Thoughts - Life's Purpose and EVS-Islands Projected Value
Tehuata Atoll FP
I am approaching 300 completed posts. By April 2007 I should finish another 22 posts and that will put my total for the first year of this blog at 300 completed posts. Of those, 150 will be completed island mapping projects. They include very large island shorelines - Taiwan to the very small - Bulgarian Islands. I have mapped the newsworthy islands - Carterets to the small and out-of-the-way - Eiao. My collection of completed EVS quality maps is impressive. It is my hope that many of you have downloaded most of either the Landsat imagery and the EVS island maps into your folder called "EVS Islands". Some of you requested the use of my map files - no problem. I sent you whatever layer(s) of data you required. As I stated to a student requesting my help on her mapping project, "I offer it for free, because it brings me enjoyment to create a map where none, consisting of EVS quality, existed before."
Long time readers know that my wife periodically comments regarding my efforts, "Show me the money!" Okay, I'll show you and her the potential money.
If I were to dollarize my efforts on this blog, it would amount to $24,000 for the 150 completed mapping projects ((150-projects x 4-hours) x $40 per hour) and $6,000 for the 150 other posts ((150-posts x 2-hours) x $20). All of my other incidental work to maintain and improve both the quality of this site and of my mapping efforts, based on hours invested, would be valued at $6,000 (300-hours x $20). That is $36,000 value for my product and efforts.
I am dollarizing my efforts and output conservatively. What I have not dollarized is the value of my audience - you, the readers. My site has had over 20,000 page views in slightly under 10-months. My visitors are a unique fraternity. They enjoy maps and islands. They appreciate the projects for their face-value ("Nice map!") and their suggestiveness ("I would love to visit that place."). They are both GIS shakers and the GIS enjoyers. They live all around the world - over 150 countries and counting. They have a great deal of value both monetarily and in their daily affirmation of my mapping efforts.
So, what is the value of my EVS-Islands blog? $36,000 plus the additional value of 20,000 page views the first year! Wow! That's impressive. It is far more than I earn as a middle-school teacher.
Note to Myself - Why do you do what you do for free?
Answer to Myself - Because I love it!
Question to Myself - Isn't that life's purpose?
Enjoy!
