February 28, 2010
green^e
I'm really, really nervous. Anxious, really. And a little freaked out. Bricks in my shorts, freaked out.
Shortly after moving to California, I was biking through Palo Alto and was thunder-struck. Not just a little, but a lot. There is something about Palo Alto that is different - a sense of energy, entrepreneurial spirit (being the birthplace and centre of Silicon Valley), a nice blend of ethnicity, ages and diversity.
The lightning bolt that struck me that fine biking trip? Open a hip, cool retail store on Palo Alto's main street selling amazing eco-friendly home accessories. I'm not talking about Seventh Generation garbage bags and toilet paper. I'm talking about really wonderful stuff. Stuff you look at and think is marvelous, but then you discover that it's green.
I started to research. Some of you will know that I was doing some work with www.greencricket.ca. I had already done a fair amount of research into eco-friendly products in the US, so how hard could it be? Besides, investing in a business in the US will keep me here without the ever-threatening risk of deportation. America needs me to invest in a small business. Especially in California, where the unemployment rate is very high.
I am pleased to report that I am very close to signing a lease on a wonderful retail space in Palo Alto, and researched 600 wonderful products made from recycled, reclaimed, sustainable or organic materials. I am quickly building to 1,000 products, which gets me very excited.
Yesterday, I bought a kickass iMac for the store. Having worked on my 15" laptop for so long, this thing is like typing on a grand piano!
The business is registered, I have a federal employer ID number, state seller's permit, commercial bank accounts, and all of the accoutrements of a fledgeling startup.
The business is called green^e. The e is superscripted. The power is in the e. Green living raised to the power of e. My dummy site is at
One final hurdle.
Immigration.
I will write in the coming weeks about the painful process that I am now in the middle of. I hope it will shed some light on just how messed up American law is. A VERY powerful lobby, with absolutely ridiculous standards for my application.
Example? I must demonstrate, while not being legally allowed to work, that I have put capital at risk. What does this mean? Sign a lease, invest in start-up costs, hire staff, and buy inventory. It is entirely possible that I go through these motions and immigration denies my application. Then what?
Stay tuned. I am smart, motivated, passionate, and best of all? A cynic. This should be a very interesting experience. An amazing balance of repressing my frustrations and being aggressive in the pursuit of my venture.
Early on, I admit I woke in the middle of every night in sweats, unable to fall back to sleep thinking this was the stupidest thing I had ever done. This happens less frequently now. I take this as a good sign. Or that I have managed to persuade myself that there is no looking back.
This train has definitely left the station. I am very excited. And with the excitement, a lot of fear. As my dear friend Susan said, "Eventually, you just have to jump off the cliff."
Indeed.
Here goes!
Posted by dave at February 28, 2010 09:33 PM