Re: "Day Job" survey
 

Hi Don,

> I'm curious as to how people here are
> earning their "base income".

In May, my Dad and I opened a music store here on Cape Cod. We offer guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum lessons for beginners through advanced students and we sell musical instruments and accessories. We believe that learning music should be fun so we promote a safe, relaxed atmosphere for students ages 6 to 96 and beyond!

We also have a full band instrument rental program through a franchise arrangement with a company that has specialized in the rental field for nearly 50 years. This allows us to leverage their expertise (and instruments) to build our customer base by renting instruments to parents through the schools and to enjoy residual income from their monthly 'rent-to-own' payments.

Business has been very strong - we definitely have found an underserved niche in our area. We're expecting a strong holiday season and we also have several powerful 'business building' programs in the works for next year.

Take care,

Richie


Learning Music is FUN at Music Sandwich!

Drive By posting . . .
 

Hi Don!

Hello to anybody else who's reading this.

I took a job with the Transportation Security folks (USA, for those outside the united 50 on this side of the world - - And a special **THANK YOU** to all NON- Americans for not being AS- er, . . . . . difficult. You know what security is about. We're still hoping we're isolated from the need, and that all 'this' is just over reaction . . .).

Anyway,

I've been trying to integrate the various facets of my persona fora very long time. What I get from others is definitely opposed to my view of myself.

I seem to have a choice of "occupations" I could pursue, and perform with some excellence. Training and education is just the "dues" to be paid. No sweat. (What I mean is that I've discovered a bunch of stuff that, if I want to, I could do it.)

Yeah, yeah, it sounds like some boasting - - Tough! It aint! I'd just like to find that activity that sparks my passion. I want the thing that I can do, everyday, 15 hours or so everyday, and never feel like I'm working, or that feels like I must satisfy some "rule" or "need" in somebody else to believe I'm fulfilling it. And I need to feel like what I'm doing is useful, both to me and to others.

So, this job was so different from any other experience I've had, both in tasks and in structure, that I thought I might get a clue about who I REALLY am, and why God has me here.

And I DID! (BTW, this particular job aint it. It falls in the category of "in the meantime.")

Jeez!

I know now, without a shadow of doubt, that I'm a "people person."

Trite phrase to be sure, but accurate. I'm approaching airline passengers everyday - - some with issues, others with attitudes and a few stomp down 'yo-mama-shoulda-beat-yo-ass-long-time-ago' idiots - - and when they leave me, they're smiling, thanking me, and commenting on how much they appreciate what "we're" doing. (WE aint all doing it. I provoked the comment. But what the hell.)

I'm writing these experiences down, and I'm annotating my observations with stuff that's happened to me in the past, and finding correlations to these new experiences.

To be honest, all that recording is for me. And a good bit of my motivation for doing so is just the act of doing it . . .

I want to analyze all that stuff and finally put together what that "thing" is that makes me believe I'm not a "people person" (gimme my damn computer and leave me alone!), and all that stuff that points in the opposite direction.

My inclination is to keep writing, and I will. You guys just won't get to read it, yet!

Had to say hello, Don, and to you Dien, this is my first stop when I fire up the old modem.

And I didn't forget you Boyd. Hope all is well . . .

Marye

Re: "Day Job" survey
 

> I am a distributor for a personal emergency response company. In other words, Help I feel down, I can't get up! Funny, unless it is your mother who was laying on the kitchen floor for 16 hours waiting for a neighbor to check on her. That's why I got in the business. Also we have modified the system to make it silent so it is used by 24 hour convenience stores for their employees to signal for police when the need arises. And in Chicago it does arise.

You ARE here....for a "reason"
 

The "reason" just hasn't made itself known...yet, BUT....it WILL!

Mary...whenever I've talked with you on the phone your "thought process" reminds me of a term I first heard many yars ago when a car mfgr coined the words...."ELECTRO-GLIDE".

You have a LOT on the "ball" Mary (especially your "attitude")....and as long as you keep "tossin' stuff against the wall" Some of it's gonna stick.

Only a matter of time.

Love ya Mary.....Don Alm

> Hi Don!

> Hello to anybody else who's reading this.

> I took a job with the Transportation
> Security folks (USA, for those outside the
> united 50 on this side of the world - - And
> a special **THANK YOU** to all NON-
> Americans for not being AS- er, . . . . .
> difficult. You know what security is about.
> We're still hoping we're isolated from the
> need, and that all 'this' is just over
> reaction . . .).

> Anyway,

> I've been trying to integrate the various
> facets of my persona fora very long time.
> What I get from others is definitely opposed
> to my view of myself.

> I seem to have a choice of
> "occupations" I could pursue, and
> perform with some excellence. Training and
> education is just the "dues" to be
> paid. No sweat. (What I mean is that I've
> discovered a bunch of stuff that, if I want
> to, I could do it.)

> Yeah, yeah, it sounds like some boasting - -
> Tough! It aint! I'd just like to find that
> activity that sparks my passion. I want the
> thing that I can do, everyday, 15 hours or
> so everyday, and never feel like I'm
> working, or that feels like I must satisfy
> some "rule" or "need" in
> somebody else to believe I'm fulfilling it.
> And I need to feel like what I'm doing is
> useful, both to me and to others.

> So, this job was so different from any other
> experience I've had, both in tasks and in
> structure, that I thought I might get a clue
> about who I REALLY am, and why God has me
> here.

> And I DID! (BTW, this particular job aint
> it. It falls in the category of "in the
> meantime.")

> Jeez!

> I know now, without a shadow of doubt, that
> I'm a "people person."

> Trite phrase to be sure, but accurate. I'm
> approaching airline passengers everyday - -
> some with issues, others with attitudes and
> a few stomp down
> 'yo-mama-shoulda-beat-yo-ass-long-time-ago'
> idiots - - and when they leave me, they're
> smiling, thanking me, and commenting on how
> much they appreciate what "we're"
> doing. (WE aint all doing it. I provoked the
> comment. But what the hell.)

> I'm writing these experiences down, and I'm
> annotating my observations with stuff that's
> happened to me in the past, and finding
> correlations to these new experiences.

> To be honest, all that recording is for me.
> And a good bit of my motivation for doing so
> is just the act of doing it . . .

> I want to analyze all that stuff and finally
> put together what that "thing" is
> that makes me believe I'm not a "people
> person" (gimme my damn computer and
> leave me alone!), and all that stuff that
> points in the opposite direction.

> My inclination is to keep writing, and I
> will. You guys just won't get to read it,
> yet!

> Had to say hello, Don, and to you Dien, this
> is my first stop when I fire up the old
> modem.

> And I didn't forget you Boyd. Hope all is
> well . . .

> Marye

Re: Drive By posting . . .
 

Hi Marye,

It sure seems like you and I are twins who grew up with different families.

Like you I insisted on waiting until I knew what the right thing was. It's hard to do this, because it can almost drive you nuts to keep searching, to keep being patient, but it's the best method.

Why? Becaue 100 years from now they're still going to know your name.

Best,

- Boyd

What does a "webgeek" do? (DNO) (DNO)
 

Re: "Day Job" survey
 

Hey Don, I have a CDL licence to drive tractor trailer but the stress isn't worth it so I decided to go back to working for myself as a photographer. I tend to get lazy without a boss to answer to so for motivation I took a low paying part time job to get me up at 6AM. I'm done working for the boss by 2pm and I spend my nights and weekends marketing my photography skills and a little report I wrote on photography is selling well. I'm going to be sending you a check this week because you are one of the best Idea people I have ever found. You walk your talk Don and I want to invest in myself by investing in several of your Ideas. Back in 1990 I invested $500 in your video ad case program and it was worth every penny. It was some of the best sales training I've ever had. I may be a little slow but I ain't stupid. No sense trying to reinvent the wheel when I could save myself a lot of time and frustration by learning from you. "Action supercedes everything and self discipline separates winners from wishers". My check will be in the mail this weekend so you'll have it by the end of next week.
Sincerely,
Steve Ski