This is how I feel today

TOW: Taking Chances

"Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?" ~ Frank Scully

I've been doing some things lately that are very risky.


Anyone who knows me probably knows I'm a very risk-averse person.  (Er, now that I think of it, maybe people don't think that.  Actually, now I just wonder what people think....) I like to manage all my risks and not go out too far into the unknown and be eternally screwed, that sort of thing.  But lately I have been working with the attitude, especially in business, that risk is a good thing, and with bigger risks will come bigger rewards.

Er, well maybe!



=)

And while I might not be singing "Taking Chances" by Celine (although, full disclosure, I may be listening to it...) I'm certainly interested in pursuing activities that allow me to take chances and feel good about myself.  There's a big world out there, and it's tough to just look over a chasm of opportunity and not know what's around the corner.  (I'm the kinda guy that likes knowing what's around the corner...)

I think a lot of people are scared about taking chances where they might lose out, big time.  I've never been scared of things like that (although there are times I'm scared while doing such things) and I rather enjoy going out and trying new things, it really lights up my life most days.  Because sometimes the most interesting thing about life is knowing that you can change in an instant, if only you're open to the idea of doing something differently.

Ow

I have been going to the gym for the last two weeks.

It's starting to hurt. But I am liking it.

(But I'm in pain. LOL.)

Thoughts

Well, it's super late in the morning (I have to be at work at eight) for my last day of working at Grainfields. I learned a lot by working at a restaurant. The first and most important thing I learnt is there is a huge difference between kitchens you see on tv, and what people deal with every day at popular places. Secondly, because of that, I realized I didn't want to work in the restaurant business...I had been thinking about going to school for some training as a chef or baker, but I found out that after a while, I didn't like being an automaton in a food factory, especially at a restaurant aimed at a clientiele which mostly can't taste their food anymore and prefers everything well done. (ie. people over the age of 65) I did learn to sort of overcome my fear of really hot things *by necessity of the craziness of the job* and I have learned how to cook a heck of a lot faster, and just randomly come up with a meal plan in like, a minute, which is super and amazing. I can also now cut vegetable at the speed of light, and food prep is nearly something I can do without thinking too hard about it, which I really like. So all and all, I picked up some pretty great skills. (At the cost of a lot of sleep and my sanity, pretty much)

I also found that a restaurant is great place to overcome a fear of failure...you have about a minute to prepare a dish, and if crap is a dish best served warm, well, make sure it's warm. I still can't wrap a wrap to save my life (this is a defect since birth), but in the end the result doesn't always matter; most people blame the problems of the end product on the user, not the creator (Which really works in my favour because of the type of clientele, frankly). Secondly, if you screw up, you fix it, and you fix it fast. This was actually really good therapy from the academic mindset, which says, "You screwed up, you can never fix it, obsess, rinse and obsess again, and then repeat, and obsess about screwing up your ability to scrutinize yourself and the ability to obsess over trivial things that will make you obsessive." In other words, the restaurant biz, for a bit, was probably the best place for me.

Would I work there for longer than a month or so? NO WAY. I am ready to KILL.

Working

Just had an interview for a salaried position....it was a really fun interview. I think that it went really well. (I mean, regardless of whether I get the job or not, it went well.)

I don't even know if I WANT it. AUGH.

Will know by Tuesday if I'm selected. =/

Now, I will continue to search for jobs over the weekend.

Sigh.