Checking In

Since registering the business earlier this month, I've been quietly working on one of our product designs, so that it can be professionally rendered in CAD (it helps when your partner is an established architect), and the build sheets can be finalized. It's a real adventure taking something so conceptual in one's mind, and manifesting it in reality. Granted, 'reality' is technically still in the virtual realm, as 3D models are the only building we've done to date. Yet, you can see it, rotate and examine the piece. It's one step closer to being tactile. Every element, accessory, system, texture and color are being evaluated and re-evaluated to ensure the end result is 'insanely great'. It's grueling (especially the legalities involved), but totally worth it!

Once we complete this flagship product, we'll pour headlong into three additional designs, bringing the quartet of products to market together. I'm confident that we can function in this capacity, doing four things very well, and saying 'no' to several other ideas (for now), until we mature in the industry. Let's go ahead and spill the beans: Synergy Spaces LLC was formed with the idea that specialty rooms, or "spaces" should be affordable, value added, and accessible to the vast majority of households.

For example, our yet-to-be-named "Theater 1" represents a fully-functional cinema, in a small 10 foot by 12.5 foot form factor. This room is engineered from the ground up, supporting the best audio/visual experience possible, while adding the dramatic flair of a great commercial theater. Usually, dedicated screening rooms of this nature are much larger, and cannot be purchased by "mere mortals". You can read about them, drool over their photos in magazines, but they're usually not found in your home on Main Street. We aim to change that. While not quite the commanding presence of a sexy, $250,000 16 seat theater, Synergy's Theater 1 can accommodate 1-6 people, and features a proportionally accurate full high definition display, competent surround sound, and total control over the environment- for less than the price of a Honda. Because the structure and subsystems are integrated, the echelon of aesthetic and performance is far above what one can achieve in a standard living room.

Beyond Theater 1, there are a few other really cool spaces we're developing around our standard footprint. It may sound a little nutty, but in the not-too-distant future, customers will walk into our open showroom and audition different spaces. For example, perhaps a couple doesn't have the desire, or financial capability to add on to their existing home. Maybe the thought of a 'man-cave' is unnerving to his better half, or perhaps a spare bedroom hardly suffices as an 'oasis' for writing that great novel she has milling around in her mind. We'll be able to address our customer's needs, by providing an economical 'space' suited for the task they seek. A few room topologies, and thoughtful (but not overabundant) options are selected, and once site preparation has concluded, we arrive and deploy the space within the scope of a business day (or two), as if by magic. It's a simple, turnkey operation, and we really think it's going to be something special.

We understand it will not be for everyone. However, by adding a tailored space externally to your home, the desired function you seek has it's place without subtracting precious square footage from your home. Likewise, this means the remainder of your home has an absence of said desired function. Therefore, the benefits are compounded in each space, and synergy is achieved. In the example of our aforementioned couple, He gets to build the theater of his dreams. He wouldn't have been able to do this as economically with a standard addition, nor would the system likely perform as well in a standard living room, due to acoustic challenges, and lack of complete control over ambient light. Likewise, She inherits a living room free of electronics, and associated noise. Now, she can entertain without having to compete! What's more, if our couple decides to move to a different home in the future, they can elect to leave the space behind for a potential boost in resale value, or make arrangements to have the space moved to their new location- try doing that with a standard dedicated theater room!

I'm including some of our early conceptual art for Theater 1- which are successors to the placeholder pictures currently on the company web site. As we continue to move forward, more details and specifications will be revealed. I truly believe God is helping to put this together, amidst the challenges, and we're very excited to soon be sharing our products with the world.

Good Night

Too Legit To Quit

I realize it's been a while since my last entry. I'd love to say there's been a flurry of activity surrounding our fledgling operation, but that simply hasn't been the case. Between our daily work, family events, holidays and sickness, my partner and I haven't been able to get much traction on our part-time business over the past month. However, this week we achieved a major milestone.

Synergy Spaces LLC is a registered business in the State of Oregon! Our paperwork (Articles of Organization) has been filed with the Secretary of State, and required fees paid. It feels great knowing that we're one important step closer to our end goal. However, each step uncovers deep-seated thoughts of self-doubt and fear of failure that I didn't expect to face. God really has to help me walk this out, as fear can (and does) lead to paralysis of action. Fear is not from God, but wisdom certainly is. Please agree with me in prayer for wise counsel and sound financial decisions, as we continue to forge ahead.

This week brings additional drafts of our Operating Agreement; hopefully few edits are required before we file that document away. Once complete, we'll focus on building our branding, and perfecting our product designs- finally the fun stuff!

Good Night

Happy Leap Year!

Happy Leap Year, everyone!

It's been about a month since my last post. In the past 30 days, my business partner and I have met a few times, began the arduous task of setting up articles of organization for our company, arranging a meeting with a potential contract partner, and are trying to figure out our branding. We also voluntarily placed ourselves on the IRS' radar, by acquiring a Federal EIN. We're not official just yet, but we're getting ever closer. Little by little, we're progressing.

The pace is definitely character building.

Despite the snail's pace on the legal front, we acquired a prototype accent light system and began to play around with it. I've got to tell you- it's neat to take what was once a concept, to a squiggle on a drawing, to physical widget you can hold and actually play with. If I feel this excited about a simple lighting system, I can't wait to get my paws on some of the other elements of our upcoming product line!

Any guesses as to what we're doing? Stay tuned. As soon as we're up and running, I'll share more information with you.

God bless you,

Good Night

Put Put

It's been just over a week since my last journal entry. I'd envisioned posting about mountaintop experiences nearly day in and day out, when this process began. I'd not been to Las Vegas yet, and still had no idea about how some of the assumptions I'd made about starting a business were going to come into play. After a pretty major (and surreal) victory last week, I'm trying to complete some changes within a project design, before focusing on the next significant milestone in my business. I can honestly see a future of doing what I love, what I'm built for, but it isn't always easy. I feel like I'm simply "puttering" along.

The devil is in the details. With each step of progress, it would appear new fears surface. Doubts about my expertise, lack of experience and unproven business ideas are coming out of the woodwork. I'm not at all surprised that many people end up stalling out in this stage because of analysis paralysis. "What if I'm not ready?" "What if I don't really have what it takes?" I've got to keep making the choice each day to take a step forward- even if it's a baby step. I'm sure that God wouldn't have let me walk this far into the process, if I didn't already have the right stuff, or weren't being set up to acquire it.

So what am I doing right now? I'm looking at other strategic steps in my education. I'm locking in the preliminary designs for a product we wish to bring to market in the near term. And, I'm going to incorporate our business officially in February. Once this step is complete, I'll begin to reveal a bit more of exactly what we're up to.

Good Night

I'm Certified (Certifiable?)

Good evening,

It's been a few days, and I haven't had much input on this blog. That said, I wanted to let you know that after studying and facing some deep seated fears of failure, I logged on to the THX Ltd. Professional Extranet and took a test. I'd verbally informed some of you regarding my intentions, and I wanted to honor my word. Within minutes of answering the series of questions regarding elements of the business, technical data, and best practices for home theater design, I was greeted with a passing score.

I was dumbfounded (and greatly pleased). In fact, it required several minutes to fully "sink in". Here I was, looking at this seemingly insurmountable goal for years- a mental block I've not gotten past in all of the days of my life, until now. I've never been certified in anything before, and I never thought I was bright enough, quick enough, or worthy enough of success. That's a thought from the pit of Hell, and I'm certainly glad that God was there with me, causing me to think critically, and answer each question thoughtfully.

If there was a moral to this story, I'd have to say that it's okay to dream, it's wise to set goals, and it's courageous to step out and reach for them. Sometimes we'll pass life's tests on the first try. Other times, we'll fail miserably. But, as long as we keep trying, we'll eventually win in the end. Success is a "long game", not a "short one", so keep at it with all of the faith you can muster.

I'm officially a THX Certified Professional, and now our fledgling enterprise has achieved a milestone in it's critical path. And, it's one step closer to our end goal (more on that later).

Good Night

Las Vegas is Nuts!

This week has flown by, like a whirlwind. While I have positive thoughts and experiences regarding CES 2012, it was an eye opening experience in terms of the happenings of the Las Vegas strip. The memories are forever etched into my brain, and I hope to draw from some of them as life marches on (some will conjure up nothing more than a chuckle).

After a relatively quick flight to LAS, I met up with my brother, who was responsible for bringing me on this trip. After checking in at the New York New York hotel, it was off to dinner and then to the racks for some sleep. CES opened at 9:00AM the next day, and we needed to allow plenty of time to navigate to the monorail, and orient ourselves to the Convention Center, where 35 football fields' worth of exhibits, and 140,000 people would converge.


















The best offerings from many companies were available on display; from high tech televisions, speakers, toys, to every form of iPhone/iPad accessory and case known to man. Some items were expected, but some were downright strange (note the picture of the mobile air purifier robot- it roams around the house, seeking out odors and pollutants).














During our first day, my wife called to tell me that my business partner was going to expedite some funding, so that I could attend a THX Certification program, which was occurring at CES the following day. I was thrilled! This class was something I really wanted to attend, but couldn't personally afford. It was also one of those important, but not yet urgent items that we needed to achieve at some point, so the quality of our business products and services were sure to be top notch. The money was on the way, and I was blessed to be able to register for the class. It was unbelievable how much the Lord has blessed me via my brother and business partner this past week.

I hope to carry the momentum forward, to succeed in achieving my THX Certification (I'm waiting on a confirmation email from THX) within the next week. I've spread the word to family, friends and now you, dear reader. I'm accountable to all of you, for passing the test and moving on to the next series of tasks and goals for Synergy Spaces.

Good Night

Humble Beginnings

Hi there,

It's been far longer than I'd anticipated, in regards to a journal entry on this blog. I logged on to tell you that this genesis of an idea, a small startup company, is about to take off. You see, tomorrow afternoon I'll board a plane bound for Las Vegas. My destination has very little to do with gambling. I'll be spending the next 96 hours immersed in the latest in electronic wizardry at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012).

God has been working in my life, connecting dots here and there, without my being aware of exactly what was being done. This past fall, a friend of mine from church and I were casually talking about some ideas I'd been kicking around for some Home Theater related businesses. I've always enjoyed designing or configuring truly great AV systems for family and friends on occasion, and I'd always wanted to know how to cross over from a career in Information Technology, to one that involved feeding my passion. I had no idea that through a series of serendipitous events, we'd be launching something together during our "off hours".

Although we're still very 'Alpha' in terms of being a business entity, Synergy Spaces began to materialize at the turn of the New Year. There is still a long road ahead, with many challenges seen and unseen. However, I'm very excited to make the trip to CES, and absorb as much information I can about all things tech. This data collection process (and subsequent brain dump of pictures, videos, notes and blog) will help us fine tune our products and services, to meet the latest demands of our customers. Who are our customers, and what is it that we actually do? Shhhh... It's still not quite ready to reveal, but those who are close to me, know what we're up to!

May God bless you and keep you,

Good Night