It’s 5:50 AM. I’m in an Amtrak economy window seat, somewhere between NYC and Philly, cruising comfortably at ~60 MPH. Beats driving.
This will be the second of three nights in a row with pre-4 AM wakeups. As one that can find slumber in the rowdiest of situations, it would make sense that this is a most-opportune time to catch up on some zzzs.
I just can’t do it. Ain’t tired.
An irony not lost: I’ve somehow gained energy since leaving Tesla (the energy company) to start this sock journey. Not to say I’m some sort of ironman, but there’s just a sense of: we’re on to something, it’s happening, just keep pushing.
So here we are, sleep-deprived but not all that tired, pulling the laptop out. First we edit a few photos, do some website tweaking, then we begin this piece – hopefully a glimpse into the hilarious, volatile, intensely unscripted life at Del Campo these days.
The most fitting analogy I can draw: starting a brand is a lot like a round of golf.
Except, you have no range finder, no caddie, no course map. You’re playing the tips. The course? It ain’t quite Oakmont, but it isn’t a pushover either.
The good news: the game feels good. You’re confident, but not naively so. And with each shot, while you haven’t had that exact shot before, you’ve had similar. And you pull from those experiences to inform how to hit this next one.
- Inbound from a top-100 course interested in custom Del Campos? Wow. That’s a birdie.
- Lost package that ruined a Father’s Day present? Nice 6. Thanks USPS.
- Out of blue stripes when replenishment is two days away? Double. Can’t happen.
- Roll out to 85 Worldwide Golf Shops, including the Edwin Watts you grew up shopping at? Eagle. HUGE.
- New college license application approved? Birdie.
- New college license application denied? Bogey.
- Charlie Woods spotted wearing Del Campo Smileys? Hole in One
Charlie Woods, rocking the 1776s, with his old man clearly enamored.
By the end of the day, you don’t know which way is up. Your card looks like a kindergarten block set. Squares and circles and bigger squares. Fairways hit? A few, but you wound up making double. On the flip side, did you catch that shot from the pinestraw, under this limb but over that bush? There were a few of those as well. Enough to keep you coming back.
The truth is, this ain’t time to play for par.
We ain't laying up. Perhaps why I’m so drawn to the Korn Ferry and Epson Tours. They are relatable (see: our Card Chaser Program).
It’s all or nothing. Pars don’t help ya. You need birdies in bunches that seem almost impossible. You’ll take the occasional bogey – perhaps a new sock style that flopped – as a lesson learned.
The funny thing about making a bogey because you played too aggressively? You’re even less likely to lay up next time around.
Anyways – train's about to Philly. I’ll unload my suitcase of personal belongings, another one containing 200 pairs of custom Del Campos, and a third containing my now-seldom-used golf clubs.
I got a tee time with the most generous gentlemen behind Jason Kelce’s foundation work. Underdog Apparel (check ‘em out here). They offer tremendous support to American-made brands, and Jason most-fortunately has taken a liking to our pink smiley. Size XL, of course.
And while tomorrow’s alarm will come early, as I make my way to seat 37B on leg one of my connecting flight home, surely, fittingly: today's a Philly Eagle.
The Underdog Apparel guys. Stellar gear, worthy causes, and lethal scramble partners.
