S & M

Oh yes - S & M...what a wonderful thing!

No, sorry to disappoint, but I am not talking about the whole sexual thing. You didn't think I was going there, did you?

I am talking about an old album from Metallica where they play live with The San Francisco Orchestra.

A buddy of mine gave me the cd to listen to a few months back, and I must say, it has quickly become one of my faves. Listening to the melody, and having seen the video where the violins are jamming and just trying to keep up, well...lets just say it rocks. If you're a rock afficienado like I am, and you can appreciate stellar lyrics coupled with multiple melodies that entertain the soul, you will love this! Try it - you will like it!

Moving on to other things - lets talk about the career thing.

I have been so focused, so totally involved in attempting to be the guy that gets after it and shows what good is, that I sometimes forget a simple fact.

And what is that fact?

This is a contact sport.

That means that I am talking to dozens of people on a daily basis, and in the course of those conversations, flirtations will take flight. I had a friend ask me a while back, "What will you do with those that take it a bit further and decide they don't want the investment, but rather you?"

To which I guffawed, and said, aint' happening. First, I am all about the biz, ain't lookin', and wish to get to the facts. Secondly, that won't happen, as I am just some guy off the street, and folks have other things in their lives to worry about other than some guy standing at their door trying to get into a convo about how he can help them secure their financial lives.

And...Wrong!

I ran into the deviation from the mean, which is to say, I ran into a few that weren't about the investments so much, but let me know they wanted to talk to me. My friend told me this would happen, but I wasn't a believer. I mean, c'mon, I am not at all going there or giving off those vibes. When someone goes from not wanting to give you their name to wanting to make sure you stop back or call them, and they have already told you they are divorced, or single, or a single mom, or they are fixing to go out on girl's night out and where they will be, they are sending clear, obviouls signals. What's more, when this happens within one block, you wonder if you're dealing with desperate housewives scenario, or just what exactly is going on. Maybe I am just sending out a karma that makes them think it is ok.

And what did I do with this?

Nada. Again, I ain't lookin', I am all about business production and getting onto the next. But I would be lying if I didn't say it didn't make me reflect and smile. It IS a contact sport, and very much like those guys who didn't have the 'game' in school, they knew one thing most don't - if you keep asking, and pressing, you will walk away with the cheese.

As for the rest of it, life has been moving at a rapid pace. I'll likely be moving soon, I can't find time to take care of mundane things, and I wake up in the middle of the night wondering what the hell I am doing and where I am going to be...you know the classical question from tests - Do you ever have racing thoughts?

Umm, yeah, pretty much every day. Doesn't everyone have those?

At any rate, I have rambled enough, and I must get a few things done. I am not able to log in and check the interesting posts of others near enough, but that is just the way things work these days. At some point, given the effort I am putting forth, that will change and I will be able to go back to actually having a life. I would rather that be sooner, but until the numbers prove it out, I am the proverbial mouse on the wheel in the cage.

Hope ya'll are doing great and bringing it!

Catching Up

I know I have been woefully inept at keeping up this blog; sometimes, one can only do so much, ya know?

I have been working a ton of hours, the results which won't likely be seen for weeks and months. It's ok - I have time.

See, the way the program works with my company is "as percent of standard." So, in other words, where you stand is a function of where you sit in the percentage game. If I'm at 40% of standard, that wouldn't be good. You go on 'goals' which is a nice way of saying you're on probation, and if your rolling average doesn't come up, you'll be gone next quarter. If I'm at 100% of standard, all is fine - I won't hear a peep from anyone. If I'm at 200% of standard, the awards come, I'm in good graces, have a shot at Limited Partner, and make some nice coin to boot. Pretty simple, right?

So going through and crunching the numbers this weekend with my business partner, we determined just what a nut it is I have to crack. Because of where I am, and the program I am involved in, I have to do 3.5X what a new guy has to do to maintain the standard percentages. Am I whining? Hell no, I wouldn't have it any other way - I have a nice starting book of business...it's just that I have to work the bejeezus out of it along with new biz to make my nut. I'll get there, I am confident - but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it is somewhat daunting.

Away from work, just finished up the basketball season. I have coached for 5 or 6 years now, and thankfully, this IS my last season. We did fine during the regular season, going 6-2, but we royally got our asses kicked in the playoffs. Oh, and I got my first two technicals, back-to-back. Hey, I can't help it if the refs need a lifetime prescription to Eyemasters! One of 'em was such a jerkoff, the other ref told him to get his hand outta my face. He tried to kiss up and make nice during the 4th quarter, but I let him know I still thought he was a dick and horrible ref, and I would be speaking with the director of the program, whom I know quite well. That was merely a threat - I really don't give a rat's ass because I am done coaching and wont' be seeing that program again. Hell, I am moving anyway, so I won't even be in this area anymore.

As for the personal things, I made a comment in an earlier post that I had a person from the past that was wishing to reconnect. After further consideration, I thought it best to let the past stay where it was. I can have a beer with her, but at the end of the day, the past is something I am moving away from, only looking forward, to I have let that slide and have only had contact when she contacts me. And no, that doesn't include early mornings calls - again, I ain't going there.

So life sounds pretty dull on this end, huh?

It basically is, as I have a ton of things going on, much to worry about, and all the while I'm trying to keep up a smiling game face. In several weeks I make another trip to the desert, and that is where the rubber meets the road - I'll be on my way or falling on my face, but come what may, I'll damn sure give it my all and continue working the 12-14 hours days I've been logging. I'll go down swinging if it doesn't work...no regrets!

And hey, have you figured out what you're gonna do with that check the government is fixin' to give you?

I know what I am doing with mine.

Paying bills, trying to get caught up, and maybe buying a decent steak dinner, the likes of which I haven't seen for far too long...

Keep looking up, keep looking ahead, and make every day count...you never know when this day might be your last!