#dreamapolis

[americanarmadillo]

[dreamapolis]

Here's to the Crazy Ones

I do not come from a family that ever had a great amount money--or in some cases, any money.

I do not come from a family that ever had a great amount of influence.

I do however, come from a family that always taught me the value of believing in yourself. 

Both of my parents grew up dirt poor, and neither of them used that as an excuse.  Both of them persevered through difficult times and thrived, my mother recently graduating Cum Laude from college and my father becoming a licensed social worker, consultant and acclaimed author.   Their life is a testimony for me that anything is possible with the right mixture of determination and luck. Their example gives me the assurance that you know what? Maybe I can do this.

But today isn't most days.  Maybe it's the weather, or maybe it is something else, but the day after we celebrated the dream of MLK, my dream feels as though it is on the ropes.  I will likely feel different in an hour, DON'T FRET! But I felt the need to write this to help me express to others the true cost of trying to make a difference.

When I was in college, and honestly up until I started working with Dreamapolis full-time, it would've been difficult for me to understand how much sacrifice is needed to live your dream.  I didn't understand that I had to make a full-time commitment with little to no consistent income; that I'd have to compromise for the sake of must-needed resources; or that I'd have to dig as deep as I could to work consistently with a passion that is stronger than any metal on the Earth--I mean, people are rushing to invest in job creators, right?!.  I didn't understand that this lifestyle often means that you cannot have much of a social life (it's hard to go anywhere with no money or time).  It's a vicious cycle, you need time to make money, and you need money to make money!

Plus, the worst part of it is the LONELINESS. 

I often feel as though I were born on another planet and I have to explain the mores and manners of my native culture to a people who have no reference to help them understand. Even Oscar Wilde once said,

"Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

Further, dreamers must withstand an almost constant assault from those who want to disprove or invalidate that their work.  You're too young! You're not experienced enough! You're [insert lame excuse]! Oh, it's easy to be a critic, but it is so hard to be a builder.

This experience has been the most challenging of my life.  I have had to depend on family for help, I have had to donate plasma, I have had to work odd-jobs, I have had to do any and everything for my dream. And do you know what? I am unapologetic about how I feel right now. I know I made this choice.  But do I have to be strong every day? I can't always be my own drum major. 

But you know what else? I know that I'm not alone.  I know that there are people just like me out there who are sacrificing their lives, their careers, and their reputations all for the cause of humanity.  I salute you, and I hope you know that there is a brother-in-arms that is in the struggle with you. Even though it's hard to believe, keep the faith that the dreams we give our lives to build, will one day become a reality.

May this quote provide you with the motivation to give it another day.

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. Author Unknown

[dreamapolis]

Meeting Numero Uno

Well, here we go! In an hour and a half the Dreamapolis team will be getting together for our very FIRST team meeting (talk about nerves!)  This is a really exciting time for us as we will begin to craft our strategy moving forward.  Ultimately, Dreamapolis wants to make Indianapolis the creative capitol of the world, and we will not quit until we get there.

This meeting is the very first step in that journey, and I am so thrilled for the odyssey ahead.  For all the dreamers, visionaries, and outsiders, let's change the world.

Dream it forward. 

[dreamapolis]

Really provocative song about the power of living your dreams.  May not be related to Dreamapolis, but still a great reminder.  Check out these lyrics:

Long walks in the dark Through woods grown behind the park I asked God who I'm supposed to be The stars smiled down at me God answered in silent reverie Song is called "Dream" by Priscilla Ahn

[dreamapolis]

This video is for the dreamers.

I have a lot of respect for Rudy Carrasco.  He is an entrepreneur, a visionary, and a great man.  He has a blog at Urban Onramps that you should absolutely check out.  I stole this video from him.

He says on his site:

Serial – and very successful – entrepreneur Jay Adelson shares his thoughts (video length: 4 minutes).

[dreamapolis]

"Separate as the fingers, One as the Hand"

Today I want to go deeper into what Dreamapolis is all about. 

Dreamapolis is a vision that started over two years ago when I (Derrick) had the idea to start my own shoe company. (URBAN NATIVES, WHAT UP?!)

In wanting to start this company, I did what any neophyte entrepreneur would do. I went looking for capital! HELLO?!  However, in my inexperience, I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to identify the right people in order to raise seed money.  Oddly, I even succeeded in raising $1,200 to pay for a consultant to produce these shoes.  While many would point to this as a victory, I point to it as a lesson of “a great vision with a poor plan.”  What I should have done is this: 

Formed an advisory team that would meet regularly to provide consultation on all things Urban Natives BEFORE accepting the money

Taken my 30+ page business plan and condensed it into bite-size tasks (my problem is that everything was TOO BIG)

Realized that while a consultant was necessary (and he was incredible) I could have used that $1,200 and stretched it MUCH further

In essence, the missing ingredient in all of this is a lack of community.  If I had the community of support that I have now, I wouldn’t have mismanaged such valuable resources.  That is the heart of Dreamapolis.  As Lovey Waters of De Gud Life says so well, we are a collective; a collective of artists, teachers, musicians, entrepreneurs, architects, techies, etc., ALL DIFFERENT types of industries working TOGETHER to turn our hopes and dreams into a reality. 

Need graphic design work? A logo? Oh, doesn’t Mike have a business? We got you!

Need materials? Equipment? We know Jo-Jo down the block, we got you!

Need office space? Come work in our space!

Want to kick it? Eat? Share your ideas? SAY NO MORE!!! WE ON IT!

Booker T. Washington, (a hero of mine) once said that, "In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." WE AGREE. Entrepreneurs and leaders aren’t supposed to work in silos.  We’re supposed to work in community with one another.  We’re supposed to eat, drink, and be merry, TOGETHER!!

Dreamapolis wants to turn Naptown into the DREAM CITY (get it? Dream-apolis?).  This is a place where a dream, no matter how reckless, is accepted and supported.  Imagine the power and scope of our work if we are able to work in conjunction with one another, lending our time, talent, and treasure (if you got cheese!) to support the work of our collaborators.  That could be a powerful work.  That could create some SERIOUS change.

That is Dreamapolis.  We can be those people.  But we’re missing a few links.  I think it could be you?

[dreamapolis]

Man, it's a GRIND!

Today has been an incredibly busy day. I've had meeting after meeting since 8 o'clock this morning.  While I'm definitely not complaining, trying to start something from the ground is HARD WORK.  PLUS, it's so hot out here I fear that one of two detrimental things will happen:

1. I will lose my perfect sexual chocolate complexion or

2. I melt like the Wicked Witch of the West (who was also Black, let me remind you!)

Whoo! I feel as though so many times people want to glamorize the world-changers, but while also neglecting to acknowledge or appreciate the tedious work that it takes to put things together.

One lesson that I'm absolutely learning is that one of the key characteristics of any leader is his ability to organize others, and motivate them to take action.  Any person can believe in your dream, but getting that person engaged in the fulfillment of your dream is a completely different story.

I am lucky to be a part of something so special.  I pray that God continues to give me the strength to endure such a grueling schedule.  As Leonidas once said in 300, "Only the hard, only the strong." I pray for your strength as well, for the world is only better because of people like us working to make a difference.

Never give up, never surrender.  Keep dreaming.

Derrick, Co-Founder