From Febuary to July this year...whooaa ...talk about a rollercoaster. Collections were slow (try getting a cheque out some Jamaican companies on time); had to ask a member of staff to resign because he started a business in direct competition with us and wanted to remain employed with us while building it.(lol...I know...he was pretty good at what he did too);we owe some money(in the low four figures and non interest bearing, so it's nothing to stress about), so a couple of people are pissed off with me, us, the company; one staff member resigned and who remained we put them contract and expanded our talent pool beyond our shores; we doing the virtual office thing - one in Kingston and another in Atlanta..
Now the company is on a fast turnaround with new business out of Jamaica, ATL,Trinidad.WHEW!! We're still here. But clearly, the Black Range Rover Sport Edition with satellite radio may not be coming this year...maybe 2008!!! (smiling)
Running a business is not for the faint of heart indeed, you gotta make tough decisions, risk pissing off a few people and not caring what they have to say or think about you - yet wallowing in the fact that you made the best decision at the time, clearly evidenced now in the business fast growing its way into a higher level of profitablity.
I am now reminded why it's called Growing Pains. And didn't some other person warned that it can be lonely at the top. Let me tell you, there's nothing like a community of entrepreneurs to validate you and make you feel less touched in the head, they act as a nice reminder of why you spring out of bed so early in the mornings, sacrifice and risk beyond some people's understanding(like cooking linguini on a one burner hot plate and owning only 4 pairs of jeans). People who've never done it I guess, may never understand the fun and the fear, the passion for ideas, the fever that always accompanies those startup times and that total sense of fulfilment when things come together just right.
We've been through a thick and rough patch these past couple of months - still wouldn't change a thing for this journey now as Maya Angelou said. It's just business and man am I enjoying it...rollercoaster and all. Bring it on.
