The Blueprint of Rebirth.
An open-source look at the journey of building a media and technology company from the ground up. The wins, the lessons, and the code behind the curtain.
Three Weeks In: What I've Built (and What I Forgot)
In the first 21 days of NBGee Foundry, I learned the classic founder's lesson: don't get so busy building the business that you forget about the art. I was so focused on launching our website, fostering community, and developing tech that I almost missed my own new music release. This is the real story of the artist vs. CEO balancing act.
It has been exactly 21 days since NBGee Foundry was officially formed. Three weeks. And in that time, I learned a classic founder's lesson: don't get so busy building the business that you forget about the art.
Last Friday, my new cinematic track, "Luctus Inanis," was released on all streaming platforms. I had almost no idea it was happening. There was no promo, no countdown—just a surprise release that I nearly missed myself.
Why? Because for the last 21 days, I've been completely immersed in the unglamorous, essential work of turning a vision into a reality. While the music was waiting in the digital queue, I was:
Building Our Home: I designed and launched the official
nbgeefoundry.comwebsite from scratch, creating a professional hub for our entire mission.Fostering Community: I've been pouring energy into the SMR project, launching a printed newsletter for our non-connected residents, and receiving the most incredible, heartwarming feedback—from residents enjoying the word games at dinner to a legally blind neighbor who can now enjoy the newsletter through its new podcast-style audio version.
Developing Technology: I built our first internal tool, a "Podcast Generation App," to streamline the SMR audio production—a real, tangible product from the Foundry Technology pillar.
Starting the Right Conversations: I reconnected with a small circle of trusted, brilliant former colleagues—people who could form the foundational leadership team for this company—and began the pivotal conversations that will shape our future.
I was so focused on laying the foundation that I forgot a finished piece of architecture was about to be revealed.
It's a perfect, real-world example of the "Indie Label Journey." It's the constant balancing act between being the artist and being the CEO. And while I'll definitely be adding "check the release schedule" to my weekly Trello board, it's a mistake I'm happy to have made. It's proof that we are moving, building, and making real progress.
This is the journey, messy and surprising as it is. Thank you for being here for it. I'd be honored if you'd take a listen to the track I almost forgot.