Xmas 2019

My Christmas 2019 holiday was better than 2018. Christmas 2019 was on the line between good and bad, between joy and depression, and between optimism and pessimism. I put up the Christmas tree on Thur Dec 19. It was the first time I put up the tree less than a week before Christmas. The past years I put up the Christmas tree during the Thanksgiving holiday since we got a new tree in 2011.

Putting up the Christmas tree late began new Christmas holiday trends which actually began in 2018. Here are the trends for future Christmas holidays.

*Late Christmas Decorations. Neighbors who traditionally Christmas decorate their residences had been completed late. It's nobody's fault. There is too much to do. There are more priorities. More time is required to complete priorities.

*Fewer Christmas Decorations. Some neighbors choose not to Christmas decorate their residences for fear of theft or vandalism. The neighborhood has seen packages stolen, shoes by their front door stolen, potted plants stolen, and car break-ins. Some neighbors who traditionally Christmas decorate their residences tone down the decorations for fear of theft or vandalism and/or less time to decorate.

*Lucky Roof And Heat. I saw two fat people shopping on Mon Dec 23. They were likely father and daughter judging their ages. They were fat like the people from the TLC series Family By The Ton. I thought yes they were fat. I also thought they were fortunate they have a roof for shelter, heat to stay warm, and a bed to sleep.

The San Francisco Bay Area has seen an increase in homeless population. There are too many people. There are not enough homes. Home prices are expensive. More people can't afford rent. I predict more people become homeless celebrating Christmas without a roof and without heat. People with roof and heat must be considered lucky.

*Keep Fun In Check. I continue the Lucky Roof And Heat. I control my Christmas joy. I don't take Christmas for granted. I may not celebrate Christmas next year for any reason.

*Losing The Christmas Feeling. A Charlie Brown Christmas is true. More people are forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. Business headlines said holiday spending is up. Welcome to consumerism. I admit I'm losing the Christmas feeling two ways.

My first feeling loss refers to the Lucky Roof And Heat. More people are worrying their next Christmas may be without a roof and no heat. More money, more resources, and higher costs are the reality to live comfortably in the San Francisco Bay Area. More people are getting tired. More people can't focus on the Christmas feeling. Where is their Christmas miracle? There are not enough miracles for everyone. Unfair.

My second feeling is the Christmas holiday is the same Christmas holiday. My Black Friday purchases have been mostly bare necessities and upgrades. It's good because I splurge less on fun. Also, I listened to zero Christmas music for the first time. I didn't listen to a radio station playing Christmas music during the holidays. The family meals are the same. My Christmas holiday has been routine too long. Maybe my Christmas holiday changes when I achieve freedom.

*Mailed Christmas Cards. My parents told me they received fewer Christmas Cards from the mail. Why? All reasons are true including higher postage cost, more priorities less time to prepare Christmas cards, and convenience emailing Christmas cards or posting Christmas cards on social media.

*More Gifts To Unwrap. Less Cards With Money. I realize giving cash is boring. I elaborate at Update On A Past Blog below.

Update On A Past Blog

I'm reading the entire Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling series. I'm on Year 5. Minor, minor spoiler. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged Christmas gifts during the Christmas vacation at Hogwarts. The Harry Potter scene inspired me to give my nephew and niece board games for Christmas. It was the first time I gave them gifts to unwrap. The past Christmases I gave money. Money is one of the worse gifts to give. I wrote a blog What Is The Worst Gift on Nov 29, 2005 saying the worse gift is gift cards. Give cash instead. I correct myself. Gift cards and cash are the worse gifts.

Black Friday 2019

My Black Friday 2019 shopping was 37.5% bare necessities, 37.5% upgrades, and 25.0% fun or splurge. My purchases one week before Black Friday Fri Nov 29 are included.

Fri Nov 22

I purchased a Wamshutta dark brown color bathroom carpet and XOX kitchen sink mat at Bed Bath & Beyond using a $10 off coupon spending $30 or more. I'm aware the $10 off $30 coupon is not a Black Friday coupon. Upgrades.

Mon Nov 25

I purchased The Bathery bath sponges, Up&Up hand sanitizer, Colgate toothpaste, Band-Aid, and New Skin at Target. Bare necessities. I also purchased 7 Wonders board game at Target. Splurge. I took advantage of good timing using my 10% off Target credit card anniversary coupon.

Fri Nov 29

Macy's. Calvin Klein underwear, Tommy Hilfiger underwear, and a Perry Ellis Portfolio wallet. Bare necessities.

Kohl's. Isotoner slippers, Apartment 9 short sleeve sleep t-shirt, and Croft & Barrow pajamas pants. Bare necessities.

Auto Accessories Garage website. Covercraft UVS100 custom sunscreen for the dashboard. Silver color. Bare necessities.

Sat Nov 30

Big 5. Nomex Enhanced Flight Glove Tactical for my go bag. Upgrades.

Nob Hill. Bundaberg ginger beer. Splurge.

I shopped at Target on Fri Nov 29. I purchased nothing.

I shop on Black Fridays to purchase bare necessities which includes stocking up on bare necessities, to buy new durable goods, to upgrade existing durable goods, and to buy DVDs on my wish list. Black Fridays are good shopping days for appliances, clothes, new TVs, desktop parts, and towels. If I can wait for the Black Friday, then I wait.

One Black Friday year ago I subscribed to SlickDeals' Frontpage Deals alerts. I purchased around five goods from their Frontpage Deals between Black Friday 2018 and Black Friday 2019. I also took advantage downloading $0.00 apps from the Frontpage Deals.

Highlight and Favorite 2018 Tweets

Here are my 18 highlight Tweets and 9 favorite Favorites Tweets in 2018. The goals delaying one year are relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, and sharing changes. Follow me @inin61. Enjoy!

Highlights

Jan 06: Time heals all wounds. Oakland Raiders bring back Jon Gruden. Gruden coached the Raiders 1998-2001. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he last coached 2002-2008 with a Super Bowl championship in 2002 season.

Jan 06: Gruden does have relevant coaching experience. Gruden doesn't have recent coaching experience.

Feb 03: A lucky moment in a post office. I purchased one sheet of stamps from the Automated Postal Center. I received two sheets.

Feb 17: @Seijanokiseki Yes. My brother finished the first book. He's hooked. Harry Potter is my next book. I plan to read all seven books. Update Sep 2019: I started reading the Harry Potter books.

Mar 08: Today I introduce to Microsoft Power BI Desktop or Business Intelligence Desktop. BI Desktop is like Tableau. I learn more BI Desktop watching the demo videos for two hours than I learn Tableau. BI Desktop interface is more user friendly.

Mar 17: For the first time in NCAA history a 16 seed defeated a 1 seed. Sports history is made today. @SportsCenter: No words.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYdeCpaUMAABD1h.jpg

Mar 17: RT @SportsCenter: Less than two months ago, UMBC lost to Albany 83-39. Tonight, it pulled the biggest upset in college basketball history

Mar 25: 11th seeded Loyola Chicago Ramblers is going to the Final Four. The last time the Ramblers went was in 1963 when it won the National Championship. The Ramblers is the fourth 11th seed to reach the Final Four.

Mar 25: This year's Cinderella is Final Four bound! https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZF-eoyWsAAtMFw.jpg

May 06: forbear: to refrain or abstain from; withhold. To hold back, to be patient. #mynewwordoftheday

Jun 09: Spurs + Pelicans + Rockets + Cavaliers = NBA Finals #dubnation #gswarriors #nbafinals

Jun 09: 2015 + 2017 + 2018 = Dynasty #dubnation #gswarriors #nbafinals

Jun 27: Keep an eye on the check engine light when starting the car. One reason is to confirm the light bulb works. The bulb is not burned out.

Aug 10: Raise both arms high above your face to signal SOS to a plane flying over you. A one arm raise signals everything is okay.

Sep 14: Never stop meeting people. Here's an idea when I'm older. I set up a booth at an outdoor event. Article inspired old people giving free advice https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900028728/old-coots-booth-at-farmers-market-offers-probably-bad-advice.html, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnE5Qp8U8AA6pyg.jpg

Nov 15: "People don't want to buy a quarter-inch drill, they want a quarter-inch hole." --Theodore Levitt, professor Harvard Business School (1925-2006)

Dec 27: The Dow Jones closed up 1,086 points or 4.98% today to 22,878. 1,086 is the largest one-day point gain in history. S&P 500 up 4.96% to 2,468. NASDAQ up 5.84% to 6,554. These three percentages are the largest since March 2009.

Favorite Favorites

Feb 21: @SportsCenter, REDEMPTION. https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/966574472353452032/photo/1

Mar 1: @HistoryInPics, "An empty stomach, an empty wallet and a broken heart can teach you the best lessons of life." ~ Robin Williams https://twitter.com/HistoryInPics/status/969305098768863233/photo/1

Mar 2: @SexwithEmily, One of the best feelings in the world. https://twitter.com/SexWithEmily/status/969751736461258752/photo/1

Apr 9: @HistoryInPics, A young Paul McCartney's mirror selfie. Possibly the first selfie taken by a celebrity. https://twitter.com/HistoryInPics/status/983420615951618049/photo/1

Jun 4: @arstechnica, Microsoft snaps up GitHub for $7.5 billion http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/microsoft-snaps-up-github-for-7-5-billion/

Jul 13: @arstechnica, Open offices are as bad as they seem—they reduce face-to-face time by 70%. http://arstechnica.com/science/2018/07/in-open-offices-workers-chat-70-less-are-less-productive-and-email-more/

Sep 29: @arstechnica, This arcade is really vintage: Visiting San Francisco’s Musée Mécanique http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/09/this-arcade-is-really-vintage-visiting-san-franciscos-musee-mecanique/

Oct 27: @Buster_ESPN, Alex Cora called a team meeting right after Game 3 ended, and talked about the epic effort, and how proud he was of his players -- singling out Nathan Eovaldi, who got a standing ovation from teammates. David Price stayed with Eovaldi postgame, on the bus.

Nov 16: @GoodVibesToys, Happy Friday! Who else has had this happen to them? https://twitter.com/GoodVibesToys/status/1063588980736745472/photo/1

Why Are Most Straight A Students 4.0+ Students Not Millionaires?

I think back to all the smart students I knew in high school and college. I think back to my smart family and smart relatives who went to school during my years. I include the 3.8+ GPA and above in the question.

My answer to the question is end of motivation. Another answer is end of discipline. Another answer is they achieve success with a white-collar job and middle-class living. No higher success is necessary. There is no more learning. There is no more studying. They're ready to settle. Moreover, they were taught book knowledge. They were taught facts. They were taught proven theories. Learning by reading books, attending classes, and studying were easier than teaching motivation outside the classroom, teaching life lessons, learning human relations, how to be a professional, and learning by failure.

There are millionaire professionals in medicine, engineering, technology, art, law, real estate, account executive, and business--on paper. I refer to millionaires owning businesses, creating new inventions, and heavy investing such as investment bankers and venture capitalists. I also refer to millionaires as developers, corporations, and partnerships. My intuition tells me most of these millionaires are not straight A students. These millionaires are 3.0- GPA. The lessons these millionaires teach us are desire is more important than knowledge or I will is more important than I know, financial discipline is a key, never stop learning, and never settle. Further, get out of the classroom, learn outside the classroom, learn good communication skills, learn good social skills, be a professional, and never stop making mistakes--learn from your mistakes.

I personally know no millionaires owning businesses, creating new inventions, and heavy investing such as investment bankers and venture capitalists. All the people I know who earned straight A's and 3.8+ GPA are not millionaires.

Top 2018 Pics

Here are the 18 top pictures I took in 2018. They’re sorted from the start of the year to the end of the year. The goals delaying one year are relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, and sharing changes. Enjoy!

A Second Look At 2018

It's the time I look back at my 2018 blogs to give myself feedback. The goals delaying one year are relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, correcting errant blogs, and sharing changes. These blogs are also the 2018 best blogs. There are 12 blogs for A Second Look At 2018.

Blog Title: 1. Life Is Unfair There Is Bad Luck
Date: Sun Jan 7
Summary: Everyone experiences bad luck is fair. Some people experience more bad luck than good.
Feedback: Stop caring about bad luck. Stop counting the bad luck moments. Stop counting the bad timing moments. The big lesson I learned is stop counting on Sep 2019. Stop counting the losses. Stop tracking the setbacks. Stop worrying about the bad lucks. Who cares. I believe I stop caring about the losses, setbacks, and bad lucks, and start caring about working hard intelligently, life and the universe give me rewards.

Finally, I must use my weak short-term memory as a strength. I forget the too many bad luck moments.

Blog Title: 2. Top Ten Movies I Can Watch 100 Times
Date: Sat Apr 21
Summary: I listed my top ten movies I can watch infinitely.
Feedback: The list is updated. The new number one movie is The Shawshank Redemption I watched in Sep 2019. The updated top ten in brief from one to ten: The Shawshank Redemption, Good Will Hunting, A Few Good Men, Star Wars IV, Stand By Me, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Aliens, Wall Street, Up, and For Your Eyes Only. Grease moves to honorable mentions with Gravity, The Dark Knight, and Toy Story. Also, The Shawshank Redemption is my number one all-time favorite movie.

I also update Top Ten Movies I Watched Late on Mar 1, 2014. The updated top ten in brief from one to ten: The Shawshank Redemption, Good Will Hunting, Colors, Welcome To The Dollhouse, Wall Street, The Graduate, Falling Down, It's A Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, and The Godfather trilogy.

Blog Title: 3. Throwback Blog: To What Bad Degree Are These Tiny, Minor, Small Stuff
Date: Mon Apr 30
Summary: I shared advice when experiencing negative little stuff including let it go, have grit, laugh it off, and learn from the mistakes.
Feedback: I repeat the feedback from 1. Life Is Unfair There Is Bad Luck. Stop caring about bad luck. Stop counting the bad luck moments. Stop counting the bad timing moments. The big lesson I learned is stop counting on Sep 2019. Stop counting the losses. Stop tracking the setbacks. Stop worrying about the bad lucks. Who cares. I believe I stop caring about the losses, setbacks, and bad lucks, and start caring about working hard intelligently, life and the universe give me rewards.

Blog Title: 4. Reached The Top Innovating Infinitely
Date: Sun Jun 24
Summary: We never end innovate infinitely. The next innovations or the future innovations require more time, more costs, more work, and more training.
Feedback: Two thoughts. My first thought is the misleading title. We don't re-invent the wheel. How much more wheel innovation is possible? My second thought is today's easier life reinforces my blog. Life is easier because today's goods and services requires more hours, higher costs, additional responsibilities, harder work, more resources, complex training, and advance knowledge. Regardless, there are still 24 hours to a day. People are overwhelmed because we are working harder to live easier. Ironic.

Blog Title: 5. Throwback Blog: FYI, Parents You Are Teachers, Too
Date: Sat Jun 30
Summary: There is no excuse parents don't teach their children.
Feedback: The feedback continues 4. Reached The Top Innovating Infinitely. More parents are spending less time raising their children today. One reason is work. Today's workplace more occupations require more than 40 hours a week. We live in the information age. More time, more skills, more training, and more responsibilities are required to complete our jobs.

A second reason is freedom. More parents don't want to give up their freedoms before they became parents such as playing video games, watching television, and browsing their social media. In addition, these parents are eating more processed foods.

Blog Title: 6. Trust Time And Trust Life
Date: Tue Jul 10
Summary: I wrote a summary of life philosophy: life connections, time gives the answers, take life one day at a time, good moments, bad moments, life is unfair, timing, and trust.
Feedback: Everything happens for a reason. Is there a reason why there are too many people living in the world today? There are too many people. There are too few opportunities to satisfy many people. Some people living a life with few opportunities is unfair. Life is unfair.

I also mentioned the definitions of winners are losers are subjective. Success is relative. Failure is absolute.

Blog Title: 7. More Losses Less Wins And More Setbacks Less Accomplishments
Date: Thur Aug 16
Summary: Add up the bad little things results in bad big things.
Feedback: There are six blogs in A Second Look At 2018 semi-finals list which talked about the same points: bad luck, bad timing, setbacks, making a big deal on the small stuff, bad moments, my bad happening is somebody else's good happening, less wins, more losses, too many rejections, and being a loser. The 2018 bullshit blogs are more bad days and less good days. There are more than six 2018 bullshit blogs because I excluded the bullshit blogs not on the semi-finals list.

Blog Title: 8. Death And Taxes
Date: Fri Aug 17
Summary: Death, taxes, all people experience trouble, all people experience frustrations, and all people experience problems are guaranteed.
Feedback: Another life guarantee is all relationships change for better or for worse. Relationships changing implies all people change.

Blog Title: 9. Throwback Blog: Be True To Yourself
Date: Thur Aug 30
Summary: The last blog I ranted as an immature adult.
Feedback: The blog is another reminder I was young, stupid, and took life for granted. I was in my 30s acting like a teenager with a wisdom of a child. I'm lucky I'm catching up what I missed. I'm lucky I'm correcting my mistakes.

Blog Title: 10. The Lesson To Be Successful Rarely Taught
Date: Wed Sep 12
Summary: Timing, luck, chance, and opportunity are keys to success.
Feedback: You can be the best person at something. If you don't have timing, luck, chance, and opportunity, then you're going nowhere in life. If someone asked me the secret of success, then my answer is timing, luck, chance, and opportunity. I can add destiny, fate, life, and karma to the answer.

Blog Title: 11. You're Smarter Than You Think
Date: Wed Nov 7
Summary: I emphasize a common life motivator you may be smarter than you think. Another motivator is desire is more important than knowledge.
Feedback: I re-emphasize desire is more important than knowledge. I will is more important that I know.

Blog Title: 12. Too Much Stimuli Or Too Much Screen Time
Date: Wed Nov 21
Summary: We spend too much time looking at everything with a screen.
Feedback: I change my answer. We are both stimulated too much and spend too much screen time. It's easy to get distracted. It's easy to lose attention. It's easy to change focus or easy to lose focus depending on perspective. It takes additional strength, determination, and focus to ignore distractions.

We need to get back to sleep eight hours. We need to get back to leaving the house. Ironically, it takes additional strength, determination, and focus to sleep eight hours and leave the house in today's information age living.

Does the future accept the excessive online internet stimuli and screen time? Time is the ultimate judge.

The following blogs are shortlisted: I Need More Stories, Life Is Xs and Os, The Piano, and Use It Or Lose It.

Level Up Life Infinitely

My life changed forever on Sat Oct 4, 2008. I realized I must grow up. The changes started immediately. The results happened immediately. Some examples are new clothes, new desktop PC, read more fiction books than nonfiction books, and new gym workouts. Oct-Dec 2008 set up a memorable 2009. 2009 is one of my all-time favorite years.

Fast forward to 2018. I thought year 2018 set up was like the Oct-Dec 2008 set up a memorable 2019. Some examples are renewed my passport, purchased two new pairs of gym shoes, and replaced my car's timing belt and water pump. Today is Dec 2019. It's not a memorable 2019; although, there are 29 days remaining. I connect the dots backwards from today to Jan 2018. The 2018 set up was incomplete. I need more time. I need more work. I need more training.

What's the point of the blog? Life is like a game based on experience points. Level 1 to level 2 is quick and easy. Level 20 to level 21 is longer and harder. The level 1 to level 2 is 2008 and memorable 2009. The level 20 to level 21 is 2018-2019 to maybe memorable 2020. Perhaps level 20 to level 21 is 2018-2020 to memorable 2021. I don't know the answer at present. Time is the ultimate judge. I must wait to connect the dots backwards.

The life levels never stop. Never stop leveling up life. Leveling up is infinite. Never stop innovating life.

My Two Question Marriage Is He Or She My Spouse Till Death Do Us Part

I share two questions to ask long-term relationship couples with potential to marry. The first question is, "Do you trust your spouse to take of you if you're the weaker person?" Examples of being the weaker person are permanent physical disability, severe mental illness, long-term emotional distress, expensive financial disaster, and/or spiritual loss. Relationships change. Couples change. You change. Everyone changes. Today you're the best husband or wife. Tomorrow you're the worse nightmare like the neighborhood jerk, the roommate from hell, the community bitch, the borderline felon, or a convicted felon. Can your spouse help you become the best husband or wife? The converse is true. The converse first question is, "Do you take care of your spouse if he or she is the weaker person?"

The answer to the first question leads to the second question, "Is the couple motivated to work hard on their marriage?" A marriage is professional love. The couple is strong. The couple is brave. The marriage is always fresh. The days get better as time passes. They add new spices. They seek new adventures. They experience new experiences. The couple maintains the desire and dedication. I will is more important than I know.

John Lennon said it best about love, "We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it."

Update On A Past Blog

I was anti-social for the first time on Feb 18, 2017 Anti-Social For The First Time. Correction. I actually was anti-social for the first time on Jan 6, 2014 Feeling Anti-Social. I denied anti-social. I wanted to be alone instead because I feared being anti-social I lose my relationships. The feelings I experienced in Jan 2014 was the same feelings in Feb 2017. I wanted no human contact in real life. I wanted no human communication on my phone and online.

Dad Earned More Respect Years Ago

There was an article I read years ago about the sit-com series All In The Family which broadcasted from 1971 to 1979. The four main characters are Archie Bunker starring Carroll O'Connor, wife Edith Bunker starring Jean Stapleton, daughter Gloria Stapleton played by Sally Struthers, and son in-law Michael Stivic played by Rob Reiner. The article said nice and ignorant Edith was wiser than people think because she handled her narrow-minded, outspoken, and prejudiced husband Archie.

I recognize my dad handles my mom the best. My parents are not the smartest people. My parents are not the dumbest people. Mom is an opposite for which she makes a big deal out of little things and she makes a little deal out of big things. Mom is a hoarder. She gets angry when life doesn't go her way taking out her anger on other people. She complains and criticize too many times. Most plans must be done her way. Dad is quiet, a bad communicator, and rarely expresses his emotions. I start observing how dad handles mom for which I model his actions. Dad is like Edith. Mom is like Archie. Today dad earns more respect from me.

Update On A Past Blog

Tomorrow is Thur Nov 28 Thanksgiving Day. I have another thank you to add from Top Ten Thank Yous I wrote on Nov 22, 2014. I want to thank Aliencat who ended our two years and eight months relationship bittersweetly. I have been learning who I am thereafter. There have been frustrations, failures, and mistakes. There have been victories, successes, and lessons learned. I believe she broke up with me to release me. I learn new job skills such as Python and Power BI. I review SQL and VBA. I redesigned my web page Innovate Infinitely. Strength, desire, honesty, and discretion are more important than knowledge and many friends. I minimize eating processed foods and watching television. I retire watching anime and playing video games. I workout at the gym four days a week. I self-teach life skills including making paper airplanes, communicating in Morse Code, tying knots, and improving typing accuracy. If my relationship with Aliencat continues, then none of the above happens. My goal achieving freedom continues.

The Lack Of Effort Is What People Must Be Angry

We live in the information age. It's easier to look up information compared to past generations. There can be too much information. It's easier people are misinformed compared to past generations. It's easier people are confused with different information compared to past generations. There can be miscommunications because information is communicated from multiple sources. There can be misunderstandings. There can be more unknowns. There can be more don't knows or "dk" because today's generation knows more about everything. They happen. They happen more often today compared to past generations. We're humans. We make mistakes.

I accept the misinformation, misunderstandings, and miscommunications. I'm not angry when they happen. What am I angry? I'm angry at the lack of effort to update people with the newest information. I'm angry at the lack of effort to correct misunderstandings. I'm angry at the lack of effort to prevent future miscommunications. I'm angry at the lack of sincere effort. I'm angry at the lack of honest effort. I'm angry at the lack of effort to solve problems. I'm angry at the lack of effort to learn from the mistakes.

Desire is more important than intelligence. Motivation is more important than knowledge. The intelligence follows. The knowledge follows. There must be motivation to learn from mistakes. Don't take life for granted.

Winning Can Solve Problems

Winning is good. The winning feeling is happiness. The two sentences are the clearest definition when a person or a group of people win. I elaborate more on winning. Redemption is winning. Earn successes are winning. Problems can be solved winning. We see winning. Winning clears the mind. Forgiveness can happen. The picture becomes clear. The problem is solved. The connections are established or connecting-the-dots are connected. Winning is powerful. Winning is motivating. Winning is a reminder live the present moment. Time will tell when the winning stops. The winning eventually stops. No problem. Life is not perfect. Take a breath. Reset. Begin a new path to win again.

Winning attracts attention. Winning opens opportunities. Winning is earned correcting past mistakes. Winning can justify sacrifices. Conversations begin. The naysayers and the critics are silenced. Winning lets bygones be bygones. Hope for good luck, favorable timing, courageous chances, and many opportunities. The next winner may be you.

Top Ten Wisdom Acquired In 2006 I Failed To Follow

2006 was a good year. 2007 was one of my two worst years. The 2007 highlights working at Cisco and buying my first car overshadowed the many lowlights. What if I followed through my 2006 wisdom acquired in 2007? There could have been fewer lowlights.

I reacquired, relearned, and rediscovered my 2006 wisdom years later. They started on the day I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. I never forget these top ten wisdom. I practice them daily. Today's top ten is another reminder how I live a good life.

I blogged one dream titled Philosophy 98: Innovating Life on Mar 12, 2006. I dreamed I taught a philosophy class at a junior college. Students were required to read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches how the rich people become rich. How to Win Friends and Influence People teaches human relations skills. I dreamed Philosophy 98: Innovating Life for the second time replacing How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie with Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers argues timing and luck are the reasons why some people succeed. I approved my second dream using Rich Dad Poor Dad and Outliers as the required reading.

Here are the top ten wisdom acquired in 2006 I failed to follow. I followed them years later.

10. Life Sucks? Why Live? on Mar 16, 2006 and I Wonder on Aug 24, 2006. Timing is everything. I remind myself the two blogs. I'm alone, unemployed, and without money. I continue fighting the struggles. Doing nothing solves no problems. I might as well keep going. The I Wonder blog said maybe the next big break comes tomorrow, next week, or next month. I keep going hoping for the next big break.

9. Whoever Though Of The Word “Rush” Lived A Short Life on Jun 11, 2006. Don't rush success. Take it slow. Increment.

8. Do You Want To Be My Friend? on Apr 15, 2006. The last paragraph is the wisdom acquired. There are some people I don't get along with. There are some people I don't have a connection. I don't waste my time with these people. I stay away from these people.

7. Nothing Lasts Forever Which Includes Curses and Bad Luck on Jan 2, 2006. Nothing lasts forever. Curses are meant to be broken. Hope for the best. On the other hand, some people live life with many bad breaks and bad timing. It's life. Some people have lots of good luck. Some people have lots of bad luck.

6. Find The Misinformation and Misunderstandings First on Sep 27, 2006. Don't stress out on the person with the misinformation. Don't get angry over a misunderstanding. Misinformation happens. Misunderstandings happen. Seek first to understand. Correct the source. I'm angry when people don't correct the problem.

5. Second Blog Entry: Going With The Flow On A Bad Work Day on Jan 7, 2006. Go with the flow. I rediscovered the wisdom during Winter Quarter 2010 at De Anza College.

4. Full Circle on Mar 6, 2006. Life goes full circle. Whatever you do today affects you tomorrow. Life finds a way to reward you tomorrow when doing something good today. Life finds a way to punish you tomorrow when doing something bad today. For example, I failed to refresh my job skills during my down time at one of my contract jobs. I watched YouTube videos. Life punishes me today being unemployed taking additional self-training time refreshing my skills instead of learning new skills. Job searching is a full-time job. I learn new skills such as Python and Power BI. I refresh my existing skills such as Excel and SQL.

3. Keep Fun In Check on Feb 26, 2006. Something bad happens when I have too much fun. I lose my sense of awareness. I lose my clear thinking. Control everything as much as possible work, rest, and play.

2. Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal Of The Day on May 17, 2006. What if I ate a proper breakfast in 2007 and before Sat Oct 4, 2008 daily? The obvious answers are more focused, learned more, less chances getting sick, more gym workouts, and never unemployed.

1. Time Will Tell on Jan 28, 2006. The late Steve Jobs said it best, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

In my words, time is the ultimate judge.

Summary

10. Keep fighting the struggles. There's nothing else to do.
9. Take your time. Increment.
8. Spend time with good people. Avoid bad people.
7. Nothing lasts forever.
6. Focus on correcting misinformation and misunderstandings themselves.
5. Go with the flow.
4. Life goes full circle. What you do today affects you tomorrow.
3. Keep fun in check. Stay focus even while having fun.
2. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
1. Trust what you do today is good tomorrow. Time is the ultimate judge.

Relax, Trust Intuition, Stay In Context

There are too many overprotective people. There are too many people worrying too much. There are too many people too anxious. There are too many people too stressed. Most of the stress is unnecessary. More people must relax. We must go back to trust our intuition.

Why overprotective? We may blame too many lawsuits on even small mistakes. We may blame overpopulation or overcrowding. We may blame people refusing additional personal responsibility. We may blame political correctness on people misinterpretations. Communications are taking out of context. In particular, I have a better understanding why more parents are overprotecting their children. Overprotecting their children is easier parenting in today's complex information age. It was acceptable children visit neighbors' homes for cookies and milk on the fly decades ago. We may blame the media overhyping crimes such as random kidnappings and missing children.

I dreamed I was superintendent of a public school. I was elected because the district wanted someone with an out of the box thinking. The district wanted a superintendent without an education background. A parent called me out being gender discriminate during a public school board meeting. I responded with a general statement to the entire room. I said stop interpreting my communications out of context. I'm not racist. There is no bigotry. I don't discriminate. I'm tough. I'm fair. I treat everyone equally. I'm open. I'm a good listener. Anyone being the political correctness police get a life. I reset the timer for the parent to restart her speech to the board.

Finally, I interviewed for an undefined length data analyst contract with a networking company in Campbell, CA. There was a phone interviewed. I passed. There was a person-to-person interview with a co-worker and the hiring manager. I passed. The hiring manager gave me an Excel test. I passed. The contractor agency conducted reference checks. I was the only candidate. Days passed. I saw the same position at the company's website. The company choose to hire the contractor internally. A too conservative higher-up manager must override the hiring manager's decision to hire me. The job candidate must have all the requirements for which I didn't have. A waste of time. A waste of effort.

Open And Close Retail Stores

Sometimes stories are meant to be taken lightly except mattress buying stories. A supermarket closed and a hardware store closed. A retail store opens for storing bags. A restaurant cantina opens. I saw deer in a city. Bowling alleys are found in towns. Maybe James Bond is the owner of a restaurant by the Pacific Ocean.

Bruce Lee Was The Man Revisited

I watched the movie Enter The Dragon in its entirety for the first time. Good movie. I watched the ending scenes only when I was a child. Watching the movie made me remember a past blog titled Bruce Lee Is The Man on Oct 8, 2010. I admit I made a grammar error. Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973. The correct title is Bruce Lee Was The Man. Today's blog is an update on a past blog.

Update On A Past Blog

I share more Bruce Lee wisdom. I posted a past blog matching Lee's wisdom Bruce Lee [Was] The Man on Oct 8, 2010 and my wisdom from my top 30 blogs 300 written on Dec 7, 2008. The addition wisdom comes from the movie Enter The Dragon where Bruce Lee played the character Lee.

Old Man: . . . What is the highest technique you hope to achieve?
Lee: To have no technique.
Old Man: Very good. What are your thoughts when facing an opponent?
Lee: There is no opponent.
Old Man: And why is that?
Lee: Because the word "I" does not exist.
Old Man: So, continue . . .
Lee: A good fight should be like a small play, but played seriously. A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, I do not hit. It hits all by itself.
Old Man: Now, you must remember: the enemy has only images and illusions behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image and you will break the enemy. The "it" that you refer to is a powerful weapon easily misused by the martial artist who deserts his vows. For centuries now, the code of the Shaolin Temple has been preserved. Remember, the honor of our brotherhood has been held true. Tell me now the Shaolin Commandment number 13.
Lee: A martial artist has to take responsibility for himself and accept the consequences of his own doing.

Lee: [Lao approaches Lee; both bow] Kick me.
[Lao looks confused]
Lee: Kick me.
[Lao attempts kick]
Lee: What was that? An Exhibition? We need emotional content. Now try again.
[Lao tries again]
Lee: I said "emotional content." Not anger. Now try again.
[Lao tries again and succeeds]
Lee: That's it. How did it feel?
Lao: Let me think . . .
[Lee smacks his head]
Lee: Don't think. FEEL! It's like a finger pointing away to the moon.
[Lee looks at Lao, who is looking at the finger; Lee smacks him again]
Lee: Do not concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of the heavenly glory!

[Oharra throws a board in the air and smashes it with his fist]
Lee: [smiles] Boards don't hit back.

Old Man: [voiceover] Remember: the enemy has only images and illusions behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image and you will break the enemy.

Parsons: What's your style?
Lee: My style? You can call it the art of fighting without fighting.
Parsons: The art of fighting without fighting? Show me some of it.
Lee: Later.
. . .
*Lee tricks Parsons to board a small boat to be towed by the bigger boat.*

Roper: Like you said, there's a point I won't go beyond.

Physical Appearance

The late Steve Jobs said we do judge a book by its cover. A person must never trick the world with poor physical appearance. Good people. Strong people. Honest people. They never walk out of their residences with poor physical appearances. Their appearances match their good, strong, and honest personalities. Their physical appearances match their intelligence, wisdom, and interests. The minimum is practice good hygiene both body and oral, good grooming, decent clothes, and proper etiquette. Also, they eat healthy, minimized alcohol consumption, and devote time for physical activity. Be honest on self-image. Don't have a loser self-image. Don't be a show-off.

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read

Reading books is one of my favorite hobbies. My reading speed and my reading comprehension have been improving since 2018. I can't explain why. I can't explain how. I experienced reading problems when I was a child. I started reading more fiction books in 2008. I learn more about life reading fiction books than nonfiction books. Fiction books give me wisdom. Nonfiction books give me intelligence. I read 75% fiction and 25% nonfiction. There are more books I must read. The Harry Potter universe by J.K. Rowling is not on the list because I'm reading volume three of seven. I anticipate updated top ten favorite books lists soon.

Here are my top ten favorite books I read:

10. Forever… by Judy Blume. All teenagers and all parents must read the young adult classic book The sex scenes and growing up lessons are relevant today.

9. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. How do people become rich? Kiyosaki answers the question how. The answer is not a college degree, an MBA, or working a six-figure income.

8. How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Readers adapt 20% of his suggestions increases his or her likelihood to meet more new people and create more circle of friends.

7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I read the book first. I watched the movie second. I love them both.

6. The Invention Of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. I purchased a European edition book. The author wrote the story and drew the illustrations. The main character had courage I wished I had when I was a child.

5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The illiterate main character stole books during World War II in Nazi Germany. Read World War II from innocent Germans point of view. Comedy, sorrow, and anger are some of the feelings the reader experiences.

4. The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. I loved Hemingway's writing style. Short. To the point. No wasted words.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus Finch is strong. Atticus Finch is a model for a man.

2. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell wrote luck and opportunity are the reasons why some people succeed.

Honorable mentions. City Of Thieves by David Benioff, All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett, and The Martian by Andy Weir.

1. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. Jobs was a genius. Jobs was an artist. Part of Jobs's life influence how I live today for better or for worse.

Side note: I read #9 Rich Dad, Poor Dad, #8 How To Win Friends & Influence People, #6 The Invention Of Hugo Cabret, #4 The Old Man And The Sea, #3 To Kill A Mockingbird, #2 Outliers, and #1 Steve Jobs books twice.

Ian

I read an obituary a former high school classmate named Ian pass away in Jan 2019 due to a liver disease. He was diagnosed in our senior year. Maybe that was why I never saw him in our senior year. We were classmates who knew each other's name only.

I met Ian in Algebra I in our sophomore year. He was a weird student acting childish weird. Students and teachers teased him like Samuel "Screech" Powers from Saved By The Bell. All the teasing and joking were friendly. There was no malice. If Ian was in trouble, then the students and teachers saved him. He was an average student grade-wise. Ian was a nerd. He enjoyed Star Wars, Star Trek, and Dungeons and Dragons. He was a devoted Christian. His outside nerd activities included swimming, soccer, and performing magic tricks.

Ian lived his best with his chronic liver problems in his adult years. He lived with joy. He lived with determination. He attended De Anza College and Sierra College. He received a fellowship at The Family Church in Roseville.

I hope Ian lives a fulfill life in heaven. He seeks new adventures. He finds new experiences. He tries new hobbies. He meets new people. RIP Ian.

Top Ten Old School

Back in time and front and present is rule #10 in my daily life rules. Sometimes the old ways work such as duct tape and WD-40. Sometimes the new ways work such as today's car technology and laptops. I share my top ten old school habits good today and good decades ago.

10. Pen And Paper. I have poor short-term memory. I write everything down. I rarely use my phone to write reminders and note appointments on my calendar.

9. Work At Work. I prefer working at my company's location. My work is completed on my cubicle. No telecommuting; however, there are exceptions such as being sick, family, and emergencies. If I'm sick, then I should focus on recovering. If there is a family priority, then the family priority takes precedence. If there is an emergency, then I must focus on the emergency.

8. Books, Newspapers And Magazines. I prefer printed books. I prefer printed newspapers. I prefer printed magazines. Online articles are okay as long as they're brief.

7. Get Out Of The House. I shop for groceries. I eat at restaurants. I fill up my gas at gas stations. There is no Amazon Fresh, Safeway delivery, gas delivery, and food delivery.

6. Old School Hobbies. I play board games, hike outdoors, ballroom dance, and cook. I'm retired watching anime and playing video games; however, both can be old school anime and old school video games.

5. Oral Hygiene. I brush my teeth manually. I use dental floss, Water-Pix, and mouthwash.

4. Gym. Another old school hobby. Another get out of the house. I workout at the gym four days a week. Two days of cardio. Two days of weights. Nothing complicated. Nothing simple.

3. No Cable TV. No Dish TV. I watch a little TV on a television. I spend minimal time watching TV and watching movies online. No Netflix. I have four movies on Google Play TV & Movies.

2. Three Meals A Day. I learned proper nutrition when I was a child. I continue my diet habits as an adult. I eat three healthy meals a day. No skipping. I minimize eating processed foods. I avoid protein bars, zero calorie sodas, and fat free foods.

1. Eight Hours Of Sleep. It's not a secret. The most successful people follow a basic habit. Rest is important. The human needs sleep to recovery mind, body, and spirit.

More People Must Get Physical

A peaceful person controls his or her physical, mental, emotional, financial, and spiritual statuses. The spiritual status may refer to sleep. More people are under emphasizing the physical status. More people are over emphasizing the mental status. Military, first responders, and sports require physical training. All occupations must have a physical training regimen. I can say more people must get more sleep. I see too many shortcuts and phony miracles to stay in shape, to stay in focus, and to avoid health problems. Get up and do something, anything physical honestly and sincerely.

Instant Bullets Blog Oct 6, 2019

*Add To The List Of Required Kitchen Staples. Red cups. You never know when you host a last-minute party.

*$1 Sincerely. I'm unemployed. Spending is limited. I put $1 in the tip cup for the sandwich maker. It's the correct call. $1 for a little sincerely.

*A Math Fraction Lesson I Finally Realized. The 8ths fractions: 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 6/8, 7/8, and 8/8. The eventh numerator fractions are reduced. The oddth numerator fractions are not reduced. 2/8=1/4, 4/8=1/2, 6/8=3/4, 8/8=1.

*Don't Do These Sex Porn Techniques In Real Life. askmen.com published an article Porn Positions & Moves You Should Never Try IRL. Improve your sex life not doing these positions and moves.

*Kevin Durant Truth Is Revealed. Time reveals the truth. Kevin Durant tells the truth regarding his decision to leave the Golden State Warriors. He wanted to leave at the start of the 2018-2019 season. Beforehand, all rumors, heresy, and speculations were a waste of time. Conversations? Yes. Good conversations? No.

Sources: Kevin Durant on if the Warriors mishandled his calf injury: 'Hell, no', KD on Leaving Warriors: 'I Started to Realize I'm Just Different From the Rest of the Guys', Kevin Durant: 'If I was leaving Warriors, it was always going to be for Nets', and Kevin Durant Reportedly Stopped Talking to Warriors Teammates During Season.

*$121,082.40. OnePoll and Simple.com conducted a study polling 2,000 Americans. The average date costs $168.17 a month. The average date is higher at $185.65 for a married couple. The average lifetime date costs $121,082.40. Source: Here’s how much money the average American spends on dating.

*Five Minute Parent And Child Lesson. Don't Be Lazy To Save Five Minutes. Reddit screenshot Now This is Commitment taken on Fri Aug 16, 2019.



*How Many Losses To Stop Being Loved? Alfred Lord Tennyson said a common quote, "Tis better to have loved and lost, / Than never to have loved at all" from his poem "In Memoriam A.H.H." There are people who lost many times not being loved.

*No Risk It, No Biscuit, said Bruce Arians, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach.

*What Are The Movies A Person Must Watch To Die Happy? Tough choices. Many choices. Infinite opinions. Here is my quick thinking picks in no particular order: Saving Private Ryan, Good Will Hunting, The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather I & II, Star Wars IV-VI, Casablanca, Mary Poppins, The Dark Knight, and Titanic.

*California Independent Contractor Classification Law. Governor Gavin Newson signed Assembly Bill 5 to law on Wed Sep 18, 2019. The law sets rules whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The law starts on Jan 1, 2020.



*NFL All-Star Wide Receiver Antonio Brown. Sports analyst Ray Ratto from 95.7FM The Game summed up his dilemma, "A cry for justice, and a cry for help."

*A One-Up Children Over Adults. Children are the best lie detectors. They have a natural intuition. It's tough lying to children.

*College Students An Easy A Grade. Take a class on public speaking. My class consisted of two quizzes, simple reading assignments, five speeches for which four are graded, class attendance is mandatory because almost all class meetings are listening to speeches, and an optional final.

*Over-protective, Cowardice, Weak, And Fatigue. What's going to with today's parents? There are too many over-protective, minimal risk taking, losing strength, and tired parents. I saw parents being excited raising children when I was a child. My parents are an exception.

*Single People Approaching Middle Age. Some single people approaching middle age or are middle age play the desperate card. They need a lover. They want a lover. They must be in a relationship regardless of a partial match, partial connection, and partial compatibility. They are impatient finding the best match. They lack the courage being alone.

*Playtime Is Over When The Marriage Begins. I'm not a marriage counselor expert. A key to a successful marriage is stop the playtime. Any two people can get married. Is the marriage successful? Is the marriage strong? Is the marriage everlasting? If the marriage becomes a chore, an obligation, and a duty, then changes are required. Begin the tough conversations. It's time to be brutally honest. It's okay to get professional help.

Update On A Past Blog

I blogged I hate painting being a Sort Of Professional Painter on Feb 17, 2019. Regardless, I behave professionally getting the paint job done earnestly. I'm not a professional painter painting fast, efficient, and minimizing mistakes. I'm a slow painter. I'm an amateur. Amateurs are slower, less knowledgeable, and commit more mistakes. I'm terrible at home improvements which explains why I hate painting.

Golden State Warriors Final Games At Oracle And Bad Good Advice

Coffee, basketball, good economic headline, bad economic headline, false faulty information, informative information, good luck and bad luck at chance games, Seinfeld trivia, and Lucy's advice on bad good advice.

Sibling Role Reversal

I'm the oldest among my siblings. I felt one disadvantage being the oldest when we were children and teenagers. I was the first to make mistakes. My siblings learned from my mistakes growing up. I was the first child my parents raised me. My parents learned from their mistakes raising me. My siblings didn't repeat my mistakes. My parents corrected their mistakes raising my siblings. My siblings were smart students with lots of friends. My parents encouraged my siblings to study hard. I was the opposite. I was an average student with little friends. I felt jealous. I felt weak. I felt my family abandoned me. I felt life betrayed me.

We are adults today. My siblings are making mistakes today. I'm learning from their mistakes which includes raising a family and dating people. I have the desire to avoid repeating their mistakes. I have the desire to get smarter. I don't know why my siblings are regressing? Is it family stress? Is it work stress? Do my siblings stop learning? Do my siblings take life for granted? Do my siblings loss the desire to continue improving? Do my siblings accept their life as good as it gets and can't get better? The answer or answers is yes to more than one question.

Further, I experienced the most problems when we were children. My problems were poor physical fitness except my running speed, mental average intelligence, emotional worrying, emotional cowardness, and social being a loner for some school years. Today my siblings have the most problems. My adult problems are George Constanza problems unemployed and live with my parents. The two problems are nothing compared to my siblings.

One last question which is personal. Am I evil observing and learning from my siblings' mistakes? I forgive my parents for their poor job raising me. I'm an adult. I'm responsible for my successes and for my failures.

Desire Is More Important Than Knowledge

People expected my siblings to work at high paying jobs. Their jobs are typical middle class white collar jobs. I wonder why almost all smart students in high school and college aren't millionaires. Research concludes many millionaires are average C students or dropouts. Do these average C students or dropouts have the desire to learn to become millionaires? Likely yes. Do these average C students or dropouts know what to learn and what not to learn? Likely yes. I'm making a connection between my smart siblings when they were young not becoming millionaires and the millionaires who were average students. Do my siblings (and people like my siblings) lose the desire to continue their education or do they accept their current life not working to improve their lives?

He’s More Than Charming Or She’s More Than A Sweetheart

Single people finding love with one expectation is naive. He just needs to be polite. She just needs to keep the bed warm. He just needs to write love letters. She just needs to cook comfort food on a bad day. He just needs to say "bless you" when I sneeze. She just needs to tell me there's a problem with her car. There are success stories accepting the one expectation because of good chance, good timing, and good luck the couple meets. I was a person finding love with one expectation naively; fortunately, I was a senior in high school. My future wife just needs to be a sweetheart.

Times have changed. Decades ago married couples with one expectation each was valid. He's a nice guy. She's a good cook. The expectations are raised today. He must be more than a nice guy. She must be more than a good cook. Human relationships have evolved with more knowledge. We accept more knowledge to increase our chances of finding lasting relationships.

I have high expectations decades later. My high expectations are not impossible. I have deal breakers such as avoids driving freeways, eats too much junk food, smokes, and hates board games. I have must haves such as enjoys outdoor activities, reads books, financial discipline, and good self-esteem. I'm fortunate I tell a story the woman I'm seeking. A story is powerful. A story is better than the common one liners such as beautiful, intelligent, good smile, *insert hobby one*, *insert hobby two*, and no drugs.

There are single men. There are single women. There is a match for a man. There is a match for a woman. There is chemistry. There is compatibility. There is compromise or give and take. It's supposed to be hard finding love because marriages last till death do us part. A marriage is a one-shot opportunity.

Here's My Story

I'm looking for a woman who is still new in life. She's fresh. She's behind in life. I missed many experiences when I was younger. I'm catching up. I want a woman to join me catching up. We seek new adventures. We experience new experiences. Our bucket lists have too many unchecked boxes. For example, I haven't visited a foreign country outside North America. Canada doesn't count as visiting a foreign country. Another example is playing a song from a jukebox. Get up and do something, anything.

Follow The Money

Deep Throat from the movie All The President's Men told Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to follow the money trail to solve the Watergate scandal. The follow the money thinking applies to careers.

Many of today's career challenges are skills, knowledge, education, and experience. We live in the information age. More careers require advance skills, technical training, indefinite education or self-training, longer hours, and more experience.
More industries are complex, complicated, and difficult. Reference materials, books, notes, YouTube, and Google are required to research, to look up information, and to refresh our skills. Companies pay high salaries to workers who are strong, gritty, intelligent, motivated, and devoted to long hours. Companies pay high salaries to workers with highly demanded experience, best trained, and strong skills.

Some of the most common industries with high salaries include engineers, programmers, medical, scientists, and business. The five industries are changing rapidly. The best way to monitor the changes is job searching. Job postings inform the latest skills and experience. Job postings are up-to-date compared to college career centers and career counselors. Follow the money to learn the education, skills, and experience required in today's evolving industries.

There are some industries salaries have stayed the same. The reason salaries have stayed the same is because nothing changed. The skills are the mostly the same yesterday and today. No technical training or little technical training is required. There is no need for additional education. The hours are the same. Little past experience is necessary. Almost all retail jobs the pay is low. Retail jobs haven't evolved. Post office, waiting tables, cleaning, and bus drivers their pay is low.

College Majors Lower Chances For High Salaries

I don't know how students majoring in humanities, fine-arts, art, music, education, and social science earn high salaries. However, these students can think of ideas earning additional income related to their majors. Podcasting? YouTube? Streaming? Blogging? Write books? Earn an advanced degree? Double major selecting a second major in a technical field or a business field? Generations ago college students can make a living in any major. Today's generation the high salaries goes to people with the latest and greatest skills and experience--the latest and greatest everything.

The workforce is not dumb. The industries are hard.

Update On A Past Blog

I forgot to mention to do something, anything new for which I'm uncomfortable in Get Back To The Basics When In A Jam on Sep 11, 2019. My life is moving forward too slow. It's time to take action. The best way is go back to the past when my life moved forward faster. I'm uncomfortable safely. I'm uncomfortable intelligently.

Money And Life

Money buys life. There are costs to live. The minimum life payments are the basics. The bare necessities costs increase as we age and as time moves forward. I explain differently. The bare necessities costs increase because of inflation, overcrowding, and complexity. More costs are required to live in today's information age. More costs are required to maintain life. More costs are required to improve life.

There is no avoidance. Costs are mandatory. Costs are required. Payments are due daily to live a good life. Costs are another example life is X's and O's. Life is connected how life is lived daily with the X's. Life goes full circle with the O's. Life upgrades are inevitable. Life replacements are required. Goods break. Services are needed. Soap, towels, mattresses, food, taxes, transportation, phone, light bulbs, leisure, health including dental and medical, and utilities are examples. Similarly, raising children requires money. Money and life and raising children are another blog subject.

How about the systems? Medical, phone, insurance, rent or mortgage, and taxes. The systems are outdated. The systems are broken. The systems are stressed. The systems are overcrowded. The systems are another blog subject.

Update On A Past Blog

I said 2018 was a momentum year for 2019 in 2018 Year In Review. Three Consecutive Bad Years For The First Time in My Life. blog on Mar 9, 2019. Past momentum years or set-up years preceded good years except 2003 which was a no set-up year for a good 2004. 2018 was a set-up for a good 2019. 2019 is uneventful year-to-date. It's possible the 2018 set-up is incomplete. It's possible I need more set-up time. 2019 continues 2018. Perhaps, life is telling me I'm not ready for a good year. Perhaps, life is telling me the greatest year is coming soon. Continue the present path. Be patient.

Get Back To The Basics When In A Jam

The time is now to get back. My life has been on pause too many times. The minimum moving forward is slow play. It's better to play on slow compared to pause. I have been experiencing fewer bad luck moments in 2019 compared to past years. The top reason is I'm inactive more days in 2019 compared to past years. There have been fewer opportunities in 2019 compared to past years.

The time is now to get back. Get up and do something, anything. I get back to hiking. I hiked the Montara Mountain trail at San Pedro Valley Park in Pacific, CA for the first time on Sat Aug 31, 2019. I brought back the movie of the week when I was a student at De Anza College renting a DVD from the library for the weekend. I'm motivated to try new foods. I'm motivated to eat at new restaurants. However, I minimize eating processed foods weekly. I job search six days a week like I did when I was recently unemployed. I learn new job skills and review existing job skills six days a week like I did two years ago learning Salesforce. However, learning Microsoft Power BI is better than learning Salesforce. Some past job interviews the hiring manager offered to train me in Salesforce. I continue writing blogs, working out at the gym, sleeping eight hours a night, and reading books.

Today's blog is not a reset blog. Today's blog is not a bullshit blog. Today's blog is a reminder go back to the basics when life is in front of a brick wall. Today's blog is a reminder go back to the basics during happy times. There are people moving ahead in their goals. There are people earning achievements. I'm not moving ahead significantly. I'm not earning the big achievements. I'm making changes to get back hoping something, anything happens. I accept the small achievements. I accept the small changes. Unfortunately, I add the small achievements and small changes they don't equal big achievements and big changes.

Going Up Or Getting Better Am I?

I wrote a blog at my Finding Raymond Mar titled Going Up Or Getting Better Am I? on Jul 13, 2019. I choose to share the blog at Innovating Common Knowledge. Here it is.

I question my life. I'm getting smarter learning new job skills, reading books, and writing blogs. My health is good working out at the gym four days a week. I haven't been sick in 2019. I minimized eating processed foods. I rarely watch TV. I watch one or two movies a week. I sleep eight hours a night.

On the other hand, I'm unemployed long-term. My social skills are regressing. My relationships are diverging. It's the natural growing apart from my family and my friends.

Is my life getting better or getting worse? Is my life going up or going down? Honestly speaking, I'm one step closer to become a genius.

Update On A Past Blog

One sign a person has poor self-esteem is laughing too loud, laughing too much, talking too much, and behaving too enthusiastic. I'm fortunate I no longer all of the above. It's okay to behave those emotions when achieving a big goal, experiencing a big moment, or you’re the highlight of an event. Keep them in check. Be discrete. Stay in control. I refer to be discrete and stay in control from the two blogs "Let Me Think", A New Social Problem I Must Fix on Oct 26, 2013 and Innovating My Enthusiasm on Mar 5, 2007.

The Gendo Smile From Reddit

I created my second meme and posted my first meme on Reddit "The Gendo Smile Because You Got This." The "You Did It" and "Because Its Game Over" memes are posted on my blog only. I created a bonus third meme comparing the experience required for selected activities. All screenshots are below.