Kurt and I are obsessed with "Dragons Den". A Canadian show featuring 5 multi-millionaires (the dragons). They listen to entrepreneurs pitch their business plans or product ideas, and if you can impress them, they will invest in your idea.
Naturally, being the little entrepreneurs that we are, we love watching other budding companies sink or swim. People are so passionate about their product. Some are amazing, and some are plain .. wrong.
We watch and natter the entire time about what we would do if we were on that show. How we would plan, how we could make the dragons adore us.
I logged into facebook last week. I got a little nugget from the Dragons page, they are holding open auditions across Canada. I sat there and stared at it for a minute ..or ten.
Could we really do this? Can I stand there and pitch my business plan in front of these guys? What would I even ask for? What if they rip me to shreds and rain all over my little parade? .... yah I'm totally signing up.
So I did!
We go to the first audition in February. We will pitch in front of the producers, who will probably be so sick of seeing smiling faces and friendly business plans by the time I step up to the plate. IF I can woo them.. then we move on to the next round.
We will pitch in front of the Dragons. People have said that this is a loooooooong day of taping, and you may get bumped to the next day. We will sit in a room staring at our toes until they call us up.
If I don't pass out by this point - I will stand in front of the investors. Do my little song and dance.
If I make for good TV (which you can bet I will) we might make it on air.
Thousands of people apply - only a few will ever be seen. My goal is to make it on air. If we get a deal, even better, but the main focus is to be seen!
I feel a little weird about it. I'm not going to lie. If it works out, I think it's a great move for our company. If it doesn't - no skin off our backs. But, putting myself, and my business out there like that - makes me nervous.
What if they don't take me seriously?
What if I make a weird face and they edit it so I am repeatedly making that weird face through the entire pitch? (flashback -Bridgett Jones going down the fire mans pole)
Kurt tells me I need to practice. I will.
When we were at the Babytime show, a customer saw me struggling. We had run out of stock.
Our booth was packed with people wanting to buy buy buy. That lady came over to me and said "You weren't prepared were you!" I thought about it and said "No, we weren't expecting this" - she replied "ALWAYS prepare for success". It was a short two second conversation, but it never left me.
So - thank you, to whoever you were. You've inspired me to take giant leaps and believe they will work out the way I want them to.
I will practice and prepare. I will bring my A game.
I've got this in the bag!
Documenting the struggles and triumphs of a husband and wife team as they try to grow their home based business.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Meet Bob.
This post is dedicated to the unsung hero of our little company, my father in law - Bob Olson. He is our biggest fan, and we wouldn't be able to do this with out him.
He shows up almost every day to help us fold, tag, package and more. He's built shelving units in the basement so we can store our stock items, built a second folding table. (side note: kind of cool that we need two folding tables now!), painted, hung lights, fixed our dryer over.. and over.. and over again. He goes out for pick ups, daily deliveries and he cheers us on every step of the way. He does it all with out hesitation. He listens to Kurt and I gab, gripe.. argue. Even better - he usually takes my side :)
Aside from the work, he always knows how to lighten the mood. He knows how to make us laugh. Usually though, it's just me laughing - as he spends a lot of time pushing Kurt's buttons for fun.
He knows our clients, our schedules, and always keeps a running list of our current orders in mind. He's right in the thick of it with us.
Last summer, he and my mother-in-law Vivian (hi mom!) went on a long, well deserved vacation. Kurt and I were able to handle ourselves, but boy it was a lot more hectic. We had to work many late, late nights to play catch up. He is a huge part of our day to day business. As over-worked and tired as we think we are, it is nothing compared to how we would feel if he weren't here to help.
We love him dearly - and thought it was only fair that he get a huge blog shout out!
Meet my father in law - our hero - Mr. Robert Olson. The 3rd member of the K Sera Sera team!
He shows up almost every day to help us fold, tag, package and more. He's built shelving units in the basement so we can store our stock items, built a second folding table. (side note: kind of cool that we need two folding tables now!), painted, hung lights, fixed our dryer over.. and over.. and over again. He goes out for pick ups, daily deliveries and he cheers us on every step of the way. He does it all with out hesitation. He listens to Kurt and I gab, gripe.. argue. Even better - he usually takes my side :)
Aside from the work, he always knows how to lighten the mood. He knows how to make us laugh. Usually though, it's just me laughing - as he spends a lot of time pushing Kurt's buttons for fun.
He knows our clients, our schedules, and always keeps a running list of our current orders in mind. He's right in the thick of it with us.
Last summer, he and my mother-in-law Vivian (hi mom!) went on a long, well deserved vacation. Kurt and I were able to handle ourselves, but boy it was a lot more hectic. We had to work many late, late nights to play catch up. He is a huge part of our day to day business. As over-worked and tired as we think we are, it is nothing compared to how we would feel if he weren't here to help.
We love him dearly - and thought it was only fair that he get a huge blog shout out!
Meet my father in law - our hero - Mr. Robert Olson. The 3rd member of the K Sera Sera team!
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