technology. That was where the future was at,” Ken asserts. Introducing the Tanzania Gray lens was a game-changer, particularly among pilots who praised its clarity and quality. Gatorz’s rise was meteoric, but it wasn’t without setbacks. Another round of legal challenges ensued, this time more intense than before. But Ken’s earlier battles had prepared him well. “By then, I knew the drill. You stand firm, you fight smart, and sometimes, you must be stubborn enough to keep going,” he advises. Selling Fast Metal and Looking Ahead Ken has founded three sunglasses companies. He started Gatorz in 1988 after ditching BiF Malibu, then Ieft Gatorz in August 2000 to Start Liquid Icon, Inc. He later sold Liquid Icon, Inc. to a Japanese investor in 2014. He is currently at the helm of Fast Metal, which he started in 2018. Legacy and Final Thoughts Ken Wilson’s entrepreneurial journey is more than a business case study; it’s a testament to the power of resilience and vision. From floating checks to fund his first batch of sunglasses to taking on legal giants, his story is a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. “Never underestimate the power of ignorance combined with determination,” Ken shares as a closing thought. “Sometimes not knowing how hard something will be is exactly why you succeed.” Ken’s legacy is not just in the companies he built but in the sheer force of his will to turn dreams into tangible successes, proving time and again that with enough grit, even the loftiest dreams can be within reach. Ken has also had the opportunity to meet and work with a number of celebrities over the years.
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Legacy Quarterly
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