Day 2

Today is day 2. I am up. I read a very good part of the book of Samuel and Job---it's my morning fill. I love David and Job. 

 

I didn't quite sleep well, but I made it through. During about 4am, I found myself awake, unable to fall back to sleep. I tried to turn it into a positive by meditating on the Word. That made things a lot better.

 But I am up; on to day 2. 

 

 This morning I finished writing the copy for Mr. Huggin's Locksmith position. I will have him look it over, and add or take things out. He has the best understanding of the position, and to accurately post it, he will have the final say.

Day 2 ( see you in the evening):

Again the temps were low, and I had to brace up for it. With a few things done, and an egg sandwich in my belly I was ready to go.  I walked to the 240 bus stop again, and took out my phone to check the Google maps for when the next bus will show up. I tapped my jacket and felt nothing. I had forgotten my phone at the apartment. Oh no! I said to myself. But wait a minute, keep cool, and go back for it. I steadied myself.

It takes about 15 minutes to walk back to the apartment.  I turned around quickly and headed back. 

 

On my way back, I thought of the number of business cards I had. There were but two left. What if I end up talking to more than 3 business owners? But I knew I had the file on my laptop at home, so I may figure out a way to get the copy to Fedex to quickly print it out. 

I got to the apartment, searched my email database, and found the file.

I quickly emailed it to Fedex ( I had stopped by fedex yesterday to finish my survey sheet and remembered their email, and I had sent my business card file to them once too in the past.) 

 

I picked up my phone, and walked to the Fedex office, which was about a stone throw away from the bus stop. Amy, the attendant, helped me print it out, and cut them out. I paid and left.

With business cards in hand, phone in my pocket, and survey sheets in my binder, I waited for the bus. It showed up not long after.

I got off the bus close to the intersection of Braker and Burnet Road.  I had decided I wanted to work that part of town today. I remember seeing some decent shops along that street during my bus rides in the past.

I first stopped by “Aces Jiu Jitsu Club.” I went in to find an empty space with mats spread out on the floor.  This place being Jiu Jitsu meant something related to martial arts happens here, and the mats were for just that. 

 

I heard a voice say hello while walking towards me. In stride he introduced himself as Coach Mikal. I said, “Coach?” to make out his words. “Yes,” he replied.

“How can I help you,” he asked. 

 

“Well, my name is Kingston, and I am doing a project of talking to small businesses in Austin about…” I explained my purpose. He listened carefully, and nodded somewhat in agreement. He agreed that something like what I was doing was in the right direction.

I handed him my survey sheet, which he carefully filled out, and pointed out his desire to do an interview. I explained the procedure----we set an appointment at an open time block when he’s free, and I’d come over and interview him. I will take the file back and edit it, and make the file available to him. He could share the file on his website as an interview I did with him as part of my project for his clients to listen to, and I would put up a copy on my blog. I wrote down my blog’s URL for him to take a look at the blog on his free time.

As he told me, before landing in Austin, he had spent quite some time in South Korea, and moved to Austin on his mom’s prompting. He moved to Canada, and Brazil for a few stints, and finally decided to call Austin home after finding himself back here a number of times after leaving.

We discussed the possibility of an interview sometime later, and I will get a text from him on his open times, he assured me. 

 

Before wrapping up, a man walked up to us. Coach introduced him as his dad, and I joked with him about his martial arts skills, which he responded to with a little fist clench and pose, jokingly.

I thanked Coach Mikal, and left. We could be useful to each other, we both agreed, and would explore the possibility of how that can be.

I found myself in the showroom of a window company as my next stop, and knowing immediately that the company didn’t fit my criteria I left.

I visually surveyed the shops along the streets, passing up many seemingly big companies, or franchise operated ones. But one caught my eye---“Sesa Pure,” and I walked over. I entered to find a lady finishing up a visit with three men inside. Two of them sat on high seats with matching tables. I liked the smell of the place and the setting. I could somehow sense that they had an organic bend to their operations, which I am all for.

 

Sesa Pure is a tea, chai, and coffee shop. From what I could tell from their business card, they invite folks to place orders, book tasting sessions, and even use their meeting space. It's funny, but I have never noticed Sesa Pure throughout 3 years of being in Austin. Nice.

I asked to speak to the owner, and was offered the floor to speak to all three of the men there. I did. One thing led to the other as they inquired more particularly what I could help them with. But as it turned out, for what I could help them with especially---interview/podcast---they already had capable hands for that already.

But one of them who I learned had a complete set of audio/video equipment ( he told me), having noticed my downloading the “Audacity” software on my computer, from my day 1 report on my blog---they had requested to take a look at my blog and read my pour down ( which is just throwing the days event on to the writing page without editing) offered to help me out if I needed a hand with podcast or anything video related with any of the owners that I find in need of audio marketing.

I really did appreciate this offer, since this is essentially a bootstrap project for me, and to interview owners or do a podcast, I intend to use my smartphone's in-built microphone, and then edit the files after uploading them to “Audacity.” 

With this help available, I will be sure to inform Jose Gonzalez of Spirepix when I have an interview/podcast session lined up. 

 

I took sometime at a Jack-In The-Box restaurant to collect my thoughts, and to wrap up the day. I wrote down important reminders and made notes on how to structure my posts for the upcoming days. I started late today, but the day was useful overall, however few owners I spoke to.

Bus time---with my binder clutched under my left arm, my fingers in my jackets pockets, my wool cap on, and my jacket zipped against the dropping temps, I made my way to the nearest bus stop. I quickly checked Google map on my phone for the next available bus. I caught it 5:40 pm, and headed home.

What's next? Rest for day 3.

On to day 3. 


A little add-on. 

I forgot to tell you guys about my stop at
"Winding Road Racing." I spoke to Maelstrom Kiewiet, the merchandising manager there, and after hearing what I was doing, he asked to try back in a week or two when they are more settled in---they just opened shop not too long ago. 

What do I think of the wait? Patience is good. I will wait. 

And I also picked up a business card from a sporting goods store. Cen-Tex Sporting Goods has been in business for 3 years so far. The owner was not in when I stopped there, but they will like me to contact the owner via a phone call to see what he thinks. 

I have all these on file, and in due time I will be follow up with them. But for now,  I have to find folks I can immediately help, and wait for the right time for others.