At age 10, my brother and I wanted new bikes. My dad said we could earn our way to one, so he fronted us a few cases of pop and dropped us off at a golf course to sell them 75¢ a can. Being little kids, most of the golfers had us keep the buck. We smoozed, we earned. I still have that bike, worse for the wear, but still have it.
At age 17, I needed money for prom and didn't have a job. So a buddy and I started a lawn mowing business in the neighborhood, charging $10 a lawn, splitting 50/50. We undercut the big guys and took customers. Having a sheet of customers we had to attend to each week, we hired a friend with a tractor to help us get it all done. We ended up firing him because he didn't finish lawns correctly. Earned prom plus some.
At age 25, after working in the hospitality business and doing event internships, I couldn't find a worthwhile full time gig as an event planner. So I figured I'd get started myself. This was the start of the Righteous idea with Righteous Events. Lost a bunch of money and realized I needed to know how to run a business better. So I went for my second degree, this time in Entrepreneurship at Canisius. In this year of quarter-life crisis, I made a personal declaration of independence for myself. I swore off normal for greater.
At age 28, I presented a plan for a social media company at the New York State Business Plan Competition. It was terrible.
At age 30, I had to develop a business for my final project. Having a better eye for developing market research, Righteous Co. was born to help ministries and non-profits market themselves to their communities. Got an "A". Well I wasn't that good yet at market research and ultimately saw that it wasn't a feasible/scaleable model in practice. Plus, I didn't want to build websites all day.
Today at age 33, I'm repurposing the Righteous Co. brand and tying all of my strengths together in one platform to help others. I'm basing the idea around virtue and valor, a core need and hunger for people. By using my ability to connect with people, tell a story, along with a twist of experience in leadership, Righteous Co. is moving forward to its next phase. Perhaps its last and final in its ark.
I'm excited to hint to you my first offering which is also the first book that I've written. It will be a free digital download, "Iron Ore: The Journal of a Youth Minister." It's a witness of discernment, Love, and perseverance. Coming soon!
I welcome you to ride along the journey by following progress on the following...
RighteousCo.com, Facebook page, Instagram@righteous_co
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