Digital Dave

This is my first involvement in this sort of financial disaster and I have to admit that it has been one hell of a ride.  It definitely takes a gut of steel to stomach these steep declines in the market, and I’ve got to imagine that we are close to a bottom.

But just remember, every disaster has a bottom.  Professional investors are just sitting on the side lines with their cash on hand to dive right back into the action.  I’m looking at stocks that are extremely discounted because they have been beaten to death. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with these companies! People just jumped off the ship because they were scared as hell.  Which, is a natural reaction.  Nobody in their right mind wants to lose money.  But if you sell, you LOCK IN those losses.  If you don’t sell, you have time on your side to recover that money unless you are very close to retirement.

And you’ve got to realize.  You’re not the only one getting thumped.  Order will restore itself eventually, and I believe it’ll happen pretty soon.

In other news, this job search is a pain-in-the-butt.

I can say without a shadow-of-a-doubt that network contacts are so freaking vital it’s not even funny.  It’s not like I didn’t know this (see: Darius, this applies to even more than the gamedev industry), but seeing the value of it first hand is mind blowing and it really makes me wish I would have pounded MUCH harder on it.  So if you are a freshman or sophomore, listen up.  Get on it.

It doesn’t help when you are searching for a job in a recession, nor does it help when you are applying during the time when companies typically go through a hiring lull (Fall).

I’m optimistic.  I know I’m valuable.  I’ve been admired by those who have led me, and those who have followed me.  I also know how hard I work in a business environment.  I mean, hell, some day I want to be an entrepreneur.  Not just an entrepreneur, but a successful entrepreneur.   Raw passion, an eye for initiative driven opportunities, and a motivated attitude all drive my work ethic.

65 days until graduation.  I’m excited.