Well, week one of minimizing and getting ready to beat feet is off to a rocky start. Good news we are moving some product with Karrasch Enterprises, performing transfers, and customers are calling! Down side, my website is jacked, and the domain server seems not to be able to get it together. But that too shall pass.
8/26/13
Ooops, fell off there and got distracted.
Anyways, we have started to clear out "stuff" from the house, the pile of "stuff" grows and we find ourselves excited at the prospect. At this point it is much like a game, who can get rid of the most and the momentum is picking up. Christine is gutting her wardrobe and has come out three times this evening with "look at what I am getting rid" piles, just as proud and pleased as can be. I sold my Xbox...a sad moment but I suspect it is the best thing for me. We made $300 yesterday on selling "stuff" we just don't use.
I submitted my resignation from federal service today! What a relief, sad moment, and stress all in one. While it is not the first time in my life I have left a job for the great unknown it is the first time I have left with no intention of entering the classic job market again. Christine said it best "Shit just got real." No doubt. Everything from here forward is because we either made it happen or did not make it happen. There is no trying, no hoping, no maybe. There is only to do...or as Jake might say "To quit does not exist." Not that it ever has, it just seems far more "real" than it has in recent memory...though I am certain there have been similar times in my past that have faded into the darkness.
So what are we doing to prepare to be "Location Independent"? Well, let me tell you what! We reached out to our real estate agent today to establish a timeline for listing, closing, etc based on our ideal sale date (8/31/14) and price. That date is the day we want the final check in our account and all debts regarding the house (and any others) paid to $0! Kim Herrewig is a stellar agent and has been very helpful since day one. Agnes, our friend who is joining us on this adventure, is also working through the woes of renting her place...or maybe even selling it. No small tasks indeed.
I also selected a new e-commerce shopping cart and web host tonight for Karrasch Enterprises, LLC. Christine wants to change the name....and reluctantly I agree. I acknowledged early on that no one can pronounce or spell my last name. But now it seems so far in that I feel like it will be a bit of a hassle, but then again it will be well worth it in the end when we have a cool name like "Google" or "Apple". Yet again her patience and good sense has helped us come through on the right side. When am I going to learn to listen to her?
What is next? Home renovations have to increase in the face of less money while not incurring debt...time to get thrifty and nifty. And I proceed full tilt toward Karrasch Enterprises, LLC DBA (unknown cool name...any suggestions?) becoming a really nice web site and moving all sorts of product because people love what we provide and how we provide it! Dag nub it.
To bed I go. G'night y'all.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
"How did you come to this idea?" well that is a hell of a question. Was it yesterday? Six months ago? Two years ago when I was told I had diabetes? Maybe it started when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago or all those late nights in the ambulance when the seed was planted. Who knows, but if I think real hard I would say the seed began to actually sprout about six months to a year ago...maybe the diabetes diagnoses was the rain that got it moving.
So, when I was diagnosed with diabetes I was eating like crap, drinking like a fish, "socially" smoking a pack at a time, not exercising and fighting with my wife on the regular. Add in a couple other self destructive behaviors and my life was in a steady downward spiral. I mean, I should not of been. I had the great wife, good paying job, nice house, two dogs, all the freedom I could want....and yet I was miserable.
So the diabetes thing came as a blow. I had just seen my dad loose nearly all of his toes to diabetes and I had transported enough diabetics in my paramedic career to know it is a long term unpleasant disease that has some serious late years consequences. Knowing all of this, I didn't change my lifestyle. I continued to eat and drink and smoke and fight. My wife must be a saint, through all of it she tried, tried dearly to help me change. She vehemently disagreed with smoking, changed my diet for me, and encouraged exercise. We still kept drinking and I still resisted the healthy changes.
Fast forward to six months ago, my dad get's told he needs a cardiac bypass. I went to the hospital with him and then to my parents house where I proceeded to get annihilated, made a complete ass of myself and fell asleep. The next morning it occurred to me that I had a serious problem. That day I quit drinking, I quit smoking, and I started to change.
A week later my wife asked if I wanted to run the Marine Corps Marathon, to which I replied "hell no!" That night she asked her father, who answered "yes" and there it was...I was "brow beat" into running a marathon.
That has been an epic change. From that point forward we began exercising 4-7 times a week, revamping our eating habits, living a completely different lifestyle. Heck, just working out together was a major boon for our relationship.
Now change tends to go the way of landslides and fire trucks (thank you Phyrne)...it don't stop. As I spent no time drinking and much time running I had ample opportunity for introspection. I realized that in many instances I was an ass, my priorities we majorly skewed in the wrong direction, and that I was not happy where I was. I have never been one to sit still very long...especially not when I have identified something is wrong.
So I started making small changes. I listened more, then I began to actively listen when people were talking, trying only to think of what they were saying and not what I was going to say. I vowed not to say what I thought should be done or try and solve problems that were being told to me. I began to verbalize when I recognized I was acting in an unacceptable manner. When I got grouchy and wanted to fight I would often recognize after I had started down the path, then I would verbalize what I had done and say I would try harder next time.
After awhile the worst of my habits began disappearing....There is still room for improvement, a daily process of introspection and growth is crucial.
But why is any of this interesting to you aside from it being a story of another person's struggle for self improvement? Because I have recently decided I am going to quit my comfortable and secure government job. I am going to quit in an attempt to pursue those projects and opportunities that interest me. I am quitting so that I can be free to engage those opportunities that arise rather than bemoan the fact that they passed me by. I am quitting to declare my independence from the system!
But again, how is that revelation interesting and pertinent to you? I am certain thousands do this... or at least consider it.
Well, once I decided that quitting my job was ok, facilitated by my wonderful and beautiful supportive wife....it's like the vail was lifted, like anything was possible. The answer to all problems had come to me. The future held endless possibilities.
I began telling people how my wife told me she wanted me to quit my job, and most of my friends encouraged the move! One suggested I read the 4 hour work week...uh oh!
28 pages into it I put it down, screamed eureka! I called Christine and told her I wanted to sell all of our worldly possessions and that I wanted to move into a tent. She concurred. I explained more, telling her that I wanted to live, to see, taste, and feel the world. I wanted to quit living to work and start working to live.
We started this 2 days ago. We are giving away and selling all of our possessions that do not have a specific use or sentimental value. I am quitting my job in the coming weeks, I will focus on selling everything, getting the house ready for sale, and growing lasting streams of income that can be operated from a distance.
We plan to sell the house in August and hit the launch button. One of our friends is on board to do this with us. A high school friend of mine suggested I blog about the experience.
So, here is the blog detailing our revolution! Care to follow along?
So, when I was diagnosed with diabetes I was eating like crap, drinking like a fish, "socially" smoking a pack at a time, not exercising and fighting with my wife on the regular. Add in a couple other self destructive behaviors and my life was in a steady downward spiral. I mean, I should not of been. I had the great wife, good paying job, nice house, two dogs, all the freedom I could want....and yet I was miserable.
So the diabetes thing came as a blow. I had just seen my dad loose nearly all of his toes to diabetes and I had transported enough diabetics in my paramedic career to know it is a long term unpleasant disease that has some serious late years consequences. Knowing all of this, I didn't change my lifestyle. I continued to eat and drink and smoke and fight. My wife must be a saint, through all of it she tried, tried dearly to help me change. She vehemently disagreed with smoking, changed my diet for me, and encouraged exercise. We still kept drinking and I still resisted the healthy changes.
Fast forward to six months ago, my dad get's told he needs a cardiac bypass. I went to the hospital with him and then to my parents house where I proceeded to get annihilated, made a complete ass of myself and fell asleep. The next morning it occurred to me that I had a serious problem. That day I quit drinking, I quit smoking, and I started to change.
A week later my wife asked if I wanted to run the Marine Corps Marathon, to which I replied "hell no!" That night she asked her father, who answered "yes" and there it was...I was "brow beat" into running a marathon.
That has been an epic change. From that point forward we began exercising 4-7 times a week, revamping our eating habits, living a completely different lifestyle. Heck, just working out together was a major boon for our relationship.
Now change tends to go the way of landslides and fire trucks (thank you Phyrne)...it don't stop. As I spent no time drinking and much time running I had ample opportunity for introspection. I realized that in many instances I was an ass, my priorities we majorly skewed in the wrong direction, and that I was not happy where I was. I have never been one to sit still very long...especially not when I have identified something is wrong.
So I started making small changes. I listened more, then I began to actively listen when people were talking, trying only to think of what they were saying and not what I was going to say. I vowed not to say what I thought should be done or try and solve problems that were being told to me. I began to verbalize when I recognized I was acting in an unacceptable manner. When I got grouchy and wanted to fight I would often recognize after I had started down the path, then I would verbalize what I had done and say I would try harder next time.
After awhile the worst of my habits began disappearing....There is still room for improvement, a daily process of introspection and growth is crucial.
But why is any of this interesting to you aside from it being a story of another person's struggle for self improvement? Because I have recently decided I am going to quit my comfortable and secure government job. I am going to quit in an attempt to pursue those projects and opportunities that interest me. I am quitting so that I can be free to engage those opportunities that arise rather than bemoan the fact that they passed me by. I am quitting to declare my independence from the system!
But again, how is that revelation interesting and pertinent to you? I am certain thousands do this... or at least consider it.
Well, once I decided that quitting my job was ok, facilitated by my wonderful and beautiful supportive wife....it's like the vail was lifted, like anything was possible. The answer to all problems had come to me. The future held endless possibilities.
I began telling people how my wife told me she wanted me to quit my job, and most of my friends encouraged the move! One suggested I read the 4 hour work week...uh oh!
28 pages into it I put it down, screamed eureka! I called Christine and told her I wanted to sell all of our worldly possessions and that I wanted to move into a tent. She concurred. I explained more, telling her that I wanted to live, to see, taste, and feel the world. I wanted to quit living to work and start working to live.
We started this 2 days ago. We are giving away and selling all of our possessions that do not have a specific use or sentimental value. I am quitting my job in the coming weeks, I will focus on selling everything, getting the house ready for sale, and growing lasting streams of income that can be operated from a distance.
We plan to sell the house in August and hit the launch button. One of our friends is on board to do this with us. A high school friend of mine suggested I blog about the experience.
So, here is the blog detailing our revolution! Care to follow along?
Friday, August 23, 2013
Business Operations and Government Agencies
This is based entirely on personal experience so please excuse the lack of citation; it is meant to provoke thoughtful discussion.
How can a government agency be expected to function at its greatest efficiency if by decreasing its operating costs it has an end-of-year surplus that must be returned and will next year be taken out of the operating budget? Further if we increase efficiency of operations, as a business should over time, we would decrease our need for full time employees (FTE) there by risking the entire rank structure and life blood of the agency. For example an SES must control X million budget and X FTE to maintain their SES rank; to increase that rank requires they grow their agency or assume a position with another agency. Further, for personnel, there is little reward for outstanding performance or even motivation to perform at the most basic of standards as it is nearly impossible to fire me and often difficult to get a pay raise.
What I am getting at is the system is broken and poor practices are rewarded at almost every step of the way. We, the American Government, are a multi-billion dollar business and it seems there is little that can be done to modify such a large machine to operate more efficiently which results in higher taxes and lower outcomes. How can we leverage better business practices to increase our effectiveness without limiting our long term resources?
I am open to ideas, any thoughts?
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