Bring On Tomorrow

As I was staining RocLok's this morning I started to reflect on how far we've come over the last 3 years.  When we started the business we were making rocks out back in our 800 square foot pull shed. 

Even though it was insulated at one time, the pull shed had suffered damage during an ice storm a year or so before we started RocLok.  The damage made the shop humid and hot in the summers and bone chillingly cold in the winter time.  As an added "feature" turning on the heaters in the winter time caused the metal walls to condensate and as a result it "rained" inside! Because we work with powdered materials (cement for example) the heater was never turned on making for a very cold day.  

In addition to the freezing air temperature, the water faucet in the shed only provided cold water, this made molding rocks that much more uncomfortable.  For more than 2 years we layered up, trudged through the muddy backyard to the musty shop and made rocks. 

If the glamour of the job wasn't fulfilling enough, during this time we were also enjoying a serious downturn in funds.  Coming from a job that is classified as self-employment (Realtor) to starting a new business, unemployment benefits were never an option for us.  Coupled with the lack of jobs and we found ourselves between a rock and a hard place, literally.  We had no savings, a $3,000/month house payment and no fast way to make any money.  The design clients I had were predominately in the Real Estate industry and didn't have any money to invest in branding so Ryan and I were up a creek without a paddle. Getting RocLok to float was the only option.

I don't care what economists label this time in history, it felt (sometimes still does feel) like the depression to me.  I've never experienced more sleepless nights, heartburn and ever present since of doom as I did those first two years.  Sometimes to make myself feel better I'd Google "The Great Depression" and read about all the trials and tribulations people endured, the strength they gained and the better life the enjoyed once prosperity returned.  Knowing that others had lived through tough times and survived made the hopelessness feel a little more bearable. Dreaming that someday our little business would be as successful as some ot the big business of today that was founded during the Depression era, gave me the drive to continue researching and trying new ways to get the RocLok out to the public.

Even though things are still far from stable in our lives, stubbornly holding onto the idea that tomorrow is going to bring great things continues to help me get up every morning with excitement and determination.  I know that learning from the difficulties of yesterday is only going to further our success in the future. Bring on tomorrow!