Back in the spring of 2012 I was contemplating doing a kickstarter to try something new. I had an idea for a bottle cutter but the thought of filming myself up close in HD and putting it out the web for everyone to see made me cringe. I grew up as an introvert, throughout my professional career I was forced to put myself self out there, be it through business presentations or filling a leadership role. Even though I did these things I was never really comfortable with it. Creating a kickstarter campaign and putting myself out there in this way was really not something I was comfortable doing. A big part of me had already decided I was not going to do it; this is when I ran across the facebook post that changed everything. A simple little picture tucked away inside my facebook news stream.
The second I saw this picture a series of clicks happened in my head. I realized that we all create the boundaries of our comfort zone and once these boundaries are established we rarely look beyond them. Whenever we are faced with a problem or an opportunity we only consider options within our comfort zone. It does not take long before we exhaust all options available inside this zone. Once all the options are exhausted we get stuck, there is nowhere to go, no room for something new. Once I had this realization I knew I had to try something new, the further outside my comfort zone the better and this kickstarter project was way outside my current zone. I figured the worst that could happen would be my project would not get funded, maybe some embarrassment, perhaps some ridicule. All emotions rooted in fear.
To make a long story short, one year later my life is completely different and so much magic has happened that it all seems a little surreal.
· My kickstarer raised 80k in 30 days.
· I then went on to sell a quarter millions dollars worth of Kinkajous in 90 days.
· I quit what many people would consider a dream job.
· My invention has been sold in over 50 countries.
· It was featured on an American TV show
· A Hollywood studio is considering to use it is a large budget picture
· I’m in talks to appear on a national daily television program in the US.
· I’ve launched a new company Bottle Cutting Inc.
· I’m currently promoting my second Kickstarter “The Jabiru” which is trending to raise over 120k in 60 days.
· I have 4 other products in the pipeline.
· I’m currently negotiating large distribution deals
· And the list goes on….
If there is one thing this year has taught me, it’s don’t be scared to put yourself out there. My new mantra if something scares me is, bring it on. I actively seek out things that scare me and face them head on. Example, I love to play guitar and sing, I do this at home alone but the thought of doing this in front of other people brings on an instant level of discomfort, increased heart rate, basically a whole lot of anxiety. My solution to this was to sign up for weekly vocal lessons with a goal of doing an open mic night at some bar in the near future. I was drenched with sweat and lost in a sea of anxiety during the first few lessons but somewhere in there I also found a little magic, a blissful joy from singing.
It’s been a popular activity for people to create bucket lists, a list of things to do before they pass, well I have my own list, a list of fears to confront. I also don’t plan on taking a lifetime to complete this list. I'm actively crossing off items as fast as my stomach can handle them. Here are just a few of the items on my list.
· Letting go of trying to do everything perfectly
· Surrendering to the unknown
· Allowing myself to show vulnerability
· Not being afraid to made fun of
· Letting go of control
This one leap of faith has changed my life and the life of my family and for this I am extremely grateful, to that end I’m happy to announce that I’ve found a way to pay it forward. I am setting aside a portion of all profits to help those most in need. Since I launched this product a year ago I have received hundreds of emails from individuals and organizations all over the world asking me to donate some bottle cutting equipment so that they can try to earn a living form this craft. Many of the places where we received these emails from don’t have official recycling programs in place so there is no shortage of bottles. They also all seem to have some sort of tourism industry. Up-cycling bottles is a great way to create some income especially when great looking bottles are rampant. I will also be launching a new page soon where individuals and organizations can apply to be a part of this program.
Stay tuned, be fearless and watch for the magic…
]]>Now when I travel I can’t help but look for new bottles. I picked up these beauties in San Diego a couple weeks back. Not only do I get to add some unique bottles to my collection, I also get a chance to sample things I normally wouldn’t buy. The Smoked Porter was pretty good. J
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For all my Kickstarter backers who selected the color voting option I’ve created a survey to facilitate the process. Anyone is welcome to vote (I would love to get the feedback) but only the votes from those who selected the color-voting option will count. Please make sure to use the same email address you used when made the initial pledge.
You can find the survey here.
Please complete this survey before the end of day on August 3rd.
On the production front, the molds are still being manufactured and I expect to have the first fully functional Kinkajou in my hands by mid August. Once I test it and make sure everything is as it should be, the main production run will start. J
I will post some pictures of the manufacturing process as it unfolds.
I’ve uploaded some high resolution digital renderings of what the final product will look like. You can find them in the Kickstarter tab. The design has come a long way since my first prototype. I’m very happy with the way it turned out.
Pat
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We are very excited to share that we just finished filming our first 3 commercials this past weekend. Watch our social media channels for the first one coming soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QnhMMxa4m8
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The new Saber Tooth Diamond Sanding Pad Kit is going to change everything. We want to showcase how this premium sanding option cuts down on the time and effort needed to polish off the rims of separated bottles. So we are choosing one gorgeous bottle a day for the next 100 days to cut, polish and share with you. Each of the daily posts will include the brand, the size, how long it took to polish and of course a picture of the finished product.
Bottle: Speakeasy Double Daddy
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 47 seconds
Comment: How could you not love this bottle :)
Bottle: New Belgium Brewing Brett Beer
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: We love the environmentally responsible messages this Brewery sends! Let's all reuse our bottles!
Bottle: Left Coast Voodoo American Stout
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Perfect glass for your Halloween party.
Bottle: New Belgium and Red Rock Brewery Paardebloem
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Love this eye catching bottle from Red Rock Brewery's Lips of Faith Series.
Bottle: Left Coast Asylum
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Love this Left Coast bottle!
Bottle: Rogue VooDoo Doughnut Ale
Size: 1 PT 9.4 fl oz/ 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 45 seconds
Comment: The thick layer of paint on this bottle presented some challenges but we couldn't resist.
Bottle: Mother Earth Brew Kismet IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: One of our favourite Mother Earth Brew Co bottles.
Bottle: Saint Archer Blonde Ale
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Another great bottle from Saint Archer.
Bottle: Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: We found this amazing bottle from another brewery in Cali.
Bottle: Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: An ale with the word 'nectar' in the name mmmm...
Bottle: Great Lakes Brewery Saison DuPump
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: We have some great limited edition bottles in Canada too!
Bottle: Stone RuinTen Triple IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: One of Stone's Special Releases this year. Great bottle!
Bottle: Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Another Rogue bottle we love to cut.
Bottle: Mother Earth Brew Co Pin Up Pale Ale
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Sexy Pale Ale from Mother Earth Brew Co.
Bottle: Mother Earth Brew Co Imperial Stout
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: At Mother Earth Brew Co they focus on the ART and science of craft beer making. Love this bottle!
Bottle: Left Coast Trestles IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Left Coast makes some great bottles! Here's one of them.
Bottle: Mammoth Brewing Company IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Great label on this Mammoth award winning IPA.
Bottle: Stone Ruination Double IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: One of our favourite Stone bottles in the collection.
Bottle: Mother Earth Cali Creamin
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Love the bright colour on this gorgeous label. Mmm vanilla cream!
Bottle: Saint Archer Pale Ale
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Wings and arrow! Another great bottle from those craftsmen in San Diego CA
Bottle: Steamworks Wheat Ale
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: More amazing artwork from Steamworks
Bottle: Mother Earth Brew Boo Koo IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Great painted bottle from Mother Earth Brew
Bottle: Coronado Brewing Idiot IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Beautiful artwork on this Coronado bottle.
Bottle: Stone Farking Wheaton W00tstout
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Awesome Wil Wheaton edition bottle from Stone.
Bottle: Left Coast Hop Juice IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/ 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Great label on this award winning IPA from the west coast.
Bottle: Rogue Chocolate Stout
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Another great bottle from Rogue!
Bottle: Ciroc Red Berry Vodka
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Coloured and embossed bottle makes a nice vase.
Bottle: Bud Light Light Lime
Size: 330 ml
Polishing Time: 2 minutes 15 seconds
Comment: Nice small painted bottle.
Bottle: Absolut Raspberri
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 45 seconds
Comment: Gorgeous red bottle.
Bottle: Red Stripe Light
Size: 251 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: Nice small glass perfect for your morning orange juice!
Bottle: Stone IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Classic gorgeous Stone bottle.
Bottle: Mill Street Tank House Ale
Size: 341ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 45 seconds
Comment: Nice small glass from a Canadian brewery.
Bottle: Smirnoff Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 45 seconds
Comment: Great tumbler made from the bottom of a Smirnoff.
Bottle: Stone Cali-Belgique IPA
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: One of the awesome Stone bottles we can get our hands on in Canada!
Bottle: Carlsberg
Size: 341ml
Polishing Time: 2 minutes 45 seconds
Comment: The shape of the bottle has a nice contoured grip.
Bottle: Great Lakes Brewery Winter Ale
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: Beautiful seasonal bottle from a brewery close to home.
Bottle: Mini Grey Goose
Size: 50ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 10 seconds
Comment: The Kinkajou JR can make some awesome DIY shot glasses!
Bottle: Triple Shot Espresso
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Frosted bottle top makes a nice goblet.
Bottle: Ice Storm Raspberry
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Colourful painted bottle.
Bottle: Special water bottle
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 15 seconds
Comment: Sometimes we can't help ourselves and cut bottles just for the fun of it.
Bottle: Stone Smoked Porter
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 15 seconds
Comment: We wish we could get our hands on more of these awesome Stone bottles!
Bottle: Ciroc Red Berry Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: Great shaped bottle top.
Bottle: Steamworks Frambozen
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Beautifully painted Steamworks bottle.
Bottle: Red Stripe
Size: 341ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: A new way to use a stubby!
Bottle: Grey Goose Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: Gorgeous thick bottle, one of our favourite to cut.
Bottle: Lemoncello
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Beautifully shaped homemade wine glass.
Bottle: Fazi Battaglia
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Beautiful homemade pilsner glass made from a wine bottle!
Bottle: Muskoka Brewery Mad Tom IPA
Size: 355ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes
Comment: Great painted bottle from a Brewery close to us!
Bottle: Sour Puss
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 50 seconds
Comment: Nice simple clear bottle.
Bottle: Smirnoff Vodka Vanilla
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 15 seconds
Comment: Another great Smirnoff bottle top
Bottle: Skyy Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 15 seconds
Comment: One of our favourite blue bottles!
Bottle: Corona
Size: 341ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes
Comment: Nice bottle to cut, glass is a little thin.
Bottle: Grey Goose Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 40 seconds
Comment: Grey Goose are a great example of real thick glass.
Bottle: Belching Beaver Peanut Butter
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Another great bottle from the Belching Beaver!
Bottle: Absolut Raspberri
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 5 minutes 10 seconds
Comment: Gorgeous red glass!
Bottle: Skinny Girl Cosmo
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: Nice frosted glass.
Bottle: Trotters Cocktails
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 40 seconds
Comment: Sometimes you don't see how gorgeous a bottle top is until you cut it and flip it.
Bottle: Belching Beaver Beaver's Milk
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Great painted bottle from an award winning stout.
Bottle: Bud Light Platinum
Size: 12oz
Polishing Time: 2 minutes 35 seconds
Comment: Gorgeous blue glass.
Bottle: Smirnoff Ice
Size: 330ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes
Comment: Definitely a new way to look at an empty!
Bottle: Citadelle Gin
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Beautifully painted bottle.
Bottle: Tanqueray Gin
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 45 seconds
Comment: The unique shape of this bottle top makes a gorgeous glass!
Bottle: Mill Street Organic
Size: 341 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Comment: Nice small bottle from a great brewery here in Canada.
Bottle: Belching Beaver Dammed
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: We Canadians love the logo for this beer from San Diego!
Bottle: Smirnoff Vodka
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 10 seconds
Comment: Great shape and painted label for a DIY goblet!
Bottle: Relax Riesling
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 40 seconds
Comment: Gorgeous blue glass.
Bottle: Absolut Vodka
Size: 375 ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Nice sized glass.
Bottle: Coronado Brewing Islander
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Another great brewery from California
Bottle: Skinny Girl Margarita
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 40 seconds
Comment: Nice sized frosted bottle.
Bottle: Stone Self Righteous
Size: 1PT 6fl oz/650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Great image on this bottle!
Bottle: Smirnoff Green Apple
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes
Comment: The best part of Smirnoff bottles are the tops!
Bottle: Stone Double Bastard
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 10 seconds
Comment: Perfect size drinking glass with great label.
Bottle: Vina Tarapaca
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes 20 seconds
Comment: Gorgeous top with embossed logo.
Bottle: Steamworks Saison
Size: 1PT 6 fl oz/650 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 40 seconds
Comment: A lot of thought goes into the art work on these bottles!
Bottle: Wodka Wyborowa
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Comment: The curve in this glass makes it great to grasp.
Bottle: Rogue Farms 7 Hop
Size: 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3.40 minutes
Comment: We love the Rogue painted labels !!!
Bottle: Sundance Strawberry Wine
Size: 750 ml
Polishing Time: 3.10 minutes
Comment: Nice size glass, just wish it was painted and not a sticker
Bottle: Belching Beaver Hop Highway
Size: 650 ml
Polishing Time: 3.40 minutes
Comment: Great colors on the painted label
Bottle: Grey Goose Vodka
Size: 200 ml
Polishing Time: 3.30 minutes
Comment: Great shot glass
Bottle: Absolut Vodka Top
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 5.20 minutes
Comment: The bottle top shape makes a great goblet
Bottle: Belvedere Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes
Comment: Gorgeous painted and frosted bottle
Bottle: Sleeman Ale
Size: 341ml
Polishing Time: 3.3 minutes
Comment: Great Example of no label needed, just nice embossing
Bottle: Tirus Wine Jabiru
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 5:00 minutes
Comment: Gorgeous shape and think glass.
Bottle: Loon Vodka
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 5:20 minutes
Comment: Premium vodka distilled in Northern Ontario with nice, thick painted glass.
Bottle: Steamworks Oatmeal Stout
Size: 1PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3.6 minutes
Comment: Love the painted artwork on these bottles from Vancouver BC.
Bottle: Corona
Size: 710ml
Polishing Time: 3.2 minutes
Comment: Thin glass but nice size.
Bottle: Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz/650ml
Polishing Time: 3.6 minutes
Comment: Gorgeous artwork!
Bottle: Smirnoff Classic Lemonade
Size: 330ml
Polishing Time: 3.2 minutes
Comment: Nice small glass with a great painted label.
Bottle: Heineken
Size: 330ml
Polishing Time: 2.5 minutes
Comment: Great looking bottle too bad the walls are so thin.
Bottle: Riesling Mosel
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4.2 minutes
Comment: Gorgeous frosted and painted bottle.
Bottle: Mission Brewery
Size: 1PT 6 fl oz/ 650ml
Polishing Time: 3.8 minutes
Comment: Great bottle from an awesome craft brewery in San Diego!
Bottle: Absolut Ruby Red
Size: 375ml
Polishing Time: 3.6 minutes
Comment: We love every Absolut bottle we have ever cut! Here's one of them.
Bottle: Steam Whistle
Size: 341ml
Polishing Time: 3.4 minutes
Comment: Our favourite Canadian beer bottle to cut!
Bottle: Skinny Girl
Size: 750ml
Polishing Time: 4 minutes
Comment: With the help of the Jabiru, this bottle top makes a great goblet!
Bottle: Belching Beaver Brewery
Size: 1PT 6 fl oz/ 650ml
Polishing Time: 3.7 minutes
Comment: Gorgeous bottle!
Bottle: Grey Goose Vodka
Size: 375 ml
Polishing Time: 3.5minutes
Comment: One of our favourite bottles to cut!
Bottle: Rogue Signature Ale
Size: 1PT 6 fl oz/ 650ml
Polishing Time: 3.45 minutes
Comment: Another great painted Rogue bottle.
Bottle: Corona Light
Size: 330ml
Polishing Time: 2.14 minutes
Comment: Great bottle to cut but the glass is a little thin.
Bottle: Arbour Mist
Size: 1.5 PT/ 750ml
Polishing Time: 4.12 minutes
Comment: Nice and thick glass, label is a sticker so it will eventually peel off.
Bottle: Rogue Farms 19 Original Colonies
Size: 1 PT 6 fl oz / 650ml
Polishing Time: 3.35 minutes
Comment: Great drinking glass, painted labels are the best !!!
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