2014 – Year of the Risks

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This article isn’t going to include a detailed list of all the goals and plans I have set throughout the year; this article’s purpose is to talk about why I dubbed 2014 the “Year of Risks.” If you’re interested in knowing about the specific plans, you’ll have to check back to NicAndPatrick, watch the vlogs, and stay up to date with my YouTube channel.

2013 was one of the greatest years of my life. Throughout the year, I really changed as a person. I changed what I wanted with my life, and more importantly, I found multiple sources of happiness in my life. I know this article is more about what the plans for 2014 are, but it’s important to touch on the background and how I decided to set these future goals.

During 2013, Nic and I launched multiple projects. For example, we launched CrysisTV (the website and YouTube network), which is almost a year old, and we also launched projects such as PickWebHosting, NicAndPatrick, and started design/development on RKT and ShuffleVids. Not only did Nic and I launch multiples website and a YouTube network throughout the year, but I also realized the direction I want to take my life.

In early 2013, I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life. At first, I thought I would go to college for something in Computer Science, but I then realized it just wasn’t something I wanted to dedicate my life to. I also pondered the idea of getting a degree in Graphic Design, but, I was having an extremely difficult choice in choosing which path to take – CS or Arts. This decision caused a lot of thinking over the past few months, but I finally came to the conclusion that works best for me. I’m now questioning if going to college is even a good option for what I want to do with my life. With staring all of these online businesses with Nic over the past couple years, I’ve really come to the point where I’m striving and wanting to start and expand beyond what I could have imagined in the past. The ultimate goal of this year is to go to California to expand and start a new business, which will hopefully be our biggest success yet. For what I want to do with my life – entrepreneurship – college isn’t really a necessity. In any industry, especially business, I promise you will learn more from work experience than you could learn from a textbook. There are exceptions to this though; for instance, I wouldn’t really want to go to a doctor that was just guessing. So, I do completely understand why college is necessary for some.

Now let’s move on to 2014. I’m officially dubbing 2014 “Year of the Risks.” This is the year where I want to explore the opportunities that are in front of me. I want to show the world that I will be what I’ve always dreamt of. 2013 was the beginning of it all, but 2014 will be the biggest year of my life. The “risks” that Nic and I are taking throughout the year will be viewed as positive or negative. Some may view it as an opportunity being chased; other may view it as soul searching. Critics, however, will view it as stupid, insane, ridiculous, childish, irresponsible, etc. I view it as following my dreams, and that, my friends, is what truly matters in life. 2014 is going to be a big part of my life, and I know that it is going to be the year that I’m never going to forget. I’m more nervous, anxious, and excited everyday, but I will love every moment of it.

Aside from the biggest risk of them all, which is the trip to California, and the determining factor in dubbing it the “Year of Risks,” what other risks will I be taking? Well, at the moment I don’t want to give too many of these ideas away, because, in all honesty, most of the ideas are still in the works. What I will say, however, is that we are going to be expanding the CrysisTV brand, the NicAndPatrick brand, and the PickWebHosting brand like crazy. Along side of expanding, we will also be starting fresh with new ideas. I would also like to start some research for a product. I love the world of online business, but I want something more tangible that I can touch and know it’s hours of hard work our team has put in. I’ll write more about this in a separate post.

While 2013 was one of the greatest years of my life, it is not where I want to settle. Throughout the upcoming year, I want to go from something to someone. While this may not be accomplished next year, one day I don’t want to be known as an entrepreneur. I want to be known as Patrick Fassler. If risks are taken throughout 2014 – and believe me, they will be – this will be achievable. 2014 is the year that will push me out there and force me to succeed or fail. If I succeed, these businesses will grow beyond what I imagined possible; however, if I fail, I will know what to do better next time.

Throughout the year you will hear more about these risks, but the LA trip seems to be the most interesting risk to publicize at the moment. I will be sure to post more articles about what we’re doing and keep everyone up to date about it. If you’re interested in knowing about the trip to California, there will be some articles about our plans and goals while we are out there. We will also be vlogging the entire process to California, which will start in January. Daily vlogs will be recorded and uploaded throughout the entire year, so you’ll be able to keep up with the entire trip and the hell and fortunes it brings.