Posts tagged "lifestyle"

6
histories lifestyle humor

Jul 17

A funny story about a couch…

A peculiar thing happened to me this weekend…

A couch (which I love) was not fitting into my new Brooklyn abode and so, with much uneasiness, I was forced to list it on Craigslist. A buyer emerged quickly, and we made arrangements for the sale.

As I had moved out of the apartment already, I had to make arrangements with my old roommate as well. I told her the date and time, and all was well. A few days prior to the sale, my roommate had said she wanted to keep the couch and pay for it. “I have already made arrangements with another buyer” I said, and this did NOT rub her the right way at all. You see, she felt more entitled to the couch because I had lived with her and the other guy was more or less a stranger. She also saw an opportunity, since the odds were in her favor.

First she barraged me with insane text messages (more on this later). Then, she refused to answer any of my calls as it was getting close to sale time. Today was the day of the sale…here’s how it went down:

1. She texted me 30 minutes before the guy was coming by, to tell me she was leaving a check for the couch taped to the door and not letting me into the house. Holding my couch hostage, but still paying for it.

2. Upon arriving at the door, there was no check to be found. This was a negotiation tactic (well played, miss!)

3. After some knocking, a 10 minute rant came from inside the apartment along with threats to call security and have me removed (very well played). Then a check $150 dollars LESS than the price I was going to sell it for was slipped under the door and the security threat once again re-enforced.

I was in a bit of a pickle, indeed, as the guy who wanted to buy the couch was pulling up to the building with a U-Haul. I explained the situation to him and surprisingly he was quite chipper about it.

“New York, is full of B-tches.” he said. “Welcome.”

So there you have it! A fun story about a couch, a domestic dispute, an understanding stranger and a (smaller) pocket full of money.


24
New York City new york living lifestyle advice money motivational work career

Jan 15

thechriswayoflife asked: hey! once i graduate from college, i am moving to new york city. which is next year.. any tips, etc..?? :)

Yes, indeed. Here are some essentials. If I think of more, I will post them as well. 

1. Start planting seeds immediately 

Seems like you’re already doing a bit of this, but recently I’ve become a firm believer in the seeding or fishing approach (pick your metaphor). Plant a ton of seeds, and a few of them will grow into something plentiful. Cast out a bunch of lines, and see which one bites. It’s really a numbers game over time, so make sure you connect with a lot of like minded people in NYC as early as possible, let them know what you’re about and what you’re looking for and stay in touch. Something is bound to go down somehow, somewhere, guaranteed. 

2. Make sure you know what you want and where you want to be within a year or two 

Number 1 made me think of this one … it should probably be first on your list, actually. Have that end game all planned out (or at least loosely planned out). See a vision of yourself living in New York, working at X, hanging out with Y, getting published by Z … or whatever. The more articulated your end game is now, the easier it is to tell people what you’re looking for when you make connections .. and the easier it will be for them to figure out how to help you. So many people don’t know exactly what they’re trying to do .. they’re just trying to “get put on” or whatever. Well, if you’re talking to someone in generalities and just trying to “make it” somehow someway regardless of what that means, it will let people know that you haven’t done your homework and you’re basically wasting their time. 

3. Make sure NYC is definitely your first stop after college

It wasn’t mine, man. A friend convinced me to take a detour through Chicago. I was going to move straight to NYC in 2007 right after college but without any experience and looking to get into the music industry, I was looking at an assistant gig with a major label working for peanuts. If I did that, I would be living out of a cardboard refrigerator box within 6 months. Instead I went to Chicago, gained a few years of experience in a city that was a little bit cheaper and easier to handle, then came to NYC guns a blazin’. 

4. If NYC is definitely the first stop, then get smart about money immediately 

Read some stuff about personal money management. For real. When I got my first gig after college and I wasn’t broke broke no mo’, I went HAM … as in, throwin’ dough around like I really had some. Luckily this all went down in Chicago, so it wasn’t as crazy as it could’ve been if I did the same thing in New York. When you come out here, you need to know how to manage your money so you don’t end up broke and in debt. 

5. Make sure your living situation is chill 

Everyone in New York seems to have a Craigslist nightmare story. Choose roommates wisely, and if you’re going to live with someone you already know, try to pick someone who will be a helpful and positive influence.

6. When you get here, stay focused 

I can only assume you’re moving to NYC to get somethin’ poppin .. as in, make shit happen. Well, make sure you do that and don’t get distracted by how fucking fun New York can be. You’re going to have a lot of fun, but make sure you’re working your ass off too. Otherwise, what’s the point of living in the most expensive city in the world? The reason it’s so expensive is because landowners and landlords know people are willing to pay the high rent in order to be close to the action … they’re trying to make shit happen, and willing to pay for the location. It’s like an investment in your future gangsterism. Feel me? 

7. A short word on side hustles … 

Everybody out here got ‘em. You got your main gig, and your side gig. If those overlap somehow, even better. Part of it is for the extra dough, and part of it is for the extra fun you have. And the extra people you’re going to meet. And the extra opportunities you will be exposed to. So much extra. 

8. Move to Brooklyn 

Right out of college? For real, if you’re rolling with family dough definitely get a dope ass spot in the city….otherwise move to Bushwick. 

9. Choose your friends wisely 

Sort of relates to #5 … when you make new friends in the city, make sure they’re good for ya. You will meet some party motherfuckers out here and they will want to go out constantly … they will talk to you about all the shit they have going on when they don’t do shit but drink PBR and spend (someone else’s??) dough senselessly. Definitely keep a party crew around, but find some people that are into the same productive shit you’re into as well, just to keep a good balance and keep your eye on the prize. 

10. Buy groceries and learn to cook 

If you’re not in the habit already, get your cook on. Save money and make yourself a more awesome person. 

You will notice a common thread in the list above: work and money. But I mean, that’s pretty much a common thread for this city. Work hard, play hard, be smart with your money and don’t let the city chew you up and spit you out. Instead, use the city and all it has to offer to further yourself personally, professionally and perhaps even spiritually. 

Have fun, young homey!