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I want to share my story. And ask a few questions about writing my next chapter.
My brother and I started a company when I was 18. It was just a dream and wasn't 'serious', but it became serious very quickly. Family and friends laughed at the idea, and told us we were wasting our time. But we put our heads down and did what we wanted to do.
In one year we had spent a pretty penny on buying equipment, filling up our gas tanks, and going through tons chinese food at the expense of our weight! We had drained our piggy banks and borrowed small amounts of cash from friends and supporters.
At the end of our first year we had started from nothing to overcome the largest market share in our local area. We had dominated the market quickly and became all the buzz. We kept it cool and casual, fun and interesting. Our branding was an after effect of our company lifestyle. It grew to be a international brand and we were now manufacturing and shipping product all over the world. We even had invites from a sheik in Dubai to stay at his house and use his cars.
I had traveled all over the states, made hundreds of friends, lots of money, and I never put on a nice pair of shoes or dress pants. I was also only 19 years old.
We worked about 4 days a week. But we worked hard on those days. We were a international 2 man team, answering phones, billing, marketing, traveling, and doing all the manufacturing, shipping, everything. It was a science - There wasn't much need for help. We had a part time employee that would help with manufacturing when we needed it.
Much of our marketing was from our clients, they liked us as people, and liked what we did so much - they became sales reps for free. We payed them back with free products, it was cheap and the formula was great.
We had become a statue in our niche market. We saw our products on top names in the industry, we were interviewed and featured in major industry pubs. I felt important, and a great sense of pride and self worth.
Our persistence to break into a new sales channel was about to pay off. We were facing serious expansion.
Around that time an investor came into the picture. We had gotten this far with almost no starting capital, maybe 600$ tops. "Imagine what we could do with an investors cash?" we thought.
Without going into details, the investor turned out to be a shark - and feasted on the young blood. We were left with nothing after he had control, and we were gone. We have been in court over the issue for almost a year now.
With some outside assistance, we have been able to restart under a new name and brand, but things don't seem the same. Most of our clients are back - but the passion and driving force seems like it has left.
I am at a cross roads. The company doesn't do as well as it did now despite various marketing and sales pushes. We haven't met goals and things around the office seem bleek and not like it used to. We have tried countless times to amp up the spirit, but we cannot get our own spirits in check. We work 80-100 hrs a week just to keep up.
I'm now 21. I feel like I am stuck here and have reached the ceiling of potential on this project. My desire and productivity has dropped, everyones has.
I have a notebook full of business ideas that I know i can build and run within 6 months time. But its been a year and I haven't cracked open the book. Some are saying I am depressed, and lack my spirit and motivation when I was younger.
I'm very confused with my self on these issues, and can't figure out why I haven't been the go getter I was in the past. Being 21 now, I need to make decisions that will secure my financial future. And im letting opportunities slip through my fingers.
Any help and sources of motivation, books, something, would be great.
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Originally Posted by DebtFreeMe
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