I promised to share some excerpts from my book here to get you excited about getting your hands on a copy. Here’s the next in that series I’ll title “My Early Steps.” I hope you enjoy it!
Just before Mother’s day in May of 2010, I went feverishly to work getting as much of a business set up as I could (not wanting to lose any momentum or having anyone tell me I couldn’t do it). I toiled over what to call my new venture, eventually settling on “Portland Boat Tours.” I used a free program on my computer to generate a makeshift logo with a picture of my boat. I printed business cards.
I started a free blog website. I made two sandwich-board signs out of old sawhorses from the garage advertising “Portland Boat Tours, Mother’s Day Special, $20.” The next day I headed for the river.
Part of what is exciting and amazing about my dream is that even if I do nothing but sit on the river in my boat enjoying the sun waiting for a customer to wander by, it is a day well spent to me. It’s where I want to be anyway and that first day was no exception. I probably handed out only five business cards (one that actually called me months later). I gave two $20 tours (which barely covered the supplies I had used to make my signs) and I got $10 in tips. After a make-up dinner with my wife for being gone all day on Mother’s Day weekend, it was a net loss. But what an invigorating experience! I had a dream, threw something together in only a day, and it worked! It worked on the very first day. I had a service that the people of Portland wanted! This could really work!
Watch this space for more sneak peeks at some of the book while you’re awaiting delivery of your copy. If you haven’t ordered one yet, head over to www.PortlandBoatTours.com/book to take advantage of the discount (only available until March 10th).
