The way to make money is to buy Elephant ivory then kill all the Elephants. That is what the bankers are doing. It's called the economics of extinction. The less there is, the more its worth. You see? The Bankers are killing the Elephants conspiracy is well known, there are banks of ivory, banks fish in freezers etc. One can do it with anything. A small cabal of magicians could kill all the rest, thus making themselves a rare commodity. If your working at wal-mart just keep killing the managers above you and you are bound to get promoted sooner or later.

Gee Tommy, are you really this pessimistic? I Sometimes think you just enjoy stiring the pot for your own amusement. Funny guy.
Iven

What's pessimistic about that? Well I guess it could be so, from the elephants point of view.

Your advice Ivan, it seems me, is poor dads advice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfWPnftm2kQ

Thanks guys, you're actually making me feel better.

I agree that you're a failure if, in your own mind, you are not reaching your goals.

So let's examine my goals.

I was going to learn music, failed that one three times; trombone, piano and guitar
I was going to be an actor; eight years later, I gave up and left NYC to return to RI. A couple of years after that, I gave up on "community theatre when I realized I was only being cast as; "clueless idiot" or "we need an extra male body and Ed will agree to do anything" type roles.
I've been unable to pursue magic as strongly as I wanted and, to a degree, some of that is my fault as I find myself falling into "magic block" periods where I just can't even stand to pick up a deck of cards.

I like the customers, and they seem to like me, but I'm told I'm "too chatty" so even at something I'm doing well at, I'm failing in that management isn't happy with me.

I don't like standing for two hours at a stretch. I miss being a typesetter and doing creative things with letters while sitting behind a computer terminal, but no one wants a 58-year old typesetter and frankly (as I said in another thread) I'm afraid to leave Wal*Mart for another job since the last three I had went belly up on me.

But, seriously, thanks for your support and I AM feeling better about this.

Well they haven't been unhappy enough to can you in a solid decade now so I'd say you're doing pretty good there. Managers are under a lot of pressure to meet specific metrics set by a corporate entity that's usually relying on computer programs run and interpreted by people with no practical experience at the job so I wouldn't take any of that too personally.

I do understand where you're coming from in your OP though. At my second year in janitorial (the longest I'd been in any job to that point) I said "This can't be it. I can't reach my deathbed having spent most of my life as a janitor."

Goals by themselves are not good enough. You do need goals, but along with those goals, you need to have like a system or routine and a plan to reach those goals. Fail to plan, plan to fail. But you also need to take action and one thing you have to understand is that you are going to fail sometimes but don't take it personally or let it bring you down or bum you out. You have not really failed if you don't give up and it's important to remember that. It's those with the courage to keep going even in the face of failure that do well in the end.

You also need to examine the reason why you have failed and take the time to learn from your failures. Another thing, is learn from the best in the field that you really love to do and want to pursue. Learning from the best teaches you how to achieve success and when you finally learn everything you can from the best in your field, innovate on top of what you have learned and develop your own style that is uniquely you. But you got to take action too. You can't just dream or talk about it or write down goals along with a plan, system and/or routine to achieve those goals, you got to take action. Because if you never take action, you never really have anything to improve upon and make better. Expect to work hard and to be required to exercise discipline to achieve your goals and most importantly, don't give up even in the face of failure. We all fail sometimes, but by not giving up, ironically, you haven't really failed at all.

Very impressive goals and kudos to your achievements to date, Ed. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is a good time to reflect and be thankful for the things we have and accomplishments that we might have achieved. It is easy to get down on ourselves and let the negatives get us down.

I started my working "career" as a draftsman and remember interviewing, for the job I have now, in jeans, a flannel shirt and sneakers. I was depressed and was at the bottom of my list, after a bunch of "no's" and negative attempts at getting hired. Fortunately, I always had an interest in drawing whether architectural rendering, mechanical drafting (took many classes and a tech. class) and freehand artistical drawing. My drafting portfolio must have not been too bad as I got hired from the company where I basically didn't even try and was just going through the motions, being kind of discouraged as previously mentioned. I was hired at this company in 1981 and have been there, and raised a family, ever since. I didn't always make the bucks that friends with similar positions were making at Hughes or Rockwell etc but I have never been laid off or without work. I have alsways lived close to my job also, so commuting has never been more than 15 minutes for me which has always allowed me to have optimum amount of time with my family. My own experience as far as family goes is very messed up and one of my biggest goals was to be a dad and be there for my kids. I am a success with regards to that, even though I don't have a wall of plaques and degrees but my kids have had a father involved in their lives and know that they are and have been loved. My apologies if I shared too much on someone else's thread post. Take care Ed and focus on the positives and what you do have!

Glen

LOL I forgot to mention that I started the job I have now at $4.25 an hour! After applying myself and utilizing what brain cells I still have remaining I learned how to run the required calculations necessary to design and draw up complete set of blueprints for the solenoids that we manufacture as well as the hydraulic formulas for the solenoid valves also. Now I find myself in the typical income ranges, as surveys indicate, that engineers receive (with yours truly not having a degree).

Ed, I congratulate you on persevering at the same job for 10 years. It's quite an achievement!

My wife and I, being free-lance, wake up unemployed every day, and have to constantly think of new ways to earn a living. We often long for that steady pay check, and health benefits ... not to mention a "nest egg" which most people have tucked away.

A lot of folks are impressed by all my music credentials ... but I would advise anybody who is thinking of going into the arts professionally, to get a real job (like you have) and to do their "creative thing" on the side.

What is it that an employee wants? It seems a working fellow wants to earn enough money to look after their family, enough extra to save some to have a holiday and so on. Like a part in a machine or a step in a magic trick each job a fellow does in a business is important no matter what he does.
So he wants feel and be appreciated. I don't he should have feel lucky to have a job. Rather the business should appreciate the fellow who does a good job. The reason they do not is because of unemployment. : One leaves and a dozen desperate people are lined up to fill the position. The more there is of something the less it's worth. Look at China - billions working for a pittance. Anyone who thinks the USA can compete with communist China is mad. China is now sweeping across Europe, the world, buying up everything in sight: Airports, Railways, Docks and Nuclear plants etcetera. What is Eds job but selling goods from China. It is about time the West, woke up! IMHO.

Life is a lot like baseball and if we kept score of the failures in the game of baseball, all the greats would be losers.
Because in baseball those who hold the records for the most homeruns also hold the record for the most strike outs.
(True, check it out)

That should tell you something about keeping score. Never count your failures, they don't count. All that matters is that you keep swinging.

Tom

Cool.

The topic was Ed getting a ten year award and you have to change the subject (some would call it stealing the topic to make some political statement). Can't you just let someone enjoy and share their moment/achievment? You just enjoy raining on other's parade.
By the way Tommy, I do enjoy reading your posts .
Iven

Some others would tell the truth and call the subject of work and money, economics. And some have explained to you that your poor dad advice on the subject is not the only way to go. To the silver star Ed says “Wow!”

It is not politics we are talking about here, it is money. There is nothing to enjoy about Eds situation, Ed shouldn't be thankful for a job that does not pay him a decent wage and gives him a silver star for doing it for ten years. Ed and millions like him in the West are in the same position and if nothing changes and you keep trying to compete with China things are only going to get worse. Now you can carry on telling Ed “Be happy in your work!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo4OnQpwjkc

Ed,

It sounds to me that you're feeling the weight of time. I've felt the same for a long while.
You're a creative person and any time a creative person is stuck in a place where they can't express themselves it weighs on them. Ten years is a lot of weight. I have many friends like that.

I myself recently lost a job I hated, but kept because of the money. I kept my sanity by painting, drawing and keeping company with like minded people, as well as performing and twisting on the side.
Now I'm out on my own and happier BUT more stressed about money.

In your case I'm a little confused. You're respected here so you must be a good magician. Doesn't performing bring you satisfaction? I'm relatively new here so I don't know your'e situation too well.
You obviously don't like your job but stay since it lets you pay the bills. As people here have stated that's something to be proud of. Keeping body and soul together these days is an accomplishment. Take pride in staying the course but focus your MENTAL energy on what you love, which seems to be magic.

If you're not performing get out there! If you are think about ways to improve. Learn a new related skill.

As far as you're wanting to "retire" from a place, if Walmart provides a pension then at your age you kind of have to stay. If they don't then you should focus on earning as much as possible now and forget about the concept entirely since it's moot.

One way or the other you need to change your mindset. Simple but not easy. I know.

Good luck man.

In war soldiers used to get a share of the spoils of war, but some bright spark came up with the idea of giving them a silver star and keeping all the spoils for themselves. Good deal eh? Likewise Ed soldiers on in the trenches at Walmart and gets his silver star without a share of the spoils there. It's about time you magicians learnt some magic - Think like an Egyptian - Know the method and know the trick.

So what do you propose folks working at Wal-Mart and other places do? Join the Occupy movement? Or maybe stand around, refuse to work and carry a sign? Gimme more more more?!
Just curious.

Glen

There is no more- nothing constructive, just grousing.

I propose the West stop buying Chinese goods.

What are you proposing? Buy more Chinese goods and cut our own throats in the process, perhaps? Or maybe move to North Korea, where we might even get jobs as cheer leaders and be happy in our work?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzs-PA0l6ew

I'm not proposing at all, I'm already married thank you.

Glen