"Street Freak" is a classic. It gives a fascinating perspective into an otherwise opaque world to non-Wall Street types like myself. Honestly, the narrator comes off harder on himself than on the other characters. A real humdinger of a tale - I liked it so much that I think I'll crack it open again.
Maybe I should read it again now that I have been reading so much more by Jared and know him better. I wonder if it would come across differently. My husband and I both found him likable when we read it.
I keep a handwritten sticky note on my computer monitor. It's been there for several years. It was a given to me by a bank teller that was one of the sweetest, nicest people you could ever meet, and I treasure it.
"Spread kindness around like confetti"
I have made it my mission to live up to that sticky note. Every. Single. Day.
I try to go the other way. A pleasant smile, a simple compliment, a word of encouragement. Most people are dealing with problems, heartaches, grief, etc. I neither need nor want to add to that.
Bravo Jared! Also thanks for your options masterclass. I rarely buy options but it gave me a great foundation on how to use them and what pitfalls to avoid
Jared..I like your writing…it connects w/ me..keep it up Bub…couple of quotes I’ve read and repeat to myself almost daily..”in life, you’ve got to be tougher than the backend of a shootin gallery”..people “love um’ all, God will sort um’ out later”…
As Taleb said, "There are people who want to win and there are people who want to win the argument -- they are never the same people." More important is the Scorpion and the Frog -- I'd argue that the lesson is not 'bad scorpion' but rather 'foolish frog'; keeping most toxic people out of your life is mostly as simple as keeping them out of your life.
One day I came in hot headed at work and ripped a colleague a new one for parking too close and not taking advantage of the way the spacing is in the spots. Was totally unnecessary and I was being a total asshole. Later I apologized and he said I reminded him of the scene from the Big Lebowski “you’re not wrong Walter. You’re just an asshole”. Welp that did it. I still go into ayatollah assaholah mode every now and then, but truly it’s such an ego thing to be right rather than kind. I’m thankful for the Dude
I feel that you may have been in your feels while writing this Jared. More editing mistake than usual. But it could be entirely coincidental.
Also... "The reality is that most people go through life without being yelled at, ever. Most people go through life without getting any negative feedback, ever."
I feel this might be true of the current generations. But absolutely not true of gen X or earlier. Just saying. That said, people today definitely are more sensitive. Again, especially the youth.
When I was a kid in school, I had more than one teacher say to me, "Why can't you be like the other kids." They did not filter it in the least. I remember looking at the other kids and wondering why they would want that lol. I guess the nastiness did not have the affect that was intended, I stopped trying to please people very young as I decided it was not possible, and just went my own way.
I am, if I were not I would not be hanging around here. I was rather precocious and lacked social skills. When I was bored, I made trouble. In boys this was considered normal at that time, but in a girl it was not tolerated. I remember wondering why the boys did not get in trouble if they blurted out an answer, but I did. In today's world I would be diagnosed with something and I am grateful I was not. We are pathologizing every kind of person these days.
I tutor kids and it started with a kid who was like me. He was 15 and could not read, I taught him in just 5 lessons. Today he has his own construction company. He was very bright and the school diagnosed him with a reading disability because he learned differently from how they taught at that time. Lucky for me, we did not do that in my era.
I’ve concluded that most assholes are people who hate themselves but can’t admit that so they take it out on others. There are some virtuous assholes (Steve Jobs for one) but they’re the exceptions.
I must be the exception to the prevalence of thin skins. I’ve had my ass chewed and been in high pressure situations plenty of times. It makes you stronger.
Wayne Dyer once remarked, "If you have a choice between being right and being kind, always pick kind."
"Street Freak" is a classic. It gives a fascinating perspective into an otherwise opaque world to non-Wall Street types like myself. Honestly, the narrator comes off harder on himself than on the other characters. A real humdinger of a tale - I liked it so much that I think I'll crack it open again.
Maybe I should read it again now that I have been reading so much more by Jared and know him better. I wonder if it would come across differently. My husband and I both found him likable when we read it.
I keep a handwritten sticky note on my computer monitor. It's been there for several years. It was a given to me by a bank teller that was one of the sweetest, nicest people you could ever meet, and I treasure it.
"Spread kindness around like confetti"
I have made it my mission to live up to that sticky note. Every. Single. Day.
I have a sign on my front door: Smiles exchanged here
folks seem to like it, & smile
I try to go the other way. A pleasant smile, a simple compliment, a word of encouragement. Most people are dealing with problems, heartaches, grief, etc. I neither need nor want to add to that.
Bravo Jared! Also thanks for your options masterclass. I rarely buy options but it gave me a great foundation on how to use them and what pitfalls to avoid
There's a book for this. It really good. I LOVED this post too and I'm not just saying this because. I also used to be an asshole.
https://www.amazon.com/Assholes-Theory-Aaron-James/dp/0804171351
"He is probably the type to write a one-star Amazon review of a spatula.".
I am still laughing at my desk ! Thank you for spreading joy !!!
Purchased and read your book today . Street Freak. Great writing. Amazing journey you have had so far. Keep the faith!
Jared..I like your writing…it connects w/ me..keep it up Bub…couple of quotes I’ve read and repeat to myself almost daily..”in life, you’ve got to be tougher than the backend of a shootin gallery”..people “love um’ all, God will sort um’ out later”…
As Taleb said, "There are people who want to win and there are people who want to win the argument -- they are never the same people." More important is the Scorpion and the Frog -- I'd argue that the lesson is not 'bad scorpion' but rather 'foolish frog'; keeping most toxic people out of your life is mostly as simple as keeping them out of your life.
Love it, thanks Jared
Right on
One day I came in hot headed at work and ripped a colleague a new one for parking too close and not taking advantage of the way the spacing is in the spots. Was totally unnecessary and I was being a total asshole. Later I apologized and he said I reminded him of the scene from the Big Lebowski “you’re not wrong Walter. You’re just an asshole”. Welp that did it. I still go into ayatollah assaholah mode every now and then, but truly it’s such an ego thing to be right rather than kind. I’m thankful for the Dude
I feel that you may have been in your feels while writing this Jared. More editing mistake than usual. But it could be entirely coincidental.
Also... "The reality is that most people go through life without being yelled at, ever. Most people go through life without getting any negative feedback, ever."
I feel this might be true of the current generations. But absolutely not true of gen X or earlier. Just saying. That said, people today definitely are more sensitive. Again, especially the youth.
When I was a kid in school, I had more than one teacher say to me, "Why can't you be like the other kids." They did not filter it in the least. I remember looking at the other kids and wondering why they would want that lol. I guess the nastiness did not have the affect that was intended, I stopped trying to please people very young as I decided it was not possible, and just went my own way.
How rude! Anyway, I would bet you are doing better than most of those kids. Who really would want to intentionally aim for mediocrity? =)
I am, if I were not I would not be hanging around here. I was rather precocious and lacked social skills. When I was bored, I made trouble. In boys this was considered normal at that time, but in a girl it was not tolerated. I remember wondering why the boys did not get in trouble if they blurted out an answer, but I did. In today's world I would be diagnosed with something and I am grateful I was not. We are pathologizing every kind of person these days.
I tutor kids and it started with a kid who was like me. He was 15 and could not read, I taught him in just 5 lessons. Today he has his own construction company. He was very bright and the school diagnosed him with a reading disability because he learned differently from how they taught at that time. Lucky for me, we did not do that in my era.
I’ve concluded that most assholes are people who hate themselves but can’t admit that so they take it out on others. There are some virtuous assholes (Steve Jobs for one) but they’re the exceptions.
I must be the exception to the prevalence of thin skins. I’ve had my ass chewed and been in high pressure situations plenty of times. It makes you stronger.
Imagine the reviews if you made this into a movie!
Fire!