Given the stranglehold on today’s job market, many young people who would normally be sending out resumes have opted instead to create their own jobs. Of course, that’s often more easily said than done.
Twenty-five-year-old Walter Larkins, a Malibu native, learned that first-hand last year. When he was laid off from his job with a rock-climbing and team-building company in 2011, he started applying for jobs.
But after hitting wall after wall, he decided to strike out on his own. Larkins had learned in his previous job how rock climbing programs operated, and climbing was his passion. As he started to look around, he realized that neither his former employer nor its competitors offered tours anywhere near his hometown of Malibu. That’s when the idea struck him: why not start his own business by applying what he had learned to offer rock-climbing instructional tours and team building exercises in Malibu Creek State Park?
“The other companies were operating hours away, and it made perfect sense to do it here,” said Larkins, who now offers tours every week. “In Southern California, you can climb year-round. The weather can be a little temperamental in the winter but you plan for it, and the terrain changes so much that it’s beautiful no matter when you climb.”
But before he could get going, Larkins faced a number of hurdles. Persuading the state to allow him to run tours at Malibu Creek State Park involved some red tape. Because it is a state facility, Larkins had to fulfill numerous requirements to obtain approval to conduct tours there.
“I spent a month and a half going to the park and figuring out how and where to do the tours, safety issues, the timing, the logistics, everything,” he said. There were insurance requirements to meet, state permits to apply for and the matter of incorporating his new business.
Because there was no road map to becoming a rock-climbing tour operator, Larkins said he initially “had to fly by the seat of my pants.” He sold his first batch of 50 trips through Amazon Local, an online activity coupon marketer, through which he learned how to structure the deals. After those vouchers sold immediately, he marketed his next group of tours though a larger online distributor network called Living Social.
That’s when everything took off. Participating in a Living Social promotion called the “12 Days of Christmas” (through which sales benefitted charities), Larkins sold about 500 vouchers—and ended up with a check for nearly $30,000 a couple weeks later. That provided seed money for him to buy ropes and other necessary equipment, hire staff, pay for their training and certifications, and get the business into full swing.
That was a year ago, and since then Larkins’ company, OnRope Consulting, has quickly gained popularity. More than 1,000 people have taken the course. While many are individuals and families, corporations have also sent employees on the rock climbing tours, Larkins said. Among them are Aramak Uniform Services and Oak Tree Capital Management, who had Larkins design special programs with team-building components.
Participants have ranged in age from 7 to 65 years of age. During the busy season, Larkins has three guides working for him, and he offers six different programs tailored to certain levels of expertise.
To come this far this fast surprised even Larkins.
“My dad was an entrepreneur, and I always thought I might do something on my own, but I never thought I’d be doing it at 25,” said Larkins.
The introductory program includes a wide range of skills. Participants are introduced to climbing equipment, climbing history, rope education and coiling, communication signals, and skills such as belaying and rappelling.
“Climbing isn’t something you can just go out and do on your own. So many people have piecemeal knowledge,” said Larkins. “To do it safely and enjoy climbing, you need a coach, a teacher, a shepherd, like I had growing up,” he said.
So maybe this job market isn’t so bad after all?
“I’m making a living right where I grew up and want to be,” Larkins said. “It’s been quite the ride.”