Sep 23, 2013 8 Questions With: Khari Stallworth of Max My Body
I first met Khari Stallworth, Founder/CEO of Max My Body, this past June through the Los Angeles chapter of Founder Institute, a globally recognized accelerator program, founded by the genius, Adeo Ressi. When I first approached Khari, he was incredibly friendly and genuinely interested in sharing thoughts behind each of our respective businesses (and ideas). He even offered a position to the fellow classmates if their business happened to fall through – what a guy!
His company, Max My Body, is providing the youth of America (starting with young athletes) with healthy, powerful alternatives to the junk food served in America’s school cafeterias today. There is so much emphasis on providing professional athletes with the best fuel that they can possibly absorb in order to perform at their absolute best, but why hasn’t this mentality trickled down to the younger athletes in today’s world? This is exactly what Max My Body achieves.
Khari is onto something truly fantastic here and I cannot wait to see it develop out over the next few years. Best of luck to you, and thanks for participating in our 8 Questions series!
1. What are you working on right now?
We are working on a startup based here in LA that is attempting to offer a solution of proper nutrition in Amateur Athletics here in the US. There are annually over 8 million High School students that participate in athletics – my company, Max My Body, is assuming that more than half of those students are not offered the proper nutrition before, or more importantly, after athletic activity. But even more of a concern for my staff and parent groups that we are connected to, is the fact that for over a decade now California high schools in certain areas choose to serve fast food to the student body for lunch?
It was time for us to make a stand, starting at least with the athletes in the schools to make a choice of exactly what fuel they put in their bodies and why!
2. Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration every time I wake up in the morning along with every trip to the park. I’m a proud father of four, and I have had the opportunity watch their love of sports at just about every level. I have a daughter starting her Freshman year at a University in Ohio, I have my son currently being courted by over ten Division 1 football programs, and my two youngest are just happy learning how to run and play competitively with other kids.
Watching my little ones attempt to achieve something athletically is motivation enough. Because I know that I’m not just designing something for them alone, I want to help their friends too, just helping kids be better, that is enough!
3. As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Well that is easy, a horror film director.
I was born on Halloween night back in 1971 at the ascension if the American Slasher film craze of the early 80’s.
My mother being a single parent had limited time to spend with me. No, it wasn’t because she was working two jobs to make ends meet. My mother was an attorney for the federal government in the 70’s & 80’s. we had plenty of money, but she was always “in trial.” Always working 50 hour weeks. I had Grandma & a nanny, but I was basically left to my own devices. So I did what every kid does: I watched TV and a lot of it! Being born on Halloween, I always had huge parties at schools and then coming home there was always a family party, then out to Trick or Treat. By the time it was time to come inside the house when the streetlights came on I had a sugar rush better than two cases of RedBull. I was up alone watching horror films in a huge dark house until three in the morning. The only way I was able to conquer my fears was to deconstruct the scary scenes and “redirect” them with my action figures. Think Toy Story meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
4. What am I reading at the moment?
Umm, let’s see, I’m reading two books right now. But to be totally honest, I have to add “LinkedIn” as well, because I’m there reading and researching ten times more than my books on my nightstand. Also, include my Son’s MaxPrep pages. He is just so damn handsome and he is so humble that it is just relaxing to watch him work. He is ranked as the 19th best Wide Receiver in the State.
But the actual entrepreneur books on my nightstand are:
1. Founder’s Delimas by Norm Wasserman
2. The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
5. How would I describe my job?
I would describe my job as an “Arsonist & The Fire Chief, a love story!”
Right now it is my job to start conversations or “little fires” as I like to call them, as many conversations with as many diverse groups as possible. This has helped me mold my business to what it has become today. Getting this valuable information from my environment wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t set these tiny little contained “campfires.”
Since a fire is generally only useful when hot, I always try to “stoke” the flames but not too much. Working as the FIRE chief, I’m constantly redirecting things to safety or to demolition. Scrap an idea here, torch an idea there, but wait, I want to keep that object or idea or thought or note, don’t let it burn. “JUMP LITTLE IDEA, JUMP!”
So I would describe my job as a Fire Chief, deciding what to accelerate and what to salvage to
replay again another day.
6. What does my workday look like?
Hmmmmm, that is a hard one because I’m a stay at home dad 50% of the time. If mom is working that day, I’m up at 6 to wake the troops. I have two wonderful kids, Koa (boy) 3 1/2, and Skye (girl) 2, and they pretty much dedicate my mornings until at least 10:30. But that is not to say that I don’t keep a full backpack with my laptop, copy of my journal, latest issue of Entrepreneur magazine, iPhones, legal pad, sharpies and colored chalk (Skye puts them in there). We usually pack up the stroller with snacks, waters, sand toys, water toys and just plain old toys, leash the dog (75Lb Pitbull) and head to the park. On occasion before we reach the park just blocks from our Woodland Hills apartment we hit our favorite summer breakfast spot, Jamba Juice, for Banana Berry smoothies with Whey protein and Chia seeds.
We get to the park, I read a few dozen morning emails, push things to my calendar, alert my team and forward overnight emails, and usually all before opening the rusted green gate that allows entry into the playground at the Warner Center. Unpack, distribute, referee, then settle. Sit on the bench next to my park moms (future clients) and get to work. Mom arrives in relief at 11 and I’m off to wherever I can make an office – Starbucks anyone?
7. What is my favorite post work destination?
That is an easy one – my living room at home. It’s grand central station there as I never know what I will open the front door to, but I know what sound I will hear.
“DAddyDEE, DAddyDEE, hair hve you at?” Skye, my daughter
Translation for you non-gibberish citizens (Daddy, where have you been today?)
DAD, DAD, DAD, Wook Wook! (my son pointing to his newest Disney movie)
Dad “look” I just bought a new movie with your credit card on VUDO!
A kiss from the hottest wife on the planet, lick from the dog, leg grind from the cat, turtle gives me the cold shoulder.
Its the best welcome home in the whole world!!
8. Advice to my teenage self?
Stop LISTENING to everyone else, YOU know what to do, just charge ahead, let the bodies fall where they stand because nothing in life is as powerful as believing in yourself!
For more great Imprint content, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!