#678: Jake Muise — The Relentless Pursuit of Innovation, Quality, and Meaning

Brought to you by Shopify global commerce platform providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business; Eight Sleep’s Pod Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating; and AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement. Jake Muise (@mauinuivenison) is CEO at Maui Nui Venison, a company he co-founded in 2017 that works to balance invasive axis deer populations on the island of Maui, channeling that management into incredible nutrient-dense food. Maui Nui was selected for Fast Company’s “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Agriculture of 2023,” and its venison has been served in restaurants across the country, including Alinea, The French Laundry, and Saison. Prior to Maui Nui, Jake was executive director of the Axis Deer Institute for 12 years, part of a two-decades-long project focused on axis deer and their long-term management in Hawai’i.  Please enjoy! This episode is brought to you by Shopify! Shopify is one of my favorite platforms and one of my favorite companies. Shopify is designed for anyone to sell anywhere, giving entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big business. In no time flat, you can have a great-looking online store that brings your ideas to life, and you can have the tools to manage your day-to-day and drive sales. No coding or design experience required. Go to shopify.com/Tim to sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period. It’s a great deal for a great service, so I encourage you to check it out. Take your business to the next level today by visiting shopify.com/Tim. * This episode is also brought to you by AG1! I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG1 further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.  Right now, you’ll get their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit DrinkAG1.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product. * This episode is also brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature. Go to EightSleep.com/Tim and save $250 on the Eight Sleep Pod Cover. Eight Sleep currently ships within the USA, Canada, the UK, select countries in the EU, and Australia. * [06:05] Lava cowboys. [14:00] What does Maui Nui mean? [15:07] A Hawai’i history primer. [22:26] The problem with (and delicious solution to) axis deer in Hawai’i. [30:18] The three-year hunt that became the Maui Nui springboard. [43:54] The life-changing power of volleyball and free pizza. [52:18] Seven on, seven off. [57:01] Processes, metrics, and moon-fluence. [1:00:41] Surpassing USDA regulations — in the wild. [1:07:59] A typical night of harvesting. [1:15:09] The humble, hungry, and smart way to build a world-class team. [1:21:46] Feedback that separates the As and Bs from the Cs. [1:30:21] Assigned and recommended reading. [1:35:01] Nutrient density. [1:46:10] Clawback allowances. [1:49:20] Secret Pinterest boards. [1:52:59] The old lady on the couch game. [1:57:06] Tug of war. [1:59:57] Can the business sustainably scale up without selling out? [2:03:57] Jake’s billboard. [2:06:00] Parting thoughts. * For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast. For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday. For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts. Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books. 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