Puckmasters

Let me start by saying the business didn’t last. But I had a great time and learned a lot. Sometimes we get confused about what failure or success really means. It’s easy to think that if a business closes, it failed. I felt that way at first, but when I looked back at what I did and what I learned, it was far from a failure. As a youth hockey training facility, I had a level 4 out of 5 coaching certificate. At the time, I was also certified as a personal trainer. I was prepared. The business only lasted from late 2006 to late 2007, just one year, but it was fully functional and covered all its costs. In that sense, it was a success. The problem was I still needed to make a living, and I couldn’t earn enough to support my family. That’s why I decided to close it. Still, I don’t see it as a failure. Here’s what I accomplished in that year:

I rented a warehouse and built two synthetic skating surfaces with real hockey rink boards, glass, and nets. The idea was amazing. You could skate on plastic that felt like ice. I handled all the marketing, promotion, and training. In that year, over 150 kids signed up. I also offered off-ice training, weight training, sold some equipment, and sharpened skates. Looking at everything, it wasn’t a failure. I just didn’t have enough capital, and working all day to keep the place open at night wasn’t really an option. I had to close it. While the kids were in school, I trained at night, but during the day I went to the local gym.cal gym.

That leads into next week’s story about networking and JPMChase. It was the beginning of a new chapter in my career.