Why Is It Taking So Long?

I attended a get-together with former co-workers last night. We all worked at SlipStream Data, in the 2003-6 timeframe, before Slipstream was acquired by Research In Motion. Last night we gathered at Morty’s Pub in Waterloo.

During any such event conversation always turns to Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo. Friends, colleagues, acquaintances, golfers, and the list goes on, often ask me when our center will open and why it’s taking so long. The answer is of course both complicated and quite simple at the same time.

The complicated answer involves the economic times we live in, the fact that our budget is significant, Parmasters is a young franchise and thus some investors and/or potential investors gauge a higher level of risk (than say a more tried and proven franchise opportunity), and the list continues. On a day-to-day, task-level, meeting to meeting to meeting basis, this is the situation.

Building a business from scratch is never a straight, simple, smooth road. There are always bumps, ruts in the road, and detours. But the destination always remains the same.

The more simplistic answer to why the center is not yet open goes something like this: because I, as the founder, President and franchise owner, have not made it happen. Period. In other words, I accept full responsibility.

As they say, with great power (and when it comes to affecting the opening date for Parmasters KW, no one is more powerful than me), comes great responsibility.

The conversations, like the one at Morty’s last night, always conclude in the same fashion. We’ll open Parmasters KW as soon as possible. I will continue relentlessly pursuing this project, pushing this company forward with everything I have to give, until we’re open. Period.

I have one friend in particular that remains astounded at the above assertion. We don’t see each other that often, but invariably he’ll say something like, “Wow, you’re still hanging in there. You’re really committed to this thing aren’t you?”

And the only answer to that is, “Yes, absolutely, entirely, relentlessly, and unwaveringly committed.”

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” -John Quincy Adams

Parmasters KW will open, and it will do so soon. And whenever we do open our golf training center, said grand opening will have occurred as soon as humanly possible, nary a moment earlier nor a moment later. These things I know for sure.