The Monkey in the Trees

Wow. Is it March already? I guess time really flies when you're working a full time  job for money plus another one for your dreams.

Hopefully I will find the time & discipline over the next couple of weeks to post a few updates about the highs, lows & progress at the school but for now let me leave you with a few words of encouragement from Chris K (probably soon to be CK, copyright infringement lawsuits from Calvin Klein aside), that happened to land in my inbox at about the right time - thanks Chris & if you read this you can send this monkey those cases of Twisted Pit now...

Hey Tim.  Just came across your blog.  Tough stuff, but you know, resilience and positivity always win the day.  Sounds like you're back on track.  

For what it's worth I have built our olive oil business over the past 3-years while holding down a full time job and the CEO of a software company.  It's essentially two full time jobs...the day starts at 6am with a (sometimes) 2 hour commute to Toronto, and ends close to midnight after deliveries, new retailer setups, and customer communication.  Saturdays are spent doing tastings at retailers and Sundays are spend reacquainting myself with my oh-so-patient wife and kids.  There's been many a times when my adventurous side screamed for me to throw caution to the wind, quit the day job, and go for broke on the oil.  However, a good friend counselled me to be like "the monkey in the trees"....never let go of the vine you're holding until the next is firmly in your grasp.  I've heeded his advice and am glad of it.  The oil business hasn't grown as fast as it potentially could have, but three years in and we're just a few short months away from full sustainability.  Consider your move back in to the workforce as an investment in your business.  Simple as that.  And then drive at it as hard as you possibly can.  Keep going my friend!  You are well on your way.

Chris K