We Got Our Samples and Fight Weekend Part 1

Thursday evening upon receiving our sample run of 300 shirts back from the printer the realization of what we’d become hit me like a ton of bricks. I had taken my idea from a thought, a stupid dream and 8 months later I was holding an actual finished product in my hands. I think everyone has that moment when they realize their idea is no longer an idea, it has become reality. And no matter what happens I can say I tried, I didn’t play it safe, I took the risk, I got further than most people ever would because they’re too afraid to try.

The shirts came out ok, not great, but ok, I know we can do better. I immediately got on the phone and called a printer in Los Angeles called Pacific Splash, they are a printer who does a procedure called belt printing, basically it lays a shirt out and stamps the design on the whole shirt, sleeves and all. We’re switching, not just because we weren’t happy with Forward but these designs call for the belt printing to make sure the artists rendering and vision is respected. This is another great lesson that I’ve learned the hard way as a younger man, “Take care of the people who take of you” If it wasn’t for the artists who design the shirts or the fighters who wear them or the distributors who actually sell your stuff you wouldn’t be in a position to be successful. Respecting everyone around you and treating them the way you would want to be treated is important. Nobody wants to work for a jerk. Employees who have had that experience know better than anyone. People who work for you will always take your money, but you cant buy there respect at any price, it has to be earned. If you can earn it though, they will go to the mat for you every time simply because they know in your heart you genuinely appreciate them for it.

Friday afternoon I left for Vegas and I missed the weigh in, my flight was delayed, but I was lucky that a few of my guys were already in town from L.A., they got plenty of great content for our site and made some real progress in building the buzz. After the weigh in we were lucky enough to have my Uncle invite us to have dinner with him, when we got there, Quinton and some of his family were there.

 

Later on I caught up with Dana White and we talked for a bit, he is really a great guy too, he wished me luck and he said he dug the shirts also, awesome.

 

The work part of the weekend was productive in several ways, we got our name out there and made some pretty good contacts but I also learned another lesson unfortunately everyone who starts there own business should be wary of, the scammer. I had a meeting with a guy from a company called DELETED, the supposedly do promotion for after parties in the area setting up people with fully planned activities for a bachelor party or a guys golf trip whatever, they do it all. Anyway I got in contact with a guy from there who once he found out about the apparel asked if we’d be interested in some cross promotion, so I said sure, lets set up a meeting when I’m in town. After our meeting it seemed like everything was ok, I gave the guy a few shirts and we agreed to talk later he also said that he had it all hooked up for us to get in ahead of the lines and we’d be welcomed with open arms at any event that evening, well when we got to the Prive inside the Planet Hollywood they didn’t know who he was, if it wasn’t for Quinton showing up we woudn’t have gotten in at all. In hind site it really didn’t cost me anything to believe the guy, but most people don’t get so lucky, peoples lies are not usually exposed that fast and usually it ends up costing you money instead before you find out you were lied to. People make a living taking advantage of other people so before you commit any money to anything, do your homework, make sure the people are what they say they are, find someone who’s worked with them before. Businesses love referrals, sometimes they even get you and the referrer a discount.  

Part II Tomorrow, you won’t want to miss it. More pics, a few things that happened, and how I almost got beat to death by Tito Ortiz for knocking Jenna Jameson over… only in Vegas.

Respect.