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“In whatever you do, strive to do it so well, that no man living, no man dead, and no man yet to be born can do it any better” -Dr. Benjamin E. Mays
Nicholas “Nick” Bartley
Nicholas “Nick” Bartley is a young, energetic, and bourgeoning business mogul in the making with 10+ years of “qualified” event planning experience. I humbly address you in this message as the Founder and CEO of V2L Events, your event planning & design company. Often times I am noted for my sense of humility with a twist of arrogance and a bold flavor of self-confidence. As I look back on my life, which guides my daily existence, I make no apologies for reaching beyond the confines of this galaxy to aim for the dreams, goals, and ambitions that serves as the essence and manifestation of my destiny.
Many would look at me as a well-dressed, educated, goal-oriented, articulate, African-American man that has beaten the odds of what my beginnings dictated as the path I was to follow. However, I would look at myself, simply as a vessel of God sent to speak life and encouragement to those who know deep down inside that their environment does not determine who they are to become. I am a southern gentleman that is not afraid to let it be known that I was born in public housing and was one of five children raised in a single parent household by a hardworking woman that continues to be my motivation and inspiration for success. The very fact that I was surrounded by men and women who knew I was not the ordinary child, made me realize later in life that I was not meant to do things in an ordinary fashion. These supporters were the very people that pushed me to strive to do extraordinary things and allowed me to be me. Therefore, what was to become part of my destiny allowed me to endure the hardships, trials, and tribulations that one must go through if he is to identify with the very fact that “there is nothing to hard for God”. I was being placed in a position to where my hungry and sleepless nights, days of playing alone since I did not fit in with the others, the taunting and teasing because I would not conform to the stress of life & peer pressure, and the mere fact that at a young age I knew college was in my future despite the lack of a real-life example to follow. So from the midst of academic excellence and achievement arose a first generation college attendee who obtained a Bachelor’s in Mathematics for Morehouse College, Master’s in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University, and is preparing to soon seek a joint program to obtain the Juris Doctorate & Master of Business Administration degrees. Some call it over achievement, I call it creating my own path and showing that anything is possible.
The key to my current success is the fact that I stay grounded and devoted to fulfilling and executing my passion. Some find it easy to chase money, success, and fame, but all I have ever strove to do was help others. This was my work ethic while in school and it continues to be the driving force today. Upon my matriculation into College I was sure that I was destined to be the next great Architect. However, over time this change would be inevitably clear to me as I began to learn from my experiences in other endeavors. After graduation I received my first professional appointment as a Budget Assistant at Morehouse College and within my first year received a promotion to Budget analyst where I worked to manage and maintain a then $65M budget, give or take. After four years in the finance arena and my motivation and self-efficacy in that position began to decline due to my desire to assist with the development and motivation of students, not approving expenditures and maintaining budgets. Therefore, I spent my last nine months there as the Director of On-Campus Recruitment. The interaction with the current students and prospective students led me to my niche and passion and the decrease in my pay didn’t amount to my new found happiness. With the understanding that everything happens for a reason, my separation from my past employer allowed me the opportunity get back on track and to seriously think and reflect on how to utilize my skills and abilities to assist others and continue to seek the means of “affecting change in my environment”, a phrase I often used when speaking to college and high school students. I was fortunate and will be forever grateful for the experience and opportunity to build a solid five year career foundation at my college alma mater. The values I learned actually propelled me in many directions at once and taught me that it is definitely okay to stretch myself and not be comfortable with the status quo.
Therefore, after a bittersweet separation I decided to pursue a long awaited entrepreneurial endeavor…to own my own conference and special events company. It is my belief that my unique background of education, financial management, customer focus principles, innovative event planning experiences & creative design ideas will combine as an infusion of the perfect blend to accomplish my mission of transforming my clients’ visions into legendary and one of a kind events. I pride myself on making sure that each intricate detail receives the attention and recognition it deserves. So with an empty bank account, my final paycheck, and the prayers & faith that I learned at a young age, I took the ultimate leap of faith to create V2L Events. V2L is an avant-garde event design firm that seeks to change the scope of the event world and show clients that calculated risks are worth it as the final event experience will be one full of memories and a brand enhancer. This type of thinking creates a sense of discomfort for many and V2L recognizes that not everyone is ready to allow their event to be a life changing experience for the guests. Our aim is to afford everyone the opportunity to witness the V2L experience.
What is the V2L experience?
The V2L experience appeals to the needs of clients, the desires of attendees, and seeks to resolve the issue of lost event identity. No two events should be created equal so our intent is to ensure each event we produce has its own unique identity and experience of engagement. For a deeper understanding….stay tuned!
Home and design. Our design and architectural editorial features some of the best home designers in the world.
Beyond Oceans, we design luxury is the slogan of JAWZ Inc. The amazing talent behind Jawz aquarium and Design Company is the driving force behind its success. The captains of this ship are CEO Harjun Williams and Chief Operation Manager Maurice Williams. This strong brother team has established a unique brand that allows anyone who works with them to simply want more. Having had the opportunity to know the Williams Brothers, one would describe Harjun as a handsome and charming man with an extraordinary gift He describes his talents as “a pure gift from god.” In addition to being talented, Maurice also overseas the operation and logistics of the business in every aspect.
Harjun Williams’ success story is simply inspiring for any entrepreneur. After leaving high school, Williams did not take the traditional route. He didn't go off to college like his peers. He knew he had a love for architecture, but he was lost trying to understand what he truly wanted out of life. While trying to find his direction, he kept up with his love for aquariums and creatures of the sea. Because of this love, he worked for an aquarium shop in New York for many years in the late 90’s. Williams only made five dollars an hour. Out of this hobby, Williams created a company that is respected throughout the world. A day on the job with Harjun Williams consists of one of two visit to clients. He makes sure they have everything they need. Williams also calls and negations with his operation manager and connecting with his staffs.
As a hands on CEO, perfection is at the top of his list when it comes to creations. Jawz Inc is one of the world’s premiere leaders in aquarium & furniture art. They have showrooms located in Miami and New York. They travel the world to bring luxury designs to their clients in commercial and residential locations. From new construction to renovation, all of their work is done in-house. According Williams, this ensures the beauty and tranquility will be optimized to the aquarium. He also wants to create high quality furniture. Jawz Inc Designs creates, manufactures and installs the finest custom cabinetry. In addition to this, the company does woodwork for residential and commercial locations. Jawz Inc. takes pride in in their expert designers to make each client feel as if they are the only one.
Their clients always feel apart of their project. They provide a seamless production process for each one. With over 12 years of experience, they have built many of the Tri-States, California and Florida’s finest custom residential and commercial furniture. Today, Jawz Inc is considered an expert in providing aquariums and maintenance services. Their highly trained and professional staff members are always on time and they’re when you need us. The maintenance team ensures aquariums and water features are always clean, clear and prepared for longevity
America: Land of Hard Work and Prosperity or Land of Entitlement and Litigation?
Easy credit and frivolous lawsuits might have thrown the concept of having a work ethic out of the window. It is hard to pick yourself up and head out the door for a tiring laborious job when you see someone on the news bring in a multi-million dollar check because they found a bug in their food at a local fast food restaurant, or because they didn’t look both ways and got hit by a car. Seeing these kinds of incidents pan out for folks who have done nothing to actually earn a million dollars has sparked envy from those who always work hard. Regrettably, children see this type of payout and grow to expect an easy ride rather than earn it. Today, some look to those who are financially successful such as doctors, fast food chains, insurance companies and big business, but instead of imitating the model of success they spent years following, some just want to acquire what they have by suing them.
There are endless of examples of those who have chosen to sue for riches and a lifestyle they won’t work to earn. Some ways in which you see this tactic used successfully is in the areas of car insurance, medical malpractice suits and workers compensation. You can find many situations where someone suffered minimal damage and has accepted a multi-million dollar settlement so they never have to bother working again. Medical malpractice meant to protect you from malice or intentional injury has been twisted to make doctors pay out serious cash for any human error imaginable no matter how minor the suffering may turn out to be. Statutes meant to protect labor workers from being unfairly fired or recklessly injured have also been twisted as to allow any minor injury to also result in big pay outs so the worker never has to wok again. It seems as though anyone who sees a large house or beautiful car can simply contemplate who to sue and they too can have all the luxuries in life without ever having to work to earn them.
There are several shocking examples of people who chose suing to earn money rather than hard work. One man actually sued NBC for 2.5 million on the premise that the show “Fear Factor” caused him pain and suffering due to its content and how it made him sick to watch. Another woman is now living quite nicely after she was hit by a subway train in New York City. She was awarded 14 million dollars. The subway system in no way failed or was faulty. She was laying on the tracks trying to attempt suicide at the time she was hit. She survived and now has 14 million reasons to live. One man now lives free and easy after suing Budweiser Beer. Did they harm him in any way making it impossible for him to earn a living for his family? No. He was irreparably traumatized when he found drinking Budweiser didn’t get the beautiful women promised in their advertising. Sadly, all of these folks are now relishing in riches they never had to earn the hard way.
These cases and the general mentality of entitlement found in all aspects of American society only show future generations all they need for success is to sit back and wait for a minor misfortune to fall upon them. Millions of dollars are likely to fall from the sky if they just find the right lawyer to take the case.
There Are Fundamental Steps to Starting a Business
No one ever ran a successful business without putting in the time and effort to see it come to life. There are many necessary steps to starting a business if you want it to succeed and be the place you envisioned. While there is no one set formula to follow which fits every business in every economic climate, there are shared steps most startup businesses need to be aware of.
Some are practical and common sense, while other steps are legal maneuvers to keep your startup protected and legitimate.
You then have to set forth and find the training and counseling services available in your area. Everyone knows knowledge is power and the same applies to the business world. Whether you have a business degree already or no formal education, utilizing the free training or seminars in your area will only serve to increase your understanding of the business world. Business climates change rapidly. Any additional training or advice you can receive will keep your startup plans current and relevant in a changing economy. You can check out resources online or even contact your local chamber of commerce for assistance. They will be more than willing to help you find the proper resources and training.
Your startup will need a location or operating base regardless of what industry it involves. You will have to research zoning laws and examine the ideal location before you can begin any startup proceedings. Your choice of location will determine your visibility to potential customers. You also need to know if the space is the appropriate size for your new business, if it can house the supplies, inventory or equipment you will need.
All startup businesses require some form of finance. Even if you have worked hard to fully fund your startup independently, looking into additional resources is the smartest way to financially get your business going. You can look to traditional loans, government loans, venture capital opportunities, or tap into the plethora of grant options available. Every individual business will have different needs. You might need startup money for your retail space, equipment, and website capabilities. Everything that you don’t have already will need to be bought with capital from somewhere.
Next, you must determine your legal structure. This involves deciding if you are going to be the sole proprietor or if you will have partners. You also need to legally take action to be known as a corporation, LLC, not for profit, or other legal distinctions available. This should be based on the size and equity involved in your startup business. This choice will determine your liability and taxes. As your business changes and develops, your legal structure can be changed also.
Once you have taken these essential steps, you must register your business name with the government. This will lead to your establishment as an existing business. You will receive a tax identification number which will be used by just your business. Aside fro legal issues, naming your business is a strategic move not to be taken lightly. It will set you apart from your competition and brand your company in the eyes of the public.
You will then have to register with your state and local government for tax reasons. This will establish your businesses workers compensation capabilities and disability insurance options. Without these legal maneuvers, you open yourself up to instant financial failure and liability if something should ever go wrong. As a business, your rights and the rights of those you hire are paramount and need to be established through these legal formalities.
As for your physical business, getting the required licenses and permits is also a necessary step to starting your own business. These are required by federal, state and local law and ordinances. It will also be vital to investigate and follow the legal channels necessary to hire employees to work for you.
Even With the Best Intentions, There Can Be Setbacks in Business
When someone finally puts all of their sweat and tears into seeing their dream business become a reality, they might not be able to predict setbacks which can stand in the way of their success. While no business plan is immune to setbacks, you can put forth your best effort to guard against any.
