Sure AM is great but............

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I always felt my big "calling" was something artistic, either visual or with music. Right now, life is a bit too hectic with a business and two young kids.

But when they get a little older I'm gonna spend more of my non-business hours on making video/film, oil-painting, building electric guitars, and recording/writing more music.
 


I never wanted to be anything when I grew up. I always wanted to travel.

I still want to travel. I am going to do it one day. Travel in style.
 
I've wanted to do a lot of things as I grew up, fighter pilot as a kid, then a physicist which I was really into until I got to university- three years at one of the toughest universities in the world basically beat the interest out of me. Then I thought about investment banking but saw the writing was on the wall for those guys even in '06, so I looked at one day owning my own business.

I did some work experience in my summers and ended up at eBay, which is where I am now but with enough spare time to work hard on my own stuff.

It's funny looking back at how perspectives change, I've definitely realised that money isn't everything to me and I'm very glad I dodged the ibanking trap. I've found a girl in the meantime that I intend to marry eventually and that's changed my perspective even further, from 'me' to 'us', although like me she's not interested in kids and we both really want to go out and see the world.
 
In high school, I wanted to take the crown from Yngwie Malmsteen (for guitar-playing prowess, not douchiness). Then, I grew up and set my sights on Vai. Then, I grew up again and shifted to being the next Michael Milkin.

That path turned out to be a deadend.
 
I thought i was going to tour the country in a hardcore metal band. Depending on 4 other guys didnt work out for me.
 
Football player for me, linebacker. Hurt my knee in my second year of college ball and lost a lot of speed ever since. Prior to that though, I really felt I had a shot, even if at the arena level.

I'm playing again though, this time however for a semi-pro team with ages ranging from 18 up to early 40's. It's definitely humbling experience, but the way I see it I'm still able to play a game I love and for me that's worth it.

I say never underestimate a man's passion and dreams. Someone else might not understand or agree, but to him it's the greatest thing in the world.
 
I always wanted to own my own business. The thing I hate most of all is having a boss. So, I did that - at 23 I started a company with a friend of mine. That turned into 3 partners and eventually 3 partners + 15 employees. That was 12 years ago.

I make pretty decent money too. $80K base, dividends up to $200K/year. Best year I ever had I made just shy of $300K.

Thing is - I hate it. It's turned into just another job with a boss. The boss in this case is metaphorical. It's the customer. I deal with the Federal government doing consulting most days and that is 24/7/365. It never ends.

Also, because I still do consulting I bill $130/hr. My partners do not do consulting - they sit in an office and that blows in ways that you can barely imagine but I can't obviously get them to agree to let me do the same. It's a 2 to 1 vote. So, I'm working on AM so I can quit. I need to make at least $150K/year (or be on track to do that before I can quit).

Considering I haven't made $1 yet in AM this is not going well. However, I do have the business background and financial ability to pull this off. I just haven't gotten anything to click yet.

Tonight I'm pulling down everything I've tried so far. It's obviously time to take a new approach.
 
i spent most of my AM earnings (beyond living expenses) on booking studio time, paying the producer and session musicians.

there is no money in music for 99% of people but still if you don't act on your creative urges you will be miserable.
 
I did play in bands, lived in a hovel, rehearsed in the garage, cops would come by from noise complaints. Worked as a dishwasher, basically Henry Rollins' "Get in the Van" without the touring or getting beat up.

Gave that up when I turned 22. Went straight at 23, got an office job, became sorta the boss, had a bleeding ulcer by 25, nearly died, started an online store at 26, closed it two years ago because a family member had a health emergency and I had to be more available than I was.

Been doing SEO for awhile. I like the hours. I like not being responsible for 18 people anymore.

I enjoy work. I plan to work until I die. Swimming and reading and chess are not enough sustenance for my soul. It's not enough for man to act. He must act with purpose.

I have to be productive if life is to be worth living.
 
Sharksfan said:
I always wanted to own my own business. The thing I hate most of all is having a boss. So, I did that - at 23 I started a company with a friend of mine. That turned into 3 partners and eventually 3 partners + 15 employees. That was 12 years ago.

I make pretty decent money too. $80K base, dividends up to $200K/year. Best year I ever had I made just shy of $300K.

Thing is - I hate it. It's turned into just another job with a boss. The boss in this case is metaphorical. It's the customer. I deal with the Federal government doing consulting most days and that is 24/7/365. It never ends.

Also, because I still do consulting I bill $130/hr. My partners do not do consulting - they sit in an office and that blows in ways that you can barely imagine but I can't obviously get them to agree to let me do the same. It's a 2 to 1 vote. So, I'm working on AM so I can quit. I need to make at least $150K/year (or be on track to do that before I can quit).

Considering I haven't made $1 yet in AM this is not going well. However, I do have the business background and financial ability to pull this off. I just haven't gotten anything to click yet.

Tonight I'm pulling down everything I've tried so far. It's obviously time to take a new approach.
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Wow. We have a very similar story. Beltway bandit on this end too-

Very freaky.
 
Sharksfan said:
So, I'm working on AM so I can quit. I need to make at least $150K/year (or be on track to do that before I can quit).
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Dude you have equity in the business right? You can't get your partners to buy you out so you have some money to live on while you cut your teeth?
 
In 5th grade I was convinced I would go to MIT and become an aeronautical engineer and design planes and stuff. After that, I wasn't sure. Then around high school, I figured I'd be some sort of entrepreneur. Guess that one came true.
 
popeye said:
What's keeping you from getting back into it? I train 4 nights a week with a mixed martial arts club and it's fuckin awesome. I am even thinking about competing soon. If you love it..go for it before you it's too late.
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Yeah I know, I do train on the bag and on my WC dummy in the garage, every second night, but like most I'm to involved in AM to get back into it full on.
 
SEO_Mike said:
In 5th grade I was convinced I would go to MIT and become an aeronautical engineer and design planes and stuff. After that, I wasn't sure. Then around high school, I figured I'd be some sort of entrepreneur. Guess that one came true.
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Same thing here, except I wanted to do automotive engineering. I was convinced I was going to work for Forumla 1 teams or design the next Ferrari supercar. Now I'm focusing on building my own business.
 
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