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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Kontext 21 Oct \ on: What creative ideas have you been rambling on? Design
Well. This is about a week late, but better late than never, eh? Also, as I mentioned in the previous edition, I do really appreciate the nudge to slow down, think, strategize.
I have been in a bit of a slump lately, NGL. My creative juices have been running dry, I've barely even written anything. Often, I find myself frustrated with how I seem to be having to spend most of my time trying to promote my stuff or get them out there whereas in a perfect world, the work would speak for itself; it would sell itself. Maybe the issue is simply that my work is not good enough. That is not a consoling thought, though.
Small addition/correction: in the last edition, I failed to mention putting together a small compilation of Bitcoin memes I've made: #1242573 - to be fair, most of them are pretty old now anyways so it's not really a new thing...
Anyway, what's been happening lately is:
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Bitcoin Wall Calendar & Open Source Culture Creator Contest #2 (#1245319) The main item in focus. Voting period is nearly over, there were 8 artists who submitted a total of 19 works for the contest. 4 sponsors have signed up. I am pleased in terms of interest from artists and companies to sponsor it, but 0 pre-orders and not many voters (not going to reveal the exact number just yet) are a bit discouraging. In any case, the goal was not to chase numbers, the goal was to do the thing, and I'm (we're) doing it.
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Posted another poem - an older poem though - "Day One" (#1258387)
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nostr vlog volume 7: "Take Charge"
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Made it to 2 years of 100+ pushups. Every. Single. Day. (#1256951)
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First reseller for my book (#1074789) signed up I haven't really reached out to many places yet, I haven't even made a proper photoshoot of the book (did one in the summer, but with my phone and the images are a bit crappy - I need to utilize the DSLR). But I did see Vinney from Whitepaper Books posting on nostr saying he wanted to feature more nostrich authors on his site. So I reached out. We made a first-of-its-kind nostr based contract on the platform he develops: attestr. And the book is now live on Whitepaper Books
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Have been working out details for affiliate & reseller options for both SATOSH.EE and Kontext Store of Value (not published anything yet though); similarly, have been making small adjustments and changes UI & UX wise on both sites
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Applied to Early Riders' Stables accelerator program (#1227139) and PlanB Network's CypherTank pitch contest (#1236913) with Satoshee and got rejected both times
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Participated in a local 10 km run I didn't run at all until I came back to Estonia in July of this year. So my goal was really to just finish the race. Which I did - 36th place out of 66 with a time of 51 minutes and 31 seconds. The sad/bad part is that now that the weather is cold, I've only been out running once since that race in the beginning of October...
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Finished The Red Book audiobook by C.G. Jung, started 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson, Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda (paperback)
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Watched The Brothers Karamazov 1969 mini series
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Rewatched the first 2 seasons of Twin Peaks 🤠 - #1252329
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Wrote a longer blog post about what's been going on with my business and myself in the past few months
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
Well, first of all, the design for the Bitcoin Wall Calendar has to be completed this week, and a proof copy ordered. 2nd priority would be setting up affiliate programs on both of my sites + finding resellers for the book, the calendar, the merch. But really, in many ways, my to-do list is still occupied with stuff I outlined back in August: #1088119
I also want to do an audiobook and a Kindle version of A Stoic Resurrection - even though there seems to be little demand for it, for now. I guess that is the larger mission - finding a better intersection between what I like, what I'm good at and what the world needs.
Often, I find myself frustrated with how I seem to be having to spend most of my time trying to promote my stuff or get them out there whereas in a perfect world, the work would speak for itself; it would sell itself.
No reason to be hard on yourself. Resting, it's ok too. The main issue I see is that you are probably expecting something that your efforts are not achieving.
Maybe the issue is simply that my work is not good enough. That is not a consoling thought, though.
Perfect trick for you ego to demoralize your soul. Does really matter? Kick out that monkey... Why are you doing what you are doing? For you or for others? It does a lot of difference.
Looking from outside, look like you still having a lot of meat on the fire. You'll see the results, one step at a time, from the top if and when needed.
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First of all, I really appreciate your reply 🙏 Great points, too. Expectations have been an issue for me for a long time. One of the mantras I repeat to myself daily touches on that:
Recently I've also added another line to it, to further emphasize the no expectations idea:
"I don't hope for anything" (#1201227)
Why are you doing what you are doing? For you or for others?
That's a good one as well. First of all, I do things for me: because they interest me; or they bother me; or I feel I can solve something, or do something better or differently than what's already being done. That's the first step, and it is very important, for sure. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. But, here's another realization I came to a while ago:
Self love is not the answer. Love for others is the answer.
Ultimately, one has to provide value to others - to do things that are meaningful for humanity at large. And if I can't do that, then I will also be unable to be a man, i.e., to protect and provide, and sooner or later, I will have to work for someone else, doing things that help provide value and are meaningful for them (and not necessarily for me) or, even worse, doing things that help extract or siphon away value.
Looking from outside, look like you still having a lot of meat on the fire. You'll see the results, one step at a time, from the top if and when needed.
Yes. Zoom out for perspective; zoom in for focus. And have faith (something I also touched upon in the piece of writing I linked to above).
Thanks!
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