Sunday, July 21, 2019

Working - Marketing - Living….Time for New Paradigms?


Those who know me also know that, if I had my druthers, it would be possible to live in a freely giving and receiving society. Colin Turner describes how this could work via his book, IntoThe Open Economy: How Everything You Know About The World Is About To Change. The Kindle version of which is currently free on amazon. When undamaged people have their basic needs met, their natural default is to serve others. More of Colin’s work and ideals can be found in my previous post I am Home.

After a freely giving and receiving society, it would be delightful to barter. Granted, sometimes it’s more convenient to just pay for things with money. But bartering more widely accepted, would be highly freeing for millions too. Then there is also that way of life I personally desire, living off the grid in semi-seclusion. I don’t mean passing the nights in a sleeping bag under the stars – although for some that would be heaven. Any supplies brought in would normally cost money but I’d prefer a trade or gifting exchange. If my fruit trees produced abundantly more than I could ever use, I’d want people to be able to come by and enjoy the bounty too. Not something I’d measure, “I gave this neighbor X amount of fruit, now I can ask them for some help with my pump”. Although even the latter would be better than needing money from my perspective.  To reiterate, money isn’t evil and works great in many peoples’ preference. It’s simply that there are so many for whom money doesn’t work so great. It only makes an added distraction from being able to truly savor life and live to their full potential. Masses spend the majority of their lives in jobs they wouldn’t be doing if they didn’t need money. Many don’t even have time or energy to enjoy their income. For some, it barely covers basic necessities. I personally know many who have more than one job to make ends meet totally compounding this dilemma. Some proudly wear their overworking life imbalance like a badge of honor. Overheard at the gym, “I haven’t taken time off since my youngest was born 4 and ½ years ago.” Why are Fridays celebrated and Mondays so dreaded? Of course that doesn’t even apply anymore to the countless folks who work weekends. “Weekend”, hmmmm, I wonder where that concept came from? That jubilant celebration of ending work and dreading the start actually speaks of grave dysfunctionality in the current accepted societal ways. Especially when the “working” time is most of their waking lifespan!
Fortunately, there seems to be a bit of an awakening – a realization that powerful change is not only possible but crucial to our health and well-being. From the olden days of tailors, blacksmiths, woodworkers, artists and bakers, there has been a resurgence of entrepreneurs and small businesses over the past few decades. Trading,
or bartering, is now seeing new life too from large cooperatives like International Bartering Exchange to online platforms such as Simbi. One can even find goods and services for free on craigslist, freecycle and the fledgling free giving website Freeworlder. Of course, there have always been generous people through the ages who have charitably given but not as a 2 way street – not as a way of life. Many people give freely but cannot freely receive – perhaps a topic for another day. The point, for the moment, indicates many good-hearted people are willing to give.


What kinds of value do people have to offer?
Dolphin and Whale Encounter Retreats
Life Coaching
Yield from their Garden
Intuitive Messages/Guidance
Healing Touch
Crafts/Handiwork Creations
Architect and Creative Design
Sweat Lodge Leader/Facilitator
Healthy Meal Preparation
Tiny House Builders
Personalized Travel Guide
Assistance with Off Grid Set-up
Musician/Singer/Entertainer
Apothecary
Travel Companion
As you can see, the list could go to infinity and beyond  – especially when people are encouraged to do and be what they are passionate about instead of what they can be most profitable engaging in.

I have noticed numerous individuals, with unique and valuable gifts, struggling to share their talents and make “a living” too. Some of these gifts are incredible, bordering on miraculous, and clearly something they are passionate about. What they are not passionate about, even though they may be capable, is marketing, sales and promotion - myself included. Generally, “successful” individuals and companies have already done the start-up and have a marketing department or company they pay that promotes them.

While indeed time for grand transformation, we are not going to go from the current money-based society to a free giving and receiving society overnight, if ever. But new paradigms are emerging. Visualize this: Marketing Magicians are out there who absolutely love what they do. Passionate and highly successful, they have an intuitive way of being able to connect offerer with seeker (vender with buyer) and vice versa. These Marketing Magicians look for and welcome people with a wide variety of proficiencies or they specialize in certain niches. They actively desire to be agents for these highly skilled individuals and love facilitating respectful matches. Connections are made with integrity and they get paid from the deals they broker. Now I realize there are currently marketing professionals that people pay to engage their services. Usually, it’s not someone who is out there looking for people that could benefit from a product or service because they truly believe in it; but simply because they are paid to represent a business. Traditionally, marketers are paid upfront, hourly or by the job.  Imagine they are just so good and believe in the value of the folks they represent, that they would operate strictly on the basis of getting paid for the connections/exchanges they generate? And I’m not talking about some of the senseless commission percentages out there but something that is truly a win-win-win (service provider, client and marketer). Now take it further. What if these Marketing Magicians would not just accept money but also trade for things they wanted or needed? The same scenario would be viable with people who like numbers, records and bookkeeping. This leaves the practitioners to create, care for, and serve in the manner they are most passionate with the resources to do so and live life!

Yes, this would be greatly complicated in the current money/tax system. Yet the current system doesn’t promote joyful, healthy living! “The System” was never set up with your health and well-being in mind! Brave change agents are needed to make this a better world for all. Radical transformers come in varied forms and affect shift in countless ways. Many are quite vocal on the streets or via social media. Some affect change simply by quietly living their own way, brilliantly shining in the process.
I can hear the arguments and concerns as people point out options already available. There is also only so much I can cover and keep this reasonably short enough for most of my readers to have the time to digest. Additionally, my challenge with human language makes it more complex for me to express this message with any kind of clarity. Heck, I wish I could get someone, who is eloquent with words and understands what I am sharing, to rewrite this whole thing! Since I have been drawn to put it out there, my reassurance is, that someone reading with an open mind and heart, with the intention of understanding and enhancing their experience, will find something of value here.
Being of service can be fun as you can see from these pictures of volunteering I "performed". Perhaps down the road I’ll share a little more about that.



Thanks to the contributions of many Earth Angels, I have had the happy opportunity to play with my shell crafts again!



If interested in this Tiny Beachy Trio, please contact me. They are $15 each or $35 for all 3 + shipping.







Sharing a dreamy gift for a friend. The The Fiery Sea Dream Catcher is available for $25 plus shipping. Please contact to order or more pics or information.













Here are a few custom pieces. Hanging ornament may be customized for a limited amount of time. Mermaid Trinket Trays are available in etsy Gifts from the Sea and Other Treasures shop now for $35 with free shipping.













Thank you for sharing your precious time with me here. Perhaps some day I’ll see you in that Paradise where it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is đź’–

4 comments:

  1. I wish we as a People could stop and rethink this whole "money" thing, well, 'fiat currency' thing. The only element that gives our currency value is belief, because it is backed by nothing - except a powerful military. Barter, while less efficient, would not only be more real, but more honest as well. Shame, as you point out, many dedicate their lives to the pursuit of this thing that ultimately hinders their ability to truly appreciate life and living. Again, I wish we could stop and rethink this money thing, especially now that a relative few are hording the vast majority of it.

    Thanks for the resources I'll check them out.
    -
    As one of the struggling artists, I've been helping with the Andrew Yang campaign (Yang2020.com). He's the presidential candidate pushing to give every American a dividend of $1,000 a month (& much more). I love this idea because it would free so many from the preventable suffering that is based around our money centered society. Sorry, it's not my intention to tarnish this beautiful posting with politics.

    Thanks Michelle, & loved the pictures

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    Replies
    1. Hope you don't mind but this Steve Hughes bit came to mind. https://youtu.be/qIJrsAIhoEo please delete this comment if you feel it doesn't correspond with the spirit of your writing.

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    2. Thank You Peter for taking the time and caring to read my offering. Your artistic work is definitely something I'd like to see more people getting to experience including CONTEXT https://amzn.to/2Ydy1Dh Thank you for sharing your thoughts too. You never know who needs to "hear" from your perspective :-)

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    3. Wow Peter Simon! I just noticed you are offering the kindle version of your book CONTEXT free on amazon too. That's awesome!

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