Monday, October 13, 2014

How to Do Shameless?

My days are numbered. All of them.

My life will end, of course. God knows when. My life in construction is going to end, probably sooner than later my doctor says. I had parts replaced last year in hopes of prolonging my construction career, but now I have more issues that will require more surgeries than I can pay for or take time off to recover from. I might get by with "light duty" for a while if nothing goes wrong...goes wrong...goes wrong....

So, now I'm backed into a corner. I need another income stream, if nothing else as a back up, because I can't shake this eating and drinking habit I have. And yeah, I like my internet connection and a roof over my head, though I'd forgo the roof before the internet if I wasn't married, I think.

I've been writing for a long time. I've been putting out a lot of other media stuff for a long time. All for free, and that was always fine with me, I was doing fine in construction. Other people have monetized my stuff but I've always resisted doing that, even when people told me I should because it was wildly popular. I had the same problem with monetizing my media production that I have with marketing my construction work: I hate self-promotion.

With my construction business, I've had the luxury of never having to advertise, sell, schmooze, cold call, or do marketing. I've worked for 33 years with an unlisted phone number and never had to solicit a job. I have always been referred by word of mouth and I was "sold" when I walked onto the project. My podcasts, blog, and writing have all gone viral or have been promoted by other people so I never had to "put myself out there".  And I've never had to wonder what any of this is really worth to anyone.

So I'm jumping into the cold water of turning what I love to do into something of a business. I know very well what might happen when a passion and an avocation becomes a "job". But I also know I've had a "job" for 33 years that I still love to show up and do, even when some of the things I have to do aren't snazzy and challenging anymore.

I'm also gagging down the reality that I'm going to have to put my stuff out there, tell people who have never heard of me about it, and put a dollar sign on it.  I have no clue how to go about it without feeling sleazy. But I'm going to give it a try, at least for a while, to see if I can figure it out.

Here's what's up with my new writing venture.

I've self-published another book. I'm actually surprised how well-received "Fire from Ashes" has been. I appreciate Fr. Joseph dragging me out of my seclusion to work on the book with him. That gave me a kick start to finish "Lord of the Hunt and Other Tales of Grace" which has been sitting on my desk for over ten years. It was actually published back in 1991 but went out of print.  My "claim to fame" is that it got rejected by Multnomah Press who, at the time was publishing Max Lucado. They said they couldn't publish it because "it was similar to Max's work". I still have that rejection letter framed. The publisher who went with it said it was "Max Lucado with a dark side".  Twenty five years ago with a 38 year old's aspiring "Christian" writer's ego that made me very happy. Still does, in a way. Max kept writing and I built walls to feed six kids and wrote just to write.

A few years ago I got the rights back. I have revised, added/subtracted and illustrated it for the new edition. It is a Christian book, not an "Orthodox" book, meaning there is no Ortho-apologetical agenda in its pages. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you have read a few of the stories in it. I am working on a marketing plan that will focus first on folks in recovery of some kind. (In a sense we're ALL in recovery, but just not as acutely aware of it as others are).

I have a new website called Word and Line  This is my "writing/illustration/speaking" business website.  It is serious self-promotion. You can view my "stuff", buy my books, and hire me to write, draw or speak. I will also be posting my blog stuff over there once I get settled into a plan. I'll cross post relevant stuff. I don't know how that is going to go, but I have to start somewhere.

So I hope you will pass this stuff on if you know of anyone who might be remotely interested in what I have to say or in my skill-set or services.  Word of mouth, bay-beee... marketing pros say that's where it's at.

And of course, they're right.

Thanks, all.....




24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you considered becoming a construction consultant? I don't know if there is such a thing. You could network with a core of competent and reliable contruction guys and charge a "finder's fee" for finding them work. Word of mouth refers work to you. You refer work to them. You wouldn't be making the kind of money you used to, but it would be something, and it would not be self-promotion.

Anonymous said...

You could put ads on this blog. Not even Google AdSense. It could be links to Amazon books that you like.

Bill M said...

Blessing on your venture!

Rusmeister said...

Keep the sense of shame and do it anyway?
(If that doesn't go too far down the road of humility...)

Bill M said...

Bought your book. It's good! :)

Steve Robinson said...

Thanks Bill! Would you be willing to put a review on Amazon? It helps get the word out. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

God Bless you!!
I love your blog, so I just bought (downloaded through amazon kindle) your book! It looks good!
After finishing it, I'll post a review.

Steve Robinson said...

Anon, Thank you! I appreciate the support and encouragement!

Unknown said...

in Gebze Kocaeli quality lift home from home Our ??company offers transportation services are on sale you take advantage of our discount days.
Gebze evden eve nakliyat
Yahya kaptan evden eve nakliyat
Darıca evden eve nakliyat
Çayirova evden eve nakliyat
Gebze evden eve nakliyat
Darıca evden eve nakliyat
Gölcük evden eve nakliyat
Çayırova evden eve nakliyat
Pendik evden eve nakliyat
Tuzla evden eve nakliyat
Bağdat caddesi evden eve nakliyat
thank you very much for

Richard said...

Steve, I have been so blessed by your work over the years and look to you as inspiration. If you had a donate button I would gladly use it and if you had links to your resources (e.g. Amazon etc..) then others would find your works and purchase them.

Don't be ashamed to seek financial support from the ministry you provide. The worker deserves their wages.....

خدمات منزليه said...

Al Horus Home Services Company is the best company in the fields of cleaning and pest control and the transfer of furniture and cleaning of reservoirs and services necessary for the whole house, Al-Horus has the best workers in the world and the best materials and equipment in the world, so this is what distinguishes us from others
شركه نقل اثاث وعفش بالطائف
افضل شركه تنظيف بالطائف
شركه مكافحة حشرات بالطائف
شركه رش مبيدات بالطائف

Unknown said...


شركة تنظيف بالطائف

شركة تنظيف مجالس بالطائف

شركة تنظيف خزانات بالطائف

شركة عزل خزانات بالطائف

شركة مكافحة حشرات بالطائف

شركة رش بيدات بالطائف

شركة تسليك مجارى بالطائف

شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالطائف

شركة نقل اثاث بالطائف


Unknown said...


Cleaning Company in Riyadh
تنظيف موكيت بالرياضlevel
شركة تنظيف فلل بالرياض
شركة تنظيف مساجد بالرياض
شركة تنظيف موكيت بالرياض
شركة تنظيف بيوت شعر بالرياض

ركن الهدى said...


شركة تسليك مجارى بالدمام
شركة تسليك مجارى بالظهران
شركة تسليك مجارى بالقطيف

رضا جمال said...

هل تبحث دائما عن شركة تلبي جميع الخدمات المنزلية وتحمل عنكم عبء التنظيف وعبء المكافحة والتخلص التام من الأضرار التالفة في المنزل فعليكم بشركة ركن الامانة فهي أفضل شركة متخصصة في كافة الخدمات المنزلية على أعلى مستوى شركة مكافحة حشرات بابها
شركة تنظيف ببيشة
شركة تنظيف بخميس مشيط
شركة مكافحة حشرات بخميس مشيط
شركة تنظيف بنجران
شركة تنظيف مجالس بابها
شركة تنظيف منازل بابها
شركة تنظيف كنب بخميس مشيط
<

Anonymous said...

The company is specialized in all types of cleaning, such as cleaning the house, roofs, villas, reservoirs and all kinds of cleaning. It works on the customer's comfort and win the trust of the customers by Quality of service provided by our company in this field.

Cleaning is one of the things that give great importance to the place, regardless of the house or the company and the size and leave them and neglect whatever the furniture in them will be alienated from them, especially if some guests came to your home or hold meetings in your company will notice question marks on the faces of all those in disarray and disgust from the public landscape So the company's cleanliness and the company show the furniture in it and make your home or your company attractive to you and your guests, making yourself a milestone in the field of your job and make respect for you other than the duty of cleaning your home and arrange your priorities so our dear customer cleaning the house or the company on A great amount of inspiration that must be made in Zahnk and works to implement and the company of excellence is the best solution to this problem and will make you proud of yourself and your guests with the service that we carry out for you.

Cleaning company in Al-Kharj
It offers cleaning services to all its customers because it knows the importance of cleanliness and its impact on the family in terms of high energy positive when they look at their home is at the highest level of cleanliness Vtzad joy and positive energy for work while neglecting the house and not arrange and clean makes the house an example of the gathering of negative energy and many Problems that occur as a result of negligence We are well aware that the housewife can not alone do all these burdens, especially if they have a special work in this case must be used by our company, which works to solve all problems of cleaning easily and with high quality As well as after the completion of our periodic maintenance of a clean place sedulity always.
افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالخرج
افضل شركة تنظيف خزانات بالخرج
افضل شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخرج
افضل شركة تنظيف موكيت بالخرج
افضل شركة تنظيف منازل بالخرج
افضل شركة تنظيف بالخرج

şehirlerarası nakliyat said...

Gebze evden eve nakliyat hizmetimiz ile şehir içi ve şehirler arası olarak profesyonel, kaliteli ve güvenilir bir nakliye hizmeti sunmaktayız. Bizleri arayan müşterilerimizin istek ve beklentirlerine göre hizmetlerimizi şekillendiriyor, kapsamı sizin hayalinize bırakıyoruz. Dilerseniz ambalaj seçimimiz ile dilediğiniz ambalaj malzemesini seçme imkanı sunuyor, beklediğiniz gibi kaliteyi sizlere sunuyoruz.
gebze evden eve nakliyat her zaman müşteri dostu bir firmadır ve sizleri memnun etmek için çalışmaktadır. Bizler her daim sizler için varız ve sizlerle büyüyoruz. Arayın ve dilediğiniz zaman için rezervasyonunuzu açtırınız.
kocaeli güven nakliyat olarak marka tescili dahilinde eski ve köklü bir firmayız. Bizlere telefon numaralarımızdan ulaşabilir, istediğiniz zaman rezervasyon işlemlerinizi yaptırabilirsiniz. Temsilcilerimiz sizlerden gelen çağrıları büyük bir memnuniyetle cevaplayacaklar ve sorularınıza tatminkar yanıtlar vereceklerdir.

Unknown said...


kocaeli güven nakliyat ile taşınmak isteyen müşterilerimize sunduğumuz cazip fiyatlar ile kaliteyi ucuza sunmaya özen gösteriyoruz. Her il ve ilçeye gidiyor, istediğiniz yerde taşımanızı yapıyoruz. Bizler her zaman sizlere en iyi hizmeti sunmak için çalışıyoruz. Biz evden eve nakliyat hizmetinden beklediğiniz her şeyi sizlere sunuyoruz.
Kurulduğumuz günden beri hep en iyisi için çalışıyoruz. En kaliteli ambalaj malzemesi, en kaliteli işçilik gibi.

mai said...

الصرح جروب لجميع خدمات
تخزين اثاث
نقل العفش
تنظيف المنازل
مكافحة الحشرات
جميع الخدمات المنزلية بالرياض
شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض رخيصه

ارقام نقل عفش بالرياض 0533356456
شركه نقل عفش بالرياض
نقل عفش بالرياض حراج
افضل شركات نقل عفش بالرياض
طريقة تغليف العفش لسلامة النقل
افضل شركات نقل عفش بالرياض
اسعار شركات نقل العفش بالرياض
شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض رخيصه
شركات نقل وتخزين الأثاث

فروش و توزیع بلبرینگ نساجی|بلبرینگ نساجی گارانتی دار said...

فروش و توزیع بلبرینگ نساجی|بلبرینگ نساجی گارانتی دار

گریس خوراکی SKF LGFP2| گریس خوراکی said...

فروش و توزیع بلبرینگ نساجی|بلبرینگ نساجی گارانتی دار

بلبرینگ نساجی یا بلبرینگ های مورد استفاده در صنعت نساجی یکی از با اهمیت ترین قطعات در این صنعت مهم به حساب می آید.صنعت نساجی یا صنایع ریسندگی و بافندگی یکی از با ارزش ترین صنایع هر کشور به حساب می آید.لذا بالا بودن راندمان عملکرد این صنایع همواره مورد توجه بودن است.بلبرینگ های مورد استفاده در صنعت نساجی معمولا از با کیفیت ترین و بهترین مارک بیرینگ ها می باشند.در این بخش از وبلاگ صنعتی بیرینگ مارت به معرفی بلبرینگ های نساجی یا بلبرینگ های صنایع ریسندگی و بافندگی می پردازیم.همچنین برخی از مهمترین ویژگی های این نوع بلبرینگ ها رو معرفی میکنیم.

ركن كلين said...

شركة رش مبيدات بالرياض
شركة رش دفان بالرياض
شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالرياض
شركة مكافحة الصراصير بالرياض
شركة مكافحة الفئران بالرياض
شركة مكافحة حشرات بالرياض

CasinoMecca said...

CasinoMecca

Mahil mithu said...


Well done! I am really glad to read your fantastic posting and keep sharing...
Virginia Spousal Support