Working with the TEAM (Partners)

So it has begun...

I started just at the end of last week working with the partners that I will have in this venture... and it is truly amazing how like-minded we are.  We started working one-on-one with an Executive Training Course given by one of the partners, which Identified our WHY, HOW, WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN of the company - along with our CORE VALUES.

I have been in meetings like this before where the executives discuss these important details, but with some type of anxiety because they don't hold as much value to them.  This was different.  The Partners feel as passionately about these Values as I do.  They only care to change lives, and to do it in a wise and profitable way.

This is an amazing experience, and now that the thinking is done - I need to start working on the doing.

My Dream

What an interesting few days... A lot of reaction from those at work, but one thought came from one person who encouraged me... When I said "I hate to feel like I am leaving people with more work or high and dry."  She responded with mature wisdom... "But this is just a job- and that is your DREAM!" And she was right!  It cleared everything up... It make it clear to me that my dream was to help other people fulfill their dreams and this was the way to do it!

Gave Notice

So today was the day - I sat down in the office of one of the owners that I had been working with the last few months, and told him I was leaving.  I explained the backround to my decision and why I was going.  I stayed positive and focused on the opportunity before me - I expressed how much I loved him, and wished him the best - and that what I would miss most would be him.  I always am prepared for the worst in those situations - but his response surprised me.

He asked me not to go, and to tell him anything I wanted to stay - any position, any pay, he was even willing to request that his partner leave the business if it was necessary... I was surprised.  It was an opportunity of a lifetime right before me.  I was flattered, honored, and grateful for his trust in me.

However, as I mulled this over, and he asked me to take the night to consider it (out of respect I agreed to do so) - my answer came down to one simple thing:  no organization change, no structure change, and no position or pay would change their WHY.  Their reason for being in business was not my reason - they wanted to make money and do whatever it took; my reason is to change lives and impact the world in a positive way and making money is a natural consequence to those actions (done responsibly).  Our foundations couldn't mix.  I love him, I wish him success and I will even committ to him to help him in anyway I can... And I will... But there is more out there for me to do for others.

Unofficially Official

Today was quite a busy day, but as it relates to Fast Fashion it was important.  I had my finally meeting with the managing partner if my employers for this new venture.  We answered all remaining questions and continued to discover that we are very like minded... Which has been a comforting confirmation.  I nervously made my suggestion for the real name of "Fast Fashion" (not to be revealed here at this time or place) and the significant meaning it had for me... And I feel like he loved it!!! That was important to me... The name means more to me than a logo or branding - it means culture, messaging, and sets the tone for what I want to accomplish and what my future team will want to accomplish.  If successful this will have the opportunity to change lives around the world and do so in the most meaningful way!!!  Here was taken the next step towards that!

"Fast Fashion"

All of my projects as a consultant, have been given code names to identify it from other projects while at the same time not disclosing any confidential information to anyone who may stumble across any of my data. 

For this project I have decided to continue to use a project name until the company is officially launched to help keep the identity or sensitive information from becoming damaging to the goals of the project.  There is an appropriate time and place for everything...

As a result I have decided to title this project "Fast Fashion" for the sole purpose of being a huge Depeche Mode fan!  It is my way of paying homage to them, and still showing that this project is the dearest to my heart yet!

Just the Beginning

Just the Beginning

When I first fell in love with what I do it was because of the power to influence the world in a positive way; and to genuinely change lives.  As I grew and progressed in my profession I quickly learned that the potential to influence people was easily used by others to take advantage of people rather than to help people; and as a result, to some extent, my profession has gained a somewhat bad reputation.

All I have ever wanted to do was change lives, and impact the world in a better way.  And I believe that when someone realizes that they have the potential within themselves to do that, they then in turn have a responsibility to make the world a better place. 

Over the years, I have struggled with this desire and the reality of the world, industry, and market place I work in.  I often felt torn between my desires to use the potential for good, and the reality of what was taking place.

Recently, I came to a crossroads.

I met some amazing people who are likeminded.  People who not only see the potential of my profession, but also believe in its importance.  People who not only believe that I could help people with what I do – but believe that it is important that I help people.

As a result they offered me what some might consider an opportunity of a lifetime, and what others consider an unnecessary risk.

Currently, I do well financially in my profession.  I am not rich, or necessarily wealthy but have been blessed with not needing to worry about the necessities of life (my bills are paid, and I have a small savings).  These people have offered me an opportunity to create something that could change lives – genuinely and without guile.  They have offered me the chance to leverage off of their resources to create something remarkable – and all they ask is that I have an positive impact in the lives of those people that I come in contact with and that I a profitable doing so (not so that they could make more money, but so that we can impact more people’s lives and it is a stable model for expansion).  As a result what they have offered me is a pay cut, a work load that will be unmatched previously, stress that will be sometimes overwhelming, and an extremely small portion of equity.

At this same time, however, I have been offered a role to start my own thing with other people’s money – those who I don’t see eye to eye with philosophically speaking.  People who only want profit for profits sake.  They have offered me a larger part of ownership.  I have also received an offer from my current employer to be a Chief Officer and to run a multi-national corporation with a large bonus structure, and with a fat salary.

I have often asked myself recently – what I am to do?  And that turns into introspection of “what do I want to do?”  When I answer “change lives, and be the most positive impact in the world I can be” – the answer is obvious; although, my business mind constantly challenges the sacrifice I will me making.

I suppose a part of changing people’s lives is not about doing it when it is easy – but the value might be found in doing it when it is hard.

On top of all this there are great people in this world who believe in me.  I recently had dinner with someone whom I respect in my industry – and as I shared with them what I was considering doing, they expressed their desire to support it.  They gave me a trust that I will never be able to repay by showing me that they believed in my ability to accomplish my positive goals.  (To you who know who you are – Thank you.)

So here I am – starting this project with nothing.  I haven’t even formally accepted the offer to work with these remarkable people.  And I have decided to document the entire process on this blog.  To share the ups and down, the desires and the struggles.

I am going to publish these thoughts currently under a pseudonym so as to not give any potential competitors any specifics that may yield complications for the project through this launch phase.

I am also writing this so as to keep myself in check with my own thoughts and philosophy.  In business it is easy to get caught in the wave and to lose your own focus of the “why” – and when you lose focus on the “why” you lose focus on the things that will give you your success.

This is also intended to help me document my own thoughts and processes.  This will not be an easy project – and I will need some form to decompress.  One of the biggest concerns that has already been a personal issue, is the expected disappointment that others will feel.  I am afraid of what my current employer will think – I know they put a lot of trust in me, and will be disappointed when I leave.  I worry about disappointing some of my own family members at times (for various reason).  I also know that there will be a lot of interpreted intentions and motivations that people will assume from these actions – which will not be accurate or true.  No one likes to know that other people will naturally feel that your motivations are in one direction, when they couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Competitors will assume I am doing this for success, money, or pride – or maybe even spite; and a part of that will hurt.

I know all of this – and I can’t think of a way around these issues, but I also know that these cannot be road blocks from helping me accomplish something in the world that could genuinely change lives for the better.  I suppose I am willing to sacrifice my perceived reputation in order for others to find success, fulfillment, and better lives themselves.

So I guess what I am saying is… this is just the beginning… of everything!