Fate? Wither Free Will?

1986 (or there about), my dad, "salesman" gets in his company car, drives to the airport, catches a plane to go see a customer in Mississagua.

2006 (spot on), I "sales engineer" get in my company car, drive to the airport, catch a plane to go see a customer in Mississagua.

Fantastic, I've become my old man. Despite my best efforts.

One of the best talks I've had with my Dad was about this very thing. About a month ago, Dad was listening to NPR and they were talking about how you measure success today vs. the last generation. In my Dads day, you made a lot of money, you were a success. Today, it tends to be more about quality time with the family.

Certainly my Dad achieved great sales success, but I am home more (by choice).

Just different priorities. Dad surprised me when answering my question about him being a born salesman. Says he really never felt like it was a calling, just something he did. Parents are so much more interesting when you talk to them, rather than around them...

Comments

todays survey

Since you all have done so well with the past two surveys I've taken ( another shirt slogan for Dad and do you get full eating salad or just bored ), here is another: If you eat, say, a bag full of fortune cookies - and I am not saying I have - do they all come true or just a first/last rule? Do they all negate if you eat more than one? Anyone? Bueller?

And now we are One!!!!

Who would have thought: you would keep reading after day 3? I would keep writing after day 2? (see http://robertwmason.blogspot.com/ for reference) that you would get anything out of this? that I would get anything out of this? that I would make 250 posts into this thing..? And "get" I did. Last month, I signed my first contract for a writing position (in my free time) with a Rhode Island magazine. I used many excerpts from my blog as samples and they dug it, enough to want to pay me. I am very excited about that. A big thank you to all of you that keep reading that misadventures of my family, friends and I. The journey thus far has been fun and giving you a bird-eye view into our lives is weirdly fun. At first it was like walking around naked, now I am a full fledged nudist; so to speak. In looking back over the first year, I live like a king. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of reflection to see how good you've got it. Usually this hits me on business trips and ...

How I'll probably die

My new thing has gotten me running, yes running, the past week without complaint and without watching the clock. Unfortunately, the high-risk fringe sport will probably have Ian find me at the end of the treadmill runway, twisted, with a guitar slung from my neck. What is it you ask? Some kind of Mariachi Marathon? Close. Running while playing Guitar Hero is the greatest thing since running with my buddy Jeff. Come to think of it, that really was just running with someone calling you, "fatty" the whole time, but I digress. Running while jamming on guitar trying desperately to keep up with great hits like "American Women" and the surprisingly fitting, "Band on the run". See what I did there? Anyhow, it is freaking amazing. No longer are my eyes glued to the maddening clock. No longer am looking at data (which I seem to hate when it is counting my exercise), I am playing a game. I am a Rock God when I run. Now, I know what you are thinking. Being a...

Thoughts from the Big Melon

Search This Blog