One of the hardest things about starting a project is exactly that, starting it. I have been wanting to start a specific project for almost 8 years and every time I try to get the ball rolling I run into a thousand mental road-blocks: the timing isn’t right, the idea behind it all needs to be thought through one more time, I have to grab “just one drink” with my friend Mike which ends being quite a few; resulting in a hang-over the following day and yet another excuse to postpone the launch of my business idea.
You may recognize this as the common phenomenon called procrastination, and I am a self-discipline-lacking-procrastinator. Recognizing your weaknesses is a very vital part in starting a business, and so is recognizing your strengths. My strengths are that I am very determined and extremely social. You have to learn to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses. So I used my social skills to turn this solo-project into a team effort.
It turns out that the first step to starting my project was to simply find someone who wanted to do the project with me. Someone who I could discuss ideas with and hopefully give me a good slap the next time Mike gave me a call. Its no big secret really that it is easier to accomplish something if you are two, it just takes awhile to realize the obvious sometimes. I needed another person involved in the project so that I had an excuse to not procrastinate, someone who would be let down if I did not get the ball rolling. It is one thing letting ones self down, it is something completely different to let someone else down.
The project we have started is to bring foreign bands to Tokyo on a PR weekend tour with the goal being that they leave with a record contract. Our aim is to be the interpreters between foreign bands and Japan, the bridge between the two cultures thus improving the export/import relations between other western countries and Japan. Our goal is for artists to contact us when they want to, as the Alpha Ville hit single goes, be “big in Japan”.
What will follow in the near future are the true accounts of our attempt to start a business in Tokyo. From the entrepreneurial and cultural aspects to the personal aspects. It will be a hard journey and there is a chance we will not succeed but that is what makes it all the more exciting. A lot has to be done and after many discussions regarding what to do next, we have decided to look for a potential venue for a live-show here in Tokyo and to formalize our business idea or pitch.
So… How do you find the optimal venue in one of the world’s largest cities?
Things To Do:
1. Write up a plan/pitch
2. Find potential venue
3. Start estimating costs
