Tomorrow Is Already Yesterday

You got that right | Photo: Rob Vandermark

Location Thursday:  Seven  |  Studio     ||     7:25 am – 8:20 pm

• Project:  Brochure 2013:  Deep in it now.  And, situation coming to a head.  On both fronts:
  • 2012 brochure about to run out and we only need a very small run to get us through to 2013.
  • 2013 brochure is way behind.  July disappeared.  We can make up the time.  Printed target is early September.  Now having group meetings on finalizing direction and starting – and iterating – content.
• Product Design:  Low mount dropout for Seven.  Draft 15 or so is complete.  Two fundamental approaches between which we’re trying to decide.  I’m hoping that we’ll wrap this up next week – at least the design phase.  Then onto SolidWorks drawings, prototyping, testing, and then maybe production – that’s about a week of time – or a year.

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Location Wednesday:  Seven  |  Studio     ||     8:35 am – 8:35 pm

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  Everything is a nail. Or a thumb. | Photo: Rob Vandermark

  Graphic Design:  Ads.  Trying to wrap up the Cyclocross Magazine ad.  Deadline is Friday.  I like our idea; a bit different – as many of our ads have been lately.  Photosourcing challenges.

• Sales Management:  Working on 2013 Plan.  This year continues to go very well at Seven Cycles.  Not sure if we’ll be able to grow by the same amount in 2013 but we’ve got so many great projects on deck that it might just be possible – projects that I can’t share in the TIAY journal; too top secret.
• Note:  I had a long meeting today with someone about how to get a job in the bicycle industry.  That’s a tough one.  Every company is different, and every had different requirements.  One of the most consistent ways of getting a job tends to be previous experience in the industry.  A bit of a conundrum.  There are a lot of ways to gain experience without having past experience to get you in the door.  If you really want to work in the bike industry, work hard at it.  Seven doesn’t require past industry experience.  The Studio doesn’t either.  While it does help in orienting the experience, it’s not a requirement for most jobs.  We discussed some ways this person could prove interest and gain some industry experience at the same time.  And have that all happen in a relatively short period of time.  We’ll see if this person takes my advice to heart.  Time will tell.

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Location Tuesday:  Seven  |  Studio     ||     7:10 am – 6:45 pm

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  Retired my old friend. To much poison ivy, among other things.

  Project:  Studio Water Bottles.  They arrived today.  Overall happy with them.

• Meeting:  Retailer meeting today about brand management.  This retailer is making a go of having Seven as the primary brand – no, it’s not the Studio – and we were running the numbers on the risk involved in this and what return over the next five years may be reasonable.  We agreed that it’s more than doable.  I hope that he decides to take that path.  Fortunately there are a lot of good and exiting paths to take.  He’ll do really well.
• Conversation:  I had one today regarding the shortness of life and the value of having fun.  I often forgo the later because I think that the former is the same and the later.  Apparently they’re not always one and the same.  Helpful for me to remember that.

Volume rocker.

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Location Monday:  Seven     ||     7:55 am – 7:35 pm

• Recruiting:  is out of control.  I feel like I spent most of the day on this.  It’s worthwhile but it does seem to absorb the day.
• Graphic Design:  Ad #2 for Cyclocross Magazine.  Mo and Matt and Dave Chiu?  It’s going to be another interesting ad.  I have to post the first ad somehow.  Time enough.
• Product Development:  Integrated Seat Post.  We’ve finally got the ISP integrated into production.  Stef is working on production drawings.  First frames shipped late last week.  More frames in process now.  All systems go.  This project is officially complete.  Until the next revision.

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Location Sunday:  Studio     ||     7:35 am – 7:05 pm

• Time Marker:  Rode with the Ride Studio Cafe Sunday group ride again.  Great ride.  Almost feeling human on the bike.  I believe this is my third ride ever with the Sunday Studio ride.

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Location Saturday:  Studio     ||     6:50 am – 7:20 pm

Moroccan Desert

Tired tonight.  That’s all.

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Location Friday:  Seven  |  Studio     ||     9:00 am – 10:25 pm

Levi Leipheimer making sparks fly 2012 Paris Nice; those little white dots are sparks; I’m assuming they’re from his rear derailleur.

• Graphic Design:  Seven water bottles.  We’re actually working on two designs.  And two very different bottles.
• Time Marker:  Today is Jon Henig’s last day. Met him in the parking lot for a final farewell.  Very touching.  He was never much of a talker – he was a worker and a doer.  It was nice to hear some very sincere words.  He was with Seven for eleven years.  He will be missed.

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Location Thursday:  Seven     ||     7:10 am – 9:35 pm

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  Jeff H’s Pegoretti – Big Leg Emma

  Project:  Recruiting seven people.  Too much happening; Even though others are helping manage these searches it does seem to take a lot of my time.  here’s the rundown all the hiring I’m involved with at the moment:

1. Seven Cycles Framebuilder:  Matt O. managing
2. Seven Cycles Framebuilder #2:  We might bring in two people; we’ll see.
3. Studio sales person:  Chantal and Patria are managing
4. Cafe person #1:  Chantal and Erica are managing
5. Cafe person #2:  Chantal and Erica are managing
6. Right Hand Person to work with me:  Chantal managing
7. Secret hire:  I’m looking for another person but it’s top secret right now.

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