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Change of life style
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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Change of life style
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The last few years I have been struggling what to do. I was so incorparated in the big companies and acting what they want from you. Working at R&D, which normally should be fundamental research but became over the years more working for product devisions and had nothing to do with fundamental research anymore. I swithched job to Storage & Backup, which is booming at the moment, but it is not the enviroment I like to work in anymore. A girlfriend of mine, who's interior designer, has been now a few times to Spain and Ibiza and she likes to open a Bed & Breakfast in Spain. I very much liked the idea, I don't mind hard working. We had several ideas of givin local cooking lessons, it reminded me of Pimientitos expermints with the pig, and doin al kind of other activities like offering a place for juerga's with great food and drinks, workshops in ...(whatever you can think of)...but all with an creative passion. Personally I like the idea very much, but maybe I am to secure to all the things I have at the moment. A regular job, no finacial problems....but it is also that security that keeps me away from trying something new. What do you people think of starting such thing? Of course I want to attract a lot of flamenco in it, but also more regular things. I really appreciate your thoughts, as I am to much attached to secure things nowadays which keep me from doin what is my passion.
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Date Feb. 19 2010 12:52:10
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gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to kozz)
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An inspiring and exciting plan, Kozz. A change in your career and life, relocating to a new country to pursue the innkeeper’s dream will undoubtedly be a stimulating adventure. As a quick, taxi-cab sort of advice: Evaluate your plan conscientiously, is it just an adventure you are seeking? If so, enjoy it as such, for a limited amount of time and avoiding substantial investments of money or untenable commitments, compromising the career options you have at home. Also, should you pursue a business partnership with your friend, please remember that enterprises based on individuals along with their respective investment of time, capital and efforts present certain dangers. Please make sure you agree on exactly what your respective roles will be, each one’s investment and individual management latitude. Secure the business, both in terms of contractual commitments (leases of premises, supplies) and services in a way that in the event one should abandon the project the other may survive the incident. In business, think different, and market a concept that people will remember. It can be simple and even inexpensive, but keep it sharp and distinct from all other similar inns out there. Cuisine is a delicate matter. Managing a restaurant, its staff and supplies requires a degree of expertise without which you may quickly and easily stretch your budget excessively. You must secure the assistance of an experienced restaurateur, whom you trust, to help you set it up and perhaps run it with you for a while, until you are ready. However, you had me dream for a moment of a more careless life style, without nightmares of clients whose financial success, freedom or vengeance rest stressfully on your shoulders. Just the sound of waves gently crashing on the white sand across the street to wake you up in the middle of the night.
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gj Michelob
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Date Feb. 19 2010 13:31:54
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to gj Michelob)
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quote:
An inspiring and exciting plan, Kozz. A change in your career and life, relocating to a new country to pursue the innkeeper’s dream will undoubtedly be a stimulating adventure. As a quick, taxi-cab sort of advice: Evaluate your plan conscientiously, is it just an adventure you are seeking? If so, enjoy it as such, for a limited amount of time and avoiding substantial investments of money or untenable commitments, compromising the career options you have at home. Also, should you pursue a business partnership with your friend, please remember that enterprises based on individuals along with their respective investment of time, capital and efforts present certain dangers. Please make sure you agree on exactly what your respective roles will be, each one’s investment and individual management latitude. Secure the business, both in terms of contractual commitments (leases of premises, supplies) and services in a way that in the event one should abandon the project the other may survive the incident. In business, think different, and market a concept that people will remember. It can be simple and even inexpensive, but keep it sharp and distinct from all other similar inns out there. Cuisine is a delicate matter. Managing a restaurant, its staff and supplies requires a degree of expertise without which you may quickly and easily stretch your budget excessively. You must secure the assistance of an experienced restaurateur, whom you trust, to help you set it up and perhaps run it with you for a while, until you are ready. However, you had me dream for a moment of a more careless life style, without nightmares of clients whose financial success, freedom or vengeance rest stressfully on your shoulders. Just the sound of waves gently crashing on the white sand across the street to wake you up in the middle of the night. Thanks for your advise GJ. In fact those things you mention, are the securities I must get disconnected from. Of course there must be a decent business plan, but my girlfriend is more aware of that than I. I am always amazed where she sees cheap opportunities where I see problems...perhaps as a scientist I am used to think in problems instead of opporunities. Hahahaha, I really must laugh at the cooking thing... I had the same...but the idea was to do it differently...not to strict, but with passion as Pimientito did....its all about the experience and less about the end product. But also art, spiritual etc.... Actually she's now in Spain doin some internal redecoration stuff for people, but she's also looking around for locations. The main thing what had bothered me the last years is that there's so much passion inside which cannot come out in my daily job, and therefore in a reason I am failing....I like to work 600%, it gives me satisfaction, but at my job the say 80% is enough, and I don't agree with that....in fact that what has causes my depression, always tempering myselves. I might get back to you on advise of you don't mind, I really appreciate it. How do you undergo your lifestyle? You seem very succesfull, but to me it sounds like there is some passion what needs to come out. Hopefully we can hear that in the composition challenge. Thanks.
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Date Feb. 19 2010 14:13:02
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to Florian)
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quote:
do it amigo...lifes too short ...whats the worst thing that can happen...things dont work out the way u planned or u make a mistake...come back do it all again...thats what youth is for to make plenty of mistakes quote:
If you have no child.. Go on hunting your ideas! Now is the time. Well,..you can also loose...but thats the game. ^^You as scientist HAve to do that! You´re doing the right thing. Good luck kozz. ;.) Thanks guys for your support! Don't worry, I make mistakes all the time But building in some safety can't harm. A collegea of mine. 58 years old now, once move to spain, I cant remember where at the moment. He worked in a bar for a friend of his, and in the weekend they went uphill to a store where they only sold the necessary needs for that small village, like 20 breads, some toilet paper etc. And in the weekends the whole village, sat down, and had their juerga. He didn't now at that time what it was, be he enjoyed it very much....unluckely for him his wife get homesick...for the Netherlands for gods sake.... Hopefully the job in spain is a possibillity, and then it is off to the south....and getting used that some things aren't that good arranged as overhere Learned my first sentence today, from a homecourse CD/book: ?Trabajas agui en el aeropuerto? It might be usefulle one day
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Date Feb. 22 2010 11:19:41
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to gj Michelob)
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quote:
I too hope my composition will prove your point. I am not too pleased with it, really. It may offend the rules of Flamenco (Solea) as well as my desire to be unruly when composing. I should have stayed with "Toque Libre". However modest this effort is, it served me well to appreciate -in part- how different it is to compose under pressure... And that concept applies to all matters, including your project, doesn't it? Nice place you in the photograph you shared. What’s the rest of the ‘hood like? Hee GJ, I remembered, and still listening to it, flamenco serenade no3....when I am listening to it, it doesn't sound like you had any limitation but stucj to a certain concept. Use that vibe for your composition, you have the skills and technique, and it'll free you up from some pressure. How the the rest is, I dont know yet. I'll speek her in a half an hour...I am very curious because she had seen some more nice places. It kinda makes me nervous, but first since a long time I see new challenges and gaining a lot of energy....
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Date Feb. 22 2010 11:29:51
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gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to kozz)
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quote:
Hee GJ, I remembered, and still listening to it, flamenco serenade no3....when I am listening to it, it doesn't sound like you had any limitation but stucj to a certain concept. Use that vibe for your composition, you have the skills and technique, and it'll free you up from some pressure. Your heartwarming praises revive the fear to disappoint, but I will follow your kind advice and will "use that vibe". Here is my (recurrent) favorite sentence (From a 1982 -Spain Soccer Worldcup's-CocaCola TV ad, featuring a person no less than he-himself, Dieguito Armando Maradona) "El Mundo Se Gana Con Una Sonrisa". Suerte, Amigo.
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gj Michelob
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Date Feb. 22 2010 11:44:51
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to minordjango)
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your a legend , KOzz, sounds fine and looks fine man, providing ur funds ok for a certain time (always plan more than u think) maybe it can be a great ,if not u can just lose some money and have a great time which u can reflect on later. if you succeed ill expect a nice cold vino tinto por favor No probs, one part of the deal was there should be organized juerga's, in how far you can organize them ofcourse....and that was no problem at all, on the contrary... The thing is, now I earn money...but to be satisfied I am getting very materialistic, whilst I much more enjoy the ease....its one way or another, I've tried this for 12 years in several jobs, so why no change. I have no child wish at all, although I like to be a surrogate father for friends of mine. I'll have a video from a 11 month little girl (Lola) from a friend of mine and she had a flamenco dress for carnaval, and I played on her Spongebob guitar....I'll see if I can upload it, it was so funny, she trying to walk, throwing her hands up in the air... By the way, the spongebob guitar was very sonorous and had very timbric colours.
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Date Feb. 22 2010 11:59:13
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Kate
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to kozz)
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Hey Kozzz, A while back I met Luke, another Foro member, when he was visiting Granada and now living in Sevilla but when he was planning his move he posted here and asked what people thought, and how easy it was to get work. One of the reasons I am posting this to you is that I was one of those that replied and said it was tough, there is no work and a lot of competition for teaching English which did not pay very well. When I met him he told me that our comments had made him really depressed but he did it anyway. Thank goodness. He now has a job teaching English in Sevilla and is having a great time. We came 12 years ago now and had no savings and no prospects, we lived cheap and we made a home and a living and friends. My husband was coming up to 50, not the best time to uproots and try and start again. It was such a blast, it felt like being a teenager all over again, going out all night, making new friends, a real lust for life ! It doesnt work for everyone but you never know until you try ! Sounds like your 'mujer' has got it all in hand anyway
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Emilio Maya Temple http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emiliomaya
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Date Feb. 22 2010 13:00:34
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to Kate)
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Thanks Kate for your supporting answer. I've met many people who always followed their hart, and they always seem to achieve the things they want to. Of course it won't be all sunshine, but I really believe, at least since recently, that if you really want something, you have to do it with all your hart, and no reserves. Hahaha, my 'mujer' has gone to the same phase, but picked up bits and pieces along the way, and she has fiend her way to achieve things her way. Although she is insecure about it, she does it and it turns out well. She doesn't want to reach to goal at once, but opens opportunities, and than it'll come to her.....thats just great and what I love about her. It amazes me how many people take those changes....
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Date Feb. 22 2010 13:28:40
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gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to kozz)
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quote:
I like playing at night, because I am living near a highway.....and at 02:00 there is real silence, and makes all the difference. This could serve as an interesting thread, "which time of day is most inspiring?" When I was young -as you are- I played mostly at night... deep into it, for the same reason, I suppose, as it is quiet. For the last few years -since i resumed playing- however, I wake up at 5am and between the early phone calls to Europe I manage about one hour of undisturbed practice before kids and dogs wake up. Composing, on the other hand, knows no such schedule nor discipline, at least in my case. And most typically the inspiring epiphany catches me when the family is in the car waiting for me or five mintes before a conference call with a Judge... On topic, your planning is becoming increasingly exciting, Kozz. We are planning a trip to Spain this summer. If your Inn por flamenquito will be open by then, I will certainly visit.
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gj Michelob
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Date Feb. 22 2010 14:11:37
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kozz
Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to gj Michelob)
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quote:
This could serve as an interesting thread, "which time of day is most inspiring?" When I was young -as you are- I played mostly at night... deep into it, for the same reason, I suppose, as it is quiet. For the last few years -since i resumed playing- however, I wake up at 5am and between the early phone calls to Europe I manage about one hour of undisturbed practice before kids and dogs wake up. Composing, on the other hand, knows no such schedule nor discipline, at least in my case. And most typically the inspiring epiphany catches me when the family is in the car waiting for me or five mintes before a conference call with a Judge... On topic, your planning is becoming increasingly exciting, Kozz. We are planning a trip to Spain this summer. If your Inn por flamenquito will be open by then, I will certainly visit. Family life has a big influence I understand. I think at some point that must have been difficult, givin up your passion, or at least not that many undisturbed time anymore. It asks a great mentallity to keep it goin in my opininion. If all planning is working out well, I'll let everybody know and everybody will be invited ofcourse....
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Date Feb. 22 2010 14:29:44
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Alatriste
Posts: 91
Joined: Dec. 23 2009
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to kozz)
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ORIGINAL: kozz I agree Miguel, we had a lot of contracters in our Storage deparment because it was hard to find good people, and the made very very very good money. Nowadays a lot of those contracts will be ended due to the financial situation and we start to teach people from inside the company. But a lot of work is going to India anyway. You've been in the booming time then isn't it? In my case I developed a technical niche. The consulting scheme takes two formats (1) teaching engineers in companies how to do the work, (2) doing the actual work on a variety of projects. In lean times I focus more on the professional courses. As an example, I will be heading to Saudi Arabia in a few weeks where I will be for a month. There I will develop a specialized course for them and then teach the course later on in the year. In better times I would just do the work directly for them. In any case teaching them also pays back later because when capital becomes more available then they ask me to do the actual project work with or for them. Since the technical niche is kind of my own, they always want to come back to the author of the methods for either a quick blessing of the work, or to work with them on a given project. The courses also act as soft marketing. However, to do work like this one does not have to be technical. There is a misconception out there in the world that only technical or financial work earns money. This is not true. As an example I know of an art historian in Amsterdam, Lara Wijsmuller, who is a magnificent art dealer. She's actually quite famous. By developing a niche (in this case a global clientele) one is able to be self-sovereign in one's own business. The key is the niche, and I sense from your writing that this is the type of liberation you are looking for. Saludos, Miguel
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Date Feb. 22 2010 15:24:23
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Pimientito
Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to kozz)
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quote:
Hahahaha, I really must laugh at the cooking thing... I had the same...but the idea was to do it differently...not to strict, but with passion as Pimientito did.... Hey Kozz. Im glad my bors head episode had such a profound effect on you! All I can say is that I did manage to escape a very corporate life in England and for better or worse ended up living in Spain...and I have been one of the lucky ones. For some reason my weird combination of abilities fills a couple of niches that allow me to live here quite well. Saying that, living in Spain has not been the best financial decision in my life but it has been the most rewarding one in terms of lifestyle. I have had the chance to meet great artists, and hang out with flamencos in a beautiful city in a careless way that would be the envy of a lot of people. I would tend to agree that however idilic it seems to run a small restaurant or bed in breakfast in Spain, I can assure you its 10 times the work and headache than you first think. There's cleaning, getting provisions, opening licence, spanish builders, seguridad social, quarterly taxation. As Escribano says, the crisis is hitting spain really hard. Its a bad time to be starting a business. However I know restaurants that are doing well now despite the crisis if the quality is good. However if you would like me to come a cook a boars head for you the you only have to ask
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Follow my blog http://pimientito.wordpress.com/ "Ceremonial" by Mark Shurey "Pimientito". CD and digital download vailable on Amazon and CDbaby. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/markshurey
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Date Feb. 22 2010 23:10:39
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Kate
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
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RE: Change of life style (in reply to Pimientito)
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Yes looking for the niche is good advice. The first year here during a Spanish class we were asked to write down our dreams for the future. Mine was to buy a house in the Albaicin and live in Granada. The teacher looked at me and said " well you have to be either very rich or have some skill that no-one else here has". Needless to say I had neither. A few years later I met my profesor in the street and he asked if I was back on holiday. I told him that I was now living in the Albaicin where we had bought a house and he asked if I had won the lottery. No, I said we discovered that my husband had a skill here that no-one else had, 40 years of experience of music production. We had been here only a few months when one night in a bar a friend came in all excited saying that Enrique Morente wanted to meet Harold. It was 3 am but that did not seem to be a problem, Harold set off for the Morente studio where they were working on a project and had become stuck with the mixes. Harold mixed the tracks in a matter of hours. He went on to work on Estrella's first two albums. Other projects followed, a TV series of live music which run for 3 months and broadcast every night, a best selling jazz album, film work, rock albums, and award winning flamenco albums and tours with flamenco artists. He now does sound production for Farruquito. That's not to say there have not been lean times and difficulties. We eventually bought our house, but we nearly gave up on that dream as no-one would give us a mortgage, until Enrique called his bank and a mortgage was instantly approved. This is another aspect of Spanish life, it is called enchuffismo, meaning to be plugged in, or well connected. It can work for you or against you, but is a fact of life here and can be very frustrating. If you want to open a restaurant find the most influential people in the town, get introductions and invite them to eat
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Emilio Maya Temple http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emiliomaya
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Date Feb. 23 2010 6:10:35
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