Nottonson: Profit or Passion?

Ira N. Nottonson

The Daily Camera (link to story on Daily Camera website)
May 2, 2005

Back to Press Area

_____________________________________

Work on a piece of marble with a hammer and a chisel for just a few minutes and you will experience an incredible moment in your life. Then, go to the museum where Michelangelo's statue of David stands. Your life will change forever.

Barbara Hardesty created this experience as a business. The Boulder-based Da Vinci Capers business offers customers a trip to Tuscany, Italy to examine the many faces of Leonardo da Vinci. It starts at a fabulous villa in Lucca, to the mountain towns of Barga and Vinci, to the museum where Leonardo's drawings became a reality, to the museums of Florence where the Renaissance rests for all to see. It sounds like something exclusively designed for the artist or the historian. It is quite the opposite. For those who have always dreamed of being in a different place, in a different time, this trip will do the trick.

I recently spoke with Hardesty about her venture.

Q: "Barbara, what was the beginning of this fabulous adventure?"

A: "As an art student with a degree in the humanities, my fascination with Leonardo da Vinci became quite encompassing for me for years. When I decided to create a business for myself, there was nothing that combined my marketing, sculpting and history background as perfectly as the study of this fascinating man. My Italian heritage and my love for Italian food certainly helped me along."

Q: "What made you think that others would be interested in this concept?"

A: "People are always talking about the things they wished they'd done. Some people always wanted to learn a new language. Others have thought of getting involved in the arts, oil paints, drawing, sculpting. And others have always wanted to satisfy their curiosity about the world around them. And no one ever finds the time. I wanted to make these things possible."

Q: "What makes this trip different than just visiting Europe?"

A: "Well, many people want to see Europe and they will often travel to many cities in as many days. It's really easier to buy a package of postcards because they don't ever have the chance to examine the culture, to get a feeling about the people. The Da Vinci Capers is a teaching/learning experience. It's partly about the culture and the people but it's even more about you. And that's what makes it fascinating."

Q: "What makes it work?"

A: "Some people enjoy walking, some enjoy drawing, some enjoy writing, some enjoy learning a new language, some enjoy eating and drinking, some enjoy sculpting and most people enjoy being able to do these things without the responsibility of driving or making decisions each day about ... what's next? What really makes it work is that I provide a beautiful and safe environment for people to try things they would not ordinarily try. All of these things are part of the Da Vinci Capers."

Q: "How many of these trips have you taken?"

A: "We've already done two of them and we have two more scheduled for May and October. We only take a small number on each trip so we can develop a real synergy among the group and a relationship that will last well beyond the trip. These people stay in touch with each other long after the trip."

Q: "Why do you think that is?"

A: "I think the real answer is that this adventure allows people to be something that their peers rarely, if ever, see. These relationships are different than everyday life because everyone recognizes that each of us has deep-rooted feelings that rarely have a chance to get out. And each person shares this personal level with the others. It's really fascinating."

Q: "Has the passion for this been converted to the goal of making a profit as a business?"

A: "The profit is a good thing because it allows me to continue doing this. But the passion is what got it started and will never go away. I love what I do!"

Ira Nottonson is a business/legal consultant for small businesses and a business valuation expert. He lives in Boulder and can be reached at (303) 447-9672 or e-mailed at irabizlaw@aol.com. Nottonson will be teaching "Secrets of a Successful Business Plan" at the Boulder Small Business Development Center, located at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. Call the SBDC at (303) 442-1475 for information.

Back to Press Area