Guppiesworld is my motivation. I get 100+ unique visitors a day to this site, and since anyone can see my training plan, I feel like a lazy POS if I don't follow my plan. Looking at site traffic, most go to the workouts listed above as well as too my Training Peaks plan in the sidebar. With Hunter Allen as my training plan coordinator, I think many are piggy backing on my money. Doesn't bother me, as long as I don't end up racing against you and you bet me. Of course, just about everybody beats me.
I've been disappointed in my dedication to training. A lot has to do with work. I think I've followed at least 60% of the plan. My goal for next week is to hit 90% of the planned hours. It's a big increase, but if I want to be a little competitive this year, I NEED to increase my training before it's too late. Time is running out. My first race is March 26, which I use more as a training, break the ice, type race. My 'real' first race is mid-April. I have a SMALL window of opportunity to increase my ability for that race.
As for my work, I am a economics instructor at a local university (also teach corporate finance and accounting classes). It's a job I absolutely love. Never thought I'd have a job I love, but I do. Students can be a handful and some days are better than others, but at the end of the day, I love helping the students and teaching them. I probable make myself 'too' available for them. I am always willing to meet them at any time, as long as I'm not teaching. I love it when you can see the 'light bulb' go off and they finally get it. Especially in economics. Students in K-12 learn the basics of economics, mainly in history class. Unfortunately, most of what they learn is wrong. Neither the New Deal nor WWII ended the Great Depression. Corporate America and the 'wealthy' are not evil and are not trying to 'control' the poor. Stuff like that.
Students usually come in to class with economic viewpoints based on political loyalties. I try to reverse that. Politics should NEVER influence ones economic viewpoints. Doesn't make any sense. Does your political beliefs influence your personal finances? No, so why should it influence the countries economics policies. Your economic viewpoints (and other viewpoints: environment, etc) should be the one influencing who you vote for. But I find out that is not how it is. I see it as part of my job to not only teach them how economics really works, but to open up their mind and vote based on what they believe and not based on party loyalty. It's so awesome too see their minds open up (some slower than others) and think outside of political parties.
I have had one or two students who freak out, but only one who actually dropped the class. I pointed out the major flaws in socialized medicine, and being a die hard Obama fan, he couldn't bear hearing anything bad about Obama. He came to my office complaining to me about how I was trashing Obama, etc. I told him he needs to stop drinking the political kool-aide and remember that politicians are sales people and will tell you whatever you want to hear to sell something. I also offered him a solid 'A' if he could prove to me that the flaws I pointed out were wrong. I gave him ALL my sources (I always give my sources), but never heard from him again. Interesting enough, he worked for the university newspaper. Go figure. LOL.
I don't care about political parities. I'm liberal on some things and conservative on others. I vote based on my own self-interest, not any 'party' interest. Wish more American's did that.
Anyways, my other blog is www.defuncteconomist.com. It's where I publish most of my research work towards my Ph.d in economics. It's also the cause of me not having time to train as much as I should. :(
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