Hoarding Information Versus Handing Out Information

[Randy]

One member writes:

Randy,

I thought this forum was to share info with one another. Why am I getting the idea that some of you who really do know how to do all this are harboring the info?

We bought Dave's book (2 of them - his and hers!) and we are having a hard time really understanding exactly where to start. We can't really seem to get totally straight answers from anybody we have looked to for some guidance.

Am I totally off base here?

- member

My answer is that, yes, there is information being held back. Not that I want to! But there are businesses starting up here on ALCOHOLICS UNANIMOUS, and our loose-knit community collaboration will naturally only go so far. Start up companies usually don't like to spill their secret sauce.

The magic of David Blume is that he shares SO MUCH information with his readers, that the possibilities of saving this planet we all live on becomes apparent to any smart reader. You make me proud that you are trying to get into this business, and I welcome that.

The next phase of the alcohol revolution is ENTREPRENEURIAL EXECUTION. That means people choosing the businesses they want to enter into, and it all starts with the alcohol still. Once you have the still, you can do anything! You will be on your way to freeing us from the clutches of oil dependency.

There are four emerging markets:

1) Alcohol stills
2) Middle-man brokering of feedstocks to alcohol stills
3) Engine conversions
4) Feedstocks

I see markets emerging after those, such as the wonderful tangent businesses Dave gives so many ideas/startup plans for in his book (raising shrimp or talapia, worm farming, DDGS, etc.)

So this is when people are looking to build their stills - which is excellent news. Right now, there is knowledge about the general physics of building an alcohol still, and some plans available online, but the real finesse comes into how entrepreneurs employ such information to make their business successful as we wean ourselves from oil.

I wish I could blab about all the parameters of our particular company, and all I can do at the moment is share this public, but practically secret information with you.

- Randy

[Rick]

Perfect response...I an caught in somewhat the same dilemma. I have made it my goal to eliminate the oilgarchy from our government and then the world (big goal), i would also be able to make my house payment. I think in a way our capitalist nature (keep the secret so we can profit) will help the over all movement. How,Why ? Because the real solution to all of our problems (energy, environment, jobs) is lots of people having small plants running. Having to do the leg work for your entity will keep out the "investors" that want a fast buck with little effort, which could lead to a "McDonaldization" of alcohol fuel. sure we would have alky on every other corner by next year, but with virtually none of the side benefits of the permaculture design.

Does that sound right, hope it made sense. That being said I too am looking to be an alcohol products tycoon someday too ! but if I help the revolution win, I will be happy with TV dinners in a house trailer.

[Erik Weaver]

Secrets won't work well for this group or this 'movement' in general. No one among us is a Tycoon able to set up a 5,000,000 gallon per year plant this year. If so, they wouldn't be slumming it here, or need some book to get the job done!

This means we are geographically limited. It is like trying to learn any other skill or profession. If you go to a city too far away to be a competitor you should generally find people will talk about themselves and what they do. People generally like themselves, so it is easy to get them started on that topic. If they are creative and enjoy what they do, they are *very* likely to talk about it! But if they think it is going to hurt them, they clam up.

But I live in Missouri. I won't effect the operation of people in other states, or even the other side of my own state in all likelihood. Other people in my own town may be seen as competition. Or we may be bright enough to realize there is already too much work for a single person to do, and we might be smart enough to work together.

Also, most people are lazy. We're nothing like the 1950's generation. This is why money back guarantees work so well. Even if you are selling something of no value most people won't go to the bother of going to the post office to ship your stuff back for the refund. And that is just walking into a post office! In fact, in many areas all you need to do is box it back up and and call the post office. They'll pick it up from your address.

Do you really think people are going to steal your perfectly optimized plans and actually implement them? Do you really think an operation so well optimized to fit your site variables is going to be a perfect fit for someone else? The odds are pretty darn low on both counts.

Either we are willing and able to work together, or this is just a bunch of fertilizer!

Optimistically yours,
Erik Weaver
Springfield, Missouri

[Bryan Roberts]

Agreed!!! I am trying to set up a cooperative here in the Tampa Bay area, I know for sure I cannot do it alone.