Free Bird

Founder & CEO

Grayhawk Ventures

FNSH Hydration

Landmark Properties, Inc.

Managing Director

Haven Communities

Oxford Properties, LLC

Co-Founder and President

Williams Investment Group

Founder and CEO

Atlanta Committee for The Olympic Games

Marketing Manager

Entrepreneur. Founder. Investor. Operator. Founder|CEO Free Bird Beverage Founder|CEO Grayhawk Ventures Founder|CEO FNSH Hydration

Founder & Big Bird @ FREE BIRD 

Entrepreneur. Founder. Investor. Operator. Aquaman.

I sell water. You need water to stay alive. I will save your life.😎 

If you have cookies…I will eat them.

Also: Founder & CEO @ Grayhawk Ventures 

Wife: Did you pick up eggs at the store this afternoon?
Me: Sorry, I was too busy.
Wife: Busy with work?
Me: Yes, today’s been crazy!
Wife: Ok
Me: I literally didn’t have a minute all day.
Wife: I understand. Did you post on LinkedIn?
Me: What?
Wife: Did you post on LinkedIn today? You were too busy I assume?
Me: Umm…
Wife: What? I didn’t catch that…
Me: I did, but it’s work.
Wife: It’s work??
Me: Yes! It’s a professional network!
Wife: Ok sorry, I guess you’re right.
Me: Thank you.
Wife: What was the post? Can I see it?
Me: Umm, sure. But my battery is like at 5%. I’ll just show you later.
Wife: My phone is fully charged. I can look now.
Me: Ok fine. It was about me in the future being elected President and finding Elvis still alive working at a Captain D’s in Kalamazoo Michigan and me making the world’s largest squash casserole and some other stuff.
Wife: Wtf?? That’s work??
Me: Yes it is.
Wife: How?
Me: It’s complicated.
Wife: That just sounds like a bunch of ridiculous nonsense!
Me: Kind of.
Wife: Ugh…
Me: I’ll go get the eggs now.
Wife: Good decision.

Jay Williams

Founder|Big Bird @ FREE BIRD 🆓🦅🇺🇸

The long awaited and prematurely hyped exciting news is finally here!!!!

I got too excited and talked about it before it was ready to reveal. Oops 🤷

I can finally talk about it!! Let’s go!!

Free Bird is incredibly excited to announce our partnership with Chase Briscoe, one of the most successful NASCAR drivers in the world. Chase drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the premier racing teams in the sport. He is currently ranked third in the NASCAR playoff standings.

This is a partnership tailor made for Free Bird. Not only does Chase represent the values we look for in a professional athlete, his fans, and NASCAR fans in general, are loyal and supportive of companies who get involved. 

For Free Bird, this is a huge opportunity for us to partner with a top level professional athlete in a sport that embodies the Free Bird spirit. This allows us the ability to grow our brand to an audience that we know will love Free Bird. 

We will have more to report soon about this partnership. In the meantime, I just want to reiterate how excited I am. 

It’s a great day for Free Bird.

Cheers y’all.
🆓🦅

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That time I spent 5 days with Robin Williams…

I think about it often.

About 15 years ago, we agreed to allow a movie to be filmed at our house. We had to stay in a hotel for almost two weeks. I don’t recommend it. 

However, the good part was that Robin Williams was in the movie. 

One of the perks was that we could be on set whenever we wanted. So I was on the set the entire time…..because why wouldn’t I be? Right?

It was cool as shit and it was at my house and Robin Williams was there. Damn right I was going to be there!

Other than the obvious fact that this was a very unique experience, it was also a privilege to hang out with Robin. 

When filming, there is a lot of down time while the actors await the next scene to be set. This is was when I observed Robin Williams as both the hilarious and unpredictable comedian we all knew and then, at the same time, a man who was very quiet and reserved, almost withdrawn.

He was so nice and sweet and shy. We had many conversations and I observed a complicated man with a gentle soul. 

The amazing thing was that, on a dime, he could become that crazy and funny guy we all loved. 

It was so interesting. Although I certainly recognized his interesting personality traits, I just assumed that he was like many comedians who knew how to turn it on when it was time.

Upon hearing the devastating news of his death, it hit me hard.

I immediately thought of that withdrawn man and it made me sad to know that he wasn’t just quiet, he was in pain. He wasn’t just reserved, he was dealing with demons I could never understand.

This made the genius of his comedy and his acting that much more impressive. He somehow could snap out of that dark place and become someone entirely different. 

He loved to make people laugh and simply to make others happy. The irony.

His talent was beyond reproach. It’s almost impossible to understand how he could be both of those people at the same time.

You never really know what someone is going through. 

Rest in Peace Robin Williams. 

You were special.

If you are on LinkedIn right now, you’re awesome….or maybe just a big dork like me.

We party so hard. If you’re here, comment something fun and let’s make the comment section the party!!

Let’s go!!! 😎

Best new company in America!!

Unbelievable!!

On fire!!

Free Bird to the moon!! 

Crushing it!!

On a rocket ship!!

You guys are doing incredible!!

Best new beverage company!!

The next Liquid Death!!

We love you, team Free Bird for life!!

Wow…

These are all actual things people have said to me or about us recently. It’s super cool and we are so grateful.

It never gets old hearing such nice things. 

However…

I hope you don’t mind if I forget all of these things almost immediately. We can’t get all enamored with ourselves just yet. (I mean, maybe a little actually 😎)

We’re on a mission. We have a long way to go. We must focus on what’s ahead of us.

We greatly appreciate all the support and it’s awesome to have so many cheering us on. Your encouragement is fuel and our tank is full and we’ve got the pedal down.

Thank you, all of you!!! The support has been overwhelming and all of us at Free Bird appreciate you.

Cheers y’all. 
🆓🦅

I have a confession.

This is brutal…

Free Bird isn’t what you think it is.

Let me explain.

Rumor has it that I literally quit a 25 year successful career in real estate and haphazardly entered the insane world of beverage without knowing one person or one thing about the industry.

Rumor suggests that I had an epiphany in the middle of the night with this idea and had the audacity to wake up and do it.

I’ve heard rumors that Free Bird is the epitome of what it means to represent the values of this country.

Apparently there are rumors going around that our brand connects and identifies with blue collar, small town, everyday heroes along with those who fought for our freedom.

Rumors persist that we are already one of the fastest growing beverage companies in America.

Rumors are going around that Free Bird is about to triple its retail footprint.

I’ve heard rumors that within five years Free Bird could be worth more than some random thirst murdering organization out there that people keep talking about.

Everywhere people are spreading rumors that some of the largest retailers in the world have been talking to Free Bird and are on the verge of partnering.

There are rumors suggesting that I have no business leading a beverage company destined for greatness.

The rumor that it’s impossible that someone like me could create a company like this is something that everyone is talking about.

Rumor has it that I’m quite possibly insane.

I’m here to clear up all of this.

The rumors are all true.

Free Bird is the real thing.

Free Bird is flying high.

And yes, I am probably insane.

Cheers yall.

😉

To anyone who has been critical or made negative comments about any of my LinkedIn posts…..

Bless your heart.

I was reminded today, after meeting up with a friend, that a lot of people are having a hard time. 

It’s so easy for me to get caught up in all my excitement about Free Bird and I am loving all of our good news lately.

However, I try not to forget that not everybody is doing well. Not everyone has good news to get excited about.

It only takes a minute to check on someone or encourage somebody who needs it.

Maybe we can all do that today. If so, collectively, we are making a difference…..and that’s pretty cool.

Sometimes the best advice is to take no advice.

Who knows you better than you?

Listen to that person.

I’m lonely.

And that’s ok.

Why?

When you choose to become an entrepreneur, loneliness is part of the deal. 

When you hear “it’s lonely at the top”, it’s accurate. We choose this path and we know that we will experience moments where the weight of the world is on us. 

I relish that position. It’s where I thrive. I know that at Free Bird, it’s my job to lead and to take on the responsibility of putting the company in the best position it can be in. Sometimes that can be a lot, but it’s what I expect.

However, this isn’t for everyone. 

There will be quiet moments that nobody else sees when everything is on you and when the pressure is real. 

You will grind, you will analyze, you will sweat, you will worry, you will have to make hard decisions, you will feel the weight…and you should. 

This is what you wanted. You wanted to be the one. So be it.

Be the one who makes it happen!

Of course, you can hire a team (and I have a great one) to work with you on everything. A great team is such a wonderful thing to have and it’s awesome when a team is executing and working well together.

Yet, you are still the person that makes things happen. You have to be.

Sometimes that’s lonely…..and that’s ok.

At Free Bird, we’ve been on a roll lately bringing on new stores. Our footprint is growing by the day. 

Sometimes it’s a few stores here and there and then sometimes, like yesterday, we partner up with a significant player with a long and respected history.

Yesterday, we sent out our first order to Han-Dee Hugo's in North Carolina, to 120 stores. Not only is this great momentum for Free Bird, it’s also a perfect way for us to expand into North Carolina with such a great retailer.

We are excited to continue our expansion and, even more excited, that it’s with such a well respected group.

Cheers y’all.

Me: Everyone keeps saying you should join LinkedIn 
Wife: No thank you.
Me: You don’t want to join in the fun and also see how great I’m doing on there?
Wife: Nope.
Me: What? That hurts my feelings.
Wife: So sorry pumpkin. 
Me: Wow.
Wife: Do you want to come to yoga with me?
Me: What? No. That sounds like torture.
Wife: Exactly. 
Me: That’s not fair. Those aren’t remotely the same.
Wife: Doesn’t matter. You like what you like. I like what I like.
Me: Ok whatever.
Wife: I mean seriously, do you really want to come to a yoga class and sweat like crazy surrounded by a bunch of half naked women stretching and posing?
Me: Umm….wait, what?
Wife: Ok ok, no no no…never mind, my bad. 
Me: Fine, yes, I will go just for you.
Wife: OMG. Why did I say that? Please no. Let’s just keep some things separate.
Me: Sure.
Wife: Perfect.
Me: What time was that yoga class again?
Wife: 😐
Me: Haha, just kidding of course…
Wife: Ugh

I really struggled when deciding whether to post this deeply personal admission…

However, it needs to be said.

Ok, so here it goes:

I don’t really like big butts and I cannot lie.

I know, I know. I’m sorry. 

I mean, they’re fine. I’m just not all crazy about them. 

Small: yes. 

Medium: sure, why not.

Big: not so much, but I’m always open minded:

Huge: probably not, but you never know.

Gargantuan: I don’t know what to think, but I’m actually kind of intrigued.

Life is so complicated.

I mean, I love everybody and I would never judge anyone, but I also realize that I have a duty to be fully transparent about important issues…..like butts.

I just wanted to clear that up.

Thank you for your time.

Three things I like:

1: When people believe me when I tell them I know exactly what I’m doing.

2: When people see me wearing a helmet at Arby’s and think that I’m a really funny guy doing something zany instead of realizing that I was actually just afraid of getting hit in the head by all “the meats”.

3: When people buy my things even after they’ve heard me say that I’m pretty sure that the Hamburglar is trying to kidnap my family.

*Bonus: When people give me candy and let me ride in their van. So fun!

I’m fine.

Have a nice day. 😎

Words I’ve never said before: 

“Please don’t give Grandma any more Mountain Dew.”

Wait, no, not those words. Sorry, wrong message.😎

These:

“This afternoon I’ll be at Phoenix Raceway to watch our Free Bird NASCAR driver, Chase Briscoe, race for the championship.”

I can’t believe I’m saying that, can’t believe I’m here, can’t believe my company partnered with one of the top race car drivers in the world, can’t hardly believe any of this. 

Wow. So cool.

If you happen to watch the NASCAR Championship today, look for Chase Briscoe, number 19….he will be drinking and holding Free Bird before and after the race, in his interviews and in victory lane if we win.

Rest assured, if we win, I will have much more to say.

It could be quite a day. 

Stay tuned!!

Two truths and a lie is boring.

Let’s play four truths and two lies…

Here we go!!

1: I piloted the Goodyear Blimp in 1993.

2: John Mellencamp once yelled at me and told me to turn down my music at 2am….and the music I was playing was John Mellencamp.

3: I have won three poker tournaments in the United States and one in Europe.

4: I have been on a team that won over 20 races sailing in the Mediterranean Sea.

5: When I was 16, I joined a boy band called “The Boys of Summer” and we produced one album and a disastrous/failed summer tour.

6: I have been featured in over 100 different online platforms for comedy such as Funny or Die, The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, The New York Post, Chicago Tribune and more.

Can you figure out what is true and what isn’t???

Tell me in the comments.

***Update: the answer is in the comments!!

Letter to my future self…

Dear Mr. President: Who would have ever expected you to be elected President of the United States? I mean, you didn’t even run.

Who would have thought that you would have donated half of the $700 billion you sold Free Bird for to create an island made entirely of bread where you can literally eat the ground and everything else there? It’s so cool that island generates $1 billion per year in profits.

It’s so cool that now over half of the worlds lakes are 100% Free Bird water. 

I can’t believe you invented an all pizza diet that keeps your weight down and adds muscle mass. Because of this, definitely nobody expected you to become Mr. Universe and be crowned by Arnold Schwarzenegger as the greatest of all time, but here we are.

It’s hard to believe that you were able to break the world record for making the world’s largest squash casserole, but it’s amazing.

I don’t know how you did it, but climbing Mount Everest in a giant marshmallow costume was never something anyone expected you to do.

Lastly, to all the Elvis fans out there, I can’t believe you found him alive working in a Captain D’s in Kalamazoo Michigan. Nobody expected Elvis to be on tour again and it’s incredible that you’re his opening act.

You have done some amazing things and I’m very proud of you Mr. President.

Jay

Pop quiz.

When you see Free Bird, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Go!!!

What’s the definition of a great company?

Good question. 

Having started many companies over the years, my perspective is pretty simple.

-If a company is executing and operating efficiently. 
-If a company provides a good working environment and a strong opportunity for employees to thrive. 
-If a company makes money, including enough to share with the employees.
-If a company gives people the ability to enjoy their experience and have a little fun along the way.
-If the company can have a positive impact in some way on the world around them.

That’s it. 

Sure there are other important components. However, for me, when a company has these things, I’m content.

What did I miss?

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