Dumb, Lucky, Successful

Hello again friends. I know that everyone has been curious as to how things are going for myself and our little family, so I'm going to catch everyone up. To make the story less scary, I'll tell you the situation in reverse cronological order. I start work on Monday with AgReserves, Inc in SLC (Right next to Temple Square). They manage a lot of the Church investment/agricultural real-estate. I'll be their Help Desk Administrator. It's taken them 5 interviews over 2 months to "offer" me the job. Great benefits, starting at about 37K, the works. It's a mystery to me, and I don't want to sound like I have the Midas Touch or anything, but I've only sent out two resumes in my life. The first was an assignment for school, the other was to AgReserves. As most of you may know, the best way to get a job is by networking your way to it (Fact). So I didn't want to play "the resume game". Part of it was that I was too prideful to do it, the other part of me didn't even know where to start. My greatest disadvantage is I don't - nor do I ever - plan to build any kind of career, so it was going to be hard being honest when anyone asked me "so, where do you plan to be five years from now?" What I have planned would sound like a slap in their face, and I don't even feel comfortable sharing it here. But knowing that the future is uncertain, I could also honestly say "I don't know WHERE I'll be in 5 years, but I can tell you the kind of person I'm working on becoming."

The short truth is that I knew whatever job I got, no matter how great it may be, it is my goal to make it as temporary as I can. Not that I'm going to quit as soon as the oportunity comes up, but my goal is to continue slowly replacing my fultime income with passive income from my PPL business and other investments. At that point - no matter how much time it will take - I'll happily quit my job. After my first Major failure (what I've come to call this summer's experience), I've learned that to rely soley on my PPL income is too stressful on our finances. Buisnesses work better if you can earn the bulk of your money from a job while building the business part time. I've tried to make things work anyway, and I don't know how the Lord has made things work for us over the last year, but things have worked out. But I've learned only now to put that part of my pride behind me, and allow myself to work a job fulltime.

I've been risky, but we've been aware of the risk. It's bitten us hard this year, but Melanie and I are grateful for having passed through it. We now know what it's really like to go 7 months with absolutely NO INCOME and NO MONEY. It's been one of the greatest blessings of our life together. Randy Paucsh said in his book THE LAST LECTURE, "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." ... and we've been gainning a LOT of it recently. But it's liberating to know exactly how wonderful life is to those who keep a positive attitude, and posture themselves accordingly.

Just so you know, I'm not planning to open our shop for business until mid 2009. We are organizing ourselves and taking care of preparations. We already have investors lining up, one for sure who is giving us about $50K. I spent two hours with our attorneys yesterday, and things are looking great.

Everything is going well, because we have so much to be thankful for. I wish you all the same wellness, and hope you are all taking steps that lead you closer to your own dreams. (And if you know anyone looking for a business to invest in, we're offering a return of 8% to 15% depending on the amount of their investment.) Good luck my friends.

With work on the horizon...

Talked to Nate earlier today and didn't realize that I wasn't sure what he was up to as far as trying to make ends meet, whether he had things keeping him going while he started up his costume production company or if he was trying the fake it till you make it approach (meaning pretend you make money until you actually do) that seems to have paid off to some extent for Bach. I wonder this mainly because I have found myself here and there of course looking for work, but also now looking at how I might be putting together some loose ends. I will be starting my new job as a data analyst at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital on Tuesday after I go tomorrow and go through my orientation. I have been looking at business books that go over personality types and strengths theory and getting a better idea for who I am and what might be the right types of careers for me. It has been interesting and insightful to get a better picture of some of my inner workings.

I guess for now that is an update of where I am at and I hope to keep hearing from everybody. For those of us in Northern Utah we should get together either in twos or threes, with families or otherwise and go do stuff once in awhile. I am happily going to be stabilizing here soon so I am totally up for Saturday or Sunday visits.

Well, that is about it for now if anyone knows anybody that could use math tutoring or computer/technology training or help let me know because I would love to do a little bit part time on the side. I have decided that coming up with technological solutions to problems is one of my passions, beyond just knowing technological concepts myself I like to make other peoples ideas into reality by going outside the box of common solutions.

I guess that is enough rambling.
Chao!!

A bit of nostalgia

Some of you may recall this bit of cinematic genius:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdtbWpVTk2w

Oh the days...

Job

Quickly... I have a job offer from the Huntsman Cancer Hospital!!!
Thanks for everyones support. Love you all later.

Super Guy
(on the move)

Prayers

Well hoping to get a job this week. Any prayers are more than welcome
I had a good interview with the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in a position
that I would love to have. Jane and Gwen have been in Cedar for a
couple of weeks while I am trying to get us back on our feet. It was a
beautiful morning this morning with a pretty sky and a great moon.
Well I hope you will look past the informality in this post, not
bothering with being picky about my words. Thanks for all your support.

Super Guy
(on the move)

A Dream Fulfilled!

Hello, comrads! I'm very excited today because I was able to fulfill one of my dreams: Ridding in a Hot Air Balloon! Unlike most, I didn't have to wait on a list, or pay a fee, or go through any of that. I heard that all the spots were filled, and that there wasn't even a chance of me riding. While walking around taking pictures and being fascinated with every one's inflating balloons, on of the ballooners (pilots) took notice of my interest. I was just standing there a few feet away from his basket with my camera ready to film his take-off. People started to back away to avoid getting hit by the basket, but I stayed close so I could get a good shot. "You wanna go up with us?" The rest is history. I jumped into the basket, asked "where do I sign", then threw my keys to Robert Peterson. "Give these to Melanie for me." He couldn't believe it! He was there as part of a pilot group to help the ballooners. (I assume to get one step closer to being able to ride in a balloon.) He tossed the keys to Melanie, "Here. You're husband's going up." Melanie couldn't believe it. "DID HE ASK?" He answered "NO! THEY asked HIM!" I felt for him. Anyway, I uploaded many pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Have a great day guys!

Sound of Silence

Well, since we went to the zoo together, there have been two posts, is it? I decided I'd dropped by the page and not contributed for long enough. So, here I am.
Now, what to contribute...ummm....yeah. I'm in a class called the history of creativity. It is quite fascinating. Very few classes can capture your attention on the first day like that one. We talked about the brain and how people think. Fascinating stuff.
So school has started again and my nephew is now here at BYU. He turned 18 last week and I'm showing him the ropes of college life. He's like the little brother I never had. This will be a very fun semester.
Well, it's not the latest and greatest in intellectual thought, but there's a small update for me.

Also, can anyone recommend some good digital cameras?
adios