ShanghaiSix
New Contributor
All,
Regularly listen to audio books about business development and personal development. Over the last ten years, I've run two separate military charities. From 2010-2015, I ran one (which shall not be named), which I lost to an unscrupulous business partner I trusted. I then turned around, did the exact same thing, and because I was the subject matter expert and cared about the project vs trying to flip a dollar, I've built Stack Up (stackup.org). We support US and allied veterans through gaming and video game platforms. What started out as a cute thing I did on the weekends, sending Xboxes to guys and gals deployed overseas, we are now partnered with the Center for Disease Control to use gaming as a platform for fighting veteran suicide. It's been a hell of a ride, and I'm just watching us grow more and more with each year. It's extremely exciting.
I started the charity because of 'Murica regularly boxing up whatever crap it could find (baby powder, wet wipes), shipping it over, and clapping themselves on the back for "helping". Meanwhile, while I was deployed overseas, we had shipping containers full of well meaning but deluded donations from the civilian world. As MJ claimed in the book, I took an already existing thing and added value to it. Because it's charity, I don't need to worry about fighting anyone else out there in the field, we've enjoyed a pretty nice run as the only team out there in the games' space doing what we do, and having an amazing track record.
The PROBLEM? Yeah, no lambos in the charity world. I mean, there are, but those are always the charities where watchdog groups like to burn in effigy for misuse of donor dollars. I make a reasonable living, working on my own terms, enjoy the adoration of folks who appreciate me ACTUALLY helping veterans the way America is regularly thumping their chests about ('Murica loves the troops, but when it comes to opening their wallet...yeah, no), but I'm going to work myself into the ground long before I retire. My seven person staff is ridiculously underpaid (many are on military disability and are in it for the love of the game), and I'd rather see their pay and benefits go up over time to match mine vs. buying a yacht for myself (haha). We work ourselves into the ground, and love what we do (yes, I know that's blasphemy here, but loving what you do, definitely doesn't hurt). It's Sunday, I'm here working, streaming, AND typing on here about the charity when most people would just be watching "the game", etc.
I'm at a weird crossroads, which is why I'm typing and decided to join up. I had an idea six months ago for a t-shirt line (lame), but it's a pretty cool brand idea that I'd like to see if it floats. The problem then becomes me splitting my time. I am a big subscriber to the "I don't have time is the biggest lie you can tell yourself" mantra, and I know I could cut back on some gaming and sleep to start figuring this out to see if I can turn a buck with this side project to my side project.
Rambling now. I've done some very basic work so far on the project, but if anyone has gone through the pains of creating an online t-shirt/clothing/brand that could link stuff here, I'd appreciate it!
Regularly listen to audio books about business development and personal development. Over the last ten years, I've run two separate military charities. From 2010-2015, I ran one (which shall not be named), which I lost to an unscrupulous business partner I trusted. I then turned around, did the exact same thing, and because I was the subject matter expert and cared about the project vs trying to flip a dollar, I've built Stack Up (stackup.org). We support US and allied veterans through gaming and video game platforms. What started out as a cute thing I did on the weekends, sending Xboxes to guys and gals deployed overseas, we are now partnered with the Center for Disease Control to use gaming as a platform for fighting veteran suicide. It's been a hell of a ride, and I'm just watching us grow more and more with each year. It's extremely exciting.
I started the charity because of 'Murica regularly boxing up whatever crap it could find (baby powder, wet wipes), shipping it over, and clapping themselves on the back for "helping". Meanwhile, while I was deployed overseas, we had shipping containers full of well meaning but deluded donations from the civilian world. As MJ claimed in the book, I took an already existing thing and added value to it. Because it's charity, I don't need to worry about fighting anyone else out there in the field, we've enjoyed a pretty nice run as the only team out there in the games' space doing what we do, and having an amazing track record.
The PROBLEM? Yeah, no lambos in the charity world. I mean, there are, but those are always the charities where watchdog groups like to burn in effigy for misuse of donor dollars. I make a reasonable living, working on my own terms, enjoy the adoration of folks who appreciate me ACTUALLY helping veterans the way America is regularly thumping their chests about ('Murica loves the troops, but when it comes to opening their wallet...yeah, no), but I'm going to work myself into the ground long before I retire. My seven person staff is ridiculously underpaid (many are on military disability and are in it for the love of the game), and I'd rather see their pay and benefits go up over time to match mine vs. buying a yacht for myself (haha). We work ourselves into the ground, and love what we do (yes, I know that's blasphemy here, but loving what you do, definitely doesn't hurt). It's Sunday, I'm here working, streaming, AND typing on here about the charity when most people would just be watching "the game", etc.
I'm at a weird crossroads, which is why I'm typing and decided to join up. I had an idea six months ago for a t-shirt line (lame), but it's a pretty cool brand idea that I'd like to see if it floats. The problem then becomes me splitting my time. I am a big subscriber to the "I don't have time is the biggest lie you can tell yourself" mantra, and I know I could cut back on some gaming and sleep to start figuring this out to see if I can turn a buck with this side project to my side project.
Rambling now. I've done some very basic work so far on the project, but if anyone has gone through the pains of creating an online t-shirt/clothing/brand that could link stuff here, I'd appreciate it!
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