Welcome Back

I haven't blogged in a while because I have been working on my book. It is in the hands of the graphic designer now and I am gearing up for the semester. Now that the book is pretty much done I have been thinking about what I would like to do with this blog.

I have decided that it would be most helpful to others if I chronicle my efforts to get my business funded and the other start up issues I am facing. It is a bit scary because it is like letting everyone see what is in my underwear drawer but the issues and problems I am facing will be typical of everyone trying to get a business started and this might be helpful to someone else.

ok - So what have I done so far?

• I have an LLC - it is registered in the state of Illinois as Toxic Interactive, LLC.
• I have a vision and a mission statement that are solid and that I can stand behind. http://www.thetoxicinteractive.com/about.html
  
• I have an entertainment lawyer that I found through Lawyers for the Creative Arts. http://law-arts.org/
  
• I have an accountant that I found through a graphic designer friend of mine who specializes in creative professionals.
• We filed the trademark for Toxic for games. http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=6ovm2s.6.42 - Looks cool huh? The strategy was to have one trademark and then use it for all the games. For a start up this is a common and very practical strategy.
  
• The trademark has been rejected because of Toxic Software - they make hardware and the government thinks it will cause confusion in the market.
  
• I have hired 3 of my students to help put together game design documents for my first 3 games. We meet approximately once a month to touch base and determine the next milestone.

So what is next? My friend and mentor Bill Lederer (former CEO of art.com) says to me "Get to Market."

So how do I get to market? Where is the low hanging fruit? It is important to note here that I am self made and my resources are the same as anyone in the middle class. My choices and resources will be similar to just about everyone embarking on this journey.

My resources:

1. My technical skills
2. My unemployed daughter who has technical skills
3. My students who want to work on games
4. Columbia College
5. My network

Possible projects that can get to market easily with sweat equity and minimal funding (with funding things can go faster)

1. Calculated Leap website
2. Community Game
3. Shopping cart on Toxic Interactive website
4. Unspokens marketing
   

Projects that need major funding

1. Game company (that is all I am willing to reveal for now)
   

ok so my work is cut out for me - what do I do first? remember if you have velocity and no direction you will spin. I am great at spinning.

The first choice I need to make is whether I am going to go for the sweat equity projects or funding. I am inclined to say both but I need to be smart about that so that I don't spin.

Here is a possible list of activities that will help me get to market:

1. Calculated Leap website, I can use my daughter to help me build it.
2. Propose a class for the summer to put together a design document for the community game.
3. Propose a class for the fall to build the community game.
4. Continue an online marketing campaign for the unspokens (here is one for Valentines day: http://unspoken.theresadevine.com/valentine)
   
5. Keep working on Toxic Interactive funding pitch.
6. Work on Calculated Leap funding pitch - this might be attractive enough to get funding for it all by itself.

For today - my activities are:

1. Send new trademark idea to my lawyer
2. Get ready for the classes that I am teaching
3. Get Calculated Leap website (partially done) set up in VSS so that it can be worked on by more than one person.
4. Call designer to see what the progress is on the book
5. Go the Open-node meeting tonight.

I feel focused now.