Today we’d like to introduce you to David Cole.
David, before we jump into specific questions about the company, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story
My wife and kids are both native to San Diego. I moved here in 1991 from the East Coast. In 1994, I started a market research company, DFC Intelligence, which focused on the emerging growth of what was then known as multimedia entertainment but today is commonly referred to like video games. My research business continues to do well. However, my clients are spread around the world and most of my business is done remotely. As I get older and my children become teenagers I felt it was important to become more involved with my local physical world.
In late 2017 I started Fun Diego Family as a website to better appreciate all the activities that San Diego offers for both visitors and residents. It was really an experiment to see if our family of amateurs could build a website. My goal in starting Fun Diego Family was to get my whole family involved in the concept. I wanted them to learn how to start and grow a business, but more importantly, become more attuned to their environment and local surroundings. I have started several businesses over the years and learned that there are ways to make money from your passion.
In today’s world it is really about attention to detail and focus. Fun Diego Family is about our passion for exploring San Diego. It is also about our travels and love of exploring historic places and outdoor adventures. My initial goal was really to have us as a family writing about the things we liked. However, I have received a great deal of positive feedback about the detail we provide about some of San Diego’s more hidden and obscure places. This is driving us to do more exploring.
We have discovered all kinds of new San Diego destinations in the past two years. Many of the travel sites and guidebooks focus on the big attractions and the “expensive” side of San Diego. I am amazed at all the wonderful ways San Diego can be enjoyed without spending a penny.
Fun Diego Family is still in its infancy. I am being introduced to the world of blogging and various business opportunities. However, right now the focus is really on our personal likes and experiences. The concept is that if you like something and are willing to explain it, there will be people that listen and appreciate your knowledge and advice.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Business and life, in general, is never a smooth road. I have started several businesses over the years and found that failure is more the norm. Successful people tend to be willing to start over from failure. You learn that if you start five businesses, four of them can fail and you can still be a success.
That being said Fun Diego Family is different because I came into it with limited expectations. The goal was to build something we like and not make a major financial investment. That makes a huge difference. To me, it is about getting back to being driven by passion and not the need to make a whole bunch of money.
Building a website is a tough learning experience and there are always technical issues. I have spent my adult life struggling with technology. Technology today allows people to build their own business, but it can be extremely frustrating. I am always thinking back to how a generation ago, it was almost impossible to have the freedom to work from almost anywhere in the world. New technology is especially scary for an old person like me, stuck in my ways. Fear of change has been my biggest obstacle as an adult.
Fun Diego Family has been an outlet for me to be more willing to explore playing with technology. I can mess around with website development in ways I can never do with my formal business website.
More importantly, it is about doing new things. As an adult has got stuck in a rut and being afraid of change can be a big issue. With a family to support, trying to start new things can be scary. There will never be a smooth road in life, but you need to learn to not be afraid of the bumps. For me building a website like Fun Diego Family is a way to try something new and get back to the more adventurous days of my youth.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
The most successful company has been my market research firm, DFC Intelligence. I started in the early 1990s looking at trends in entertainment, especially about what younger people were doing. My prediction was that by the 21st century video games would be a huge business.
Of course, I was right about that and have been pretty successful in understanding general societal trends. I have been pretty good about predicting trends toward digital and mobile devices. I am known for being cautious and conservative in forecasting growth. Businesses and investors rely on my forecasts. In addition, I can take complex business and technology issues and summarize them in ways that are easily understood.
I am proud of my business record, even if it does include starting several magazines and expensive ventures that failed. However, I feel my specialty is not being used to its max. My real talent is as a general observer, explorer and analyst. I can take a great deal of information and explain it clearly and concisely.
Fun Diego Family is really about a new way for me to present information. The goal is to do research and present it for an audience in a way that they can trust. That is my specialty. In this case, I am researching and explaining the things our family and friends like to do.
I am writing about the places we visit, the products we use, the food we eat and cook and our general lifestyle. The idea is that if you enjoy some of the things our family does, you may like more suggestions.
Overall, I think there is a lot of people like the Fun Diego Family. We are a pretty normal family. What sets us apart is taking the time to explain what we do and enjoy.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Well, of course, my family deserves a great deal of credit. This includes my parents who had to watch their son take crazy risks. When you start a business it can be lonely and it is important to have people that encourage what you are doing. Over the years, dozens of people have expressed admiration, advice and suggestions that are crucial to success. Moral support is often the most important help you can receive.
Contact Info:
- Website: fundiegofamily.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fundiegofamily/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fundiegofamily/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FunDiegoFamily
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=9h0frJGtPpRCOBp3cl4pWg
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