RecWebsites.com

Yesterday as I sat in the lobby of the auto mechanic I picked-up a copy of Entrepreneur Magazine and begain reading "Tony Hawk Carves a New Niche." The article describes how Tony Hawk begain skateboarding at 9 years old and has since won more competitions than any other pro skater. In 1992 Tony started Birdhouse Skateboards. In reference to the success of Birdhouse Skateboards, Tony's sister states: “He has his finger on the pulse of his audience because he is that audience.” Tony is quoted as saying "You have to walk the walk. You’ve got to be out there skating and seeing what people are into. If I don’t make time to skate, I feel like I’m faking it."

What does this have to do with RecWebsites.com? Comparing yourself with Tony Hawk is a bit audacious for anyone to do, but as I read the article I couldn't help drawing some parallels, particularly in reference to the quotes by Tony and his sister. At RecWebsites.com we have our "finger on the pulse of [the] audience because [we are] that audience." I grow up as the son of the Superintendent of Recreation for a city of 60,000 in the mid-west (and literally lived inside a park for the first 15 years of my life). I spent my childhood attending every special event and probably half of the camps and sports leagues. I went on to get a bachelor's and master's degree in the field and now serve as Assistant Director for a small town in New England. Technology and Website development were hobbies that eventually turned into a side-business a couple years ago. As I spent more and more time in the field I realized how needed these services are in public parks and recreation; hence, the creation of RecWebsites.com and RecSurveys.com. Two services started by a second-generation parks and recreation professional and geared specifically towards the needs of recreation departments.

We may not be throwing-down "900's" at the X Games, but, like Tony Hawk and Birdhouse Skateboards, we have a finger on the pulse of our audience because we've walked the walk. Everyone always tells you to do what you are passionate about, so it only makes sense. Right?