Yea, I made a post to my people to come to the fediverse. While we have capitalist and communist forums, ultimately the fediverse sits in the anarchist camp.
I like it because I'm suspicious of tankies and hate musk fucks. A nice 3rd option.
I have such great memories of my mom giving me a good honkwhich. I would come home from school and she would feed me like a baby penguin. I felt so safe and secure, frankly I feel bad for the underprivileged youths who don't get to have a honkwich.
Inspector Clueseau figures it out because after he sees your large train collection in your room, he decides you are 3 trains in disguise, but you misheard him.
Also let's be frank, it's a class divide. Boomers had a huge leg up, and then those who amassed great wealth are the ones we see in power making decisions that close doors to the younger generations.
But back to my point, of course those who have had 60+ years to amass and invest wealth are going to be richer, especially when they had something to invest at the start.
I think when we consider that Gen Z men are running to the right, we should rethink boomers as a scapegoat. It's not the boomers. It's the rich and the Andrew Tates of the world who are in the boxing ring.
Like I could probably take down a random boomer, but a billionaire could hire Mike Tyson and I'd be fucked in the ring.
I'm trying to take a cue from Trevor Noah (I didn't like his time on the daily show but I still think he has some good takes):
Read the news only a few times a week. That's enough to be informed. We created a 24 hours news cycle that makes us more anxious, angry, and scared than we need to be. Live your life, focus on those around you, stop yelling at people on the internet who have made up their mind.
It seems like a good balance of self care and being informed. You have to set boundaries.
Not in Science but this is true in entertainment. Not the best musician, not the best actor, not the best comedian, but being pretty good at all three makes me a sought out music director.
I was a band kid in school, so I do have a lot of mileage there, but I played horns and learned guitar on the side.
The thing with music directing is you need to be proficient in piano. I'm not a pianist, but when my friend invited me to shadow him at a show just a year and a half ago, I told him "I can read a keyboard but I don't really play piano". He said "neither did I".
It's amazing how fast you can learn an instrument when you are paid to do so. I can now play most any jazz standard and through teaching small children the basics, I'm able to sorta sight read melodies.
Oooof working for a friend can be tough. You think you're going to have a boss who's your friend but then your friend becomes your boss. If you need to leave that situation, remember to frame it as "I love our friendship and I don't want this to hurt it".
As far as ball size, I guess I think I've been stupid so many times I Jacques Clueseau'd my way to where I am, but also I have a personality that tends to downplay risk.
Here's a story on that:
I worked in Seattle for a start up in "chemical distribution". It sucked. Everyone was jaded. There was no culture. I was selling something I didn't know, but the military seemed to want a lot of it. I was there for 2 months, 26 days, and 4 hours.
On my way out, one of the charismatic smiley hot shot salesmen invited me for a farewell drink, just me and him. When we sat down, his demeanor completely changed. He slumped and stared into his glass and said "I don't have the balls to do what you do. I wanted to be a brewer, but the market is too risky. I'm afraid if never make it so I do this instead. Maybe when I'm old I could make it happen..."
I thought "damn. I don't have the balls to do what you do". I mean, putting your life on hold for ~35 years!? I can die so many different ways in that time. Then I get a small window to finally live, but for how long? If you ask me, that's a MUCH bigger risk. Like be smart, but don't throw away your passions.
Personally I decided I don't want to retire. I want to build a life where if I knew I'd die tomorrow I'd do nothing different about my routine.
I'm a musician in Chicago, so I have the benefit of a vibrant industry with relatively low cost of living (compared to LA or NYC). My revenue is essentially 3 streams - education, gigs, and composition/ director work.
I have several private students and after school group lessons that make up 45% of my income. Gigs with my band and as a "hired gun" make up 25%, and working with theaters and film producers makes up 30%, and that sector is growing fast.
Since I have experience as an improv comedian and know my way around a keyboard, I've been able to get booked for improv shows to underscore the cast with either the right vibe for the scene or some sound effects that hit with good timing. Those pay anywhere between $50-$200 for an hour set. Those are the most fun too.
Side note: my degree was in political science, and I had a decade in marketing and sales roles. I just loved learning new instruments, writing music, and watching music theory YouTube videos. I'm not the best musician, but among musicians I'm the best comedian, and among comedians I'm the best musician.
I am seeing my family for 2 and a half weeks, went on a few vacations to Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Milwaukee, and Nashville this year, and I work <30 hrs a week.
I'm just a fucking musician.
Just gonna say it, the "stability" of full time employment is a lie. I learned that "fuck you" money isn't a lot of money, it's a lot of revenue streams. When money is freedom, letting one person control your money is letting one person control your freedom.
I've never made more money in my life, and even though I need to do my own taxes, contribute to my own Roth IRA, and have my own insurance, the freedom is so worth it.
Follow your skills and follow your passions- you can burn the midnight oil and do the things others won't. Find a schedule or a method that works for you, and you will never have to send in a PTO request to "HR" ever again.
Employers only lie to you and underpay you. You do have skills. They are underutilized and undervalued. Employers will try to convince you that those aren't your way out. They are.
Fun fact, putting people in boxes is a horrible way to treat people, is dehumanizing, and doesn't get an accurate look at individuals and their motives.
Fun fact, putting people in boxes is what companies and governments do in order to organize their marketing efforts to try and sell to specific demographics or to get elected.
Yea, I made a post to my people to come to the fediverse. While we have capitalist and communist forums, ultimately the fediverse sits in the anarchist camp.
I like it because I'm suspicious of tankies and hate musk fucks. A nice 3rd option.