Working On A Dream, Part 2

This is a continuation of the story I began in last month's feature, Working on a Dream, Part I. Velocity Performance Training was born in the last quarter of 2008 - exactly 1 years ago. We opened our doors for business on November 15, 2008. This month's feature article is all about building the infrastructure of my dream - the roadblocks, the adversity, the milestones and the celebrations. Here is part two - check it out!

First, a little background on opening a business - most small business owners know the drill. You start with an idea, a plan and money. These three ingredients form the basis of most entrepreneurial activity, and most small business owners know that you don't take any one of them lightly. First, the idea should be sound and it should be tested - research, focus groups, etc. Second, the plan is serious business. I know people who have spent two years or longer developing their business plans. And third - the money. Don't get me started about the money. You've gotta have money to launch a business and you probably need more than you think.

The Roadblocks

It's Business 101 - the idea, the plan and the money. But, rewind to 2008 and I had only the idea - no plan and no money.

My idea was to be different, to use all that I knew and all that I was, to blend the East and the West and transform people's lives in a studio environment. Training, coaching, teaching, massage therapy - all of it under one small roof - my small roof. Focus groups and research - you've gotta be kidding! A year ago, I didn't even have regular clients who would drive to Pacific Grove!

People went to big box gyms. They signed on the dotted line, and if all went according to the business model of these mammoth fitness centers, "members" showed up two or three times a week for about four to six weeks. Often, they were never seen again, but they kept paying the monthly fees for the rest of the contract year.

The Adversity

I knew people needed and deserved better. By October 2008, I had found my dream location. Soon after this, I met with a small business counselor. I told him about my idea. My dream was real and my passion was palpable. The counselor wanted to know about my plan and my money. He laughed at me and told me I was crazy.

Luckily, I didn't know enough to be scared, so I just kept going. I was driven, passionate, and persistent and I wasn't willing to stop and consider if that was enough. In my way of thinking, I had everything to gain and nothing to lose. I was training at 3 different gyms, I didn't have a mortgage, and I drove a beat-up Honda Civic with the headliner falling apart. I entered the very first lease negotiation of my life and came away with a signed agreement and three months rent for free. I was walking on air.

The Celebrations

When I look back on last year, a few things stand out to me as the most important. I felt lucky at the time, but today I know how blessed I really was. I had no experience starting or owning a business. I had no money, no plan and no clients to bring with me. But, I also didn't let fear rule me. I woke everyday, seven days a week to pursue my dream. I was creating something new in an industry that had been running on a bad business model. I wanted to transform people's lives and every time someone walked through my door I would be given the chance to make a difference - one person at a time. Soon, I would open my doors for business with no financial goals, no pre-determined definition of success. What I had was the desire to work with people. It's what I loved ten years ago and still what I most enjoy today - my core competency - coaching. The celebrations were daily because I was loving life!



Looking back, it feels great to remember how "simple" it seemed back then. My work in the fall of 2008 set the foundation for what we do today. Before I even opened my doors, I learned some lessons that continue to be valuable:

-Don't be afraid to dream. It was scary as heck to open a business. It was even scarier to create change in an industry. Don't let FEAR guide you, if you BELIEVE in something.

-Take ACTION in your life. Action creates mo-mentum and mo-mentum creates mo' results!

-If your dream involves brick and mortar, start small, burst at the seams, and then grow.

-Remember, people will appear in your life when you need them. My mom taught me that if you want a referral from a client, you must ASK for it.

-The power of visualization helped me "see" the realization of my dream. Try it - it works!
-Keep your need for perfection in check. It can create analysis paralysis that prevents you from taking action. When your will-power and desire is strong, the answers will appear along the way.
Focus on the "why" and not just the "how." Build your systems/business like you are going to build 500 more.
-Remember, everything you build and everything you are begins with your values. "What lies behind you and what lies in front of you matters little compared to what lies within you."

How timely to tell this story in November, for I am truly thankful for my roots. By Thanksgiving of 2008, I was feeling anxious, nervous, excited, scared and fired-up - all at the same time! In next month's feature article, I'll tell you all about what it was like ramping up for the big day. Thanks for joining my on my trip down memory lane. It's a sweet ride.

Peace and love,

Marty Ozaeta
Author, Velocity Performance Training for Fat Loss
831-869-5348
martyozaeta@yahoo.com