About this item
In the spirit of Adam Braun's The Promise of a Pencil and Blake Mycoskie's Start Something That Matters, Fully Alive tells the story of an astoundingly successful young entrepreneur's immersion in Amazonian indigenous spirituality and how he integrated the lessons he learned to build a successful, socially responsible company, live a purposeful life, and make a difference in the world.In Fully Alive, Tyler Gage shares his spiritual adventures and the business savvy that helped him create RUNA, a tea and energy drink company that collaborates with the indigenous people of Ecuador to harvest the "master plant" guayusa, revealing a centuries-old guiding philosophy for building a sacred way of living that he discovered through Amazonian shamanism. Following these teachings, what began as a humble start-up has now grown into a thriving, multi-million dollar company, selling products in more than 10,000 stores across the United States and Canada. With the help of collaborators like Channing Tatum, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Olivia Wilde, RUNA has created a sustainable source of income for the 3,000 farming families in Ecuador who grow guayusa organically, while also establishing a nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting the issues that affect these indigenous communities. Packed with practical and inspiring lessons, this book offers a comprehensive examination of how we too might become "fully alive," both in business and as individuals.
About the Author
I am an entrepreneur, author and speaker who uses wisdom from the Amazon and start-up success to bring innovation and inspiration to growing organizations.
I have spent the last 12 years studying with indigenous elders in the Amazon rainforest, venturing far from my suburban roots at the age of 20. After graduating from Brown University, I turned down a Fulbright grant to start RUNA (www.runa.org) , a social enterprise that makes energizing beverages with guayusa, a rare Amazonian leaf, and improves livelihoods for 3,000 indigenous farming families in Ecuador. With over 70 employees and 15,000 stores selling RUNA beverages in the US and Canada, RUNA has grown in to one of the 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the US according to Inc Magazine.
I was named a Forbes "30 Under 30 Entrepreneur" and winner of both the Big Apple Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Specialty Food Association's Citizen Leader of the Year Award. ABC Nightline, National Geographic and Richard Branson's book Screw Business As Usual have all featured me for my unique and powerful approach to building businesses and creating social good.
I also serve on the Board of Directors of DavidsTea (NASDAQ: DTEA) and on the Advisory Council for Entrepreneurship at Brown University. In addition to advising and investing in other start-ups, I am a co-founding partner and strategic advisor to NAKU, a pioneering indigenous healing center in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
I live in Bellingham, Washington with my wife Michelle and enjoy boxing, yoga, riding my unicycle and studying ethnobotany.
Follow me on instagram: www.instagram.com/tylergage
www.tylergage.com
