We'd been busy, and time had flown faster than usual since design at distance started to take shape back in the early days of 2010. And we had one date that was probably one of the most important looming up like an express train...
If you're a follower of “North America through the eyes...” you may remember that we came across to Canada from France on a one year work visa, attached to my existing companies. Now part of the “rules” of being given that visa, was that I achieved the goals laid out in my business plan. And my immigration lawyer was beginning to worry, that me changing direction within our first year would not go down well with the Canadian authorities. In fact, the message we were being given was that there was next to no chance our visas would be renewed.
Wow, to be forced to return to Europe, when we were so far advanced with design at distance would be damaging...to say the least! So, I made an appointment with our lawyers and started to prepare for the biggest fight of our lives to date: because I wasn't just fighting for us, but for everyone involved in the company. My management team, our designers, our suppliers and the retailers that had already shown their support. It was unthinkable that I may have to leave, with so much at stake.
This is where I had to dig deep into my English roots. The “British bulldog spirit” was going to have to prove what it was capable of, and I was going to have to explain that it was just this spirit that we were proud to be bringing to Canada!
It was up to me to prove to the authorities that what we'd created was going to be of benefit to Canadians.
Of that, I had no doubt, but would I manage to communicate it well enough?
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