From years of dreaming and that single college-rule spiral bound notebook to this moment; I can’t begin to describe what I’m feeling, but one immense emotion I have at the moment is just pure gratitude to EVERY SINGLE ONE of my team members, mentors, customers, fans, supporters, and CTA cheerleaders that never allowed me, for a moment, to think that giving up was ever an option. After 2+ years of holding on to the dream, CTA officially becomes a reality. Let’s get to work!
…:::RANT:::…
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I feel like I am losing my mind! I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing only to be pushed back. A lot has been going on lately: losing my job, an upcoming marriage separation, giving up my “dream” house….it’s all starting to take a toll on me. I feel trapped. I try to bury myself in my work with progressing CTA, but can’t keep the distractions out long enough to make some serious traction. Beyond frustrating!
But Nothing hurts more than some who will CONTINUOUSLY tell me “oh, if you need anything, just let me know…im here for you” then when I go to them for help, I get a cold shoulder. I am not one that enjoys the lip service. I am a do’er, not a talker. I am beginning to see that those who should be behind me the most are never there, and that is what hurts the most.
Fair warning to those people………
A lot like screaming in the middle of a crowded room, and no one even gives you a side-ways glance. Makes you feel empty…..truly.
…:::RAVE:::….
The website is up, and growing everyday!
Mobile site up, it’s a work in progress
On my way of signing the lease agreement for the store (nerve wrecking and exciting at the same time)
Progress is slow but sure!
All in all, it’s a never-ending battle that I just refuse to give up. I just can’t; I’m already in it to win it.
The possibility of homelessness doesn’t even scare me, I will sleep in my car if that’s what it will take for my company to make it. So be it!
Lost the Intuit competition to have a professional design my company website, so I said screw it, and built it myself. 🙂
Sitting in my office, enjoying the few moments of down time from dispatching on the radio. I start scrolling through my Twitter time line and coming across another story of success for a new start-up company that has secured (what is to me) a massive amount of funding, $250,000 to be exact, and all I could think of was “OH MY GOODNESS! I ONLY NEED A FRACTION OF THAT AMOUNT TO LAUNCH MY FIRST LOCATION”. I felt jealous and motivated at the same time. It’s an awkward feeling, and it’s an experience I have had many times before since I start putting my ideas into motion. I’m sure it won’t be the last.
I can see all of the vital pieces I need to reach my goal in opening the Cargo Train headquarters/home-store, and it gets tougher the more time passes by and you still haven’t found what you are looking for. This is one personality characteristic that I do have, which is a lack of patience, especially when I am trying to be the first store and company of its kind in an open market area. I want to take advantage of having some breathing room to establish my company and begin building its reputation and customer loyalty without the competition smothering me, or being branded as a ‘knock-off” or “copy cat”.
As of right now, the closest location of my main competitor is over 15 miles away from where I want to launch.
Feelings of despair trying to knock you off course and try to make you lose your focus, and all you have to keep yourself going is knowing what an amazing opportunity your company really is, and not just for me, but for my future partners, employees, customers, and for the community itself. The biggest challenge is getting the ones who have the ability to take your venture to the next level believe in your idea as strongly as you do. Strong enough to confidently partner up and bring all of the pieces together.
I know I will be an incredibly strong force to be reckoned with in this particular industry. My strategies and advantages give me leaps above my competitors, and I am keeping those strategies very safe and quiet until the time comes to utilize them. The connections and relationships I have been developing and growing over the past 10+ years, & everyone who is standing by waiting for me to inform them that we’ve secured a financial partner(s) and are finally ready to hit this industry with everything we’ve got, is the pivotal moment that I am waiting for.
I’m working for that opportunity to prove what I’ve been speaking out about for the past year, and to show what I am fully capable of doing. After all, I was born and raised in the “show me” state…ironically.
My husband and I are currently in talks of relocating our family from what was our dream house into a much smaller place, as well as, begin to sell off as many of our belongings as we can. All of the money saved and earned will be going into, what I am calling, the “CTA Dream Fund”. This will be the beginning of the financial foundation of my company. It breaks my heart to let everything we’ve worked so hard for go, but this company means much more to me than my possessions right now.
A big part of getting to where you want to be is having the strength to let go of what you have. – Me
We are currently searching for available places to call our new home.
():-)
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