Progress And Shifting Focus

PHOTO: FIRST RESULT IN "HOLDING A FILLY" GOOGLE SEARCH

How the mini running around on the last post didn't get any comments, I don't know! Analytics says a few folks stopped by yesterday- aren't you people looking?!

Really great progress this week, despite a few lame setbacks. Patsy's computer took a turn for the dead- nothing was lost- but what a time suck. And David learned a few new things about the library Amazon uses but wasn't able to complete the bookmarklet tool. But progress was made, the tech spec is coming together and next on the list is the more business side of things.

Rudy, who is my DreamIt Mentor, gave me good advice that I'm burying myself in this weekend and next week. I am tweaking what he said, though, because not only am I going to get micro with it, I'm going macro as well. Too often when I talk to people the immediate response/ advice proffered is stuff we've already thought of- it's not that I'm not grateful, it's just I think if I had something short and synthesized I could "skip steps" with people who are interested in advising.

I also figured out the Ad Words strategy. This isn't rocket science, but I have a few questions that I'll have to ask the dragons, but I'm making headway. On our way to company formation with the lawyer (still no name, though- what to do?) and hope to have that together soon.

No gym and no horses this week. Did garden, though!

Giddy Update

VIDEO: BABY MINI ON THE LOOSE!!

So, the project. It's called KidsMoney, which is a temporary name, and it's a financial literacy site for kids. Kids will be able to set financial goals, track their savings online and ultimately make pre-approved online purchases. That's the gist. The elevator pitch.

This week my team has been working on the components to an alpha prototype. A proto-prototype, if you will. Did you hear that? My TEAM is working on it. As in, while this is happening, my time is freed up to think of other things. It feels great and I'm full of gratitude and team feelings. I'm thinking of the changes we'll be making already, but tomorrow we have a call to go over the progress.

Rudy, who is the mentor DreamIt gave me, has given me some advice that I haven't had a chance to sit down yet with. He's asked me to think of the specific value propositions KidsMoney offers, even using the words "laser sharp" to describe how specific these need to be. I notice that there are times in my life when I fear specificity- worrying that semantics will sully what in actuality is agreement, or that it won't leave room for flexibility. But in this case, the specificity is our team's vision. And I need to know that it's in line with how parents and kids will want to use KidsMoney. Only from here will I be able to note the nuanced shifts between my understanding and my customers'.

It was rainy this morning so I couldn't go riding. Of course it's stopped now and would probably be a great time to ride, but alas. Next week I'll be at Temple, jurying their student films (all day- shoo!) so I won't get to ride then, either. Boo.

Tangental Side Step

PHOTO: CELEBRATING MY 18TH BIRTHDAY AT WORK

So... when I was 17 I started selling skateboards for Foundation. There were less than 25 regular accounts, the sales of which were tracked on index cards I kept filed alphabetically in a recipe box. When I left at 19 (to pursue community college more seriously) I had 674 accounts, many of whom ordered from me weekly. Foundation is still in business and a handful of the core group is still running it. I often credit my background in the skateboard world as the root of all things great in my professional life, and when I wrote this note to Tod today, I thought I should post it here as a sort of SHOUT OUT LOUD.

...the note starts with a little "how ya doin'," this is where the mushy part starts:

Two things: I know I have said it before, but my experience at FSC totally shaped my adult life in such a rad way and I carry all sorts of lessons in my back pocket all the time.

Working for you I learned that getting the job done right comes first, I learned how to be persuasive (my personal method is to "try and make people like me," for better or worse) and from you as an individual I learned entrepreneurial skills that make doing your own thing at any cost always worth it.

From skateboarding world I learned about loyalty and fostering the creative talents of your own network. That stuff is commonplace today and is why things like Facebook and all that have blown up. Underground cultures figured that out long ago- from secret backyard skate sessions, zine making, punk rock bands in basements to all KINDS of geeky tape trading. Those were the lessons I grew up on and they are also the things every blog and book about business will tell you are skills you need in order to make it in the world: Bootstrapping, leveraging resources, bartering and connecting. We had it down!

I loved selling skateboards for you, Tod. I think it was the most important thing I ever did in my life.

I was accepted to DreamIt, an incubator program that's providing me with seemingly endless resources but only for a short period of time. The advantage I feel I have is obvious, and I learned it with you. The team I have surrounding me- meaning the people I brought with me and the folks I'm meeting through the program- make me feel like the antsy, alive, super-worker bee in me can totally make this happen- that I was able to have that feeling at Foundation, at the START of my professional career, is invaluable. The fact that I even have "sales mode," is great. The fact that I'm committed to the people around me is great. The fact that I don't have to wear a suit to work (and never did)? The greatest gift of all. It proves something to me- and it's all treating me well. Just wanted to say it. Woo!

RIP Freddie Mercury

PHOTO: FREDDIE AND A GIRL WHO LOVED HIM, TOO

Freddie was a horse I rode sometimes and he was great. Last Friday he had a heart attack and died, right there in front of everyone. I wasn't there when it happened (I just heard today at my lesson), but I can only imagine how scary and hopeless it must have felt for everyone.

He was a good horse and over the past 6 months since I've started taking lessons again I've had to challenge my body in new ways. Not being fit enough after a 10-year lapse in any formal riding- longer if you go back to when I was riding very seriously- I fought the bad habits that wanted to develop as I compensated for my total lack of strength. Freddie was a regular for me: always fun, always willing and a great horse for me to start back up with again. Actually, he was my favorite.

OMG, Back in Action

PHOTO: MONTANA RAINBOW

Cow Belle was put in my pocket. For almost 2 years. A lot has happened very, very quickly, and so with this momentum I will take the opportunity to get back in the saddle, as it were, and start up again.

For anyone just joining us (and I think there were about 3 of us who ever visited this site with any regularity) (yes, that's "us" as in I am one third of my audience), this is the blog I started when I first tried getting serious about KidsMoney.

This is what happened, and if you're interested to read more about it: that's what archives are for. Two summers ago I had the type of vacation that changes one's life. Having always ridden horses growing up, it was a sad sad fact of city living that as an adult I had not the time or access to ride. Having always ridden horses as some kind of "working student" where I bartered my time and talent for lessons, I couldn't even imagine a situation where riding would be possible. I'm not a wealthy woman, you see.

My magical, life changing vacation was a cattle drive. For a week I rode around Montana on a horse named Blue and learned the tricks of the trade from a wrangler named John. At the end of every day my face hurt from smiling. I felt like I had rediscovered an essential part of me that had been buried. In a desperate effort to find a way to keep that part of myself present, I realized I needed to make a change.

I needed to commit to myself more: to act on good ideas and be aggressive. I always considered myself a facilitator: I was the one who made things happen, but my collaborative spirit had kept me in someone else's kitchen. In an effort to step out and refresh, I decided that my most exciting idea was certainly the place to start.

Additionally, that exciting idea is also the one I'm hoping to make my first boatload of money on- you know, so I can be the horse lady.

In summary: this blog was started as a way for me to make good on my promise to myself: to ride more (which I did- and do, only now I'm taking lessons and having (woo woo) a great time) to exercise more (which I do, complete with gym membership) and to harness the energy I get from these indulgences and apply it to "my great idea."

The great idea is referred to in past posts in secret... From now on, I'll be able to explain it more.

And finally, I am seeing this next phase as life as nothing more than a dream come true and I can't wait to work my hiney off making it all come together.