if the kickstarter is a huge success

If the upcoming kickstarter is barely funded, 100% of the funds collected will go to stuff to make it happen. And if anything goes wrong, I will have to pay for that out of pocket.

On the other hand, I am trying to do a better kickstarter this time than ever before. And I am hope, hope, hoping that this one will go over $200,000. And I am already putting together plans for what I would do with those extra funds.

#1: I think I would hire somebody to be in charge of food production. Somebody who would be awesome at teaching a PDC and would teach gappers all that they would need to know to be awesome and happy. This person would also run point on the PEP1 stuff. And, most of all, maximize our harvest this year. I think this person would work 80 hours per week and be great on video for lots and lots of future kickstarter projects. (I'm not saying that what I would like is reasonable - I'm just saying that it is okay to want things (people))

I guess I'm writing this because this job is actually something that I want to do. But I've been here for a year and a half now, and I have learned that I am pushing things forward on so many fronts, that I cannot add to my list. And this is currently the most important front. And while there is a lot of enthusiasm here for moving forward, I don't feel that anybody that is here now could really do this at the level I would like it done, let alone teach a PDC.

#2: A full time natural builder.

#3 through #862: there are scads of things to move forward on that all need bits of money. Dozens of projects have been put on hold due to lack of funds. But I am writing this note here and now because of the painful need for somebody to run point on food systems while I continue to try to bring in funds to build our community forward momentum.

Interesting. Speaking to this point:

I guess I'm writing this because this job is actually something that I want to do. But I've been here for a year and a half now, and I have learned that I am pushing things forward on so many fronts, that I cannot add to my list. And this is currently the most important front. And while there is a lot of enthusiasm here for moving forward, I don't feel that anybody that is here now could really do this at the level I would like it done, let alone teach a PDC.

Is there a way to sort of shift things around so that you're able to take up that position yourself, while having the 'moving forward' stuff taken care of by others, or is it sort of rock and a hard place type of scenario?

I'm sure you've already considered it (or perhaps even gone down that road?), but less qualified people could work on the list you've currently got, so then you could focus on the most important front?

Vida Norris wrote:Is there a way to sort of shift things around so that you're able to take up that position yourself, while having the 'moving forward' stuff taken care of by others, or is it sort of rock and a hard place type of scenario?

I'm sure you've already considered it (or perhaps even gone down that road?), but less qualified people could work on the list you've currently got, so then you could focus on the most important front?

I do think that there is a possibility. But what would be even better still is if we could figure something out so that we have somebody managing the food systems, AND somebody taking care of a majority of the stuff that seems only I can take care of. Then I can work on all new stuff that has been getting put off for years. I have three books in the works, 14 new DVD projects, 170 youtube videos and there are about 400 new podcasts to create.

suggestion: add a link to the kick starter project that this tread is referring to.

I do think that there is a possibility. But what would be even better still is if we could figure something out so that we have somebody managing the food systems, AND somebody taking care of a majority of the stuff that seems only I can take care of. Then I can work on all new stuff that has been getting put off for years. I have three books in the works, 14 new DVD projects, 170 youtube videos and there are about 400 new podcasts to create.

I hear you. That does sound ideal to have all of those things happen. I wonder what it would realistically take? I mean obvious first steps would be to have the kick starter go well, then second step would be to find the right people to fill those giant shoes (natural building and food systems). I guess it gets murky with the second part, because how do you start delegating? I wonder if it would be helpful to have a kind of volunteer "job board" that is kind of ongoing where people can check periodically and if they have any of the skill sets required and the time they can hop in the ring and help? I am not sure how that would help for stuff that is on the ground (running workshops or one day events to get big spurts of progress so it's a bit more measurable maybe?) - but I guess even online there is a degree of trust you need to have when you're looking for things of high quality or in line with what you're looking for. I guess another option if things don't go as well is to recalibrate the biggest priorities and try to work through those but that's less than ideal for sure.

Eugene Rominger wrote:suggestion: add a link to the kick starter project that this tread is referring to.

Hi Eugene, the kickstarter isn't up quite yet. It's been talked about in at least 3 different threads so far, all in the tinkering with this site forum:
nominations for a new product name (RMH 8-DVD set)
Come Vote On A Name For Paul's New 8 DVD Set About Rocket Mass Heaters!!
the OFFICIAL poll for the title of Paul's new kickstarter!!!

Vida Norris wrote:I wonder if it would be helpful to have a kind of volunteer "job board" that is kind of ongoing where people can check periodically and if they have any of the skill sets required and the time they can hop in the ring and help?

In terms of here at wheaton labs (in "meat space") we have gappers, and other folks in one role or another, and a BIG LIST available to all of what we'd like done. There is always something to pick from to do. We're just still shy on people who have the skills to handle a lot of the items on the list. That's where the funding might help.

On permies, or in terms of infecting brains with permaculture via vast interwebs, we've posted massive ideas (many also in the tinkering with this site forum). Here's just a sampling:
team permies
does anyone want to design Paul a new cover photo for facebook?
how to link to amazon so 'the empire' gets part of the money
how to share Permies with your friends on Social Media
In Desperate Need of Podcast Summary Writers!
and podcast transcripts - are there podcast transcripts?
scubbly affiliate program
Ideas of simple tasks anyone can do anytime on Permies
Who Wants to Make Book Summary Threads?
how many acorns would you give this book?

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Vida Norris wrote:I wonder if it would be helpful to have a kind of volunteer "job board" that is kind of ongoing where people can check periodically and if they have any of the skill sets required and the time they can hop in the ring and help?

In terms of here at wheaton labs (in "meat space") we have gappers, and other folks in one role or another, and a BIG LIST available to all of what we'd like done. There is always something to pick from to do. We're just still shy on people who have the skills to handle a lot of the items on the list. That's where the funding might help.

On permies, or in terms of infecting brains with permaculture via vast interwebs, we've posted massive ideas (many also in the tinkering with this site forum). Here's just a sampling:
team permies
does anyone want to design Paul a new cover photo for facebook?
how to link to amazon so 'the empire' gets part of the money
how to share Permies with your friends on Social Media
In Desperate Need of Podcast Summary Writers!
and podcast transcripts - are there podcast transcripts?
scubbly affiliate program
Ideas of simple tasks anyone can do anytime on Permies
Who Wants to Make Book Summary Threads?
how many acorns would you give this book?

Awesome Jocelyn, thanks!! I have just been really digging in to the forums so I am still fairly new to all the ins and outs around here so forgive my ignorance as I stumble through and ask a lot of repetitive questions! That list is super helpful. I wonder if it would be helpful to do a roundup similar to what you just did in a specific thread or is that kind of the purpose/place for it in the tinkering thread in general? I'd be happy to put it together if that seems useful. (unless it already exists somewhere lol)

and yeah I agree with you on the not enough funds/hands scenario. It is true that if you at least have the funds you can hire out or prioritize the biggest things, or it can sometimes at least buy you time. So in conclusion, kind of goes back to the original post of "if the kickstarter is a huge success..."

Vida Norris wrote:Awesome Jocelyn, thanks!! I have just been really digging in to the forums so I am still fairly new to all the ins and outs around here so forgive my ignorance as I stumble through and ask a lot of repetitive questions! That list is super helpful. I wonder if it would be helpful to do a roundup similar to what you just did in a specific thread or is that kind of the purpose/place for it in the tinkering thread in general?

Yay! Glad it helped! You're welcome of course!

Hm, I'm thinking of a couple things in respose to that. First, a far better list than the one I posted is the big gob ('big gob' is a favorite term of Paul's - I guess it's showing that we hang out together! ) under how permies.com works. Which isn't so much a volunteer board per se, but is probably an important first perusal for anyone wanting to help.

Second, yes, the tinkering forum is, for the most part, the place to look for this kind of thing, though, IMHO, a roundup is very helpful! As you said, especially for new folks, it helps point to things and forums and threads they haven't discovered yet.

Vida Norris wrote:I'd be happy to put it together if that seems useful. (unless it already exists somewhere lol)

Oh cool! I say go for it! I imagine it might be nice to have a link to how permies.com works in your roundup and vice versa! I'll give a heads up to the staff and other volunteers.

It's kind of amazing ALL of the things Paul does not just to make this site available, but also to ensure it's an enriching, supportive place to hang out. And that's just one of his hats! So while this post seems to have veered a bit OT, I'm going to leave it in this thread just to help folks understand a tiny bit of the depth and breadth of things.

In fact, here is Paul wearing another hat.

haha nice hat pic Jocelyn!

Got it, thanks for the tips. I'll start putting together the post. I am so glad you posted that how permies works link, since even though I've been kickin' around the site for a year I kind of had no idea about most of that stuff so I'll definitely put that at the forefront of the post for sure.

Sorry to have taken things off topic, I guess I was asking questions and brainstorming based on what Paul was mentioning regarding if the kickstarter worked out and all the hypotheticals involved in that. Got me thinking of possible ways to start chipping away at the small stuff to make room for the bigger stuff he was mentioning.