New Horizons

Day 273:

As it's been well documented in this blog, Conor, I've been experiencing some ups and downs in my career.  Having expectations on anything from your performance at work to how you handle life's most trivial, as well as it's most detrimental, challenges is important.  If you're expectations aren't being met, changes need to be made.  Opportunity lies around every corner though, and sometimes you just have to look for it.

In this case I'm exploring options as they pertain to a close friend's efforts in starting his own business.  In fact, he's established the business in so far as the product, but he's reached a point in his efforts which preclude him from taking that crucial next step; a true sales strategy.

After fulfilling the obligations of a full day's work I headed out to meet my friend and discuss his plans but more than that, his vision.  At this stage of the game all he really needs is some constructive advice as far as what his next steps should be, a sales strategy, a plan for how to market the product, and even more than that, to who.  All in all, the meeting was a consultative one, though the hope being that at some point I consider coming on full time with him.

This is a huge undertaking, Son.  Committing to going to work for a fledgling business can be daunting as the number of unknowns increases exponentially.  Nobody knows more about this than Mommy as she's already done it once.  Fortunately for her, her work ethic, drive, and determination persevered and she's been able to reap the benefits of what's become a successful business for almost seven years.  This also puts in play the blueprint to do it again, and that too is something Mommy is considering. But for our skill sets, as well as our approach, this makes your Mother and me very different.

I'm not sure what kind of an entrepreneur I'd be, Boy'O.  Our skill sets are very different in that I'm an evangelist for my business, while Mommy is the heartbeat for hers.  What I mean is, I sell a product and am out in front of would-be clients and working with them to invest in that product so as to enhance the product they sell.  Mommy sells a service, and then also delivers it herself.  Both efforts would see improvement for the client, only Mommy is selling her expertise versus my selling a product.  A product which can either succeed or fail and by no faulty of my own...

It's risky for a guy like me, Conor.  I live my life trying to eliminate the what-ifs and what nows.  Mommy actually lives for those things...  For that, I commend her.

Never the less, it's a step toward finding new opportunity, Son.  Opportunity toward advancing my career so as to be sure you don't ever want for anything.  So I'll continue to explore it and see what shakes out.  Though tonight, well, it's just something to talk about with you...

I love you, Conor.
-Dad