We Made It: Journaling The Last Day of The 30x30 Crowdfunding Campaign

There's a major surprise about 30x30 at the end of this post, so please do read through until the end!

PART I: BEFORE THE END

It's 6:15 pm and I'm sitting in the same place, in the same position, in the same clothes as I was at 6:15 am.It's the last day of the campaign, and I'm sweating bullets.So far, we've raised $2,748 in the last 13 hours.I haven't showered.I didn't go outside today.I just sat and tweeted and updated and emailed and refreshed and refreshed and refreshed......and I have been feeling so overwhelming grateful and anxious at the same time.I don't know if I'll make goal.A lot of unexpected technical issues happened with the Indiegogo page that weren't mendable.Indiegogo changed their URL format on Monday the 4th without alerting us to the changes.So that means that the URL was no longer indiegogo.com/30x30project. It was indiegogo.com/projects/30x30-project.Because of the switch, all the hard-earned social proof got erased the last week of the campaign (meaning Facebook likes and twitter shares that show up at the top of the page). Hundreds of people who supported the cause were erased from view in one night. In crowdfunding, social proof is almost as valuable as higher donations; it means everything when someone views the page for the first time. It means the difference between getting a donation and, well, not.Links broke all over the place that week thanks to the old URL not redirecting to the new one, and "customer happiness" was of no help. They said they were on it. I believed them.I didn't want to bring any negativity into the campaign, so I kept it all to the side.I'm not a blamer. I hate being negative. But something needs to be said about the way my campaign was handled.I took many deep breaths this past week.And even with everything that happened, I think we're doing pretty well.For someone whose tribe wasn't very big to begin with, I've grown Strong Inside Out by 50% of what it was at the beginning of this campaign.This hope movement is a reality, whether or not we make goal.And here's the thing:I'm going anyway.I might have to couch surf. I'll be pulling more from my savings than I thought I'd have to.This tour is happening.*****

PART II: THE END & THE BEGINNING

Now it's 12:16 am on Saturday morning, and I'm looking at the screen.

"$14,000"

Originally, we were aiming for $18k, but I just can't get too upset about the fact that we came up short.I just raised 14 Grover Clevelands from nothing. From strangers I've never met, who shared multiple times. From people who lost others to suicide, or who struggle with depression themselves.This movement is bigger than I originally thought.So, in my midst of exhaustion, I type to you now: I'm not giving up because I don't want you to give up.Your story is too important to waste.A friend of mine (let's call her B) from the summer between high school and college had always lived in darkness. She'd come out of it for spurts at a time, but I didn't know the full extent of it. My boyfriend was her boyfriend's best friend and we just didn't get too close.We started hanging out, just the two of us, when she visited New York (where I was going to school). We'd go to punk shows and watch weird B movies together.And then we just stopped talking. I thought she was busy with school and life. I didn't reach out because I didn't know I should.A few years later, I got a Facebook message from her boyfriend (now ex at the time). He said that he wasn't sure if I'd heard, but B had taken her own life.I was side-swiped. I went silent and numb.I had to go into work that day, so I did. I was fine up until I had to speak...That's when I fell apart.I was a huddled mess on the back patio as my boss wondered where I was. Sobbing, I replayed in my head everything I could have done...I had so much regret for not reaching out. I knew there was more I could have done. There were ways I could have saved her. There was love I could have been more open about.If I felt this much pain from losing someone I hadn't talked to in years, someone I never got that close to in the first place, I can't imagine the pain some of you out there have experienced losing family members, close friends or spouses.And it just has to stop. This waste of beautiful stories coming to an end before their hero's journey pays off has got to end.This movement continues even though we don't have all the funds because it needs to.It took me a long time to find my voice. Let me help you find yours.This is a new beginning for Strong Inside Out. I don't know what it's the beginning of, but it's something big.Next time, I promise to have a more fitness-driven post for those of you who have been so patient with the campaign taking up the majority of the updates. Thanks for sticking with us. :)The glorious part of this journey is that this site exists for both sides.We're not just a hope site; we're an action site.We are proof that writing our happy ending is possible if we work for it.We will bring hope through movement to thousands. Yes, we.This movement is you. Can't wait to go on this journey with you all.*****

PART III: THE MAGIC

I thought that last section would be the end of this post, but I have to share what just happened with you all.It's 1:15 am and tears fill my eyes. It took me until this point to cry, but it's not out of a sense of failure. It's from triumph, relief and gratitude...I just received an email from Pat Flynn, the head honcho at Smart Passive Income, whom I only met at New Media Expo last month for the first time.Here is the email:

Hey Amy!

I'm so proud of you! Even though you didn't reach your $18k goal, getting to $14k on the dot is freaking amazing, and 250+ funders is incredible! You should be proud too!

I'm happy to cover the difference to make sure you get going and start helping people like I know you will. This is very important to me, and I will not take no for an answer.

Please let me know where to send a check to (and who to make it out to) as soon as you can.

Thanks, and congratulations! You're set!

This man, who didn't know me from Eve until a month ago is closing the gap of the IndieGoGo campaign.We made it.We made goal.We raised $18,000!I'm not sure why this matters so much to Pat, and it's not my place to ask. But obviously, this movement speaks to him as it speaks to many of you.

So please, if you can, pop over to Pat's site or to the SPI Facebook page and say thank you from all of us here at Strong Inside Out. It would mean a lot to me, and I'm sure to him, too.

That's all until next time. I'm going to take the weekend away from the computer for the most part, then come back stronger on Monday.I've got perks to get out, a workout video to prep for, and a tour to plan. The time is now.It all begins now.In strength & hope,Amyall pics except Pat's by Matinak15