Day 3 of My Pandemic Year Experiment

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Day 179 of My 1-Year Experiment

Winter

February 2020

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Hasn’t this 1-year experiment reached its conclusion by now?  All I can say is I make the rules around here like a referee in a soccer match (football on the pitch) and because Emma the Baroness and I toured Norway in the fall, with no access to our Holiday Tau, we’ll be stretching this experiment one more month.

Saturday, 2/29/20 and it’s the end of the winter season, according to me.  And, look you shouldn’t complain because, you get an extra day of winter in this leap year. 

Don’t make it harder on me than it already is.  It’s a Saturday.  

Started reading my Kindle download about introverts — a minority in an extraverted-dominated world. 

And, Pinboarded (my knowledge bank) the passing of the founder of Trader Joe’s with my profile as his ideal customer — highly educated, but not quite affluent.  Broke down my target audience at Patreon into Trader Joe’s description.

• “Target well-educated, well-traveled — but less-than-affluent — consumers who have more sophisticated and diverse tastes in food and drink.“ 
• “He got an early take on the emerging trends — from the ecological movement to the raising education level,  the overeducated and the underpaid.” 
• “What that originally meant was, everyone from underpaid musicians to out-of-work PhDs could come to Trader Joe’s and find elements of the lifestyle they aspired to for not too much money,” 
• “Wouldn’t find branded items, but the merchandise was always of the highest quality and priced within the reality of a schoolteacher’s salary that offered glimpses into a much more affluent lifestyle.” 

Part of the appeal in shopping at Trader Joe’s is never knowing what new items have been added and what items will no longer be available. 

I forgot how much I love the current version of his “The Insider Report,” a customer newsletter that provided product information and which Coulombe described as “a marriage of Consumer Reports and Mad magazine.” 

In the 1980s, it became known as the “Fearless Flyer,” a chatty rundown on new, seasonal and offbeat offerings at the stores.

So, we’re not in Oslo today, how useful is today’s Holiday Tau?  Zahnny, you’re saying I should view my Patreon platform from the “Wines of the World” section at Traders?

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51:  “Look at your scene from outside. Do your systems work? Do your team members support you? How seamless is your route to success?” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Wait.  How weird, yet wonderful at the same time is today’s birthday?  Haven’t I been doing exactly this for 179 days in a row?  Yup!

Today’s birthday: “There are people in your realm of imagination who will give you energy, inspiration and healing if you only ask them.  Living or dead, this doesn’t matter.  The significant thing is your ability to mentally call up what you need and interpret the answers. Dreams will come true.”

I imagine my Patron Saint might have something to say about today’s birthday.

“4”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “You have talents that people in your immediate circle can’t appreciate.  Delve deeper into these gifts; you and others will be lifted by your efforts.  Seek the support you need.”  Aries

Winwood and Wonder make a good point in the realm of my imagination.

“4”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “If you don’t require too much in your life, then what do you need more money for?  Consider what your sacrifice of time, energy and life is all about at this point.”  Taurus

Am I correctly interpreting your answer?  

“4”  Steve Smith, 30: “Some won’t participate unless they’re sure they’ll get it right.  They have too much to lose.  Then there are the players, willing to let others lead.” Gemini

So, this is my imagination right.  How does this make sense for me today?

“3”  Steve Howey, 42: “The thing that puzzles you makes perfect sense to another and vice versa.  Put yourself in another’s shores.”  Cancer

This is more like it, guys.  Your Holiday Tau is what I’m looking for.

“5”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Usually, the thing people want in the beginning is just a way in.  You’ll gain something unexpected, exciting and vital along the way.” Leo

Thanks, Coach.  I was wondering when you would notice.

“3”  Steve Kerr, 54: “Magical people are those who go to events without knowing anyone there, take classes out of curiosity and dip their toes in the streams of life.  You are magical.” Libra

In the Knews Letter

The Tau of Steves

• • “5”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “The opening gambit is usually fun, filled with hope and promises.  Things become less interesting after that.  So in the case that the beginning isn’t great, don’t stick around for the sagging middle.  On to the next.” Leo 
  • “5”  Steve Harvey, 62: “The correct next move might be no move at all. To stand there until the world shifts is a real test of patience that will pay off.”  Capricorn 
  • “5”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Usually, the thing people want in the beginning is just a way in.  You’ll gain something unexpected, exciting and vital along the way.” Leo

Trends Fresh from the Labs

• • U.S. intelligence officials tell lawmakers that Russia is boosting Trump’s reelection bid – Los Angeles Times 
  • Global stocks fall on virus fears after Wall Street plunge – Los Angeles Times 
  • Op-Ed: Why is Bernie Sanders the frontrunner? Economic inequality – Los Angeles Times 

Headlines and Highlights 

• • Sunset: Which House Style Is Perfect for You? Here’s What the Zodiac Says 
  • Jack Conte, Patreon, and the Plight of the Creative Class | WIRED 
  • Kobe memorial: Read Michael Jordan’s speech about his ‘brother’ – Los Angeles Times 

Long-Form 

• • “Is’The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For,’ with its scenes of youthful triumph and predictions of a savvier political class, too optimistic? I’d say not, because the coming tribe really does bring hope of breaking the gerontocracy — time is on their side, of course. Is it a book only for young people, as opposed to “oldsters” (to quote Alter)? I would say the book needed to be written by someone her age, but it holds lessons for everyone. Along with the compelling personal narratives, there is historical context and acknowledgment — much of it from the subjects themselves — that every innovator stands on the shoulders of those who came before.”
  • Began reading and taking notes on “The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World” by Marti Olsen Laney — All human beings have 99.9 percent of  the same genetic prescription. Our individual differences come from the 0.1 percent of our genetic material that is just us — derived primarily from our neurochemistry,  a private reserve of about 150 different brain chemicals and recipes to formulate our neurotransmitters — guide messages from cell to cell, directing all brain functions.
  • A SURVEY OF 222 LEADING SCIENTISTS FROM 52 COUNTRIES who identified five global risks: failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation; extreme weather events; major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse; food crises and water crises

Progress and Procrastination

• • Procrastination — Lost a full day replacing my 2000 Toyota 4-Runner with a leased Honda CR-V 
  • Progress —Early feedback from Finnmark:  Interesting concept. I think your opening salvos should be free so people can get a sense of what their Patreon membership will provide. Also, blogs are not going to reach a young audience if that’s what you want. Youtube is far more effective for that age group. 
  • Progress — My Response: Wow, I’m impressed.  Thanks for taking the time to give me great feedback.  Yes you’re probably right.  Nobody reads anymore, so we’re an endangered species.  You’ve given some ideas, I should reach younger people.  I saw videos of your grand niece on the gondola, but I wonder how to reach her.  Oh, wait.  I know. I’m following her on her twitter feed.

Speaking Volumes  

• • My interviewed “Friend of Steve” offered more feedback at the right time for both volumes, Two and Three manuscripts. 

Working on the Business

• • 1,277 Flipboard users follow one or more of my 35 digital magazines. 
  • Who is my target audience at Patreon?  Who knows, but I’m creatively swiping a version of Trader Joe’s:

1. 1. Introverted creators who are the overeducated and underpaid;
   2. everyone from underpaid musicians to out-of-work PhDs;  
   3. who shop at Trader Joe’s (or wish they could); 
   4. who have more sophisticated and diverse tastes in food and drink.“ 
   5. find elements of the lifestyle they aspired to for not too much money, 
   6. within the reality of a schoolteacher’s salary that 
   7. offered glimpses into a much more affluent lifestyle. 
   8. like a marriage of Consumer Reports and Mad magazine. 
   9. in a chatty rundown on new, seasonal and offbeat offerings

Inspired by Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Previous: Day 18 of My 1-Year Experiment

Related: Nouns, Zips and Horoscope Heists

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trips