From Start-Up to Started: Nothing Like Home

Following up on last week's post, I'm logging progress at Vibrantcy and looking for nothing more than to share my experiences in starting a business. Today I am starting at the beginning - creating drive.

Hear me out, before you think I'm being prideful in this statement: My deepest motivations are for differentiation and success, and are unlike those of anyone else.

This is a tough lesson to learn, that not any two senses of drive or motivation are the same - and there is no sense in getting upset about not finding a champion for your motivation. I'm still learning this, but as I get better at remembering that I'm my biggest champion, I continue to take bigger leaps forward. In a simple analogy, my kids bring me shiny rocks all the time; a true wonder in their eyes. Not that I don't appreciate their find, I just don't value it the same as they do, sure they're shiny but so are the millions of other rocks we'll step over in our lifetimes. And I'd be an animal if I didn't at least act happy for them, and encourage them in their discovery (sometimes carrying pockets full when taking part in the excursion). A business idea is a lot like these rocks, there are a lot of them out there, and people will say nice things about them - but your rock, your idea, only makes it home if you don't rely on what everyone else thinks.

I've seen my share of naysayers in my professional journey, some that I get a good chuckle over now (but actually worried over before) - thank goodness I didn't detract from my shiny rock! Actually, I've always wanted to do things my own way for better or for worse, and have come to realize that I can't will anyone to think the way I do. It is fascinating however that proclaimed "Chief Evangelists" are popping up all over, without this role good ideas are as good as dead. And if I didn't sleep/eat/drink/breathe my business idea - like an evangelist - I don't know where I would be. While it's not the job title I use, it is the most necessary role for every entrepreneur and shiny-rock carrier... a role that I've been used to for a long time.

Taking to the drawing-board as a kid I used hundreds (if not thousands) of sheets of paper to put my thoughts on down, and was encouraged to do so.

Growing up in a small town and under the wing of a family-owned small business I learned that art was a valid form of expression, but had inklings telling me that it may not pay the bills. Not to demean the many talented professionals who are career artists, the engineers and accountants in my family seemed to give me the old "smile and nod" when I talked about an art degree. Regardless, I can say that I'm fortunate not to regret my career choices and that many of my lessons growing up also included others that I reflect on daily. My dad was the "headmaster" in my case and taught by example most of the time, and he made sure we knew where the buck stopped in a small business.

Looking back, I had an 18+ year lesson in professionalism.

I'm grateful to have learned human-resources, by eavesdropping on late-night phone calls between my dad and his employees - explaining why they couldn't be in the next day to shovel snow in front of their store, or how their sick-days were conveniently on the same day we were going out of town. I'm also grateful to have learned to be tactful when someone quits without notice, or how morale is easy to boost if you care about your team. More often than not I took these "lessons" for granted in the moment, and maybe they weren't intended to be lessons, but looking back on them has been invigorating.

Overall I was very fortunate to absorb character traits and business practices; like attention to detail and an unwavering drive to finish what I start. So maybe I was primed to succeed, and after growing up working in a dusty basement (for what seemed like 100 summers) I was very motivated to transform that primer into drive and determination. Before starting Vibrantcy in 2013 I didn't consider many of my small-business lessons, but had the opportunity to apply some of them at two amazing career opportunities after graduation - in two very different three-year blocks of time between 2007 and 2013.

Not until I started my MBA in 2011 did I start to have the ah-ha moments with my dad about developing operating budgets, target audiences, employee conduct plans, and a liability-awareness. In a way, many of the things I learned as a kid came rushing back and I was able to find practical references for new lessons along my course-load. This inrush was part of what made the course-work easier to digest after a day at the office, but more-so I know that starting a new vibrant business sector was the key driver to success (my shiny rock).

While it was no means easy, my glass was half-full from encouragement... and as many times as I tried to dump it out in rebellion or frustration I continue to be an optimist. To reiterate from last week, I have by no means "arrived," and don't plan on making that statement anywhere along the way. I'm as motivated as ever and hope to flush out new relationships and opportunities to grow with everyone who's ready.

Next week I am anxious to explain how I created my business plan from a simple exercise I still do, and share the resources that gave me the confidence to take the leap - from the SBA to a key contract and the many boxes checked in between.