Left of Normal with Scott Sery

Left of Normal Episode 28 - Making Sense of Senses

Sensory issues are a big part of those being Left of Normal.  A lot of it is seen as just a weird quirk to those that don't understand it.

 

Recognizing, and guarding, those issues are what help us to remain focused on what's actually important... for instance the words coming out of your mouth instead of the piercing gaze you insist I stare into.

 

But the other senses come into play as well.  This episode gives some insights.

Left of Normal Episode 27 - This Kid Can Entertain Himself

20-some years ago, my friend Clay made a comment that has played through my head hundreds of times.

"This kid can entertain himself"

Today's episode I work through what I felt that meant, how I reacted, and how Clay then almost shot me right in the butt with a dart.

I also tell a lot of people that they're horrible people... because they are.  You have to listen to the end for that part though.

Left of Normal Episode 26 - Sportsing with my Friends

We've made it to half a year of Left of Normal!

 

More or less we've caught up with the timeline of how I managed to survive until this point.

 

But today, we take a look at how I mask that inability to really know what's going on with kicking balls really hard.  And how a big part of my networking is merely playing sports that are fun to play.

Left of Normal Episode 25 - Doing Adult Things

At some point I figured if I wanted to actually make a career out of writing I would have to work my way back into the world of associating with adults.  Even though playing with a baby all day long is much easier and much more fun, being an adult is responsible or something.

 

So I had to figure out how to meet people that needed my services.

 

And I started attending some networking events.  But I switched up my mindset from one where I would go and drum up all this amazing business for myself to one where I would go and get a good meal and a couple drinks for eight bucks.

 

Check out my analysis of the small talk dance and why interacting with adults is stupid because for some reason that's what we always choose to talk about.

Left of Normal Episode 24 - Work from Home Dad; Babies are Awesome

Ever since I got done with college, my dream career was to be retired.  I can't think of anything better than to not ever have to work.

 

So, when the opportunity came along that I got to stay home and play with a baby all day long, and work during nap times, some evenings, and weekends, that was great.

 

Of course, I was still just kind of blundering along.  I hadn't taken the time to look inside and see why this was so much better than going to an office, doing financial advising, or even helping kids in treatment.

Left of Normal Episode 23 - Discovering Skills that Suit

After finding out that I could make money writing things, I thought to myself, "Self, why don't you do more of this?"

 

So I did.  I learned lessons, some of them the hard way, about running a writing business.  But somehow I succeeded, probably due to the fact that clocking in to a job every day is soul sucking and terrible so there's no way I wanted to do that forever.

 

Today's episode takes a look at how we all have certain skills.  And when we use them properly, we can make money without slogging through a job we hate.

Left of Normal Episode 22 - Numbers, Letters, and Fishing

After I got canned from Rimrock Insurance, I spent a summer fishing and working on the house.  I knew I would eventually need a job, but for the time being I was enjoying the world of not having one.

 

By the end of that summer I was employed by Mark Sorlie, helping him to analyze portfolios and do the investment side of things for his business.  It was good, but not great... not entirely what I needed to thrive.

 

Then I discovered the world of letters instead of numbers.  The beginning of where I am now.

Left of Normal Episode 21.5 - Bonus Episode on Beating Small Pine Trees

Just like when going through how I handled school, I largely forgot about how I handled not school.  Now, as an adult, I've been going through how I handled work, and largely have forgotten about how I handled not work.

 

So I put together a bonus episode about the time I beat a small pine tree with a stick... and got engaged somewhere in there as well.

 

Check it out, it's only like 6 minutes long or something.

Left of Normal Episode 21 - How to Avoid Confrontation Like a Pro

Half a lifetime ago I worked at Walmart.  I'm pretty sure my stint at Rimrock Insurance was actually shorter.

 

In today's episode we take a look at my foray into the auto insurance world.  On paper it looked like a good job (aside from the payment schedule and options).  In reality, it was soul sucking.

 

To top it all off, I wasn't (and still am not) great at standing up for myself.  I show how a Left takes a passive route that ends up... well, not good.

Left of Normal Episode 20 - Scott Sery: Salesman

When I was a wee lad I watched a documentary on being a stock broker.  I thought it was really cool, so one day I decided to be one.

 

I knew it would take some sales work, but I thought it would be more geared to how good a person was with numbers.

 

In reality, it's geared to how good a person is with sales.  Over the years I met with a lot of really dumb people that were good with talking so they were very successful as financial advisors.

 

That hot take and more as I explain yet another failure in the quest to be normal.