Best Places To Live, Enjoy Life, Start a Business, or Retire: A Novel Approach. James Clayton Napier

“Hence first principle in changing one’s character is to seek another environment, to let new forces play upon our unused chords, and draw from us a better music.” — Will Durant I was 17 and growing up in Midwestern farming community of just under 1,000. My youthful intent, looking out over cornfields of Ohio, was to find my best place on planet, move there, and stay rest of my life.

67 moves later (many of them short-term broadcasting assignments), that best place has been a bit elusive.

Ask me about geography. I’m able to reproduce maps in my mind after hundreds of hours spent looking for THE ONE PLACE that spoke its “Yes” to me. What did I, back at age 17, expect to do there once I located it? I would do best work of my life: writing, painting, taking long walks and receiving a thousand breezy notions to guide my destiny.

Over years I got out on open road whenever I could and explored Oregon coast, Jekyll Island in Georgia, Apostle Islands off Northern tip of Wisconsin, Lake Michigan’s shoreline, Sequim and Port Townsend in Washington, all over New Mexico, all over Texas, Florida, Missouri, South Dakota, Colorado.

“Well, what now?” I asked myself. “I’ve traveled nearly everywhere and still no location or city speaks to me in way I’d love to be spoken to. Surely, there’s an answer waiting for me somewhere. There must be.” Being impressed with astrology in general, I ordered one of those astro-cartography reports with planetary lines drawn across map. I looked at my “good lines,” such as Jupiter line (for prosperity), Venus line (for pleasure), Mercury line (for communication), Sun line (for vitality) and surmised, “This line-map is too vague. I’ve been on all those lines and need a lot more guidance than this is giving. I’ve been on that Venus line and felt anything but pleasure while visiting Biloxi!” The astro-cartography map left me mostly unsupported in my mission of finding my place in world.

Yes, of course, personal peace and psychological well-being are an inside job. Inside jobs can be done anywhere and shouldn’t depend on being in a certain place. Right? I also wanted to wake up each morning, however, totally taken by beauty of nature around me. And my dream has always been to be a philanthropist to others’ dreams. This requires earning more than a barely-squeaking-by broadcasting salary.

President John Kennedy was a reader and writer. President Lyndon Johnson was a listener. President Johnson didn't do well as he could in White House because he thought he had to follow Kennedy’s way of learning and absorb everything through writing. As well written as those reports were, he couldn't comprehend them as well as Kennedy. It wasn't until many years after White House that Johnson learned what type of learner he was. Now, all we can do is think of possibilities of how different United States would be right now if he learned sooner.

Eisenhower was a reader and writer. During war, Eisenhower insisted that all questions be presented in writing prior to each press event. His press events, outstanding and memorable because of his ability to process in writing, opened his path to Washington. In Washington, Eisenhower, now required to be a listener and respond on spot, found it very difficult to learn and think. This limitation did affect his decision making, thus world’s progress, and especially America’s success. His country no longer had full benefit of his evolutionary learning – his brilliance.

Our school system teaches by listening and reading and not writing. This is why many writers’ in high school and college do poorly in lecture-type classes. When required to test based on lecture they usually receive an inadequate grade for their level. When allowed to read and submit a report, they flourish. When allowed to process information in writing they add to classroom conversations in outstanding ways. Many times moving information in evolutionary new ways or depths. Writers need to design their study through writing process. Writer’s learn and perform by writing not listening.

What type of learner are you? Your child? Significant other? Customers you attract? How does this affect how they learn from you, how they process, and how they succeed?

The way they learn affects them in everything they do in their life and yours.

For instance, are you an entrepreneur? Today, it is popular for entrepreneurs to deliver their information through teleclasses and teleseminars. I know, I'm a certified teleclass leader, and offer these regularly.

Most individuals who attend these events learn best through listening. The majority of attendees are listeners. Does this mean that readers/writers aren't able to learn through this manner? Not, necessarily. Their success does depend on leader and event’s structure.