CLYW

Strap in for some real talk.

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If I just give you a bunch of sunshine and say "FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, ANONYMOUS" then I feel like I'm not helping you at all. So instead I'm gonna say this...if you want to do it, DO IT RIGHT.

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The problem is not too many companies. The problem is too many crappy ones. If you're gonna do it, you need a vision. A singular, unique vision. And you need to stay true to it. You need to bring something to the table, something that someone else isn't already providing better than you can. Maybe that's design, maybe that's branding and voice, but you need to contribute something new to the conversation. You need to support the contests, the industry, the players. You need to contribute. If you don't have money to sponsor contests, ask how you can help. Maybe you can trade sponsorship for web work or promotion or judging or whatever. Be useful. Be helpful. Be kind. Be a participant. Give more than you take, always. Always always always.

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Worry about your branding. Spend a lot of time on it, put a lot of thought into it, and if you just start shipping your yoyos in 3x3x2 kraft paper boxes with a black stamp on the top know that a lot of people are gonna roll their eyes and it'll be YEARS before they give you a second chance, me included. Come out of the gate strong and unique and interesting.

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You're gonna make mistakes. Make them fast and move on. Apologize if you step on toes, and make sure that when you do it, the people you offended know it wasn't intentional. If it WAS intentional, sit down and re-think what you are doing and why. If you're just here to ruffle feathers because you "think the industry needs something edgy" then you don't understand the industry. If you want to do something different and the only reason you have is "because I want to do something different" then your motivation is soft and you need to understand your industry better.

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Whatever you do, do it with fire and love and when someone tells you that you are doing it wrong then stop, think about it, and force yourself to question EVERYTHING you have done to that point. Then decide if they are right. If they are right, then adjust and keep moving. If they are wrong then note their viewpoint, see what you can learn from it, and then keep moving. If you aren't sure, then GET sure and get moving.

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Set boundaries. If you don't want your personal social media accounts to turn into a customer service hotline, set up a new one and don't tell anyone about it and only add your family and IRL friends and lock down your privacy settings.

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There is plenty of room for something new, but do it right. Register your company, pay your taxes, keep accurate accounting, keep it all legit, learn, fight, sing, rejoice, produce, conquer, and leave nothing but scorched earth and rainbows in your wake.

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Good luck. -Steve

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