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.