Foundation

This starts with a simple passion for ideas...

More specifically, my obsessive belief that there is no correct way to live and navigate through your professional life. In marketing we are taught to recognize the differences in our audiences; to identify what seperates one niche from another and then develop the tactics to reach them. Yet, in our own careers we have been convinced of the fact that a 9-5 job from an employer that provides an office, a benefits package and a series of tasks to complete each day is the standard...and it is, but only because we let it be.

Thus, I have decided to become a 23-year old entrepreneur and leave my cozy desk job at a full-service advertising and marketing agency to help found a start-up. This blog will serve as my canvas to archive my experiences as I strive to evolve from an unproven & enthusiastic idea man to a successful & respected entrepreneur.

Timeline of events that brought me here:

March 2004- Answered an ad in a college newspaper for a marketing/event planning internship with a restaurant management group
May 2004- Coordinated an event through same internship & met a local entrepreneur who has run successful businesses in the mobile communications, technology and transportation industries
Summer 2005- Partnered with new acquaintance to sell new ad-wrap concept on luxury vehicles & successfully planned and held a marketing expo targeted at college students. Clients and exhibitors included a professional sports team & major radio station
Fall 2005- Part ways to finish my communications/advertising studies
April 2006- Parlay a 2-week internship at an advertising/marketing agency into my first professional job as an assistant account manager for several major healthcare accounts. Experience also included a 4-month stint coordinating media placements for clients
December 2006- Finished degree in 4.5 years
September 2007- Reconnected with entrepreneurial friend and business partner to share ideas and discussed the founding of a new venture in which I would have an executive position + vested interest
October 2007- Made the decision to leave my positon with the advertising agency and take the offer to become a partner in a new start-up venture geared around creating new online & mobile platforms for selling ads

That's where things stand today...

The business agreement is being finalized with a lawyer and I am already working through my first list of tasks as our new office space is being finished. I will be working from home in the days to come and then moving to the permanent location shortly. Each day I will post a new thought or comment on how this process is working and promise to disclose much more detail and limit each post to more specific topics and less words.

I hope this blog serves as a tool for anyone considering the jump to self-employment or at least a reference point for others that have. It's a high risk/high reward style of life, but at least I'm in the driver's seat. Wish me luck.