The Solar Way -- A Fable About Successfully Riding the Solar Coaster
Gather around the fireplace, solar friends. Pull up a seat at the bar. On the next, Probably True Solar Stories, we're going to tell the first-ever solar fable. It's a fairytale. A hero's journey sort of thing. With a Texas accent. (Forgive me in advance.)
This story may be a familiar one to people inside and outside the solar industry. It's about a young, ambitious solar installer who seeks her fortune to be the most successful solar installer in all the land. And like many fables, our ambitious installer meets a wise guide--or in this case, a wise couple--who teaches her about The Solar Way, a solar-inspired guide to living life on The Solar Coaster. Will our fable have a happy ending? Let's find out.
True Solar Takeaways
This episode doesn't have many solar facts about the solar industry. The main takeaway is that the solar biz is difficult. It has so many ups and downs and policy twists and turns that people have called it "The Solar Coaster."
The people riding the solar coaster can get discouraged, including me. To help smooth out the ups and downs, I've read a lot of philosophies, but mostly Taoism and Stoicism. For this fable, I turned some of my philosophical learnings into "The Solar Way."
The Solar Way's main points are:
- Be warm. Shine like the sun.
- Let go of broken solar panels.
- Be interconnected.
- The sun rises every day. Be as consistent.
- The sun sets every day. This too shall pass.
If you're interested in learning more about Taoism and Stoicism, here are a few audio and text resources:
- The Daily Stoic. Through his website, podcast, and books, Ryan Holiday offers modern insights through ancient Stoic wisdom. Although the Stoic philosophy is very old, Holiday keeps it simple and relevant to the way people live today. Check out his free daily podcast and daily email. Of course, his books are a great resource, as well.
- The Tao of Daily Life by Derik Lin is a well-deserved bestseller. It teaches the principles of Taoism through the classic Taoist and Buddhist fables. Although the stories are still set in ancient China, Lin translates these stories in a way that is very accessible for our modern world. Then he cites a passage from the Tao te Ching and explains the wisdom behind each story. This book and other David Lin books are also available in audio and digital forms.
- Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine by Derren Brown. You may know Derren Brown as an international illusionist, but he's also a professed Stoic. Happy is his easy-to-read guide to happiness using examples from his shows, his illusions, and from his own life. He
-----
- Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events.
- Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt!
- Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories.
- Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes
- Don't forget to:
- Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service
- Rate
- Review, and
- Share!
Listen On
Series Story: "The Solar Heist or How I Got into the Solar Business"
Probably True Solar Stories has a long solar "mini-series." Listen to the Solar Heist series here. Then explore the other shorter stand-alone stories below.
Part 3: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The Fa…
In the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories , we continue the story of two neighbors who are part of the solar industry. Charlie is a large-scale utility solar developer while Mazz is a medium-scale thief who successfu...
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 5: The Es…
After almost being shot by a crime syndicate enforcer, Charlie and Mazz go to confront Richard Prout about who really owns the utility solar project. But Richard won’t talk. Worse, he attempts a daring escape that frustrates ...
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 4: The Wa…
Season 2's theme is "Solar Noir," and we start off with a darkly comedic Part 4 of our Solar Heist series. (Catch up to Parts 1-3 here .) In Part 4, Mazz and Charlie are forced by Richard Prout, a …
Part 2: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The No…
In real life, you never hear about the perfect heist. That’s because when a real-life heist is perfect, there are no witnesses, the criminals disappear, and the case goes cold. Boring. Now, in a fictional heist story, somethi...
Part 1: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The Pr…
In this first episode of Probably True Solar Stories , two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, California coffee shop that specializes in dark, rich coffee. Mazz owns a trucking business by day and is a thief at night....
Part 6, The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: Trust
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we end our Solar Noir season where we began. We continue the ongoing story of "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." In this next chapter, it’s all about …
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Parts 1-6
For those solar fiction fans who prefer the longer formats, we've combined all six episodes of "The Solar Heist" into a single two-hour version, including chapter headings. Two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, Calif...
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 7: Monste…
On the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 7 of The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business. When an intruder breaks in and holds a gun to the head of Mazz's …
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 8: Mrs. P…
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, Sylvia Prout, the widow of Richard Prout, visits Mazz and Charlie looking for answers about her husband's apparent murder. After some intense questioning and bourbon Irish coffees, Syl...
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 9: Chico
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, "The Solar Heist" series continues. Charlie goes to Chico, California to hunt for "CATs," --certain awful things--buried at a landfill that’s about to become a new solar farm. Meanwhil...
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 10: Timing
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 10 of "The Solar Heist" series. Mrs. Prout returns to Mazz and Charlie’s house to give them a warning. But Mazz and Charlie are already in Chico. Despite her …
The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 11: Rewind
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude our limited series, "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." It's about two neighbors who unexpectedly form an odd friendship and work to uncover a solar en...