It has been a long and winding road (well not that long, and only sort of winding), but I have come to the conclusion that security and freedom are two very different things. In fact, they are mutually exclusive. I found that as in my younger years I was closer to my parents way of thinking, go to school, get a job with benefits, then retire after 30+ years.
Um? WTF? My father is still at fortune 50 company, going in the same door day after day for 34 years. Now I really can't blame him, for that was what he was trained to do, and I cannot knock him for doing it because it provided me with a good childhood. However, I think I realized a long time ago I wanted to own my own business (I used to dream of owning a grocery store for some reason), but I allowed FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) muddle me. It crept in and stole my time (and time is gold). I also bought into the new "American dream" of debt, mortgage, marriage, kids, job with benefits, and 3 weeks vacation a year that made jumping ship just that much harder. Some where around the dot com boom I started getting antzy, but not a big baller to go out on my own.
Now, I don't have it that bad in my job. I work from home, on proof of concept for 3d MMOC. I am paid ok. However, the number of hours I put in don't equate. The fact they act like they "own my mind" really bothers me. Also, I know I can be replaced by a global resource that I cannot compete with monetarily (that I may have to train). If I have the risks, I might as well get the rewards. I have come to realize I don't want to climb the corporate ladder (I never did, I am too non conformist as it was, going down this path was good for experience, but the experience is almost a fine line to a waste of time).
No, I don't want to be an employee, and lately in my new position I realize I don't know if I want to be the manager either. I want to be the owner. I want to own the corporate ladder. Granted, I know I will have to be a manager for a bit as I build a new company.
Oh wait, did I mention that? I am building a company. But what will I build? No clue at this point (well that is sort of a lie, but I won't revel it just yet). I have decided it is time to SOGOTP (Sh!t Or Get Off The Pot). No I am bootstrapping, and the hardest part is to find the time for everything (starting up a company, maintain a good standing at work, personal life, hobbies, and this blog :-) ). I believe with some newly acquired organization and relaxation skills, I will accomplish it all to the time when I "cut the strings".
It still amazes me that people want to be an employee. I have gotten into arguments with several friends that tell me I don't have it that bad and I maybe being foolish. So be it. It amazes me that I have not gotten something better going before this (but I keep trying and will do so until I do). To have that security, instead of the freedom. I know first hand it is hard to do, to let go, especially if you have responsibilities. However, I don't ask anyone to take care of me, but I also want all the rewards. And I will get them.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Angry man
I recently read an article my friend sent me from the Aspen Times. It talks about the Angry White Man. The article very much articulate my position of the current state of the U.S. Article:
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2008198091324
Now for sure, I am tired of being angry. I don't think anyone owes me a damn thing, and I need to make it in this world as best I can. However, I will God Damned that someone will take my monies and distribute them to someone that is unwilling to work or have not paid into the same system I have so diligently contributed to over these years. Granted I understand the desire to take care of the elderly or the infirm, but someone that has become only "socially infirm" whether due to generational handout taking, or just decided "if you can't beat them, join them" are not my problem (nor should be anyone else's but their own).
After a recent conversation with one of my wife's colleague's husband that I greatly admire, he introduced me to the idea of Populace stance and that Socialism was furthest extreme of the populace stance. After thinking about, I have decided that I am philanthropic capitalist with only the want for checks and balances for worker exploitation, and physically/mentally infirm taken care of from the populace stance.
Why should someone be punished for being successful? If they choose to give away some of their good fortune, so be it. If not, then who is to say they have too? I am a little tired of this "government should take care of me from cradle to grave attitude" we have developed. I am sure there is another mechanism we can follow that will provide intervention in the form of quelling those in power of taking advantage of the worker, but on the other side, there should not be so much intervention that take care of the idiots, shiftless, and undesirables.
I spend more in taxes than I do for food, shelter, and clothing each year. I have heard of those in other countries doing more, but having more social services. I don't want to jump down that rabbit hole. Instead, I think we should par the services that are given now to the truly needed, and institute a flat tax on all earnings (lower that what is currently there) with no deductions. Also, no more welfare, bi lingual requirement laws on government documents/services, and any state funded institutions (if you are a non profit that receives federal, state or local municipality funds) that provide services, those services have to be repaid if received by or rendered against able-bodied, non-tax paying persons.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2008198091324
Now for sure, I am tired of being angry. I don't think anyone owes me a damn thing, and I need to make it in this world as best I can. However, I will God Damned that someone will take my monies and distribute them to someone that is unwilling to work or have not paid into the same system I have so diligently contributed to over these years. Granted I understand the desire to take care of the elderly or the infirm, but someone that has become only "socially infirm" whether due to generational handout taking, or just decided "if you can't beat them, join them" are not my problem (nor should be anyone else's but their own).
After a recent conversation with one of my wife's colleague's husband that I greatly admire, he introduced me to the idea of Populace stance and that Socialism was furthest extreme of the populace stance. After thinking about, I have decided that I am philanthropic capitalist with only the want for checks and balances for worker exploitation, and physically/mentally infirm taken care of from the populace stance.
Why should someone be punished for being successful? If they choose to give away some of their good fortune, so be it. If not, then who is to say they have too? I am a little tired of this "government should take care of me from cradle to grave attitude" we have developed. I am sure there is another mechanism we can follow that will provide intervention in the form of quelling those in power of taking advantage of the worker, but on the other side, there should not be so much intervention that take care of the idiots, shiftless, and undesirables.
I spend more in taxes than I do for food, shelter, and clothing each year. I have heard of those in other countries doing more, but having more social services. I don't want to jump down that rabbit hole. Instead, I think we should par the services that are given now to the truly needed, and institute a flat tax on all earnings (lower that what is currently there) with no deductions. Also, no more welfare, bi lingual requirement laws on government documents/services, and any state funded institutions (if you are a non profit that receives federal, state or local municipality funds) that provide services, those services have to be repaid if received by or rendered against able-bodied, non-tax paying persons.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Keynoter note
I was reading the Keynoter.com this morning (well, ok, reading and looking at some pictures in their gallery). I came across the following picture and caption:
I love it! And that is why I want to move down there.
This Miami man got on the wrong side of the law following a high-speed motorcycle chase in the Middle Keys. His shirt says it all.
I love it! And that is why I want to move down there.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Trolling for Comments on a Manic Monday
So here we are on another Manic Monday. Alright, I know somebody is reading this. I opened it up for anonymous comments, so somebody comment on a former post (or this one for that matter). If I wanted a journal, I would not put it out on the net. Thanks in advance!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Good to be back in Florida after going to California and Ohio
Just a short post from Jeffrey. As you know, I have been on the West coast to San Diego and then back to Florida for couple of days. Then I went up to Cincinnati, Ohio to see friends and family for the New Year. It was COLD UP THAR! Hehe. It was a good time, but the Perma-cloud that hangs over the area was horrible. As the Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow song goes, "I ain't seen the sun in three damn days!" It was true, it was sunny the day we landed, then we did not see it again for 3 days. Now I know why I moved. Well at least one of the reasons.
I guess I sort of lied, this is turning into a longer post. The thing about Cincinnati is 90% of all people there are bred to "get a job". Now there is nothing wrong with this I guess, but after being there in the suburbs with the hyper consumers for a week, I felt like that existence was disgusting (at least to me). I am sure people can find contentment in it, but man, oh man, it is not for me. It was like watching the same rerun over and over. People doing the same boring jobs over and over, buying the same boring outfits that marketers throw at them, and going to the same restaurants and bars over and over. Sure there are area's of Cincy that have creativity and spark (Clifton near UC, Mt. Adams, Hyde Park square... but not in the rich people's houses, Glendale to an extent, parts of NKY), but most of it is boring and dull to me. It was sucking away my soul I think. Which is sharp contrast to down here in FL. Everybody is either dirt poor or an entrepreneur. I guess you have to be if you want to make money here, because there are very few industries where you can "get a job". I will say this, California was about a 50/50 mix of the 2 ("get a jobbers" and "work for myselfers"), which is probably due to the larger population.
Well, I guess I will not bash Ohio anymore. It was not my intent to really do so anyway, but just to say, I guess it is not for me all the time (I still have the dream to warm bird there in the summer). On one last note, as much as I like Ohio to visit friends and family, I have noticed now after living away for a few years and have been in other parts of the country, Cincinnati's traffic is the drivers own doing (i.e. You'll don't know how to drive!), and I admit I am a HORRIBLE DRIVER (which is why I try not to do it much). My wife is an excellent driver, no pun intended.
I guess I sort of lied, this is turning into a longer post. The thing about Cincinnati is 90% of all people there are bred to "get a job". Now there is nothing wrong with this I guess, but after being there in the suburbs with the hyper consumers for a week, I felt like that existence was disgusting (at least to me). I am sure people can find contentment in it, but man, oh man, it is not for me. It was like watching the same rerun over and over. People doing the same boring jobs over and over, buying the same boring outfits that marketers throw at them, and going to the same restaurants and bars over and over. Sure there are area's of Cincy that have creativity and spark (Clifton near UC, Mt. Adams, Hyde Park square... but not in the rich people's houses, Glendale to an extent, parts of NKY), but most of it is boring and dull to me. It was sucking away my soul I think. Which is sharp contrast to down here in FL. Everybody is either dirt poor or an entrepreneur. I guess you have to be if you want to make money here, because there are very few industries where you can "get a job". I will say this, California was about a 50/50 mix of the 2 ("get a jobbers" and "work for myselfers"), which is probably due to the larger population.
Well, I guess I will not bash Ohio anymore. It was not my intent to really do so anyway, but just to say, I guess it is not for me all the time (I still have the dream to warm bird there in the summer). On one last note, as much as I like Ohio to visit friends and family, I have noticed now after living away for a few years and have been in other parts of the country, Cincinnati's traffic is the drivers own doing (i.e. You'll don't know how to drive!), and I admit I am a HORRIBLE DRIVER (which is why I try not to do it much). My wife is an excellent driver, no pun intended.
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