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Persistence Produces Payoff
12 years ago
Hi again! Since I don't give away much, I'll give you a wall of text about how my year has fared. Overall, 2013 went great, set up by my efforts last year, motivating me to persist at things and await the payoff.
My bands have done alright, playing some shows in great venues where I've watched many bands before. The Hi-Fi one was really special, supporting a Finnish band, thriving on the big occasion and dominating the whole stage.
Determined to end my recurring knee injuries, including an embarrassing one during the Midfur dance qualifiers last December, I looked into preventative measures. I ended up starting a regular weight lifting program at home and that turned out to be effective in many ways. It served as a good outlet for my confidence, my commitment and making sure I had something to look forward to and focus on instead of falling into hedonistic tendencies. No dislocations this year too, so all those squats must be doing something.
Having to work out every two days wasn't easy to handle when I have a lot of other activities on. As I highlighted in my entry on last year, I looked to find a balance of doing all the things you want to do and that you should do, while still having fun. It requires compromise. It's not the thing you ever get perfect, but I think I accept that.
I started playing squash with friends, the odd game of tennis and a fair chunk of golf too. One highlight of the year was the last round I played, with great straight drives all day, and a great chip in from off the green for a birdie!
There were opportunities for ice skating, in suit, of course. That's my favourite go-to activity for suiting, as you can probably tell by the photos in my gallery. I've stopped submitting them because we just keep doin' it! The cons were great too. Really chuffed with FurDU and RivFur, and even CBRFUR turned out to be a nice little experience!
That said, the year turned sour for me later on. I missed out on an unexpected opportunity for promotion, and the other team member who went for it with more success, totally changed personality as they took over, instituting themselves as the boss, playing all kinds of office politics and annihilated the wonderful team culture we had going. My proper boss didn't seem to give a shit. It was particularly hard to swallow because I have such strong ownership of the stuff I work on. I live it, I bleed it. It's my team. I'd done some amazing work that, thankfully, other parts of the business recognised, via awards and just people coming over to encourage me and chat about the results of my efforts.
In the last week at work, I got an offer to move to a different team that values my skills more, and with that, a chance to get a salary bump. There are so many directions that I could take my career that my indecision can hurt me sometimes, but I think I'll be ok. I have the blessings of my other suffering team mates to take the chance. I wanted to stay and fight, to risk everything and tactfully call everyone out on their bullshit. But they advised me that you don't really win those fights, and so I'll exit stage left soon.
Probably the biggest change for me, personally, was my housemate moving out, which meant some consideration of the feasibility of a new housemate or living solo. Ultimately, I calculated that I can afford to live with just me and my dog. I do really like it this way. Still, it triggered a new habit of monitoring my spending so I could do the numbers, and I still do it a few months later. The emphasis of money, and the thought of retirement when work was crap, renewed my interest in the stock market. Just like last time, as soon as I made a splash, my picks all went down quite a bit, which certainly tempers the enthusiasm. This time, however, I'm so keen to get to a point where the money makes itself that I don't have to do a day job anymore, so I'm staying motivated and learning more.
The best little present at the end of the year was
coutzy showing me a live sport streaming website. I've been really keeping up with the sport, fuelled by placing lots of little bets to stay involved. I've made this $50 last since Melbourne Cup Day, and it's still going, so I'm not terrible, but yeah, can't retire on it yet!
A friend asked me a few weeks ago what my highlight of the year was. I paused for a long time to think. It's not a particularly easy question. I have a lot of great times with friends that you can't recall easily, but you know the feeling. When someone's made a witty callback to a joke from two hours ago that leaves everyone unable to speak with laughter, or sitting on a rooftop pub with a jug in the middle of your group on a sunny day, or with your arm out the window of a car, driving through the countryside, belting out a favourite song. Or that chip-in.
My highlight was way back in March, at the Corner Hotel, which is a great live music venue and my regular Friday pub. I'd made a late decision to join some friends after work on a Friday and see Andrew WK. At the start, he encouraged people to rush the stage and join him. We were up the back and pretty pissed already and thought better of it. We moved closer. I think John's buddy Will really wanted to get up there. Security started moving individuals off the stage, but there was an ardent group who stuck together and Andrew WK clearly didn't mind it, being just one guy at a piano with a backing tape of drums. Will made a break for it and rushed past a guard behind a curtain. John looked at me, his face telling that he thought Will certainly was a bit of a wildcard. I don't know if there was an unspoken understanding or not, but we were right up front. As the security faced towards the centre of the stage, I bolted, and fought through someone grabbing my T-shirt once I was already standing up there. John made it too. We jumped up and down, they hung back. Security must have loosened up after that, I dunno.
When "Party Hard" came on, I was at the front of the stage, moshing and yelling every word at the crowd, imploring them to get pumped up and party hard. I hadn't seen so many people looking back at me before. But there I was. My grey T-shirt was soaked, I was pitiful. But I had the moment of being a rock star, I saw just what it was like. And I loved it! It might have even helped me when I took to a big stage and a biggish crowd later in the year. I guess I'm an entertainer after all.
So do I need a New Year's Resolution? Do I set a target for myself professionally, musically, socially, financially, physically, personally? Simple. I want it all! I won't get everything in a year, but if I can see myself making steps, feeling on track, poised for some kind of breakthrough or opportunity should it fall my way, I think that's enough to satisfy my conscience. How about you?
My bands have done alright, playing some shows in great venues where I've watched many bands before. The Hi-Fi one was really special, supporting a Finnish band, thriving on the big occasion and dominating the whole stage.
Determined to end my recurring knee injuries, including an embarrassing one during the Midfur dance qualifiers last December, I looked into preventative measures. I ended up starting a regular weight lifting program at home and that turned out to be effective in many ways. It served as a good outlet for my confidence, my commitment and making sure I had something to look forward to and focus on instead of falling into hedonistic tendencies. No dislocations this year too, so all those squats must be doing something.
Having to work out every two days wasn't easy to handle when I have a lot of other activities on. As I highlighted in my entry on last year, I looked to find a balance of doing all the things you want to do and that you should do, while still having fun. It requires compromise. It's not the thing you ever get perfect, but I think I accept that.
I started playing squash with friends, the odd game of tennis and a fair chunk of golf too. One highlight of the year was the last round I played, with great straight drives all day, and a great chip in from off the green for a birdie!
There were opportunities for ice skating, in suit, of course. That's my favourite go-to activity for suiting, as you can probably tell by the photos in my gallery. I've stopped submitting them because we just keep doin' it! The cons were great too. Really chuffed with FurDU and RivFur, and even CBRFUR turned out to be a nice little experience!
That said, the year turned sour for me later on. I missed out on an unexpected opportunity for promotion, and the other team member who went for it with more success, totally changed personality as they took over, instituting themselves as the boss, playing all kinds of office politics and annihilated the wonderful team culture we had going. My proper boss didn't seem to give a shit. It was particularly hard to swallow because I have such strong ownership of the stuff I work on. I live it, I bleed it. It's my team. I'd done some amazing work that, thankfully, other parts of the business recognised, via awards and just people coming over to encourage me and chat about the results of my efforts.
In the last week at work, I got an offer to move to a different team that values my skills more, and with that, a chance to get a salary bump. There are so many directions that I could take my career that my indecision can hurt me sometimes, but I think I'll be ok. I have the blessings of my other suffering team mates to take the chance. I wanted to stay and fight, to risk everything and tactfully call everyone out on their bullshit. But they advised me that you don't really win those fights, and so I'll exit stage left soon.
Probably the biggest change for me, personally, was my housemate moving out, which meant some consideration of the feasibility of a new housemate or living solo. Ultimately, I calculated that I can afford to live with just me and my dog. I do really like it this way. Still, it triggered a new habit of monitoring my spending so I could do the numbers, and I still do it a few months later. The emphasis of money, and the thought of retirement when work was crap, renewed my interest in the stock market. Just like last time, as soon as I made a splash, my picks all went down quite a bit, which certainly tempers the enthusiasm. This time, however, I'm so keen to get to a point where the money makes itself that I don't have to do a day job anymore, so I'm staying motivated and learning more.
The best little present at the end of the year was
coutzy showing me a live sport streaming website. I've been really keeping up with the sport, fuelled by placing lots of little bets to stay involved. I've made this $50 last since Melbourne Cup Day, and it's still going, so I'm not terrible, but yeah, can't retire on it yet!A friend asked me a few weeks ago what my highlight of the year was. I paused for a long time to think. It's not a particularly easy question. I have a lot of great times with friends that you can't recall easily, but you know the feeling. When someone's made a witty callback to a joke from two hours ago that leaves everyone unable to speak with laughter, or sitting on a rooftop pub with a jug in the middle of your group on a sunny day, or with your arm out the window of a car, driving through the countryside, belting out a favourite song. Or that chip-in.
My highlight was way back in March, at the Corner Hotel, which is a great live music venue and my regular Friday pub. I'd made a late decision to join some friends after work on a Friday and see Andrew WK. At the start, he encouraged people to rush the stage and join him. We were up the back and pretty pissed already and thought better of it. We moved closer. I think John's buddy Will really wanted to get up there. Security started moving individuals off the stage, but there was an ardent group who stuck together and Andrew WK clearly didn't mind it, being just one guy at a piano with a backing tape of drums. Will made a break for it and rushed past a guard behind a curtain. John looked at me, his face telling that he thought Will certainly was a bit of a wildcard. I don't know if there was an unspoken understanding or not, but we were right up front. As the security faced towards the centre of the stage, I bolted, and fought through someone grabbing my T-shirt once I was already standing up there. John made it too. We jumped up and down, they hung back. Security must have loosened up after that, I dunno.
When "Party Hard" came on, I was at the front of the stage, moshing and yelling every word at the crowd, imploring them to get pumped up and party hard. I hadn't seen so many people looking back at me before. But there I was. My grey T-shirt was soaked, I was pitiful. But I had the moment of being a rock star, I saw just what it was like. And I loved it! It might have even helped me when I took to a big stage and a biggish crowd later in the year. I guess I'm an entertainer after all.
So do I need a New Year's Resolution? Do I set a target for myself professionally, musically, socially, financially, physically, personally? Simple. I want it all! I won't get everything in a year, but if I can see myself making steps, feeling on track, poised for some kind of breakthrough or opportunity should it fall my way, I think that's enough to satisfy my conscience. How about you?
My legs were already huge before I started weights, they're just more muscularly chunky now :)
If ya wanna ditch the bitch legs, try starting with an empty bar and adding 2.5kg/5lb a week (if you make it through ok) and see how far you get!
Very interesting read, it's great to find another person (let alone a FUR) who takes an active interest in finance and achieving financial independence. Early retirement is one of my goals too, we will have to discuss things next time we catch up :)
That sounds great, I'm keen to hear how you're going about it and what you've learned along the way. I guess you find all types of people in furry! :)
I'm jelly that you saw Andrew WK live, but on the other hand I'd probably die in that crowd. Sounds like you had a fulfilling 2013, you certainly got up to a lot! And of course it was great meeting you at FurDU!
Here's to a badass 2014!