You Need A Great Team

Growing up, I never particularly participated in, nor followed sports. As a result, I don't know much about Vince Lombardi, other than surface knowledge of his coaching the Green Bay Packers (among other teams) in the 1950's and 60's. However, being a red-blooded American, I certainly grew up with exposure to his influence as a motivational speaker. As is relevant to this post, a quote applies:

"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."

To that end, in a crowded McDonald's dining room yesterday, my business partner and I formally integrated another member into our company. Our new team-mate has vast experience in the field of construction, and possesses a personal set of values, enthusiasm, and skill-set which truly compliments our purpose. Our fledgling company is one step closer to turning our Spaces products into a reality.

We've also made headway with our GoFundMe project page; whose sole purpose is to give a boost in areas we're trying to get a foot hold. Specifically, a custom subwoofer line. While I'm fully aware that we are first and foremost a "cool room" company, our Spaces are expensive to produce as a launch platform! However, our Spaces are designed to be outfitted with accessories and products germane to the purpose of the room- but those products aren't limited to our Spaces.

Therefore, if we can begin to vend quality AV products, and offer services to those who may not necessarily want or need a dedicated room, it's essentially a seed which can ultimately grow the company into fruition, which matches the vision that I see in my mind's eye.

A special thanks to those who support our dream!

Wow, just... Wow.

I can't believe it's been an entire year since my last post. After re-reading a few of my last entries, I'd hoped to sit down and tell you about all of the wonderful things we've been up to these past 365 days. It certainly has been busy, if not amazing. Let me explain:

When one sets out to start a company, they begin with a concept which represents a product (or service) which will, when fully matured, offer value to society. Surely the byproduct of earning a living from the venture is a factor, but the passion that makes the idea stick comes from the persistent thought of contributing something to the world. It's this drive that's helped us organize, file, apply, and register. It's helped to navigate each mind-numbing, potentially negative business scenario in the Operating Agreement. It's all of the boring stuff, which causes fatigue, and makes my eyes glaze over. If we just continue to walk through the discipline, eventually we'll get there.

So, what have we done in the past year? In short:

• Created a legal entity, Synergy Spaces, LLC
• Demolished, transported, and rebuilt a prototype structure (which is slowly being transformed into a Theater space)
• Worked through 9 different variations of the turnkey Theater space design (still finalizing the final product)
• Began planning additional space designs
• Acquired some entry-level equipment for the Theater space prototype, as well as a couple of pieces of test equipment
• Made a few key industry veteran contacts, which will eventually prove beneficial
• Established dealer and wholesale relationships with Acoustimac, and Parts Express for sound absorption, dampening, and AV-related products
• Defined a branding style, and acquired 'badges' to be used on some of our upcoming products
• Renewed the business for 2013, and filed our very first Tax return
• Established a relationship with a contractor, and are in process of bringing him on board

As you can see, there hasn't been anything big, or flashy that's come about. However, when you add up the little things, it's apparent we're moving forward.

Good Night,

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