Schools need to join the 21st century

Communicating with schools and school districts is perhaps the most frustrating exercise someone can go through. In my business, I need to line up my delivery schedules based upon homecoming dates of the various schools. One would think this would be a relatively easy job. You would, however be wrong.

First instict is to go to the school's website where surely they have the schedule posted. You would be wrong. Some schools have moved into the 21st century and have nice websites where you can find information pretty easily. Of these schools, about half of them either have last year's schedule posted or do not have the schedule at all. Then there are those that have the schedule but do not indicate which game is their homecoming.

Some school districts like Dallas and Fort Worth have terrible websites where bare minimum information is posted. But at least the phone number is listed so you can call and get the information easily right? Wrong again. Do you know that it is less than a week before school starts with homecoming games beginning on September 10th for some schools and the schools cannot tell you when their homecoming date is?

Really!? With all the coordinating that has to take place to schedule the games, I cannot believe that the school's athletic directors do not have the dates of the games.

So now what to do? I guess I will rely on you to tell me when your school's homecoming is.

Taking a big Leap or taking a big dive?

Sometimes when you see an opportunity, you just have to take a giant step to get you going. You know you will finally get over the hill. But with the creation of my new company, it was more like a free fall adventure.

I know I have a quality product and I have decent business know how, but the thought of going head to head to homecoming mum giants like Michaels, Hobby Lobby and even the florist, had my stomach in knots for weeks. So tightly wound was my stomach, I actually could not sleep for weeks.

Walgreens has given me the opportunity to expand and even though all the downside is on me, we have met the challenge head on. We have been in production since June and are supplying 81 participating Walgreens in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

I am very excited about this venture, but even with the excitement still comes worry. Worry that people won't know they have mums, worry that no one will buy them, worry that I will loose everything we have invested. But what good does worry do right?! Well I pray and go on and trust that my product will speak for itself.

I am very fortunate to have a great group of people helping me design mums and deliver them. Without these 20 some people, I would not have been able to do it!

The first Homecoming date is fast approaching, September 4, Saginaw Rough Riders. So I will soon know how the first stores do.

I pray for success so I can continue on this journey.