Plenty of money from a self-created job that you love. Obvious luck that comes from elbow grease and resourcefulness. Unapologetic fulfillment of big, ambitious goals. These have become almost swear words and derisive phrases in our current culture of global solemn mediocrity. Ryan Goldberg, founder and visionary force behind Shadow Six Racing, has ignored all of this, not really paying attention other than laughing good-naturedly at the inevitable TikTok trolls that always crop up when someone is actively living.
Much more like Tom Brokaw's "greatest generation" mindset, which sees solutions where others see only problems, Goldberg has rightly given the slogan to the team that helps him design and build his newly patented watercraft: "A group of brilliant minds working together to redefine impossible." The reality is that Goldberg has done much more than just redefine what possibility can mean in high-performance motorsport; Shadow Six Racing has earlier notions of limitation and innovation completely wiped out - and they're just getting started.
Goldberg was originally inspired to envision the Typhoon, Shadow Six's first water-recreational vehicle prototype, while spending a day cruising the dunes outside of Las Vegas with his young son. The Typhoon, which looked to all the world like an overwater Batmobile with two twin jet-ski rockets underneath, was first unveiled in the elite setting of the invitation-only SEMA conference, which brought together the biggest names in automotive design to star with Goldberg about to talk about his groundbreaking creation.
But elite buyers and fascinated colleagues weren't just queuing up with enquiries. Military personnel, the Coast Guard, and organizations that specialize in extreme surf rescues have all reached out to speak to Goldberg about the opportunities he's inadvertently opened up in their respective fields while breaking barriers in one of his own favorites just for fun down.
While at first glance the luxury AUV market might seem relegated to big-name celebrities and other megayacht owners, Goldberg is quick to point out that current price points are all only relative to the materials needed to build his creations and the deft precision of the minds that effectively stitch these materials together. "It's important for people to understand that this vehicle is made entirely of titanium," he says. "Between the manufacturing process, the raw materials, the CAD work and the engineering, the price point goes up very quickly."
Based on the admittedly tony Jupiter, Florida, Goldberg's own values work a galaxy away from what many of the wealthy clients interested in his products might appreciate. When asked whether money can buy happiness, his response is both philosophically insightful and characteristically centered on the greater currency of achievement: "I think you only need a certain amount, and if you're not happy at that point, money is." not the problem but you. There's a point where money diminishes at a certain point, and I tell people all the time that if they get past that point and don't realize it, they'll have to spend their next dollar on a therapist. Knowing when to have enough is happiness. This is how you achieve it.”
Perhaps the most priceless thing money can buy is freedom, in Goldeberg's case creative and time management freedom. Shadow Six Racing is entirely self-funded, debt free and cash operated. They have the ability to set their own pace and choose to work with whoever or with no one. A lifelong automotive enthusiast and motor-mad gear eater, Goldberg is extremely proud that he was able to contribute something fresh, new and fun to an area he has always admired. "The G-Force you can pull on this thing is way beyond what you can do in any car and it's really amazing to be at the forefront of motorsport development," he says. “The Typhoon can accelerate from 0 to 85 mph in about 20 meters, so it doesn't matter if you're into side-by-sides, Baja trucks or Formula 1 cars, this is a new driving experience that's second to none and it's all about the performance.”
Ryan Goldberg's personal story and Shadow Six Racing's evolution to date could easily recall Theodore Roethke's most famous statement: "What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible." w that he's expanding his team's manufacturing to monthly Expanding on large commissions, Goldberg is still most motivated by his intrinsic desire to push the boundaries of his own design dreams. He's happiest when he's in the perfect spot where the joys of his family and his fabulous, frenetic fantasy vehicles intersect. He simply wants to continue to push the cutting-edge technology in the AUV space and create inventive industry firsts that will break the doors of preset expectations.
He conducts all of this with deep and guileless gratitude coupled with a genuine sense of personal responsibility. "You have to have this mindset that when things are going well, you think about looking out the window and seeing who helped make those things happen," he muses. "When something goes wrong, you have to remember to twist your finger, point at yourself and look in the mirror to recognize where you were part of what went wrong. People may say happiness doesn't exist, but real happiness comes from the energy you put out there and your perspective on life. Good things happen when you keep the right attitude.”
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