9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

24 Years Ago Today...

by CDarklock
6 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
On May 14th, 1986, I went to a Coldwell Banker real estate office near my house and offered to maintain their computers on a weekly basis for $10 an hour.

The manager informed me that he could not hire some kid from the neighbourhood to maintain his computers... but he might hire the company started by some kid from the neighbourhood.

I went and got on a bus. Three hours and $20 later, I arrived back at his office and showed him the brand spanking new business license for Darklock Communications.

"Ten dollars an hour, was it?" he asked.

"Twenty," I said. "But there's some kid from the neighbourhood who charges ten."

He laughed like hell. I got the gig. At $20 an hour.

And today, I'm beginning my 25th year of owning my own business. Next year is the silver anniversary of my business.

There have been good times. There have been bad times. There's been a year when I made over half a million dollars. There's been a year where I made nothing at all.

But it's always been one hell of a ride, and I'm glad I took it. Even when times were hard.
  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    Life is amazing isn't it? Just 6 years ago I was making $12/hour, and now my employees make more than I did!
    Signature
    It is okay to contact me! I have been developing software since 1999, creating many popular products like phpLD.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2100298].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

    But it's always been one hell of a ride, and I'm glad I took it. Even when times were hard.
    That's cool, CD. Yes. I could tell you some stories about my ride. Seems like my
    entire life has been one helluva ride, and it has been. Mostly difficult. But it didn't
    break me. A lot of times people think I'm an asshole. But they don't know me. Hard
    times do something to you. Too many hard times do more of it.

    But all those times have made me find resources I wouldn't have found otherwise. So
    it was worth it. I'm grateful to have my life the way its been. The things I have now,
    I would not have if things were different. If things were easier. So it was worth it.

    And the ride's not over. Cool things are happening right now, and it's about to get
    even better. Life is good. I've earned it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2101161].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ZXT
    Thanks for sharing you story, life is really amazing isn't it?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2102185].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Pauline60
    Happy Anniversay CDarklock, your story made me laugh out loud. So how old were you when you did this - its the sort of thing I would have loved to have had the guts to do when I was young.

    Pauline
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2103529].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Pauline60 View Post

      So how old were you when you did this - its the sort of thing I would have loved to have had the guts to do when I was young.
      I was 16. And, honestly, I never really believed they would give me a business license. But it was pretty quick and easy - fill out the form, show your ID, give the clerk $20, bam. I just sat and stared at it the whole bus ride home.

      It's kind of like when you get your first mortgage, or your college degree, or become a parent. On some level, you think the person who approved this has made a monumentally irresponsible decision, and you wonder if you should report them to someone.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2104121].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Brian
    I always love reading startup stories like this. Big things starts small (and funny sometimes).

    *clicks the imaginary thanks button*
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2104211].message }}

Trending Topics