I realize that I’ve been All PodCamp, all the time. Sorry about that. Side note: I have two packets of Quaker Instant Oats in my overhead bin at work that I refuse to eat because I don’t know what “Regular” flavor is. Further, the box lists them as “Original Flavor,” as part of those flavor packs. What was the original flavor? Oat? That’s why I normally eat the big bin oats. Ingredients: oats.

Last night, I was talking to Christopher S. Penn, and he said it best: we’re actually using the Long Tail appropriately. I went on to say we were doing Long Tail methods, but not the way Chris Anderson meant it. I was emailing back and forth with Dave Winer about this. I said, “One thing I can tell you about my experience with the Long Tail. Invest in seeds, because it’s all in the grass (roots).” He wrote back “Right fucking on.”

I got a particular thrill from that.

Mark Blevis said something really head-expanding yesterday, too. But it’s too big for me to consider right now, because it’s all still pre-event. Here’s what I want to share:

Passion Rules Over All (save maybe need)

I haven’t made a single cent (yet) on podcasting and this new media stuff. I made $5.00 on my writing this year (thanks to a generous tip jar donation). Lifehack.org doesn’t pay me, except in self-generated link love, and that’s failing lately (no big pushes).

And yet.

I’ve met more passionate people, had more interesting conversations, have experienced so many interesting opportunities and involvements in the last several months than I have in the five years prior. From a work perspective, mind you. I’ve become dad to two kids over the last five years, so I’ve certainly had my share of miracles in the last five years. I’m talking about pursuits at the moment.

If I spent the rest of the day making hyperlinks to you all, I’d probably still miss some of the great people I’ve met and spend online time with. I’ve had such great experiences in starting the Grasshopper New Media project. I mean, how cool is that? I’ve got three amazing, talented people doing production of podcasts for nothing but love and the future hope that we get paid. I’ve got over a dozen contributors across the three properties. I’ve got an audio relationship manager and a wordpress guru. I’ve got you guys filling in the cracks and being helpful.

Do What You Love

My brother, Thom, was the most clever musician I knew. He was so brilliant, I couldn’t understand his music, and often used to crap on him for it. It took well past a decade before the music Thom created was anything like the music others created (meaning: the world caught up to him). He’s a passionate guy.

I have an arborist friend who leaps into any new challenge. He’s just such a DO! kind of guy. He once took bushels of concord grapes, stripped them off the vines, and then made a phone call from the dining room table, hands soaked blackish purple, to ask a friend, “So HOW do I make wine?” He works from passion.

Keep your day jobs if you have to. Do it for as long as they’ll let you. And do it well. It’s rude to cheat them. But keep that inner fire burning about things that you love that might not relate to work. It’s hard sometimes, but keep thinking of ways to make it real.

Critics Can Kiss My Sphincter

Somebody spit on my post today at Lifehack.org. I felt a little red around the ears, and a bit defensive, but in the end, I said what I always do when someone craps on my plate: “Sorry you didn’t like what I did. What would you like to do instead?” It’s about all I can do.

But not unlike Devil’s Advocates, I can’t really use critics unless they’re constructive. Telling me I’m lame? Of course I am. Telling me I’m clearly not an expert? I’ve made a system and website about that (coming later on this year).

There’s a weird thing out there that you need to be aware of, and I run into it all the time. It’s the antithesis of helpful.

People accidentally want to see you fail.

In a way, it’s their own Inner Critic coming out. In another way, like the inner critic, it’s a way for them to voice concerns and fears they have about themselves, or fears they have about you based on things they themselves experience.

Another way to look at it is that if you’re planning on doing something that hasn’t been done, or that seems really risky, or not immediately obvious, it’s scary. Foreign concepts are weird and not easy to understand. What would telephones mean to a world that only did telegraphs? It was clearly not understood, the changes that would bring about. And it took hundreds of years before THAT got to where it’s going. Look at a phone system now. If I got geeky with you, your eyes would glaze over, but you’d accept the fact that what you think a phone system is and does is grossly different than how they operate.

The same applies for your big, crazy ideas. Others won’t get them all the time. I don’t get my own ideas sometimes. Sometimes, I have a strong feeling, married to caffeine, and tied to a whim that slips into my head and just seems SO. DAMNED. RIGHT. I go with those. I try to execute as many as I can. And the rest? These days, I’m storing up. I’ve got a BackPack list going of future plans. It just keeps growing. I need more Grasshoppers, but that’ll take some time, and now’s not the right time to get that going.

Critics also think of you as the “you that once was.” They remember the three hundred other failures you’ve had. Fine. Past performance certainly can offer some keys, but at the same time, if we only looked backwards at our capabilities, we’d all be lying on our bellies waiting for someone to change us. When we were infants, we couldn’t do what we could at 7 months. Ditto 2 years. 4. 36. Don’t let people use your past against you.

Big Key: YOU Own This All

The only person who can make you successful is you. The only personal who can realize your dreams and make them happen is you. The only person that will believe in you from the bottom of his or her heart is you. Everyone else will doubt you. YOU will doubt you. But the one who will make this happen or not is you.

Any time you say “they” or “someone” or “___ won’t let me,” you’re wrong. All you. Everything about those thoughts is wrong. Want the real thought: “I have to find a way to _____” or “I think I can do ____, so I’m going to try.”

You own this. It’s all yours. Watch five hours of TV a night, or watch 3 and surf 2, but don’t tell me you have no time to do things. It’s all you, and you can make things change shape.

No, you can’t really live your dreams and do nothing and all the other lies people tell you. It’s all work. It’s always work. That’s the thing people hate to hear. When I lost all 65 pounds back in the day (I’ve got 40 back at present), people’d ask me what I did. I said, “Hard work and sacrifice.” “Oh, that sounds too hard.” It is too hard, for you. (Currently, for me, but I’m working on that, dammit).

Alright. I’m done with the podium. Anyone else want it?

This is the start of everything, my friends. This is the START of what I do that’s big. 2007 is my year.

2007 is my year.