Entrepreneur with no limit

Steven Ozbun's art to having it all

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It is not every day you come across a man like Steven Ozbun. Innovative, creative, passionate, driven, genuine, and limitless are just some of the words that come to mind when describing him. At first glance, Steven appears a simple man who enjoys longs walks on the beach with his unbelievably cute dog, but we quickly realized he is full of surprises, talents, and achievements.

I’ll never forget the first time I met Steven. It was my birthday and I happened to be out in Coronado with Erica Martinez (Paragon Accountants) his best friend who surprised me with a grand finale of fun out on the San Diego bay onboard the “Forever and a Day” aka his dingy as he calls it.

This was also my first run-in with the “TRADE” sunglass brand. I liked them, (I’m picky) the name stuck and he had so many different models, styles, and color combinations (we are talking hundreds of options). I wanted all of them. I just knew something amazing would come from this and we will get to that later in this spread.

As a marketing entrepreneur myself I had to ask Steven “How did you get here? Tell me about the journey” His response; “How much time do you have?” I laughed. After hearing his story and getting to know him better, I have been inspired to keep pushing towards my dreams and passions. I am excited to share some highlights from multiple interviews, conversation filled coffee-dates, along with an exciting peek into what’s to come for Ozbun and the brands he and his team catapults.

“How did I get here? 2008, a great year to launch a company, right? For most absolutely not. We didn’t let this get in our way. We hit the ground running and never looked back as we were so excited about our marketing and website products and the problems they solved. I loved the industry and the people. I had a blast, I loved what I did. In about a decade, we grew from a team of 3 to well over 150 team members, expanded our product line from zero revenue to $20M recurring, annually and most of all, we were filthy rich in company culture. Our team loved their jobs and our clients loved our team, products, and successes.

Creating something from nothing comes with a set of extremely challenging pieces and situations. I see many startups fail due to being too concerned about the immediate impact a decision has on the company rather than the long termeffects,losses,andgainsthatdecisionmaybecatalyzing.” says Ozbun.

The customer is #1. “Yes. Always. As a business owner, our #1 customer is our team. Always put your team first, make sure they are valued, love what they do, and are in the right role for their success. Watching a team grow into leaders is probably the most enriching piece of entrepreneurship.” “Rich is happiness, rich is friendships, rich is love, health, and success” Steven says. “Success is not the title on your business card or the zeros in your bank account. Success is failing miserably, success is being broke but happy, smiling; no matter how your day is going, success is an accomplishment, reputation, and giving it your all and being proud of who you are. Are you set up for success?”

So what’s next?

“More Marketing,” says Steven. “It’s exciting to grow brands in extremely different markets and industries. I have always been into Real Estate Design and development...

Music? Entertainment? Fashion? Real Estate Development? Yes. Yes. Yes Yes”.

Most recently Ozbun founded “Continuum Residential” a design and build firm specializing in finding first turn historical candidate homes and reimagining them leaving character and modern amenities. This is all done while doing our best to use the properties’ original footprint.

Steven originally went to school to be an architect, the vision comes naturally for him. In the Continuum Residential portfolio are Five homes in different phases of construction in Point Loma spread out across Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs, Plumosa Park, and Loma Portal. The properties span across architectural types mid-century modern, Tudor, Spanish, and beach bungalow, all homes are being reimagined with hotel-like amenities and true to era modernized flair. Check out 3615 Plumosa Drive SD CA 92106, this is the first to be completed and is absolutely stunning!

Next up will be the tudor at 3030 Ibsen St. this will be a modern remake of the classic Tudor. Studious, sophisticated with heavy contrast raw woods. Part of this collection also includes spec house number one this was the first home of the group built in Sunset Cliffs. Utterly unique and one-of-a-kind on half an acre with views that will blow your mind.

Steven Ozbun / Jacket - Fur God @furgod, Jewelry - Kalma Wellness @kalmawellness

What is truly unique is the vision Steven had for this type of music was a blend of house music and hip-hop so somewhere around 120 to 128 bpm repeating hip-hop phrases on a house beat. The closest thing to this currently is house tech. OZ music nation is the artist’s name and under this name, he has produced 20 original tracks and has released five mixes. Music was originally more of a passion project but has grown into something much much more.

How did you choose your profession? I’ve always been passionate about marketing, brand building, and seeing other professionals like me grow and reach their goals with the right toolkit and team guiding them along the way. Creativity and innovation runs through my veins - I’m always brainstorming new ideas and strategizing how to achieve new and often unimaginable heights. My imagination knows no limits and when I become excited about a new project, I dive into it whole-heartedly and invest all of my time, energy, and inventiveness into rendering it successful. I’ve built my own company through my business philosophy and unique approach to digital marketing, and now have the opportunity to use my resources and expertise to work alongside other companies to help them do the same.

What famous person do you associate yourself with and why? The heroes in my life really aren’t people with fame and notoriety; instead, those I admire and deeply aspire to be like are the ones closest to me. I would be nothing if not for my valued and cherished support system of family and friends who constantly motivate and inspire me to be the best version of myself. They challenge me, uplift me, and love me unconditionally, and because of the unwavering foundation they’ve provided me with, I’ve been able to succeed and accomplish all of my goals. I’m so grateful for every person in my life who has contributed to my journey and played a part in getting me where I am today.

Do you have a personal recipe for success? Tell us about it? Never shy away from a challenge - you’ll only set yourself up for failure. I launched my company in 2008, a year that brought upon hardships and financial burden for many people. But by that point, I had been strategizing and developing my business plan for so long that I knew I was ready to see it through and bring my ideas to fruition - and that’s just what my team and I did. We dove in head first and never looked back. A small team of three, we started off with nothing but our brains and dedication to our purpose, and within a decade, we grew into a thriving company. We have more than 150 team members, generate more than 20 million in revenue annually, and are constantly seeking new ways to expand and reach new markets. I’m so proud of what I’ve built and it all stems from my tenacity to succeed and my determination to never give up or slow down. When I feel a burst of inspiration, I run with it, no matter the situation. This mindset has led me where I am today, and it’s why my company has continued to soar, even in a year like 2020. Our foundation is so solid that victory is the only option. This philosophy on business has also given me the opportunity to create other ventures and thrive in new projects. Founding my sunglasses line, Trading Looks, as well as furthering my passion for music through Oz Music Nation, has been a very enjoyable and fulfilling project for me. I love exploring new avenues for success and growth, and my creativity and imagination is limitless. It’s exciting!

How do you perceive criticism in your address? The customer is always right, and in my line of work, your most important customer is your team and the people who work hard for you everyday to support your goals. They believe in you and dedicate themselves to seeing your dream realized, and that’s priceless. I’m so thankful for it. So whenever my team members come to me with concerns or constructive criticism, that understanding is always at the forefront of my mind, and it’s allowed me to be an open-minded and compassionate leader who always wants to grow and challenge himself to be better and do better for those who lift him up daily.

What do you lack courage for? Frankly, nothing. I am proud of everything I’ve built and created, and I don't scare easily. No challenge is too big to overcome.

Would you be friends with your double? Why? Absolutely! Balance is key, and I truly believe in the importance of working hard and playing hard. You have to take care of yourself to avoid burnout, so I always make sure to prioritize self-care and my personal happiness outside of my profession. My friends and I love traveling, hosting events, attending concerts, and living and enjoying life to the fullest. If I’ve learned anything in 2020, it’s that you can never take for granted memorable experiences and the value of people and relationships.

Describe how you see your life in 20 years? I’m excited to continue breaking new ground in the marketing industry. It is a thriving field that is constantly developing and growing, and I want to be on the forefront of that revolution. I aspire to seek my feet into the marketing world as it pertains to several industries - fashion, real estate, entertainment, design, music. Marketing knows no limits and I’m really looking forward to leveraging my knowledge of digital growth to help brands see tangible change.

Production/PR: Irma Penunuri / Burgerrock Media @burgerrock @burgerrocckmedia

Photography: Xena Peterson @xenapeterson

Photography Asst: David Cole

HMUA: Paulina Riquelme @paurique

Styling: Poshenko @posshenko

Styling Asst: Sofia Rivera

Styling Asst: Gloria Hernandez

Coordination: Emily Blair Marcus / Emily Blair Media @emilyblairmarcus @emilyblairmedia

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