Being A Professional Temp

For years I have joked that I am a professional temp.  When asked what that means I've replied with, "Someone who can turn a 3 week job into a 3 month job".  All while not being noticed.

The key is to do just enough to keep your job but not so much as to work yourself OUT of the job.  Bosses really only care about one thing- getting the job done.  They don't care how long it really takes or how much the company is spending on a temp to get it done... only that it is being taken off of their plate and the temp seems to be doing their job well.  I came to realize this early on and it has paid off in longer term employment.  Not only that but I have been recalled for that same company several times.

So anyone out there looking to do the temping game to supplement their self employment "real job"... do yourself a favor and stay under the radar.  The one thing bosses hate more than anything is to be shown up or proven wrong.  Do your job at a steady pace, show that you can work independently and you will have a job for quite some time.

Finally... My Prints Are Up For Sale

Over recent years I have dabbled in getting my photos from my trips overseas together and sell them.  I've had some sales and stockpiled some frames but never created a website... until now!  Just this weekend I was finally able to put up a new website selling my prints.  It only has about 6 places to start but at least I have something started.

http://jalanphotography.com/Prints.html

We'll see how quick it gets going... although I do expect it to be slow before people catch on.  I'm just happy to get this part behind me and now I have something to provide when asked.

Dumbing Down to Fit the Masses

After all of these years on this planet I have just recently learned one valuable thing.  Sometimes a person can actually be "Too Smart".  I've lived my life knowing that my mind works differently than most.  I pride myself in my intellect, my quick wit and my way of life.  But it comes at a price.

Not everyone has the patience to deal with a person like me.  I like to speak my mind (keeping it tasteful) and catch people off guard when I can.  But apparently that rubs many people the wrong way.  Not to mention it is tough for someone to keep an intellectual conversation with me when all they want to do is unwind.  Stumped I decided to work on that part of my life.

Just today I came to the realization that I need to dumb myself down more.  I have to work on not being on my toes at all times and just go with the flow.  This is not just for friends but for all other parts of my life as well.  For instance at a temp job... bosses don't want to know that their employee is smarter than they are for obvious reasons.  And here I was thinking that all of that "doing things on my own" stuff was helping my cause.  Also, in acting it seems CDs, agents, producers, directors and everyone else that has some control wants to keep that control.  They are more apt to work with a "ditsy" actor than someone who can call them out.  Which again is understandable.

So, I plan on taking this new found info I've learned and start applying it to my daily life.  Not because I feel this is what people want from me, but to make my life more enjoyable.

Sacraficing For the Kids

Had a conversation with my wife about future trips yesterday and she got me thinking.  How much more do I really need to explore right now?  Sure, I would like to visit Russia and Australia but I have been going non-stop for the past 7 years and feel it's best to leave some of this stuff for later down the road.  The problem I found is... I liked planning the trips (almost as much as actually going on them). 

Then I remembered my kids and thought what a perfect opportunity for them.  I've been toying with the idea of taking them to Europe one day and I think it's finally time to really start putting that to work.  My plan is to take them to the first 3 locations I went to way back in 2007- London, Paris and Rome.  Since I've already been to these places twice already, it's one of the reasons why I've been putting this off with them.  But after more thought I realize it's time.  A smile appears when I even think about their faces when they first see the Roman Forum as I did. 

The main thing though is the NY trip next year with them.  This will be the first trip for them that will last more than a week (aside from visiting family).  If all goes well and I feel they are mature enough for the trip then I will put the Europe trip with kids plan in effect for 2015. 

LA- Great For the Career... Sucks For the Soul

It's been just over 10 years since the big move to LA.  Professional I have never been in a better place in my life.  Added to the fact that my wife and I have absolutely the best relationship we could ever hope for, how could I complain.  But the one thing that has been missing during this whole time here is an actual friend to count on.

There have been several potential people here and there but every time they run and do their own thing and turn out to be exposed as the selfish individuals that they are.  Can't really fault them, however, since this is LA and everyone here seems to be more about making a name for themselves somehow then being someone's friend.  Still it doesn't make it any easier sometimes.

It use to urk me when I finally meet a person I could hang out with only to find that they are on their way out of LA.  Now I realize why.  I mean in my 20s I didn't care who I hung out with.  One day you're at a club and the next in Santa Barbara enjoying some wine tasting.  But as I've been getting older it seems more and more that all I would really like is to just have some people I could truly count on to just hang with.  You know the ones that you can call up and they'll be over in a second.  Right now it just seems the only people that I can get together with are the ones that want to do happy hour to get work stuff off their mind.  Spending time with others shouldn't have to involve alcohol EVERY SINGLE TIME and if it does then what's the point.

Maybe this is why I've tinkered with the idea of moving abroad.  Somewhere to a smaller town that has actual family values.  Who knows if that will ever come to pass and if it does how would I still be able to advance in my photography.  That's the key.  I've found the perfect career and have the perfect family.... just wish I could balance that with the perfect group of friends.  Guess you can't have it all!

How Can I Afford To Go On Trips?

People ask me all the time... how can I afford to go on all the overseas trips I do every year.  I try to explain in short that I budget my money well but it's not just about that.  In truth it's the lifestyle I choose to live and not something you can actually teach to somebody else... especially if they are not willing to learn.  But I will try.

In a nutshell... I am not rich by any means.  I didn't come into a fortune, no rich relative is supporting me, and I am not dealing drugs.  I just found a way to prioritize the income that comes in to make sure that my expenses don't exceed it.  Aaaaaaaand, boring!  I know it's not sexy and probably not what you wanted to hear but it's really what I do.

For instance... I see time and time again people I know boasting about going to this movie or this restaurant.  Now once here and there is okay but every week I see this.  I start adding it up and figure they must be spending upwards to $150 a month on this alone.  Which comes out to $1800 a year.  There's your 2 plane tickets to Europe.  Then I see other people buying new clothes all the time and hitting the clubs like they're rockstars and enjoying "happy hour" every payday.  There's another $150 a month (your hotels and transportation taken care of).  And don't get me started on how much a smartphone plan cost which many people do not need.  Honestly, if you are living paycheck to paycheck and have a smartphone then I think your phone is smarter than you... but that's another blog.

There are many ways to save up money to do what you want in life.  Spending money like it's water is not one of them.  And I get it... you have friends that you want to hang out with, or family that you don't want to disappoint.  But when it is all said and done you have to ask yourself one thing- Will these people be there for me when I need them?  You might find out that the very people you are trying to please are the same people that could give two shits about you when you have nothing more to offer.

So while others are boasting about trying out that new Italian restaurant that just opened up down the road, I am actually going to Rome for authentic Italian food.  But hey... if going through life not knowing what's in your bank account makes you happy then by all means have fun.  Just know that I am not only having fun now... but I am saving so I can continue to have fun thirty years from now.

Smoking is for WEAK MINDED Assholes

Touching on a subject where I know many of you will hate... but most of you will have to agree.  Smoking of any kind is for weak minded people who can't can't handle dealing with life as it comes.

Ahhh, now I feel a little bit better.  I am just sick of people lighting up cigarettes around me like they don't even know what they are doing.  I go to the hot tub to relax and get away only to have some tubby ass dumbshits sit down and light up.  ASSHOLE!  I see people walking out of buildings and immediately light up a cigarette.  WEAK ASS!  It just doesn't make sense to me and never will. 

So what if your co-worker gave you a hard time today... you really going to let them be the cause of you pissing others off.  OMG, you got a low grade on your college exam- is polluting the air going to magically change it to passing?  Cigarettes are not addicting... it's YOUR BRAIN that makes it that way.  And if you are broke each month but still muster up enough cash to buy a carton then you are a DUMBASS piece of shit.

In all seriousness... what you do to yourself on your time is really your business.  You can smoke a cig while wearing a bra on your head and jumping on a pogo stick for all I care.  But once you bring that smell to my face then we have a problem.  But I'll tell you what... if you really think that smoking is your right and nobody can tell you different then the next time you light up a cigarette I will gladly stand right next to you and shout obscenities in your ear at the top of my lungs until you are finished.  I mean... if you feel it necessary to blow smoke in my face then you shouldn't mind a little bit of noise pollution in yours. 

*Drops mic and steps off soapbox*

Money Is Never the Answer

Money!  Why has this one concept completely dominated the world?  Is this what life has become?  I often wonder why this is such a motivator for people to build their lives around like it's their form of religion.

It's actually quite disgusting how we have been so dependent on "earning" that we forget how to spend it properly.  I am so tired of seeing people spending up to their income and beyond and then bitch and complain about being in debt.  It just doesn't make sense.  I mean you would think that a person making $200k a year is financially well off but behind the scenes you see that they are having problems making their mortgage each month with their $2 million home and 3 brand new cars outside (each with a personalized license plate naming each one).  So I ask a question again... why do we feel the need to overspend to feel happy?

Now I have had my fair share of indulging in my youth... but over the years I have managed to pay off both my cars in full, have ZERO roll over credit card debt each month and build a nice little stash for myself just in case.  I haven't even paid 1 cent in interest to a credit card company in about 7 years.  I was able to accomplish this all while living in a nice place with top rated schools for my children to attend.

If this post seems like I'm bragging... well I kinda am.  But really it's not that hard to live underneath your paycheck... it just takes discipline.  Something I'm sure that most people do not possess much less even know the definition of.

In the end we will all end up in the same place lying on our death beds wondering where all the years have gone.  At that point what difference does it make if we had material wealth or not.  Despite what the Egyptians believe you can't take it with you.  And who's to say that the ones you leave it too are better off.

The bottom line is... life should be about exploration, being free and leaving your surroundings in better condition than what you had to begin with.  The more we lose our souls to the green paper god, the more we devalue our overall existence.

People Are People... WHY?

I find it fascinating how other people choose to live their lives.  What happened to make people the way they are and why do they feel the way they do.  Perhaps it's the old actor notion in me that wants to understand people to a degree, but in truth I just want to put my own mind at ease.

For instance, what makes a person who grows up with a shitty father act the same way years later?  I'm not talking about psycho-babble Freudian crap either.  Just trying to find the bones deep truth of it all.  I had a crappy father... which I have made mention of several times before.  But I always felt the best way to handle that was to be a better person in all aspects of my life.  I chose to learn not just from my mistakes but from his... and my brothers as well.  I have no excuses because I know how not to be and what doesn't work.  The key is to keep figuring life out until it makes sense.

I know people aren't born with the answers they need so we have to make it up as we go.  But there is something to be said for common sense which seems to be lost on the masses and observed by the very few.

All I know is, I would never end up in the projects somewhere, cashing welfare checks and dealing drugs to survive... but if I ever were I would get up and move the F--- away... start over somewhere new and attempt to make a life for myself.  I fail to see me being really that much smarter, more dedicated and understanding than 90% of people in this world.  Then again... perhaps I really am born this way... to think for myself and not depend on others to lead me to their dreams.

I always felt that being intelligent is more than being able to calculate complex problems... but it is also trying to see other people's point of view and relate.  An art that is lost on today's world.