Q&A with Serial Entrepreneur & Inventor of SportieCups, James Crumb

Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve never felt content when employed in any capacity for other companies during those seasons in my life. My spirit is not at peace when there are limits to income potential because I desire a certain quality of life. Also, as an entrepreneur, I want to contribute to economic development and aiding others in excelling and to reach their goals beyond fair market employment and financial stability. We all have the power to live a better life, but many of us are never given the opportunity; and I want to be the person who can provide that opportunity. Our company’s aspiring mission is to bring economic development and represent ethical principles of honest dealings all while providing a quality product through fair labor practices.

What do you think are some of the critical attributes for success as an entrepreneur?

The most important thing as an entrepreneur is to never forget the sacrifice and the constant grind that is involved in climbing the ladder that comes with establishing formidable and successful companies and products. Doing so keeps me humble and willing to help others through “word” (speaking to their situation), “thought” (giving others situations & needs consideration) and “deed” (an action that is performed intentionally or consciously).

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you first started SportieCups?

There have been many occurrences through the invention and development process of SportieCups. There are times when we’ve been on a shoestring budget, and other times no budget meaning capital was scarce. But we continued believing, investing, and keeping a forward motion. We never experienced naysayers per se, but there have been a lot of sideline onlookers. So, when SportieCups is referenced as more than a symbol of sports teams, it’s a matter-of-fact. A symbol of sacrifice, freedom, determination and perseverance! It’s been refreshing to see SportieCups acquire a “SportieCups Lovers” fan and customer base, making it all so surreal.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now?

We have a treasure trove of products that we will unveil in season. Currently we are continuing to diversify our distribution markets for SportieCups. Our ecommerce site is now available to consumers at crumbsventures.com/shop for preorders. That’s exciting because the response has been amazing from sports enthusiast that was waiting to purchase their favorite cup. All of our ‘sports’ themed products are assured to heighten sports fans enthusiasm and representation of their favorite sports team while bolstering that spurring feeling of being a partner, whether a weekend warrior, extreme sports lover or just want to build a collection of accommodating memorabilia of your favorite team(s) and sports.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Above all I want to thank God for His Abiding Love, His Mercies, His Sufficient Grace and His Vision given unto me. Special “thanks” to my late parents (tear filled eyes), like most parents full of hopes, dreams and expectations for their children nevertheless when I fell short didn’t resign as parents, but continued to love and support me with a relationship to be relied upon. My heart speaks to them daily saying, “I Love You” while my passions and accomplishments are from their DNA, and the instilling of morals, ethics and a can-do spirit is from my upbringing… their spirit continue to live on as I assimilate believing I can accomplish anything I put my positive energies towards.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

My life’s mission is lifting up the least of us. I am painfully aware of the self-inflicted wounds behind the veil of life’s experiences that are all too common in our communities & households today. I’m an everyday guy that’s been given charge to be an example or inspiration to those whom are shadowed with apprehension/reluctance, shame, embarrassment and remorse due to life’s experiences and challenges, “To whom much is given, much is required”, and I graciously accept the role. I don’t carry bad experiences through my life, but instead look at them as learning encounters. I wouldn’t change or trade my life’s experiences, because they define me to the point of being an honest, compassionate human-being: continuing to strive and achieve. My contribution of “goodness” is my willingness to share all of my experiences and not just the “flowery” feel good ones, but rather being transparent for anyone who can bear witness to identify and gleam.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amounts of good to the most amounts of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Foremost, I’m humbled by your reference. Again, the mission I’ve been given charge of is to “Lift Up the Least of Us”. As I live it, apply it, I share it: Do not let the painful memories of your past limit the potential of your future. There are no limits to what you can achieve on your journey through life, except in your mind. Be the reason someone smiles; be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people. Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward and if you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down. Through this process, treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.

What is one of your proudest moments in your career?

To date, SportieCups has been my proudest moment. Being that it is my first creation that came from a vision, sketches, prototypes, production and market distribution. It’s been exhilarating to watch it come to fruition!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I keep this quote close to my heart and exercise it without caution.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” –Steve Jobs

It’s uncut and speaks for itself, I’m living my life that I was created to live and not in the shadows of someone else’s life nor trying to live their life; following my heart and intuition.

Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them

Oprah Winfrey, what can I say it’s Oprah. I’d like the challenge of manufacturing production after she poses with her “FAVORITE” SportieCups.

Kobe Bryant, former Los Angeles Lakers, I’m a fan of Kobe on the basketball court, but I also admire his admission that he has a flair for identifying promising entrepreneurs. I bear witness to his comment, “It’s the inner belief that a person has that he will endure no matter what the obstacle may be. It’s that persistence, the entrepreneur doing what he or she truly believes in and truly loves to do.” A picture of him with our basketball SportieCups would be a true pride.

Ellen DeGeneres, she is a beautiful spirit who is a testament of “Lifting Up the Least of Us”. I’ve watched her bless others that were in a hopeless state of existence. I’d like for her to dance with a SportieCup in hand because it represents the same spirit of hope.

Arianna Huffington, she is the absolute symbol of women empowerment, an entrepreneur powerhouse and genius. Humbly, I’d be honored.

To pre-order SportieCups: https://crumbsventures.com/shop/