Viewing: Notes » Another sitrep.
Another sitrep.
(7 minute read.)
What's happening. Etcetera.
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As part of 'authentic transparency' I publish my sitreps. The thinking, the doubts and the screw-ups.
So here's the current one, which includes an intro/overview recap…
Since about 1978 I've run my own small businesses, and for much of the past 30+ years have advised others.
During the past five-plus years I've largely been commercially inactive while recovering from significant burnout ('another one'… partially life- rather than simply work-related, and for which Asperger's is relevant) and cancer treatment. Additionally, because of my age (70), I've been half-heartedly trying to retire.
During the last year-or-so, as I've become more commercially active, I've outlined a variety of what I've considered to be appropriate projects… to publish AI-generated (with appropriate human curation) primarily business-oriented information/advice through books and websites. There's significant crossover, and a lot of the content can be shared/repurposed for various projects, to reach market sectors in different ways.
My intent is to 'outsource almost everything', progressively introducing and developing projects during the next couple of years using some of the profit from one to initially finance the next.
I've deliberately refrained from launching any project—recognising that I'm still not well enough… part of which is that I simply don't want the responsibility of 'having to be there daily, dealing with things' of an operating business. And however 'lazy, liberal, art school post-grad dilettante' it is, I recognise that if I push myself I'll simply burn out again (each burnout is more easily triggered and lasts longer).
Additionally, and I realise how pretentious this sounds, my strength and preference is as a catalyst providing strategy and ongoing guidance rather than management.
I'll openly admit to over-estimating what's viable… both in terms of overall workload and quality of individual projects. Although most are sensible and excellent, others aren't. The long-story-short of this is too many projects, too many of which aren't really worth doing.
How many projects? I don't currently know, I've not counted recently. There's been no need to. Each individual book is a project. So fifty-sixty, probably. Around there, somewhere… maybe a few more.
By switching to publishing one-and-done books rather than blog/magazine/other websites requiring ongoing updates, things are simplified and potential workload reduced.
And the idea of 'becoming a small publisher' with all content AI-generated 'in house' appeals to me, both personally and commercially… even though, ironically, this will of course require more projects.
It also makes things sound better, more structured and strategic… gets me out of the 'guy in the spare room, with a ChatGPT account plus an overactive imagination and poor impulse control' thing.
As I continue to reassess projects and terminate some, in revisiting I'm better able to recognise what's really good, and also what's really daft. But there's a lot in between about which I'm uncertain. Hence, I have these 'overthinking again' conversations with myself and AI.
Currently low on self-esteem and -confidence, I'm struggling a bit (though not hugely worried about it). And, in what might seem to be an excuse (but it's not) after reading too much about the medical issues of burnout, I recognise how a burnout-affected brain (altered structure and function) can misbehave and deceive me… with inappropriate enthusiasm or apathy, poor judgement, impaired impulse control, etcetera.
My highly illogical flawed and inaccurate view has largely become:
'That's a stupid idea, and the name is shite—and even if it isn't a stupid idea, the name is still shite'.
And, when using AI for an objective analysis and viewing a project as if it were somebody else's rather than mine, and realising 'well that's actually quite clever, it's a decent project', then my reaction is 'Who the hell am I to try and do something like that? Do I have the ability? And besides, there's others who're far better placed (smarter/established/more resources) than me, doing similar stuff.'
Amid considerable self-chastisement, at 'OMG—what the hell have I done in taking on so much work and stupid projects?', I need to remember that despite having too many projects and however dumb some of them are, I have a core of genuinely good stuff and also that my objective and strategy is sound.
Although incomplete, this is perhaps an appropriate point at which to pause this sitrep.
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