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Who Dares Wins

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This is the motto of the British Special Air Service. It is also great advice for any entrepreneur.

I had my first job at 14 running a lathe in a machine shop. I am sure I did a horrible job that first summer. I’ve worked in factories many times since then, and all those experiences taught me two major lessons:

  1. Respect the people who work in the factories, farms, restaurants and shops around you. If you can’t show respect and honor to the person serving you food, you don’t deserve any respect yourself.
  2. I was not cut out for corporate life.

Now #1 above needs no explanation. Or it shouldn’t. Shame on you if it does.

But #2…I never really considered going to work for anyone else after those summers in the factory. As I write this, it is 2:24 AM EDT, I’ve been at work since 7:30 AM EDT the previous morning. I should be burned out, but instead I am energized. This is my company and my passion.

What I love most about being in charge of global sales for PassageMaker and China Quality Focus are the entrepreneurs I meet. It is a huge misconception that creativity is confined to “the arts”. These are fiercely creative people who bring astounding ideas to the world. They deserve the support that PassageMaker provides through our Sourcing Feasibility Studies, Vendor Coordination and Assembly-Inspection-Packaging services.

Through our network of Endorsed Service Providers, we strive to offer service at every stage of a project’s life. Mike and I are entrepreneurs; we have taken these risks and we believe in the motto “Who Dares Wins”. More than anything we want to see our clients win.

It is a huge misconception that creativity is confined to “the arts”

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My mother, who passed away 24 years ago today, was a professional artist. Her grave marker says “Artist-Wife-Mother”, and I do not think that is a false order.

I wanted to emulate her when I was younger and even took private lessons from her student, Ann Glover. There was a brief period in my late teens when I would say I was on my way to being a decent artist or illustrator.

Then I lost interest in creative pursuits like “art”. It was not until years later that I realized that creativity is not restricted to the “arts”.

PassageMaker serves a wide variety of companies, many of which were founded by entrepreneurs and inventors, and many of which participate in Fortune 500 supply chains. What I find constant among these clients is the brilliance and originality – the artistry – they bring to their designs and products. Creativity is not limited to the “arts”.

PassageMaker created our network of Endorsed Service Providers and formulated our service offerings – Sourcing Feasibility Studies, Vendor Coordination and Assembly-Inspection-Packaging – to support those companies bringing innovative products to market while protecting their Intellectual Property from the piracy that sadly is all too common in China.

I hope that if you are reading this, you will see clear to entrust your creative product concept to us and let us help you make it a reality.

A ship is safe in a harbor, but a harbor is not what a ship is for

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The title of this post is one of my favorite sayings. As an entrepreneur, it reminds me to keep trying, even when it is hard; especially when it is hard.

These days the world economy is a tempestuous sea, but PassageMaker is growing and thriving. A “passagemaker” is a small motor boat capable of crossing the open ocean; I think Mike Bellamy chose an appropriate name for the company.

Even in this time of chaos, new clients contact us daily. Even though budgets are tight and the margin for error is far smaller than just a year ago, those entrepreneurial passagemakers know that if they ride out the storm they will be in a much better position to prosper when the storm ends. And they won’t be smashed to bits tied up to the docks.

Harbors are over-rated. There is no such thing as a safe job anymore. The closest thing to a job for life is the value you create for yourself as an entrepreneur.

Why do so many people source in China? Because tooling prices are 10%-25% of USA. Because component prices are 25%-50% of USA. Those are great enticements, but a Chinese supply chain takes far more time and effort to establish than an American one. In this economy, budgets are tighter and risks are higher, and you can’t afford the learning curve to figure out China on your own. Now more than ever entrepreneurs need a real PassageMaker to help them navigate the storm successfully. Contact us and let us show you how our Sourcing Feasibility Study, Vendor Coordination and Assembly-Inspection-Packaging services help our clients achieve success in China.