Under The Leaf: AJ Gentile of Speed Weed
They’re moving so fast, you can barely pin them down. If you’ve heard the phrase, “If things aren’t chaotic, you’re not moving fast enough” take a look at how Speed Weed is living it – They’re moving a million miles a minute and there is certainly no end in sight! What makes a company like Speed Weed tick? What makes them thrive? What are their core values? AJ Gentile, CEO, is taking a spare moment to slow down for a hot second and take us on a tour of the atmosphere that’s inspiring their success.
Give us a brief spiel about what you do. What is Speed Weed all about?
Speed Weed is the largest medical marijuana delivery service in California and soon to be the largest nationwide. The core of our business is people. There are many reasons for our success: dynamic use of technology, strategic partnerships, brand recognition, excellent products, and superior service. Behind all of that is people! Our employees and managers are the best in the industry. They are well trained, well compensated, and treated like family. This respect and affection reflects directly onto our clients. When you are a member of Speed Weed – client or staff– you feel like you are part of something special and that’s because you are. Speed Weed is not a marijuana delivery service. Speed Weed is a clique, a secret club, a culture, a community. We don’t focus on market share, margins, or milestones. We focus on people. When you take this good-karma, non-greedy approach to running your business, financial success is a natural result. I’m surprised more companies haven’t discovered this.
When you take this good-karma, non-greedy approach to running your business, financial success is a natural result. I’m surprised more companies haven’t discovered this.
How do you start your day? What is the first thing you do?
During the week, I get up at 5:45am and make myself a Bulletproof Coffee (thanks Dave Asprey!). I check the market, scan the headlines, and read any marijuana-related articles that came out overnight.
What does a normal day look like to you?
I get up early and day-trade for a couple of hours while I setup my day; this meaning that I scan the headlines, read any new articles about marijuana and check the latest news, and gossip on the publicly traded cannabis companies. Once I feel up to speed with the industry, I clear out a few emails, and head to the gym. After a workout and a shower, I’m in the office until about 8 or 9pm. A typical day is usually email, phone calls, and meetings. Although some days I could be at an abandoned prison discussing a large grow operation or in Las Vegas pitching investors. My days are always different.
What is the one thing we will never find you without?
The ability to conjure a sarcastic remark.
What does your workspace look like?
My office is designed to look like a lounge in the Lower East Side of New York. The walls are metal and stone. There’s a large red leather couch, an old set of subway lockers, a red Fender electric guitar, and some photos of the New York Yankee Stadium. Our LA Times front-page article is also framed front and center. Oh, and of course, there’s my bar which is built out of an old roadie tour case. My office looks like it was designed by the love child of Don Draper and Sid Vicious.
What do you love about what you are doing with your business?
I love how excited other people are about our business. Sometimes you get so deep into the day-to-day operations and tasks that you forget to look up and see that your business is growing, people are falling in love with the brand, and everyone is talking about you. We didn’t specifically try to create a culture around our brand; It just happened as reflection of who we are: people who enjoy
creating relationships.
How do you choose the people you work with? What do you look for?
Loyalty, integrity, ambition without greed, blunt, and a good sense of humor. I am attracted to people with those qualities. Surprisingly, these are rare traits in people. I have an excellent reputation in this industry and that is because I care about how I am viewed by my peers. I actually work really hard to connect with people to forge relationships that create opportunities for everyone. By working only with people who possess those traits, and avoid those who don’t, creating relationships is easy.
How do you keep yourself motivated throughout the day?
Real entrepreneurs don’t need to keep themselves motivated. We love the chase, we love the chaos! True business builders are always a hundred tasks behind, always catching up, always taking on more. We are addicted to the quickening pace and loathe boredom.
Real entrepreneurs don’t need to keep themselves motivated.
How do you end your day? What’s the last thing you do?
End of the day is dinner with the wife then cable news for an hour or two. Then it’s time to switch off. For me, that will be splash of scotch and two puffs of an Ed Rosenthal Indica cone. Then, Jen and I watch whatever our current escapism is. Right now, we are binge-watching The Blacklist with James Spader and impatiently waiting for the next seasons of Game of Thrones and House of Cards.
