The Chateau Project

Here's an overview of my big idea:

The Big Idea
I want to buy a Chateau in Allier, France, renovate it and open a small bed and breakfast to host guests from around the world. I’ve found the Chateau and need to raise $2 million to buy it.

Who Am I?
I don’t come from family wealth or have a sugar daddy. I’m a typical, middle-class American girl who’s followed a pretty normal path – college, career, marriage. But I’ve always had big ideas. I usually put my big ideas to work to make my employer or clients’ dreams come true – now it’s my turn to put my expertise and contacts to work to make something happen for myself.

Why Am I Doing This?
Because I’m just crazy enough to believe that it can work. The model is easy – reach 2 million people via the Internet who are willing to give me $1 of their hard-earned money to make my dream a reality. They can follow my progress and see how their contribution is put to work. I’ll be blogging daily about my progress, tracking donations on my web page and eventually showing our family hard at work preparing the bed and breakfast to open.

Plus, I’ve always been obsessed with France and regretted my decision to move back home after spending three semi-homesick months in Paris following college. This is a chance to redeem myself for not being impulsive or brave enough in my 20s.

The Money
I need at least $2 million to buy and renovate the Chateau. I hope to do it $1 at a time. I could take larger donations, but don’t want to find myself in a situation where I’m forced to develop a business plan, answer to the “boss,” sacrifice my vision for that of someone else – I want to do this with the help of people around the world who want to see someone attain their dream.

How?
This is a global marketing experiment using only the Internet and media coverage to get there. It’s six degrees of separation on steroids. It will take a serious commitment on my part, and more importantly, major help from my family, friends, colleagues, sphere of influence and lots of strangers to get me started and keep momentum going.

Here's What I Need!
1. Guts – I’ve worked myself up to the point of telling people about this cockamamie idea, so I can check this one off.
2. Bank – I’ve opened a bank account and officially have $102 dollars (as of August 13, 2008)
3. Blog – I started a blog about my nutty idea, and have posted the ups and downs so far – stay posted for ongoing updates throughout my journey
4. Web site – This is a biggie. I’ve gotten a commitment from threesquared to help out with the web site. I’ll need to tell my story, keep it fun, keep it transparent, provide a way to collect donations (and tally my progress), and recognize those who are helping me along the way. First, I need an illustrator to create the graphics for the site.
5. Viral marketing – Once the web site is live, I’ll be emailing everyone I’ve ever encountered to ask for their help in spreading the word virally. E-newsletters, e-fundraising, forward to a friend, social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook), blogging, meet up, digg – here I come!
6. Sponsors – Through kind gestures, I’m hoping to secure donations of a few key services or products. Here’s what I need so far:
a. Web site – DONE! Thanks threesquared
b. French lessons – Rosetta Stone?
c. Accountant
d. Attorney
e. Immigration
f. Moving services – PODS?
g. Plane tickets - Delta?
7. Media coverage – I’ve been doing PR for almost 15 years, so I should be able to get myself on Oprah or meet my girl Meredith on TODAY, right? We shall see – let’s start local, maybe the AJC would like to do a story on a crazy local girl who’s got a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal). There are a lot of Francophiles in this town who might hop on board.
8. Networking – Tell everyone and anyone I encounter about my adventure and make the ask.
9. Pack it up, get on a plane, and brace for a wild ride!

That’s it. Once I get there, I’ll figure out how to keep it going and make everyone proud they supported me along the way.

Le Scrapbook

I'm home sick today, and trying to keep my creativity flowing is hard when I don't feel like getting off the couch. I started my Chateau scrapbook though - and pasted in my first few inspiration points: an adorable sheep, a castle-shaped candle box that will become the model for an origami download on my web site and some French-inspired fashion that would be perfect for cocktail hour on the back patio or TV appearances.

The web site seems to be on hold pending hiring an illustrator or someone who can draw up my vision - I'll work on making that happen soon, I can't postpone the dream much longer.

UK Connection

I'm so lucky to have great friends who are supporting me in this journey. I had no idea how many connections could be made before I really even get underway. My friend (and lovely work neighbor) Renee was with me when I found out about "Chateaux R Us" and is so inspired by my idea she'll be one of my first guest chefs, my mom is signing up for French lessons and I'm sure has already written a menu for our first guests, and tonight friend MK told me she has some family friends from England who opened a B&B in France! Voila, I've got connections to someone who has undertaken a similar daunting task - can't wait to talk to them!

Paris Pilgrimage

Yet another reinforcement of how much I need, want, have to be in France is the September issue of Gourmet, now on its way to newsstands everywhere. This issue marks the magazine's epicurean pilgrimage to the City of Light and is chock full of fun. The web site has some special features as well.

Food markets, top restaurants, luxurious hotel bars and recipes - oh my! Time to book a flight.

The Red Envelope

I forgot to mention in earlier posts that I've started collecting the donations from gracious friends in a special Red Envelope. I didn't know much about the significance of red envelopes until Christmas, when my parents gave Troy and I a generous gift in one. They received the envelope from some Chinese friends who visited Seattle last year, and wanted to give back for my parent's hospitality.

According to Wikipedia, red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as Chinese weddings or on holidays such as the Chinese New Year. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. The amount of money contained in the envelope usually ends with an even digit, for instance 88, 168 are both lucky numbers, as odd numbered money gifts are traditionally associated with funerals. At weddings, the amount offered is usually intended to cover the cost of the attendees as well as a goodwill to the newly weds.

I find the red envelope's symbolic good luck will help me in my journey. To satisfy American tradition, I've also opened a saving's account for this endeavor.

Take Me Away

I don't know how much longer I can take of this morning commute with visions of French Chateaux dancing in my head. The highlight of my morning was getting my favorite parking space! How sad is that - I get excited about getting a parking space. I think this day deserves a big argggghhhh.

Yesterday, however, was great. I had lunch with my friend and fellow marketeer Shane King, of threesquared fame, who has agreed to develop my web site and online marketing strategy to help me pursue the chateau. It's off to the races to write my plan and start laying out the site - then, it's up to the masses to forward me through cyberspace. Thanks Shane!

Building Up to Bravery

I need to get over myself and tell everyone what's up with my dream. Today I'm totally inspired - so much for the slump - and think I can make this happen much sooner than my 40th birthday (which incidentally is almost more than 3 years, especially when I lose count of my age - I'm not old, I'm not old, I'm not old).

I can envision myself feeding the horses in my wellies, tossing balls to my dogs in the lawn and trekking to the local patisserie for some fresh baguette and eclairs. The challenge for the next few weeks is before me - I have to get the web site up and running, start asking for donations and set the wheels in motion. And, the big one - I need to ask my employer for support on this journey. I don't know why I'm so scared - my bosses are about making your dreams reality, so I should go for it!

Mieux

Mieux is the French word of the day - and it means "better." I take that to mean I'm better today - I've been a little discouraged, thus my lack of posting for almost a week. In blogland, that's a big no-no.

Why, you ask, was I discouraged? I started getting too bogged down in the details - how am I going to get my dogs to France without having to quarantine them, will I be able to get a long-term visa, how will I pay taxes on all this money I'm asking for??????? Argh, I'm driving myself crazy and I've only raised two dollars!

Ok, back to the fun part - making it happen and dreaming about what I will do when the day comes. No more Debbie Downer!