PIVOT 2016 Speakers: Brian Graham on The Road From Marketing to Brewing

The upcoming PIVOT 2016 conference is speculated to be Indiana’s business event of the year.  It will feature an excellent selection of speakers and unique networking opportunities.

Well, we’ve decided to get in touch with one of the speakers – just for you.  Here’s a short interview with Brian Graham.

He is the president and founder of Four Day Ray Brewing.  However, his experience doesn’t just encompass brewing beer – even if he’s been doing that for the last 20 years.

Without further ado, here’s what Brian has to say about his road from marketing to brewing and PIVOT 2016.Graham 3

1. How can you describe the first 10 years of your career, and what were the challenges you had to overcome to get where you are today?

A discovery is how I would describe the first ten years [of my career]. One of the biggest challenges was my interest in many different things.

I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. In those first years, the one thing I did discover was I was a sales person.

2. You were the owner of Dick’s Bodacious BBQ/Hot Shotz.  Can you tell us more about your experience during that time and the obstacles you had to overcome?

I was taught a very expensive lesson.  The restaurant industry can be very cruel.  I ended up going bankrupt because of poor choices and lack of experience.  I thought I knew it all.

3. What are the three most important things you learned while working in marketing and sales?

  1. What you think matters to consumers doesn’t.
  2. You won’t get it if you don’t ask.
  3. People really don’t know what they want.

4. What made you switch from marketing and sales to brewing beer?

They really are the same thing. I have been brewing for 20 years and love good food.  I knew Fishers was missing this and want to provide a great culinary experience in an underserved market.

 

5. How was Four Day Ray Brewing born and why did you pick this name?

The railroad is part of Fishers’ history, Nickel Plate.  I wanted a name that people could relate to emotionally and that has a story.

Four Day Ray is a person so it is easy for people to connect the name with themselves or someone they know.  And FDR ended prohibition so there are multiple levels to the story.14680772_1296254283741877_806529177374791943_n

6. What are your plans for FDR and how do you see it evolving over the next five years?

We would like to own Hamilton Co. and be the beer of choice.  From there on, we would like to open small taprooms/restaurants so we can expand our tap handles.

7. What do you think is the most important thing every entrepreneur should know?

Things take longer than you think, cost more than you think, and require patience and time.

8. How do you feel about Indiana’s upcoming PIVOT 2016 conference, and what should the audience expect from your presentation?

I am excited to share some life lessons I learned and provide some fun education about beer.

Thank you for your time.

You Can Learn More from Brian Graham on November 16th, at PIVOT 2016

Brian Graham’s session is called “Beer School: Beer Tasting and Business Insights”. It will be the conference’s final session, before another hour of networking. Here are the rest of the sessions you will surely find insightful:

  • “Lessons from an 85-Year-Old Startup” by Michael Thomas & Gary Thomas of LEAP Managed IT
  • “How to Turn the Sales Engine ON in Every Organization” by Matt Nettleton, Sandler
  • “Driving Big Innovation” by Michael Goldsby, Chief Entrepreneurship Officer at Ball State University Sales Training
  • “Shining through Adversity to Become a Champion” by TAMIKA CATCHINGS 4 Time Olympic Gold Medalist, WNBA MVP

As you can see, the sessions will discuss topics such as sales, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and much more. For the full schedule of the conference, visit this link.

PIVOT 2016 takes place on 11/06/2016 in Fishers, Indiana. The exact address is Launch Fishers 12175 Visionary Way, Fishers, IN 46038.

Get your early-bird tickets while they are still available.

Patrycja Thomas

Author: Patrycja Thomas

Fortune 500 sales and marketing veteran dedicated to helping small businesses change the world with technology.