PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Timeline: Milestones and Memories (The Plunge - Last Half of 1998) About This Page:

[Jennifer Marx]

PassPorter's Decade of Dreams Timeline:
Milestones and Memories

The Plunge: 1998

Read the previous installment of the PassPorter story here.

Summer 1998: In the summer of 1998, life was full and busy. Both Dave and I were preoccupied with our jobs (me: AOL; Dave: WQXR) as well as writing computer books and keeping the online training academy going. Our Disney guidebook idea was back burnered and slowly slipping into the realm of "Oneday" (as in, "I'd like to do that one day."). You know those sorts of things -- we all have them!

Then something big happened. One morning I tried to sign on to AOL only to find my password had been changed for me. After many phone calls, I'd discovered I'd been downsized. That was a sad day for me, Dave, and the entire training team of 50+ people. I moped and groused about it for a couple of weeks. Then Dave got downsized from his job, too! We both had basically the same major, life-changing event happen within weeks of one another. And remember, we were working for entirely different companies and living in entirely different states still. What are the chances?

Suddenly we had more time on our hands. We planned a camping trip in September 1998 to Wilderness State Park near Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan. It's all a little hazy now, but I remember sitting a picnic table at our campsite and our conversation turning to jobs and our futures. One of us tossed out the Disney guidebook idea. We talked it over. We knew this was our chance. Neither of were committed to jobs or big projects. If we were going to make this dream a reality, this was our chance. It was either grab it now and take the plunge, or go get regular jobs. We decided to do it ... we would hold hands and walk off the deep end together.

Why did we decide to go for it? It was really a combination of factors. We felt confident we could write a good book, having some experience under our belts already. We wanted to have something to call our own that someone else couldn't "downsize" us from. We wanted the dream of doing something we loved for a living.

When we returned to our respective homes, we went straight to work. We spent a lot of time on the phone and in Instant Messages, exchanging ideas and finding the right path. We had one memorable online conversation about the name of our guidebook. We decided that PlayTimer wasn't appropriate, so we needed a new one. I actually saved a copy of this Instant Message conversation because I thought it really captured the way we worked together. Here's the relevant bit of this conversation (my screen name in this conversation is "Netiquette" and I was in the midst of searching the thesaurus for travel-related terms):

Netiquette: You know, "wallet" is defined as "a bag for carrying miscellaneous articles while traveling."
Dave Marx: What about purse?
Netiquette: What about it?
Netiquette: It is defined as a small bag for money.
Netiquette: There's "Express" (as in getting there fast or expressing yourself).
Netiquette: PassPorter?

Note: No, "PassPorter" wasn't in the thesaurus! I saw "passport" there, and remembering how I liked the sound of "PlayTimer," I immediately added the "er" and intercapped the second P as I typed it out here.

Dave Marx: Oooh. That's interesting!
Netiquette: Yeah, I kinda like PassPorter, since passport is travel and porter is someone who carries stuff.
Netiquette: (1) chiefly British : a person stationed at a door or gate to admit or assist those entering; (2) a person who carries burdens; especially : one employed to carry baggage for patrons at a hotel or transportation terminal; (3) verb - to transport or carry as or as if by a porter
Netiquette: I think I like this.
Dave Marx: While it doesn't include "play" aspects, it has the right "sound" - a catchy name that's travel-related. It may have even better use for later travel titles, too.

And so PassPorter was named!

We worked very hard the rest of the year. We had a business to start, a book to finish writing, and lots of ropes to learn. Our business incorporated in November 1998 as MediaMarx, Inc. We named it this because we envisioned the possibility of doing other media-related things in the future, plus Dave had always dreamed of having a business named MediaMarx (and we wouldn't have been allowed to use "Bialystock & Bloom"). We also registered our new domain name of passporter.com on November 9, 1998. By the way, did you know we also have the domain name mediamarx.com?

Breaking into the publishing world back in 1998 was way different than it is today. We had to jump through a lot of hoops. Dave could tell you more about that -- it's a bit hard to remember at this point. I just recall thinking more than once, "What have I gotten myself into?"

Disney research was also on the agenda. We made the jaunt down to Disney for some really intense legwork in mid-December. I recall walking around the lagoon at Coronado Springs in the cold and pouring rain because I had to scope out the best locations in person. The reward for my diligence? I began feeling sick on the plane ride home, had a fever by the time we landed, and was diagnosed with pneumonia a week later. (My apologies to anyone on that Northwest flight with me!) I almost missed out on Christmas with my family -- I only made it because my ex-husband Gordon came to pick me up and drive me to see them.

1999 brought many, many changes -- but that's for another installment!

[POOH]

I'm loving reading these stories of how it all began. Can't wait to read more.

[Mares75]

Finally! I've been dying to know how it became PassPorter. And pneumonia? Now that's dedication!

[Dave Marx]

Every story spawns a dozen more tales... Why didn't we stick with PlayTimer? We knew we wanted a brand name of our own, and definitely didn't want to infringe on any other trademarks. Someone actually held a trademark on a "PlayTimer" organizer. While the product apparently was only produced for a year or so, it would still be some years before the existing trademark registration would lapse. Further, since "PlayTimer" and "DayTimer" (another, much more famous organizer product) are awfully similar, I'm surprised the guy who got "PlayTimer" could get a trademark in the first place. I wasn't sure we'd be so lucky if and when we could apply for it. No, as much as I liked the name I came up with, the name wasn't quite perfect (among other things, a sub-conscious association with DayTimer would lead people to believe it was "just" an organizer, and that the guidebook features would be ignored), so back to the drawing board!

[chezp]

How neat - I am loving every installment of this and learning how PassPorter came to be - it's great you kept the conversation between you, discussing the name.

[Colexis Mom]

I think PassPorter is a fantastic name Job well done And thanks for the story behind it

[goofysdtr]

It's awesome learning the history of PassPorter! Keep it coming, Jennifer!

[DrDolphin]

It is so cool to learn all the history of Passporter!

[Earkid]

Such an inspiring story. I'm so impressed by your ability to take a very bad situation (losing jobs) and turn it into a success story. Thanks so much for taking the time to share it with us.

[WDWfan]

Jennifer and Dave - I am really enjoying you sharing your historical memories of PassPorter. Since I've only been a aware of the guidebook and the boards for 4 years it is really interesting to learn about it's beginnings. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[DawnDenise]

I reading these milestones! The history behind it all is just neat to read about. Thanks Jennifer and Dave!

[Tink and co.]

Thank you for sharing your story with us! It's absolutely incredible and inspiring!

[ripkensnana]

we wouldn't have been allowed to use "Bialystock & Bloom"

OMG, I almost fell out of my chair over that one....I absolutely love "The Producers" (the original, really, truly best version with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder).

[OffKilter_Lynn]

... we would hold hands and walk off the deep end together.

Now that was beautiful - thank you for sharing all this with us!

[MickeyMAC]

I love reading these mile stones. It's so neat to hear the journey. I know we have no ideal how much work went into the process. I just want to say I'm sure glad you did it. Life has lots of twists and turns and I'm glad you've taken the path you have.