I have been listening to a lot of business audio books at work over the past couple years, and as my education is leaning in that direction, it has reinforced my determination to do well in my probable career: Manager. Who knows what or who I will end up managing, but ultimately that will be my main responsibility wherever I go.
I did not dream of becoming a manager when I was a youngin', but I sure dreamed about removing the limitations that are co-requisites for an unremarkable income. I look forward to directing my energy not toward trying to balance a sustainable lifestyle with the associated costs, but to more satisfying endeavors! I want to make all my bills "auto-pay" and never have to worry about not having enough money to pay those bills! Sure, I might buy fancy toys with a fancier income, but I would just love to be able to cover monthly costs for necessities without having to wonder if I will ever be able to start saving money.
And so a certain minimum income is on my bucket list, but as most adults realize, there are many other considerations when developing the formula for a satisfying life. While my career choice might keep me busy for phases of my life, equally as important are the other responsibilities. Those include interacting with my wife and future son, and maintaining relationships with my friends and family. Also, enriching myself personally through physical fitness and intellectual stimulation. Another piece of the pie I need to pay attention to is altruism. I don't give enough to others, be it time or money. I would like to blame my current income, but the truth is I seek personal entertainment first (most of the time) and everything else after. When I grow up I will be better, right? ...right?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Listening Not Required
Wasn't Avatar cool? Did anyone else see the most recent iteration of A Christmas Carol? 3D is both a trend and a legitimate method of taking in certain forms of entertainment, and I happen to work for XpanD, a company that makes 3D glasses.
Our 3D glasses are not the flimsy disposable ones people use at most theaters here in the U.S., but rather they use "active shutter" technology. This requires built in circuitry and battery power, and the increased cost to consumers did not translate well to the mass cinema market, and so we are starting to focus on personal use.
ANYWAY, my job often includes hours of mindless data entry, and so to make my job more bearable I have taken to listening to audio books at work. Yes friends, audio books rock, and they roll. They can entertain and/or educate, and require little interaction (aside from switching CDs occasionally or pausing to interact with other humans). They are a quality media in which to bask if someone is looking for a passive (background) activity.
What's wrong with audio books? Well, they certainly do not entertain in the same way that music does, so they are not really a substitute. Also, one has to be able to ingest other people reading to them for hours (I know from experience that there are plenty of people who do not enjoy that aspect). They are also spendy (even when purchased online in MP3 format).
So what? I get my audio books free from a library, and I also download them from sites like http://www.podiobooks.com. There are other good sites to get quality audio book downloads (which I might list here later). If you like to read, and don't mind a stranger's voice in your ear for long periods of time, I recommend that workers of businesses that put up with headphones on their employees look into audio books for a more enriched work day.
What subjects have I listened to? Any and all fiction (entertainment = day flies by), philosophy, politics, science, self-help, business, economics, class lectures, and foreign languages. You know those signs advertising apartments and homes that say "If you lived here, you would be home already"? Well, if you had an audio book to listen to, you could have been listening to it while reading this post. Oh yes, one can even read and listen at the same time!
Our 3D glasses are not the flimsy disposable ones people use at most theaters here in the U.S., but rather they use "active shutter" technology. This requires built in circuitry and battery power, and the increased cost to consumers did not translate well to the mass cinema market, and so we are starting to focus on personal use.
ANYWAY, my job often includes hours of mindless data entry, and so to make my job more bearable I have taken to listening to audio books at work. Yes friends, audio books rock, and they roll. They can entertain and/or educate, and require little interaction (aside from switching CDs occasionally or pausing to interact with other humans). They are a quality media in which to bask if someone is looking for a passive (background) activity.
What's wrong with audio books? Well, they certainly do not entertain in the same way that music does, so they are not really a substitute. Also, one has to be able to ingest other people reading to them for hours (I know from experience that there are plenty of people who do not enjoy that aspect). They are also spendy (even when purchased online in MP3 format).
So what? I get my audio books free from a library, and I also download them from sites like http://www.podiobooks.com. There are other good sites to get quality audio book downloads (which I might list here later). If you like to read, and don't mind a stranger's voice in your ear for long periods of time, I recommend that workers of businesses that put up with headphones on their employees look into audio books for a more enriched work day.
What subjects have I listened to? Any and all fiction (entertainment = day flies by), philosophy, politics, science, self-help, business, economics, class lectures, and foreign languages. You know those signs advertising apartments and homes that say "If you lived here, you would be home already"? Well, if you had an audio book to listen to, you could have been listening to it while reading this post. Oh yes, one can even read and listen at the same time!
Lord of the Nerds
People of the internet, I have a dull confession to make: I am one of those nerds who plays a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). I am sure that the first game that will come to your mind is World of Warcraft (or WoW, if you are cool), but I assure you I am not a part of that crowd.
Well....
Okay, I tried it once, but did not inhale. No friends, I participate in the fantastical world the is The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO). I like to look at this entertainment service as a book, a movie, and a video game, all in one. There is an emphasized main storyline, as well as opportunities to become more powerful and better equipped via side quests that do not progress the plot. The fact that this is based on the popular world created by J.R.R. Tolkien helps the concept as Arda as a game reach out past its MMORPG niche and into the larger world of popular fantasy. This link makes LOTRO a multi-niche gathering place, while refraining from muddling what makes it valuable to so many - it's authenticity and artistry.
I recommend LOTRO to anyone interested in the Lord of the Rings universe (http://www.lotro.com/). I manage to enjoy it while balancing a pregnant wife, physical fitness, job, and peripheral activities, and so can you!
Well....
Okay, I tried it once, but did not inhale. No friends, I participate in the fantastical world the is The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO). I like to look at this entertainment service as a book, a movie, and a video game, all in one. There is an emphasized main storyline, as well as opportunities to become more powerful and better equipped via side quests that do not progress the plot. The fact that this is based on the popular world created by J.R.R. Tolkien helps the concept as Arda as a game reach out past its MMORPG niche and into the larger world of popular fantasy. This link makes LOTRO a multi-niche gathering place, while refraining from muddling what makes it valuable to so many - it's authenticity and artistry.
I recommend LOTRO to anyone interested in the Lord of the Rings universe (http://www.lotro.com/). I manage to enjoy it while balancing a pregnant wife, physical fitness, job, and peripheral activities, and so can you!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Shrimp Boat Captain
Good people of Earth, I have great news: I am still in love with the movie Forrest Gump. I watched it last night with my lovely wife, and even though the events are largely improbable and outrageous, it is still an inspiring movie.
Gump's adventured seemed to be spurred mostly by right-time right-place serendipity, but part of the fuel behind his flame seemed to be a child-like curiosity, the courage to try new things, and the discipline and determination to follow through on his goals (near-term, at least). I think this could be applied to anyone's life to further enrich his or her existence... including my own!
Today's words of wisdom:
Resist the temptation to succumb to the jadedness that comes with saturation in the instantaneous indulgences available to each and every one of us on an unprecedented scale. Do what you want, but realize that life as we know it is extremely finite, and that perhaps each moment is worth cherishing and squeezing for all the milk and honey that it can provide.
Gump's adventured seemed to be spurred mostly by right-time right-place serendipity, but part of the fuel behind his flame seemed to be a child-like curiosity, the courage to try new things, and the discipline and determination to follow through on his goals (near-term, at least). I think this could be applied to anyone's life to further enrich his or her existence... including my own!
Today's words of wisdom:
Resist the temptation to succumb to the jadedness that comes with saturation in the instantaneous indulgences available to each and every one of us on an unprecedented scale. Do what you want, but realize that life as we know it is extremely finite, and that perhaps each moment is worth cherishing and squeezing for all the milk and honey that it can provide.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
What now?
Life seems to be a series of events, some of which you look forward to, and others not so much. What is my next event? Eating some leftover pizza on my break. While this event may not be the culmination of my efforts and experience, it does motivate me to keep operating as usual in order to reach that event without predictable delay or hardship.
There are activities that tend to put me in a timeless trance of contentedness, such as video-gaming and sleeping, but these tend to be less frequent than the expectant in-between-events moments. Perhaps I need more of these meditative activities, or I need to convert more of my event-driven activities into meditative ones, as a day filled with more of these activities than not would seem to be a less stressful one.
But what does it mean, that I am mostly achievement-oriented (and I use the word achievement on a general sense, whether or not there is worth in the act)? To people who are affected by my actions, it could mean that they end up benefiting from my results-oriented way of doing things. To some who I spend more time with (such as my wife) it could mean that I am harder to put up with.
It may be hard to equate looking forward to my next snack with being results-oriented, but those to realms of activity are both a part of my building-block life. Sometimes I or someone else knows the blocks over, but I am ever stacking them up.
Claim Token: KBYHTUXWEJPJ
There are activities that tend to put me in a timeless trance of contentedness, such as video-gaming and sleeping, but these tend to be less frequent than the expectant in-between-events moments. Perhaps I need more of these meditative activities, or I need to convert more of my event-driven activities into meditative ones, as a day filled with more of these activities than not would seem to be a less stressful one.
But what does it mean, that I am mostly achievement-oriented (and I use the word achievement on a general sense, whether or not there is worth in the act)? To people who are affected by my actions, it could mean that they end up benefiting from my results-oriented way of doing things. To some who I spend more time with (such as my wife) it could mean that I am harder to put up with.
It may be hard to equate looking forward to my next snack with being results-oriented, but those to realms of activity are both a part of my building-block life. Sometimes I or someone else knows the blocks over, but I am ever stacking them up.
Claim Token: KBYHTUXWEJPJ
Monday, July 26, 2010
Conception
Today I was bored at work and listening to an audio book about the wisdom of the crowds, and that wild and crazy mix inspired me to establish an online digital expression gateway. And, so it begins.
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