Compromises

I have had to make a number of compromises regarding this venture, each one I thought chipped away at the vision. To help you understand my frame of mind, I have a 2 year old son named Maxwell Christian. I love him dearly and would never think of compromising my job as a parent. In the same respect, I have a two year old daughter named Maxwell Christian & Co., they are siblings in my eyes. Thinking of the company in that manner caused unnecessary frustrations and slowed the startup process. I am a stubborn, persistent individual when it comes to my goals, which in moderation is needed to be successful. Left to my own devices, I'll attempt to force a round peg into a square hole, not good. The time and energy used to repeatedly bang my head into the same wall can be better utilized in other areas. I was a bad parent to the company, holding it back to keep my selfish vision alive. Eventually, I realized that compromises are needed to keep the company afloat, manageable, and within targeted goals. Its growth is dependent upon control, less is more. It is to be shared and added to by many individuals; to control it is to stifle its growth. Today, I see myself more as an Air Traffic Controller, preparing the company for takeoff.

Damn Business Plan

Honestly, nothing will test your mettle in the pre-startup stages more than a business plan. They can be anywhere between 10 and forever pages, depending on the scope of your business. And when you think you are done, you are never done; it is a living document. But there are advantages in having to analyze every aspect of your venture. Completing a business plan not only helps an individual see pitfalls, but can help you realize the full potential of a business. On the other hand, it can scare the shit out of you. Many of us don't really know what goes into running a business, the amount of time, nor true risk. Personally, the whole process drove me crazy. I have a few compulsions, one being that things have to be done perfectly. I see everything as an extension of me. This does not bode well in situations such as writing a business plan. At times, it was agonizing, but the process helped me see the complete business. Ultimately, I ended up with 21 pages; cover page, table of contents, executive summary, business description, marketing/sales analysis, industry analysis, competitive analysis, operations plan, management summary, funding request, and 3 year projections. I rewrote this plan over and over, dove me insane. Ultimately, it ended up in the hands of a loan officer who praised me for its thoroughness, insanity has its benefits.