He Said/She Said Edition: Starting a Business.

She said:

And the plan was to move to the mountains and see what small town living was like but, um, that didn't happen. Instead we partnered with two friends and launched a business, from the ground up. Founding Investors, who....us? Say what? We had never done anything like this. We were corporate soldiers in our past lives. Working under corporate constraints, pulling a salary, reporting to a boss. But we had visions, big time.  

Taking an idea, creating a product, opening a retail location, launching a website. Checking the boxes of the cliches that entrepreneurs always talk about…..working more hours than ever but loving what you do. Gladly!  Having a passion for what you are doing. Oh yeah! Learning every.single.day. YESSS! Stumbling every.single.day. Yep.  We did it, loved it and it was successful! The business continues to grow and our partners are now running it full-time.

What did we learn? We LOVE to create. This past year gave us a new framework for possibility. It removed the box of how we had always worked, allowing for imagination, flexibility. Expanding. Stretching. Laying the groundwork in a new way of thinking.

New framework for working…..Starting a business.

xoxo- Jess

He said:

My whole life,  the thought of “finding” and “keeping” a job was the essence of a good son, father and husband. Growing up and having a steady income was of the utmost importance, imparted on me by two parents struggling financially.  For the better part of 20 years, I was able to work at some amazing places. I moved to Colorado in 1997 to be a Director of Service at the famed Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver.  It's where Arnold Palmers “Army” was born in 1960 when he won the U.S. Open.  During my time there,  I was surrounded by the richest and most successful people in Denver. Owners of sports franchises, inventors of multi-million dollar businesses and hall of fame-level professional athletes. Here, I saw plainly average people (the legacy members) relaxing alongside highly successful, intelligent folks attaining riches and luxury that I never knew possible.  After a couple years there, I was recruited away by a member of The Club and spent the next 20 years working for powerful, American institutions,  taking direction from management and performing at a high-level to keep my job secure.

As a young kid growing up in public school, I was always able to “figure things out”. Namely, how to “get by” by using the least amount of energy and mind possible. Unfortunately, these lessons carried through to my adult working life.  I was keenly aware how to please my bosses. “Klasnick, we need you to fly to New York and do a presentation Friday and Saturday!"  This was always answered with a, “No problem boss!”  No considerations for anything else. I was scared to say no.  I never had to think about solving problems like an entrepreneur. Always a fallback.  Naturally and predictable when this happens other areas of my life were left hanging. My job was my only priority.

After our trip back home and move to the mountains, we had the opportunity to get a taste of building an online and retail business from the ground up with friends in Breckenridge.  Here, there was no fallback. What I ultimately learned was that accountability to ourselves was what we loved.  We already had a broad view of the business world and we were starting to understand ourselves better after our unique journeys.  We longed to think creatively and put in the hard work.

Jessica and I both believe that this is just the beginning. From now on, no obsessing over buckets of money for a future “better life.”  We were going to keep doing it now. Our kids are young. They deserve us. They learn from us. Be brave and not fearful. Show them what WE can do. What THEY can do.  We have each other, what more do we need?!

Cheers to dreaming, Matt