Three Keys


Just a short 30 minute drive up the mountain the snow stays year ‘round. It’s a different world up there. There are endless trails and lakes and rivers as far as the eye can see. Then when you reach the next peak, it keeps going. The vastness is overwhelming. For us, this time has been personally beneficial. Healing for the soul. We have grown as individuals and together. Sometimes, the best path forward is a change of location to force a break from routine and work together on a shared vision of life and the future. We won’t be here forever. But we are grateful for this season and looking forward to the next adventure.
It’s sexy to throw caution to the wind and follow your passion in starting something new. Society has glamorized reckless abandon in the pursuit of passion projects and adventures. But the reality is most of us have responsibilities. We need a strategy. Yes, follow your heart and do what you love. But come up with a game plan that sets you up for success. A path forward, without giving up on dreams. When we knew that we needed to be in Montana to be with Camille, we needed a strategy. We each had jobs, responsibilities, and I was in the middle of launching a startup. We had just relocated from Jacksonville, Florida to New Jersey to focus on the company. You could say, the timing was not perfect. We needed a plan. We put our heads together and made the necessary sacrifices. Selling both of our vehicles and shedding possessions to make it happen. There are many things that fell into place and stars that aligned. But stars don’t align without a plan. There is power in putting pen to paper, in speaking out loud your impossible desires. The universe can’t collaborate with you, opening doors and lighting your path until the words are spoken. So we strategized, created a plan, stuck with it, and adapted to change.
I’ve had some time to reflect and there are three key things that have stuck out to me about this time of transition:
#1. Partners
When I was approached by my partner Tom with an idea, I was just as excited about working with him as I was by the idea itself. I get excited by new ideas. But experience has taught me that team comes first. With the right team you can adjust and nail the product. I happen to think we have both. When we decided that we needed to make the move to Montana to be with Camille and support her finishing High School, my co-founding team fully supported me. There was no hesitation on their part and we worked together to figure out how to make it work. Sharing core values and having a proven work ethic demonstrated that we are all in this together striving for a common goal.
- We trust each other and have mutual respect in how we communicate
- We are each confident in our abilities but humble in approach
- We share the same values of honesty, transparency, and integrity
#2. Healthcare
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2013. I dropped to 117lbs and was very ill going through a series of doctors and medications until finally landing on medication that works to maintain quality of life. I can’t be 100% well, but I can now lead a fairly normal life. This process has taken a few years. My medical expenses continue to be about $200k per year so not having medical insurance for me is simply not an option. My life depends on it. Starting a new business is difficult enough and full benefits with medial is not possible when it’s a few guys and a card table. It simply would not have been possible for me to have participated without the Affordable Care Act allowing me to obtain insurance with a pre-existing condition. I have talked with small business owners, artists, and musicians who have pre-existing conditions and simply could not continue their work without the ACA. There are many examples of others just like me who are able to freelance, start businesses, pursue artistic careers because of the ACA.
#3. Honest Conversations
Making the leap from day job to dream job does not happen overnight. But that passion project can take as much time as a real job. The strategy is figuring out how to properly juggle both, be available, and productive. For me, that meant having a conversation with my employer. Being honest and transparent about what I was doing and what my future goals were. I was very fortunate to have an understanding employer who values innovation and encourages an entrepreneurial spirit. We were able to work out a plan where I could flex hours, be available for any immediate needs, stick to deadlines, and phase out over a 6 month period of time. By developing a personal relationship he was excited for me and knew that transition would be smooth and priorities would be met. My father gave me one key piece of business advice: always strive to make your boss successful. This enabled me to work out a sliding scale, transitioning my source of income over time. This was not easy. We had to tighten our belt and cut living expenses in half. But with a plan in place and the security of steady income, we could press forward and sleep soundly.
Pursue your dreams with passion and effort. But give them a chance of success by creating a plan, having a team, getting others on board, and letting the universe know so that doors will open and you will have the most powerful collaborator of all.

