Tomorrow, 12 July 2007, Eye on Spain is officially 3 years old, so it's just a baby still! It's also Susan's birthday so priority tomorrow must go to Susan in terms of celebrations (only a brave man would argue that one).
But that's not to say that I'm not hugely proud of what we've achieved with Eye on Spain in a relatively short space of time with very limited resources. In fact, I am immensely proud of how the site has taken off, especially when people email me and tell me what a help we've been to them. Those emails are priceless. But it's been quite a struggle to get here....
When we kicked off the site three years ago it was quite a different concept. People would pay us an annual fee of 99 Euros and we would provide them with monthly photos of the construction of their development. Seems like a great idea, even Sir Alan Sugar thought it was. But despite our efforts and ploughing all our money into it it never really took off. We moved over here and my plans had shown we had enough money to last us a year....at least. How wrong was I!!
Three months after moving year we had effectively used up most of our cash. With an office, a useless marketing employee, kids in private nursery, an expensive house to rent and just a trickle of orders it all seemed doomed. So, we did away with the office, the useless marketing employee and worked out of the house instead. Oh, did I mention that we had no phone line at the house, as there was no facility for one??
Anyway, we kept the business ticking along in the background and I started building websites for other people. That is one option I wouldn't advise anyone. Building websites for others is HARD work, there is never an end and the customer never wants to pay more for more work. If you're thinking of doing it....DON'T!!!
It all looked quite bleak at this stage and after 12 months my finger was literally balancing over the "Stop" button.
But destiny being destiny had obviously decided that it wasn't time for Eye on Spain to die yet.
Through a
friend we managed to rent an apartment in
Marbella with a phone line.....you can't imagine how much I hugged that phone line every night. The business was going nowhere and I was just about to switch off the website and call it a day when....
...a chance meeting with someone who has since become a good friend, taught me something which literally changed my life and Eye on Spain was able to live again...and blossom.
Today I am a very, very happy man. Thank you ___________ _____________ .
One day I'll tell you what he taught me.
But tomorrow, I'm taking the day off. No big parties, we're just going to have a nice day with the kids and then go out for a lovely dinner.
Here's to the next 3 years....how exciting!
"
Carpe diem"
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