by Rick London

You might think about calling a good doctor to put me away if I told you that a good cartoon might save your life, or at least increase the quality of your life. Ironically it is good doctors who agree with this theory.

Dr. Bernie Siegel is but one, but there are so many others whose recommendation is to surround oneself with humor, whether it be cartoons, videos, magazines, or whatever else is available at the moment. Cartoons are usually readily available, especially on the Internet or newspapers. A funny cartoon can release endorphins immediately; the type of immune system-friendly ones that can, allegedly not only make you live longer, but healthier. In my own life, common sense tells me that if I was unable to utilize humor, life would be a bit drab. So would my health. I have recovered from some severe illnesses, a few that doctors said “I might not make it”, I think, only because of my sense of humor. I am certain their own potions helped as well, but without laughter and hope, faith can fade and fade fast.

I began creating Londons Times Cartoons in 1997 after my mom passed away. I had been bringing her funny videos daily upon her request during her final days. She loved to laugh. I did not have a lot to start with, as far as financing, but had a lot of creative ideas, and was fortunate enough to build an illustrative and management team who knew what they were doing. For years I thought it would be a hobby or some kind of avocation but it became a real business, taking a life of its own. I still look back in disbelief.

I began to believe, maybe for the first time, at age 43, that if the common man or woman puts their mind to something, they can do it, regardless of social status, education, gender or race. It simply takes focus, a plan, and the guts to work the plan. When I say guts, I don’t mean at all that one is a hero for trying it. It is only that I have found in my lifetime, that dreams are “a dime a dozen”. Everyone has a book in them, a huge building, a creative venture, or some other dream. More often than not, it stays with them, in their heads, until the very end. Nothing can be more tragic than that, yet nothing is more common.

A person can achieve anything, and often it takes the help of others. I will give you an example. Over the years, I had written literally thousands of cartoons. Though I could draw fairly well, not well enough to meet the standards of what I wanted in a cartoon. Thanks to the Internet, I found a way to recruit some of the best illustrators of cartoons on the Internet. They were willing to take on this project with me, still in its seed/dream stage, based on the quality of the concepts which would later become cartoons.

One year later, maybe 1998, I had possibly 100 cartoons up on a free sub-domain. I could not even afford my own domain at the time. Pop-up ads ruled the site and visitors usually got angry and left as soon as they arrived. But I persisted. And I use that word because of how important it is. Persistence is probably as important, if not more important, than venture capital and unique talent.

I believe that being persistent and reliable, not just alone but that of my creative team, within ten years, we built Londons Times Cartoons and 11 e-stores. We now have over 8000 color cartoons and almost 100,000 licensed image products that sell well. Our main website, Londons Times Cartoons. We have received nearly 8 million visitors since 2005.

I still scratch my head in disbelief at what can be accomplished if one tries. I cannot believe it all happened in such a short time-span as a decade. But it did. And it did while I was disabled. I had been employed since age 12 and became disabled in my early forties due to depression and heart disease. During that time I also went back to school and finished three years in business. I am on break now, taking care of other health issues, and then plan to return to finish and then hopefuly my MBA.

Believe it or not, I am no more “unique” than anyone else. I just happened to focus on a subject that was considered “niche”; anyone could have done it. I researched and found the people and elements that made it work. If I can do it, so can you. I promise.

About the Author:

The Internet’s most popular cartoonist Rick London is also an entrepreneur who has launched 11 funny gifts and collectible e-stores. His cartoon site is the largest of its kind on the Internet. The largest offbeat cartoon site on the Internet