Confilicting Advice

There are a lot of ways that people over-complicate the process of doing something awesome!

 Here's some shitty advice:

• You need money to start a business or change the world
• You need to write a business plan in order to succeed
• You have to have a degree in that field, or at least a degree in something
• You have to be experienced in your industry
• You have to interrupt people with your marketing
• You have to work really hard 
• You need to give up your life

The above menu of 'advice' is typically doled out as soon as you mention your little idea that will actually change the status quo and make a difference. Been there, I promise it's true. Now, to be honest there is some truth to each of these statements.

This, in my opinion (take it for what it's worth to you) is a better list of to-dos:

• You need to invest in your business or world-changing idea.
• You need to spend some money, but you need to have a reason for spending it. Don't let the bad advice people give you cause a panic in your heart! The amount of money you need can vary greatly and can be raised (I recommend you raise it by working) over time. It doesn't need to be raised in one lump sum
• Business plans are dumb. 
• Do what works for you. Never do something because somebody says you need to
• I clarified my goals and path by deciding what they were and doing them.
• It wasn't easy to just do it; it took a lot of beating myself up about making the 'right' decision, but I got there eventually
• Plan your own way. Pictures, videos, writing, whatever works. The point is that it works for you
• What does a degree qualify you for anyway?
• A piece of paper doesn't qualify you to do anything.
• Build a reputation instead by doing free work for people or volunteering with them and leading them.
• If the experience myth were true, nobody would do anything
• You gain experience by taking action over time. Period.
• The clock starts ticking when you take your first action.
• People like being engaged more than they like being interrupted
• Try finding people that need something or want to be led somewhere and help them!
• People will follow you and your message if you are generous, bold, and will take risks for them.
• You need to work hard doing something that inspires you
• Anything less will cause you to give up and possibly go bat-shit insane
• "Interest and energy both wax and wane." Timothy Ferris, The 4-Hour Workweek
• You need your inspiration and excitement to fuel your work.
• You don't need to be as generous as, or live like Mother Teresa
• For a long time I had a hard time with this, I still do. I'm human. I thought that figures like Mother Teresa were the only legitimate world-changers. And that I must emulate their lifestyle. NOT that I compare to her work in ANY way. She's a badass++. That's a double plus if you were wondering.
• I'm pretty sure (about 99%) that you don't need to give up your own personal happiness or satisfaction in order to change the world.

The point is, do what you have to do and be as giving as you can be. In the long run we're here to help you. Just drop us a line.

Tim DeChristopher saves the world (or a part of it).

Who is he?

A badass.

Why?

Let me explain in an annunciated, 11 point bulletin:

1. In 2008 there was a Utah land auction being held for about 22,000 acres of public land. 
2. Among the bidders were several major oil companies including ExxonMobil and Shell. 
3. See, the auctions weren't exactly fair because, well, not everybody has a couple hundred thousand $$ to toss around. And, it was public land, yet, the public wasn't getting much of a say where it was going.
4. Obviously, environmental activists were wildly outraged. Among them, Tim.
5. Whereas most protesters either write condescending (read: stupid) letters or show up on game day and cheer for the opposite team, Tim decided to take a third route that landed him in environmental rock stardom.
6. On auction day, Tim shows up and registers as a bidder (why not?).
7. He then proceeds to outbid every other bidder on every piece of land, netting a bill of $1.7M. 
8. Shit balls!
9. Working a part time job and going to school, Tim didn't exactly have the cash laying around.
10. Without the money to pay up, the auction was delayed for months and, with the presidential administration change the following January, the land sale was rescinded.
11. Thusly, Tim got exactly what he wanted, stopping the land sale, by forging his own map and taking the path less trodden.

Fucking awesome. If you want to help him stay out of jail read this:

• Word is, he's being convicted of a couple of felonies (I think). 
• The trial is Monday, February 28th.
• There is a march going on Monday morning @ 8AM at Pioneer Park.

Ryan

Been reading a new book. I think you'll like.

The book is The Art of Non-Conformity  by Chris Guillebeau. Since reading... spooky things have been happening. Good spooky, not bad.

This link is ridiculous... lol.

http://privateschool.about.com/cs/startingaschool/ht/startaschool.htm


All the information in this is BS. ESPECIALLY the time expectancies.

Like, what the hell doe this mean:

What You Need:

A Planning Committee
A Head of School
A Business Manager
A Business Plan
Dynamic, effective fund raising
Professional marketing

IMHO, it means absolutely nothing. These words are nonstarters. They don't bring you any closer to realizing the goal of starting a school, something I can attest to completely. I hereby announce that I am writing a blog/book/short story about how to start a school. For that matter.. how to start anything. People so overcomplicate things...

Student Signups

We're trying to get student signups at the Idea School site, but so far none have trickled in.

I'll hold class regardless of whether we have students or not. We will not give up just because of slow starting.

If any of you have ideas on how we can get more students to sign up please let me know. Check out our website as a reference: www.theideaschool.org

Great video in which Dale talks about makers. The basis of Idea School.

Idea School's new website!

Take a look here!

Make sure you refresh your browser cache :D :D