Professional Geekery

The Potential Of Monetizing Practice

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You've got practice software, unfinished (or not that great) stories, unused art.  Even if you're a progeek career-wise, you've probably got a lot of assets that  . . . well aren't that professional.  You're not sure you'd want to release that first Flash game, that fantasy story isn't that hot . . . let's face it some of your practice work may be decent or even good, but it's not your best.

Or maybe you're in practice phase right now, creating new stories or games or what have you.  You'd like to make money at it, but at the same time, well . . .

The thing is, in an age of print on demand, downloadable games, and eBooks you can easily monetize your practice efforts.  IN fact, I'm wondering if it's a good idea or an idea that may be normal in the future.

Consider the fact that, with little effort, you can get out an eBook, release an ad-supported smartphone game, and so on.  You certainly have the tools to get almost any media form you create out in some form of distribution, from a Print-On-Demand book to a full game download.  The fact that it might not be your best work doesn't stop you from getting it out there.

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Build Your Own ‘Inside’

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"I'm not on the inside."

Have you ever heard that excuse from some sad seeker of employment?  Have you ever lowered yourself to employ the excuse yourself?  My guess if you've encountered one if not both cases.

It's a common story – and a common excuse.  People think they can't succeed because they're not part of the "inside" the elite group, the . . . well whatever elite or group or team of influencers that makes things happen.  We fear we're not connected, never going to be connected, and are thus going to fail.

I won't lie – connections are important in career and life.  Networking and being connected pays off in far more ways than just a job search.  Decrying it however misses the point.

You're not "on the inside"?  Then build your own inside.  In fact, you're a progeek, you have an entire "inside" just waiting to happen.

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Mice, Technology, and Walt Disney: The Walt Disney Family Museum

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I visited the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco with my wife and some friends, to celebrate my wife's birthday.  I was curious as it is – it's a museum containing a great deal of memorabilia about Walt Disney, and a chronology of his life, and run by his eldest daughter.  Disney's influence on our modern media can't be understated, so I figure a review was in order.

However, after going to the museum I'm going to have to split this review into two parts for you, my progeek audience.  One part will review the museum, the other will deal with some of the insights I had there.

To put it simply, it's a very geeky place – and Walt Disney was, when you think of it, a progeek.

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