I’ve heard that it takes many, many years to become an overnight sensation. One of the things that Kim and I have discussed, and that we’ve braced ourselves for, is when we make it (whatever that means), and someone says how lucky we are. How lucky to be given such a great talent. How lucky to have come up with such a great idea. How lucky to have a great successful business. Hogwash. Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed to have been given an artistic talent, and without all the people God has placed in my life, I would be probably working at Staples or something. But everyone has their own gifts; something they’re good at. Deciding to try and make something of them is work. Hard work. There are times when Kim and I wonder if we’ve gone off the deep end. Why struggle so hard to make ends meet when all we really have to do is get regular jobs with real salaries? Like most everyone else, we want a nice house, and kids, and a two week vacation to someplace not Wisconsin. There are days when it seems like the progress we’ve made is just a mirage, and we’re actually taking steps backwards. And it stinks when you feel like all the effort you’re putting in is yielding a return that would make Wall Street veterans weep. Fortunately, we have each other, and a good support system of friends and family who believe in us and encourage us when everything we do seems to make about as much difference as an aspirin to a dead guy. I’ve come to realize that it’s much easier to make excuses and never try. Living your dream is hard. But as I’ve said before, it brings with it a sense of peace and fulfillment so pure that it can’t be matched, and it can’t be bought. We continue on, knowing that our efforts will not be in vain, and no matter what the outcome is, we know that we will have no regrets. And although we are bracing for the reactions we may get from a few ignorant people, we look forward to the day when all the hard work pays off and we become that "overnight sensation."
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This past week in Minnesota at the Minneapolis Gift Show, I think I may have narrowly avoided a major disaster. One that may have sent this company reeling in the wrong direction like a comet knocked off its cosmic course. As anyone running a business could attest to, your mind never shuts off. Ever. You’re always thinking of what needs to be done, and what things could be done better. Should we be doing more of this? Less of that? How can we increase revenue but drive down expenses? Can I afford underwear this week? You also get lots of suggestions from people. Mostly well-meaning, and some are are even usable. I usually try and wait ’till I hear something three times from three different people before I take much stock in it, especially if it involves great expense or a major redirection of the business. I have always marketed Kim & Jason toward "grown-ups" rather than kids. Last week I had a conversation with a fellow a few years older than me with a pretty strong marketing background, and he strongly recommended I switch gears and focus exclusively on the children’s market. Granted, we have had people see our stuff and immediately think it’s for kids. It’s not that it’s NOT for kids, but that’s not necessarily the intended audience. And someday, I think it would be cool to do a children’s book or two. Someday. But sales have been slower than I’d like, so I started to really consider the suggestion. Maybe we really are missing the boat here. Should we ditch everything we’ve done and move in this whole new direction? I pondered it for several days over the course of the show. When I looked at a future that consisted of publishing children’s books, children’s videos, and children’s toys, I couldn’t get myself very fired up about it. Maybe it was visions of Barney and The Wiggles clouding my view, but the passion was just not there. Finally, on the last day of the show, it hit me. I remembered why I started this in the first place… "I tell you the truth, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Those words were spoken by Jesus, and they’ve stuck with me ever since I read them years ago. He’s saying that the kids are fine, but us "grown-ups" are the ones with some fixing to do. And the reason I am so passionate about Kim & Jason is because I get to encourage people to return to childhood, to a life of simple faith, and to a world where anything is possible. As those words flittered back into my mind yet again, I knew we were on the right track. Things may not be going according to MY plan, but I know I am aligned with His. And that was all I needed to know. We’ve got some adjusting to do to our marketing message, but overall, we’re on the right track and have a lot of great things happening. And so, after that moment of temporary doubt, confusion, and uncertainty, I guess I’ll go back to doing some more thinking. Again. As if I had ever stopped.
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