True Wealth

You know that Tom Waits song, “I Can’t Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)”?

Classic Waitsian melody about a guy dreaming of his girl while he sweeps up a restaurant. I’ll resist a gratuitous pasting of all the lyrics, but there’s a line that kills me every time…

*I can’t wait to get off work
And see my baby
She’ll be waiting up with a magazine for me*

There’s something about watching a girl read that makes me instantly fall in love.

Doesn’t matter to me if she’s reading Steinbeck or the Sunday paper, so long as she’s deeply engaged in it.

It’s the way her body shifts to cozy up and accommodate the act… (this is enhanced greatly by any cold weather clothing – turtle-neck sweaters, thick socks, blue jeans) It’s the way her lip curls, or her eyebrow raises when the story takes an unexpected turn.

A vision of intimate beauty more alluring than any swimsuit could ever hope to achieve. Or is it just me?

John Carlton replies:

Nope. Not just you.

You may have hit at the unsaid central point of my rant — the issue of intimacy. It’s got nothing to do with porn-quality sex… more urgently, for the care and feeding of our souls, it’s the shuddering awareness of those small, fragile moments of being so alive it aches.

You can miss those moments when you’re distracted by future-thinking, or the TVs on too loud.

Thanks for the post, Kevin.

JC

John, you’ve hit the nail on the head – again! Family, Great Friends, & a great book – who could ask for more, well, after the bills are paid that is. :-))

Money to me, is a ‘socially acceptable’ method of energy exchange. We expend energy when assisting someone & therefore receive energy back in a different form – money. No need to get greedy – there’s plenty for all.

Money won’t keep you happy, healthy or warm at night – but Love will help a whole lot!

In Light,
Deb

John Carlton replies:

You’re right. “Love” should be capitalized.

I’m having a sixties flashback here… and, if you were there, you know that’s a good thing…

JC

Hi John,

Why did you delete my trackback? I was talking about similar things in my post.

–Greg

John Carlton replies:

Hi Greg. I have a staff member regularly comb comments looking for evil nasty trackbacks and other parasite stuff. I didn’t see your post, and it’s gone now. If you do use a trackback, make sure you “look” human in your post — you’d be astonished at how sophisticated some of these spam-type robots are getting…

You were probably deleted by accident.

JC

John,

Your post is spot on. Nothing annoys me more when you go over and spend some time with an acquaintance and all they want to talk about is work.

I have a motto – NO SHOP TALK ON PRIVATE TIME! If an opportunity opens up to discuss some business in a personal setting I will get the contact info and talk to them when “I am in business mode.”

People have lost the art of conversation and connection. Ipods, Iphones, IM’s, Instant Oatmeal, and iGoogle make 30 seconds seem like an eternity. I find people fascinating and want to know their story. And getting to know their story takes time.

However, people just don’t have the patience to sit and watch miracles develop in front of them. They want to drive on without looking at the beauty of others, their surroundings, and a well prepared meal.

Some things money can’t buy and I don’t need mastercard to tell me that.

Savor the moment it is all you have right now.

Money is a means to an end – but I like the end 🙂

And I’m having fun making money (no gruesome job that wears my down).

So to me, it’s about putting another zero in, and these days everywhere I go I carry salesletters around. I study them on trains, busses, waiting in line… and yep – call me a freak: I even read salesletters on the toilet.

When I’m with good people, I’m WITH them and enjoy it. I talk a lot about copywriting and marketing, because I have fun doing so, and because many of them have no clue about this stuff and many find it pretty interesting.

But in the end: it’s all about the time you spend with the people you love and like. And money can buy you a lot of time (and a lot of plane tickets to meet friends in other places).

But no, I’d not start collecting yachts, even though my greed-glands are intact and fully functioning.

John,

It’s funny but I come at this from the other side of the story.

Very few of my choices in life have been based on money. I’ve worked with developmentally disabled kids, taught, did a little construction, and worked in sales. They all were jobs that had interest in the moment.

I’m also finishing up my Masters degree in Counseling Psychology (just passed my comp exam…yeah!). I’ll tell you right now, it looks like a pay cut for sure if I take a job in the field after graduating.

My wife and I spent three months driving around the country in ’97, camping and backpacking and exploring (15,000 miles by the time we were done).

We have great friends and lives and enjoy much.

But…

I would like to have some FYM. Would like to be less concerned with the budget every month. Would love cash to increase travel, increase experience…actually, a higher return on investment. Not more work (since I currently work full time and spend 20 hours a week in my school internship) but get more for my work.

And that’s why I’m paying attention to business people, marketers and copywriters. Hoping they can provide a little assistance down that road.

Wow.

This post literally made my day.

What a refreshing antidote to the greed and chest-thumping that is
so prevalent in the marketing world.

Thanks, John.

John,

Great post. Agrees with my basic philosophy…

If there is an afterlife, the only things we’ll bring with us are our experiences, our relationships, and our knowledge. I want to have plenty of each, the toys are less important.

Rob

Hey John..great post…and it
s funny how you mention Georgle Clinton and Sly…I pretty much listen to their songs everyweek 🙂 (Gotta love the funk)

…So reading your post man….it did hit home…and it made me think about my current job (IT in the Navy aka Computer Dude for those wondering) I’ve been for 11yrs and well my ride is halfway over but yanno what…my family doesn’t want to move to SanDiego… so I’m pretty much forced to to choose between my Job and my family.

They say that you have to take risks in order to be successful and I think me getting out the military well this is what I know..and it’ hard to find a job paying what I make with no degree (came in straight after H.S)….but again I think yanno what…I rather have a lower paying job just to enjoy spending time with my 2 boys (they play football -age 7,10)

So I think im going to have to take that ol’ leap into the unknown (oww yeah they won’t let me just walk outta here – lol)and start that second life. Family is ay more important than money to me…and working a J.O.B sucks but I will keep at it until I’m able to work from home.

I know I jumped a little but of everywhere but just wanted to share..remember sharing is caring. My name is Desmond and I will quit my job someday .

Desmond

John Carlton replies:

Hey, Desmond — good luck to you, however this plays out.

Sometimes, we all wish life came with a better “how to” manual — or at least a freakin’ reset button (for when we choose wrong) — but there’s no getting around the fact we’re gonna constantly face tough decisions that have no clear answer or direction.

Thanks for posting.

JC

John,

Yours is a refreshing post. It’s the kind that causes a person to reflect and consider the things they hold most important.

This morning, I was reading a book about building a stronger relationship with my wife. The author reminded me of the Golden rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

He then challenged me to keep focused on the question, “How would I like to be married to me?” Use it as a yardstick to by which I measure my attitude, behavior and servanthood. This struck me to the core.

As I pondered it, I realized this applies to all areas of my life. How would I like me as a dad? How would I like me as a friend? and on and on. The affect is sobering. And following this Golden rule serves people in my life well but it is because it changes me and keeps me on track.

For me, your article speaks to the same thing. Make sure you keep the truly important things important.

All the best,

Mark

Great thread. Agree re fym is important, gives one mental peace of mind to know you don’t “have” to work/scramble for a few years. Key measure is how many years could you not work, and still be able to just live off what’s in your bank account? My goal is always to extend this from the years I have now, to many more years… and then to be able to give a lot charitably as a secondary goal, to decent causes.

btw Mark – that’s a great quote re “would I like to be married to me?” I’d run away hollering like my first 2 wives did lol. At least wife #3 is more understanding, 11 years and counting. That’s a good thought-starter. I’ll keep that one in mind, my wife thanks you :p

-k

John,

Thanks for this post. It’s good to be reminded of the important, non-business stuff.

Last week, my father’s good friend came up to visit. It was his turn to pay a visit (they take turns going back and forth every year or so).

My dad always tells me stories of the pranks and stuff they did while growing up. And I’m always reminded of how great it is to have a friend like that when I see them together. It’s almost like they are back in 10th Grade as I watch them laugh and be smart-asses to each other. I enjoy listening to those sessions.

Two nights ago, my father got a call from this friend’s son. My dad’s friend had a massive heart attack and died. Last week we were all joking around my parents’ kitchen table – and now, just like that, he’s gone forever. We will never again sit across from each other at the table and laugh.

Enjoy all the laughs with the ones you love. They are worth more than any amount of money.

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.