So Close, Yet So Far

It seems that this year has been slathered with all kinds of ridiculous illnesses for me. I dodged the worst of a cold after our trip to Mexico in January, but then promptly got a nasty sinus infection. A couple of weeks after recovering from that, I got a raging cold and now, as I lay here typing this, I'm recovering from a fall down the stairs paired with some sort of stomach flu. I suppose now I get it, I'm overworked and under slept...and one shouldn't wear socks on the carpeted stairs - that's a disaster waiting to happen.

Anyway, an update is in store. So, first things first. As of Friday, I haven't heard back from the Science Center, but as of Saturday, some very great progress was made. I'm going to digress for just a moment, but I promise, things will all tie together. As some of you know, I've written a novel. The genre is Weird Western, with a dash of Paranormal, a pinch of Science Fiction, a hint of Romance, and a handful of Historical Fiction. After a small stream of rejection letters, a request for more from an agent (only to be shot down) and a few publishers who asked to read more after I shortened things up by 20,000 - 40,000 words, I've decided to self publish on Nook(R) and Kindle. My book is now registered with the Library of Congress and I have commissioned an amazing artist by the name of Anthony Salazar to do my cover art. He has sent me over mock-ups that captured the essence of my novel, but didn't give too much away...and I would've been thrilled with them as the final product, but Anthony and I met yesterday and he has more in store.

(And this is the part where things tie together.)

As we talked about all things art, from Picasso to Pollock, we got to talking about my new product line. I explained that I was looking for a central image, something that I could use to brand my product, but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted it to be. (I really couldn't have been more vague, as usual.) I swore him to secrecy and then shared with him the name of the upcoming line and explained its significance. He asked me if I knew of Alphonse Mucha and if I liked his style. Coincidentally, I have two tapestries of Mucha's work in my house - so that answered his question and I knew exactly where he was going...and I loved it. I immediately asked if I could commission him to design the brand image that would soon be on bottles, boxes and bags, shipped across the country an over the seas. Fortunately, he accepted!

So, once that's done, my other designer can add the font and we can figure out the label shape, etc. It feels good to be so close to checking off what is one of the most important elements of starting a brand...so close, yet still so far. All I can do now is wait, wait with bated breath.

When Life Gets in the Way

Inevitably people are going to differ. Some will differ so vehemently they will fight with all they have to defend their side.

My arguments usually begin by way of discussion...that discussion is usually misinterpreted by someone and then it becomes an all out argument...and I'm just not the type of gal to back down, especially because I go into these conversations with righteous intentions.

Honestly, there's usually no right or wrong, just differences of opinion...or, more specifically, a difference of opinion pertaining to the relevance of the other's opinion. Lots of opinions here.

Anyway...life got in the way today. The last thing I want to think about are all the happy little bits of my new project. Maybe this is the Universe's way of saying I need to step away and regroup before I can move forward. So, with my current recipe at the Science Center, this argument couldn't have come at a better time. I could probably work more on my business & marketing plans, but my brain just isn't focussing on that right now. I guess there's a reason for everything. Time to pause.

Second Guessing

I woke this morning and faced the day I had been anticipating for almost a week. Today I set out to get started on label creation for Product X. I was nervous and excited, I knew this meeting would end with something, which was better than the nothing I already had.

Fortunately for me, my designer is also my friend, so what was to be a business meeting, turned into two girls chatting about life and love, people we liked and people we thought were assholes, all over a Peruvian lunch. When we returned to her office we started to chat about the grand visions I was having for this new line. I went in with little more than a product name and an outline in my mind as to what the label could look like, but I was certain that if anyone could help me brand this product line and make it something people would want on their shelves, it was her.

After my usual long-winded explanation of things, I showed her a picture of the bottles I was considering. The men I had consulted liked one bottle and the women liked the other, so once again, I was at a loss. That's when she said, "You can't be all things to all people. That's the way to become nothing to no one." And she was absolutely right. If I keep getting caught up in these mental tug-o-wars I'll never be able to make a decision. I had to go with my gut. She suggested that I start by thinking of the places where I'd like to see Product X on the shelves and work from there. Then she profoundly added, "Aren't women usually the ones who do the shopping?" Bingo! I happily set my mind on the bottle I originally liked and we continued to talk about fonts and die cut labels, we even planned a field trip together to go taste wines and talk more about the design side of things.

So, as I sit here recording Step 5 (or so) out of a million, I realized that I have been completely over-thinking things. Even though there is a science to marketing and product placement, it isn't rocket science and since I have a product that I believe in, one I can proudly stand behind, I need to start trusting my gut and my business experience. I haven't come this far, from simple home cook to vintage foodie columnist, by being timid. I trusted myself when I started out on this adventure, and look where it took me! I do the best I can at everything I do. Sure, sometimes hold my breath as I watch things unfold, but in the end, I know I have what it takes to succeed...I've already succeeded!

Another Step

Just got off the phone with the Small Business Association..marketing and branding consult scheduled! I don't know what's more exciting, the upcoming meeting or the "Free" price tag. Every penny counts when starting or expanding a business. What an amazing resource for all small businesses. I highly recommend checking out their website if you are a small business or looking to start one; www.sba.gov and look for resources that suit your needs.

3 Bottle Night

Last night was a big night...a 3 bottle night to be exact. I channeled my inner alchemist and carefully measured liquids and crushed solids to create 3 samples of "Product X" for FDA inspection. They are now packaged and ready for shipment.

A side note - as I measured and mixed the ingredients, I discovered that there must be a better way. The assembly line was invented for a reason...as were mortar and pestles. I'm only hoping that this little recipe can take me far enough so one day I can discover what a new and improved process would look like.

So, one thing down, one more to go. Wednesday is label design day!

A Big Day

Today is full of all kinds of life changing events. Not only do I have my first 8 mile training run for the 1/2 marathon I was talked into doing (talk about a great salesperson), but today I will be preparing 3 bottles of the very first item in my product line and sending them off to the scientists for FDA evaluation and approval.

I've been keeping the item and the line's name a bit of a secret, but hopefully by the end of this week I'll have a label and good news from the scientists...and then we can welcome this budding product line into the world!

I suppose this is the next step in my journey. Every little step takes me closer to something else...but it doesn't really feel like I'm striving to reach a pinnacle, a specific goal. It's just onward until someday I've had enough and will retire and move onto something else.

I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur...actually, I didn't think I was really all that creative. Until one day I decided to take a chance on me. I trusted that I could do something that no one else had done (as far as I knew) and now I am my own boss, my own sales rep, my own accountant (well, for the easy stuff). Is it hard? In every possible way. Is it worth it? In every possible way.

So go ahead, take a chance on you.

A Professional Attempt

I think we all have those restaurants that seem to do just about everything right, and they're usually located in a place where the best of everything resides, downtown. Well, one of my favorite places serves up the most delicate and delicious fries I've ever eaten. They're no ordinary fries, either. They're sweet, with just a hint of salty and a splash of tang, served with the most divine garlic aioli. To put it simply, I would eat them for breakfast if I had them.

Well, I was able to uncover the recipe's components:

Champagne Vinegar and Sugar, reduced
Sea Salt
Herbes de Provence
French Fries, thin cut

Combine the first three ingredients and when the fries are fresh out of the frier (or oven), drain and immediately toss them with the mixture. The heat from the fries will caramelize the mixture, making it stick.

Even though I'm pretty sure I should leave this one to the experts and simply enjoy them as the signature of one of my favorite restaurants, I simply can't leave well enough alone. I'm determined to discover the correct dimensions, perfect the technique and report back to you.

So, in the meantime, talk amongst yourselves until I return.

Cheers!

PS - If anyone has thoughts on what the dimensions should be, please feel free to share them here. Thank you!

The Test Kitchen: A Tip for Raw Onion Fans - Gourmet Magazine

I would love to know if this actually works. I'll definitely give it a whirl, but do any of you already do this? If so, do tell!

Kitchen Tips - Ginger

Just perusing the web today for quick and easy kitchen tips. You may already know this, but for those of you who don't, here ya go.