10 plus years ago, I was not only being creative,
but I was drinking as well. So I had alcohol
in my life. So the thing is, is that that's one
thing that I know about myself now that I'm able
to live and operate in my creative and purpose
driven mission, clear minded. Clear minded. Then
I was still operating, but I was operating in
a mindset that I could still create but without
that substance I'm able to create on a whole
nother level now. Let me just ask you about the
emotional ones spiritual battles that you may
be having with when you face people who say KKK
is like that's something negative but you're
turning it to a positive and unifying brand.
What are you facing when that those kind of situations
show up. The great thing about it is that I end
up educating people about the KKK. So, in my
Back to Schools, which is another leg of the
Cool Color Kid brand, it's called 100 Pairs a
Gig, where it's a community -based initiative
where we empower students before they go back
to school. I'll go a little bit more into that,
but how I counteract the negativity when I'm
faced with people downplaying the cool color
kid is that then I hit them with education. There's
a story everywhere in finding the cool in you
and understanding the power that you have whenever
you walk into a home. There's a story everywhere,
not only in this brand, but in each person that
wears the coat. Sometimes purpose shows up in
the middle of the mess, when life feels heavy
and the only way forward is to stand for something
bigger than yourself. Randall Law knows that
story well. His journey wasn't perfect, but it
was powerful. From the struggle came color, from
recovery came vision. What started as survival
became a movement. The cool color kid generation
using creativity, culture, and apparel to spark
confidence, connection, and change. This is what
happens when the resilience turns into purpose
and one man's healing inspires a generation to
see themselves differently and powerfully. From
struggle to strength, the art of purpose with
Randall Law. Hey there. Look, my hope is that
the Thravo journey meets you exactly where you
are and helps you rise into who you're here to
be. It's 2025 and this is your year to thrive
despite what the world is throwing at us. And
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-week series built to anchor each week in intention,
purpose, and meaningful connection. I do so look
forward to hearing your voice and can't wait
to see you in the group. But for right now, let's
get into it. Randall. Man. It's been a long time,
man. It's been a long time. It's been a long
time. We met what was like 2014 13. Yeah, yeah,
bro. Yeah, I remember 28. Yeah, yeah, 28. Nah,
you're right. You're right. You're right. Let's
go Topanga Mall. Topanga Mall, yeah. It was early
2000s, basically, right? Yeah, crazy early 2000s.
And the wild thing is, I remember, Ben, The Cheesecake
Factory, and you had a vision. You were talking
about what you're doing today, way back then.
And what was interesting about that for me now
and to have you on the podcast is you went from
thought to in in your mind to reality in the
world and the question I have for you right now
is what's what's something you know about yourself
now that you wish you would understand ten years
ago or would have understood ten years ago. Well,
first and foremost, thank you for having me on
the show. It's always good to connect with great
individuals like yourself. West Coast to the
East Coast, East Coast to the West. So it's always
good to chop it back up. And the great thing
about it is that you've always, even though we
don't talk as often as we used to, we always
feel like, I always feel like we... we never
lost touch. So, that's the great thing about
it after all these years but to answer your question,
you said, what do I have now and what what I
wish I had back then? Yeah, what's something
you know about yourself now that you wish you
would have understood about yourself 10 years
ago? Okay, so one, ten, ten plus years ago, I
was not only being creative, but I was drinking
as well. So I had alcohol in my life. So the
thing is, is that that's one thing that, that
I know about myself now that I'm able to live
and operate in my creative and purpose driven
mission, clear minded, clear minded. Then I was,
I was still operating, but I was operating in
a mindset that I could still create, but without
that substance, um, I'm able to create on a whole
nother level now. Um, and which I did not, I
thought I was tapping into it, but now I'm like,
I'm in a, I'm in a nice spot, but I, I'm always,
I'm, I'm still learning. I'm still learning.
So that's one thing you talk about. I see, I
didn't, I, people go through, you know, the stages
in life, right. And that was a stage in your
life. What was the transition from are you not
drinking anymore and you're in a sober space
and the creativity is just flowing? I'm in a
sober space, sober minded space. The thing is,
is that with it's been what two years of some
change since I picked up a drink. And the thing
was, is that I knew how to have a good time without
a drink. I knew how to have even a better time
with a drink. But I always, once I picked up
the habit of drinking and, you know, dipping
dabble with a little marijuana and things of
that nature, it made me feel like I was more
creative because I started thinking deeper. But
as I go on this journey of still not drinking
and things of that nature and living a sober
lifestyle. Being sober allows me to be able to
deal with those moments that I don't want to
deal with, whether the business is not doing
right or my personal life is not doing well.
It's allowing me to sit in that space or that
emotion without feeling I need to rely on something
else to get me out of that mindset. that emotional
space that we are all meant to feel when we are
going through a happy moment, a sad moment. It's
amazing. I just got my cousin had a wedding this
past weekend. And it's amazing that we use alcohol
for both things, whether we're celebrating or
whether we're we're not as happy about either
life or career or whatever, whatever you have
it, you know what I mean? So the thing is that
I can go through life without having to celebrate
or lean on something to keep me, I guess, elevated
in an emotional state, if that makes sense. Yeah,
so you don't need the substance to elevate you
or make you think or make you go deeper to in
your creative space or you don't need that outside
source. You have it from what I'm understanding
and gatherings that you have it inside and you
know how to tap into that. It's within and the
thing is that then I always relied on either
outside sources or Things of that nature to make
me feel like I had it But the thing is is that
we're all created with the ability. We just have
to tap into it tapping into it and You have tapped
into something that I've seen grow from just
your mind to the word to reality. And that's
your brand. Cool color generation. And I want
to color kid, cool color kid, cool color kid
generation. Sorry. I'm cool. I'm cool, man. And
And we kind of talked about your past a little
bit, but let's go a bit further. How did your
past, your upbringing, or your environment influence
the birth of cool color kid generation? So, okay,
so when I was a kid, well, I still am a kid at
heart. I was born deaf in my left ear. So nobody
knows that I'm deaf in my left ear. I was born
that way. And so back then, you know, I'm 41
now, I may not look like it. Back then, in the
80s, when you had a disability, you were basically
placed in special education. So I always always
had this one, this one teacher, her name was
Lynn, Miss, Miss Bollinger, old white lady. And
she used to always ask me, she would say, Why
are you in here? You're so smart. So mind you,
I'm looking around and I see these physically
handicapped individuals. And mind you, you're
six or seven and you're just like, she's telling
me why are you in here? But then I'm looking
around and I see everybody else and I'm questioning
myself. Am I good enough? Am I able to do what
everybody says? Because back then, I was very
artistic with my imagination and painting and
drawing and creating things. So with all that
creativity, fast forward, and as I ventured out
of special education and things of that nature,
every opportunity, whether it was movie roles
or going on Carnival Cruise or working on so
far, it was Rihanna, I always questioned spaces
and opportunities that I was in because I never
felt as cool. Even though, you know, women called
me cute when I was younger, but I never really
felt it because I was just always that special
ed kid. Mentally, I was in a mental prison with
questioning who I was. And then plus my father
not being there in and out of jail. you know,
my mother experienced that him have an alcohol.
He was an alcoholic and very abusive as well
to my mother and to me. So it kind of didn't
make me feel as cool. So stop me if I'm taking
if I'm taking up too much air time. But um, go
ahead. We got time. What led to this? Do you
want me to go into the cool cut the birth of
the cool color kid? It's However you want to
share your story and what you think is relevant,
go ahead and do it. Yeah. Got you. So from going
through all of those experiences, like I said,
being on soap operas, being on TV and film and
jingle writing and things of that nature, even
though those opportunities I walked in into those
opportunities, I still second guessed every time
I walked into those opportunities because of
the mental prison that I was in, that I allowed
myself to be in for many, many years based off
of special education. So when I moved back home
at the time, my biological father wasn't doing
well, my stepfather, who I called my father,
and my grandmother, which is 94 years old now,
I'm the power attorney of her, wasn't doing too
well. So I had to make that switch on whether
I wanted to stay in Los Angeles or go back home
and be with my family. Because one, I didn't
know how long they had. So I took that move.
And in that move, I dealt with a lot of depression
because I was still, my mindset was still living
in California. How am I going to be doing film
and TV? And I'm here in Delaware. So with those
opportunities, I dipped and dabbled back into
alcohol. I was still being creative, was on the
first Creed movie as I had a small role in the
Creed movie, it got cut. But you can still see
my big head in the ring with Michael Ejorian.
You're going to see my head. You're going to
see Michael, and then my head is like over a
towel on him. So it's like this. I'll be like,
hold on, there I go, there I go. You see the
head, you see the head? So other than that, so
while being here trying to figure out how to
use my creativity, why I was here in Delaware,
this idea that I had a long time ago. when I
was working for the Los Angeles Film Festival,
a group of us, and I was the youngest at the
time working as a production assistant. And they
were like, what would you name a band for Shock
Valley? I said, cause I always had this idea.
I said, I'll name one the KKK. And they was like,
what? Mind you, these are older men, black, white,
Spanish. And it was like, I was like the cool,
cool color kid. And I was like, if you put a
whole bunch of cultures together and if they're
any good and they could potentially make history,
And also that name would create shock value.
So that'd be crazy dope and we can make history.
So because I was the youngest at the time, they
persuaded me to drop the idea. Fast forward,
I would say 2018, 17, the idea came back to me
when I was working on production in Pennsylvania,
off Broadway show. And I was watching this gap
commercial. and I saw these kids bouncing around
you know the gap they have people from different
cultures they have all these colors and I was
like yo Who colorful kids I'll do a clothing
brand called cool colorful kids So my homie,
he's still my homie right now, but he was like,
bro Ain't nobody buying no clothes that say KKK
on them I was like, no, we will have to like
this this created in a way to where it will inspire
people to think outside the box, you know all
the things that people say people shouldn't do
or When parents always tell their kids their
kids to think outside the box and when they do
that, they try to pull their kids back So I dropped
that idea. I was watching this documentary on
Netflix called Sam Cooke and the KKK. And I was
sitting in my living room at my mom's house at
the time and the light bulb came on. And mind
you, this soap opera had me crying and I was
just like, I think this is it. Because mind you,
I went to Philadelphia Art Institute, the New
York Conservatives support. Conservatory of Performing
Arts, Pierce College, all for art stuff. So I
was always surrounded around people that were
creative. So I was like, I don't know how I'm
gonna start a clothing brand. I don't even know.
So that was the birth of the Cool Color Kid.
That was the first. Man. Well, first and foremost,
that's a great story. All right. And the way
that you were able to connect you know all these
ideas and this passion that you have from the
past and bring it now is really great because
what you're doing with this apparel and this
brand and the meaning behind it is pretty great
from what I'm seeing. So let me just ask you
about the emotional unspiritual battles that
you may be having with when you face people who
say KKK is like, that's something negative, but
you're turning it to a positive and unifying
brand. What are you facing when those kind of
situations show up? The great thing about it
is that I end up educating people about the KKK.
So in my Back to Schools, which is another leg
of the Cool Color Kid brand, it's called 100
Pairs a Give, where it's a community -based initiative
where we empower students before they go back
to school. I'll go a little bit more into that.
But how I counteract the negativity when I'm
faced with people downplaying the Cool Color
Kid is that then I hit them with education. I
asked them, did you know the swastika is a symbol
of peace? And then they'll be like, no, I didn't
know. So then I educate them. I'll say, before
the late 1930s, did you know that the swastikas
was a symbol of peace? It was a symbol of peace
throughout the world. So then I say, after the
late 1930s, Adolf Hitler took that symbol and
changed it to a symbol of hate. So then I'll
say, if one man can take a symbol of peace and
turn it to a symbol of hate, why can't I take
a negative term? and change it to a positive
term to empower all people to think outside of
the box. And what follows up after that? What
follows up with that is I didn't know that. So
then they'll ask me more questions. And why am
I doing it? And things of that nature. It's all
to empower not only youth, but adults that say
in the middle of it all, it's change. Sometimes
we're always talking about how we can change
this and change that. But when it seems too far
left, we are led to believe by other people's
opinion that we can't change it. And what's the
biggest saying that they always say? They'll
always say it can't be changed until it's actually
done. So I believe with the persistence and the
consistency that I've been able to continue to
put forth before individuals with a great team
of people, including my fiance and a great host
of individuals that also believe in what I want
to achieve when it comes to empowering people
to not only think outside of the box, but find
your inner creative energy to put your ideas
and put them on display to the world and also
find ways to take your your ideas, your creativity,
and not just to save it for yourself, but find
ways to give it back to your community, find
ways to not only empower yourself, but empower
your family, empower everyone around you. Here
on the Thrive -O journey, we talk a lot about
not just surviving, but thriving. And a big part
of that for me has been understanding my health
on a deeper level. That's why I partnered with
Livegood and brought it under my company, Orion's
Health. Not just because I believe in the products,
but because I've seen what they can do firsthand.
I've walked through some hard health chapters
in my life, including cancer and a kidney transplant.
And I know what it feels like when your body's
working against you. That's why we're offering
two free tools that help me and can help you
too. First, go to MyFreeHealthReport .com for
slash Orients Health. Take our quick health questionnaire
and get a personalized report created by Dr.
Ryan Goodkin, Livegood's Director of Product
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free. Second, visit MyFreeDetox .com and get
a free chlorophyll and zeolite detox bottle with
your first product order. It's a gentle, natural
way to clear out toxins and start fresh, something
I personally use and stand behind. This isn't
just a sponsorship. It's part of my mission through
Orion's Health. to help people thrive in body,
mind, and spirit. Of course, of course, always,
always, always consult your physician before
starting any new supplement or health regimen.
Your body is unique and your health care provider
should always be part of the conversation. The
links are in the show notes. Now tap in and take
your next step toward thriving. What gave you
the courage to continue to push forward? Like
if somebody did, I know you had the naysayers,
like this wouldn't work, like your boy said.
people that I'm aware, you know, KKK, I'm gonna
close. What gave you the courage to push forward?
What gives me the courage to continue to push
forward is because of all the ideas that are
birthing by just saying yes and taking a step
to cool color kid generation as far as the mascot,
Cooley. That was all just an idea. And to be
able to see... this special way kid from the
second smallest state in America to have an idea.
And then we had these big brands being like,
oh, so they wanna be a part of that too. So just
by seeing different brands. want to be a part
of this and they see the power of cool and what
it's doing to not only the youth but also the
parents. A lot of parents also say, is this brand
for kids? And I always say, no, this brand is
for adults as well. And they'll say, it's for
kids. I say, no, I said, I kept kid because I'm
speaking to the kid inside of you. Life can throw
so much at us that we lose that kid inside of
us. So I never want you to lose that cool colored
kid inside of you. Yeah, you know, I see you.
everything all the things you put put up are
posted on social media and the energy that you're
bringing to your brand is unlike any other and
it's like a true purpose driven mission that
you have that and you're you're really transforming
a generation with with your thought now you have
a you have a um a saying And where is that? I
wrote it down here. Need to change? Need to change?
No, it's something different. We must be visible?
We must be visible? It's a responsibility to
become great at whatever you do. What do you
mean by that? A lot of individuals will look
at this and say that It's just like with anybody
when you look at Beyonce and all those individuals
and you'll be like, oh, anybody can get up there
and sing. Anybody can get up there and be a politician.
Anybody can run a podcast, but it's a responsibility
even when you don't feel like doing the podcast,
even when you don't feel like creating the post,
even when you don't feel like smiling because
you're on your eighth event and you feel like
you smiled yourself out of this, out of all these
events and you don't really feel like talking
to people. you it's a responsibility to show
up because if not many it's always one person
looking at you and saying wow all right cool
how can i continue to push forward it's a responsibility
yeah yeah i see it i see that as we're representatives
of what we're bringing to the world right and
even if we're not feeling like doing whatever
it is that we're bringing to the world show up
because it is a responsibility, especially when
your when your mission is the kind of mission
that you have, it is a responsibility. But we're
but we're operating in spaces where we're visible.
So the thing if you don't want to be visible,
stay behind the scenes. and that's okay. When
you are visible and that's okay and I know individuals
that are behind the scenes people and yes they
still have responsibilities but they're not held
accountable when they're as visible as we are.
I see what you're saying. I see what you're saying.
So it since we're talking about kind of the depths
of the levels of who we are as people. Reclaiming
the symbol like the swastika or the term like
KKK. What does that mean to you at a soul level?
At a soul level, what does it mean to me by changing
it? Creating history. In some way, shape or form,
there has been so many individuals that have
reclaimed or reshaped the way we think, not only
just in America, but around the world. And sometimes
it takes individuals to just be brave to really
step into that. And trust me, before I embarked
on this, trust me, I started thinking about all
the wrong scenarios that could happen by taking
this leap. into it, you know, like, oh, my gosh,
I got to do a trademark and then people get to
see my address. So come on my house or, you know,
the KKK not too far from here. Pull up. But the
thing is, is that we as individuals, when we
are faced with those thoughts and things of that
nature, I mean, you have to think Martin Luther
King, a lot of Mahatma Gandhi, all these individuals
probably like thought about the things that could
go wrong. What the thing is, is that when we
are given the, I guess, the switch or the light
bulb to say, should I, and then we take that,
take that step that I just lost train of thought.
What was the question again? No. So yeah. At
a, so I was hoping I was answering your question.
Yeah. At a soul level. Yes. That's what, yeah.
Go ahead. I'm sorry. No, if you, if you caught
it, go ahead. You can finish. You remember? No.
So at a soul level, yeah. So what does it mean
for you to switch, you know, change the change
the term like KKK or there we go. There we go.
So yeah, that's that's that's that's my thought
on on the soul level is being able to just create
a generational ripple effect that can leave elastic
impact on culture. Do you see that happening
now the shift? in the mentality. Slowly, slowly,
slowly, but surely. Slowly, but surely. Surely,
but surely. Well, you're in your life is a story.
You're a storyteller, right? Through, you know,
acting and things like that. And do you see that
your program or your apparel is like storytelling
and your brand having the ability to change the
perception of people? Yes, that's what I intend
to do with the commercials that are on my website.
I tend to not only inform individuals about the
brand, but really get them to ask themselves
a question in a sense of their creativity, their
ambitions, and things of that nature. Even with
Coolie, even with 100 Pair to Give, everything
is a story. You just have to find the story in
it. Not only is there a story about my life,
but there's a story in what America has done
to a certain group of individuals. There's a
story that happened in Germany that wiped out
an entire generation. There's a story in empowering
individuals to change. There's a story in a person
that was a Nazi, and now he's a Christian. There's
a story everywhere in finding the cool in you
and understanding the power that you have whenever
you walk into a room. There's a story everywhere,
not only in this brand, but in each person that
wears the clothing. With the way that you use
Cooley, do you think that's like walking the
fine line between provoking thought and honoring
the pain of the past? Well, when you have pain,
you gotta bring joy too. You have to bring joy
because when I first created the brand, my first
thought was change the world. Change the world.
right? So with Cooley, he is the world. The thing
is, is that we're we are empowering the cooling
you to look at your personal your right and your
left and realize that each and every one of us
are cool in our own way. And that whole idea
came back came to you, especially when you were
in special like your special cast classes and
things like that. No, no, no, that idea came,
this cool color kid came further than that. What
I mean by with being in special ed is that I
didn't feel cool at that time. But I didn't feel
cool. So the thing is, is that even with changing
your mindset with cool color kid, I had to change
my mindset while transitioning out of those classes
and things of that nature. So it's all about
finding the power in you to step from either
your past or your present into something that
can lead you towards your destination. I love
that. That's good. That's good. Now you're you
have the mascot and you're you're doing all this
amazing stuff with with cool color kids generation.
Now we talked to a lot of entrepreneurs and things
like that give me one of your early failures
that taught you something crucial about building
a business you said I mean you You didn't know
anything about apparel at first, but you've you
figured it out, right? No, I'm still figuring
it out. Because one thing I'm learning. Yeah,
I'm still figuring it out. Because one thing
as I continue to be around a lot of other inspiring
entrepreneurs, someday hot dog and someday is
steak. I've never heard that before. Yo, someday
hot dog, someday steak, bro. Okay, I hear you.
What I'm learning is that it's a never ending
learning process because each and every day our
world is changing. Like, look at the tariffs.
Like, I didn't know anything about tariffs. Now
I have to find time to understand tariffs. And
it's just never ending. But one of the biggest,
biggest mistakes that I made was being so gung
-ho about my first logo. I'm sitting here telling
people about change, but I didn't want to change
this logo. And it took someone from my high school
alumnus. We grew up together in the Boys and
Girls Club, but he lives in Tampa Bay, Florida.
And he was digging the concept, but he just told
me flat out, he was like, bro, I don't know about
that logo. Was it bad? See, I was so gung -ho
about it. It was three K's and a diamond. Okay.
Three K, it was like this three K's and a diamond.
He was like, bro, I don't know about it. I was
so gung -ho. I mean, nobody couldn't tell me
anything. I was just like, no, the logo stand.
It took me by commissioning this artist for an
idea that I wanted to put on a on a, um, a wall
on a, um, one of the buildings. And, um, this
dude, I thought he was trying to upsell me, man.
And, um, I thought he was trying to upsell me
because he added some extra stuff on it. I was
like, I didn't ask for that. I didn't ask for
that. So then he had chopped off these, the ends
of the K's and stuff like that. And he created
this logo. And I was like, bro, I didn't ask
for no logo. I just asked for you to draw this.
Like I had sketched it up, but I needed an artist
to refine it. So then, I kept looking at it.
I was like, man, I don't want this logo. But
I showed my lady and she was like, that's it.
And then other people was like, that's it, bro.
That's it. And after a while, it grew on me and
my boy sat me down and he told me the reason
why. those three K's and a diamond won't work
because he was like, bro, you're trying to change
something. But the thing is, in a lot of eyes,
that's not changing it. It's actually staring
right in people's faces. But also on top of that,
you don't want to make this brand about the case.
Because if anything, you're trying, you're making
effort to change it. But the thing is, is that
you want to let individuals know that it's not
about the case. and nobody owns the letter K's
unless you start putting things behind it, that's
when you can own that letter K. But nobody owns
the letter K's. And I was like, you're right,
bro. So that was the final moment that sometimes
the ideas that you have be open to suggestions.
And then also, sometimes when you do have that
suggestion in front of you, Just set it down
and keep taking a look at it. And it may be the
perfect fit for you to move forward. Because
I guarantee you, if I still would have had those
three K's, bro, I'd still be like, I'm on my
fifth year with no sales. Yeah. With being open
for suggestions. Say again. I said, just be open
for suggestions. Be open for suggestions. Yeah.
Well, yeah, as an entrepreneur, sometimes we
get so married to our ideas. And we think that
that's what's going to make things work the way
that we think it's going to work in our minds.
Right. Right. Right. But be open for suggestions.
And as a creative entrepreneur, how do you balance
your artistic vision with, you know, financial
sustainability? Like Taylor again? So as a creative
entrepreneur, how do you balance artistic vision
with financial sustainability? Oh, man. I spearhead
majority of all my creative endeavors because
I know how to edit, produce, jingle, write, voiceover
work, draw, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop. A lot of
it. Balancing, I'm not quite sure if I understand
that question. I'm trying to, are you saying
how do I balance the artistic vision with the
financial? With your financial stability. So,
you know, as a creative entrepreneur, we tend
to spend so much time on the artistic stuff and
spend more money on the artistic stuff that we
don't financially, we don't do, we don't deal
with the financial stability well. So there's
a fine line with understanding your creativity
with your financial understanding as well. Yeah,
I deal with that. I'm still learning how to balance
it. We're in a great spot because when I first
When I first opened the business, everything
was just thrown into all the ideas that I had
to make people want to be a part of this journey.
But when I first started the brand, I took a
entrepreneur class on how to write a business
proposal because at first, I was always just
seeing people of color being real. They have
ideas and they just throw them out to the world.
not without getting trademarks, not giving ourselves
proper education on business plans, banking setups,
just different things to prepare them if they
talk to a business partner, if they want investors
and things of that nature. So before I even started
the brand, I took an entrepreneurial class that
helped set up meetings with meetings and things
of that nature. My first year still understanding
the creativity with the financials was very hard
for me because I was spending a lot of money
making it look good until my second year. The
program I was a part of, which is called launcher
here in Delaware, they do a reassessment and
they They stay with you along this journey of
being an entrepreneur. If you need help with
finances, if you need to learn how to get grants
and also how to write proposals and things of
that nature, they really set me up for success
when I constantly do my check ins with them on
what I need help with. So you reached out for
your support. I still reach out to business mentors
when I feel like either, say for instance, for
my partnerships and things of that nature. I've
reached out to other individuals that already
had partnerships with them to better understand
because, mind you, I never was in a partnership
with a conglomerate company. So I wanted to be
prepared before I walked in a room and understand
how I need to set up my numbers in order for
us to come to an equilibrium, a solid agreement.
And then that comes with finding the right lawyers.
Just surrounding yourself with great individuals
that not only want to see you grow up and make
sure you get the necessary tools and education
that you have to move forward. Yeah. Well, I
see I was going to there's two questions in there.
I was going to ask you about one is I see you
really connecting with and partnering partnering
with individuals in your city or your state and
around. How do you choose which ones you're going
to partner with? That's a great question because
that's a great question because whenever I bet
wherever I bet or they bet me, I make sure We
have to have the same alignment and one that's
empowerment, one that's seeing the empowerment
of youth, one that's building up the community
as a whole, and one shining light on this piece
of change, change within ourselves, change within
our community. So those are some key things that
I look for, not just names of brands, because
there's been a few brands where we just don't
align. Yeah, it would look crazy dope if we was
partnered, but we just don't align. And one thing
is I don't want to get in bed with something
that I'm really not prepared to deal with, if
that makes any sense. Yeah, if you have the same
alignment from vision to vision or purpose to
purpose or mission to mission, it wouldn't work.
Yeah, and some people think oh because they have
the brand and they have the name recognition
why don't why would you want to partner with
them and it's like No, we slow and steady wins
the race This is not about how fast we can get
to the finish line because they are bigger brand
than I am the thing is is that I have to see
where I want to go with my brand and and Where
where that where that finish line looks like
but also Just because they're more established
doesn't mean that that's a great fit. That's
true. That is very true. And it's up to you being
the CEO, the entrepreneur, creative, the person
that knows the brand to know when the person
that the partnership that you're looking for
is in alignment or not. So that's good to be
able to see that. And in that brand, you're talking
about empowering a generation, right? Through
their change. What does that look like in your
day to day work? Empowering change. So my day
to day, yo, you know, I wear a lot of hats, right?
I'm not talking about physical hats. I wear a
lot of hats. Well, both probably. My day to days
are very different, but very enlightening because
not only am I the chair of the student visionaries
of the year with the nationwide nonprofit Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society, but I also sit on a few
committees. I no longer sit on a board. But it
varies because I have a five -year -old and I
also have an 18 -year -old and I have a fiance.
So my day -to -day operations vary based off
of what needs to go out, what do I have time
for, what do I need to make space for right then
and there. So it's kind of hard to really tell
you what the day -to -day looks like, but I know
that... I try not to start my day with business.
I try to start my day with either prayer, sitting
and having time to myself before I actually really
start my day because usually when I start, I
stay in a tunnel. I stay in a tunnel and I stay
focused and that may be with emails, making sure
certain sales, projections that we've created
for the month, email marketing, commercial, social
media, with Cooley, making sure his schedule
is aligned with mine because majority of the
events that he goes to, I'm right there, I'm
his buddy. So basically there's some things in
our future that we will be creating where we
will be showing how close of buddies we are in
the entertainment space. It varies with so much.
Where are we going to have the 100 -Pair -to
-Give event? Making sure I'm staying in great
communication with my stakeholders and things
of that nature. So scheduling is the biggest
thing with family, business, Cooley, community
-based events, traveling experiences with other
companies. It varies. I don't think I have a
a strict day to day, but definitely when I wake
up in the morning is definitely I try not to
think about business first. Yeah, I agree with
you. I think the first the first thing that I
do is, you know first it's always graded even
though if I don't feel like waking up at 520,
which is between 5 and 420. I wake up every morning
and that's because just my days just yeah, it's
They go long and still don't feel like it's enough,
right? Right. But the best thing I do for myself
is just wake up with gratitude. Get take the
dog out. We do a mile. And just just work on
the self the inside. Right. And, you know, meditate
and all that good stuff and then get into the
day. So I think that's what helps me. It helps
me. It helps me a lot because sometimes when
I wake up in the morning and I go straight to
business, oh, I forgot to send out that email.
Oh my gosh, I got to do this. Yep. Sometimes
it creates chaos not only within, but it creates
chaos within my household sometimes. Yeah. And
there's no room for that. And you were talking
about your journey, man. I was looking at some
of the things that I didn't know about you. uh,
Barack Obama's 2008 presidential complaint, uh,
campaign, uh, drug free world .org and, uh, you're
in multiple good magazine campaign. Um, yeah,
the 2025 excellence in public service award,
2024 mill summit impact award and others, you
know, 40 under 40. Um, man. you've accomplished
a good number of things, even before you said
you're 40, you're 41 now, before you turned 40.
How does that feel? Actually, to be honest with
you, I never really celebrate when those things
happen. And I was talking to my, because the
thing is, is that awards don't excite me. Awards
don't necessarily excite me. It's great. You
know what? Let me stop because some people will
probably take this wrong. It's always great to
be acknowledged for those things, but they really
don't. Those things don't. Like. Oh my gosh,
I got that award. It's just they just don't and
my lady said I need to learn how to stop and
like smell the roses sometimes because soon as
I get that award. I'm back to work. You know,
so one, actually a business, the CEO from another
company, he said, hey, you should sign up to
win this award. And then I was like, hold on,
what do you mean sign up to win an award? You
gotta like, he was like, yeah, you have to put
in to win this award. And I was like, that sounds
so kind of weird to sign yourself up to win an
award. And I was like, so for the past seven
months, I've been sitting on this like, who signs
their self up to win an award? I was like, okay,
thank you. But yeah, they don't, they really,
I really don't like stop and smell the roses
when that stuff happens. I just, when I'm actually
like in the moment with everybody being there
and stuff like that, I'm very grateful for it,
but I really, they really don't, they don't do
anything for me. when I look back, you know,
from, I don't know, middle school on to even
university and beyond, like when I would get
awards for running track, like, I mean, just
bags of awards, right? Like it would, I was like
that. It didn't do anything for me. It was like,
okay, this is cool. You know, got these medals,
got these ribbons, got these trophies, you know,
all this stuff, right? And it was the joy for
me was just winning the race, right? And then
if you get a war for it, okay, that's cool. All
right, next. And then you just, I'm back to training,
doing things like that. So what I think is a
good shift though, is that you acknowledge that
you're being acknowledged. And then take a moment.
and then get back to it. And the lady told you,
you know, gave you some good instruction. Yeah,
she was just like, just take it in, like learn
to just like, take it in and then you know, get
back to work. But yeah, that's one thing I'm
working on is this not only just doing the work,
but like really sit back and say, yo, you've
really, you're doing something here. But I like
to say, God has given me the ability to do something
here. You know, you were, we talked, you have
a community give back, you talked about it earlier,
the 100 pairs to give initiative. Why is that
so integral and central to your business model?
So me, I'm from Southbridge, Wilmington, Delaware,
and that is a projects in Wilmington, Delaware,
that's basically considered the mud. When I came
back and when I created these pair of sneakers,
I was in my old neighborhood and they knocked
down all of our projects. I mean, the swimming
area, all that. And I was looking around and
I was seeing all these kids. And I was just like,
there's nothing like when I was growing up, it
didn't matter how poor we was, we had each other
like, because we was playing out in the streets.
It didn't matter which was playing basketball
in the milk cartons, you know, stuff like that.
And I was just looking around, I was like, these
kids, they're not inspired by anything. So with
that, I said, how can I inspire kids to take
their creativity and give it back? So I came
up with 100 pairs to give, where each and every
year we give away 100 pair of my brand sneakers
to kids going back to school. And I've been able
to, each and every year, double it up. So the
first year we gave 100 pair. The second year
we still gave 100 pair, but we wanted to give
100 pair of something else. So I partnered with
Nerdic Cares. to give away 100 refurbished laptops
in our second year. The third year, which was
last year, we outdid ourselves because in order
to empower kids to think outside of the box and
then also dream big, I wanna show kids what dream
big looks like. So we did 300 last year. So not
only did we do 100 pair of sneakers, we did the
100 laptops again. I pitched that idea to Whistler's
Bank to give away 100 savings accounts that had
$50 to empower financial literacy. We also partnered
with Nemours Children's Health to give away 100
duffel bags with a whole bunch of back -to -school
essentials and things of that nature. Not only
are we giving essential things back to kids going
back to school, but we are empowered to get back
to their community. Because one thing in my community
growing up, we had this thing called Storm and
Norman Classics. It was a basketball summer league
that every kid couldn't wait to get their hands
on. And I wanted to create a feeling like that
for kids to, they can't wait to... 100 pairs
to give to come back around. That feeling of
inspiration and that spark of wanting to go back
to school, making it fun to go back to school
and learn and pick up some valuable tools to
take with them on their journey was really key
for me in showing a different form of empowerment
besides just sports. I wanted to because we all
know we got a lot of kids that love sneakers
these days, and not a lot of people get back
sneakers to go back to school and other essentials.
So I always want to have an idea of doing something
a little different outside of the box than any
other particular back to school giveaway. Man,
I thought I saw that that you were that you had
encouraged your bank to give bank accounts. with
$50 in the savings account away. I thought that
was one of the most powerful things that I've
seen in a long time. And how did that come about?
And what was the was the initial response? Yeah,
let's do this. Or how was that whole? Tell me,
give me that story, bro. You know, with the confidence
of getting through all the nose with cool color
kid generation. and my back to schools of writing
proposals and sponsorship decks and stuff like
that, and getting people, a lot of people to
say no, I would say after that second back to
school, and you're actually getting all these
big sponsors and stuff like that, you kind of
build up this, this, this, this mindset of confidence
that I can speak to anybody. Yeah, you know what
I mean? You kind of build up this confidence
that I can speak to anybody. Not saying you just
build up that confidence. It's just like going
after cast of directors. After you get that big,
big cast of director, I can speak to any cast
of director. So I had this idea and I was like,
what could I do different? So I ended up hitting
up the head that oversees that department and
I asked for a meeting and she made some time
for me and I pitched to her. She was like, yo,
we've never done like nothing like this before
ever. Right. We've been around. She was like,
we've never done anything like this. But here's
the caveat. Kids just didn't get $50 in their
savings accounts. We also created classes for
them to take one class a month for 45 minutes
to show them how to grow that $50. And then over
the course of those three months, they had to
put $50 of their own money in it to unlock the
$50 that we already gave them. And their parents
had no access to their accounts. That gives them
more responsibility, understanding of the dollar
and the whole banking situation. Yep. Yep. Wow.
Wow. That's pretty unique, man. I like that.
And I mean, you come up with a whole bunch of
uniqueness, you know, with just from the idea
itself. Who comes up with your designs, the colors,
the patterns, all that? Is that you or is it
you have someone else? All me. All me. All you.
All me. Oh, wow, man. But I'm praying one day
to get a department, different departments that
cater to different cultures. So we get really
catered to different cultures because a lot of
different cultures be like, yo, that'd be dope
in my country color, man. So it's like one day
I dream to have different departments that will.
not only cater to the unity of the world, but
also cater to different cultures to what they
like to wear and to be able to put some cool
in their culture. Yeah. What role does culture,
heritage and identity play in the visual side
of your brand? That is an amazing question. That's
a great question. I've never been asked that.
Basically, what I hear from what you're saying
is how does identity play well with the brand?
How does culture shape the brand as a whole?
How does your culture, your heritage of the identity
of your brand, how does that play just how it
shows in the visual side of the brand? You know,
I'm very conscious on how it plays on the visual
side. Sometimes we do miss the mark in some of
our marketing, which I identify sometimes after
it. But that's just a learning process because
this brand is always going to continue to evolve.
I'm not quite sure. I may even have to change
the name of Cool Color Kid just slightly to keep
everything consistent. But it's a vital, it plays
a vital role in how this brand could evolve and
something I believe that by the time it gets
to the place where God wants it to be at, I would
just be like, yo, I did not see this coming.
But culture is like one of the biggest, I'm hoping
I'm answering your question because I'm trying
to like, think about it as well. Because that
is a great question. Yeah. And it may be something
that you may need to sit with and figure out,
you know, as you're because it sounds like there's
some evolution that needs to take place, you
know? Oh, yeah, absolutely. And so, you know,
maybe that question will, you know, impart some
idea for whatever absolutely whatever you transform
into. So, I mean, you I'm sure you've learned
about yourself. What is it that you've learned
about yourself as a leader since you launched
this movement? I know some of you talked about
especially you can talk to anybody now. What's
that? What's that? I said, especially now that
you said you can talk to anybody. What else have
you learn um after you after launching this this
this movement. It's continue uh um it's so cool
to be different uh when you walk into the room
um it's so good to it's so cool to add a little
color that they say that uh we don't normally
see been in that color but hey it's still it
look good on you. Um it's so cool to um show
kids something different. It's so cool to enlighten
an adult that thought otherwise because sometimes
we live in a generation where even adults, these
adults don't even read or they tend to not dive
deeper when it says learn more about us. So it's
also given me grace to be patient with the timing
of things, learning new workflows. learning to
be patient with other people's processes, because
sometimes the speed I work on, not everybody
else works on the same speed, so I have to learn
to be patient that people are not on my same
speed. Yeah. Those are good lessons to learn.
A couple more questions here for you, Ran. How
do you define success today versus when you first
started? or has it changed? Oh my gosh. Wow.
I used to I used to battle with this thing called
success. I used to I used to battle with the
the idea of what it actually looks like because
I've never seen it grown up. Of course, you see
it on TV with other people but there's no one.
There's probably a few but they're in different
spaces than I am. that have had success, but
I'm still learning to understand that thing called
success. It's just, I think that also ties in
with winning awards. It's like a lot of people
will tie your success to awards. And I'm just
like, but anybody can make an award and just
say. hey, here you go. So I'm still, I'm still,
you know, you know what I mean? Anybody can say,
hey, here you go. You got the, you got the, you're
around the way cat award. And then like, bro,
you got a lot of awards around your block. Oh
bro, like you doing it. You know, so everybody
has their definition of success, but it has changed
and it continues to change. with my fiance being
in my life, she's also constantly reminded me
that there's always different forms and ways
to look at success. So before her, my idea of
success was money, material things, but with
her and learning through reading and continue
to learn to empower myself, that those aren't
necessarily, That's not definite eventually definition
of what success is family. You're live you're
inspiring individuals You're learning you're
growing. So it's still it's still taking shape
I can't give you a The question the answer you're
looking for but uh, yeah, it's it's still I'm
still learning learning what I'm looking for
the answer I'm looking for what what it what
it is to you and for you and success means different
things for different people. I think while even
after myself like for success for me was, you
know, having that big house and that fancy car
and all that kind of the outside service material
kind of Oh, you know, this is what success looks
like, because that person has this number. That's
not what it is for me anymore. It's a fulfillment
that that I look for. It's the service that I
give. And the byproducts of that may be, you
know, the car, the house and all that kind of
good stuff. But the success is the fulfillment
of actually living my purpose in the world. And
so again, but it changed, you know what I mean?
And it's gonna, it's ever evolving. But it's
not the material thing that makes me do and inspires
me to do what I do. One last question for you.
This as this last moment on the podcast, what's
on your heart that you would love to share to
somebody? that's listening or watching the podcast.
I would say definitely take that step into what
you want to do, even if you don't know how to
do it. There are a lot of things that has evolved
from Cool Color Kid that I didn't know how to
do. I didn't know I was going to design a mascot
and be in the mascot space now, learning from
NBA teams, NFL teams, NHL teams, MLB teams. I
didn't know it, but when it was given to me,
I had to learn how to do it. I didn't know how
to do back to schools. I knew I just wanted to
inspire. I just did it. I didn't know how to
do this little thing I do every Tuesday called
Cool As You Are, going around asking people what
makes you cool, these words surrounding cool,
just do it. And don't overthink it because sometimes
we'll tend to ask ourselves, how can I do it?
But lo and behold, all you have is all you need.
and right around you. This thing I always tell
kids, you got this little thing called a cell
phone. If they can make a movie on a cell phone,
you can make a podcast, you can make a commercial,
you can make a reel. You can find a way to get
your word out. Look for the answers and then
don't be afraid to just take a lot of risks because
When I say I've taken a lot of risks and I'm
still taking a lot of risk, I know it's easier
said than done because I used to always be like,
it's easy for you to say you're successful now.
But the thing is, is that it's so true that now
that I look back that I used to always like why
they saying it because they are successful. But
I'm also also that everybody's journey is different
from yours. So do your best. Even if you are
working hard or even if you stand up later than
that person or even if you know more than that
person Pull pull see how that person is doing
it and then also on top of that Try not to compare
how you're doing it because the thing is it if
you're in it for longevity You got you got to
keep continue There are some people here for
a moment and there are some people here for longevity
But the thing is is that you got to see where
you want to be. Do you want this to stay around?
for a lifetime to where your kids' kids could
benefit from this? Or do you just want that 15
minutes of fame, get that quick money? But also,
make it not about the money. Make it about the
impact because the bigger the impact, potentially
the bigger the momentum and I'm assuming the
money will come with that. Other than that, don't
compare your journey because comparison is the
killer of creativity. Man, you said it right
there. Actually, I did a solo podcast on that,
so I totally agree. And everything that you guys
said, man, is really powerful and is in line
with just continue to live your best life and
just... just move forward with your ideas, your
dreams, your passion, your purpose. And the thing
that you said is, you know, don't compare yourself
to anyone else. So that's powerful. How do how
do people get your products, man? How do they
get to your shoes and your hats and everything
that's yourself? Yeah, oh that's going to evolve
too. I can't wait for that to evolve. You can
go on CoolGeneration .com. Cool with a K, Generation
.com. Follow us on social media, Cool Color Kid.
Generations IG is CoolKKidGen. 100 pairs of give
is 100 pairs two, number two, G -I -V. Cool World
Mascot is Cool World Mascot on Instagram. TikTok,
and Facebook. And you can follow your boy, TheRandLaw,
on social media, Facebook, and Instagram. Nice.
Nice, sir. And everything that you said will
have in the description so that people can just
click on the link and get to where you are. Man,
this is... Oh yeah, follow us on YouTube. Cool
color kid generation. I gotta get that thing
going too. I mean, I gotta stay consistent with
that. But cool color kid generation on YouTube.
We have so much content. It's crazy. Oh, YouTube
as well. Okay, cool. So we'll make sure you have
that in the description. But man, I tell you,
it's just phenomenal over the years that you've
done what you've done. um you created what you
created and you evolved into the person that
you are today through your grit through your
vision through um just believing in yourself
and what i would tell people that are watching
or listening you know randall law is a testament
to you can't become who you see yourself becoming
you know um so ran Thank you so much for being
on the podcast. And the question of the week
is, based on what our conversation was, is if
you could reclaim one word, one label or one
symbol to turn into something empowering, what
would it be and why? Let us know in the comments.
We want to hear your voice. Rand, thank you,
man, for being on the podcast. Appreciate you.
Yeah, we in a building. Thank you, homie. I appreciate
you. Continue to keep shining. Before you go,
I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being
a part of the Thrive Bull journey. Every time
you show up here, you're choosing growth, clarity,
and the deeper work of becoming who you're meant
to be in this world. And if you're ready to reconnect
with what truly lights you up, I created something
powerful that can help you. It's called The Empowered
Path, Seven Days to Reclaim Your Purpose and
Passion. It's a beautifully designed guided workbook
that walks you through a week of powerful prompts.
clarity building tools, and real mindset shifts.
Now you can get instant access to it today. It's
a small investment for a huge return, your energy,
your clarity, your alignment. And if you want
to take it deeper, check this out. I'm offering
a limited number of free 30 minute purpose coaching
sessions. No pressure. No pitch, just space for
you to reconnect with your direction, your gifts,
and what's next. So you can grab the guide and
book your session at the link in the show notes.
Let's not just go through the motions. Let's
really walk this path on purpose. I appreciate
you. And like we always say, let's make thriving
our new normal. And I'll talk to you soon.