#sparkchamber 111422 — Daniel Barousse
Be who you are and trust how you got there is one of the mantras that drives this writer’s every choice and action. Today’s #sparkchamber guest, skateboarder-woodworker Daniel Barousse, is the living example of that philosophy. Born and raised in Lafayette, LA, Daniel was exposed to traditional carpentry from his father, and from spending summers with his grandfather … who learned the trade from his grandfather. “My grandfather’s grandfather was the best carpenter in the city of New Orleans according to my grandfather.”
At 11, Daniel began skateboarding, “and from thence forth every major decision in my life used skateboarding as a focal point.” His company, Barousse Works is the perfect blend of these two influences, handcrafting custom-designed, one-of-a-kind pieces — exquisite serving bowls and trays, coasters, knives, pens, jewelry, furniture — using reclaimed wood from recycled skateboards. They work with skate shops around the country to acquire the boards, and estimate they are keeping roughly 100 old skateboards per week out of landfills. On a mission to help restore the world’s forests, 1% of each sale is donated to The Nature Conservancy. Doing right is in Daniel’s DNA. “Good people with good hearts and their souls intact are what inspire me the most. From the dad who is always there for his kid, to the pro skateboarder who pushes the limits of what he thinks he can do, I find inspiration all around me stemming from people who aren’t afraid to be themselves.”
1.] Where do ideas come from?
I think ideas come from each person’s own raw self
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
I try to live my life in a way that I’m not bound by time. The itch I’m scratching I suppose is the purest sense of freedom. I want to be as free as I can be and the way for me to do that is to live my life out through my passions. When I do that, I forget about time and exist in the now which is the ultimate freedom.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
I wake up 7 days a week by 5:30am and usually have biked, done yoga, gone to the gym, and hit the cold plunge by 8am. I spend an hour or two each morning working on my phone editing content and answering messages/emails. Once I’ve done my health regimen and have handled all my content/business needs I get to my workshop between 10-11am. From there, myself and my right-hand man Leo usually work till 4-6 and go skate immediately after. Once I’ve finished skating, I usually go home for the day and relax if possible.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
When I feel it internally
