Hibernating and thinking

Its bloody cold out. Cold enough that the snow is holding off. Water temps are low as heck too, so any thoughts of going kayaking are on the shelf right now. (And I really wanna go,,,)

But I have been thinking. One thing I have learned from my researching over the last 2 years has been “provide a service and business will come” . Well, I won’t lie, I have many skills but so few translate well to mass service that I struggle in some months. Especially in an off season, such as now, or during economic downturns, such as we are careening into at breakneck speeds. Another lesson I have learned is “provide knowledge or entertainment: you give a service and retain the asset.”. That lesson lead me to finishing writing a book I started back in the Obama years. It has sold, a few, but nowhere near compensatory to the effort or cost of the tools I used to finish it. Not that it hurts me, the money spent is not a recurring event, and the tools are still in use for the sequel and other projects so no loss there. It is a tad disappointing that the sales are so weak, but yhat is on me as well. I have little to know idea about marketing, the book needs a better cover IMO, and some of the formatting needs work. I could farm these things out, for even more expense, or just let it ride for the nonce. As I finish the sequel, I will consider taking both books to an outside source for polishing, then republish. And likely NOT through Amazon. I’m still doing research there as well (window shopping editors and publishers for indie writers)

But that “provide knowledge” thing keeps edging itself forward in my mind. I mentioned in a previous post that there are few people in the modern world that have a clue about (what I consider to be basic knowledge) surviving tough circumstances. Shelter, water, fire, food. Basics!!!

Acquiring that knowledge has been a minor obsession of mine since I was a pre-teen, after reading books like ‘Ariel: a book of the Change’ ‘on the beach’ ‘Postman’ etc. (And yes, I was 11 the first time I read that last. I was 12 when I read Clavells Shogun, so you could say I was ahead of most of my class in reading skills.) But it wasn’t just acquiring knowledge, it was skills. I didn’t just read how to make a fire, I went out and tried. And yes, failed, more than a bit. Reading and doing are not the same thing. Knowing that you need soft wood for your fireboard and hardwood for the friction stick may be lost in translation in reading, or not explained at all. Little things that the writer may have assumed was ‘common sense’, lost in time by lack of exposure to elementary foundation.

I love teaching. Seeing that spark when a student makes the connections, indelibly learning the lesson: those moments are my drug. Its not something that can be explained in words, seeing that spark, knowing that for the rest of that persons life you have made an impression and that impression will be given to others, long after you are gone. It is not something like leaving a dull monument with words that become meaningless in time; its much bigger. Its the stepping stone to climb on the shoulders of those that came before us.

But teaching just to teach, for that ‘high’ of seeing the spark,,, well, that doesn’t pay the bills and work or no work, the collectors don’t like waiting to be payed.

So I am considering setting up a paid subscription program. Either here or on a linked site. Say 3.99/month for 1 post a week ($1.00 per post so to speak) each post covering in detail one KEY skill to living outside with nothing but your wits. Doing this will mean that I need to spend a ton more time writing, photos, short vids etc,,,

I’ll look at hosting services, subscription services and what not, but that is where my ideas are dwelling for the now. I’m going to ask that if you think the idea has merit, or interests you even a little, please hit the like button down below the post. If you have input on a variation of my idea, comment please. I know this site is not a central hub. But I am getting read so any input from my readers is, hell, I’m begging for it. Comments, please!!!!