So I go downstairs on my lunchbreak to take a picture of the coin on the big star. I’ve never taken a picture of a star - only walked briskly around the tourists on my way to and from lunch, and to be honest, I’m a little worried someone from work will come by and laugh at me. As I approach, I see a husband taking a picture of his wife. I offer to take their picture together, which they are pleased about. Like many tourists, I think they’re surprised anyone’s being so friendly and obliging. Then they offer to take my picture. Oh, they think I’m a fellow traveler.

“Oh, I live here,” I say. And then I kinda fib, “I just promised someone I’d take a picture of something.”

I was intent on my task - get in, get out.

Walking back to my office, though, I realized I should have played along and let them take it. It would have been fun in the blog post, and what a snapshot of my now - 34 year old me, broke, nobody, feeling so far away from my dreams, standing on Hollywood Blvd. by the statue of four famous actresses, next to the big star. Feeling like a tourist.

I think may go back and take that picture someday soon. Perhaps right on my 35th birthday in June, since I’ll be at work.

Bringing it back around to finances, I think it’s these quick decision moments that make all the difference. The more you make the right choices in those moments, the better off you get. No, I don’t need to buy that now. No, I’m not going to bid on that just cause it’s cheap and I really want it. Yes, I’m going to send that windfall to that closed account.

Incidently, directing a film or a television show is the same way. It’s all about the quick little decisions you make under pressure and how many you ultimately get right.