Connecting the dots

As Jason and I have set out to build a line of shirts we have realized that a simple thought has turned into a complex problem to launch. It seems each week we add to our to do list with all the simple details that need to be done. Its hundreds of simple little things that make up one big complex list just to complete one simple thought. Whats the simple thought? Sell a shirt on a website.

In a meeting last week after 5 hours of talking about all the options of web design, shirts to print on, printing styles and images I threw out the thought of holding off on this project till we could get more things figured out. It was the responisble thing to do but also the sad thing as well.

As of now our venture sits while we are waiting to figure out the best way to take the line. It does not sit idle but in fact sits while we do our homework to make this exatly what we want.

If you go into business to make money.

Might cut corners, hurry projects and make bad decisions.

You might make money, You might not.

If you go into business to create a good business

Will make ethical decisions, patient decisions and a good foundation.

The bi-product is always money.

Years ago I was given this advice and have always enjoyed the thought behind it.

In effecting our Decisions Jason and I have decided to not let money run our business but good sound business strategies. We have put into play a very important characteristic into our business plan. That characteristic that we are putting into play is the patients to follow through with a goal that we have and not deter from our path of creating something worthwhile because of a deadline.

I urge you all to think about the long term and the more responsible way of living life. Not to make decisions based on on emotions but what is going to have the best longterm effects.

Live to Effect your situations.

Dont let situations Effect you.

Thanks for listening, Derek

Feeding hundreds

How do two people feed hundreds?


As talks proceeded over the project that Jason and I were working on together, two things seemed certian. The first was that both of us seemed to enjoy pushing a creative non convential way of making money and the other was that both of us had a heart to effect situations of need.

There has been two conversations that keep coming up in our talks together of how Effect can help and not just be a form of making money and the talks seem to stem back to the same ways to help.

Focus of help: Michigan's Economy and South Africa's Orphans

Ways to help: Awareness and Providing

The complication comes in how to actually Effect these situations and how to start something that has a finish and not just a waste of breath. So many of us have great intentions but nothing comes from them. I know that most of my life has seemed this way. So many things stream through my head but never come to reality.

This is one of those projects that Jason and I would like to see come about. We have thrown around tons of ideas on how to help and would greatly appreciate any and all ideas. We want to know the people that feel the same as we do and stick together.


How do two people feed hundreds? We find 98 other like minded people to help!


Thanks for listening. Derek

Effect Situations.

Live to EFFECT your situations

Dont let situations EFFECT you.

For over two years I have had this quote as a saying to live by and can say that the theory can transform someones life from one that is at the mercy of situations into one that directs the situations.

Most people are at the mercy of their job, financial situations, family and friends and typically feel that most of their day is planned out and dictated by everyone else. Dreams seem to always be just out of reach and people look forward to saturday night and the three day weekends. We seem to let our situations steer our life and often wonder why other people seem to pass us by and complete their goals.

The difference is in the decisions people make and not the situations that surround them:

As Coco Chanel grew up in a poor family and loosing her parents at a young age she was thought to be the last one to dress in high fashion let alone design it. Walt Disney was beat on a regular basis by his father and went on to be the most succesful person in creating family entertainment. B.B King was raised on plantations in a broken home having to deal with his mother dying at a young age. He was brought up in a time where whites and blacks were segragated and he bought his first guitar for $2.50. He has now recorded over 50 albums and whites and blacks both enjoy his music.

Each of their situations if left to effect them would have left Coco Chanel in poverty her entire life, Walt Disney would have had a troubling family himself and ran from wholesome family values, and B.B. King would have died already from a hard labored life on farms.

Jason and I began talking about these people and this subject months ago while working on a project together. Through his dream of using his art to create a line of shirts, and my dream of printing a worthwhile line of shirts, we created the idea of Effect.

Effect is evolving and this is the very beginning. Effect is starting as an artistic line of shirts that both of us will enjoy building. Effect shirts is our way of effecting our own situations.

The future goal of Effect is to ues a portion of our line to effect others. We both are pushing for this line to open doors for people to be helped. Its a small start, but a start none the less.

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one"

- Mother Teresa

Thanks for listening. Derek