Jump. Then Think.
It’s been some time since I’ve shared, in more than 140 characters at least, about things taking place in my life over and my observations.
Before I get in too far, I’d like to thank Wendy Townley for continually encouraging me, along with Amber Rae, and others, to take the first steps towards sharing my thoughts, ideas and inspiration along the journey so far.
Also, as a disclaimer right up from, I will guarantee that each and every sentence will not be up to gramatical standards, but that’s besides the point.
It’s time to go! Keep moving forward. To share what I’m pondering from time to time. Ideas, thoughts and discussions taking place around issues I’m passionate about.
Rewind the clock to December of 2010. It was at that point that I made the decision to focus my time, energy and passion 110% towards Silicon Prairie News. It was one of the most exciting, as well as stressful decisions I had made in as long as I can remember.
On one hand was the certainty of a great job with benefits, stability and a sense of calm. On the other hand was my passion - a site that I started on the side in the middle of 2008, that had now become more just a hobby on the side. The site through our amazing team coupled with the community had built Silicon Prairie News into a real, thriving, entity.
So it was at that point in December of 2010, in which I made the decision to leap. In part I chalk it up to the fact that I felt somewhat hypocritical in that we were encouraging people to “follow their passion” and “move forward with their ideas”, yet I wasn’t fully embracing those same theories.
This last year has been a whirlwind of excitement, stress, joy, nervousness, calm, confidence, fear and jubilation - and I’m probably missing a few more of the key words - but isn’t that what the life of a true entrepreneur is?
It was game time.
Time to walk the talk and talk the walk.
Embrace the journey.
Through the journey I’ve been amazingly blessed to be surrounded by some amazingly inspiring people.
I pinch myself each day as I realize what a dedicated team we have who is passionate around building the community each and every day with Silicon Prairie News.
Words can’t describe how lucky I am to work alongside these folks each and every day.
Dusty, with a great dedication to detail, design and precision. Danny, who through working far more than he sleeps has brought the “news” side of SPN to a level I could never dream of. Geoff who not only is passionate around building the Des Moines and Iowa community, but also helps to make sure we are pushing the right things forward. Michael who has such a great spirit, energy and sense of humor that goes into the way he crafts great stories from the community. And Brittany, who makes greatness happen with each of our events, along with the help of our interns Kira and Amy who are excited to make their mark in continuing the build on the momentum of the last several years.
And by far the most important is my best friend and partner in the journey, Molly. Who completely understands me, supports me and encourages me each day.
2012 is a year filled with great opportunities and as much as I dislike phrases or “words for the year” - my word this year is “focus”. And “keep moving forward”…Ok, that’s four.
I’m excited over time to share more around how certain individuals have influenced the course of the last three years of my life. Stories like how when I found out Gary Vaynerchuk had agreed to come in to town for the first Big Omaha, sight unseen, and since then has helped so much in shaping not only the event, but the entire community here. Gary remains a genuine friend to this day. And before Gary, how Sarah Lacy’s book tour stop caused us to take a second look about what we were doing, and gave us the inspiration to think bigger.
I believe that we are put in specific places, at specific times, for specific reasons. Although everything isn’t perfectly clear at this point in terms of what’s just around corner, I feel I’m playing the role I’m supposed to for today, and that’s all I try to focus on. At the same time, challenging myself to think bigger for what’s possible in the days yet to come.
