Thank You... & What's Next?

Before we get into this Thank You email, let’s get the elephant out of the room

The website will close after 11:59pm tonight. This really is your last chance.

Thank You

For the past couple years this olive oil brand has been about me and my journey. Honestly, how could it not be? I spent months on end alone, in territories far and wide — ranging from the WeWorks to the endless food conferences I attended to the rolling hills of Paso Robles to the Olive farms in Jaen to the time I almost drove off a cliff (accidentally) in Greece to the most expensive shops in the Hamptons, and finally to the very point where this all started: my desktop and the standing desk that has kept me sane for the previous 2+ years.

But today, I want to turn it to you, my friends, parents, grandparents, cousins, random TIkTok Followers, and a collection of people all over the world reading this post. You are what have kept this alive.

My story is an extension of you.

Many of you have expressed to me throughout this journey (mostly privately) that you love and are inspired by my writing, olive oil, videos, or whatever I have to produce. While I do say thank you to every single one of you and then move on with my life, I now sit back and reflect: what if no one ever showed that appreciation? What if I wrote a blog to 0 subscribers? What if I couldn’t sell a single bottle of olive oil?

Palloncino would never have existed.

I wouldn’t have let myself take the risk in wiring 5-figures of my own money to Italy for a shipment of olive oil that I was not sure would ever make it into the United States. I wouldn’t have spent months willing this product into small businesses across Long Island or making TikToks that go viral at very, very inopportune times (trust me on this).

And there is not a doubt in my mind without the level of support I received, I wouldn’t be sitting here typing to you today.

But I am.

I am thankful to be comfortable writing to you, speaking to you, whoever you might be. So many of us fear what it’s like to speak to the public — the strangers of the internet. My 2019 self would have NEVER thought I would be professionally involved in social media — or as Gary Vee puts it “interest media” (which I indeed agree with). But here I am, spending my Friday afternoon looking at my bottles, reminiscing on the journey, and knowing that after today, Phase 1 of Palloncino will be complete.

I did what I had to do to service my customers, my producers, and all other stakeholders in between. I come out of this experience smarter, stronger, and ready to take on my next challenge.

The most common question you have asked me in the recent days has not been what I’m doing next, rather how do I feel about all this being done?

Many of whom would expect an answer reflecting sadness, some regret, or another form of deep emotion. But the reality is I sit here, typing to you, not harping on the negatives but being thankful for the positive life experiences provided to me by this truly unique journey. Any ounce of negativity associated with this experience is in my past.

I also know the future is bright.

But honestly, what is next?

I am now planning to take a break from starting olive oil brands and focusing on generating more income for myself in the marketing space. Freelance digital marketing has been my new endeavor in 2024 (if you happen to know a small business that needs video, email, or other digital marketing help, please reach out). I am open to work if there is a fit. By no means will I be putting a #opentowork on my LinkedIn profile picture, but truly, today, me speaking on my own platform — I am open to work. Reach out.

One person of great inspiration to me of late has been Arnold Schwarzenegger. Something most people don’t know is when he got started with acting, he had a major competitive advantage over everyone around him. And no, it was not his unique look and accent, that was seen as a flaw in the beginning.

His financial success was independent of his stardom on Hollywood. He had his own sources of passive income way before ever making it big on Hollywood and for that reason he was able to afford the time to wait, and wait, and wait until the right opportunity arose.

I — on the other hand — took a riskier approach in 2022, leaving all my income behind and sought out an opportunity that definitely wouldn’t last forever.

Now 26 and hopping into a new year, my current focus is growing my consistent baseline level of income before we move onto phase 2 of this journey.

Phase 2?

While in the Sauna today, I was debating whether I should even bring it up.

Well here’s a sneak peak before the sneak peak to the trailer to the thing:

• New People

• Bigger Products

• Greater Adventures

If you’re more curious or want to get involved with Phase 2 of this journey — reach out. I’d love to talk and get others involved.

I plan to continue writing to you here — so don’t go anywhere.

Until next time.

-Jack

PS click here please and thank you ❤️ https://palloncino.co