Tomorrow marks 12 years since I walked into Richmond City Hall and walked out with a business license. I had been consulting for several companies after I left Media General and the Los Angeles Times, and I started my own agency, Madison+Main. It was a leap of faith, and we’ve been jumping ever since. There were 6 business licenses issued that day, yet only one company remains 12 years later. I don’t know why these other 5 entrepreneurs never got off the ground, but I can tell you how we did it.
Hard work and a little luck always helps, but we kept leaping. In my experience, many entrepreneurs take one leap of faith (when they start a business) and then they quit leaping. Taking risks and jumping head first into new waters is how businesses thrive. If you jump in the pool just to tread water, you’ll find you haven’t really gotten anywhere.
In 2005, two companies and a non-profit hired us. They took a leap of faith when they hired a brand new start-up in a cramped 4th floor broom closet in the Advantech (also no longer in business) building. I’m proud to say we are still working with two of those clients after all these years: Wythken Printing and Vera’s Fine Jewelers. Thank you Ric, Mike and Vera for taking the leap with us.
Monday, September 25 – Hail To The Waffle House!
Getting to sleep at 4 am, after a rock ’em, sock ’em Redskins victory late Sunday night over the Las Vegas Raiders, made Monday morning really feel like a Monday. I walked around growling like a zombie, and Kent never made it into the office. As it turns out Waffle Houseisn’t a great idea after midnight. #foodpoisoning
Our friends at Richmond Magazine posted a great Q&A with Mark Bowe (the host of Barnwood Builders on DIY Network), who will be a featured presenter at the Richmond Home Show on October 13-15.
Tuesday, September 26 – Magnificent!
On Tuesday, I presided over the Magnificent Midlothian Rotary club meeting, where we heard a cool presentation by Dr. Don Marsh, a local civil war historian. Rotarians in our club (and in Brandermill, Chester, Huguenot Trail and James River clubs) are buzzing over the new and improved Magnificent Midlothian Food Festival. New day, new time, new format, new restaurants and new music. Get your tickets here: www.MidloFoodFestival.com
Wednesday, September 27 – Respect Richmond Launches
On Wednesday, I headed over to Peter Paul Development Center with Kaitlin and Kent for the Office of the Attorney General‘s press conference and official launch of our Respect Richmond campaign. Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring brought together Delegate Lamont Bagby, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, and Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham for the kickoff. We are very proud of this public affairs campaign, aimed at reducing gang and gun violence in RVA. Our friends in the media gave it some amazing coverage, with CBS6, ABC8, NBC12, WCVE, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and many more covering the event.
More details on the campaign as it rolls out in the weeks to come, but in the meantime visit www.RespectRichmond.com. #BoldBrandsWin
Thursday, September 28 – Mix & Mingle
It was good to pause for a few moments and drop by Jepson Alumni Center at University of Richmond at the VACEOS Quarterly Luncheon. It was nice to see the new Better Business Bureau President Barry Moore there. Great program, but only one complaint…I didn’t win one the Yeti coolers.
After work, Sophie and I dropped by the Hofheimer Bulding for the launch party for DineGigs.com. Best of luck to Duncan Parker and his team!
Friday, September 29 – We are soooo ready for the weekend
Delivering tickets for the Richmond Home Show this morning, intern Michael Davis, a senior Creative Advertising major at VCU was rear-ended on I-95 at the Boulevard exit. Never fear, Michael is ok, but the bumper of his car is not. #HopeTheOtherGuyHasInsurance
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.”
— Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.