"This Thoughtlet will be short. There have been too many words in too many anyway. And just thinking back on all of the stuff that was happening back in April and May just makes me tired. No wonder I'm so far behind on the Thoughtlets!
Monday was back in the office. Jack Caldwell came by. He has been faithfully finishing up the TILESTM.
Tuesday there was an article in the newspaper about a lady who brokers books and other intellectual ideas. Joel Osteen received a $1,000,000 advance on his new book through her work. So I looked her up on the Internet. Her name is Ms. Jan Miller. She is 51. Her husband, Jeff Rich, was the president of Affiliated Computer Services, a $4.1 billion company in Dallas. She is also brokering Stephen R. Covey's new book: The 8th Habit. It has been too long, and I think the thing that caught my attention about this article was having heard Stephen Covey speak at Rachel's graduation (0619.html), mention something about his new book, and then seeing the article in the Houston Chronicle referring to the same book. When I looked up Ms. Miller's company on the Internet it is a simple one page description stating "We are brokers of intellectual ideas." I had a really good feeling when I read this. After all, if they take advantage of someone's intellectual idea, the kind of searches I was doing on the Internet would bring up the ways and times this had happened. And so this reasoning means they must be honest people. In addition, they are working with Stephen R. Covey, and his reputation in the church is impeccable. So I became consumed with taking An Open Mind, getting an additional chapter written and posted on the Internet, and getting Ms. Miller and company to represent me and provide me with a sufficient advance to allow me to finish the book.
I really do believe this is a powerful effort. I also believe I am uniquely positioned to talk about it to groups as a geologist and as someone with faith. I also thing this would be a fun way to spend he next decade, going around and talking to people all across the world about bridging the gaps between scientific and religious approaches to the world. I could play my guitar to break the ice, and then answer questions or quote from the writing for a couple of hours. And rather than ask for a $1 million up front advance, I figured it is reasonable to ask for $300,000 for the first two chapters, and the organization and Appendices which are already put together, and $100,000 as each additional chapter that is provided to the editor. So I buckled down and worked very hard to get the second chapter done, and the Appendices up to date and put together. I was sufficiently satisfied with my work that I sent an e-mail seeking to find out if Ms. Miller had any interest in the project on the 26th of June (0627.html). Then we went to the Nelson Reunion (0628.html), and I took a bound printout of what I had been doing to show Big Roice (Roice Nelson Krueger). Roice was very supportive. In fact, Roice worked with Jan Miller on the publication of ''The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.' He said she is very good, and that there are several things she would want to know right up front. Based on Roice's comments I wrote a why, what who, how, and when document to pre-answer these questions (see http://www.walden3d.com/openmind/WhyWhatWhoHowWhen.html). Then when I got back from the reunion (Andrea stayed in Utah for the month of July to help Mom), I spent a week of evening time dedicated to reprinting and creating a first class hard copy version of An Open Mind. I sent this hard copy Gbc plastic comb bound version to Ms. Miller on the 15th of July (see 0629.html). I called on June 28th to confirm receipt of the e-mail. She was on vacation. I called September 7th to find out they usually take 4 months to respond to any proposals. I called on the 11th of October to be told they are really far behind. And I called on the 15th of November saying I was optimistic there had not been a rejection letter yet, and that I was making my monthly call to see what the progress is by the brokers of intellectual ideas. The lady answering the phone apologized they are so far behind, and said she would check into it. Time will tell.On Wednesday I did some calculations relative to my GDC stock. I have 25,333 shares, with an option price of 52 cents per share. This means a cost of $13,173 and at $4.50 per share a selling price of $113,998.50 or at $6.50 per share a selling price of $151,998.00. Either of these options would get us out of debt, and would not leave much left for retirement nor anything else. I have a lot more to say about this in Thoughtlet 0645.html. Money was obviously on my mind on May 10th. On this Wednesday my notes say two pieces of mail arrived. There was a nice mothers day card from Roice and Sarah, which stated: "It's wonderful to know how much you care for each other. Happy Mother's Day Andrea! love Roice and Sarah." The other note was from Rachel and it read:
Thursday there was a meting with a small oil company named Callon about the TilesTM. There was also an e-mail from Jialin, which I quote to show how poor the relationship has become:
I was upset about the threat to hold payment for work we had done. It turns out the entire issue was because Jialin's e-mail would not accept large files which were sent on time. Oh well!
On Friday there were discussions with Kent Gilson, who the new Geokinetics Board of Directors member put onto GDC as a possible way to get into the oil and gas business. We did sign a confidentiality agreement, and we have provided a bunch of data to them. However, we have not had any feedback on whether their technology has any application in oil and gas exploration.
I spent some time on Friday and Saturday looking at large RV's to see how much it would cost to rent one and drive a lot of family members to the Nelson Reunion. The deposit was $3,000 and there was a horrendous per mile fee. I was definitely feeling stressed. And this is a good way to the end the week, i.e. with one of those ideas which will never be taken to brokers of intellectual ideas."