Mountain or Mole hill

Sat Jan 19th was  a trying day for me and my new business. It all started Fri. night. I had put an order into my printing company for a rush order for the weekend. They had the order and printed by the evening and in time for me to do the show on Sat. Problem 1: I was supposed to receive an e-mail on of my purchase receipt. It wasn’t in my inbox so I checked my bank account. They charged my account,  what appeared to be twice. I also noticed they did not follow the cutting and sizing instructions I had asked them to.  This was problem 2. I knew it was not going to be accepted for the order and that I was looking to return these not matter what. Problem 3: Sat morning (the show must go on). I reached Vogue in the morning to prep the vehicles and get ready for the show. In that process I left my price book at the house. I headed back to get it and make the show. Problem 4: When I arrived back at Vogue the owner Terri greets me at the door with a not so great look on his face and a big ” This product is not going work “  I was like ” What! “. I proceeded to the back room where one of the buses had my product on it.  Apparently.. It was wrinkling and when you attempted to smooth it out it was scratching the ink off. This is not right. So without freaking out(and trust me, inside I was.) I calmly said “This is not supposed to happen. I will find out why and fix it.” None of my other products to my knowledge had performed in this manner. On my way up to the show I was immediately on the phone and ready to leave messages of urgent return. Fortunately I was able to get Walt on the phone (My distributor) and beat his ear and brain for the answers to my dilemma. He managed to pull out every answer I was looking for and I was able to present this to my client.  needless to say I managed to do this with extreme quickness and keep my customer. It seems that the dry time needed to be longer before applying the product and also the material my printing company was buying was eco solvent and not meant for heavy application and treatment.  I have currently been researching some coatings for this to really be able to bring it to the market and make an impact. I stuck in there on Sat and Terri ended up introducing me to another limo company owner, Bruce (Red Carpet Limousine). He is also very interested in the product and is looking to start doing some business.  The ideas are flying around this product like bees to a hive and I am in the center of a niche market. It is a great feeling to be developing something new and seeing it through each and ever stage. I welcome the problems, without them it just wouldn’t feel real.  I will hang on to the word of perseverance and cling to it, like my product does to anything and continue to move forward. Soon you will see me on Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. 

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Cradle to the Grave

You hear it all too often… “Life is too short”. The fear of death seems to be a natural reaction and most people have that fear. It seems to mean the end (forever) to most or just not knowing. So why do we spend most of our entire life in fear. It seems people need fear just to get out of bed every day. I mean you get up to go to your job and are on time…why? Because you fear you might be fired.  I don’t want try to start a business. I am comfortable where I am. Why? Because most are afraid of failure. I have currently failed at many things in my life, but I have learned great lessons from most. The one lesson I have learned is; I can fail 10,000 times at one thing but, if I get it right only once then I have succeeded. I have always dreamed big as a child, and frankly I still do as an adult. I was granted birth only to be guaranteed death. The in-between is for me to decide right? Well, most know my answer to that. “Get busy living or get busy dieing” (Tombstone, Movie 1993). I do my best with compassion to relate with death and loss, but it really just inspires me to live. I was raised by two women (Mom & Gram) and they never let me fear life, they wanted me to live it to the fullest. Even though I was pore as a child I never really knew it. I had food a roof and my little bit of a family. I grew up a street kid, but still loved school, so I went. I have my wits about me, character (Thanks Gram) a strong heart and a brain that does not quit, sometimes it keeps me up at night. I have spent much of my time searching and building and working for myself, (what better investment is there?) and I will continue to do so, even if it kills me.

~ Dedicated to:  My Mom – Brenda Ellen First and My Grandmother – Myrtle Irene (“Well, shit fire”) First

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Swimming with the Big Fishes

I
recently created a new business with a new and unique product. I have been
working with a couple Limo companies trying to really get one in particular on
board and buying, but for some reason can’t get them to bite. Here is the
catch…They asked me to develop the damn thing. Well, I am going to drop in on
them today and see how things are going..ya know just kinda show my face to let
them know I am still here. The owner (who was so excited) continually wants me
to go to this trade show, that trade show, but really without at least one
buyer I have no real credibility. My dilemma is getting him on board. The man
has been in business for 20+yrs and is purchasing 500k worth of Limos this
year, maybe that is his problem not real sure. I will update this later, but
for now I have to go see myself.

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Fri, January 18th 2008

    Well, the 17th and today were very good days. I have been watching a show lately called “The Big Idea” on CNBC 10pm est, channel 30 on Comcast. I was watching a rather inspiring show where they had the owner of a company called “The Knot” (Premier internet wedding planning service). The story was great, but it seems to get a little better for me. Noticing signs are just ways of listening to your brain when it identifies something you really should be doing. Many people get discouraged and give up too easy, even when the signs are directing them to their destination. Me? I love signs… sign, sign tell me where a sign. I enjoy marketing, even when I need to sell myself on an idea.  The point to this rambling is simply this.  I was starting to get discouraged and felt like I was quiting.  In seeing the show, I realized what a great market I was already dabbling in. If I was to quit now I might as well just shoot myself.  That being the case I immediately got up went into my office and hit the web.  I searched for something better to help me and really push this company over the edge.. and just “wow” them. I found exactly what I needed and went to work. By 4 am I had some things that were really clean and ready to present and put my future back into motion.  I put together a presentation for the company, Vogue Limousine service and headed up there the next day. Realize they are my first and foremost client right now, but I could not ask to be involved with a better company. I pulled into their lot around 12:30 in the afternoon… RIGHT AT LUNCH.. ouch you say? .. how rude, you think? Well, in most aspects yes it is, but for me it was a great strategic move on my behalf. I caught both the owners there and somewhat relaxed. So as I pulled into the lot I was on the phone speaking with my best friend when I happened to notice a sign in the window displaying. 2007 Premier Service recognition presented by… ” The Knot “.  At that moment it was my brain saying: “Good thing you were paying attention to me. This is where you should be; you are dealing with a great company”. Overall, they loved what I had to show them and made an order today and asked me to piggy back them at their up and coming bridal shows, to display my service and product.  I only made a $147.36 out of the deal, but it is the first step in my first million.  Big Idea, I will see you soon…