Test Your Limits

I'm going to give an advice column a shot here on Thursdays. I'm no Dr. Phil or even Maury Povich for that matter, but hopefully I can add some spice to your day and keep motivation levels high. I would like implore any person reading this to test their personal limits. When was the last time that any of us did that? I'm talking about anything. If the best meal you've ever made your loved ones was warmed up pizza, then make some fresh dough, make a tomato sauce, add some fresh toppings, and make one yourself. If you haven't run since high school, then go out in your backyard and do a couple down-and-backs for old times sake. You might surprise yourself or you might pass out and be attacked by crows.

My inspiration for this column is myself right now. It's 1:30 in the morning on Thursday. I went to work at 8, took 1/2 hour for lunch, wrote a full narrative appraisal and reviewed three commercial appraisals until I left work at 7. I came home, spent some time with my lovely wife Danielle as she had made dinner for me, and then at 8:30 began to write a second appraisal. Our client needs his reports tomorrow morning, so I just completed that second appraisal at 1:30 this morning. I'm not telling you this to toot my own horn (well, not completely at least). I'm trying to prove my point that at 8AM this was a pretty daunting task and it was touch and go in the middle of the day, but I got the job done. I proved to myself that I can come through in the clutch and do what's necessary for the company.

More importantly, it gave me time to reminisce about writing that key paper for Sports Lit class in college or cramming operations management info before the final. It might be 5 years ago, but I can still pull the long day. Can you still do it? What is it for you? When is the last time you pushed yourself to the edge? Sure you like to fish, but when's the last time you beat the sun to the lake? You're not a bad golfer, but have you ever kept playing until you got that elusive birdie or sunk a putt over 10 feet? You like your job and it gets you paid, but have you tried to come up with something that makes a client happier or sells more product? You're having fun living it up while you're single, but when's the last time you walked confidently up to that stranger at the end of the bar and said drop your drink let's dance! There's a really brief saying that my wife and I came up with that really works for everyone: Be Your Own Advocate. If you can't get the best out of yourself, then why the hell should anyone wonder if you have more to give?

Ode to Nader

This section certainly isn't a political forum, but more of a play on our favorite consumer watchdog Ralph Nader. I'll be your personal watchdog for all sorts of random gizmos, gadgets, and the like. This first one is probably going to be pretty obvious due to recent events: car buying. I have to say that I really like car buying. It's like financial debate. You sit there and tell a guy your demands until he basically realizes that not only are you full of shit, but you don't even like his car. That's a glorious moment my friends. First off, cash for clunkers is a great deal, but please do the research before you show up to the dealership. Just because your seats smell like a combo of raccoon ass and patchouli doesn't mean you qualify. Just because your tires have less tread than your Starbury tennis shoes doesn't mean you qualify. (One more, chants the studio audience) Alright, and just because your car runs on swass, Virginia Slims, and bacon grease doesn't mean you qualify. Although the combo of those last 3 could get you your very own scooter, then who the hell needs a new car anyhow. We just got an 09 Toyota Highlander Limited. Yes I had to stick the limited in there. Next person that asks me how much it cost as they tackle their inner jealousy doesn't get to ride in it. It was also made in Portland, OR for all those folks who thinks I let the troops down by not buying another POS america mobile. Leave it to America to get rid of their only decent ride in the Pontiac brand. You can drive those things until the wheels fall off, but instead we get Chryslers that actually have wheels falling off. Toyota vehicles get better gas mileage than basically every competitor. Their designs are slick and you can get any feature you want. If you drive a lot and don't know what to do, run the miles per gallon stats on getting your typical ride versus a Prius. If the Prius is less that around $5,000 more than the alternative, then you're in the green my friends. If you feel compelled to support the car companies that we now own, I'd probably go with a Chevy because at least they have some guts and are fun while they last. Speaking of fun while it lasted, you were just served some early morning delirious Pete, old school Purdue style. Hope you enjoyed yourself. I officially have 3 and a half hours to grab some sleep before I'm up to drop off this report and catch the train for class.