| Author | Message | ||
| Steve D'Gerolamo (Ultgar)
New member Username: Ultgar Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2003 |
After spending 20 years with IBM, I also changed careers. Started out with a mail order BMW parts business which evolved into Ultimate Garage. I now work with fellow car enthusiasts to help them build garages and workshops to enjoy their toys. Best of all, I can build my own Ultimate Garage (see http://www.ultimategarage.com/UltGar2.htm for the details of the latest garage remodel) and sneak it past my wife as a showcase for clients. Matt...feel free to stop by sometime. I'm also in Bergen County (NJ). And good luck with the new career. Steve D | ||
| Bill Stevens (Pig4bill)
New member Username: Pig4bill Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2002 |
Just out of curiosity, did you try trading for your own account? That strikes me as the perfect occupation. Work as much or as little as you want, and your compensation is directly linked to your success. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 284 Registered: 6-2002 |
I can second that about owning your own buisness! Been doing it for, 8+ years now. Love every second of it, but it's sure not for everyone (very stressful, gives great excuses to take the car up the coast on the weekends!  "If you love what you do for a living, you'll never work a day in your life" -so true. Sometimes I'll be in the office or the plant untill midnight, and not even realize it, I'm having so much fun. (seriously, we build all kinds of cool stuff, and some of it even makes money, I love it! ;) Best! Ben. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 621 Registered: 8-2001 |
Yeah...but it sounds good doesn't it. Guess it depends on how bad the day was at the track. Flat spotting a set of tires vs. blowing up your gearbox...big difference! Hey maybe we can get Cingular to make up some two way communications devices for our helmets so we can talk while racing. I can see it now....."Matt please punt that 360 C in front he's holding us up!!" OR "Hey Matt slow down will ya' I'm still on the back straight!" Seriously though, have fun with your new business. Running your own business is the best way to get paid what you are worth. I haven't worked for someone since 1993. No one else is ever going to pay you what you are worth. Running a business rewards those who work hard (and smart) and punishes those who don't. It's the ultimate form of capitalism! Another thing is to surround yourself with good/smart people. You're washing her ?? This is a first isn't ?? I remember you saying a clean race car is a bad thing. Haven't washed or waxed my car since! As for your half shaft and hub...just remember if you ain't breaking things you ain't driving it hard (for those who have never been on the track with Matt he drives harder than any of those pansy's in the Challenge series). My past few track events I can't get the rotors or tires to last more than one event. This stuff is getting expensive! You tried the new Grand Am Dunlops? I finally ran the Dunlops from Bob C. and they are 2 seconds per lap slower at Summit. I ran a second set hoping to close the gap on the Pirellis but was still 2 seconds slower. They are a pain in the ass to set up right (tire pressures at 20 psi cold??) and get greasy real fast. Anything over a 30 minute session will toast them. No wonder the FOW guys running the GT car had such bad things to say about them. But hey for $80 a tire I guess we will have to live with them. Have fun at the Glen! regards, Jon | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 468 Registered: 3-2001 |
Hey Guys...you're the best! Vernon....sorry to say, I don't know your friend..and I won't be able to make it to AC, but have a blast! Hubert...sorry that I didn't get back to you. Lame excuse, but I've been really busy....you still going to make it to the Glen event?? Vince...thanks so much pal. Yeah, I really enjoy molding this business into an efficient enterprise. Being my own boss, and having a staff to manage in my own manner, is a really satisfying feeling. Jon....sorry to say pal, but I know who came up with that 'And just remember "A BAD DAY AT THE TRACK IS STILL BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY AT THE OFFICE". ' line...and I could not disagree more. I'd always prefer a good day at the office than a bad day at the track!! I'm just replacing my drivers side half shaft and hub, as I snapped the half shaft (makes a great - really expensive - paper weight!!) coming out of turn one at the event last october at summit....remember helping push the war horse back into her trailer?? I'm going to give her a good mechanical going over....a cleaning (I know...but only twice a season) and then I'll make her scream like the scalded b*tch she is!! I'm hoping to keep up with you at summit later this season. And you have the best of reasons to put the track season on hold...best of luck! See you all at the track....... | ||
| Vernon Hill (Vwh3rd)
Junior Member Username: Vwh3rd Post Number: 115 Registered: 1-2003 |
Matt Congratulations and Good Luck!! By any chance have you run into a friend of mine from Cingular John Robinson? And are you coming to the Atlantic City get together? | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 765 Registered: 1-2002 |
Matt- Congrats, man!!! Haven't heard from you in a while. Drop a line when you get a chance, email is: [email protected] Best Regards, Hubert. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 620 Registered: 8-2001 |
Congrats Matt !! Hadn't heard from you since March and wondered if you had second thoughts about going into business. Glad you found something that makes you happy (other than drifting the 355 C in turn 1 at the Glen). Now that you are employed again I guess you won't be able to take any of those relaxing 5 month vacations on some sunny beach. Good thing too....last time you came back three seconds per lap faster. Have fun next week at the Glen! I am officially retired until the Labor day event. Will try to call you this week! And just remember "A BAD DAY AT THE TRACK IS STILL BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY AT THE OFFICE". Regards, Jon P. Kofod 1995 F355 Challenge #23 | ||
| Vince (Manatee)
Junior Member Username: Manatee Post Number: 214 Registered: 6-2002 |
Congratulations, Matt! I'm glad that you've found a job where you can smile going to and from work! | ||
| Ricky Nardis (Rickyn_f355)
Member Username: Rickyn_f355 Post Number: 320 Registered: 8-2002 |
hehe, no sweat karson. I think getting out of Wall St was smart...cuts continue across the trading floors...i thank god everyday i ended up in a growing segment of the market... ill give you a ring next week matt | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 467 Registered: 3-2001 |
Guys....I didn't know Ricky before I posted that I was looking to get back into the market. He contacted me and tried harder to help me than pretty much anyone else I knew in the market. We did have the chance to meet, and now he is going to be converted to a track junkie. Just to let everyone know, there are some good people out there, and Ricky is one of them. Hope I didn't embarrass you too much pal. | ||
| Ricky Nardis (Rickyn_f355)
Member Username: Rickyn_f355 Post Number: 319 Registered: 8-2002 |
congrats matt. | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 466 Registered: 3-2001 |
Thanks guys...my 'headquaters' is in the Fort Lee Town Center, located at Schlosser and Main (Lemoine turns into Schlosser at Main Street. I'm in the development with Borders, Blockbusters, and Washington Mutual. Stop in and say hi. And yes...killer deals for FerrariChat members. | ||
| Jason (Arnaget)
New member Username: Arnaget Post Number: 37 Registered: 3-2003 |
Congratulations and best of luck with the new career,Matt. I'm in Holmdel, NJ; there's a cingular store nearby me, though the particular location isn't too busy. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 3480 Registered: 9-2001 |
where in fort lee - I will swing by some time | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1171 Registered: 10-2002 |
Glad to hear! Good luck! See you soon. Best Jim | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2908 Registered: 6-2001 |
Hmmm, i'm in the market for a cell phone...... Sounds like you are enjoying the new job. hope everything works out. | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 465 Registered: 3-2001 |
Thanks guys....Kenny, Jeff and I will be at the Glen this time next week!! My first time 'off' since I started. I think track days will be my only real time off this summer. Nick...the fact that you work on the street, and still have a job, is impressive. To be honest, even after 16 years, I still loved trading every day! | ||
| izel k. (Ferrarist)
Junior Member Username: Ferrarist Post Number: 216 Registered: 3-2001 |
LOL! Can we make it first five? | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Intermediate Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 1089 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice to know that the first 4 responders to your posting get a free cell phone and unlimited service for life. | ||
| Nick Yim (Yimn)
New member Username: Yimn Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2002 |
Sorry. I mean I work for instead of "want for" | ||
| Nick Yim (Yimn)
New member Username: Yimn Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2002 |
I want for a wall-street firm as well and still employed but envy you very much for finding a new career that you enjoy very much. Wish I have the courage to do that as well and have more time spend with my cars. | ||
| Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Member Username: Kennyh Post Number: 829 Registered: 8-2001 |
Congratulations Matt, awesome to see you hooked up with the carbon fiber 355 man . | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 462 Registered: 3-2001 |
So....after 15 months of being unemployed (I was an institutional equity and currency trader on wall street for 16 years)....I started my own gig!! Now, don't get the idea that I laid around while unemployed. As some of you know, I Spent 5 months in Australia/New Zealand/Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos/Singapore....raced my car around 40 or so days last summer....hit the gym hard, partied hard, entertained the ladies, and really enjoyed life. As things on wall street are not going to revert to what it was for years to come (for both technological and market condition reasons), I happened to find my new career via a close friend who happens to be on the board of directors of the FCA Empire State Region with me. I am now the highly motivated owner of 5 Cingular Wireless stores located in New Jersey. Fort Lee, Secaucus, Short Hills, Wayne, and Fair Lawn. Talk about a change in careers, huh?? Anyway, I just finished up my first month, and I am very optimistic! It is soooo different from what I did my whole professional career, but I couldn't be any happier. Being my own boss is the best thing I have ever done. Living my life by my rules! Anyway, I just wanted to let my fellow FC'ers know what's up. Yeah yeah...I know it's O/T. Too bad! See you at the track! |