journal/Archive/Next Steps 1.md

Use the Most Impressive Perspective: When you look back on your life, what will you be proud of; what can you do with your talents that's significant? What will help those around you to love God most deeply?

[ ] Priesthood: This I could be proud of.

[ ] Farming: This does not really fit. Unless doing it unconventionally. I actually doubt the potential for impact here.

[ ] Building a co-operative workshop which is 1. Rooted in Christian values 2. Trains and educates the next generation and career changers on mechatronic design and fabrication 3. Provides incubation space+tooling and path-to-market for craftsmen / entrepreneurs 4. Provides networking opportunities for Christian leaders seeking this sort of skill and talent 5. Models living out the Christian life through craft and use of technology

This seems like a pipe dream but it's something I would jump ship and go be a part of, like now, if I knew it existed. It might be a non-profit side thing. I am not equipped to do this, especially points 3 and 4, but I can be over time. If there's a best place to do this, where would it be? Is it Steubenville, or somewhere else?

What sort of person would do that? What sort of person am I called to be?

• Helpful in communicating/connecting
• Curious - as Adam
• Optimistic - as Anthony
• Energetic - as I once was
• Giving in service - as Preston
• Handy - as my dad
• Wise - as Father Rory
• Empathetic - as Adam
• Knowing who I am and not doubting it.

OKAY, so what do I need to grow in to move towards that goal?

• Connections; I need to say yes to meeting with more people, going to more events, and deepening the relationships I already have. Asking tough questions. Being honest about who I am and what I do.
• Interpersonal skills
  • Negotiating
• Navigating legalese
• Fortitude; Discipline
• Technical Skills
• Accumulate a following

OKAY, so what opportunities that are in front of me (or ones I can build) right now would aid me in moving towards that goal?

[x] Timber Framing Workshop in Steubenville - Build relationships - Grow in fortitude and discipline - Discern whether this is where you should move - maybe this is close enough, or at least a stepping stone in learning if this is something you should replicate in other places. - Promote Machinae Ex Deo - Sell Little Creators product

[x] Machinae Ex Deo - Redefine and update the "why" - Promote on YouTube - Promote via Business Card & Word of Mouth

[x] Little Creators - Deploy Etsy Storefront - May 20th Expo - Sophia Press

[ ] Move back to Illinois - Understand my Father and family better; deepen my relationship with them

[ ] Designing quality products and solutions for a local IL business - Get involved with the value-creation / problem-solving process; see more of the customer interactions and be involved with defining the problems rather than just recieving the requirements from a PM - Help my local community (farmers) produce quality food, fuel, and fiber with less dependence on foreign resources. - Build relationships - Mentor others along the way

[ ] Move to Steubenville and be involved with The Workshop (employee? manager? board?) - Understand the nuances required in managing a different makerspace - Understand what it means to embody various virtues / ideas

FEARSETTING - ILLINOIS

WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU THINKING?

• Move to a place around Tremont and get a job at Precision Planting. Help them build up their automation line.
• Build out a makerspace in Illinois.

WHAT'S THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

• Debt on the makerspace building (possible)
• Lawsuits on makerspace (possible)
• Absolute dearth of community (likely)
• Hate my job and want to leave
• Need to take on responsibility for the farm
• Ends up being the worst of all worlds - not enough family, not enough friends, not enough meaning, just lots of driving.

WHAT STEPS COULD YOU TAKE TO MITIGATE/REPAIR THE DAMAGE?

• Reach out to some local catholics in the PIA area to get a feel for how community is
• Push hard and build the community; use the makerspace as a hub for it (PIVOT!)
• Be very cautious and plan with parents about how to deal with makerspace debt
• If in a decent financial situation, just leave a bad job, there are others
• Start a consulting firm after a little while; finally mature enough, and have a better organic/family network
• Sell the farm / downsize it to something manageable and then turn it into the type of crop-growing operation you want to see exist

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF MORE PROBABLE SCENARIOS?

• Bring my family into better relationship with the church (don't get hopes up)
• Create a hub for Christian entrepreneurs to make small tech businesses so that people don't have to sell out for big woke ones or move away from their families

WHAT IS IT COSTING YOU TO POSTPONE ACTION?

• $5k/mo in Salary
• A lot of distress being in limbo
• $800/mo in rent

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS While this is really a great long-term move I don't think it's the best move right now. I think this could end up leaving me spiritually sullen - stepping out into the absolute wilderness.

FEARSETTING - STEUBENVILLE

WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU THINKING?

• Move to Steubenville and build Little Creators out of The Workshop for a year

WHAT'S THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

• I blow 30k on expenses (very possible)
• I lose a limb to a table saw, another 10k (unlikely)
• I get lambasted as a phony and fraud by catholics nationwide (unlikely)
• I meet a crazy woman and marry her and she ends up being the worst person for me (unlikely)

WHAT STEPS COULD YOU TAKE TO MITIGATE/REPAIR THE DAMAGE?

• I don't need the money back, seriously. But if I do, I can go into engineering again.
• If I lose a limb, I get a mechanical engineering desk job
• If I get bad PR, all news is good news, right?
• Be very discerning with a woman; being able to be closer to home will facilitate more trips/visits, too. You're wiser now.
• Move back home with the knowledge you've learned
• Move back to NH with the knowledge you've learned (will you really now? sure...)

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF MORE PROBABLE SCENARIOS?

• Brought on as a co-owner / operator of The Workshop (don't get hopes up)
• Find really wonderful community
• Learn how to grow in virtue through work in a very serious fashion
• Find the correct people to turn Little Creators into its own operation
• Find a really wonderful wife

WHAT IS IT COSTING YOU TO POSTPONE ACTION?

• A good amount of money per month in lost sales ($2000?)
• $800/mo in rent (although it's probably similar in OH)
• A lot of distress being in limbo

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS This is a pretty attractive option. Evaluating on a periodic basis how things are going, and not being afraid to pull the ripcord, will be important. You should continue to build your personal brand and relationships with parents so that you have something to deploy when you pull the ripcord.

So what next?

• Go to Steubenville in June
• Transfer my LLC over by then
• Sleep on it a few days. Bring it to cabin Thursday. Call your parents.
• If it's a yes, move around July 20th. This will give some time after the class to say your goodbyes to NH properly - one way or another. You can figure out how to do moving. Everything would fit in a trailer for sure.