Counter Cyclical

[robby]

We're all hearing about a recession, and bad economic times, but things have continued to be really busy here at work, orders are streaming in when I was secretly hoping for a little respite. I'm going to try to work smarter and not harder, so I don't burn out. The plan: finish here by 4:30 and relax. Tomorrow night we work late. I might go home and cook and later try to install my wireless modem.

Comments

[fuzzilla.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when people talk about unemployment and cutting back 'cuz times are hard I'm like "I've actually made more money during the current presidency than I ever have." I know there's no direct correlation, it's just 'cuz I made a point to study something where there were more jobs than qualified people. Well, if the economy does suck, guess I better think long and hard before chuckin' my boring job.

[robby.livejournal.com]

Lateley, we sell mostly refurbished Sun Microsystems hardware, and it seems that companies are now choosing to replace failed equipment rather than buying new. We'reoverwhelmed with orders, but I'm really good at finding large lots of arcane stuff that's still in demand. I'm stripping cool technology from Silicon Valley and selling it elsewhere.

[fuzzilla.livejournal.com]

So your success is partly emblematic of a bad economy? Or you sell new stuff, also?

[robby.livejournal.com]

The economy grew seven out of eight years on the Bush presidency, exactly the same as the Clinton presidency. A lot of what we hear in the media are self-serving half truths.

[robby.livejournal.com]

Well I've been doing this for over 11 years, through thick and thin, but lately demand had become more intense. No, I don't sell new anymore because it's too competitive and the margin is low. I can often resell equipment for 5 or 6 times what I paid for it.

[69-tears.livejournal.com]

I hear ya ... with my new freelance gig I'll be almost making as much as I did in the mid-90s :)

Good for you Robby, keep busy, you know ...

[robby.livejournal.com]

One thing I admire about you is your willingness to deal with things. If your job isn't very satisfying, instead of complaining and getting depressed and emo, you go out and get a better job. I really believe that we always have opportunities to make our lives better, but so many people are blind to these possibilities and are stuck in a self defeating rut.

[69-tears.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks, but don't be too impressed. It took me a long time to work up the nerve to leave the newspaper job. The perks kept me there a lot longer than I should have been.

But hooray for you, having your own business! And I agree about always having opportunities -- not just in work, but all levels (health, friendships, relationships, etc.)

[robby.livejournal.com]

Keep one foot in publishing. (NJ Health And Fitness Magazine?) I wouldn't be surpised if you ultimately got back into that again full time.

[69-tears.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the vote of confidence :)

Also, eight years ago, when I was jobless, I think you were the one who told me that if you had something great going on once, it was going to happen again because people who figured out how to tap into it the first time around could make it happen again -- and how right you were!

I keep those words of wisdom dear to my heart.

[fuzzilla.livejournal.com]

Hey, that is good advice. ;o) Sorta like, if you think you've "lost it," that's probably just insecurity talking.

[69-tears.livejournal.com]

Right on :)