The game must go on!

Well, it has been a bit since I posted last but I've got news.

My store opening is going to be pushed back a bit.....

Like a couple of years back.....

Now I know this sounds like a big deal but in the end it really isn't. Let me lay it out for you.

I went to Bank #1 and got denied for the loan based on not having enough collateral. That's cool. I wasn't expecting to get it anyway. I had the opportunity to pick their brains a bit to retweak the biz plan and make it stronger. Trim the fat and make the cuts where you need to.
Bank #2 ended up denying my loan as well. But I was much closer because I know I could of gotten it if I told them I would keep my job part-time as a safety net. But that is not really an option. I need to be at that store every moment that it is open. Its that simple. So no-go on #2.

I must admit I was really bummed after getting denied the second time, but I only allowed myself to mope for one day. And after talking with my wife and sleeping on it I came to the decision that I need to wait a couple years to open my store. This was hard considering I have been striving towards this goal for the last year and a half. So what now? What do I do?

Well, first of all I need to get a second job. Just part-time. And take all that extra money and pocket it away. So I am looking for that right now. I am confident I will find something. Yeah, I know the economy. Whatever! If you have the drive, you can find a job.

Second, I need to remember why I am doing this. My business statement is "Community, Service, Games. That's how we play". Community is the first word in that statement for a reason. I really want to build a community in this area for gamers. That is my primary goal. I want to do it profitably of course. But if I can't have the storefront just yet, I can still stick to my mission statement and work on the community.

So, how do I do that? Well, I have restarted the Bangor area Gamers Guild, and we will be meeting twice a month at the Bangor Public Library. This will provide a group for people who don't love hanging out with a bunch of black t-shirts that smell and avoid daylight. I imagine it will be slow going at first, but consistency is key.

I plan to go online. Gameknightonline.com. If I can't have a really storefront I can have a virtual community to keep up on gaming news online and in the area. Also I have polled a few people in the area and have gotten the overwhelming response that they would like to have a site that they could go to to find gamers who would like to play the same games they are playing. Can you play Memior '44 with your cat? No. But if I can do something to help gamers plug into the community and get the latest gaming news, then I will. I will strive to make it the online gaming hub of Maine. Now I just need to wrestle with Dreamweaver. Wish me luck.

And I have a couple of other ideas as well (one I'm really excited about). But I don't want to let the cat out of the bag quite yet. You never know who's watching. But I will keep you posted.

I guess the main thing I have learned from this ordeal is that this project has really become a part of me. I compare it to having an extra limb sticking out of my torso. Its always there and I really couldn't get rid of it even if I wanted to. Its become second nature. I have never really experienced that feeling with any project before. So I must plug on.

And in the end I have come to the realization that I am comfortable with the fact that I won't be opening  a store quite yet. I still have great plans ahead of me, and I know they are going to shine. And the fact that its been delayed 2 years? Don't fret. It will be here before you know it. How many times have you heard of a friend or family giving birth and then you turn around and their kid is entering 2nd grade or just got their liscence? All the time! 2 years will whiz by.

Hopefully, pretty soon I will have a link to my website on here, along with more good news. In the meantime, keep the faith. Keep reading. And I hope Santa brings you some awesome games under the tree.

Have fun!
-Flip