What does it take to walk away from the corporate world and start completely over at 53? For Eric Hammons, it took courage, conviction, and a deep love for agriculture. In this powerful episode of The 318 Experience, Eric shares the full story of how he went from working his way up at Nissan and Mazda to building handcrafted chicken coops in rural North Louisiana—and finding his purpose along the way.
Raised in the countryside near Monroe, Eric learned early on the value of hard work, family, and simplicity. After years of success in business, he found himself longing for a life that felt more connected—more grounded. That longing led him to leave the fast-paced world behind and follow a dream that had been quietly growing inside him for years.
What started with a single coop and a leap of faith turned into Chick Chick Coop, a backyard lifestyle brand that represents much more than fresh eggs. Eric's story is one of reinvention, resilience, and remembering who you are. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered if it's too late to start over—and what might be waiting if you do.
00:00 – Intro & Background
06:30 – Life-Changing School Moment
13:00 – Marriage, Family & Early Career
19:30 – Leaving the Cookie Dough Business
26:00 – The First Chicken Coop
32:30 – Listening to Customers
38:30 – COVID and Business Growth
45:00 – Backyard Chicken Lifestyle
51:00 – Chickens as Therapy
57:00 – Faith, Family, and Final Thoughts
