Day 336 of 365: Nine Years Ago, Today
Nine years ago, today, I started a new job with a tax preparation firm. It also happened to be exactly ten months after the passing of my father. I remember most of the year 2013 as being a "mourning and watershed" year in which my family and I were all trying to figure out how to proceed with a new family structure. I remember that morning being a quiet, but busy morning. My boss (the principal of the firm) was out on some business for another firm of his. I was alone in the firm (but not alone in the office).
I remember arriving at the office and seeing a laptop on my desk with a stick note bearing the password. There was also a Softphone on my desk. This phone was meant to be equipped to take answering machine messages and send them to my e-mail. I spent the next few hours essentially setting up the business from scratch. I set up my voicemail system, worked on the website, and set up social media accounts for the business. It was the most fun job I had ever held.
Either that day, or a few days later, I remember being at a McDonald's on a lunch break. There was a song playing on the radio. I remember just thinking to myself about my current situation. And for once that year, everything seemed to be so hopeful. (I was also munching on a McDonald's holiday pie at that moment.) For the next forty months or so, I remember feeling a "high" in the background. Granted, there were still many ups and downs along the way. But there was a general "high" feeling for those months. I remember attempting to write my now-codified Method during these months as well. During those months, I reached new financial milestones. As for that job, it ended fewer than six months later. But it left me with a positive experience. I now know what I like to do. I like to create. Create processes and procedures. I learned what I like to do.
Last night, while tutoring, I remember wondering to myself why students seem to like me. It is because I love the subjects I tutor. I genuinely enjoy them. Enjoying them makes me want to learn more about them. This breeds confidence. That confidence is given to students. When I was working at the tax preparation firm, I knew next-to-nothing about accounting and finance. When [the few] clients came to use my services, I did not have much confidence. This led to many screwups and mistakes. I had bad marketing skills and did not know how to properly write a blog. I learned what I did not like to do.
All of that began on this day, nine years ago. It was the beginning of the best years of my thirties.
Student Loan Payment Pause: expires in 210 days.
The year 2022 ends in: in 29 days
Exercise: same as yesterday with some added.
Covid-19 Pandemic: I predict it subsides becomes endemic to the United States in 71 days.
Tutoring: no sessions today.
1.) I am thankful for my own health, overall well-being, and to have been protected from Covid-19.
2.) I am thankful to understand my life, career, and current situation. I am also thankful for having hope for the future.
3.) I am thankful for having two jobs and for conducting an organized job search.
4.) I am thankful for having passed the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Examination.
5.) I am thankful for the President's decision to forgive student loans, give an additional six months to repay it, and for being personally approved for it by the Department of Education.
6.) I am just... thankful.
Happy Friday,
Jack