Life & Work with Connór Lock

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Connór Lock.

Hi Connór, I am so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
So, I started STAAHJ almost two years ago as a creative outlet for my passion for cooking and traveling. As an artist/designer running my own design agency, SEVEN Designs, for the past ten years, I still love what I do and my team, but I knew I needed to branch out. So, to make my schedule even busier, I started a cooking company called STAAHJ. 

I teach in-home cooking tutorials for my select clients to empower them in their own home kitchens. I teach them how to use their kitchen efficiently with a blast of fun to redefine how they think about cooking. My main focus, though, has been filming for my first-ever cooking show called “The Cooks Venture,” where I have been traveling the world to Challenge, Inspire, and Cook while meeting unique individuals along the way. 

The aim is to release the first season on YouTube in 2025. I have never done anything like this before, so it has been a HUGE learning curve to get to this point. Y’all can follow along with the craziness on my Instagram @HeyStaahj to see all the behind-the-scenes and get the most up-to-date info on when the episodes will be released. This is a well-fed journey. Let’s fly with some flavor, baby! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
AB. SO. LUTELY NOT. There have been so many mental breakdowns with trying to get this project off the group. I have never filmed a show before, let alone trying to travel to 11 different countries to do so, all while keeping up my responsibilities as the owner/creative director of my design agency. Insanity! 

But I do love a good challenge. I’m in the sucking stage of everything right now, but I know it will make the completion of this STAAHJ project taste even sweeter. This project is all self-funded (I gave up my savings to buy a house to do this), so I am very budget-tight and have learned/done many of the tasks myself. There are hundreds of hats I have to wear at all times, and I have to be able to switch back and forth between them constantly. 

This is incredibly stressful and exhausting. Examples include logistics, filming, coordinating with contacts in foreign countries, being the show personality, creative director, the COOK, script writing, materials sourcing, and so on… 

Thankfully, I have met some incredible people along this journey who have helped me out to keep me afloat. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I don’t really know what I’m known for… Energy? Hype? Determination? I’ll let those who know me and my work define that. All I know is that I have a burning passion for creating things, solving problems, and getting others hyped along the way, all while learning how to break the rules. 

That’s probably why I started my design agency ten years ago, and now, almost two years ago, I started my cooking company. Who knows what I’ll create in the next ten years? 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you love art, music, travel, and cooking, then I highly encourage you to join me on my journey with @HeyStaahj as I figure it all out. 

I’m the first to let you know that I have no idea what I’m doing, and that is OK! Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to start that adventure you’ve been dreaming of in those mundane moments in your daily schedule. I truly hope it does. Let’s fly with flavor, friends! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.followseven.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heystaahj/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followseven
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-lock-63324624b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@staahj

Image Credits
KEENA Photo