This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Network to Success ( #AtoZ )



If you plan to build a skyscraper, don't count on doing it all yourself.  A big job calls for a lot of expertise, muscle, and, of course, money...


#AtoZChallenge 2019 Tenth Anniversary blogging from A to Z challenge letter


Networking Conversation Starters
Starting the conversation.


   
        Throughout my A to Z series This Is Me, I've been at times alluding to something that has been occupying my time and thoughts of late.  Maybe this hasn't been clear, but that doesn't matter that much either. For the most part I've been thinking out loud on generalized topics.  However I'll simply state that right now I'm still in a dreaming stage at a point where the dreams are turning into plans.

         There's nothing I want to say specifically about what all of this means except that I'm going to need to reach out to connect with other people who might be thinking on a similar wavelength as I am currently on.  This is L.A.--I can probably find plenty of like-minded individuals here.

         What this means is that I'm going to have to do a lot of networking in order to make connections.  As usual I'm a big dreamer, but you can't fulfill a dream until you've dreamed it.  I know I can't achieve my biggest dreams on my own.  Now is the time to start building a network that will help me do what I need to get done.

          Maybe nothing will happen.  Or maybe it will.  I'm retired and I'm not doing anything else right now.  Why not dream?

           ******If you haven't voted on my recent Battle of the Bands I'd appreciate it if you'd click on the link and tell us your favorite performance ******


          Do you think when people retire that they should just essentially, uh, retire?    Have you ever come up with what seemed like a great idea but you were cautious about revealing it to others?   To any degree, have you accomplished fulfilling a dream despite pushback from many quarters?







25 comments:

  1. This is my dream to be retired! But I can't complain, I lived my dream for 18 years without working too often, and traveling a lot on a sailboat. Now I have to do what regular people do, working everyday ;)
    N = Notions, et Notre-Dame...

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    1. Frederique, I'm wanting to go back to work, but work on my terms in a certain sense.

      Lee

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  2. Lee,

    There's nothing wrong with being a daydreaming and you're right you gotta network to pursue your dreams. I think you need to take a leap of faith to give your dreams a shot. It's better to do it and find out one way or another instead of one day having regrets for not having done it at all. I wish for you the best of luck, my friend. I love how you keep the A to Z Challenge going each year and I'm happy that I found it but more importantly, I cherish the friends we've forged. Who knew I'd find a one time East Tennessee resident living in LA? Maybe one day, you'll get to return to the area to live again. Happy a2zing, my friend!

    A2Z Little Mermaid art sketch NEPTUNE

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    1. Cathy, hope I can stay motivated. But then again, I hope I stay healthy and able to take care of myself. You just never can tell what will happen in life.

      Lee

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  3. I am 72. I'm a "retired" homemaker and I work on research and writing all day long, working on my family history. I've always had plenty to keep me busy all my life. I don't usually share my thoughts or dreams until I've come up with a plan. Perhaps I should. Others might be able to help with the plan.

    Good luck with your dream.

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    1. Kristin, I kind of agree about not sharing plans until you're ready and with the right person. But once you've gotten it solidified in your thinking and found the right person then you've got to start confiding. We're never too old, right?!

      Lee

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  4. Thanks for passing by my blog Mr B. I have to say I love being retired although strangely I am busier now than when I was working. I guess I can do what I want to do and find I dont get sidetracked by having to stop and head off to work, it was very annoying. Well as you know I'm working my way through the A to Z of Plans (sort of) so I hope your own plan works out OK. As for the networking I am rubbish at that I am at my best working alone, but I guess it has its limitations particularly as I'm an old grumpy chap who mutters at inanimate objects a lot when they dont do what I want.

    Enjoy the rest of the A to Z. . . It was a great idea of yours.

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    1. Rob, once again I've become mid-April sluggish, trying to make blog rounds but not doing so well. I guess what one needs to do will dictate how many it would take to do it. I like being alone but not much of a loner when it comes to work.

      Lee

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  5. Always follow your dream. Unless your dream is to start World War III or to change your last name to Kardashian

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    1. PTM, don't want any bad dreams. Weird dreams are okay so long as no one gets hurt.

      Lee

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  6. Retire: I knew a retiree who didn't want to just sit around the house, and so he got a part time job as a guard where I was. We couldn't keep people- we had at one point 4 people covering a 24/7/365- and he had to quit early due to OT complications that would have killed his ssi. So he went on home, and two weeks later the inactivity gave him a massive heart attack...

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    1. CW, I do need to get out and walk more. I do walk around the house a good bit.

      Lee

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  7. YEAY, you! I remember a fleeting passion; unfortunately, I was both too cautious and susceptible to push-back. Today? At last I'm retired, but find myself dog-paddling … neither bored or driven. Something's gotta give!

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    1. Myra, in the past I've had minor successes and a few failures that were big enough to hurt. But maybe that's what life is about: Just do it right or do it again.

      Lee

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  8. With my artwork, I've found that when I start a new project it's usually better for me to remain mute about it until I've given it time to become viable. If I talk about it in the early stages, I often won't actually create anything.

    ps -- I didn't know you're in Pico Rivera! Do you recognize my A-Z Trucks onramp? NB 105 x 605!

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    1. Anne, been in PR since 1997 and have grown to like it here. I'm not sure about the onramp image. Is it on the quilt?

      Lee

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  9. To answer your questions, it's no, yes, yes.

    I want to keep working as much as I can after retirement age

    https://seal-of-melchizedek.blogspot.com/2019/04/oakland-california-oquirrh-mountain.html

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    1. Duncan, before my company was shutdown I was planning on staying there into my 70's. Now I'm thinking about going to go back to work because I'll probably be needing the money.

      Lee

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  10. Never stop dreaming, planning and doing. There is no such thing as 'retirement' from doing the things you love.

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    1. Knitter, so true. A person who stops dreaming, planning, and doing is either dead or maybe something worse.

      Lee

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  11. For me, retirement meant retiring from full-time paid work for big companies and moving into a period of doing whatever the heck I wanted, whether it be writing, photography, or baking lots of yummy cookies. My list of things I want to do is actually growing instead of shrinking. Getting four books traditionally published (so far) has definitely satisfied one of my dreams. Dreaming is life-affirming and invigorating...and doing is even more so.

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    1. Patricia, I'd like to have that "traditionally published" thing done, but I need to start writing again to do that. Even if we can't accomplish our dreams for ourselves, maybe we can pass them down to someone who will benefit. I don't want to be done living and producing until I'm dead and gone.

      Lee

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  12. "Retirement" I see as finally being able to do what I want all the time. I don't see it as "stopping" anything! I hope all you dream of does come true, and that someday you'll let us know what that dream is! I have accomplished one dream, publishing a novel (2!), and the next step is to publish more, and to make a living at it. That is what I hope to accomplish before I "retire." !!!

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  13. I like what I do so I don't dream of retirement, I dream of how can I make more money so I can keep doing what I love. Networking is key for that. Keep dreaming, Arlee! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I know you're a busy guy.

    Janet’s Smiles

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  14. Retire? Never even when I retire from Credit Counselling I plan to enjoy life to the fullest despite the aches and pains. I have just had sad news about my ex whom I am still good friends with and he and his family have just been knocked around since 2007 when his mom got Lewy Body disease, a form of dementia. He and the family truly need a break but it shows to me that we must enjoy life to the fullest even when I am sitting on the couch.

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Lee