The beginning of the new year should start the Territory with a beginning. So today I’m gonna bring Mark Twain into the Territory. Now MT wrote a lot of amazing books and picking one would be difficult except that this very blog is named after something mentioned in Huckelberry Finn. Chances are you’ve read it and if you haven’t, do it. It’s about this kid who does what he thinks is right even though the rest of the world thinks otherwise. It’s a good place to start with MT and once you do I guarantee that you won’t stop. What struck me about the territory is the context which MT put it in. The Territory was the wilderness (specifically the Nevada wilderness) and is the place that one is to take their ideas to see if they hold water. No idea is worth anything if it hasn’t been road tested. That road test is the Territory. Anytime I learn something new, I see how far I can go with it. How many things I can put it up against. See if it will float or sink.