It has been a few weeks since my last “daily” journal post. I have been posting daily on my “Trader Journal’
The family was on their summer vacation in the east. Boston area and North Haven, Maine. They are both beautiful places. I regret not going, only for the fact that I love Sadie’s family so not seeing them is a bummer. And of course seeing Sadie and the Kids having fun.
I did however, have a blast here in Breckenridge. The hardest part about leaving to go on “vacation” is that I live in one of the best summer vacation spots in the country. Temps in the 70’s, great riding, golf, hiking, fishing, and relaxing. It is hard to go somewhere else. Not to mention summers up here are so dang short. June-August.
A picture from The upper areas in French Gulch
I am working into a nice work-life groove right now. Our PrePaid Legal team is growing around the country, as we get ready for the Sept 6-9 Leadership convention in Las Vegas. My trading life is going extremely well. A mix of highly profitable trades, as well as the mental exercise of designing and managing trades is extremely satisfying. And the time freedom both of these “businesses” offer me to do athletic and intellectual activities is what makes it worthwhile.
I was watching and episode of OneWeekJob (very entertaining). It was forwarded to me by Justin B who runs Ski Blog.com. At 5:10 into the video, one of the ladies interviewed wondered of our “hero”, she “‘cannot help but wonder if he will find it hard to settle down in a job after he is finished (with 52- oneweekjobs). Because he is so used to changing”. I had to laugh at this. I think his point is that he does not want to “settle down” with a job. He wants to find a passion. I can relate. Go Sean.
I have had discussions with a friend, and we were talking about $$/hr. The concept is funny to me. There are many job applications which have “Desired Salary/Wage”. How much is an hour of your limited time on this earth worth? Huh? Priceless. How does that look to a prospective employer? Does he/she think you are a smart ass for thinking this? Probably. But that is how I feel about the $$/hr mentality which was brought to our consciousness during the Industrial revolution.
Now I know that speaking down to the $$/hr concept upsets some people. However, if we as Americans operate on the $$/hr concept, we will get CRUSHED by global competition. i.e. India and China (Read The World is Flat and 4 hr work week). We get paid by the Value we bring to the market place. Not what a union can negotiate for us. If it can be outsourced, and bring equivalent value, it will be. If I can pay an outsourced “contractor” $4-10/hr, rather than hiring an employee (with benefits, and headaches) I probably will. What addition Value can we (as an individual or company) bring to the marketplace? If we are passionate and very good at what we do, that will certainly add value. (read Success Built to Last: Creating a life that matters by Porras)
Also, when I had employees in my business or managed employees at the golf course, it was something to see when it came for work appraisals. “I’ve done a good job, I am worth an extra .75 an hr”. Inside I thought, “YES, you are. In fact, you are worth much more. What are you doing about it? This job only pays an a 3-4% wage increase.” So what did I do? I pointed to the guidelines, then I gave the 4%, then rounded up to the nearest nickel.
I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more, However I begged at evening When I counted my scanty store. For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial’s hire, Only to learn, dismayed, That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid.
I guess after reading about many of the great achievers in society, it makes me think… Michelangelo, how much per hour did you make painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Huh? Nonsensical. He did it for a different reason, or so I can imagine.
Bill Gates, Warren Buffett how much do you get paid per hour? Carl Lewis, Barry Bonds (hmmm) how much per hour?
So sure, while working for Vail Resorts and teaching at Breckenridge they pay per hour. Tips certainly help me do what I do. But there are many other jobs that would pay me much more.. MUCH more. But where does my passion lie? In the comment section of the “Just Out Playing” post.
Some of my most recent reads include:
4 Hour Work Week
I especially like the perspective Mr. Ferriss has on “What do you do?” Most people answer the position they have at work. I can’t remember the last time I thought about it that way. I usually answer, “You mean for work?”. If you LOVE what you do for work, then I congratulate you. I certainly do too. If you think there is more than 9-5, or 7-6… Then this a book worth reading or listening to.
The Disciplined Trader
If you trade or invest. Stocks, Real Estate, etc. Then this is a book worth considering. It is probably the best book of it’s kind.
The Half-Blood Prince
The Dark Tower
Wikinomics
Web 2.0 stuff. It is very much how I envision the future of MySnowPro. Bring the best ideas from instructors around the world. Offering all the readers of MySnowpro the best ideas for their skiing and riding, as well as their mountain vacations. BTW, if you haven’t registered for the FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER do it now. It takes about 12 seconds!
We will be resuming the newsletter in September.
Japanese Candlestick Charting
I continue to want to improve my craft.
I’ve also am taking sometime looking at the issues for Presidential Elections
YouTube has some clips which are worth a few minutes. Here are a few with Mitt Romney. It is very early for elections. But here is it anyway.
On Education
On Taxes
On Healthcare
On Energy
On the Economy
On Terrorism
On Immigration
On Abortion
Time for a change
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran
Marriage Amendment
Mrs. Clinton on:
Energy
On Education
On Immigration
On Diplomacy
I certainly have my opinions on the above two candidates. I would ask, who has a plan going in. And who is saying, I have some ideas, but when I get elected we will create the plans?
Sadie wanted me to learn this song for Izzy