Young Entrepreneur's Battle With Depression Doesn't Stop Him From Opening Business

Pensacola, Florida (SANEPR) Nov. 28th, 2009: For nearly 5 years, Paul Anthony Tolbert has struggled with Depression, a condition that affects many in the United States Annually. Despite continuing efforts to overcome this illness, he’s recently launched an online retail website selling personal computers & consumer electronics. Tolbert has always expressed interest in starting his own business, and earlier this year he decided to put his thoughts into action. His store, Red Mouse Computers opened in Mid-November after months of planning and crafting his passion for tech gadgets into a strong, viable business model.

At age 15, Paul was diagnosed with Clinical Depression & Social Anxiety, a situation he calls “extremely debilitating”. “It was very difficult to motivate myself. I became isolated, withdrew from friends and family, dropped out of high school, even had a past suicide attempt. Over the years I’ve seen different doctors, put on various medications but nothing really seemed to help. It was very frustrating.”

In March of this year, Tolbert turned 20 and says that approaching this milestone was “a huge wake-up call” for him to take a hard look at his life. “When my 20th Birthday came and went, I began to realize that I’m nowhere near where I want to be”, says Paul. “Most young adults my age are in college, have jobs, even their own residence. I still lived at home, didn’t finish school nor had a job. I didn’t even know how to drive a car! Suffering from depression took nearly everything from me. I thought to myself ‘I can’t let this continue’. I have to do something, even while I’m still dealing with my illness.” The ailing economy was also a factor for Tolbert to try and turn things around for himself. He wanted to be able to contribute financially to his household in case his mother was ever laid off from her job. After brainstorming, he came up with the idea of launching an online retail business. “I thought this might actually be a good way to go in regards of starting my own business. I can work from home and sell products that I love, which is electronics. I enjoy dabbling with computers; doing upgrades, repairs etc. I’m on mine constantly”, says Paul.

Paul still continues to seek professional help for his depression and anxiety, taking prescribed medications as well as attending therapy sessions. “Every day is still tough, but having this business really helps me to stay active & hopeful. I have no doubt that I will eventually overcome my issues. Seeking help for mental illnesses can be difficult, but it’s really important to do so.

His website, www.redmousecomputers.com, had its grand opening on November 15th and has seen a few sales so far. Tolbert hopes to continue this success, with plans to eventually grow Red Mouse Computers into a global leader in the e-commerce industry, despite challenges he faces. “I want my business to offer a simple and pleasurable shopping experience to customers. Many consumers these days are more budget-conscience with their purchases and want their dollars to go further, especially for the holiday season. They’re also looking to make shopping as hassle-free as possible. Redmousecomputers.com helps them with both these objectives.

About Red Mouse Computers:

Red Mouse Computers is an online e-commerce store specializing in the sales of computer-related products, consumer electronics and accessories. Founded in 2009, our company’s mission is to establish a strong reputation as a leading force in the e-commerce industry by committing ourselves to offering a large and diverse product line for consumers looking to incorporate the latest technological innovations into their lifestyle.