Ramblings from the Grassroots
by Latrone Walters
As the owner, operator, promoter, janitor and any other hat that is worn to keep a business up and running, I get asked quite often: “What is it?” I believe what is meant by this inquiry is what is the The Mind Resource itself? What is it intending to accomplish? What do you do? This blog isn’t an attempt to clarify any misconceptions about the business itself. But rather to leave space for each individuals well deserving interpretation. (This is my first ever blog!)
I must admit that I am often taken off guard by the question in itself, which highlights an important point about perspective and communication when it comes to business. From my own perspective and internal communication it seems clear as day. In business though, it doesn’t only matter that you can define it internally but it matters just as much that your community, your audience, and your customers can see it clearly.
I’ve had to apologize to myself for being snarky and/or taking offense with well intended questions for clarification in the initial phases of the startup of The Mind Resource LLC. “What don’t you get?” I would say to myself internally, while externally trying to compose myself, while simultaneously giving my current elevator pitch. To anyone that I may have had an interaction with in those early days I want to send a gigantic apology. At that time I was responding from a place of anxiety, lack of preparation and indecision. I’ve learned in almost 1 complete year in business that those feelings are often apart of many entrepreneurial pursuits. When building a company from the ground with no capital you learn to acquire massive amounts of grit, dumptruck loads of belief, and undying commitment to ownership. You understand responsibility and several other intangible qualities that don’t come with a certificate with your name on it with letters following it. There is something completely liberating about taking utter and absolute ownership of the startup process. Not that I advise it or even consider it the smartest way, but what I’m saying is that when you start to see the wheels on the makeshift bus begin to turn the feeling is comparable to the feeling I had when I passed my final test to become a United States Marine. As great of a feeling if not greter than when I won the local toughman in the smalltown of Mooresville North Carolina. To see something that you believed in since day 1 begin to take off is an insurmountable feeling that forever changes you in an overwhelmingly positive way. (Well at least it is for me anyway.)
That is what The Mind Resource is. It is an idea that something can be made from nothing. That as long as you can think critically you will always have the opportunity to find authenticity and fulfillment for yourself. When I say something from nothing I mean it figuratively. I no longer take offense to the question “What is it?” Because I know that it is my responsibility to live the authenticity of The Mind Resource in a way that people will eventually say “I see what it is. I see where it’s going. I know why it is here.” Right now all I can say is that the mind is not designed as any confined or strictly defined thing. It is just something we live with. Explore with. And understand with. There are no shortages of definitions of what it is, and I don’t think I am here to define it. If anything The Mind Resource is a recognition and conduit of the quality that we have been fortunate to have in this life.
My goal is that everyone recieves the unabated opportunity to explore and utilize their individual attributes in its entirety. Uncertainty is ok and sometimes necessary. It’s just up to us to use initiative to progress towards realization and resolve to figure out what it is that really allows your light to shine around the world. To your success.