Today is the last day I will ever wear a suit

[jim]

I suit up because I like it.

You like that feeling of someone strangling you? DIfferent strokes I guess, I've heard it can be euphoric but it's not for me.

[heyzeus]

I suit up because I like it.

You like that feeling of someone strangling you? DIfferent strokes I guess, I've heard it can be euphoric but it's not for me.

JackOfDavidCarradine

[JackofDiamonds]

Autoerotic-asfashionation?

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

It's going amazingly actually. I still "work" so to speak. I've been putting in more hours then ever at the farm which is a trend that is only sure to continue as my Dad ages but I show up in a t-shirt and jeans everyday, no meetings, or customers barking about when is their crap going to be done that they just ordered yesterday. I still do design for my old company but it's pretty rare to get anything difficult. I will go into the office a couple days a week knock out whatever work needs done then leave. It's pretty chill. There is a dress code there which is stupid but I don't follow it. They were supposed to have someone hired to do my job by now but they are kind of struggling so I don't think they can take on a full time employee. Then job number three if you will is working on my website. It's pretty chill since I'm in charge and any profit it makes is just bonus. We are making a little money, enough to say we are doing it, and we have our "staff" meetings which is just really myself and my three buddies playing Forza on Xbox a couple nights a week. Other then that going around and shooting pictures of hot rods and muscle cars is pretty damn easy going.

No way could I just sit at home and do nothing. I'll never do that, but I'm also not going to do something I don't want to do. Life is too short to be stressed out and I can tell you that I was far more stressed then I realized. The work at the farm will be stressful at times but it will be temporary. Maybe six weeks of planting then it's pretty easy going until harvest, there will be plenty of work to do between planting and harvest but it's not urgent. I can handle that and don't mind it at all.

The thing I miss least is dealing with people. Sure I still do at times in the various things I do but it's not as a customer/business stand point. No one is pushing me to give a presentation at the Chamber of Commerce, or to go to some rural development seminar. I've unplugged from all of that so to speak. It's great. It's a little scary at first because I don't make nearly as much money now, but I don't have to either so as long as I can keep fully funding my Roth, pay my bills, and have some goof off money with out owing anyone anything I'm set.

So, if you can make a go of it financially do it. I love being the guy that quit his day job, threw away his suits, and doesn't groom as well as he used to. It's way better then what I was before.

First off, glad you're enjoying it. That's awesome. I agree wholeheartedly with the bolded part of your statement....which I think is why I'm where I am.

Financially...I know I could do it, but how responsible that is...I don't know. I wouldn't have a feelance job, a farm to work or a hobby to make money....except trading stocks. I think I can do it. But, that's a pretty big leap of faith to take.

[IMADreamer]

I completely understand. I was in a bit of a perfect storm really. I had a great offer on my business, and I had some options to pick up some income. I also don't have kids, or any obligations so I can live on very little money. However if it can be done, I highly recommend it.

[IMADreamer]

I had a request today to speak at some regional development thing. I'm fine with that I don't mind public speaking and all but I'm on the fence because it would break my never wear a suit again goal. They want me to talk about the "new business model" of being online only with the only product being content instead of physical goods. IE, blogging. I'm fine with that although I hardly feel highly successful at it. So I'm wondering if I showed up in shorts and a t shirt if that would look really bad, or almost fit the "I quit my day job and now I work from my couch" thing.

[jim]

I had that once a year problem at my nieces wedding Friday where I had no clothes to wear. My wife bought me an ivory shirt and told me an old sports jacket that I had would look good with it. It is a light beige job, paid under $50 at Kohl's probably 10 years ago. She also said that I had an olive pair of docker slacks that would go with it - and I felt pretty good about that because I remember buying those within 2 years. She said no tie - which was good because I own two: One is a nice looking tie with red and black but wouldn't have looked right and the other is a really sharp looking tie that is deep blue with pictures of flies and trout and fisherman on it. My wife doesn't like it.

There is some phobia or pathological thing I do with this, because of course I don't go and check this wardrobe selection out 2 weeks in advance when she told me. I kept thinking every day - better go try that stuff on. She is going to be pissed when I start complaining the day before that I have to run out and buy some clothes.

But I wait, and wait until 9pm the night before. First thing I notice is the light tan sports coat has what looks like cherry kool-aid spilled on the sleeve. Not big, but a spot. Probably wine? Who knows, it's been 10 years since I wore it and I know my older son wore it since because I pulled something out of a pocket that was his from about 5 years ago.

Ok, jacket is acceptable, spot and all.

Now the pants - they are too big. I lost 20 pounds about 5 years ago, and was sure I bought these pants after the weight loss but what I forgot was after that quick shed of 20 I slowly took off 10 more. So I had to cinch them up with the belt, and when I undid the belt the pants would just fall to my ankles because they were made of a heavy material that felt like they were pulling them down.

The brand new shirt didn't fit either, because when my wife went to buy it she looked at the other dress shirt I have and took the size from that - which was bought when I was 30 years heavier.

Shoes - I see a pair sitting in the hallway and put them on 30 minutes before we are leaving for Springfield. Oh noes - they are tight. I could survive suppose, but they sure were uncomfortable. 5 minutes before we leave, my wife is freaking out: "Where is PIR's shoes? They were right here".

Oh. So that's why they didn't fit. I hadn't worn my dress shoes in so long that I couldn't even identify them. Went in the closet and voila! Another pair of shoes - and these fit.

Every time these things happen I have the thought to myself that I need to go by some clothes for next time. But next time might be 3 months away, or 3 years. What if it's 3 years - better wait because I might not be the same size. And naturally when next time gets here, I'll put it off like I do every other time and end up in the same exact boat.

I am thankful I work in an environment that allows t-shirts and shorts and flip flops, but it does prevent problems for events like this.

[jim]

I had a request today to speak at some regional development thing. I'm fine with that I don't mind public speaking and all but I'm on the fence because it would break my never wear a suit again goal. They want me to talk about the "new business model" of being online only with the only product being content instead of physical goods. IE, blogging. I'm fine with that although I hardly feel highly successful at it. So I'm wondering if I showed up in shorts and a t shirt if that would look really bad, or almost fit the "I quit my day job and now I work from my couch" thing.

Things are changing. I have been interviewing people at my work, and typically people would show up in suits. We had two candidates for the same position show up in slacks, a dress shirt, and no tie. These are six figure positions - not interviewing for a job as store manager at Burger King. They looked fine, and maybe they knew that we were off the charts casual beforehand, but I was surprised. I don't think anyone ever expects people to wear a suit now - in fact most people don't trust people in a suit. And if I think about it, 98% of the time that's true. If you are wearing a tie ... why? That's very suspicious to me.

[IMADreamer]

I had a request today to speak at some regional development thing. I'm fine with that I don't mind public speaking and all but I'm on the fence because it would break my never wear a suit again goal. They want me to talk about the "new business model" of being online only with the only product being content instead of physical goods. IE, blogging. I'm fine with that although I hardly feel highly successful at it. So I'm wondering if I showed up in shorts and a t shirt if that would look really bad, or almost fit the "I quit my day job and now I work from my couch" thing.

Things are changing. I have been interviewing people at my work, and typically people would show up in suits. We had two candidates for the same position show up in slacks, a dress shirt, and no tie. These are six figure positions - not interviewing for a job as store manager at Burger King. They looked fine, and maybe they knew that we were off the charts casual beforehand, but I was surprised. I don't think anyone ever expects people to wear a suit now - in fact most people don't trust people in a suit. And if I think about it, 98% of the time that's true. If you are wearing a tie ... why? That's very suspicious to me.

You just sold me on going casual for this thing.

[JackofDiamonds]

I wore a suit today. Didn't need to, but wanted to.