For today's Cool Fun Stuff Cast I wanted to share a a story about my son. Back in 2017 My son, Ben, asked me if he could make some toys--I told him could make all sorts of stuff with his LEGOs--he said no wanted to make some plushies--so I told him to research it. He came back with a plan and some drawings. This is a story about you and being able to do anything you want--but you have to take the first step.

So my son brought me some drawings of these little guinea pigs he made stories for called Cavy Cappers, he asked if we could make turnaround drawings to help the people that would be making them, so he enlisted my help. Here came the birth of Nelly and Norbert.

⌐◨-◨  Artist of Archer and Adventure Time, I draw things from time to time. Enjoyer of 
OᑎᑕᕼᗩIᑎ ᔕᑌᗰᗰEᖇ & 🥩

After coming up with his designs he told me we needed to make some prototypes--I asked him how we would go about it and he told me lets ask some people at a toy or comic convention--so we did just that--we went and talked to people that had the know how and they shared some of their knowledge with us. He was pretty excited when his prototypes came in and sure he wanted to make them.

I asked him how he was going to manufacture these--and he brought me a list of companies that produced these types of toys, we looked at what we could on line and made our choices looking at the costs associated with manufacturers, materials, shipping, etc.

He made plans and I asked him how he was going to pay for the manufacturing--he didn't have the money needed to cover all of the costs--he asked me if he could do a kickstarter--so we spent time planning how he would roll out his campaign knowing that if he couldn't raise the total amount he would just have to be satisfied with his prototypes, which tbh is a lot further than many people get in chasing their dreams.

So he ran his campaign for 30 days and while he had that going he asked for help to promote his kickstarter--this launched Cavey Caper Facts

He was like we need more people to see it and because I know they will want them--so he looked up things to help educate and engage with others. Did you know any of these Guinea Pig Facts?

He was like we need more people to see it and because I know they will want them--so he looked up things to help educate and engage with others. Did you know any of these Guinea Pig Facts?
https://frames.neynar.com/f/79630385/b06cee80

By the end of the 30 days he hit his goal--that guy was pretty happy, his ideas though fun were just ideas--but with effort and action had transformed from ephemeral musings to drawings, to prototypes, to stories and campaigns--but his work wasn't done--he still had the logistics of shipping, the quality control of watching what was being made by those he entrusted with his dreams.

But after working through the challenges that came with that and asking for help when it was needed the pigs came in, and his work still was not done as he had to ship them out to all of his backers.

So what is the story here, is there a lesson--maybe, and ideas are cool and all, but without action they are nothing really--but taking the first steps, writing it down, drawing a picture, making a plan, researching, any kind of action will bring you closer to making the ephemeral real, tangible and something--Ben believes in you, I believe in you--if you want to do something don't let circumstances stop you--work it out and it's ok to ask for help when you need it. 
But work will win when wishy washy wishing won't.