we learned early is that boating is very different from a lot of other businesses because there are so many things outside of your control. Weather can change quickly, mechanical issues can happen unexpectedly, lake conditions vary, and even one problem with a boat can affect an entire weekend of reservations.
Maintenance has probably been one of the biggest challenges. Boats require constant attention, and when you are operating multiple vessels, there is always something to inspect, repair, service or improve. We have had weekends where everything went exactly as planned, and others where an unexpected mechanical issue forced us to adapt very quickly. Those situations can be stressful, especially when customers are counting on you for a birthday, bachelor or bachelorette party, family event or another important occasion.
There has also been a significant learning curve around the operational side of the business. Understanding regulations, insurance, captain requirements, safety expectations, scheduling, customer service, marketing and managing a fleet takes time. Every season has taught us something new.
My background in safety has probably influenced the business more than anything else. I naturally look at risk, planning and preparation differently because of what I do professionally. At the same time, running Summer Daze ATX has taught me that you also have to be flexible. You can have a great plan, but when weather changes or something mechanical happens, you have to stay calm, communicate well and find the best solution available.
Another challenge has been balancing the business with my full-time career. Summer Daze ATX is not something I built with unlimited time or resources. A lot of the work has happened early in the mornings, late at night, on weekends and in between the responsibilities of my professional career. That has forced me to become much more intentional with my time and to rely on the people around me.
That is also where having a strong partner and team has been important. Mike and I have had to learn together, make difficult decisions together and keep improving the business even when things did not go exactly as planned. We have also been fortunate to work with captains and crew members who help make the experience possible.
Looking back, some of the most frustrating moments have probably taught us the most. Every mechanical problem, difficult weather day, operational mistake or unexpected expense has helped us build better systems and become better operators.
My faith has also been a huge part of navigating the difficult seasons. I believe God has a purpose for where we are placed and the opportunities we are given, and there have been plenty of times throughout this journey where I’ve had to trust Him, stay patient and keep moving forward even when I couldn’t see exactly how things were going to work out.
I think that is one of the biggest lessons entrepreneurship has taught me: challenges are not necessarily a sign that you are on the wrong path. Like Ryan Holiday’s book, The Obstacle Is The Way, It is not what happens to you it is how you respond. Sometimes it is simply part of the process of learning how to build something better.
As you know, we’re big fans of Summer Daze ATX Boat Rentals . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our business is Summer Daze ATX Boat Rentals, and we provide private boating experiences on Lake Austin and Lake Travis.
What we really specialize in is creating memorable experiences for groups that want to enjoy Austin from the water without having to worry about all of the logistics that come with boating. We work with everything from birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, family outings and corporate events to smaller groups that simply want a relaxing day on the lake.
One of the things that sets Summer Daze ATX apart is the variety within our fleet. We are able to offer very different experiences depending on what someone is looking for, whether that is a more relaxed luxury yacht experience, an active exciting day on a surf boat, or a larger group celebration on our double-decker party boat. That flexibility allows us to serve a much wider range of customers than a traditional one-boat rental operation.
We also put a major emphasis on the overall guest experience. From the moment someone first contacts us, our goal is to make the process easy, clear and enjoyable. We want people to feel like they are booking an experience, not simply reserving a boat for a few hours.
My professional background in safety has also had a major influence on how we operate. Boating is supposed to be fun, but there is a lot of responsibility that comes with putting people on the water. We place a strong emphasis on qualified captains, preparation, communication, maintenance and making sure our guests can enjoy themselves while knowing that the important details are being handled.
I think what I am most proud of brand-wise is that Summer Daze ATX has developed its own personality. We want the brand to represent great energy, great service, memorable days on the water and the feeling of being able to leave the stress of everyday life behind for a while.
There is also a deeper meaning behind that for me. Our yacht is named EZDAZE in honor of my best friend, Ian Campbell, who passed away in 2019. His nickname was “EZ,” and naming the yacht after him was my way of honoring his memory and carrying part of his legacy forward.
The name also came to represent the idea of “easier days ahead.” My hope has always been that when people step onto one of our boats, they can disconnect from whatever stress they may be carrying, enjoy the people around them and make memories they will remember for years.
At the end of the day, that is really what Summer Daze ATX is about. The boats are the platform, but the memories, celebrations and experiences people create on them are what make the business meaningful to us.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that has probably been most important to my success is discipline.
I believe goals are important, but discipline is what turns those goals into something real. Motivation comes and goes, especially when you are balancing a full-time career, building a business, managing people and dealing with the unexpected challenges that come with entrepreneurship. There are plenty of days when things are not convenient or easy, and that is where discipline matters most.
A good example for me is the 10-year goal sheet I created back in 2011. Writing down that I wanted to own a yacht was one thing, but the years between writing that goal and eventually purchasing one were filled with career growth, long hours, learning, saving, taking risks and continuing to move forward.
My career in safety has reinforced that mindset as well. In safety, consistency matters. You cannot only do the right thing when it is convenient. You have to prepare, follow through and hold yourself accountable every day. I have tried to bring that same mentality into Summer Daze ATX.
I also think discipline gives you the ability to keep going when things do not go according to plan. There have been mechanical issues, weather challenges, unexpected expenses and plenty of moments where it would have been easier to become frustrated. Staying focused, learning from those situations and continuing to improve has been a huge part of our growth.
For me, discipline is really about keeping the commitments you make to yourself and to the people who depend on you. I think that consistency over time has been one of the biggest factors in getting me to where I am today.
Pricing:
- EZDAZE Luxury Yacht experiences start at $950
- Corporate event packages start at $1,500
- Birthday packages start at $1,100
- Wake surfing lessons start at $100 per person
- Sunset Cruise experiences start at $450
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.summerdazeatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summerdazeatx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Summer-Daze-ATX-61574717474058/
