Grab the checkbook.
Print the flier.
Do we have the t-shirts yet?
What’s the pricing for the items?
How do we notify fans?
Just a few thoughts racing through my head in the past twenty four hours.
It’s incredible to believe, among the 100+ degree Kansas heat, this company, this business is getting its debut to the world.
Welcome to the Kansas City Shock.
I mean, truthfully, when I learned about high school soccer, college soccer, women’s professional soccer, and other similar thoughts; my mind did dream of creating something, anything that could become a club, a state champion, a shiny field; anything.
However, this? Really? Mercy…
It wasn’t even a year ago that I was standing on the field of Livestrong Stadium, nearly wetting my pants as the likes of Hope Solo and Alex Morgan passed by, talking, answering questions, and being…human. It wasn’t even two years ago, walking along the unfinished hallways of Livestrong Stadium, that I was fed this story of what soccer is going to be in the Kansas City area, and myself and my wife at the time just thought, “Neat. Too bad we’ll be down south, and won’t be able to get that involved.” It wasn’t even five months ago that I was flying across the country to see some women’s premier soccer team called the Maryland Capitols. Why was I even flying? Because I wanted to learn, I was a new business owner.
I am a business owner.
Today has been a mix of fear, anxiety, joy, praise, and accepting the unknown. In my head, I know of what some things to expect tomorrow. Literally anything and everything could happen tomorrow [and I probably wouldn't be surprised]. I’ve worked on projects, events, both in the United States and abroad [getting a massive revival together in Santa Cruz del Quiche...that's a trip], but it really does feel like my life is on the line tomorrow. Obviously it’d be foolish to believe such non-sense, but reverting back to the beginning of this website; the Kansas City Shock is quickly becoming the legacy of man trying to build, quite literally, everything out of nothing. It started with a divorce, it started with no soul [at least feeling that way], it transitioned to family, jobs, traveling, getting out debt, and running. It was progressed through faith, friends, and a welcoming, rather random church, it was transformed through the way of business, faith, fitness, and a loving God, and it was polished by a destiny, a dream, and beautiful, God fearing woman.
This is my life.
Sure, I can go about working on my Subway’s, but it is so awesome to see that God’s got those stores setup, almost as if He was saying, “It’s OK, I can do great things here.” I mean, an instantly “getyourpraiseon” moment was learning that two of my oldest stores, in the entire territory; both broke their sales records last week. Trust me, it wasn’t by my doing. God is taking that stress away, and I’m thinking; logically, He’d expect me to do the same with the Shock.
It’s just so hard.
It’s hard to see something that has formed so quickly, and in many ways, not fear it. Let’s take a look at some facts:
- I don’t have a degree in business
- I’m not a multimillionaire
- I’m not a licensed, professional soccer coach
- I’m 24 years old
Realistically, I’m not the man for the job; society and culture tells me that. However, before you write this off as a pity party; allow me to also say this. Let’s look at these “facts”:
- It can be nearly impossible to recover from a divorce [especially a good Baptist]
- It’s nearly impossible to lose 50 pounds in a year without dieting and guidance
- There’s no woman out there that could tolerate my insanity
- Once you’re that deep in debt, you can’t get out
- Kids can’t own businesses
- Non-business degree holders don’t understand business
- God doesn’t still do miracles
Of course, these are all pseudo-facts, but the picture it paints is that the Kansas City Shock was merely a setup to continue to surprise the standard expectations of a strange world. It’s amazing how gripping fear can be. I’ve literally been shown every reason to have faith. I’m loved, I’m making money, I have a church that loves me unconditionally, and most importantly; I have a God who never gave up on me. How can a man, homeless and pathetic, sit here tonight; knowing what lies tomorrow, and still not demonstrate the faith that has been provided to him? It’s as if a battle of irrationality and logic with a blend of faith are all tangled up together in the cerebral cortex.
What is boils down is simply this:
Dare to be different?
Check.
Shock the world?
?
-D-
