Ever since I started on this road to building my empire I have contemplated writing about the trials and tribulations of starting a company from the ground up. Kind of a lot has happened since then and I have written some of it down but most of it is personal and not PG-13, and considering this is a company blog I deceided to keep it somewhat professional for now.
Keep an eye out though, Raymmar.com is coming soon and there will be no restrictions on that site. Actually, I think it will be a goal of mine on that site to piss off the entire world by challenging the status quo of life.
Chapter 8?
There is no chapter 1-7; yet! I just figured chapter 8 was as good a place to start as any considering this is the first installment in a series of articles chronologing the progress of CR8INC.
Last week CR8INC scored some office space at the HuB downtown Sarasota and I was anxious to get to work in a creative space. You see, up until now I had been working out of my home office, AKA the dining room table. This worked well enough but I would get stir crazy locked up in the house all day. It got interesting at times as the monotony would lead me to get up and dance to the music or sing loudly (HuB coworkers beware). I am sure I scared the neighbors on occassion and one time my roomate walked in on me practicing the moonwalk which definitely awkward but funny all at the same time.
Sure, I could work at Starbucks but I hate coffee and dont like the thought of just posting up there every day, so I had been on a quest to find a place where I can work outside of the house, get my creative on and be around other people with similar goals and visions.
The timing couldn't have been any better. Its almost as if they built this place knowing that I would be moving back to Florida and looking for a place to set up shop. That had to be what happened because afterall, this is Sarasota and according to some, "nothing cool happens there", so it couldnt be that there are other young creatives making a splash in this town!
Whatever the circumstances that lead to this moment, I am glad it did, as now I find myself in the perfect setting to be out of the house and surrounded by some of the most creative minds in Sarasota and Bradenton. (Well not really Bradenton, I just threw that in there for Google).
Back to working on Christmas
So all that was said to bring me to my point and the purpose of this article. This is the first week that we have space here at the HuB and I was really looking forward to getting my creative on, but as life would have it, this week is Christmas.
So here I sit, in an empty building, downtown Sarasota wondering where all my creative cohorts are. There was one guy working when I got here but my country music and bad singing must have scared him off because he is nowhere to be found now.
I remember when I used to work for "the man" I would look forward to holidays like this because it meant there would be a couple extra day off that week and I could enjoy the time away from the office doing anything other than work. I would blow of the afternoon on days leading up to the holidays, just to get in my "don't give a shit" mindset, but now that I am "the man" I find myself wishing there were more people around to share the experience with.
No holiday spirit for me this year
As a child Christmas is always fun. There are presents to open, great food to eat and no school for a week! As we grow up, at least for me, it becomes more and more difficult to think of Christmas as anything more than just another day.
Not to mention that its like 60 degrees outside and there are palm trees in the street. Maybe it's because I grew up in Ohio but its hard to get excited about Christmas with no snow on the ground.
So instead I am sitting here at work. I had no intentions of writing an article today. I am swamped with client projects and deadlines that don't care whether its Christmas or any other holiday. For some reason though, I felt like I had to get this off my chest. Not sure anyone will even read it but its out there for the world and well, that sems to be enough for me right now.
It's not really work if you love what you do
"Do something you love and you will never work a day in your life". I hate cliches just as much as the next guy, and this is one you hear all the time, so I am sure your eyes are pinned to the back of your head and you are about to hit the back buttin right now, but if you've made it this far then push on just a litle further, the end is near I promise.
Don't get me wrong, I know that the journey is just beginning and I'm sure there will be moments where I absolutely hate what I am doing, but the thought that I am working towards somthing bigger will always be there to keep me grounded.
My empire awaits and I wish more people would tell their story about being an entrepreneur. There is such a stigma associated with being succesfull these days. The media would vilify me and tell you that others like me are evil and only care about money but I disagree. Most business owners are just like me. One guy and a dream, setting out to try and change the world. The few who succeed are rewarded with wealth and more but that doesnt make them any less of a person.
So I'll keep working, even on holidays and weekends, hoping that one day it will all pay off. That the sacrifice of leaving family and friends, moving across state lines, selling everything to chase a dream will one day prove fruitfull.
Until then, Merry Christmas, but don't look for me to be taking days off, I have an empire to build!
So, what do you think? Whats your story? Ever worked on your dream while the rest of the world relaxed? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave them in the comments section.