Posts by Weetabix
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That sounds like a euphemism for something nefarious.
Someone above expressed happiness that the SOTC's were over. Nazzo fast! I'm indolent and dilatory, but I'm here.
I also saw someone link their 2021 SOTC with additions. I'm going to do that, too. 2021 SOTC - no eliminations.
2021 additions:
Re: joy in wearing watches discussed above - for me, they're attractive tools. I query them for the time. I use the bezels. I like variety in what I look at on my wrist. I like them to be visually appealing to me. That's how I get joy from them. I like to look at watches on line, even ones I know I'd never wear, because I enjoy them visually. It's a casual thing.
Edit: @jmariorebelo said it better, but I hadn't gotten to his post yet when I posted this.
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I also saw someone link their 2021 SOTC with additions. I'm going to do that, too. 2021 SOTC - no eliminations.
2021 additions:
- NTH Thresher in June. I'm wearing it right now. It somehow seems like it's similar to the MDV-106, but I like it much more. Better hands and indices, so better legibility. Better bezel functionality.
- Luminox 3050/3950 - I'm on a slow motion quest for a yellow dial I really like. This one is fine, but not The One. I do like tritium and 60-click bezels. I wear it occasionally, though I no longer have a formal rotation.
Re: joy in wearing watches discussed above - for me, they're attractive tools. I query them for the time. I use the bezels. I like variety in what I look at on my wrist. I like them to be visually appealing to me. That's how I get joy from them. I like to look at watches on line, even ones I know I'd never wear, because I enjoy them visually. It's a casual thing.
Edit: @jmariorebelo said it better, but I hadn't gotten to his post yet when I posted this.
I resemble that remark! I don't think I have 50+, though.
For me, it's an affordable variety thing. I don't aspire to a 3-watch collection. I know I'd want more variety. I will grant that I have some near duplicates that could bo away, though. I think I could appreciate quality, but I don't seem to be willing to spend that much on any one watch.
I think I'm pretty contented, except that I really should sell or give away the ones that didn't stand the test of time. I bought affordables to test my preferences, so I appreciate the contributions of even the ones that no longer appeal - they helped me realize what I like. But they should move on. I'd have to think to decide whether I regret any of the purchases. (after a pause) I think maybe I regret the Orient Bambino Open Heart. It was a very early impulse purchase, but it did teach me that I don't care for open heart watches, so there is that.
I still have a couple I'm interested in, but I'm happy enough now, that I don't know if I'll ever get around to trying them. Last year's bashes notwithstanding, I still find the FXD and the Steinhart appealing. And my search for a happy-making yellow dial continues.
Why people come here: I agree that it's interesting. I came, I suppose, to develop my discernment about what I really want so I could avoid having too large a pile of watches I'm not actually interested in. It's also interesting sometimes to see people here projecting their own struggles on others when trying to help those others. I'm not bashing anyone with that statement. It's quite difficult to be entirely objective about anything. It's just interesting to see - the human mind is a murky place.
I hate them. But from what I've read, they were necessary in the early days of lume to get it to adhere properly. But it's not necessary now. The design error was keeping them. They're ugly. But they're "Rolex."
Are you buying gold plated Vostok movements? I'd bet it's more than 20...
Keep in mind that the bashes are intended to help someone think through any negatives they may not have considered in the first euphoric flush of an intended purchase. I can say they've helped me think through and avoid some purchases I know I would have regretted later.
As to the "I hate Rolex..." I don't think that's avoidable. Rolex tends to provoke passionate responses in both directions. I think that's part of their marketing strategy. I don't care for most Rolexes, personally, but if I were to choose one, the Explorer would probably be it. It's an attractive watch.
I'm happy for you. The beauty of watches is that there are so many watches for so many tastes that almost everyone can be happy. I truly believe that whatever raises the general level of happiness in the world is a good thing.
I have one watch that produced quite a bit of ... not mockery or scorn - those are too strong... incredulity? when I posted it for bashing. But I still smile when I wear it. So, don't take anything here too personally. We're just sumdoods on teh internets.
I will heartily second that.
They do wear tall. And they're a bit small for my tastes, though I know not for yours. I like the crown's quirkiness. And they definitely feel cheap. I have a yellow dial one that I rather like except that the bezel is so difficult to use. It looks like one of the upgrade bezels you can get, so to date I haven't tried another one, fearing that it will feel the same.
I started my own engineering firm in 2004 with a partner. We had one client starting out - an architect had told me he'd give me all his business if I started a firm. We were going after architects because so many engineering firms in town didn't like working with them, but I got along with them fine. We did fine - didn't get rich, but enjoyed it immensely. The 2008 financial crisis killed us along with half the civil engineering firms in town. I'm glad I did it.
How we managed - savings, lots of marketing, knowing the market we were going after. Lots of long hours - the firm policy was that if you sealed a drawing after 9 PM, you used purple ink to sign it. Lots of second hand equipment. My partner's dad put up a $50k CD as collateral for a line of credit at a local bank to help with cash flow. We managed not to max out the line of credit and got the collateral released after a year or two. I enjoyed it. I was just shy of 40 when we started. It would probably be scarier now, as I'm closer to "retirement" (if such a thing manages to happen). Our mantra was: Get. Do. Bill. Collect. The "collect" is very important, obviously.
Seems like cash in the first year or so is a big deal for people. My partner was the business half, and the collateral/line of credit thing was his idea. It made a huge difference as we got rolling.
You do lighting design, don't you? Have you been feeling out potential clients? Do you have a target market? Focusing your efforts is pretty important.
Spitballing here:
- we purposely avoided public (government) projects to start because the big guys went after those pretty aggressively and our former firm did as well. We didn't want to start off looking like we were poaching clients. Also, the government projects had a lot more overhead in them. I don't know how that would compare in the Netherlands. Although, maybe as a specialty designer, you could get hooked up with some of the larger firms that don't have that in house?
- do they do design/build there? Maybe consult for contractors who do infills and remodels?
Certificate of Deposit. It's a deposit in a bank that you can't take out for some set period of time. You get a bit better interest, and they know the money is there for them to use for some set period.
A CAD drafter I knew did contract drafting for several firms. Could you do contract design for your previous employer? Here, I think the contract rate is basically 2x or 2.5x the hourly rate of an in house employee.
I'll agree that it's very important to get clients. In the beginning. But as you start out taking every client, be mindful of who are the RIGHT clients. The 80/20 rule applies: 20% of your clients will cause 80% of your troubles. 20% of your clients will be 80% of your revenue. Take everyone in the beginning, but pay attention to which clients fit in each of those categories. As your business matures, weed out the trouble makers and look to duplicate the excellent ones. I've fired a few clients in my time, and my life was immensely better afterwards. Some of the people in my current firm gripe a bit when I give some of our current clients better preference - they're in the good 20%, so I treat them very well so they'll stay around.
But, also pay attention to invoicing and collecting. I suck at that. And I knew it then. My partner was great at it. You have to have all the pieces in place to make it work. Be honest with yourself, and if there's an aspect of Get, Do, Bill, Collect that you suck at, force yourself to get better at it or get help from somewhere. It doesn't have to be a partner or employee. But make sure all those are covered.
That is a lovely watch, alright! For me, it was the Damasko DH1.0. The only thing I might change is to have it a millimeter or two bigger. But it's still the most worn watch in my box.
Edit: Bought early February, 2019
Edi
An engineer I used to work with always proclaimed sarcastically, "We lose a little on every job, but we make it up on volume!" when he was deep in a job the partners underestimated.
He was a character. Big guy - not fat, just big.
This was in Alaska and we didn't have air conditioning in the building at that time. I came into his area one time - bare torso above the table, bare legs and feet below. "Uh... Bert? Do you at least have underwear on?"
At a sauna party, he and I were in the sauna with just towels. He had his off. I was getting over heated, but he kept saying, "Just wait! The women will get tired of waiting for us and come in nekkid, too!"
He was also a professional hunt guide. He always took 6 weeks off during the season to guide in his plane. His favorite client were the Germans who sniffed and asked who was responsible for tidying this portion of the Alaska wilderness.
He'd bring his plane to company picnics and give people rides. Once it was during spawning season, and I was up with him. He asked if I could see the salmon in the stream below. I couldn't. So, he tipped the plane perpendicular to the ground, and flew upstream at about 60'. "How about now?"
Had him and his girlfriend over for dinner once. He mentioned something about eating a lot and quickly at the hunting camp. I asked him if he could eat an entire piece of cheese cake in one bite. Turns out he could. I mentioned an animal I'd found mummified in the yard. He wanted to see it, so I brought it to the table for him to ID. My wife still insists that I should never bring animal corpses to the dinner table or challenge guests' oral capacity.
One day, the bosses came in and asked if anyone knew who his dentist was. Seems his plane had caught a downdraft and the resulting fire required dental identification.
You sparked some really fun memories with just that one phrase that he used all the time. I miss that guy.
He'd enjoy pointing out the population density disparity to them. I think at the time (mid 90's), the average population density in Alaska was 0.5 people/square mile. He was taking them to less populated places.
It ticks. The boxes. Duh!
I count @cortman as a watch friend, but he's about 2 hours away, so we've only met in person the once. Maybe he counts more as "Iknowa guy" when I'm in that area.
I believe you're right. What's the reference on the MM200? I need to look at more photos.
Grandchild #5 (a granddaughter, finally!) is due in April. Maybe we'll luck out and be at the same hospital at the same time!
I think people approach watches according to some sort of (shall we say) first principles on what aspects of a watch matter most to them. I haven't got my theory all worked out, and probably won't. Maybe it's just a minor thesis at this point. Obviously, some principles overlap:
- does it sort of tell you what time it is while being durable?
- does it keep time quite accurately?
- is the price appropriate to the factors I value?
- does the workmanship of the various elements reach a level I find satisfactory?
- does it meet MY aesthetic criteria?
- can it survive Armageddon so the roaches and rats will know the time while I am a comfortable pile of ash?
- can it tell time on the bottom of the Marianas Trench? (I'll still take it off to get in the pool.)
People have a grab bag of these criteria that matter to them, then seem to discuss with others as if those others had the same grab bag. I liked the summation @Trias did while trying to understand Tudor (and I like your posts better without spoilers).
Maybe we should compile a comprehensive list of watch attributes that matter, and we could do "state of the criteria" posts. Each one may need a numerical scale.
- does it sort of tell you what time it is while being durable?
- does it keep time quite accurately?
- is the price appropriate to the factors I value?
- does the workmanship of the various elements reach a level I find satisfactory?
- does it meet MY aesthetic criteria?
- can it survive Armageddon so the roaches and rats will know the time while I am a comfortable pile of ash?
- can it tell time on the bottom of the Marianas Trench? (I'll still take it off to get in the pool.)
People have a grab bag of these criteria that matter to them, then seem to discuss with others as if those others had the same grab bag. I liked the summation @Trias did while trying to understand Tudor (and I like your posts better without spoilers).
Maybe we should compile a comprehensive list of watch attributes that matter, and we could do "state of the criteria" posts. Each one may need a numerical scale.
I could see that, though it's not how I meant it.
That's actually how I use my mental list. I developed that here.
That's how I use a list.
"Hm. Beautiful, but 40mm. I wouldn't wear it."
"Hm. Beautiful, but 14mm thick. I wouldn't wear it."
"Hm. Beautiful... how much?!"
"Hm. Beautiful, but it's almost exactly like XX that I already have."
"Hm. Beautiful, but 3 ATM. I'm not careful enough to deserve that one."
"Hm. It alerts me to the time in Cairo - I may need to know that when the cat wakes me up. I'll buy it."
I'm quite fond of insufferable literary references. Carry on!
This criteria list business - I was actually thinking that it might make discussions of watches easier - "You're a fit and finish guy, so I can see why you'd say that." or things of that nature. It might also make bashing easier by hitting the bashee's actual criteria rather than ones he doesn't care about.
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