The Solar Eclipse Was An Opportunity For Hustlers

Photo Cred: Your Lady Friend Bonnie

Today we had a solar eclipse and my neighbourhood had a moment of unity.

For the last few days social media was abuzz with people hunting for eclipse glasses. My girlfriend’s mother gave us each a pair for Easter, so we were ready. At first I had a feeling of scepticism towards the eclipse because in principle it’s pretty ridiculous. There is an entire movement that was organized to make sure we could all stare at the sun together. Literally schools were closed and most people who were not forced to work were there watching. 

When I saw the eclipse I ended up truly impressed and would recommend others to see one given the chance in the future. 

The shared experience of looking ridiculous with eclipse goggles

The eclipse glasses are stupid looking, flimsy pieces of cardboard and plastic.

They look like they came from a cereal box. 

Anyone who was on their hustle was ready to go selling them and a lot of money was made. 

When the time came we all moved our way outside. I could see people on their balconies and others in the street. This taxi let out a passenger then remained parked, taking the time to put his eclipse glasses to his eyes and stare at the sun. I, along with everyone else, proceeded to do the same. We’d put our glasses to our face and stare all while making simple remarks.

Oh wow, this is really incredible.

I’m so glad I came outside for this.

Nature is amazing.

The craziest part about the eclipse glasses is that if they get scratched or bent they are effectively worthless. Flimsy, yet so powerful they can block sun rays. You literally can’t see anything but the sun in them. 

I truly believe part of what made the experience special was all of us standing there with our goofy looking eclipse glasses on looking like we were about to watch a 3D movie back in the day.

The next solar eclipse that hits Montreal is in 2044

That is so far into the future I will be 56 years old and the idea makes me cringe.

This is not the first solar eclipse of my life but I don’t remember eclipse glasses being so readily available when I was young. Seeing the moon block out the sun, slowly but surely, was magnificent. It’s the type of thing that looks cool in images but experiencing it live is in another league. As the world grew darker minute by minute, it also got colder. With the safety of my glasses I was able to witness the seconds before the full eclipse was in effect. It felt like the speed increased the more the sun was blocked. 

Then it was safe to look without the goggles and I was truly impressed. 

This beautiful dark circle was surrounded by a halo of light. The sky’s blue was all sorts of different hues we never see at 3:30 PM on a Monday. I was left to wonder what it must have been like thousands of years ago, without science or the internet, when for an hour or so the sun would go black. I can see how people came up with the stories that lead to religion when witnessing something so incredible.

I wonder how many people went blind from eclipses in BC times. 

I’m glad I don’t have to wait 20 years to see what the fuss is about.

It’s nice that nature can bring us together while boosting the economy

A lot of people saw the dollars in the eclipse and were ready. 

I watched a video of my homie on a roof using his drone to capture Montreal going dark. Another person leveraged his foresight to get an eclipse-goggle delivery service going. These people saw the opportunity and were prepared to capitalize. 

Anyone building a community can use moments like an eclipse to create a shared bonding experience. 

An example is when COVID lockdown ended in Quebec, I organized a social gathering at a park that would start the minute it was legal to be out after 8:00 PM again. We had all been suffering and by tapping into that same desire I was able to get a solid 30 people to pull up in the park. A smarter me would have had food for sale or merch ready but I wasn’t wise like that back then. We can all learn to be on point with these gifts the universe gives us. 

Opportunity and preparedness creates lucky moments. 

The eclipse was a wonderful thing that happened. It gave millions of people something positive to talk about. Anything that bonds us will also help the hustlers make millions of dollars. The lesson here is to pay attention to the events that bring people together. If you can tap in, you can make a little bit of cash and create value for others at the same time. 

Just consider how many people spent 3-7$ on glasses they used once.

Shared experiences are the foundation of good community building

It was fun participating in the silly activity of staring at the sun as a group. 

Some people were unable to participate. I saw plenty of bus drivers looking stressed as they drove through it. I’m sure at least a few were tripping about how they may go blind driving whiny unappreciative people around. Those drivers got their own version of the memory. I bet they will turn it into party tales for years to come.

Community events are about bonding together. 

There is no gatekeeping for the solar eclipse. There were definitely salty haters who didn’t find glasses because they were last minute. My homie Flacko Bayo slept through it, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he did it on purpose so that his memory was different from the rest of us. Anyone trying to grow a community needs to find the shared excitement.

Unfortunately it’s not always as easy as an eclipse. Use these bigger moments as successful case studies that can provide insight for you to replicate. At the very least, don’t deny yourself the chance to see something that comes once every 20 years.

Also, let me know if you stared at the sun without the glasses and if you went blind.

Live Long and Prosper Everyone