New World Record
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
Elmwood Avenue’s venerable music store, New World Record, announced this week they are planning on closing their doors after 24 years.
BuffaloBloviator writes:
Govindan Kartha,
Congratulations New World Record founder, Govindan Kartha, for 24 years of success. That may not be a “world record” - but it’s a hell of a record for any private enterprise. That doesn’t happen without the right chops and a lot of hard work.
You may be leaving an expired industry but you certainly are not leaving behind the business experience and instincts that come from 24 years in the trenches.
My own specialty electronics e-commerce (mail-order before WWW) business happens to be 24 years old this year also. 10 years in, I started losing money because the nature of the home and studio recording industry changed, just as the record store industry now has changed. I hung on until the end because I really didn’t think I knew how to do anything else, it was all I had ever done since college. I quickly learned that the experience easily transferred to new industries. In fact, I am convinced that the experience I gained during the tougher years was even more valuable than the experience gained during the successful years. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade that painful experience for anything.
You are battle hardened my friend. I hope that you decide to remain self-employed because you will be amazed at the resources that you discover within yourself. As in physical exercise, when talent is exercised one day at a time, over the years, you don’t realize or notice all of that development and power until you have the opportunity to test your strength on something new.
Congratulations again, and may your next venture bring 24 years of success.
Howard Goldman