Next Year Will Determine if 2020 was a Fluke or Not

 I've given it some time. Almost a week in fact, I had meant to get this out sonner but had a sore arm since Thursday because of my vaccine shot. In the last few days since it was determined that General Manager Jim Benning will be back next season, the outpouring of disbelief from Canucks fans on Twitter is alarming. 

If you are a Canucks fan that believes that Jim Benning has not done a good job the last few years, I really want you to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what's wrong with yourself. For starters, this team was nine wins a way from winning the Stanley Cup last year. If that's not a signal of the end of the rebuild I don't Know what is. The Canucks have transitioned from rebuild to a emerging playoff contender and for me that is progress. 

This doesn't mean that there won't be easy but to group 2021's struggles with 2018's struggles is completely off course. Jim Benning could have not predicted Covid 19 and in the old divisions Vancouver would have only missed the playoffs by three points. 

The other part to remember is that Vancouver went 4-10 against Canadian teams last year and we saw more of the same this year as we finished 23-29-4 and we missed Pettersson for a good portion of the season. I have no hard feelings with Benning letting Tanev, Markstrom and Levio go, they all went to Calgary and they didn't finish much better than Vancouver. Possibly, Tyler Toffoli would have made this team better but I was ok that he left because of the amount of cap space we had or lack of it. Not to mention the conditional pick we would have lost as well. 

The bottom line is, these circumstances bought us a year to try to experiment with things we might have not been able to otherwise and again I see that as progress. Most teams have a brumby start after their rebuild. Colorado didn't get things right four years ago and had to change paths and now are even better, Calgary missed the playoffs in 2016 after looking like the 2009 Blackhawks in 2015. Edmonton missed the playoffs as well after having a good run in 2017. They are still looking for answers four years later. 

We need to trust the process and enjoy the fact that we have stability in management. Making the playoffs isn't guaranteed next year but that will make it all the more special next year if we do. This year was a very hard year to judge so I'm willing to give Benning and Green the benefit of the doubt. However, missing the playoffs next year will make 2020 feel like it was an anomaly.  

This last week has proven how unpredictable the NHL playoffs can be and because of that, there is not much point in worrying about if ands and buts. I believe we will get there by 2023 at the latest and I'm trying to do my best to enjoy how things come together. 

By no means is this a 2016 rebuild. Linden and ownership delayed the first rebuild as well and that can't be on Benning. 

My key goal if I was GM would be to keep surrounding our young stars with talent. I often compare our core with the 2002 core. I like this core better and it's younger and more diversified. As long as this time around we don't let our assets depreciate too much before they move on or retire, we should be looking at playoffs the next 8 out of 13 years. I would sign up for that right now but it's all about getting appropriate return on our superstars when the time comes. That's what the early 2000's foundation was built on and why we had a great run from 2001-2013. 

In contrast, we let our superstar players depreciate and walk for not much return in the last seven years that we have had a turbulent rebuild along with some bad drafting before Jim Benning. 

I'm not saying it is that easy but I love how our core is built and we just have to move around few pieces here and there. 

I'm just not willing to blame anyone yet. I cling to hope that this is just a market correction with a team that is headed in the right direction.  

Society Gives Backwards Advice Which Holds People Back

 My goals are simple, find a platform to be recognized and form some publicity. I will have something licensed soon and I pledge to work harder than anyone else to achieve my goals. 

The things that get people into debt is when they think something is a need and really a want. 

Challenge: Make more money than you lose. I headed penny stocks with sports betting and it was a huge success. It's not easy but at the same time have money that is being invested in stocks and Crypto will make up for any sports betting losses and vice versa. Also, create a small business that can make you look forward to Monday morning.

People say if "I would have only known about Netflix or Amazon stock before it was big". Then why don't you start following stocks now. Don't live in the past. Fix your mistakes to live in the future. 

The other step to this is to have a job that you can rely on so that you enjoy. 

It's not a get rich quick scheme but over time things can payoff because chances are one of these four things will be successful. 

Make sure there is is at least 3k that always sits in your savings that you don't touch. The object is to always be two mortgage/rent payments ahead of the game. Therefore, there is no emotion in any loses or stock market decline. 

Limit your day job to 20 hours a week. You just need something to bring in about $900-1,800. Enough to cover rent for that month. Find a hobby that makes you want to stay inside. This is crucial. Note, having kids changes the game plan quite a bit. 

Set goals that still fit if your money goes down. Something that goes along with this is you have to be flexible of where your going to live. People can afford a down-payment in states like Nebraska or Iowa but instead choose to go broke in San Fransico or Seattle. 

No point complaining about your lack of money when your living in a expensive city. Very contradicting if you ask me. 

Peoples goals often don't fit reality which get them farther behind. I really believe that financial advice is not given accurately because the advisor doesn't know the full story because the client isn't comfortable giving the full story. 

Fortunately, I am single which believe me keeps the costs down. I get PWD which gives me a the opportunity to be strategic in my investments and goals. Most people don't understand that. All you need is one 3x return on a stock to get ahead. People also think having a car is need. That's fine but understand getting financial freedom will take longer.   

1st step is to figure what it costs to live per month. 

2. Ask yourself, how much you want to save per month. If the answer is only 100. That's fine, put half in a secret account that takes risks. The other half goes into a savings and not touched until you need it. 

3. Vacations money should only be spent if you have extra. I mean, if you really want to go there make steps to live in said place or tie it in with something that can make you money in the future. Vacations are easier when your with other people as the price of a hotel is not worth it if your single. 

I see so many people struggle because their goals contradict their situation. There is nothing wrong with renting if your still increasing your net worth every year. 

Be honest with yourself though. If you want good advice you have to paint a good picture of your situation to an advisor. 

My Story of how I became a Oregon Duck

 I have to confess something, I have been really struggling to write during the last 14 months. I grew up a Seahawks, Mariners, Canucks and Grizzlies fan and in 2014 was a turning point for me. 

The Memphis Grizzlies were in the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. I was yelling at the TV during Game five with the Series deadlocked at 2 at times when it looked like the Grizzlies were going to lose. 

The Grizzlies ended up winning the game in Overtime but eventually fell to the Thunder in 7 games that year. That playoff series was rough, I am a passionate person that wants to be successful but in my early 20's I felt like my parents were spoon feeding me success and the only way to be myself was to pick four favorite teams that were my own. 

I know how to be successful in situations that work well for me. I don't need people making my life easier and then setting boundries of what my parents are comfortable with just because I have Cerebal palsy! I should have moved to any city I wanted to and been able to make my own mistakes. 

I mean, I was never mentally happy in the situation I was in from 2016-2019 even though I had 40k at 23. However, I was treated like a 17 year old and only got the money when my parents deemed it appropriate!!! 

That made me cheer against my childhood teams because I wanted my own path in life. Everyday I am getting closer and closer for feeling comfortable with who I am and that's why I changed my favorite teams. I was even bullied on Seattle sports pages and the bullies messaged my Dad and my Dad took their side. The bullies told my Dad I forwarded them a inappropriate link that I never did. This was around April 2011 and it really made me have trust issues with my Dad. Which was really painful. 

The Huskies fans also said "the world would be a better place if I killed myself". This was around December 2011. At this point, all I wanted to do was move out of Abbotsford and start fresh. 

I was so mentally down in from 2013-2018 that I felt defeated. I am trying to do my best but I was trying to make choices that made me happy. That's why I cheer for the teams I do and I'm a proud Oregon Ducks fan which makes me feel really good about myself. 

They told me I was always included and that makes me feel good. The Pro teams I like are Minnesota Vikings, New York Mets and Phoenix Suns.