Here it is 3 o'clock, Saturday, Valentine's Day and I'm in the office. I finished a late lunch and have 3 or 4 more hours more to complete a bid that needs to be submitted Monday. It's a special bid. Built-in furniture for a wealthy client in a penthouse suite of a luxury condo on a small island between Miami and Miami Beach.
My boss really wants to get this project... and so do I.
When you have been in the business for many years, you tend to seek out 'special projects' that few people can get. Sometimes, it's reputation that lands you a job like this. Sometimes, it's just sheer luck. Rarely, it's just the price. The client is looking for the finest and the work you do is what they seek. There are only so many prestigious jobs to come by... so you hope 'what you do' is 'what they seek' as many jobs like this don't happen in the course of one's career.
Two years ago, I did the kitchen for a famous basketball player. It was shortly after he signed a nine million contract. He was riding high, had a gorgeous fiance and they were entertaining the idea to spend thousands with my company to upgrade their kitchen into a truly unique designer gourmet kitchen.
The project was running behind schedule. The contractor had delays getting construction loans. Weeks turned into months waiting for his 4 story townhouse on the bay to be completed. During this time, he had a falling out with his fiance... She was the one ordering gold faucets and crystal cabinet handles. When she disappeared from the picture, so did her designer. He became impatient and canceled ALL the kitchen upgrades... including a trash drawer at $350.
Seriously... who would own a multi-million dollar townhouse on the Miami Bay and not buy a trash drawer?
I had planned to use his kitchen in my portfolio but it ended up being a large generic kitchen... not worthy of the cost for professional photography.
As we all know, life has it's twists down a winding road that could lead to success avenue or disappointment lane. As the case with the basketball player... perhaps he saw she wasn't the right woman and ended the ride before it crashed.
I know this type of relationship. Valentine's Day 2005 was a turning point in my life in the wrong direction... 10 days later I ended a long-term relationship. That was one of my best decisions. Too bad I hadn't made it sooner.
It put me in a financial bind (for many reasons) and I've been working diligently to overcome it. This recession/depression isn't helping things either. I've been working long hours to try to overcome high prices and low profits, not only for myself but the constant sacrifice to keep new business for the company and people we employ. No, I'm not an owner nor a partner... I don't get paid for the extra hours either. I consider it job security. Sometimes, I cannot go home leaving too many things undone.
This weekend, it leaves me with a few unfinished home projects and not enough time to complete them all. My regret this Valentine's Day is not having secured a date with an attractive single woman to enjoy dinner and a movie (read: get naked, set our hair on fire, ride greased pigs in the living room) and perhaps a bit more should the night call for it. Since so many women would love to take a stroll on the beach in the moonlight, this is the perfect night for doing so. The weather will be in the low to mid 70's and no rain. It was a full moon earlier this week so the night time sky should still be illuminated.
I think back when I was a young aspiring musician. Life was much easier then. You see we all wanted to be 'Rock Stars' and the groupies were intense...
I think I'll save that for another blog.
One of my favorite videos is Nickelback's Rockstar... click the link to see it.
>> ROCKSTAR <<
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| My Valentine disappointment... |
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