It’s amazing how fast things change, init?

A major source of funding that we assumed was a sure thing dried up yesterday like dew in Death Valley. This creates two very interesting situations for us:

1) We need to devise a very creative plan B before launch and execute it but, on the other hand . . .

2) This fiscal set-back keeps Thumbtack Press grassroots. So much so that the ulcer-inducing stress and weight of a start-up business has literally fallen away from my chest like an albatross.

That’s good, right?

There was so much noise I wanted to make about Thumbtack Press before the September 15th launch, and that money would have bought a pretty large blowhorn. It looks like this will be a soft launch that will rely largely on word-of-mouth. One thing is certain, I’m not letting this ruin what has been accomplished already. I’ll try to steer clear of sappiness as much as possible, but I believe the partnerships I’ve already created with the artists has been miraculous. Many have come aboard—without the security of shaking my hand or looking me in the eye—because they know it’s good and right. I know they hear it in my voice or read between the lines of our emails. I haven’t had to articulate much (thank God!) or show complicated organizational business charts. They just get it.

I’m still here Tom!