So it's been a while since I last posted. My friend and I have been researching how to start the business etc etc--getting our ducks in a row. We did get some good news though. My mom said she would be willing to invest a lil something something into the business. Hey, any interest in helping us make this goal happen is greatly appreciated.
I can't say too much is happening right now. We are still moving forward but unfortunately its in the midst of those ordinary days. One day soon I'll be able to announce the website is up and running but until then.... We continue to work in anonymity.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
A new outlook
I love to watch the Bio Channel. The other day I caught one of Tyler Perry. I was really inspired by this particular one because Tyler made his way practically out of no way (which he gives God the credit for and is exactly what I need to happen in my life). Any who, he was broke and living in his car while pursuing his dream. I don't need to recount his whole story here but the fact I found very inspiring was he worked odd jobs (which I do now) scraping money together (which I do now) to put on his first play. He didn't have a rich uncle or investor at first. All he had was his life savings and a dream. And that's where my biz partner and I are. We don't know any rich people looking to invest in our idea. All we have is a dream and the Internet and hopefully can get our idea off the ground as efficiently and cost effective as possible.
Oh, I forgot to mention we had a brainstorming session the other night. We both were looking at the franchise idea and just couldn't fathom how we were going to come up with the 250K (at least) to buy a franchise. So, not only do you need the liquid cash to invest, you also need a net worth of at least that much too. Now, in my mind, we could borrow the liquid cash but that net worth would be a different matter all together. So after much debate, we decided to scrap the franchise idea and come up with a low cost business we could fund ourselves. We decided on a t-shirt company. As we were searching on the Internet we came across this idea and discovered its very doable. Not only is low funding involved initially but we do not have to quit our current jobs and can grow the business while we work full-time.
So that's where we are right now. Putting a plan together to get this venture off the ground. I don't know all the details yet. But we're working on them. We're coming world--just you wait and see.
Oh, I forgot to mention we had a brainstorming session the other night. We both were looking at the franchise idea and just couldn't fathom how we were going to come up with the 250K (at least) to buy a franchise. So, not only do you need the liquid cash to invest, you also need a net worth of at least that much too. Now, in my mind, we could borrow the liquid cash but that net worth would be a different matter all together. So after much debate, we decided to scrap the franchise idea and come up with a low cost business we could fund ourselves. We decided on a t-shirt company. As we were searching on the Internet we came across this idea and discovered its very doable. Not only is low funding involved initially but we do not have to quit our current jobs and can grow the business while we work full-time.
So that's where we are right now. Putting a plan together to get this venture off the ground. I don't know all the details yet. But we're working on them. We're coming world--just you wait and see.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Pushing forward
I've heard on several occasions that giving birth to a dream or idea is a lot like giving birth to a baby. I say no the H*LL it ain't! To me, giving birth to a dream/idea is waaaaay harder. At least birthing a baby is a finite thing. You know in 9 months the baby will be at full term and will be on its way out. A goal could take years upon years to birth and even then there is no guarantee you're gonna ever reach for what you are striving for. I say all that to say this. I do feel as if everyday I'm in labor. I'm in labor holding onto my faith. I'm in labor pushing myself to stay on task in regards to the timelines to get things done. I'm in labor to just believe I can do this and create something out of nothing! (I guess technically that is faith though).
I'm pretty sure I sound like a whiner, that is one of my personality flaws (yeah, I can admit it). But I'd rather whine and push forward then just whine, I guess.
And really, as I look back on the things I have accomplished in my life; those things weren't so easy either. Yet, I managed to make them happen. I will do the same with this too. It really is a matter of time, effort and energy. Seeds take time to sprout.
I'm pretty sure I sound like a whiner, that is one of my personality flaws (yeah, I can admit it). But I'd rather whine and push forward then just whine, I guess.
And really, as I look back on the things I have accomplished in my life; those things weren't so easy either. Yet, I managed to make them happen. I will do the same with this too. It really is a matter of time, effort and energy. Seeds take time to sprout.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Ordinary Days
I'm reminded this morning of two Bible verses I like to read when I'm feeling an overwhelming sense of ordinary. To me, ordinary=boring. I don't want some disaster to befall me or anyone I know in order for a day not to be ordinary, I just need a little excitement every now and then to make the days interesting. I think that is one of the reasons entrepreneurship would be a good fit for me. Every new day would bring a different challenge--some diversity in experience. Office work (which I'm currently doing now) is very routine. Any way, back to those Bible verses.
The first: "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps"--Proverbs 16:9.
The second: "Oh, LORD, please bless me and expand my territory. May Your hand be with me. And may You keep me from evil." - 1 Chronicles 4:10.
I like to recite the first verse because it reminds me I do have control over my life. If I don't want the day to be ordinary then its up to me to add some excitement and spice to it. I like to recite the second verse because it reminds me that the LORD also controls situations as Jabez taught us. He asked the LORD to bless him and expand his territory. What could be more exciting than that?
So I push on. Yet, another day working in anonymity towards my goal. One day I know it will all be worth it.
The first: "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps"--Proverbs 16:9.
The second: "Oh, LORD, please bless me and expand my territory. May Your hand be with me. And may You keep me from evil." - 1 Chronicles 4:10.
I like to recite the first verse because it reminds me I do have control over my life. If I don't want the day to be ordinary then its up to me to add some excitement and spice to it. I like to recite the second verse because it reminds me that the LORD also controls situations as Jabez taught us. He asked the LORD to bless him and expand his territory. What could be more exciting than that?
So I push on. Yet, another day working in anonymity towards my goal. One day I know it will all be worth it.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thinking about my lack of money gets me down in the dumps
I spend a lot of time thinking about how I want to organize the rest of my life. It gets tiring. I feel like all I do is think, think, think, or maybe it's dream. Well whatever it is I feel like I need to be getting on with things. But deep down I also know that I have to prepare for what's coming. I keep getting ahead of myself because I can see how I want things to end up but the small steps along the way are tripping me up. Sometimes I think about the missed opportunities of the past. I look back with that good ole 20/20 and think to myself (while popping myself on the forehead), "boy, you really messed that up". But what good does it do really? What good does it do to keep rehashing regrets and missed opportunities? None, so forward march. Right?
I've been searching the Internet trying to find grant money for the business. You know how you hear on TV how the government is giving away all this money for women to start businesses? Well, they're not! That is a lie that people have perpetrated in order to make a buck. People have taken the few grants the government does give, packaged them in a pamphlet and sold it to people who have no interest in doing their own research. What people usually find once they get the pamphlet is that the types of money given doesn't fit what they are trying to do so they just wasted their money buying a useless pamphlet.
The government does give LOANS though through states and organizations like the SBA. I fear Tonya and I will probably have to end up going this route. It may be the only way to get this thing off the ground. I'm not afraid of a loan. I just know how hard it is to secure a loan especially when you don't already have money. We have that age old dilemma of if we had the money we wouldn't need a loan but since we don't have money....well, you fill in the rest.
So anywho, that's how I'm feeling today. We're still scheduled to start the business plan this weekend because we will be shopping it around eventually. I feel confident about pursuing this journey EXCEPT the acquiring of funding aspect. That part just really gets me down in the dumps. I know I can't focus on that too long though because I will paralyze myself.
Forward march. Right?
I've been searching the Internet trying to find grant money for the business. You know how you hear on TV how the government is giving away all this money for women to start businesses? Well, they're not! That is a lie that people have perpetrated in order to make a buck. People have taken the few grants the government does give, packaged them in a pamphlet and sold it to people who have no interest in doing their own research. What people usually find once they get the pamphlet is that the types of money given doesn't fit what they are trying to do so they just wasted their money buying a useless pamphlet.
The government does give LOANS though through states and organizations like the SBA. I fear Tonya and I will probably have to end up going this route. It may be the only way to get this thing off the ground. I'm not afraid of a loan. I just know how hard it is to secure a loan especially when you don't already have money. We have that age old dilemma of if we had the money we wouldn't need a loan but since we don't have money....well, you fill in the rest.
So anywho, that's how I'm feeling today. We're still scheduled to start the business plan this weekend because we will be shopping it around eventually. I feel confident about pursuing this journey EXCEPT the acquiring of funding aspect. That part just really gets me down in the dumps. I know I can't focus on that too long though because I will paralyze myself.
Forward march. Right?
Getting Started
Hello World. This is my first step of a thousand miles. My friend and I have long talked about starting our own business. Well, we wouldn't be starting a business exactly--more like buying a franchise. This blog is my documentation of this journey. And belive me, it's a journey. We have no money, no connections, no family name to trade--nothing. All we have is desire and a dream. Napoleon Hill says that's all we need. If we desire it enough, opportunities will show up. I'm hoping he's right. I'm hoping that the continuous expression of my thoughts and desires will eventually lead to success. I'm putting it out there for God to do what He will with it. Now, don't get me wrong, I know there is work to be done on my part. But I guarantee you when this dream of entrepreneurship is realized, it will be with the help of the Big Guy upstairs because like I said before, I'm starting out with absolutely nothing but desire and talent!
My friend Tonya and I have been friends since we were 12. We've frequently talked about what we would do if we ran whatever company we were working for at the time. We haven't been too diligent at creating opportunities for ourselves within those companies either. We've kinda just floated from one company to another, going along to get along. I'm not sure what is different about this year though. This year we've finally said we've had enough. I don't know if its the sluggish economy or the fact that we are getting older and less tolerant of BS but we've finally decided its time to do our own thing. We don't feel the need to re-invent the wheel so we're focused on buying a franchise although I think our entrepreneurial dreams will take us to starting our own companies from scratch one day. I just feel like once we get this thing going, we will have to ability to put all the other dreams and ideas we've discussed over the years into place.
As of right now we are looking into buying a fast food franchise (i.e. Subway) or a hair salon franchise (i.e. Great Clips). And that's our first task to get done. Decide, decide, decide. We are going to get started writing a business plan and we have to base it on some franchise, right?! There are so many options out there but really, I don't see that it matters to either one of us what kind of business it is. I think what we want more than anything is to take control of our lives, create a better future for ourselves and our families and build upon the foundation this business can provide. I know we have the skills to succeed in whatever business we choose.
Next steps: Decide on a franchise. Start a business plan.
My friend Tonya and I have been friends since we were 12. We've frequently talked about what we would do if we ran whatever company we were working for at the time. We haven't been too diligent at creating opportunities for ourselves within those companies either. We've kinda just floated from one company to another, going along to get along. I'm not sure what is different about this year though. This year we've finally said we've had enough. I don't know if its the sluggish economy or the fact that we are getting older and less tolerant of BS but we've finally decided its time to do our own thing. We don't feel the need to re-invent the wheel so we're focused on buying a franchise although I think our entrepreneurial dreams will take us to starting our own companies from scratch one day. I just feel like once we get this thing going, we will have to ability to put all the other dreams and ideas we've discussed over the years into place.
As of right now we are looking into buying a fast food franchise (i.e. Subway) or a hair salon franchise (i.e. Great Clips). And that's our first task to get done. Decide, decide, decide. We are going to get started writing a business plan and we have to base it on some franchise, right?! There are so many options out there but really, I don't see that it matters to either one of us what kind of business it is. I think what we want more than anything is to take control of our lives, create a better future for ourselves and our families and build upon the foundation this business can provide. I know we have the skills to succeed in whatever business we choose.
Next steps: Decide on a franchise. Start a business plan.
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