We're wheelin' Sherry (and her big smile) all the way to the White House! Well... we'll pass right by it, on our way to the finish line at the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon.
I've always thought of myself as an entrepreneur, it's in my DNA. My dad has owned his own business for almost 40 years (and is still driving his crew crazy); My brother has started a couple gigs; My uncle started and ran his own venture until he sold it for mega-bucks. That's all not including the various side hustles they all have, my dad’s hunting career is a business in itself [insert eyes rolling emoji]. From the jump, it seems, I've been destined for entrepreneurship.
So when I moved to Atlanta (4 years ago this August) the plan was to find a job, pay the bills, build my network, and launch my thing. I thought I’d you know, just figure something out. Several side hustles later, I’m still working on that. It’ll be another blog post for another time. :) In terms of a “job” I wasn’t sure what I wanted, but I knew, if I was going to work for someone else, it's going to be with a mission or impact focused organization.
While at Points of Light, I discovered the world of social entrepreneurship and community building (online and in-person). I fell in love with these incredible entrepreneurs that were solving real world problems. I loved all of it. We were teaching people how to scale their ventures through the Civic Accelerator and that work was very meaningful, but I didn’t know what that felt like. I had never gone through it. Like a football coach who’s never stepped on the field, I couldn’t put myself in their shoes. Could you imagine Dabo talkin' 'bout BYOG if he never did it himself? ← I Googled it for you.
So, the transition to SUPPLY.com, (joining a UX team of a scaling e-commerce company selling toilets online) was pretty natural for me. I wanted to know what it felt like, what it meant. I got the experience I was looking for, but really missed the community and the satisfaction of knowing I was a part of something greater. Don’t get me wrong, capitalism is a thing. A great thing. Make a great product, sell the shit out of it, and make a ton of money. Yes, awesome. Maybe even do so well, one day you can then give something back. Maybe. I tried, but it’s just not me. My heart wasn’t in it. I learned so much, so, so much. But it’s time to move on and get back to me.
Enter, Hands On Atlanta.
Like Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Mailchimp, or Delta, Hands On Atlanta is an Atlanta institution. Since 1989, they've been connecting volunteers to nonprofits in need, providing hands on programming (focused on at risk families and youth), hosting community focused events (MLK Day, Hands On ATL Day), and activating some of Atlanta's biggest and best companies to volunteer or support community improving efforts. All-in-all they just want to engage everyday citizens to Do Something Good.
About a year ago, a regime change took effect at Hands On Atlanta. So, in addition to an incredible staff already in place (some of which have been there over 20 years) there's a new CEO, new Director of Development, a few new teammates, and a new Director of Marketing and Communications - aka, me. Over the course of the next couple months we’re going to launch a new website, roll-out a rebranded look and feel (both pretty close to being finalized), and host our annual day of service where 2,500 volunteers will make their mark on Atlanta at 50 projects across the city.
As the new Director of Marketing and Communications, I've been tasked with making that rebrand and the new website happen. I’ll also lead the creation and distribution of marketing materials for internal and external projects and programs. This includes everything from social media management and email to supporting our fundraising and program teams. I'll have a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions that affect the organization, and inevitably Atlanta.
I'm beyond excited about this new opportunity. It allows me to take all of my experiences from starting Pakmode (just figure it out) to helping SUPPLY.com scale and roll it all into something that matters to me; Atlanta. This city I've fallen for. The place my daughter is growing up. A city reborn. I can't wait to see what happens.
Where to begin. I suppose I could start at the beginning of my training (about 17weeks ago) when I thought running 5 miles was a big deal. Or maybe towards the end of my training when I thought 20oz of water and 2 scoops of Scratch was adequate hydration for a 15 mile run. I could go on about how many times I was this close to losing a leg to a wild animal that was definitely trying to attack me on the Silver Comet. But no, let's fast forward to last Wednesday and my date with a witch.
The now annual "send off" costume party brought friends and supporters of the Kyle Pease Foundation out to 5 Seasons Brewery for some fun, dancing and to wish those participating in the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon good luck! Harper wanted to try out her Halloween costume before showing it off to her gals on the streets of Dunwoody and the wicked witch was a hit. I donned the same costume as a 6 month old, so there's that. Turns out raccoons are in. This is always a fun event, but this year, it was a sobering (literally) reminder of what the weekend would bring.
Thursday we loaded up the truck with the racing chairs and loaded up the minivan with athletes and we were on our way. It was a long drive up to Elon, North Carolina (home of Phoenix) for an overnight pit stop. Friday we were back on the road for another 6 or 7 hours until we got in late afternoon. When we got into town, I quickly fled to the city and grabbed a bite with a friend. I wasn't in DC for 5 minutes and understood why people love it so. It's clean, commuter friendly, quaint and picturesque. If they could only get rid of their politician problem, it'd be an ideal place to be.
The Metro. A train that takes you places you actually want to go. What a concept.
Saturday I relaxed and watch Michigan (Go Blue!) finally get over the hump against those pesky Spartans. For dinner, there was an event with all of the athletes from the Kyle Pease Foundation and partners for the Marine Corps Marathon, the Ability Experience. It was an inspirational, carbo-loading evening. The athletes all got their race day bags filled with everything needed, including some new Newton's, Beats by Dre and the KPF team shirts. Before I knew it, I was out and my 4:30am alarm was going off. Race day.
We unloaded the chairs, navigated our way to the team tent, loaded up on nutrition and had time for a photo before heading to the starting line. At this point, my heart rate was already out of control and I peed 3 times. There were seas of people, but everyone was overwhelmingly positive and supportive of our team. It was a great feeling and a great way to embark on our adventure.
Dale, Jesse and I getting ready at the starting line.
At some point around 7:40, we started running. Jesse and I took turns pushing Dale every other mile. It was a hilly first couple miles, but the scenery was quite pretty and the crowd was up early and loud. I made it all the way to about 7 or 8 miles before I started to question the whole thing. My feet started to hurt, hips started to tighten up and the reality of another 19ish miles didn't sound too appealing. But we kept going. Jesse was a great teammate. He supported me when I needed it and after a while everything just kind of went numb. There was enough distraction throughout the course to keep my mind off of the misery, historic landmarks, bands, performers, runners dressed in Halloween costumes (looking at you team with giant cat face singlets and real life Chewbacca) and inspirational runners. The 80 year old guy who cruised past us, the man with bionic legs walking the entire 26.2, the Blue Mile, Dale. It was easy to be distracted by the courage, strength and sacrifice of so many. It put my "pain" into perspective. We kept going.
The highlight of the entire thing was the never ending smile and excitement Dale rolled through each part of the race with. Almost everyone who passed us talked him up and encouraged him. The best moment came sometime before or after the bridge (that bridge can kiss my ass by the way, sheesh) when we made a left hand turn near a rowdy crowd. It was loud, like really loud. Dale hyped them up so much I couldn't hear anything and I got the chills. It was pretty incredible, a moment I won't soon forget. We had about 6 or 7 miles left and we kept going.
At some point I lost my sunnies. The conversations started to pick back up and light was at the end of the tunnel. My marathon shuffle was in full effect and the crowds started to get bigger and bigger. It was kind of like approaching the 18th hole at Augusta National. This was it. As we came down the home stretch, the music started to get louder and louder and then we could hear the announcer welcoming finishers across the line. As we made one final turn, there just happened to be one last big ass hill to climb. We kept going and we crossed at 5 hours and 21 minutes. We had done it. Marathon finishers.
Monday morning, the pain had settled in. I couldn't drink enough coffee for our 6:30am departure. After waddling downstairs, we loaded up the minivan, hopped in the box truck and left for Atlanta, medals around our neck. The drive was long, like 12 hours long, but as we'd done the day before... we just kept going.
I just finished running my first half marathon and with about 7 weeks left in my Marine Corps Marathon training. As a first time marathoner, responsible for another little human (I’m literally running with Destiny) with the Kyle Pease Foundation, I thought I’d share a few things (there’s a ton) I’ve learned and discovered along the way.
At the start of 2016 I set a few goals for my 33rd year on the planet. One of which is to finally run a marathon (distance, not necessarily an actual race) and another is to run a race with the Kyle Pease Foundation.
I’m excited to say, I found the perfect opportunity to cross both off my list at the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon!
As stubborn as I am, the truth is, I can’t do it alone. In fact, this legendsomehow agreed to coach me. I’ll also be receiving some nutritional support through friends of the foundation. I can’t prove it (although I’ve searched the Google) but I’m pretty sure I’ll be the first vegan to complete the Marine Corps marathon pushing another athlete. [Insert smarmy vegan joke here]
So, I’ve got the coaching, the food plan on deck and for those of you who know me, you know I’ve got all the gear I need — including my Newton’s and a brand new Garmin 235 that I’m in love with.
The only thing missing is YOU!
I need your support to help me get to Washington D.C.. What do you say? $5, $10 whatever you’ve got, I’d so greatly appreciate any donation you can make!
All money raised goes directly to the Kyle Pease Foundation to help them fulfill their mission of improving the lives of those with disabilities through sport. Get a racers view of what it’s like to race with KPF from Justin Knight aka J-Dude. Justin is an Ironman finisher as well as the 2015 Peachtree Roadrace and Publix Marathon assisted athlete champion.
More updates on my training coming soon. Follow along (and join in) at #OneForRun. Details behind One For Run in another post.
A product, a company, a relationship, a house, a life — whatever it is, make it great.
I’ve been working hard to build something great. Since moving to Atlanta, just a couple years ago, I’ve built great relationships with great people, done great work with a great organization, built a community around supporting entrepreneurs and even managed to build a great life with my daughter. [gives self high-five]
This week I started to build something new, a great new adventure. I’m excited to announce that I’ve joined the team at SUPPLY.com as their new Creative Producer.
Now, you might’ve taken a look at the site and thought to yourself, cool, Tim went from publishing a culture/lifestyle magazine to helping social entrepreneurs inevitably solve some huge-critical problems to slinging toilets? Huh?
Well, yes and…
SUPPLY.com is building something great — in case you’re just now catching on. They’re building (and already have) a great team that is [buzz word alert] disrupting how contractors and interior designers build their businesses. They are a tech company that just so happens to be in a more traditional, albeit $92 billion market. They’re growing at an exponential rate, doubling in size in 2015, and after seeing the 2016 projections that trend is sure to continue.
With the huge numbers aside, the thing that SUPPLY.com does great and prides itself on is relationships. You might remember uncle B and I built an entire company based around these mysterious and mythological things. Shoot, we even gave a TED talk once on how to build and maintain REALationships. You remember that one, right?
As Creative Producer, my role will be to continue the path of building great relationships. I’ll be out in the Atlanta community connecting with the tech scene looking for the best talent in town, developing copy and content for the site that attracts and keeps our PRO customers, (yes, dad and brotherincluded) creating partnerships with local companies to deepen our roots in town and I may even make a decent cup of coffee before things are all said and done.
This opportunity and challenge is a welcomed one. It allows for me to get back to what I enjoy doing and frankly what I’m good at. I get to be a face, a voice and a tastemaker again. I get to learn a ton from an overwhelminglytalented group of folks. I get a raise [mom reaches through computer for a hug, yaaaaaay!] and most importantly, I’m one step closer to getting harper that pony she’s wanted…
Reflecting on the year that was and looking forward to the year that will be, I want to really try some new things. Over the past 2 years here in Atlanta, I’ve really developed some habits that I’d like to break. I’ve also spent so much time getting to know this great city that I’ve neglected some goals I’ve had. So, as I’m now 1 day into my 33rd year, and it’s perfect list season, I’ve made a list of 33 things I’d like to accomplish this year: 33for33. Some items on the list are big and some small, but all they’re things I’ve put off for long enough.
In no particular order, here’s my list of 33 for 33.
- Find a new place to live
- Launch LLC
- Consistently send my weekly newsletter for the entire year
- Take harper camping
- Purge possessions — keeping the important/good ones
- Take harper to the beach
- Visit Nashville, Savannah and Asheville
- Get a passport
- Spend more time at the park, any park
- Go to more shows
- Blog/journal at least once a week
- Learn to cook at least 1 new thing a month
- Read 3 books
- Purge and update contacts (including social media) really work on relationships
- Regain a lost friendship
- Update and rethink harpersdad.com
- Create list of accomplishments I’m proud of
- Get my finances in order — budget and stick to it
- Run a marathon — distance, not necessarily actual race
- Do a race with the Kyle Pease Foundation
- Surprise one person every month with something nice
- Visit a friend(s) I haven’t seen in a long time
- Finish my sleeve
- Practice yoga at least once a week
- Set personal and professional goals for the year
- Buy a new pair of Levi’s
- Make something with the pallets
- Get/make a new bed
- Go on a proper hike with harper
- Go to the dentist
- Meditate more
- Don’t drive so much — take MARTA or bike more
- Get organized, both business and personal life
Do you have any suggestions for my list? Would you like to help hold me accountable? I’d love both. I’ll be sharing things I accomplish via Twitter using #33for33, stay tuned.