#10 - Perspective

Oh yeah, it's all coming together

Consider Drones for Your Next Project

Drones have the potential to save businesses time and money, while also increasing personnel safety. They have applications in industries such as agriculture, construction, energy, oil & gas, and real estate. Drone-captured data provides insights in minutes or hours that would typically take days or weeks to capture. The variety of data that can be captured with drones is only limited by the camera equipment you can hook up to them. Why rent expensive industrial equipment and place personnel in precarious safety conditions when drones are cheaper, safer, and quicker?

Drones have applications within most industries. Agronomists can use the data to perform precision agriculture as well as assess strategies and damages. Project managers can utilize 3D scans of structures, cut-fill analysis, and land surveys to ensure the project is on track and minimize issues. Utility companies can scan miles of lines for damages in hours, which could have a significant impact considering California's recent wildfires caused by faulty power lines. Multispectral scans can provide oil & gas experts with the information they need to build wells. Realtors already know that the better the photos for their properties, the more clients they will receive. Drones can gather all of this data much faster than traditional means.

Traditionally, inspectors and surveyors need to be at the location, walk over it physically, and scout it personally. Introducing drones into the equation flips that process on its head. Now, professionals can use drones to inspect hard-to-reach places, tall structures, and potentially hazardous locations without endangering themselves or spending hours or days traversing rough terrain. This also saves money on renting heavy equipment such as cranes that are commonly used for inspection needs. No heavy equipment, operators, or logistics for moving said equipment to the location is required. Now, you only need a car and a drone, and you can survey most places safely.

Modern commercial drones have enabled users to capture data in ways previously unimaginable. The high-end cameras that come with these drones are just the beginning. Users can even add their equipment, such as LIDAR, full-color, multi-spectral, or thermal sensors, to name a few. This flexibility means that drones are no longer just for taking pictures and videos. They can be outfitted with various equipment to suit different needs, such as detecting hotspots in a wildfire or mapping underwater terrain. The possibilities are endless, limited only by the creativity and know-how of the user. As such, the use of drones in various industries, from agriculture to construction, has become increasingly popular in recent years.

When thinking about drones, it's important to shift our focus from the drone itself to the kind of data that can be captured and how that data can be used. This change in perspective can have a significant impact on how we approach marketing our services. Rather than simply offering the ability to fly a drone, we can now offer a more comprehensive service that includes the efficient capture and utilization of data. By doing this, we can provide our customers with a competitive advantage that they may not have had before.

Social Media with Buffer

As you may have noticed, I’ve been more active on social media in the last week. After realizing the importance of having a consistent social media presence, I began researching ways to build a routine for posting online. That's when I discovered Buffer, a social media management tool that allows you to schedule posts on multiple platforms.

What I love about Buffer is that once you have your posts queued, they will automatically be published at the time(s) you choose. Currently, I have my posts scheduled to go out every morning at 8 AM, which has helped me stay on track with my social media goals. However, Buffer offers even more flexibility, allowing you to schedule posts multiple times a day, week, or even month in advance.

Another great feature of Buffer is that it offers a free plan, which allows you to connect up to 3 social media accounts. I'm currently using Instagram and Twitter, but given recent events, I'm considering dropping Twitter for Mastodon. I'm also looking into adding LinkedIn to the mix, as I believe it may help me reach my target audience more effectively.

While I'm learning and experimenting with my social media strategy, I would appreciate any feedback or advice you may have. As someone new to this, I'm open to constructive criticism and suggestions on how to improve. Ultimately, I want to create engaging content that resonates with my followers and helps me grow my online presence.

Self Directed Projects

Creativity can be a challenge amid the struggles of everyday life. Sometimes, stepping back and reevaluating an obstacle can reveal an opportunity for a self-directed project. For example, I recently experienced car issues that prevented me from flying. Instead of feeling frustrated, I used the opportunity to practice point-and-shoot photography in my garden. It was refreshing to use a tool I don't typically use and to see my surroundings in a new light.

When I finally secured a rental car this past Friday, I was ecstatic to fly. However, my excitement was short-lived. I quickly discovered that my SD card was not functioning. At this point, I could have given up and gone home. Instead, I decided to challenge myself to take 10 photos in 10 minutes using the drone's internal storage, which could only hold 10 photos.

This experience made me realize that sometimes, limitations can be a catalyst for creativity. When we're forced to work within certain constraints, we often have to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. In my case, I had to work with limited storage, but this led me to take photos more intentionally, focusing on capturing the essence of the moment in each shot.

I attribute this shift in mindset to two things: my embrace of stoic philosophy and my regular communication with other photographers. Stoic philosophy teaches us to focus on what we can control and to find opportunities in adversity. By embracing this mindset, I was able to turn a frustrating situation into a creative opportunity. Additionally, my conversations with other photographers have helped me to see the world through different lenses (pun intended) and to approach my craft in new ways.

Overall, this experience has taught me the value of self-directed projects and the importance of staying open to new opportunities, even when they don't come in the form we expect. By being flexible and adaptable, we can unlock our creative potential and find beauty in unexpected places.

A Week with Turtle

I'm glad to share with you what I've been up to lately. Although my week was full of obstacles, I've learned to focus on the positive things in life and not let setbacks ruin my mood. Instead, I've been working hard on several exciting personal projects.

First and foremost, I've been dedicating a lot of time and effort to earning DroneDeploy certifications. After spending several days working diligently towards my goals, I'm happy to announce that I have earned all available certifications. This has been a personal achievement that I am proud of, and I'm excited to apply what I've learned in the field.

In addition to my DroneDeploy certifications, I have also enrolled in a course on EdX.org called "Drones for Agriculture: Prepare and Design Your Drone Mission". I believe that this knowledge will be useful in helping me to provide better insights to my friends and fans, and I'm excited to see where this knowledge will take me.

Furthermore, I'm also exploring additional educational opportunities. I'm currently considering taking Business Administration and Marketing classes at either my local junior college or through the University of the People. I believe that these courses will be beneficial in expanding my horizons and providing me with valuable skills that I can apply to my future endeavors.

Overall, I'm excited about the progress I've made, and I look forward to sharing my experiences and knowledge with others. I believe that by continuing to learn and grow, I will be able to provide even more valuable insights and content to my followers.