T MINUS 274: All By Myself

I submitted my application for graduation to the powers that be at the Art Institute yesterday. I was headed to my car to get back on the road to Tally when I bumped into one the many great friends I made during my stay in Tampa. She asked me how things were going so I filled her in on the triumphs I've had so far and the challenges that I attempt to overcome day by day.

She said, "So, who's helping you do all this?" Now that is a question I hadn't gotten before. Helping me? Who's helping me? It was almost like she was speaking another language. Who could help me? And help me do what? Do market research at every opportunity (met a server today who need NOT apply...EVER!...at Concept) or revise the business plan every 4 or 5 days? Go to Chamber functions and serve as an Ambassador or figure out how to staff an upcoming event? Update all my social media sites or update the bartender's training manual for the class that I will be teaching in the next couple of weeks? Or, develop a series of cocktail recipes for friends, clients and contests while conducting research for a panel discussion on "The power of the Black Dollar"?

I had to tell her that I've been doing it all by myself: meeting with construction managers; learning about tax incentives for being in both an Enterprise Zone and a Community Redevelopment Agency area; finding out the approximate tax revenue that will be generated from Concept (a little over $100K by the end of 2010 and that's just on beverage sales) and talking to folks at the Master Craftsman Art Studio about design pieces for the venue.

And while I may have been doing all that by myself, I would not be able to do all that if it weren't for the support system I have in place. I cannot put a price tag on the value of their support. Take my sister for instance. She's not a bartender but if she had not made herself available to bar back at the event I had on Saturday, I would not have been able to go down to Tampa and coordinate a group of volunteers to help out at the Rum Festival in Ybor. And those volunteers? My old roommates and two of my closest friends. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Jack Robertiello (former editor of Cheers Magazine and current editor of the Adams Beverage Group website, www.adamsbevgroup.com) and Sparky. Sparky lives on Davis Island and is planning a big block party that he wants 71 Proof and crew to bartend at in May!

I also wouldn't be able to pay the retainer for the construction manager that I met with today, the naming rights consultant that I'll be meeting with on Thursday and the securities attorney that I'm meeting next Tuesday if it weren't for a friend of the family that has become my seed round funding angel. What about Keeba? She's going to meet Terry at the hotel for me tomorrow since I have to report to work at the Flite tomorrow evening. So, I guess I misspoke.

If she asked me again, 'who's been helping you do all this?', it would take me 274 days to list all the names!