A Year From Now Forum

Hi,

My name is John Dilbeck, and I live in the mountains near Murphy, NC, the (depending on your direction of travel and perspective) first or last town in the southwestern corner of the state. We're located about 100 miles from five different cities.

Thirty years ago, my two biggest goals were to be out of debt and living in the mountains. Here I am!

It seems that my purpose is to help others, but I do that mostly behind the scenes. It's paradoxical that I work much more with things (computers, the Web, websites, blogs, forums, and so forth) than I do with people.

I'm self-employed and a full-time caretaker for my Mom. I live mostly here in my office, but I travel the world and have intercontinental conversations every day, thanks to forums like this one.

So, I'll work mostly behind the scenes to make it possible for you to come here and share your dreams, experiences, and knowledge. This is one place, among many, where you can help and be helped.

You are welcome here and I look forward to getting to know you better.

All the best,

JD

Thank you John - it's good to be here. Vic

It is good to meet you!!! I am so excited to have found a site like this. I know I will learn many new things here, and perhaps get strength to fullfill my hopes and dreams for the future.

peace, hugs and beads

Hi Hippiemage,

Welcome to our forum.

It seems that you and I share much in common. I just read your profile and we're both old(er) hippies. My old computer consulting clients frequently called me a wizard.

At one time in my life, I helped start an arts and crafts co-op. It can be very fulfilling, but it can be very frustrating, too. I'm not sure I'd do it again.

I know that all of us, if we're willing to put in the work and effort, can make our dreams a reality.

I see that you'll complete your AA early next year, so you'll be well on your way to fulfilling your educational goals in a year from now.

I also like your ideas of recycling things when making your jewelry. That's what I did as a blacksmith. I took wrecked car panels and turned them into steel roses.

It's a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to talking with you on the forum.

Act on your dream!

JD

Steel Roses??!!!?????? ummm perhaps we can work out something there........can they be small enough to put on my two sizes of hemp? I would be interested in that concept as it would be very different and unique........

Have you ever seen the art cars they have in Houston, TX?? I will have to find the site, I have considered doing that to mine...covers a multitude of bumps and booboos.......

I will have to pick your brain on the co-op idea.......I am thinking it would be a way not only for crafters to sell their products, but also perhaps a way to help women start over after divorce and other bad things. Can help build self esteem, it has taken me a couple years to get myself kinda back in one piece......still have the occasional issue pop up......but then I just get busy and use all the negative to make positives.

I am wondering if the SBA and SCORE people will be able to assist me with an online business as well as a local business in the way I so desire. I have the dream......have had it since the late 90's.....it is just a matter of putting it all together and not allowing that lil thing called fear stand in my way. I think it is a mental thing I have to overcome, plus one of my main problems is setting it down so a person can understand what I am aiming for. The idea of doing a business plan scares me to death and I shiver at setting up a web site to sell stuff, because I truly have no clue what all it will entail.

What I really need is a business manager to take care of all the minor stuff such as figuring out funding, writing for grants, doing accounting......I think if it is there that people will come....I will take time out today to write up my ideas and post them so others can read them and let me know just how crazy I truly am. But then again, being crazy in a good way can be a good thing.

peace an d hugs

I don't remember if I already told you in another thread that I'm unable to do any smithing because of being a full-time caretaker for my Mom. I just don't have the time to go up to the smithy and do anything creative, so I do what I can in the virtual world of forums, blogs, and websites.

You can see more about my steel roses at The Rose That Never Wilts(tm).

I love smithing, but caring for Mom takes precedence.

No, I'm not aware of the cars in Houston.

When I lived in Arizona in the late 70s and early 80s, I saw a row of Cadillacs partially embedded in the ground at an angle, but I don't remember where it was. I think it was somewhere in Texas, but I'm not sure.

(...hold on a second...search on Google...)

Found it. It's the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.

When starting anything of any scope, such as your ideas for a co-op, it's important for a creative person to be teamed with an administrative person and an executive person. One comes up with off-the-wall ideas, another keeps track of them, and the other implements some version of the ideas. Of course, it doesn't have to be three people, it could be several more, as long as they work together in peace and harmony. When any of them become disruptive, it destroys the mastermind and causes problems.

Have you read about masterminds in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich book?

You can find a copy in just about any bookstore or library.

I keep a copy right next to my desk all the time. In the edition I prefer, Think and Grow Rich - The Original Version, Restored and Revised, the principle of the Mastermind is covered in chapter 9 and was attributed by Andrew Carnegie as one of the keystones in his success.

(I linked to the Amazon.com page for the book so you can read the reviews and get the ISBN number if you want to get it from a library. I've bought many copies of this book, in various editions, and all are heavily underlined, highlighted and annotated in the margins. I can't remember how many copies I've given away to friends and colleagues over the years.)

A group of committed people dedicated to achieving a definite purpose can accomplish much more than any of them could ever accomplish separately.

If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. If you have, re-reading it in light of what you want to do now, may offer new ideas or better understanding of existing ideas you may have.

Of course, it's up to you. Each of us approaches these things from our own direction.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about your plans and ideas.

Act on your dream!

JD

-- Edited by JohnDilbeck at 13:46, 2008-07-03

I have not read that one yet, I will have to do so. I checked out 5 from the library and just finished those....decided I need to buy barbaras books so I can mark stuff in there and jot ideas as they come. I will be returning to library today i think, if son's fiance gets home in time to take me. Will see if they have it.

I totally agree about taking care of Mom, I left my job in Houston to go take care of my mom when she was dying. My dad was unable to because of his health and age. My prayers are with you.

The art car museum is at: http://www.artcarmuseum.com/ I so want to do that someday.

Aye, I need an administrative person, an accountant person, and an executive person, if for no other reason than to keep me in check. I have a tendency to want it all and want it now, although I do realize it will nto happen that way, I do get a little perturbed sometimes over little things. My problem is finding people I can trust, who can realize the same kind of dream, and the hopes that dream may fullfill. I am figuring after I meet the SBA counselor, I will have a better idea or who, what, where, when and how. Then I will also be meeting with SCORE people. I know they have mentors, so that will be a good thing. I so want this to start now, but realize that truthfully it may take 6 months to a year before it can be up and running.

I am considering an online business to help raise funding.....not only to support me as I finish school, but to also put towards the co-op. I am going back to knotting......then will put together more beaded.

peace and hugs