“People say I’m crazy doing what I’m doing, well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin. When I say that I’m okay they look at me kind of strange, surely you’re not happy now you no longer play the game. People say I’m lazy dreaming my life away, well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me. When I tell that I’m doing fine watching shadows on the wall, don’t you miss the big time boy you’re no longer on the ball? I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch them roll. No longer riding on the merry-go-round, I just had to let it go.” As we all know, this was one of John Lennon’s last songs, and the last single on the last album that he would ever record. It was basically about his so-called “house-husband” years, when he took a break from the stage and recording between 1975 till 1980, to help raise his son. And the older I get now, the more I can appreciate what he was going thru then. Much like everyone else, in my much younger days I never really thought too much on what my life would be like as I got nearer and nearer to my sixties with each passing day. Of course the dreamier side of me (the one with much loftier goals than I would eventually achieve) I’m sure had me already retired, constantly on the road traveling, happily married, with not a worry one about money. Damn I miss that younger me, what a naive fool he was. However, even though I’m not independently wealthy at this point in my life, I don’t worry over things that I can not control (I learned that the hard way). And you know, in many ways that stress-free view on life is actually even better somewhat than having all the money you need or want. Easy now, I did say “somewhat“.
I would be the first one to admit (well, other than everyone that I work with, or friends with, or related to, or just know me by my reputation) that yea, maybe I’m not that hard of a worker anymore, if I ever was really? Just not a huge fan of it, maybe that’s why I’ve always had a career in sales? In fact, the only time I’ve ever actually had to punch a clock was my first job inserting statewide newspapers overnights when I was still in my teens. I’ve now been in advertising sales now for almost a quarter of a century (since the fall of 1997), and truthfully while I do still love it, I’m much more jaded about it all than I once used to be. It just doesn’t give me the same thrills and excitement as when I was just starting out. But I love the fact that I’m still depended on to help people, in this case the “people” being my clients. Most of whom who are just locally owned businesses still trying to thrive against the corporate giants and national franchises, aka “the man“. However though, I no longer knock on doors or call on people that aren’t already expecting me (much to my boss’s chagrin), but honestly I just don’t have the drive to do that anymore. Actually haven’t for quite a while now, and by “quite a while“, I mean of course close to 10 years or so? If there is any hunger still left in me, it’s the copywriting part of my job. I love being creative, and for some reason I’m good at it. Or least that’s what everyone says, and humbly speaking I do have 13 awards with my name on it that backs that opinion up. And all joking aside, I don’t have to go anywhere or knock on any doors to do that specific part of my job. So maybe I am lazy, but ya know in a good sort of way.
And what if this career of mine all came crashing down today, still over 8 years before my full retirement benefits do finally kick in? Well obviously I couldn’t go back into another radio job, it’s all become much too corporate and too competitive now. Listeners have so many more options with satellite radio, MP3s, iPods, Spotify, Pandora, playlists on their phones, etc., etc. Maybe I would just pull out all of my 401k, along with what I already have invested in stock, and finally realize that dream that the younger me once had?, and be constantly on the road traveling, happily married, with not a worry one about money. Of course the only thing wrong with that is I’m not married right at this very moment, and I would start worrying about money (because I know it would eventually run out well before I was eligible to receive any monthly social security check). So the only options would be getting a job as a copywriter, working for an advertising agency, or there’s even always that back-up plan for anyone in any type of sales career – selling cars? But until then, I’ll just sit here and watch the wheels go round and round, because I really love to watch them roll. And keep being lazy while dreaming my life away. Hell I’ve been doing it for awhile now, so why stop?”