In the next few weeks I’ll be discussing how you can survive and make good in the economic BS going on now. From what the experts say we will have high unemployment, high oil prices and other desperate methods to make living even more miserable.
Here’s what I’ll talk about: ways you can start a business, how I made and make money, how to live a better life and take responsibility for your life instead of waiting in line for a handout.
I’m no expert. I just know what worked for me and simply want to add some seasoning to the life recipe so it tastes better.
I’m only 54. Life has been pretty tough. I’ve survived life as the oldest of 12, was raised by a rebellious 6′-4″ Dad who in the ’50s had long hair, earrings and tats. It was his way of rebelling against the normals of society. The look and attitude was also his image while he was a pro-wrestler.
My Mom was delivering so many kids she barely had time for the rest of us.
I endured a Dad who was on LSD back in the 60′s due to a head injury. The after shocks stayed with him until he died at 73 in ’05. The last four kids inherited that brain shock and they were and still are screwed up. One of them died in ’87.
When I talk about those younger kids with Mom her reaction is this, “Well, we know what’s wrong with those kids, so what’s the matter with the rest of ya’ll?” Dark humor is just one way we deal with it. Keep me mildly sane.
I quit school at 14 to help provide for the family because Dad was on disability and we needed to eat. The disability check he received from the gov was very tiny for a huge family. When I left home for good at 17 we were getting about 350 bucks each month. try feeding a big family on that “entitlement.”
Although Pop was pretty whacked and never really worked much, he was a great hustler. He did lots of wheeling and dealing which helped out financially some, but most of it went to his car habit. I never saw but one pair of new pants my whole life. Everything else was hand-me-downs and what we found at the dump. Occasionally Mom would gather some loose coin and off to the thrift stores we went.
All this was going on when all the attention was focused on minorities. I was a skinny white kid growing up in the worst parts of Houston with nothing on but an attitude and an artistic talent that won me many friends. I endured plenty of teasing from the people who were the main stories on TV but at the same time they were giving me hell in school becasue I was a poor white guy. But you know what? We would beat the hell out of each other and in the end, we all got along.
Maybe thats what we need to do in this country; let everyone who hates each other slug it out, you know break some noses, see who is the toughest or can stand up and take it. I think that we would have more respect for each other instead of running others off the road or bullting people on the net.. It always worked for everyone in school even if I did get my tail whupped. Sounds like a good scheme to me.
I never finished school but I still made it in life despite surviving mental and physical beatings as a kid, living on the streets My wife and I ahve lost everything more than 3 times. I’ve started and failed at many businesses ( I still have my original) lost big bucks, made big bucks, and still survived and thrived through all the BS.. Through all the tough times in life I never gave up.
Sure there were more times than not I wanted to quit, kill myself, kill everyone else and quietly fade way but when you are married to the greatest woman in the world and your kids are the best, you tend to look at life a bit different than most.
Although I’ve been without a job since Dec ’78, there were many times when I shoulda gotten one. But that ain’t me. When I went full-time sole proprietor, this country was in what was considered the worst recession in history. Remember the late 1970′s? Long gas lines, people without jobs, mid-east problems, riots and other societal issues that nearly turned this country upside down.
Sure I could have quit, got a job and kissed ass. Not me. Somehow I knew in the back of my mind I had to stick with something, make aname for myself, prove to the naysayers i can do it. I did.
If you go to this site www.mikeyspinstriping.com you will see what I’ve done as a profession for over 30 years.
That business is one of the most difficult to succeed in. It is very obscure. It was tough to learn the craft and establish a name but I worked my tail off earning a reputation and people’s trust. That little biz taught me about people, their psychological make-up, their passion, family life and many personal characteristics that most never get privy to.
And the money. Since that first car at $20 for about 3 hours work, I now command anywhere from 150 to 2500 dollars for each vehicle. Most jobs take about an hour. So all the effort has been worth it.
In other posts will go over some of the benefits and disadvantages I’ve picked up on through my years in that business and how they can help you too. Learning about failure, dealing with people and how to overcome all the crap is the ultimate trip one can take in business. But most of all…
What it takes to maintain your sanity.
The blessings were many and the torment was always close behind. The mind takes a horrible beating. And can turn the nicest person into a raving lunatic. Ever hear of a happy artist? That God-given talent I own has made me sort of hard person to deal with. Not so much now but for years I had the “stripes with an attitude” mentality.
Wifey says I’m a complicated person. Sort of an Enigma. That’s true but it is also one of the redeeming qualities about me that keeps me afloat paddling towards the shore.
See, I’m the type who swims out to the “ship” among the sharks instead of waiting for the ship to come in to me. Been that way forever. I suppose all the years of hardships, fighting business setbacks and failures, plus how I grew up made me what I am.
All through my adult life I blamed that upbringing on failures and mental depression and suicidal tendencies. Now I know that those problems with Dad, family, self, were stepping-stones towards what and where I’ve been, what I am and do now and what I will do and be tomorrow.
Hardships and tough times build character. Problem is most people don’t recognize the virtue in the struggles and they go off and do bad things. I’ve been there many times too but once I realized that I was “the problem” I jumped ship and sloshed my way to better shores.
I can honestly say I did it my way. With support from my wife and kids.
Life is tricky. If you wait for others to work out your life nothing will happen. If they do everything for you to pick you up when you cannot do for yourself and it does work, success is mostly temporary. I never did that.
I learned early on that if you want something to happen in life waiting on others will throw you in the burn pile. When I want to do something, own something or just be the bum that I am, I think it out (but not too much) and go!
I’ll be back shortly with some ideas on how you can survive the BS by starting your own biz and possibly make a small fortune in this crappy economy. -Mikey www.carisms.com
Posted by MikeyCee 
