My career started as an example of the American dream. I grew up solidly middle class. My mother was a teacher and my father was an accountant. They were both the first in their families to graduate from college, so they were excited when I enrolled in business school at Texas A+M University.
After graduating, I was hired by McKinsey & Company, a consulting firm, where I was a business analyst. After a few years, the company paid for my business studies at Harvard. As a consultant, I traveled the world helping companies get answers to their most important strategic questions.
Eventually, I became the executive director and later CEO of a private equity owned cell phone distribution company that grew to over $1 billion. revenue. It was a lucrative job. At the age of 36, I had $1 million in my account.
I loved my job and the technology I was promoting, but it wasn't my passion. I helped rich companies get rich. It was fine, but I wasn't sure I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. So on my 40th birthday, I took my Blackberry out of the holster on my hip and made a note. It simply said “STOP”. That day I swore to myself that I would stop doing what the world expected of me and instead do what I wanted to do.
I traveled the world, but every year I returned home for the Renaissance festival
The first time I went to a Renaissance festival was on a school trip. As soon as I stepped in, I felt like I had found my home. My spirit entered my body and I felt like I belonged here.
I have been going to the Texas Renaissance Festival every year since I was 16. Even when I lived in Australia, England or Russia, I flew home so as not to break the tradition. I love the music, the animals, the crafts, just everything there.
Once I did some math, I realized that someone was making a lot of money running attractions like this. I realized that I could use my passion in business. In February 2010, I co-founded the Sherwood Forest Faire, a medieval-renaissance fair just outside of Austin. I was 40 years old, just in time to start realizing my dreams.
Appling performs in sword fighting shows at the Renaissance festival he co-founds
|
George Appling
From business meetings to toasting at a festival
I had enough money to take the risk of leaving my job as CEO and start organizing the festival. For two years, from 2012 to 2014, I focused on developing this business. I also learned more and more about fighting and started performing in fencing demonstrations.
While I was at a fair one day, literally on horseback, an old friend called me about a venture he was starting. I told him I couldn't talk, but he invited me to see his technology. I was impressed by her and started a software company with him.
From 2015 to 2018, I divided my life between two worlds: I was running a festival and at the same time developing a technology company. I traveled to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress, a large networking event that took place every February, just before the festival season. I didn't sleep until 2 a.m. and then catch a flight home to Austin, where I opened the fest with a midnight toast.
It was hard, but I absolutely loved the job I was doing.
Now I have eight companies
Currently, most of my time and attention is devoted to Sherwood Forest Faire. We're open on weekends in March and April, and in the summer we run a summer camp where kids can learn everything from blacksmithing to horse riding. I am also the co-owner of a company producing mead, I sell historical weapons and armor and rent castles.
In addition, I am involved in activities unrelated to the Middle Ages: I run executive coaching, where I teach people how to become “passionate entrepreneurs”, and I still help run a software company.
All eight of my businesses are doing well financially. But the most important thing for me is the joy that the festival and summer camp bring to people. I want this to be my legacy and have set up a trust that will continue even after my death.
When I'm on my deathbed, I want my last words to be “the show must go on.”
