MY SON IS A FRESHMAN in high school, and I’m beginning to be more purposeful about his baseball aspirations. But after dropping $85 on a one-hour pitching lesson, I was wondering, was my money well spent?
My search for an answer began with the Netflix series Receiver. I tuned in to see football player George Kittle, a former University of Iowa Hawkeye and bigtime professional wrestling fan. Kittle was kind enough to send autographed memorabilia for a softball fundraiser we had a few years ago.
WHEN I WAS BORN IN Iowa in 1973, my parents were renters—and they didn’t become homeowners until eight years later. Looking back, I can see that it would have been hard for them to buy a house. When my dad started at the factory where he worked for more than 30 years, it didn’t pay the best.
But as Bandag, the retread company he worked for, began to prosper under its founder Roy James Carver,
I ONCE DABBLED IN the world of sales. I wasn’t very good at it. In 1997, I got a job at Schwan’s, driving one of those yellow trucks you see in neighborhoods all over the U.S. selling frozen treats, ice cream and a variety of food. I thought it would be a delivery and service job. But I found out during the orientation and training that there was an element of sales.
I read the books of motivational speaker Zig Ziglar in my free time and got some basic training in sales from the company.
ABOUT HALF THE RENTALS that my wife and I own were foreclosures we bought around the time of the Great Recession. In fact, I closed on the first one on my wedding day—a fact my wife isn’t anxious to let me forget.
In 2000, a family had bought the house for $70,000. In 2006, JPMorgan Chase foreclosed on the house. In 2007, the bank unloaded the property for $93,000 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
I GREW UP IN a blue-collar family. When money was tight, one strategy my dad used to improve the situation was simple but effective. Overtime, time-and-a-half and double-time were all terms I heard frequently throughout my childhood.
In this Iowa factory town, those words can still be regularly heard at the taverns, bowling alley and family get-togethers. Overtime is the gift that can make a low-paying factory job worthwhile. Time-and-a-half turns that $12 job into a far more palatable $18 an hour,
IN MARCH 1999, I began my job at the chemical plant where I still work today. During the weeklong orientation, I had my 26th birthday. It was the start of a job where I felt I couldn’t make any excuses. I needed to be an adult.
I would be making good money. After graduating high school in 1991, I’d averaged $18,000 to $23,000 a year in various jobs. In my first full year at the plant,
I LOST A MATCH ON Nov. 12 against my former tag-team partner, Kevin Gutierrez, who wrestles under the colorful name “Corn Boi.” It was a classic Lucha Libre stipulation match. I put my mask on the line, and Kevin would cut his shoulder-length hair if he lost. Mask versus hair—or, as they say in Mexico, mascara versus cabellera.
We had many tried-and-true plot lines going for us. Teacher versus student. Old friends and tag partners who were now fighting furiously against each other.
WHEN I BEGAN MY journey to becoming a professional wrestler in 1994, I didn’t give much thought to the money aspect of the business. Wrestling was a secret organization similar to magicians or, frankly, the Mafia. Information wasn’t readily available on the industry’s economics. I simply had a burning desire to be a part of this crazy circus that I’d always loved as a fan.
As I began training to be a wrestler under Skandor Akbar in Dallas,
IN THE FALL OF 1994, when I was 21, I made the trip south from Iowa down I-35 to Texas. I was starting my wrestling training on Commerce Street in downtown Dallas at Doug’s Gym.
What I wasn’t expecting were the financial lessons I picked up from some of the colorful professional wrestlers of that era.
Doug’s Gym wasn’t air-conditioned. It had a classic collection of weights and machines. I felt transported back in time,
FINANCIAL EXPERTS often advise retirees to delay claiming Social Security. Their actuarial tables and statistics make a compelling case. Still, as soon as I’m eligible, I’ll strongly consider claiming Social Security.
Why? I never knew either of my grandfathers. My mom’s dad died of a stroke when she was age 19. One of my favorite photos of my parents’ wedding is that of my uncle—my mom’s oldest brother—walking her down the aisle. My grandfather never got to see my parents wed.
IN MY EARLY 30s, I was a typical blue-collar worker. The only way I invested was through my employer’s 401(k) plan. But I was a good saver, putting 25% of my income into the plan, which was the maximum allowed, plus I got a generous company match of 8%. Still, I was on the lookout for ways to increase my savings and my investment returns. That was early 2006.
I read a variety of books to further my personal finance knowledge.
Comments
It’s been one of the most fun parts of being a dad. The time after practices or workouts has always been fun, meals afterwards and music on the drive home. The ups and downs as well. He was a heavy kid, slow, and didn’t get picked on a few travel teams. But his dedication and interest in the game kept him going and as he has matured physically and hit the weight room he is looking more like the good ball player he always was.
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
It’s been interesting to see how much of my son’s one hour session is dedicated to warm up, athletic movements, drills and not just slinging a ball. As a parent spending $$ I could see some folks wondering why there isn’t more throwing. But arm care is essential for all pitchers, especially young ones.
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
What an amazing opportunity and experience for your family! It’s amazing what some private lessons can provide in any field. Thankfully baseball was a sport I played but it was never my passion. It has helped keep me from being a bit overzealous. Also seeing how talented my sons trainer is, how hard he has worked for so long drives home the difficulty it is to make it the MLB.
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
Thank you for sharing your personal family stories. $4000 is a lot for an instrument, something I never would have thought of as I see my daughters orchestra concerts and some of the students who pursue their music with a serious purpose. As my son’s trainer almost apologized for his fee several times I simply told him I just wanted my son to work hard at something he had some talent and passion for consistently during his high school years. I hope he can look back at these years and have some lessons he can draw upon when he faces the inevitable resistance life provides when learning any craft, career, practice or job.
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
Thank you for the comment, I found the documentary and look forward to seeing it. Your last paragraph is good to hear and one I hear from many parents whose kids are raised and out of the house. They rarely regret the time, traveling and money they invested in their kids extracurricular activities, sports or passions.
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
After a few sessions it became apparent it was a good deal. And I think my son will look back on this off season work and reflect on the things he learned for years. And honestly as many of us do, an opportunity that could have been maximized even more. But that’s all part of the “process” as we say. Thanks for reading!
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
Thank you for the kind words. I agree on being professional in life skills!
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
Thank you! Slow and steady. As a parent of a Junior and Freshman in high school I’m also coming to the realization that their choices on college will dictate my retirement by a couple years. But that’s fine, their grades are outstanding so I want to support them as much as possible.
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
Thank you for checking it out!
Post: Playing Ball
Link to comment from January 9, 2025
As always a great read. I find in fascinating that you consider the Japanese bear market such a pivotal event. I read the link and it was enlightening. As an American I didn’t follow or an invest in the Japanese market, probably because the bubble had burst when I began investing. It is painful to imagine seeing a market go down in value then go nowhere for so long.
Post: The Risks We Miss
Link to comment from July 13, 2024