Chris Rust shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Chris, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What battle are you avoiding?
A battle I’m avoiding is confrontation with Georgia football fans while working with athletes from the Georgia Tech football program. Georgia Autographs has always been Georgia football centered and now we’ve ventured off into a brand new market. While facing this challenge, we’ve heard it from some long time customers and fans of these prominent programs. Some have even went as far as unfollowing or blocking Georgia Autographs on social media.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Chris Rust, owner and operator of Georgia Autographs and GeorgiaAutographs.com. I am from Americus, GA and moved to the Atlanta Metro area in November 2005. Georgia Autographs was established on Facebook in March 2013 as a watering hole for autograph seekers to learn where to get more autographs. We still share Georgia-based appearance and autograph event information today and sometimes share events outside of Georgia if they fit into the interest of our target audience. The business side of things, GeorgiaAutographs.com, began in 2018 when we took on a public autograph signing event with former Norcross, GA football legend, Georgia football standout and NFL veteran, Lorenzo Carter. I’ve been a sports fan and collector all of my life. Some of my personal collection includes over 700 bobbleheads, autographed baseballs, sports cards, magazines, posters, sports-themed artwork, Funko POP! figurines, NASCAR die-cast cars, autographed football memorabilia, and more.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was as a 9 year old hitting home runs over the fence in PeeWee league baseball. When I got up to the plate, the opposing coaches reminded their players to back up because I was there to hit the baseball far and hard. I’d go to school days after baseball games and classmates would commend me for being a powerful baseball figure. These memories will last forever and I’ll never forget being an unstoppable force on the baseball field as a kid.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
As a kid growing up in rural South Georgia with a single Mom and at times leaning on family members to support me, there were times when it was tough to stay on track. There were times I went off track, but I made it through the tough times. As a young adult I’ve solidified stability in life. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be “keep a positive attitude and stay strong.” It’ll all work out and everything happens for a reason.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I believe one of the most misleading trends in the autograph signing world is guys/gals claiming to have autograph signings set-up themselves, or making it appear this way, when they are attending or participating in someone else’s organized event. A lot of times event promotions are portrayed to the public in a way to make one believe they’re doing more than they’re actually doing. This type of business can bring confusion into the hobby with collectors and customers abroad. It’s not unusual to see five autograph guys promoting the same signing. At the end of the day, usually only one company is behind orchestrating the event. It’s best to do your research and go straight to the source for the best experience.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe I am doing what I was born to do. Brushing shoulders with sports stars, interacting with legendary figures, day to day financial strategies, and sales.
At a young age, I found that working hard, talking to people, and following up brought me more money and joy.
I’d mow yards in the neighborhood as a kid and rack up $20 bills to find myself with about $100 at the end of the day. My grandmother would tell me to ask the neighbors if I could cut their grass for $20. I would ask her to ask for me but she made me go ask them myself. I would get the works done, get paid, and make sure I followed up to do it again later. These experiences at a young age molded me into who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GeorgiaAutographs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgia_autographs?igsh=OWExcGtibmI1NHIy&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherdrust?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Twitter: https://x.com/signedsweetspot?s=21&t=PDLSR7JR1R6tsPJ5tvtcPQ
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BYBCKZwYi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
