Since I needed to add something to my plate, I started a new class last night. Yep, I’m going back to school. The class is called ”Start Your Own Business – a 10 session entrepreneur training program” It’s time to buckle down and think with some like minded people about this business. Adventure Monkey has a good start but its owner is somewhat of an entrepreneur with ADD. Can you tell?

AM started as a blog for the simple purpose of self-expression. Then I sold some photography. Then I went nuts and:

started a magazine, made t-shirts, socks, started the photocycling tours, made more socks and more t-shirts, sold some cycling hats, called up China and got into high-end cycling and running apparel, polos and more. Now I am even sitting on an Adventure Monkey store idea (not even what you’re thinking I bet) and I am wondering what Adventure Monkey really is.

Why do I care? Why do I want to turn this into a legitimate business? Why not just have a blog and be happy with selling a few pictures here and there? There’s a few reasons. Maybe some of you can relate.

• I am so unhappy with my corporate job it’s hard to even explain. It hurts physically to go in, not kidding.
  
• I have an entrepreneurial spirit and get bored and restless in a cubicle.
  
• I have an inner need to make a difference in this world.
  
• I found something that can change people’s lives for the better and I want to share it with them
  
• I wouldn’t mind becoming a multimillionaire. OK, kinda kidding there, but I love controlling my destiny.
  

So which direction should I take with Adventure Monkey? Since I am a dreamer and always think a little too big, I am going to this class to think this through with some people with some business sense. Let’s just see which one of these avenues I’ve started down makes business sense. But just between you and me here’s some of the highs I’ve gotten from Adventure Monkey since starting it in 2009.

• I love photography and to be honest, selling prints. I always have. It is a very cool thing that someone would want to hang something I created in their world. I have been shooting for money since 1990 and for me to stick with something that long means something.
  
• The photocycling tours. I love meeting people, riding with people and teaching people how to take better pictures. But really, the friendships I made because of the tours has been the most rewarding part.
  
• I absolutely love and am humbled when an out of shape person emails me and tells me that this blog got them motivated to start riding or walking or running or whatever. Someone actually did get off the couch because of this silly blog. That is amazing.
  
• The magazine was a lot of work, but was very rewarding. People loved it. I think reading the stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things is inspiring. I loved putting it together. In a few months, the first two issues had over 15,000 downloads a piece and that’s pretty cool.

  So I plan on doing the hard thing – thinking rationally about this monkey and finding his identity. I’ll take your thoughts and ideas too if you’d leave a comment.

  Feed Your Monkey!

  Eric

  p.s. I have been training a lot. Stay tuned for some tips on how to get the most out of your time on the trainer. It won’t be fun. But you will be faster and stronger in the spring.
  

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