Happy One-Year Anniversary for DreamCatcher Curriculum!

Alright, so we're running a little behind on blog posts. But that's because DreamCatcher has been running full steam ahead with the business of helping students prepare for college! As our many colleagues in TRIO, GEAR UP, IECA, high school counseling, college advising, and other college prep professions know...helping students achieve their college dreams is a full-time job (and then some). Our first year running a business was filled with adventure and excitement, but also valuable lessons as small business owners. We continue to grow and adapt and (hopefully!) get better at this whole running-a-business thing. It's been an enormous learning process, and there is still much to learn, but we are thankful to our many customers from across the country (and Puerto Rico!) who've helped make our dream of starting a business a reality. Here's to one year (plus six months) of DreamCatcher Curriculum!

We gave ourselves ONE YEAR to see if this would work. If we could survive one year, and not plunge ourselves into substantial debt, that would achieve more than many start-up businesses. If DreamCatcher didn't work out, at least we could say we dared to try. That alone was worth the incredible risk. From our first purchase (thank you, UT Arlington TRIO!) to our biggest purchase (here's looking at you, Choctaw Nation), to our many regular customers (TRIO at Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Graceland University; GEAR UP Education Service Region 12; Springdale High School, and so many more!) every single order has given us inspiration and encouragement to keep going. Keep designing additional curriculum topics. Keep traveling to new educational conferences. Keep running this business for the sake of thousands upon thousands of students across the country. Students who deserve their shot at getting a college education. Students like we were, knowing first-hand the struggle of a humble beginning. Students like those we advised before starting this company, when we were TRIO professionals. Our hearts are in this for them. And we mean business in running this small business.

We founded DreamCatcher with a goal of selling 1,000 packs of curriculum in our first year. We determined the company's mission and committed to it. We researched how to start a business; took small business classes; found an attorney; found two additional attorneys (for intellectual property); found an accountant; filed for a license; established a website; created and designed college-prep curriculum from scratch; filed for copyrights; climbed in a car and hit the road to exhibit at conferences; traveled countless miles from coast to coast; met with hundreds of educators and college-prep professionals to explain our materials and company goals; did presentations; designed even MORE curriculum topics; traveled again and again. And you know what? At the end of one year's time, WE DID IT.

So here we are, a year and a half later with just as much passion and conviction in our goals (and maybe slightly more business savvy than when we began). Every order is a celebration. Every on-site sale is a thrill. Every student helped is a victory. We wouldn't be here without our cheerleaders, supporters, customers, proofers, attorneys, and (most importantly) each other. Thank goodness for this (growing) group of people! Here's a giant one-year (plus 6-month) anniversary hug for each and every one of you. Collectively, ya'll made this dream become a reality, and that's just everything, really. We thank you.

Most of our blogs and customer contacts are from the perspective of both of us together, but for a change, here's what we want to say individually about the milestone of reaching one year+ in business:

Whitney: If you would have told me a few years ago that I would become one of the founders and owners of a company, I don’t think I would have believed it. In forming DreamCatcher Curriculum, I have grown creatively and professionally through the development of our curriculum and the operation of the business. DreamCatcher Curriculum has enabled us to help tens of thousands of students in their quest for a college education, as well as being able to assist the educators that serve those students. The last year and a half has been incredible. I can’t help but believe that we’re doing our part to build a better world.

Aimee: How thrilling it is for DreamCatcher Curriculum to have a successful beginning! It means we are making a difference in the lives of even more students, and that's what this endeavor has been about from the very beginning. There's nothing quite like the feeling of accomplishing our goal and being able to continue for a second year. It's a mixture of pride, gratitude, joy, and (most importantly) fulfillment. I am grateful every day to do this incredibly important work. Plus, I've learned that venturing outside your comfort zone and taking risks (even if you're a shy, pragmatic country girl), can be incredibly rewarding. Having passion about something greater than yourself matters. You have to be brave and follow that dream.

Our anniversary treat on February 1st, 2017: White Chocolate Creme Brulee from Bordino's in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Yum!

So raise a dessert spoon to DreamCatcher's first year+ in business! We hope to continue the work of helping you help your students. That means new curriculum to release late summer 2017 and early 2018! Our catalog continues to grow. Plus, a few original curriculum topics will be refined in early 2018. For now, we're gearing up for the fall conference season. Hope to see many of you on the road! Thanks to those who've purchased our products. Thanks for reading our blog and following our many adventures (travel and otherwise). May our second year in business be just as sweet!

Happy One-Year Anniversary! (Six Months Ago)