ComfyDad

Today is Father's Day and I decided to get a few early morning Uber rides in before picking my girls up from their mom. As a co-parent with 50% custody on paper (I steal a lot of time back on my off weeks by coaching and being a PTA Dad, LOL), every moment with my daughters is precious. This morning, I had the incredible fortune of meeting someone who left an indelible mark on me: A. Egon Cholakian Those who know me well know that I am a guy who questions everything. I've met some fascinating individuals in my life, but Egon tops the list by far. My jaw dropped multiple times during our conversation as he shared stories from his extraordinary life. From building businesses to the CIA, Broadway to Hollywood, international affairs, Harvard Law, Supreme Court cases he litigated, MIT, the Vatican, Russia, and countless other experiences, his journey is nothing short of astounding. We even talked about our trips to Paris and our interests in Broadway. My only regret was that there wasn't enough traffic in Atlanta and I couldn't listen to him longer. The sage advice he offered about what to expect as a founder resonated deeply with me. He outlined his three stages of starting a company: 1. Stage 1: Don't expect anyone to support your vision... Show them. 2. Stage 2: Maybe some will support you if you make it, but most will be rooting against you... Most don't make it to stage two 3. At this point, you know exactly who you are. When I shared my pitch for ComfyDad, he loved it—except for one thing. At the end, I said, "So, I'm just taking a gamble, and we will see what happens." He bluntly responded, "I don't like that you said it's a gamble. It's not! You are the only one that needs to believe, and your job is to know everything about your business. It's not a gamble. You know it's not, and even if it fails, you will do something else, and that cycle may repeat a few more times until the 6th or 7th finally wins. Embrace the knowledge you gain from each failure." That was exactly what I needed to hear as I navigate building and bootstrapping ComfyDad. My imposter syndrome caused me to end the pitch like that, but the reality is, I believe ComfyDad will be huge—not because we will sell a superior product, but because it's driven by a passion to celebrate fathers globally in a creative way. In a post-pandemic world, we've all become a bit more siloed in our own lives. Connecting and building community with like-minded individuals is the goal. I look forward to meeting Egon again, getting his critiques on my business plans, and continuing to learn from his wealth of experience. My mind is blown at how the universe works. What are the odds? Happy Father's Day to all globally and cheers to anyone with the belief that they are working on something that will change the world. I am extremely humbled by this experience. There are no coincidences. #ComfyDad Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Join Us for the ComfyDad Family & Friends Pop-Up Event! Celebrate fatherhood with ComfyDad as we unveil our exclusive collection of premium, stylish, and comfortable merch designed just for dads. Celebrate fatherhood with ComfyDad as we unveil our exclusive collection of premium, stylish, and comfortable merch designed just for dads. Get early access to our high-quality branded merch before the full official ComfyDad collection launches in August. Enjoy a memorable shopping experience with your loved ones and celebrate the incredible dads who inspire us every day!! Shipping is free with the purchase of 2 or more items! Support a start-up! https://lnkd.in/eg_MRiqc #ComfyDad #FathersDay #Community