My 14-year-old is playing the game seriously
My 14-year-old saw, that I have seen his grail pen in a showcase at KaDeWe in Berlin on Saturday. Now, it happend that all his classes are cancelled, today. Instead of sleeping all day, he decided to go to Berlin himself and at best try this pen. We are talking about a 14-year-old student who has the audacity to face a salespriest in Berlin's posh High Temple of Consume, asking out a test write of a 1040 € fountain pen. No, we didn't raise him with the golden spoon in his mouth. After he googled what KaDeWe is, he readied his suit, polished his watch, prepared his cufflinks, ironed his most loved shirt, tied his necktie, folded his pocket square, shined his shoes and went over what accessories to wear. Damn, is he playing the game seriously! I'm not sure how successful he is going to be. But I'm curious how this unfolds.
** Edit
He just called me, that he went straight in telling the salespriestess, that he has a 50%-discount by Parker which he can activate only through the Parker customer service directly, but that he needs to inform himself whether this is really the pen he wants and which nib size suits him. She really opened the show case, informed him about the pen and the qualities and let him write with it. When he called me he was beaming of joy and praise for this fountain pen. Super smooth, super balanced, super light, ... He enjoyed the luxurious pen department just stating that he misses Otto Hutt like a connoisseur.
Now, he is shopping for a winter jacked and wants to dive into the luxury watch department. There is a Breguet he wants to see in real life 🙈. I don't dare to think that he might ask to get it off the show case ... But ... "C'mon dad, I'm here in a suit with necktie, pocket cloth and cuff links 😉." He wouldn't dare, would he?
** Edit Edit
«Uhm, Dad, I was so disappointed! Either the seams weren't sewn properly, the pattern didn't match perfectly, it wasn't the right size, or it was over your budget. Besides, I don't want to be a walking billboard for designer labels with their bold logos plastered all over the jacket. It took a while, but I eventually found a stylish Italian wool coat with a hidden placket that I could afford with the help of a discount. I ran out of time when I went to the watch department." – "Hold on, son, you went into the watch department in full business attire, wearing a black Italian wool coat with a hidden placket 🫣?" When we said "buy a winter jacket," we didn't have "Italian business wool coat" in mind. But, well, I guess he's developing his own style.
He raved about the many wonderful watches he saw, but he didn't have time to try one out because he was in a hurry to catch the next train home. He didn't want to get stuck at a transfer station 150 km away from home at night. He wasn't keen enough to venture into the Omega department, but he did browse through the Blancpain, Breguet, and Glashütte Original departments. I'll find out more when he gets home. I think he still has about 2.5 hours to go.
** Homecoming
A new coat.
Having seen all the nice watches, he concluded, that he likes a Nomos Tangente blue dial the most.
** How to go shopping
I have been there, when the first Lamy Safari fountain pen hit schools. I have been there, when the first G-Shock came into the classroom. I have been there, when the ticking of my classmates' first S...
He’s going to be somebody that boy! Good luck.
I hope he's successful but that looks like a lot of money in that shop, just looked it up on the Parker site.
https://www.parkerpen.co.uk/collections/heritage/duofold-classic/duofold-classic-fountain-pen/SAP_1931370.html
Put a lock on your watch box! 🥹
I hope he's successful but that looks like a lot of money in that shop, just looked it up on the Parker site.
https://www.parkerpen.co.uk/collections/heritage/duofold-classic/duofold-classic-fountain-pen/SAP_1931370.html
Parker wasn't able to serve him a repair of a fountain pen. So they sent him a 50%-discount excuse. He will buy directly from Parker but he needs to make sure, what nib size suits him on this pen and whether this is really what he wants before he takes his money in his hands.
He will have his pen someday with this kind of effort and energy put into research his goals.
When I was 14 all I wanted with a girl to smile at me and Jordans. And the Jordans were more important.
He will have his pen someday with this kind of effort and energy put into research his goals.
He is calculating. He earned some money by helping elderly people in the garden and by doing paper round. He sold his old bike that became too small for him, put half of his pocked money aside and asked the familie to pool his Christmas and birthday gifts into one contribution. He might finish this project this year.
Sounds like he has his head on straight, you should be proud as I assume you are! What a boss
Put a lock on your watch box! 🥹
Why wouldn't I?
As one of my favourite authors put it, you lad has "taken the spoon out of the sink". In other words he has thought it through and taken all precautions for a successful outcome. Is he doing life coaching lessons?, put me down for one or two !
The author is Bryce Courtney and the book (fabulous) is Four Fires.
Sounds like a nice kid with intelligence. Just like @WatchBee said, "He's going to be somebody, that boy!" 👍
As one of my favourite authors put it, you lad has "taken the spoon out of the sink". In other words he has thought it through and taken all precautions for a successful outcome. Is he doing life coaching lessons?, put me down for one or two !
The author is Bryce Courtney and the book (fabulous) is Four Fires.
I read to him my post and all the comments. When he heard your request, he laughed out loud :
"Maybe I should do coaching. That would earn me money much faster. It's only that I can't tell people how to succeed in their jobs or in marriage, because I haven't experienced that yet. But see in general I'm doing it that way:
Fist I ask myself 'What can I do to get to this goal. I mean, what can I really do?' I don't mean 'What would be nice if it happens somehow?'. Next I do it. Step by step I decide to do it really, not only thinking about it. And when I'm there I must decide to do it really and not stop before it's done. You know it doesn't help to raise e.g. all that money for the Parker Duofold but to hesitate when the moment is there to spend it. You need to decide to go over this line too.
And there are a lot of things in life. Like I want to buy a Quest 3, too. So I need to decide, which goal is more important for me, especially if I haven't the resources to go for multiple goals. So I have decided that the fountain pen is on top of the huge things and that this is my primary aim. I have a new gaming computer (bought on his own resources, because we said that we don't want to invest into a gaming machine), I have an older Quest which is weak but still provides fun (also bought from his own reasources with support from us through Christmas gift.) and tablets (by us for school). I don't need the new Quest 3 now. So I can put it behind the fountain pen.
Moreover it is necessary to have in mind that there is more in live than only this one goal. For example I need money to buy a game for my gaming computer. Otherwise it would be stupid to have one. Or I see something nice that is a small thing but I want to have it. Or gifts. It is necessary to have in mind that I'll spend on gifts, on going out with friends and the like. I found out that it is frustrating if I think that I could pool all resources on only one thing. That won't work, and it is frustrating as if I lost track if I go for the small things too. And if you catch frustration it becomes hard. Then the thought sneaks in mind that it's nonsense to go for this goal. Frustration is like a Trojan Horse: In this moment the idea of giving up becomes overwhelming. It is much easier to be honest with myself and to say: 'Yes, I'll enjoy other things and I'll spend money on those small joys too.' So I plan the expanses being a part on the way. This way frustration won't come so that it is much easier to keep on track to the goal.
Friends! Have your friends in mind. I have a lot of fun with my friends but they are mocking me 'Rich Bitch', because I go for quality. Like we argued about earphones. They say that the JBLs from the discounter do well, but man those are awful. I tell them that they should listen to Sennheiser headphones. They don't believe me that the plus in money is also a plus in audio quality, in joy and in self-respect by providing the ears something good. What I want to say is, that although I have a lot of fun with my friends this part of my life is out of their horizon what makes them mocking me. At first I was frustrated and thought by myself, that it might be better to give up quality and mate with them. Now I understand better, that I don't need to break myself and that I can still have a lot of fun. Mocking each other is now like a game. So friends can stop you from going on, but there is a way to keep on track and have fun with them.
Well, and having a great coach is a huge thing too." Then he hugged me.
BTW I haven't heard yet, how he is thinking , his introspection. Through your question I got myself an insight in his impressiv mind. Thank you.
I read to him my post and all the comments. When he heard your request, he laughed out loud :
"Maybe I should do coaching. That would earn me money much faster. It's only that I can't tell people how to succeed in their jobs or in marriage, because I haven't experienced that yet. But see in general I'm doing it that way:
Fist I ask myself 'What can I do to get to this goal. I mean, what can I really do?' I don't mean 'What would be nice if it happens somehow?'. Next I do it. Step by step I decide to do it really, not only thinking about it. And when I'm there I must decide to do it really and not stop before it's done. You know it doesn't help to raise e.g. all that money for the Parker Duofold but to hesitate when the moment is there to spend it. You need to decide to go over this line too.
And there are a lot of things in life. Like I want to buy a Quest 3, too. So I need to decide, which goal is more important for me, especially if I haven't the resources to go for multiple goals. So I have decided that the fountain pen is on top of the huge things and that this is my primary aim. I have a new gaming computer (bought on his own resources, because we said that we don't want to invest into a gaming machine), I have an older Quest which is weak but still provides fun (also bought from his own reasources with support from us through Christmas gift.) and tablets (by us for school). I don't need the new Quest 3 now. So I can put it behind the fountain pen.
Moreover it is necessary to have in mind that there is more in live than only this one goal. For example I need money to buy a game for my gaming computer. Otherwise it would be stupid to have one. Or I see something nice that is a small thing but I want to have it. Or gifts. It is necessary to have in mind that I'll spend on gifts, on going out with friends and the like. I found out that it is frustrating if I think that I could pool all resources on only one thing. That won't work, and it is frustrating as if I lost track if I go for the small things too. And if you catch frustration it becomes hard. Then the thought sneaks in mind that it's nonsense to go for this goal. Frustration is like a Trojan Horse: In this moment the idea of giving up becomes overwhelming. It is much easier to be honest with myself and to say: 'Yes, I'll enjoy other things and I'll spend money on those small joys too.' So I plan the expanses being a part on the way. This way frustration won't come so that it is much easier to keep on track to the goal.
Friends! Have your friends in mind. I have a lot of fun with my friends but they are mocking me 'Rich Bitch', because I go for quality. Like we argued about earphones. They say that the JBLs from the discounter do well, but man those are awful. I tell them that they should listen to Sennheiser headphones. They don't believe me that the plus in money is also a plus in audio quality, in joy and in self-respect by providing the ears something good. What I want to say is, that although I have a lot of fun with my friends this part of my life is out of their horizon what makes them mocking me. At first I was frustrated and thought by myself, that it might be better to give up quality and mate with them. Now I understand better, that I don't need to break myself and that I can still have a lot of fun. Mocking each other is now like a game. So friends can stop you from going on, but there is a way to keep on track and have fun with them.
Well, and having a great coach is a huge thing too." Then he hugged me.
BTW I haven't heard yet, how he is thinking , his introspection. Through your question I got myself an insight in his impressiv mind. Thank you.
Your very welcome. A lot to think about, but my first thought was that I made somebody laugh, and that can only be a good thing.
I think that having a passion for something is what motivates us. That passion may change over the years, and that is good too. Your love of watches, pens and travel come across, as does your love of writing.
As for your son I think he is on the right track, he has a good eye if that coat and Nomos is anything to go by. At 14 I would not have had that sort of focus, so fair play to him.
I briefly studied German, so a quote spring to mind that is pertinent.
Anfangen ist leicht, Beharren eine Kunst
Put me down for another life coaching lesson😉
PS Hifi Linn, headphones AKG, speakers Kef
Your very welcome. A lot to think about, but my first thought was that I made somebody laugh, and that can only be a good thing.
I think that having a passion for something is what motivates us. That passion may change over the years, and that is good too. Your love of watches, pens and travel come across, as does your love of writing.
As for your son I think he is on the right track, he has a good eye if that coat and Nomos is anything to go by. At 14 I would not have had that sort of focus, so fair play to him.
I briefly studied German, so a quote spring to mind that is pertinent.
Anfangen ist leicht, Beharren eine Kunst
Put me down for another life coaching lesson😉
PS Hifi Linn, headphones AKG, speakers Kef
Don't you dare 🤫! He only browsed through a Bang&Olufsen boutique and Bose department yet. And he is eyeballing a Sennheiser HD 820 but as far as I know deep down his list. Though he is praising these headphones in a way that makes me guess that he already had them on the ears. I just don't know where and if I ask he turns on his halo railing the talk to another topic ... No need to make him aware of Linn, Burmester, McIntosh and the likes 🧐.
When I was 14 I begged my parents for like 5 dollars a month so I could get a Big Mac
When I was 14 I begged my parents for like 5 dollars a month so I could get a Big Mac
In 2018, when he was nine years old, he developed and published a cards game with the help of his brother's godfather, who owns a games publishing company. Both sat down for hours, days and weeks, discussing and testing. My son didn't earn any money with that game, because most of the revenue paid for production, distribution, etc. but he introduced it on two huge games exhibitions to the market in front of hundreds of people, sat down at the games tables explaining his game to groups after groups of players, was present when stacks after stacks of his game were sold, chatted with customers, ran give aways etc. Though he didn't make money he jumped on the next level of self esteem and gained a ton of experiences.
We allow our children 5€/school year per month. He is at 45€/month at the moment. He saves half of it and uses the other half for fun. We put in his pen project what we would have spent as Christmas gift anyways. But that's less than a fifth of the discounted price. So he has 22,50 €/month and a Christmas gift. It is easyly calculated that even the discounted 520€ should be quite a stretch if not impossible to reach for him. Nevertheless he has the money ready and paid today. Last Sunday alone, he has been out for three hours in the cold and snow for a paper round earning 40 €. Like that, he can proudly say, that he earned a huge chunk of the necessary money on his very own.
Though he really likes gaming and spending time at the computer, he is neither lazy at school nor at home. For example during the last hour he washed and folded clothes for the family. There is no good reason to charge him for anything because he's doing well at school and is supportive for the family.
Great Story! Reminds me of somebody back in the early days😅