Title: So I just graduated college in the spring and I have about $1500 in savings that I could spend on the deposit + rent/moving expenses for an apartment somewhere and continue looking for a job, but something in me is telling me there's a better way.  I have a plan, but I want to see if you guys think I'm crazy (If HN thinks it's too out there, then I know I'm off-base) or if I'm going to need more money or what.<p>I have known for some time that there's something different in the brain of an entrepreneur that changes the way they see the world, and I want to find out what that is.<p>So I want to set out to find entrepreneurs, either through appointment or serendipity, and spend a little time with them.  Just get to know how they decided to do what they do, what keeps them going, what their hopes and dreams are, etc.  I posit that there's commonalities to be found there and a lot of insight to be gained from those commonalities.  My contacts are somewhat slim, and it would probably be reasonable to spend a few years building up more, but something tells me now is the time to do this and it's getting harder and harder to ignore.<p>I spent some time as a freelance writer, so I believe I can make the result compelling and interesting.  But there's a lot of things I need to work out, and this is where I need your help:
- Do I have enough money to do this long enough to produce anything of substance? (numbers at the end of the post)
- How should I publish this?  It could be a blog that I update regularly, an ebook that I put together as I go, a physical book (leaning away from this for many reasons) or some combination thereof?
- Can I somehow monetize this as I'm working on it so as to extend my trip?
- How should I pitch the project to potential subjects?  Free publicity?  Altruism?<p>Numbers:
A trip from Chicago(where I live) to NY, boston, New Orleans, Austin, SF, Seattle, back to chicago is 7695 miles.  I'm thinking $700 for gas, oil changes, and some other tune-up stuff before I leave/along the way.  If I eliminate the west coast, this drops to around 4000 miles, If I just do SF and Seattle (this is probably what I'll end up doing) I end up with around 5000 miles.<p>I have no aversion to couch surfing, sleeping in my car or camping, all of which I've done plenty of.  With around 5 days of pure driving, I can spend a month doing this at just over $20/day to spend on food/bribery.<p>My hope would be to get around 15-20 case studies of at least an hour or so interview time, plus maybe shadowing and secondary interviews.  Though this is flexible.  I think this would be enough for a worthwhile product.<p>So.  Am I crazy?  Should I do it?  Suggestions?  Volunteers?  Donations...?<p>Also, you can email me at alex |at| mohrslaws.com
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