Every success that I’ve achieved has been fueled by many learning experiences and shortcomings. One of my most recent learning experiences was a company that I started building in June 2010 called Geremy’s Foods. The company started with a fleeting thought and started to manifest into a full-fledged company after I performed more research and realized a market need. When I noticed the company’s potential I charged full speed ahead!
I immediately decided to dedicate all of my money and resources towards bringing this idea to reality. I started a search for the best packaging designer and I found an immensely talented person to work on the project. Then I commissioned the work of my favorite graphic designer to develop the company’s identity and business cards. I also had my assistant working around the clock researching supplies, materials, FDA guidelines, local and national laws and other relevant information. While this was in-progress, I simultaneously worked on a business plan, organized to get business licenses, ordered materials, researched everything about the food industry, keept an eye on potential competitors, sought people to join my team and looked for new products and line extensions to expand my existing product lineup. Eventually all of this analysis lead to paralysis when minor barriers seemed insurmountable to me. I’d analyzed so much that I talked myself out of going into business before launching the first product.
After I ceased all work on Geremy’s Foods, I had a lot of free time on my hands so I started reading and came upon some important, relevant quotes from thought leaders:
- “Well done is better than well said” –Benjamin Franklin
- “Be miserable or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice” –Wayne Dyer
- “Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” –George W. Carver
- “Sometimes the window of opportunity is only available briefly. Waiting is not a decision” –John C. Maxwell
- “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” –Winston Churchill
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you must start to be great” –Zig Ziglar
I took this knowledge and became motivated to use the lessons that I learned to start again. I used a lot of my learnings from Geremy’s Foods to start Peculiar PPL and am very pleased with the outcome. Even better, I haven’t even started 1% of what will be achieved with this company. I am having fun learning and it is all thanks to my temporarily dead project, Geremy’s Foods, and the thousands of dollars that I spent to learn these valuable lessons!