Tom Heck

I think this is brilliant.

It's important to save energy.  This machine will turn itself off.

For centuries small groups of people have tried to figure out ways to influence the masses.  One of the most effective and uplifting ways to influence behavior is through fun.  Watch the video clip below for an example.  CLICK HERE for more examples.

For many years I attended the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention (in Mt. Airy NC).  Although there is a stage where one can compete for prizes (best band, best fiddler, best banjo player, etc., etc.) the real reason I attend is to visit with friends and play music.  There are hundreds of jam sessions going on all over the park.

On Saturday night (really, early Sunday morning) after all the music competition is over there is a dance (clogging) competition.  Most people who enter really can dance.  Some who enter intend to be humorous.

One year I entered the dance competition wearing a Barney the Dinosaur costume.

My kids LOVE pinatas.  I developed "Full Contact Pinata" in an effort to ramp up the fun and give the pinata a chance to fight back.

Fill a pinata with oranges and apples and then reinforce with clear packaging tape.  Build a device to help get the pinata moving fast and then insert gladiator.

This video clip is from one of my birthday parties.

I was hired by the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to design and deliver a 3-day leadership development program for 120 employees from across the state.  I wanted to start the conference off in a memorable way - - no boring stuff here!

Are you an entrepreneur who needs a web presence?  I have lots of friends who fall into this category which is why I put this post together. 

Blogs are WAY more powerful than traditional (static) websites.  If you're going to invest in a web presence then build yourself a blog (or get someone else to do it).

Click on and read these links first:

• What is a blog?
  
• What's the difference between a blog and a website?
• Dave Taylor's "blog advantages" talk

Then read these:

• 10 tips for a great blog
  
• How to write a blog post people love
• Penelope Trunk's guide to blogging
• Tips for taking your blog to a whole new level
• Top 5 blogging misconceptions
• The art of the list
• Best damn web marketing checklist, period!
• How To Write Headlines (for a blog)
• 18 Stupid Mistakes Bloggers Make In Their First Year
• The Word's 50 Most Powerful Blogs

Resources:

• Blogging platform I use is typepad.com
• Many bloggers use the Wordpress.org platform
• My friend Nina East designs and builds blogs for entrepreneurs 
• You can find professionals to help you with all aspects of your blog at elance.com

1,000 True Fans

If you're new to building your business/site/brand/list then read this article 1,000 True Fans.

In November 2006 I traveled with my son to watch the World Champion Punkin Chunkin Contest in Delaware.  It was a truly awesome event and someday I'd like to compete.

In December 2006 my father in-law gave me a Floating Arm Trebuchet kit that my son and I built together.  The video clip below shows the trebuchet in action.  It will launch a golf ball 100 yards with just 10 pounds of counter weight!

When I was in elementary and middle school I did lots of things that could have ended up on a video clip like this.  A lot of my adventures were inspired by motorcycle jumping legend Evil Knievel.  The video clip below reminded me of my childhood.

Here's a fun way to dispose of your Christmas tree.  Remember to take your ornaments off in advance.

CLICK HERE to view a photo album of the building process.

In the spring of 1983 I was finishing up my second year at Virginia Tech.  When I entered college my intention was to become an engineer but that wasn't working out.  After two years I still hadn't found a major that was right for me.  I felt lost and frustrated.  

I decided I needed to clear my head by taking on a big challenge and I narrowed it down to either hiking the Appalachian Trail or joining the Marines. 

When I was deciding what to do I met a guy named Eddie, a local who owned property about 10 miles from campus.  He must have sensed I was ready for a big challenge because he asked if I wanted to build a cabin on his property.  His offer caught me off guard.  I had zero experience building (save for the dog house I built while in high school).  Building a cabin seemed like a huge undertaking.

I thought about it for one night and decided this was exactly what I needed.

Eddie agreed to guide me in the building process as he had experience with such things. I started clearing the land about a month before exams started and then moved all my belongings into storage just as classes ended.  I set up camp next to the building site and began to work from sun up to sun down.  My goal was to finish the cabin and move in before fall classes started (I moved in just 3 days before classes started).

I lived in the cabin from the summer of 1983 to fall of 1985.  No rent.  No phone bill.  No electric bill.  No water bill.  No trash removal bill. 

My agreement with Eddie was that I could live rent free while I was attending college.  Once college was over I could start paying rent or move out.

Building the cabin and living in it was an incredible experience.  I built the cabin for $1,100 and the investment paid off in more ways than I could ever have imagined.

The last time I visited the cabin was in 2000 and it was in good shape (dry and no noticeable rot).  I have no idea if the cabin is still standing. 

CLICK HERE to view a photo album of the building process.

Some of the lessons I learned / looking back:

(In no particular order)

1. It's not critical to have electricity, running water, and a phone to be comfortable. 
2. With no phone it made it hard for friends to contact me at the spur of the moment.  With no phone I learned how to plan better.
3. I learned how to conserve water.  I learned the value of a clean and abundant water supply.
4. I learned how to use a chainsaw without hurting myself.
5. I learned how to be quiet and enjoy it.
6. I learned that building a home is relatively easy (it's not rocket science).  This knowledge has provided me with a great sense of security over the years.
7. I wished I had built a cabin with half the footprint and built with a very steep roof to provide a second story.  Building the foundation took an enormous amount of time compared to the rest of the building process.  Building up (steep roof) would have been faster (I think).
8. As soon as I was done building the cabin I found out about yurts.  Had I known about yurts I would have built one of those instead.
9. I learned how to become more self-sufficient. 
10. I learned how to ask for help after I injured my back and needed help stacking firewood.
11. I learned how valuable electricity is.
12. I learned how to navigate a dirt road under all types of conditions (deep mud, ice, snow) and learned when to park and walk.
13. I learned how to stay warm in the winter.  I learned how to cut wood and prepare kindling.  I learned how to quickly start a fire in a woodstove and keep it going.  I learned the value of a well built woodstove. 
14. I learned how to be super safe with fire.  If my cabin ever caught on fire the whole thing would burn down in minutes.
15. I learned how to play the banjo.  My solitude and lack of distractions (like TV) afforded me lots of free time to explore and create.  Even now, when I play the banjo, I'm reminded of all the hours I spent playing in the cabin.

Click on the link below to download the  April 2010 MAKE Magazine article I wrote about this cabin build:

Download Make_vol_22_cabin_article

Most of my work requires sitting in front of a computer and talking on the phone.  I love my work and yet, there are times when I must stop and work with my hands (have you seen my Adventure Tower?).

CLICK HERE to read a great article in the NY Times that helps explain the value of working with your hands.

Bruce is one of my favorite musicians and this is one of my favorite songs.

This guy is brilliant.

This is some of the most amazing riding I've ever seen.  What a delight to view a master at work.