Sometimes it's okay to let yourself breathe.
But not for too long, because then you get used to breathing and you're not working as hard as you should.
Work has been great from an accomplishment standpoint. So I work in credit risk management and advisory (same company, vastly different job). I'm an industry side associate and basically among a myriad of other things, I advise our clients on the rating agency implications of whatever transactions they decide to do. It's been great so far. The work is exciting, I'm duly interested and I've learned a lot. I cover municipalities, general industrials, and clearinghouses/exchanges. Vast portfolio. I'm convinced that I was given it because no one else would take it on...and even when I started, people expected that it might be too much. But I've proven them wrong. I'm not perfect, but I have to certainly be exceeding expectations. Less than a year on the job and I feel that I'm making a name for myself. This company will see all that I can contribute...I've devoted to that fact, and that fact alone.
I guess I'm just not sure if this is the long time goal. You can mark this down as a statement of fact - with me, I don't do something half-assed. With regards to anything, I'm not just happy to be there, I want to run the joint. But first - as I know - you have to be invited to the party. It's not out of my realm of possibility that someday, with the right coaching and just a little bit of luck, I could conceivably run my company. I'm not saying it's likely or that it will happen, I'm just saying it could happen. I have to think that way because it motivates me, it keeps me going on. Now that I have hope and I'm out of a previously shitty work situation, I see all that could be afforded to me if I just stay the course. But as we all know, you can't fit a circle into a square and you can't make anything out of something that isn't there.
I'm musing right now about a life where I'm in charge - I answer to the Federal Reserve, maybe even the president, but no one else...I drive the organization based on the needs of my shareholders and the board of directors. I'm at the helm and everyone's looking at me to succeed or fail...it's something that I've dreamed about, not because it's something I want for myself, but because I always want to be the best. There are plenty of people who don't want to stand out - I used to be one of them - but now I can say I'm not. I want to see my name out there for the right reasons. I want to drive a measure of true and tangible change in my life.
So now I'm at a crossroads. Things are not perfect. I've disconnected with a lot of people, some of whom I really care for. I'm not sure if this is the path I lead; be great but be alone or have the network that invariably keeps you from escalating into the stratosphere. I'm not sure that I need the answer now, but it's an answer that I will need.
I'm stronger now than I could have ever thought, I'm resilient, ambitious, and resourceful. I'm able to adapt and that is my greatest trait. I'm confident now that I can get what I want, when I want it. I'm a long-term strategist...maybe that will serve me well, but I have to live in the now as well. I have to always remember that, to stay grounded, and to stay better. Dreams are nothing without a concrete plan - in the now - to get there. So now the goal is business school, but when? I don't think it's something I want to do until 2013. Right now, I'm doing well. Virtually no debt, a strong liquidity cushion/rainy day fund of my own, a 401K, now it's time to open a brokerage account and try my hand at investing. Someday I'll do it on my own, but for now, I suppose I'll need some help.
I have my father to thank for my positive traits...and I want to help him and my family further. I'm not sure what the right way is, but I'm working on a few plans. And when they come to fruition, I'll be ready to capitalize.
And so now I'm 25. Conceivably, the first quarter of my life has ended and I begin the second quarter. And I'm ready. I'm truly more than ready. If the next 25 years is anything like the first, I'll either be a great man by 50...or have died trying.
Work has been great from an accomplishment standpoint. So I work in credit risk management and advisory (same company, vastly different job). I'm an industry side associate and basically among a myriad of other things, I advise our clients on the rating agency implications of whatever transactions they decide to do. It's been great so far. The work is exciting, I'm duly interested and I've learned a lot. I cover municipalities, general industrials, and clearinghouses/exchanges. Vast portfolio. I'm convinced that I was given it because no one else would take it on...and even when I started, people expected that it might be too much. But I've proven them wrong. I'm not perfect, but I have to certainly be exceeding expectations. Less than a year on the job and I feel that I'm making a name for myself. This company will see all that I can contribute...I've devoted to that fact, and that fact alone.
I guess I'm just not sure if this is the long time goal. You can mark this down as a statement of fact - with me, I don't do something half-assed. With regards to anything, I'm not just happy to be there, I want to run the joint. But first - as I know - you have to be invited to the party. It's not out of my realm of possibility that someday, with the right coaching and just a little bit of luck, I could conceivably run my company. I'm not saying it's likely or that it will happen, I'm just saying it could happen. I have to think that way because it motivates me, it keeps me going on. Now that I have hope and I'm out of a previously shitty work situation, I see all that could be afforded to me if I just stay the course. But as we all know, you can't fit a circle into a square and you can't make anything out of something that isn't there.
I'm musing right now about a life where I'm in charge - I answer to the Federal Reserve, maybe even the president, but no one else...I drive the organization based on the needs of my shareholders and the board of directors. I'm at the helm and everyone's looking at me to succeed or fail...it's something that I've dreamed about, not because it's something I want for myself, but because I always want to be the best. There are plenty of people who don't want to stand out - I used to be one of them - but now I can say I'm not. I want to see my name out there for the right reasons. I want to drive a measure of true and tangible change in my life.
So now I'm at a crossroads. Things are not perfect. I've disconnected with a lot of people, some of whom I really care for. I'm not sure if this is the path I lead; be great but be alone or have the network that invariably keeps you from escalating into the stratosphere. I'm not sure that I need the answer now, but it's an answer that I will need.
I'm stronger now than I could have ever thought, I'm resilient, ambitious, and resourceful. I'm able to adapt and that is my greatest trait. I'm confident now that I can get what I want, when I want it. I'm a long-term strategist...maybe that will serve me well, but I have to live in the now as well. I have to always remember that, to stay grounded, and to stay better. Dreams are nothing without a concrete plan - in the now - to get there. So now the goal is business school, but when? I don't think it's something I want to do until 2013. Right now, I'm doing well. Virtually no debt, a strong liquidity cushion/rainy day fund of my own, a 401K, now it's time to open a brokerage account and try my hand at investing. Someday I'll do it on my own, but for now, I suppose I'll need some help.
I have my father to thank for my positive traits...and I want to help him and my family further. I'm not sure what the right way is, but I'm working on a few plans. And when they come to fruition, I'll be ready to capitalize.
And so now I'm 25. Conceivably, the first quarter of my life has ended and I begin the second quarter. And I'm ready. I'm truly more than ready. If the next 25 years is anything like the first, I'll either be a great man by 50...or have died trying.