It’s currently 4:20am, and my battery is at 42%. If you know me, you know you couldn’t even make that sht up if you tried.
I guess that means I’m onto something here.
Let me back up.
I first started DropUp in March 2020. #covid
Over the past 5+ years, I have been working diligently, tirelessly, and relentlessly to build this vision I have for DropUp.
And it all started with a Spotify playlist.
Well kinda.
More like it’s largely because I’m a recovering domainaholic.
Another topic for another time.
So let’s dive in….
November of 2019, I was introduced to an opportunity that would alter the trajectory of my life forever.
Okay, that’s slightly dramatic, but also accurate.
Before I can share that story, I have to go back a little further.
January 4, 2018.
Technically I guess it all really started with a LinkedIn message.
I mean, wtf is a merchant…lol I was intrigued.
Next thing you know, I’m leaving my previous job in HR (foreshadowing moment) to take a risky opportunity to help launch a global community for racing and car enthusiasts.
That really was a pivotal decision in my life.
I’ll share a lot more about all of this later, but y’all, I was obsessed.
Not only with motorsports, but with business.
It’s worth mentioning that during this time, I was going to school at UTD to get my MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
Which rill quick…
Check out https://discover.utdallas.edu/, just scroll to the bottom of the page.
I know…
Ps “What mistakes to avoid….”
Lol.
Let’s just say there were a lot of mistakes to avoid left out of my curriculum.
And you already know I took those dark and stormy roads starting with a smile on my face, only to come out drenched from head to toe, with a black eye, and 3 outstanding credit cards.
Metaphorically speaking.
Well actually, there quite a bit of truth to that statement.
I should add, not because someone punched me in the face.
But for other reasons I’ll also share another time.
Anyway, where was I…
Oh yes, squirrel!
Long story short, I used to do my nails in cool car colors because it was a great conversation starter.
British racing green, Miami blue, Ferrari red, and what I didn’t know then…
September 28, 2018 (my birthday): Orange and blue #ifyoudontknowyoullsoonknow
Gulf.
Oh my love for Gulf.
My friends right now are like omg, here she goes.
To spare you all the details, I guess it actually started with a hat.
This hat, gifted to me on September 14, 2018:
Ps, that’s me at the F1 race in Austin, which is one of the wildest stories of my life.
And in case you’re wondering, I do own thatsacrazystory.com because…
So as a summary, from February 2018 to February 2020, I spent those two years learning all about racing and cars.
I fell in love with motorsports.
And I obviously fell in love with the Gulf brand.
Which brings us back to November 2019.
I was asked to attend the Hankook 24H Series at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas as a Gulf Girl.
What the hell is a Gulf Girl?
Please note, I’m trying very hard to keep this as short as possible, but making sure I cover all the key milestones.
“That Gulf Girl” was an idea started by two guys at Gulf Racing Fuel.
And no offense to them,
but the whole thing was a bit of a shtshow.
We were literally running from the paddock to the grid as the race started because we didn’t have an agenda.
So if you know me, you know I took lead.
And obviously Sam was there with us to take photos and help document this incredible event.
Which is the only reason I have any receipts that any of this happened.
Shoutout to Sam.
So back to the topic at hand,
Gulf Girls.
Aka grid girls…
According to an article on ESPN, “Formula One was selling the subliminal message that a woman's role was on the grid, holding a number and smiling in heels.”
“What was -- and still is -- wrong is the impression created, giving girls to think that men are mechanics and engineers and drivers and more, while women are pretty and mute.”
With all respect, I completely disagree.
I mean, I kinda get their perspective, I guess.
But I personally believe there is a way to do it that is tasteful, classy, empowering, and doesn’t directly mean that women are only “pretty and mute.”
So anyway…
Before knowing all the controversy around grid girls, I saw what it could be.
But like…
Meets…
Can you totally picture it?
So yeah, I built a website.
Hosted a photoshoot.
Launched all the socials.
All in an effort to see if the interest was there.
And omg there was.
But then I received cease and desist letters from Gulf US.
I will mention — I was talking to Gulf US at the time of all this, but I lost access to all of my previous emails so will never know the status of my conversations with their team.
Meanwhile, I also found the email address to the legal counsel at Gulf International and next thing you know it’s September 2020 and I’m presenting this global initiative to the entire executive team at Gulf International.
I will note, Gulf US was bought by Racetrac in December 2023 and you already know I’ve emailed and messaged Natalie Morhous to discuss.
I’ll let y’all know once she responds.
Because I still believe it’s going to happen.
But until then, and along the way, I haven’t give up.
In the middle of all this, in order to present a global initiative, I needed a team and a company name.
I rallied the best of the best.
And I had a rolodex of domains to choose from.
I obviously already owned thedropup.com (purchased January 24, 2019) — which started as an idea from a Spotify playlist I created.
Unfortunately dropup.com was available but expensive af (this would later become a huge achievement for me in securing dropup.com in January 2025).
So I snagged thedropupagency.com and from this pursuit, The Dropup Agency (later to become just DropUp) was born.
Also worth noting that as of March 6, 2024, I officially own the registered trademark for the mark: DROPUP.
There is obviously a lot more to this story, but if you’ve made it this far…
First: Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Second: This is only the beginning.
And today is the day I begin telling the story.
Ps - if there’s anything specific you wanna know, hmu in the comments.
Chat soon,
Shawnee