Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Dillon Hansen, Co-Founder and Head of Brand at Native Campervans.
What has been one insight or lesson that has been most helpful in your career?
Ignorance is bliss. You can’t & won’t know everything needed to launch a business. You need to trust your gut, work unbelievably hard and be passionate about what you’re creating.
What has been your favorite mistake? A mistake that in retrospect led to a great lesson and progress.
Probably starting my business later than desired. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and was ready to take the plunge right after school, however in retrospect the careers I had prior to NCV were instrumental in its success today.
Project forward ten years. How will your industry or field be fundamentally different then? What opportunities do you see?
It’s so hard to predict. Product side, we’ll likely take into account self-driving cars, electric vehicles, innovative camper designs, etc. Experience wise, we need to protect this planet and seriously address global warming. Our business is reliant on National Parks, BLM, State Parks and much more. We need to do more now otherwise we might not have these open spaces in 10 years.
What are some bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
Some people believe they know best how to run your business and manage your finances because that’s the way they were taught. Only you know your business/industry
In the last two years, what have you become better at saying no to?
Probably influencers. We are always on the hunt for good content, however, we need to determine the ROI if one of our vans is off the road to gather content for social media as opposed to with a customer.
What is the one book you recommend most often and why?
Shoe Dog. We see the end product of what Nike is today, however their early on financial struggles and opposition are crucial learning lessons that most entrepreneurs will face.
What advice would you give a smart and ambitious recent college graduate? What advice should they ignore?
Don’t be afraid to work a number of jobs/professions. It’s so hard to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at 21 years old. Try new things, even if it feels like a step backward, so you can identify what it is you’re passionate about.
What is your favorite quote, one you aim to live by?
Don’t criticize what you can’t understand – Bob Dylan