Dec 17

 Another very long day at work yesterday.  These long days are messing with my schedule.

I need to be able to drag myself out of bed at 5:00.  When I lived in Cali, I got up at 5:00 every morning.  I had no issues.  Must be something about the winter, cause I cannot force myself to get out of my warm bed.  Must get better.

Weight hit 206 this morning.  That is going the wrong direction.  I must get better.

Should still hurts, but it feels better.  I will not lift heavy until Jan and give this thing a few weeks to heal.  So that means lots of cardio.  That is good because my waist needs some cardio.

I am in week 2 of my study.  Week 1 was pretty much just an introduction.  It is hard to think about 4 years worth of work, but if you break it down to 200 weeks it is much more manageable.  I am 0.5% done.

:)

Well... another brutal work day today.  Meetings till 8 PM.  Two long days next week and then two weeks vacation.  The best thing about working in Pharma is the industry wide shutdown between Xmas and NY.  

Have a great day!

- E

Dec 16

 I am only two days in to my plan for the year and I fell off the wagon so hard yesterday that I cracked the pavement.  I had a very long day at work, and when I got out of my office (following a 3 hour meeting), I proceeded to eat all of the food.

Terrible!

Well, the best thing about falling off the wagon is the ability to get back on.  So... upsie-daisy!

Good exercise this morning.  Did a version of the "Murph".  It was obviously lighter than the real version but it was still enough to get me good and sweaty.

I overslept though, so I didn't get to spend my hour on my study this morning.  

I need to start getting out of bed on time, but the winter just sucks the life out of me.

Another long day at the office today, but looking forward to not throwing it all away with bad habits!

- Eric

Dec 15/Day 2

 My shoulders are killing me, like on fire all the time and have been for weeks.  I guess I need to let them heal before I start to get nutty with exercise again.  So I will really focus on high calorie work, rather than lifting.  I will try to keep working on arms, but I will use isolation work.

Big week at work.  Bid defenses for a new upcoming study.  So I will be working late every day this week.  This is my time to shine though.  I may actually even put on pants.

I am still working on getting my schedule down for the YOEIII.  I think there will be a few days where I take vacation and focus on study.

Have a great day!

- Eric

Dec 14 / Day 1 / YOE III

 Hello!

Today is the first day of YOE III.  Getting a jump on those 2021 resolutions as the world returns to normal from a pandemic and basically a lost year.  

I will write, exercise, diet, study, and work.  I will capture the highlights here for posterity and next year at this time, I am going to write a book.

I feel good, I am energized, I am excited, and I am motivated.  

- Eric 

#YOEIII

Winter is Coming!

 It is December 7, two weeks until Christmas Vacation.  This is probably the hardest part of the year for me professionally.  You are trying to get some goals lined up for 2021 with an eye towards some much needed time off.  It is especially needed this year, as I didn't really have a summer vacation.  I haven't had an extended break in nearly a year.

As with every year, I plan to put a little extra effort into cleaning up this site and my on-line presence over the break.  It is always one of my "vacation projects".  

Here is to a safe and relaxing Christmas Vacation and a safe and prosperous New Year.  See you in 2021.

- Eric

Election Day

 Well... its Armageddon Eve, I hope you packed for the apocalypse.  I seriously have no idea what to expect when the final result is in.  I am shocked and mortified that this is even close. I cannot for the life of me understand what people see in Trump that makes them want to give him the keys to this castle for four more years.  However, they are not asking me for my opinion.  So I will just roll with the punches.

Good luck to all of us.  May the odds be in your favor.

- Eric

Hey... 3 days in a row

 I am a week and a half into the new job, which means I am still warming up.  I am trying to enjoy the warm up this time around, but I wouldn't mind if I get some projects dumped in my lap.

I checked on the LLC from the last post, and it looks like I should have the legal paperwork by Thanksgiving.  I will "fund" the LLC in January.  I guess the biggest question that I have is when I fund the LLC, can I write that investment off of my taxes?  I know I would need to start doing a return for the LLC, which is why I am waiting till January... give me one more year to learn about how all these taxes work.

So... I guess the next big thing is to map out my November workout.  I am going to "try" something for November and December.  I am going to try to do a periodization workout where I spend week one in a cutting or cardio phase and week two in a lifting or bulking phase and then switch back.  Alternating throughout the two months.

I will weigh myself on November 1 and again on December 31.  I will take my picture (shirtless) on each day and do a before and after.  I think I can do this.  I am interested in how this all might work.

Well... that seems like enough for today.

Thanks,

- E

Stary LLC

 So... I registered for an LLC name yesterday.  I just picked the nice and simple Stary LLC.  I, of course, added the domain at staryllc.com and even went so far to as to add the basic Google business package so I can get an e-mail address.

I was walking around the neighborhood after work and I saw my neighbor working on his car.  He is rebuilding a car.  Another neighbor just did the same thing.  Both of them had so much passion for their work.  I don't have a hobby.  I mean I exercise and I golf, but neither of them are really a hobby.  I exercise to be healthy and I have made it a core of my life.  I really don't have anything else that I do, just for the joy of doing it.  I have to compound this with two facts: 1) I don't really have a passion about anything.  2) I don't really have any friends to have a hobby with.

So what do I do...

Well... I like to make money.  I like to look at things to make money with.  That should be my hobby.  I can't think of a better way to spend my morning, evenings, and weekends that sitting in my office having a coffee or a beer and looking up ways to invest.  So... that is what I shall do.

Why the LLC?

Well, I thought I should find a way to protect myself in case I invest in something that goes sideways.  I am going to invest in a movie this spring.  I have already discussed it with the director, and I wanted to protect my personal wealth (what little there is) in the event that I need to.  So, I whipped up an LLC.  I can pay the LLC with starter funds and then manage these investments efforts out of the LLC.  

I will get to learn how to run a business and I will get to have a hobby... win - win.

I already have a suite of domains, so I will spend my weekends getting those up off the ground.  I have some planned investments to make in art, movies, collectibles, and other non-market stuff.  I will expand this to real estate once I have enough to do so.  It would be great if this hobby can become my next career as I move on down the road.

OK.  That's enough for today.

Thanks,

- E

October 26 - Day 1

I am so excited to report that I have taken a job at Vir Biotech.  I thought I would use today as not only a Day 1 of work (it is not actually day 1), but a Day 1 for a new workout/diet/lifestyle plan.  A change is always a good place to make additional changes.

I am back to working with west coast teams, so it should mean way less meetings before noon.  This means that I will have open calendar time in the morning, so longer workouts.  It also means later evenings, those awesome 7PM calls.  However, the give is well worth the take.

Since the quarantine started back in March, I have lost about 30 pounds and managed to keep off the weight.  I am going to try to relight that fire that melted off the first 30 and take off this last 20.  That means daily workouts, daily walks, and daily fasting till after noon.  Mon-Fri I will eat a light lunch and an early dinner, with no snacks after dinner.  On Sat and Sun I will fast as long as I can (to late in the afternoon) and then eat one big glorious meal.  I will give myself some allowances for an after dinner beer, but generally I need to keep it light (and I mean the volume not the style).

This change also will give me the chance to start writing again and pursue some additional ventures (blogs, investments, and side gigs). I have no reason why I could not have been pursuing these things while working at AbbVie, I just got settled in my ways and I needed a shake up.  Consider me shook.

I will write every day.  I will find someone to help me set up some websites for some ideas that I have.  I will make some big investments in a movie project and some art.  Hopefully the movie project also lets me have a little fun as a producer.  I have tried this before but the project was cancelled.  

Here is to Day 1... raises coffee cup.

Thanks, 

- E

Thanks,

- E

October 18

 I know... I am going to mess around and make this a habit.  :)

So... I accepted a position at an up and coming West Coast based biotech.  I am super excited both for the opportunity to take the next step in my professional development and to be working for a company doing some cutting edge stuff.  

I will provide more details next week after I get my feet set in the new gig.

I am going to use this as a sort of "Day 1".  Not just a professional day 1, but a personal day 1 as well.  This is my first job with the title of Associate Director.  I have been trying to get here for 20 years and I want to use this chance to refocus on the other elements of my life that need to be tightened up.

What does that mean:

1. I want to be an executive, at least once.  So be an executive, and be one in all aspects of my life.  Right... that sort of "be the next job" attitude.

2. Professional: I got the job, so go kick some ass.

3. Diet and Exercise: I do a good job here, at least I have since "Quarantine" started, but I can take this up a notch.  Eat better, exercise harder, and be more focused.  That means get up early.  Get some miles in and then get some iron in.  And do it religiously.  On the food side, I have to eat like I am going to play Captain America's stunt double.  Cut the sugar, cut the fat, up the lean meat, and up the veggies.  

4. Clothes: My wife has been restocking my closet during quarantine.  I have some new clothes, but I do need to keep this going.  I need new suits and some new "work clothes", for once the apocalypse comes to a close.

5. Image: Again, this is about projecting the right image, the image of an executive.  I get lazy here and settle into comfort.  I have to actively work on that.

6. YOLO: I am going to save my money and buy myself a flashy car.  Older car, something that goes fast and looks good.  

7. Investing: I want to take this up a notch as well.  Over the course of the next few years, I want to finance some cash streams that provide income.  I don't have the "passion" to run my own business, but I want to finance others, and reap the benefits of their passion.

That is enough for now... but I am going to keep circling back on this and keep writing.

Thanks,

- E

October 11

 Hello there...

Big news coming next week, and no... we are not having any more children.

Personal stuff:  No big changes.  Still weighing in around 195 lbs.  I need to refocus before "Winter" gets here, and lose that last 10 pounds.  Would be great to be at 185 before the Holiday eating season starts.  

Home: Still sad that pool season is over.

Car: We bought a new car... Mercedes GLA 250.  Its awesome.  I know it is a bit of a vanity purchase, and I am perfectly OK with that.

Well... I can't think of anything else.  Stay safe.  Will chat soon.

- Eric

June 23

I have been making some real progress on both the pool and my waist line.

Pool:  Pool is in and we have been swimming for two weeks.  It's awesome.  I have done a lot of the landscaping, but I have a good weekend or two's worth of effort left to finish.  See Insta for the pics once she is all done.

Note:  Moving sod and rock is both good for the soul and the waist.

Weight: About 203 right now.  Got as low as 197 last weekend, totally dehydrated from working, but I will take it.  The first 20 is in the books, it is this second 20 that trips me up.  I will need to pick up the diet and start eating better, you can't outwork a bad diet. 

Will post updates on both here in July.

Thanks,

- E

Quick Update

Just wanted to make a quick update...

Its May 7.  The world is still under quarantine.

Weight: 213.  It is improving.  My diet is MUCH better lately.  I would really like to get to 205 by the end of the month.

Pool: Construction is zooming along.  I expect it to be filled with water in two weeks, if the weather helps.  Side note... it is still unseasonably cold.  It was 35F this morning.

Work: Still employed, so I guess that is something.

Side note: I have had it with social media.  Not with the technology, but with the people I allow into my life.  I will try this again, I won't interact with anything outside of my own posts.  I will post from a third-party app so I don't even have to open the GD thing. 

Have a great day!

- E

Quarantine

Greetings from Quarantine.

We are going on week 3 of Coronavirus Quarantine.  Generally, I am pretty good with it.  I am not a very social butterfly, and work is still work for me (since I work from home).  The big difference has been having the kids home.  They are doing home school for the rest of the year, they are little incubators after all. 

As a side note... I am kicking the crap out of 7th grade math, and 6th grade science.

It is April 6th, at it looks like we are going to be in the hole for at least 4 more weeks, but if the greater population can keep their ass indoors, we should get out of this in time for summer and lounging by the pool.

Speaking of pool... we still plan to move forward with the pool.  I was pretty apprehensive at first, down right scared.  But, the last few days have had quite a few little rays of hope, so I think the best thing to do for the great Stary Family good is just to throw down with the pool.  I can deal with risk, given that it is all extra cash.

I have bee doing pretty good with my quarantine diet, so I plan to come out of this a little lighter than I went in, so that is a bit of an added bonus.

I am not going to allow this to change my goals.  Rather this has only highlighted what I want and what my life lacks.  Perhaps it has added some clarity of vision.

When we start digging the pool, I will provide live updates every day. 

Talk later...

- Eric

Feb 20, 2020

Greetings...

Big news on two fronts that bring me great joy.

1. Professional.  So I decided this last year that I just don't have the "passion" to be a self-employed person.  All the respect in the world to the people that do that, but I just don't have a burning desire and I think you need that to go that route.  So I will humbly stay a Pharma Bro, and do my thing for Big Pharma until Big Pharma tells me to go away.

Which means, my hobby, from this point until the end of my time, is investing.  I will invest in Stocks, Real Estate, Coins, and Entertainment.  I will go after Moonshots, as Google calls them.  A little side note to remind me: a $100 invested in Bitcoin in 2010 is worth $MM today.  This decisions has been very liberating for me.  I felt like somewhat of a failure for not wanting to start my own empire, but now I can dabble in lots of little things.  See what strikes my fancy.

2. Personal.  THE POOL!!! The watermark for success for me has always been a backyard pool.  I finally have the money, the house, and the yard to put it in.  I have bids in hand, and I am working on getting the necessary approvals.  If the Water Gods align the stars, I could be taking meetings armpit deep in my backyard by this summer. 

Well... that is it for now.  Back soon.

- E

Jan 13, 2020

I had a little light bulb moment last night.  I have them often this time of year (see other sites/blogs that I have tried).  This one was really simple though.

I have spent the last few years, trying to get myself into hobbies or trying to find something that inspires me.  I often dive in at first, but then the buzz wears off and I just let it bail.

Last night, I had another good idea.  It was really the culmination of a weekend spent watching football (side bar... terrible games) and researching investment ideas.  So here it is:  "Why, am I doing anything other than trying to make more money?".

So... the Ambition-Fund is born.  I know... the name is cheesy, but I need something I could self-market and that was it and Vision Fund was taken.

So here is the goal.  Get to $1,000,000

I currently sit at a cumulative $200K.  I check my money daily, often twice a day.  Why am I even trying to do anything else with my free time.

I bought up the website name and started the blog.  Now to find some ways to make some cash.

Wish me luck...

- Eric

Jan 9

Finally starting to feel normal...

The work day is feeling normal.  Waking up is feeling normal.  Morning exercise is feeling normal.  I sort of remember what I was working on.

I have two short weeks remaining in January and then a week of vacation.

Then a short sprint to bonus season at the end of Feb.  Bonus season always resets the year for me and gives me a new goal to start working towards.

- Eric

Jan 6

Oh my goodness today was a rough day.  Today was my first full day back in the office after the two week holiday break.  Thankfully, it seems that most everyone spent today digging out from behind that mountain of e-mail, because I wasn't too inundated with new stuff.

I spent some time this morning cleaning out my inbox and my calendar and getting prepared for meetings coming up this month. 

I have a pre-planned vacation in three weeks so by the time I am really back in the flow, I will be off again, but there are worse problems to have.

- Eric

Jan 3

WFH Life is getting the best of me today. Spectrum is here trying to fix my modem, which they seem unable to do. I am trying to arrange my office and get organized for the dump truck that is next Monday.

While the Internet is down, I am taking a few minutes to plan and think about how I want this year to go. The calm before the shit storm.

Well here is to a successful 2020!

-Eric

Jan 2

Back to real life...

Back to work today.  It always feels weird after a break to get back into the flow, especially today.  My kids are at home and I have a vacation looming just 3 weeks down the road.

must focus...

Today I will eat well, exercise (both a long walk and some weights), and watch a little football.  I was particularly terrible to myself over the break, too many cookies. 

Have a great day, week, month, and year!

#2020

- Eric

January 1, 2020

#MerryNewYear

Hello and Happy 2020.  Just a couple of quick thoughts on 2020.  I have three goals, and only three.  If I keep this simple, I may get something accomplished ;). 

Goal #1: Write every day.  Be it here on this page or on another page or even on a piece of paper.  I need to write every day.  Have a thought and put it into the world. 

Goal #2: Once and for all, drop that 30 pounds (goal weight 185 lbs).  Two months ago, I was actively trying to gain weight.  I was actively trying to put muscle on this 43 year-old body.  Two weeks ago, my back hurt so bad that I couldn't stand up.  I have to finally face the fact that I am not going to be built like a truck, that truck has driven off, parked at a seedy motel, and is probably actively trying to get chlamydia.  I have to focus on my weight to take some strain off my back and my knees.  Not to mention, I want to look good in a suit (both fancy and birthday).

Goal #3: Save more money.  As my net worth has increased, it has created this positive feedback loop for growing it more.  I watch the number climb and that fills me with more pride and a greater sense of success than anything has ever done in my life.  This year I can get the net worth to 300K, that will be my target.  This spring we will look into putting a pool in the back yard, which will temporarily derail the goal... but I think I can make it regardless. 

That will be it.  I will let the other stuff fall as it will.  The wife and I have our 15th anniversary this month and we will be spending a week in Mexico and right after that my oldest turns 13.  A week after that is stock grant day and two more weeks to bonus day.  It will be March before I know it, so better get cracking.

Wish me luck! 

- Eric

I