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Jay Shafer
Jay Shafer
00:58

Jay Shafer

Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

Sebastopol, CA USA

"Know what you need to be happy, and get rid of the rest."

Career Roadmap

Jay's work combines: Design, Engineering, and Upholding a Cause and Belief

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Day In The Life

Founder/Designer

I design and build beautiful, functional, tiny houses for people who want to simplify their lives.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

  • Graduate Degree

    Painting

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Went to grad school, did his Master's degree in fine arts painting.

  • 2.

    Worked as a grocery store clerk for 10 years after school-calls this his "intermission," when he gathered his thoughts.

  • 3.

    Did the "fine arts" thing for a while, but felt like he was "wasting his potential."

  • 4.

    Says the "gnawing" feeling of wasted potential is a great feeling to have and to follow.

  • 5.

    Started steering his art towards architectural work; got tired of sculpture so he started designing, building houses.

  • 6.

    Believes society puts too much emphasis on "talent"-architecture didn't "come naturally," but he got good at it through hard work and passion.

  • 7.

    Found that there was a lot of interest in his "tiny houses," people liked the idea of living simply.

  • 8.

    Says once you put aside the pressure of a mortgage, etc., you can focus on the things you truly love to do.