Pizza For A Dream

Dreams Do Come True

2011-01-17T11:23:46-06:00

I started this blog several years ago so as to chronicle my business dealings and to discuss my road out of the "Rat Race" that Robert Kiyosaki talks about. The rapid growth of the 2 companies I've started since, and my continued working a full-time job, left little room for writing. Now that I'm leaving my full-time job this month, and we've moved into our own house in the country, I plan on catching up with my writing in the months ahead. I can't wait to share all that I've learned along the way!

If I can do it, you can do it. Dreams do come true!

Seth Godin’s New Book - Linchpin

2010-01-11T13:16:46-06:00

I just received my review copy of Seth Godin’s new book, Linchpin: Are You Indespensable? and look forward to reading it over the next couple of days and providing my review. If you’re not familiar with Seth, I recommend checking out his blog. His daily insights provide valuable insights into business and life.

Recession/Depression - Refuse to Participate!

2010-01-11T13:08:40-06:00

Everyday we are bombarded by news of the poor economy. We’re reminded of the number of people who have lost their jobs and the fact that companies aren’t hiring. Americans are less optimistic about the future and are feeling the pinch. It upsets me that so many people buy into all this hype. It discourages me how many give others permission to control their lives and circumstances.

You Have My Permission Not to Participate

I know you don’t really need my approval (or anybody else’s for that matter), but sometimes it takes an outside source who’s not caught up in the details of your life to tell you the truth. You still live in the “land of opportunity” with the ability to take control of your life! Start a business and begin living the American dream! All you have to do is make a decision, get busy, and be patient.

It Won’t Be Easy

There are tons of things that stand in your way including the government, your boss, and those closest to you. You’re going to need to develop a thick skin and do what is best for you regardless of the naysayers. Many will encourage you to stay where you are as there are so many “unknowns" in business and entrepreneurship. It is so much “safer” working for somebody else as they take all the risks. Don’t listen to them as they are like crabs in a bucket who will only pull you back down into mediocrity.

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

My journey has taken over 13 years! I started several successful small businesses along the way, but each and every one never quite met my goals, dreams, and expectations. I tried and failed, tried and failed, and tried and failed until things came together the way I had always envisioned. If I can do it, you can too! Make the decision today to take control of your life and refuse to participate!

Crush It! Check Out This Great New Book

2010-01-10T19:47:29-06:00

I read about Gary Vaynerchuk's new book, Crush It! in a blog the other day. Using my iPhone Kindle app., I downloaded it and have been absorbed in it over the past week. I highly recommend this book to anyone who owns a business, wants to start a business, or who wants to learn how to utilize social media. A must read!

Pizza Delivery Status and American Dream Update

2009-07-03T10:08:38-05:00

It's been just over a year since I started delivering pizzas part-time as described in Why Pizza For A Dream? Lots has changed since then, so I thought I'd send out a quick update.

On the pizza delivery front, I've decreased my nights delivering from 5 a week down to 2. To be honest, it's getting harder and harder to go into work as our business grows! Having my 3rd manager in the last year (this one is a real "gem") doesn't help much either. It's amazing how much turnover occurs in the restaurant world! At our location, less than 20% of the original hires are still left 1 year later. My plan is to stick around as long as I can stand it as it's nice to have that "spare tire" of income with the economy in the state it's in! It's also an easy way for me to fund part of my retirement as the company still offers a 6% match on my 401(k). The tips provide me a little spending money each week as well.

On the business front, chasing the American Dream couldn't be more fulfilling! The vending company I started nearly 18 months ago has taken off!! The model I've developed has enabled me to help 9 other families (thus far) around the country pursue their American Dream! One friend has been able to bring his wife home from teaching so she can be home with their new baby daughter because of the business and another was able to afford to take a 4 day vacation (for the first time ever) with his entire family and pay cash for it all! It's real life stories like these that drive me as much as the money. I have to say that we've been truly blessed and we hope to find other entrepreneur families around the country that share our vision and want to join us.

As you can probably guess, the the phrase "burning the candle at both ends," aptly describes my life over this past year. I anticipate this next year will bring more of the same as the upheaval in today's economy makes me cautiously optimistic despite our success. My hope is that by this time next year I will be able to report that I've walked away from my full-time advertising executive position and stopped delivering pizzas as well. I'd love to spend next summer traveling the country and teaching our kids our country's history by visiting the places where history occurred. I'll keep you posted!

From CEO to Pizza Delivery

2009-03-21T14:58:22-05:00

MWM

A Letter From The Boss

2009-03-01T16:47:22-06:00

My brother sent me this "letter" the other day and I thought I'd pass it along. It speaks for itself...

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the back story.

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... You never realize the back story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?
It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....

Signed,

Your boss

WE Surround Them - Make Your Voice Be Heard

2009-02-06T05:00:00-06:00

I'm a big talk radio listener. Of all the talk radio hosts I've listened to, there's none like Glenn Beck. Glenn's a down-to-earth guy that can laugh at himself and truly relate to what you and I are going through day after day. Just 8 years ago, he couldn't even pay the rent for his apartment. Today, he's the 3rd most listened to radio talk show host in America and has a new show called Beck on Fox News.

A week or so ago, a caller on his show called in distraught due to the fact that it didn't appear that anyone was listening to regular people like him. This call spurred the beginnings of We Surround Them. Check out the video clip and explanation of the principles we all hold dear. This is our chance to be heard and to connect with others who believe like we do. A chance to connect with others who are "following the rules" but are frustrated why everyone who's not follow the rules is getting bailed out.

Stumble It!

Why Pizza For A Dream?

2009-02-05T10:36:03-06:00

The title, "Pizza For A Dream," is symbolic of the price that we all must be willing to pay to achieve our dreams in life. For years I've said that I would be willing to "flip burgers" to achieve my dream.

Instead, at this time in my life, I've opted to deliver pizzas. Doing so has been a humbling experience for me because those that know my background often look down their nose at the "step backwards" I've taken. Little do they know that I drive my car night after night with a PURPOSE. A purpose bigger than the extra money I'm making today. A purpose that keeps me up at night. That purpose, of course, is my dream. My dream to leave the corporate workforce behind and make my own way in the greatest country on earth! Being that I have 5 mouths to feed, this process is taking a little while, but for those of you that have less responsibility there are other ways to look at the challenge. Years and years of work experience (AF pilot, medical sales, advertising executive) along with years of entrepreneurial experience (MLM, e-commerce, vending) give me a unique vantage point on the process of success in America today. I hope to be able to share my life experiences, and those of others, and directly relate them to the principles and habits necessary for success in the world today. My hope is that in doing so, we can all move ahead one step or pizza delivery at a time and achieve our dreams. Stumble It!

Leadership By Example and The Young Entrepreneur

2009-02-05T05:00:00-06:00

I'm a serial entrepreneur and have had several businesses that I've run over the years. It's neat to see that one's example can have a big impact on others, especially future generations. The post Entrepreneurship: A Narrative shows the impact my example has had on one of my nephews. What example are you setting for those around you? People are watching!! Stumble It!