Making a go of Daddy O's

One of my New Years resolutions for 2010 was to make a go of Daddy O's.
I have the domain daddyos.ca parked at the moment but I have started a twitter thingy @ daddyosdotca as well.
I occasionally see other dad's post that there should be a site like Yummy Mummy Club for dudes & dads but there really isn't anything.

Yes, I am aware dads are a different animal. We're not "Yummy" nor are we "Mummys".
And most definitely, you never see a term like MILF for dads!
("DILF" just doesn't sound right!)

Also, dudes & dads aren't as social as mums.
Mums = Hugs, kisses, etc. etc.
Dads = "Hey...how's it going?"

I'm not looking to create a lovey-dovey feel good place, I want something cool.

My kids are older now (Jake - 11 & Kali - 7). No more diapers or first words and stuff like that.
We put our time in now it's dude & dad time with a sprinkling of kid on the side.

I'm fortunate that my son & I share common interests. Thank god he's not on the Wii 24-7 nor am I.
We like hot rods, tattoos, BMX, Trailer Park Boys, The Food Network - whatever.

Daddy O's has been on the back burner for a couple years now and it initially got the start when I was talking to my good friend Laurel from Opti-Mom. Yes, I asked a mom for her input but Laurel has been great on many levels that there would have been no other person I could have talked to about it.

So, 2010 will be a cool year and I will be dedicating more time & effort to this little project.
Hey, if I don't try, I'll never know right?

Facebook versus Twitter - Yes, I'm back!

Okay, I know I've been abcent for a bit and finally the dust is kinda starting to settle.

I have not been on Facebook for probably over a month.
I have two reasons for this...

1.) I have been working my ass off over the last month (and/but I'm not complaining).
2.) Facebook was getting to be ridiculous for what it was worth.

All I kept getting were quiz, test, farmville, game, "I should be this tall" updates/highlights/results from "friends" and sorry to be blunt - that's of no value to me.

I tried to stay current with my Twitter posts because it's short & sweet and I have actually got business, helped people, met people and interacted with others in a way that would not have happened through Facebook.
BUT, now when I go on to Twitter, I feel it's like the Coles Notes version of Facebook.
Twitter can be a powerful & useful tool - I can attest but won't go in to details.
What is one to do?
I can "unfollow" people but that would be like walking up to them and kicking in the nuts/privates.
If you find someone you are following of no value, should you feel guilty if you don't follow them? Will they be offended? Are you stirring the pot? Stepping on toes? Pick your cliché.

Just throwing it out there and curious what others think.

At a loss...

It's been a bit since I last posted and it can go in two directions....
Unfortunately, I chose the direction with the least input.

I need to gather myself, my thoughts, my ideas, my goals, my direction.
IF, I come up with something, I will let you know.

-mike-

Tons on my mind...

There are a lot of things on my mind right now but I won't go into details.
Part of it is about being a parent to a defiant 10 year old but I know I need to bite my tongue.
Some things are personal and I wish I could elaborate. However, some things are better left unsaid and I will confide with those that I trust and know the situation. No offense.
One thing that is bringing a smile to my face at the moment is the number of people that are ordering kids labels - thank you!
This has been our busiest summer/season to date and I can't believe the feedback we are getting. (Positive of course!) I also love the fact that people are taking advantage of the opportunity of customizing their labels. Sure, I have pre-selected designs to pick from but it's so much fun to incorporate designs & ideas people submit on their own.
Example - Customer in Washington D.C. She is a photographer and we used a photo of her daughter's sidewalk chalk drawing for the label background.
The other thing is the weather! What? Yes, I like the cooler temps but also, I can hear the waves on the lake because I guess we've got a storm coming in. I haven't seen/heard waves like that in quite some time.
Anyway...that's it for now. Have a good night & good weekend.

What to write? Random thoughts I guess...

Okay, trying to think of what to write and I have two topics...1.) Twisted Sticker's new ride. 2.) What do you do when you reach a certain point with your business.
First...Twisted Sticker's new ride. It's a 1971 Dodge Dart with a slant six engine. Colour - as you can see; and my wife calls it "Pea Soup Green". It's an AWESOME car! I wanted something retro to represent Twisted Sticker's funky take on the kids labels and image in general. The night I got it...someone at the gas station asked about it. The next day, pulling out of Crappy Tire, a guy pulls up and says "I Love Your Car!". Neighbors, friends...everyone says they love it. As do I. Yes it's green but with cool black vinyl graphics, it's so cool. Once I sticker it up, I'll post some photos. Still having a hard time trying to figure how/what to do but I have my moments of inspiration. This will be an ongoing thing so stay tuned.
Second...Business. Twisted Sticker has reached a point where I need to figure out what to do. We started 100% as kids labels but parents started to ask about other label printing. One thing lead to another and I'm stumped. We just hit our official 2 year mark and there is no slowing down in sight.
The dilemma is, do I hire? Does my wife quit her full time job? I'm not going to go into great detail right now but it's something I need to address sooner rather than later. It's a good problem to have but I need that input/push to take the next logical step.
The success of Twisted Sticker is contributed 100% to my customers & I thank everyone for that. One thing I do promise is that during this time, I will do my best to still provide the product & customer service everyone expects. And, with my eyes set on the prize, I plan to take Twisted Sticker to next level.

Summer is almost over....

Yesterday we had our annual summer BBQ and we also celebrated the 2nd anniversary of Twisted Sticker.
Last week, the EX (CNE - Canadian National Exhibition) opened in Toronto and that is basically, the unofficial countdown to the end of summer.
How was the summer of '09? Work wise - busy as snot! Family wise - didn't do much or go anywhere exciting.
However, I think the kids a good time. My son spent a few weeks at a BMX camp. He hates any kind of camp but at least this was fun for him. My daughter on the other hand spent a couple weeks at a day camp and she was fortunate enough to have classmates in her group both weeks.
We would have loved to have gone to Wasaga Beach to my aunt's cottage & to see my parents but there just weren't enough weekends this year. Maybe after the kids go back to school. The beaches are deserted and the weather & water is still nice in September.
We also need to start weening the kids off summer hours. Typically, they are up until 10 or so and I know if we don't start now, it'll just be a nightmare trying to get them in a new routine the first week of school.
Back to school good news - my son knows who his teacher will be and knows he's in the same class with three buddies and no baddies! Jake can tend to be anxious and every year at the end of summer, we run into issues of the unkown. Who will be in my class? Who will my teacher be? etc. Through reliable sources we have those answers so it's one less worry for everyone. As for my daughter, she doesn't give a crap. She has tons of friends and makes friends effortlessly that it's never a concern/issue for her.

Now...what's the picture above you ask? It appears to be the ONLY photo taken at our BBQ yesterday! Summer Memories!

A friends work in another part of the world!

I love the internet!
I have met so many cool people that if I think back 10, 15, 20 years...these people would be total strangers living their own lives in their part of the world.
Some relationships evolved out of business. Some out of common interests. Some, just because the people are so cool.
One of my favorite friends is Tommie Ohlson from Sweden.
We share a common interest in BMX, business and beautiful things in life.
Check out his web site for the photography he does. Obviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder but to see images from a different part of the world you may never see in your lifetime is a treat. I have my favorites and I have let Tommie know. I lived in Sweden after high school and I can appreciate the scenery.
However, I think ANYONE appreciates a nice picture, especially through someones eyes that can capture a beautiful moment in time.
Tommie - Great Work!