A Year of Growth
It’s been 10 months since my last post here. Ten months of challenges, personal and business growth, and intense cycling. I actually did plenty of blogging in the last 4 months; it was just blogging from the road (find it here). Gaby and I started on the TransAmerica Trail in May 2008, and made it 3,600 miles to Kentucky before a minor accident led us to postpone the final leg.
Cycling across the continental US is an amazing experience. You learn to trust yourself, you get in fantastic shape, and you realize just how much you’re capable of...at least physically. You also see just how beautiful this country is, and there is no way you can avoid having a few adventures. Cycling across the country with your partner is also a great experience. (Disclaimer: It was for me, results may vary.) You grow closer, you learn lots (some would say too much) about each other, you learn to overcome challenges together, and you learn to work as a team. You also learn what things you need to work on.
So that was the last four months, more or less. Before that, I was in Buenos Aires launching the new Argentina’s Travel Guide (and spending time with my awesome family). With a 3-person team, we tripled traffic and revenue in 4 months....which currently puts us at a break-even point. Not a resounding success, but definitely a great learning experience. Learning as in: always focus, do it now, ask for help, and have a business model. We absolutely came away with a more complete, professional, and good-looking guide to travel in Argentina, a position which we have yet to leverage well. This was also a time for meeting amazing people. The internet startup scene is thriving in Buenos Aires due to great talent, good prices, and cultural similarity with the US. So there you have it; a lightening summary of the last 10 months. We got back to LA less than a week ago and are currently settling back in. It feels good to be home.
Posted by Cesar Gonzalez on 09/08. Personal • (6) Comments • Permalink