Every entrepreneur struggles with the timing of their business launch, pondering questions like: is the technology infrastructure in place to support my idea? Is there pent-up market demand? Is my target audience ready for my idea? Do I have time right now to devote to making this work?

Tracy Fuller struggled more than most business founders, and with questions that went well beyond those above. Looking for a way to get back out into the world after the death of her son, she started a small balloon delivery service for special occasions.  Nothing describes her decision and the challenges she faced better than this quote from a podcast interview:

“I think anything that you recover from and you decide that you’re going to be a ‘thriver’ instead of just a survivor or a victim becomes a bullet in your belt and makes you stronger…I’ve had some challenges—child death, divorce, dealing with my ex-husband’s bi-polar disorder—those are some big things to tackle when you’re trying to raise kids and raise a business.”

Today, she’s come a long way from that kitchen-table business delivering balloons and signs for events. [Read more…]