More to life than this

Discussion Open Forum
1

I’ve fallen into a bit of a rut in the last few months, and need to be more pro-active in managing my situation.

I have a decent income without working too hard, which leaves me with a couple of days every week and some spare cash to invest. Teaching is fine, as a job, but it’s not enough. Not for me. I need a challenge, something with a bit more direction and room for growth. But I doubt that I’ll succeed on my own.

I’m interested in meeting/talking to anyone interested in the following:

  • setting up a website and doing a bit of promotion to generate private classes - each participant having their own page and specialities to offer.

  • working with organisations that send students to schools overseas.

  • taking over my high-school classes after CNY.

  • two weeks in Seoul over CNY, teaching.

  • investing time/money in any other venture you care to name that is not teaching.

I checked, and the URL taipeimanwhores.com is available but I’d like to explore more options before going that route. :sunglasses:

2

Where in Taipei are your high school classes and how many hours a week are available? And what do you teach? Conversation, writing, reading, grammar?

3

Yang Ming Shan, quite handy for Muzha! 13 hrs but more available. Writing, conversation, grammar, camping & outdoorsy stuff. Classes 16-20 kids.

4

Feeling you there Strag. I have been off prozac for a week now and my balls are like watermelons I’m tellin ya.

And then there is all that fine hash in Nepal. Ever think of import/export?

This buddhism thing is all well and good but it’s not big on kicks.

Anyway the website idea sounds good but isn’t somebody already trying that?

5

[quote=“stragbasher”]Yang Ming Shan, quite handy for Muzha! [quote]

Oh well, thanks anyway. :rainbow:

6

“Is this it? Is this what it’s all about, Manny? Eating, Drinking, Fucking, Sucking, [Come on, man] Snorting? Then what? Tell me, then what? You’re fifty. You gotta bag for a belly. You got tits, you need a bra; they got hair on ‘em. You got a liver, it’s got spots on it, and your eatin’ dis fucking shit; and you’re looking like these rich fucking mummies in here. [Come on, it’s not so bad; it could be worse, ya’know?] Is this what it’s all about? [Fo’get it] Is this what I work for? Look at that, a junkie. I gotta fucking junkie for a wife. Don’t eat nothin’, sleeps all day wit dem black chades on. Wakes up with a qualude. [Dont pick on her, man] And who won’t fuck me, [come on…] cuz she’s in a coma. I can’t even have a kid wit’er, Manny. Her womb is so polluted, I can’t even have a fucking little baby wit’er!” [Now that’s not nice…] / “You son of a bitch! You fuck!”

7

Will someone please delete/flounder that idiotic post from Mod Lang?

This is a serious question, Mr Shit-for-brains, and your immature input is not helpful at all.

8

bob, I hate being called ‘strag’. Please call me Loretta.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I’m looking for solutions that involve taking action, not drugs.

9

Not a big fan of Scarface, I take it.

10

O.K. loretta I can see you are in no mood for silliness today. Still I can’t see why you had to be so mean to mod. I thought his post was pretty funny…

Anyway. It seems like you are a bit conflicted there as well because at one point you say that you want to do something besides teach and the next minute you are talking about going to Korea to do just that. Maybe you are not as tired of teaching as you think you are and in fact just need another angle of attack on the situation. Maybe you want something physical to “do.” Maybe you want a chance to get paid for practicing your Chinese. Maybe you want more freedom, drama, music, fun and creativity in your teaching life. Maybe I am talking out my ass. Anyway I have developed a system recently that allows for all of that and more. All I need is more space and more students.

I guess this is my way of saying that a web page, flyers and free introductory lessons is probably the way to finally break away from the administrators and their rules.

11

I think Loretta needs to go to KTV.

12

I don’t think there is anything more to life than this, That’s your lot, mate.

13

Loretta is not a KTV person, but thanks anyway.

The point is not that I have a gripe with any of the work I do, except that I could very easily be still doing the same thing in another ten years. And by then I’ll have less energy and enthusiasm so I won’t be able to make as much for doing it. I’m not tired of teaching now, but one day I will be tired, washed-up, and poor - if I don’t do something else.

I’m doing fine right now, and want to invest my time and energy into doing something else that will keep me happy, motivated, and well-rewarded in future. I’m looking for options, not stupid quotes from stupid movies (or whatever) or people telling me to do drugs. Solutions and positive action are far better than switching your brain off.

So let me say it again in simple words for the hard-of-thinking: I am happy. I make enough money. I have spare money. I have spare time. Where do I invest my spare time and money? Who else feels the same way and wants to do better than they are doing? Can we help each other?

Possibilities, for myself and others, abound. I want to explore them, not deal with juvenile interjections from the likes of ML.

Is that clear now? It seems to have been clear to the people who PMd me about this already. I hope that people can use this website to make change in their lives, not just as a distraction from the mundane realities in which they appear to live.

BFM, you are more wrong than you can possibly imagine. Where are the dancing girls, fast boats, wild men of rock, giant octopi, moonlit frolics? How can this be my life if there’s no baby-oil, no big tasty contract dangling in front of me, no big exciting adventure to chase, no movement, no growth, no champagne in my fridge, no disaster to avert, no wreckage to salvage a victory out of, no great disppointment and no great joy? My lot so far has been fabulously rewarding in experiential terms, which has enabled me to do pretty well here, but I’m not going to stop now and spend the rest of my life doing the same old same old. It’s getting boring already.

Sorry, I guess I’m still refusing to accept ordinary life. It’s never been enough for me, and probably never will. I want the life I’m more used to, but this time I’m looking for people to share the ride. Explorers, people who experiment, people who find solutions, thinkers and doers. This is a serious undertaking, not to be embarked upon lightly or without a good supply of Bacardi. Scarface, whoever he is, doesn’t seem to have much to contribute.

Ah, got it! To summarise: I’m not looking for sympathy, or answers. I’m looking for others who actually want to do something instead of talk about their problems. Hence the list of options.

14

Tired of telling the same old stories there Lorretta? Perhaps you should consider joining us here at the “He left right? brain film studio and language school”. This place is filled with self absorbed ego maniacs looking to explore, create, get rich and make their mark in life in a big, bold way. Owing to creative differences and mixed messages participants have each begun work on their own productions. I am just finishing up the script on “Introduction to Bob’s Penis.” Naturally you would have all the freedom you want to work on anything you choose and the day hell freezes over you may even get someone to co-operate with you. I hope this was more helpful.

15

Life is what YOU make of it, Loretta. It’s obvious from your responses to the posts (which you solicited by starting this thread) that what you’re seeking is not a litany of suggestions from Armchair Actionpeople, but a forum in which to air your angst. Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but my take is your aim (conscious or otherwise) is to motivate YOURSELF into taking action.

How can any of us suggest what you should do? You’re feeling unsettled, which is natural enough. Maybe you’re getting on in years, I don’t know, and you want to make your mark while the fire still burns. Again, natural enough - even noble.

Maybe you’re looking around and feeling the years wrapping around you like rings around a tree, and you want something more tangible, less transitory. This place is full of transitory people, many of whose credo is flipping the bird to the rest of the world. You don’t like it. Maybe you see too much of yourself in it. You’re ready to stop screwing around and start getting on with things.

Or maybe what you’re really getting at is you’re wasting too much time posting in these forums, and this thread is a lashing out at yourself and the rest of us. You want to stop blabbering about what you’re going to do and start actually doing it. And, you want us to stop trying to get inside your head, reading too much into your 1s and 0s and pissing you off by bouncing off your bytes in all the wrong ways.

If it were me in your position, I’d call a friend or two and talk about your situation. Better that than solicit (possibly unwanted) feedback from a group of virtual strangers, whose pathetic 2D responses to your posts are a far cry from what you really want to hear (and do).

That’s just my take. I don’t know you from Adam, but I hope you’ll take my comments as constructive (which was their intention).

16

I think that at some point most ESL teachers start getting the urge to engage in life in a more practical, enterprising way. It is a fantastic instinct but given market conditions and the skills that we actually possess it “might” be more realistic and productive to look for ways to do that within the profession. On some level loretta must comprehend that because of the five options he listed at least two involved teaching and two others were related to ESL in other ways. When I took the trouble to point that out I was rewarded by him implying that I was “hard of thinking.” Hardly the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

17

Gubo, I don’t know you from Adam either but I’ll buy you a drink next time I meet you.

Bob, your last post made a lot more sense than the previous ones. Hold on, don’t let it slip away.

So what do I want? Well, I started teaching just for the hell of it. It was an experience. It turned out to be something I’m not bad at, and I enjoy it, but there’s no future in it. Right now I have a comfortable life, little stress, plenty of spare time, and a budget surplus. But I’m a naturally dis-satisfied person and am not content to just keep on doing this until I die - or until the next earthquake or invasion wipes it all out.

I’ve read all the motivational books I need to read. I have all kinds of weird and wonderful skills/experiences. I even - finally - have a bit of cash, so it’s time to get on with doing something that will make good use of the resources I have. Or I could just teach an extra ten hours a week and put the money into some investment fund somewhere. Nah!

I posted in this forum, instead of Business and Money (where Mod Lang would have been moderated out of existence!) because I wanted the maximum number of people to see it. Why? Not because I need bollocks jokes about my future from the man with no brain. I want people to see this because I know that I’m not alone in having these feelings. There are people out there with energy, ideas, opportunities, money, needs to fill, deals on the table, problems, solutions, friends, you name it. By reaching the largest possible audience I hope to create options.

Result? Four PMs in 24 hrs from smart people with something to contribute. Propositions to get involved with projects. Suggestions for future courses of action with the support of others.

There will be more.

I may find myself recruiting 40+ teachers for a camp in Korea.

I am already working with another organisation to build up my slush fund against the day I leave.

I hope that I will soon be co-operating with other teachers to maximise the profits from our efforts by doing our own marketing and admin. Not because we hate the people who do that now (I don’t have the problems you allude to, bob), but because we simply want more money.

I have other ideas that I am currently exploring with people who don’t frequent this site, that can’t be discussed in public.

I may be so busy in future that I have to give up my day job, and just keep the p/t one that maintains my ARC.

I have always thought like this. I’m not suddenly unhappy with my lot. I have been focused on debt repayment, collecting the basic resources I need (car, computer, etc), making friends, establishing myself so that I am secure in taking care of my basic needs. And now I’m actually able make a move.

Anybody else?

18

Something just popped into my mind as I read your last post. If you haven’t read them yet, you might be interested in picking up one or more books from the Guerilla Marketing series. (Page One should have a selection. ) They’re designed for people in your position - people who are looking for creative (and affordable) methods to market oneself, small enterprise, etc. It’s not all brilliant stuff, but I reckon most people can find at least a kernel of a good idea or two.

BTW, as to what Bob said about your looking to branch out in an ESL-related direction, he’s likely spot on. But then again, isn’t that one of the key rules of success: Do what you know. It’s people who get involved in speculative enterprises they’re not familiar with who tend to lose their shirts. Expanding in the field one’s familiar with is a natural evolutionary path.

19

Thanks Gubo,

As an ex-salesman I am always amazed at how the sales process operates in Taiwan. Most of what I learned there is not applicable here. Different mentalities!

I’m always keen to pick up ideas and tips for developing a new venture, but am a bit skeptical of any western guru telling me how to do things here. That’s part of the reason I’m actively seeking Taiwanese partners too. Are the books you recommend suitable for Taiwan?

20

I know what you mean. I don’t think I’d call this a Guru series, a la 7 Highly Habits or Rich Dad, but it is certainly written for a Western audience. I’ve only read one book from the series (Guerilla Marketing for the Small Business), and whereas a lot of the references were Western, as were many of the associations and organizations mentioned, it had enough general principles to make it worthwhile. Like I said, kernels. I think the point, or at least the immediate potential, of the books is to get one thinking outside the box and to start considering creative and cost-effective ways to market oneself.

As to differences between Western and Taiwan audiences, well, the picture gets increasingly blurred year after year. Some years ago, stores here very rarely led any kind of marketing campaigns outside of the odd catalogue or newspaper advert. Now, we see coupon blitzes, cross-marketing up the gazoo, insane amounts of DM, and all manner of enticements to get people to buy what they may or may not need.

So, whereas I think it’s wise to have at least one local person on your team, I wouldn’t say marketing or doing business here and in the West are necessarily that different. In both places, it all comes down to having the three key ingredients: information, a good product, and a crystal clear target audience. Without these three things, all your efforts will be shots in the dark and likely black holes for your seed capital. (By the way, these are all my personal thoughts, based on experience, not paraphrases from a self-help-get-rich-quick book.)