New Sneaker Project - "Before & After"

Normally the client provides me the sneaker to be customized. Today I made an exception. This client has a very unique story - one that should make everyone rethink their troubles.

Chris has had a strong passion for motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, etc. ever since he could remember; but after a severe accident last year, he has since been paralyzed. For him to get to the mall means something entirely different than for me or you to get to a mall. By no means Chris would ever accept your sympathy, but this story is important for you and I to fully appreciate God's blessings - even the most simplest as walking. This project will take on a deeper meaning than most sneakers have and will be sure to be another unique sneaker - in more ways than one. Much more to come, please stay posted!

Custom Road Bicycle Project

If you've been following me on Twitter and Facebook then I'm sure you've heard some of the updates about my latest project - a custom road bicycle. Since you've been holding on, I decided to share with you this preview picture:The bike frame was inspired by a couple pair of sneakers in my collection - the Nike Marty McFly Hyperdunks and the Air Jordan 2.5. More pictures to come as this week the bike should be gradually being put back together.

Jay-Z Official Video - D.O.A

Look out for the LeBron cameo!
Jay-Z's "D.O.A" Video!

My Top-10 Lifelong Goals

We all have those things in live we strive to accomplish. I thought it would be best for me to write down a few of mine as a constant reminder to myself. These are sure to change over and over again, but for the moment, these are ones on my mind (in no particular order).

- Raise a family (wife, 2 boys, 1 girl)

- Never have a "real" job

- Have a vacation E-LOG home in Northern Michigan

- Travel the world

- Never have money be an issue

- Give a lot of money away to those I love and those who need it

- Make a REAL impact on peoples' lives all over the WORLD

- Have my friends and family accomplish their dreams

- Go to any sporting event, etc. desired

- Get my pilot license

Photoshoot with Kim Way

While in Charlevoix last weekend with Adrienne, photographer Kim Way from www.always-photo.com. Check out some of the pictures she snapped with a gorgeous Northern Michigan summer night in the background. Thanks again Kim - it was a pleasure!

Always Photographic

Yes, she is my cousin and also goes to Grand Valley State University, but all bias aside, she is a great photographer and definitely deserves the recognition. Visit and follow Kim Way's website and blog of her photographic journeys - I did and do! [http://www.always-photo.com]

As soon as it is time to hire a full-time photographer for T.WayCustoms, she will be the first choice to fill that position (assuming she is available).

A Journey With Dilated Pupils

On Wednesday, Adrienne came into town. Enough said, right?

The day started off with an eye doctor appointment that resulted in dilated pupils for most of the afternoon - which sucked because I literally could not see anything within a two-foot radius of my head, including my Blackberry. After the appointment we were supposed to have lunch with my former boss, A.Smith of the Detroit Pistons. However, plans changed last minute because new Shock head coach, Rick MaHorn, called upon him to scrimmage his team during practice. So we killed a couple hours around Auburn Hills at the Great Lakes Crossing Mall.

Then we proceeded to the Palace of Auburn Hills and to the Pistons practice facility. Now I know what a lot of people say and think about women's basketball, and honestly I did the same a few years ago; but plainly put, these girls can play. Deanna Nolan breaks ankles and dunks - she's like maybe 5'10" people! We watched their practice for a bit, then Rick was ready for this men's team made up of A.Smith and some of his former Troy HS players and a couple current college players to body-up against the Shock. Unfortunately I didn't have my gear to get in the game, but I had a blast not trying to laugh out loud too much. On the opening tip Jake literally pushed down the Shock player as they were going up for it. Long story short, I laughed out loud, A LOT. Good game though: Jake hit what I believed to be a three pointer at the buzzer to win the game but it happened to be right in front of the Shock bench and they CLAIMED his foot was on the line. It ended in a tie.

After the practice, we decided to make a trip south to IKEA to pick out a dresser. We got stuck in traffic and Adrienne needed a potty break so we got off the next exit. Amazingly we just happened to be in Royal Oak. So I was like, "Dude, let's go to the Burn Rubber boutique!" So we did and met up with Cliff of BR real quick and visited a few other shops while there. Then we hopped back into the vehicle to make it to IKEA.

Adrienne was pumped because she loves IKEA and claims it to be the best playground for adults. I valued her excitement, but was still skeptical because she tends to be easily amused (just kidding, but at the same time, kinda not, haha). It was my first IKEA experience and was overwhelmed because I had no idea where to even start - it's freaking huge! Another long story short, we spent over 4 hours running around the store having a blast and getting lost, found a great deal on a dresser, and even had dinner and frozen yogurt. I LOVE IKEA!!!

From there we then jumped back into the vehicle and proceeded to drive, this time to Ann Arbor for Adrienne's best friend's birthday celebration. Her apartment was literally right next door to the Big House and Crisler Arena and I got both excited and disappointed. I don't know how we slept on the fact that she lived right next door to the arenas all year - the ONE year I didn't make it to any UofM game. The party was cool; I met a guy from Toronto who was a bike messanger for years until he got hit by a truck and was a vegetable in a coma for a month - crazy.

All this happened in one day from 9AM until 2AM with dilated pupils for most of it, some good food, and saturated with random acts of heavy laughter. Just another day!

Reminder: Why I do This

Last week I was able to spend time up north in Charlevoix with family - sisters, parents, cousins, grand parents, uncles, aunts, great uncles, great aunts, etc. Although I wasn't completely on vacation, I was unable to do much work for the business (mainly because my computer crashed and became completely unusable), which makes me feel a little guilty as if I should be always working on something. 

Combined with that guilt feeling unconnected from my work, I could not help but always think about it. Gradually I kept becoming more and more consumed about worrying about the business side of things - which ultimately began discouraging and overwhelming. Although I was not at rock bottom by any means, I still felt as if stuck in mud. Then God did a little reminding.

I received a message from a couple young people thanking me for doing what I do. In a nutshell she thanked me for being such an inspiration in her own life. Another note mentioned how they admired how my faith has been the crutch that has guided me through the never-easy journey. Even though these young adults didn't intend to help me out, I responded to them saying, "Thank you," because their reminder was exactly what I needed. Today I am volunteering in Grand Rapids at the GVSU summer entrepreneurship and am able to share my story with more young people and able to help them on their own journey.

This is why I started doing what I'm doing, and why I continue to do so. I'm not doing it to get rich or buy the world, instead I'm doing it to make a positive impact on others in one way or another. This is why I do this.

I hope you never make the mistake I did. Don't get caught up in the business part and lose focus on what's important. Always remember what got you where you are and why, and have FUN doing it. Words of advice I still need to tell myself.

WAY Family Mini-Reunion

Last night the Way family got together for a mini-family reunion. For the Way family, mini means around 50+ people. Anyways, it was a great time with some great stories from the old people (aunts, uncles, great uncles, great aunts, cousins, great cousins, etc). The photography artist of the family, Kim Way, was doing what she does best and joked in the process that this picture was going on the blog. So I'm putting it on the blog (along with a few others). Thanks Kim!

Me, with sister Aubrey, and cousins Jon and Kari (with another cousin's baby)

We gathered at the church gym (Charlevoix) and they had this old school scoreboard from way back when even before my dad played ball. Speaking of which, when he was playing on his 7th grade team, apparently he fouled out in the first 3 or 4 minutes of the game, haha. Apparently the coach didn't feel the need to take him out before he fouled out in the first half of the FIRST QUARTER!

Talent is GOD-given. Be Humble.

Fame is man-given. Be Grateful.

Conceit is self-given. Be Careful.

- Coach John Wooden (UCLA)

Winner of the McGurk Award

Late yesterday I found out I was chosen as this year's McGurk Award winner. Not sure what that is or what that means? Read the write-up about it HERE!!!

Death of Autotone

I woke up early this morning and was making my rounds onto the T.WayCustoms Twitter page and noticed the trending topic of Jay-Z. Found out that last night he was on Hot97 and released this latest track: Death of Autotone (DOA). Let me know your thoughts.

My New, Very Old Bike

My new thing is road bicycles. While in Mt. Pleasant this past weekend, Adrienne and I went on bike rides around the town about twice, sometimes three times a day. While there I borrowed her dad's old Nomad road bike from about 30-35 years ago and simply fell in love with it. Ideas flooded my mind to restore and customize such a classic. This week I've been Up North in Charlevoix and finding the perfect bike to resurrect continued to be on my mind. Today I finally found the lucky one for a fair price which happened to be the only used bike they for some reason had in their stock. (STAY POSTED FOR BEFORE AND AFTER PICS OF BIKE - COMING SOON) The people there were real cool and will be a vital tool in my bike customization process I'm sure. Their store located in downtown Charlevoix was an awesome atmosphere of every sort of bikes, boards, etc. Their store is called Revolution Bike and their site is www.revbike.com. When you vacation in Northern Michigan, make it a point to stop into their spot.