#RealEstateNovelist #”PianoMan”, #BillyJoel #loneliness #relationships
“Paul is a real estate novelist.”
That lyric from Billy Joel’s song, “Piano Man,” begs the question: “What does is a real estate novelist do? Incidentally, CBS cut off its televised Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden on the evening of April 14, 2024, in the middle of his performance of “Piano Man.” Joel’s fans who watched were not happy with CBS, and said so on social media. As a result, it was rebroadcast in full on April 19, 2024.
So, is Paul, who is one of the regulars in the bar at which the “Piano Man” plays, a novelist who dabbles in real estate? Does he write novels about real estate? Or, does he sell “novel” real properties?
The song does not explain. The point of the song is that Paul is among the lonely people, mostly men, who hang out regularly at the bar just to drink and listen to the piano man.
Though the song doesn’t explain Paul’s gig, Paul can teach us a few things.
First, loneliness is common – some might say an epidemic — today among children and adults. The explosion of social media, the isolation of the pandemic a few years ago and a general malaise among many people over their lives have contributed to the increase in loneliness.
If you are feeling lonely, hanging out at a bar – even if everybody knows your name, as in the TV show, “Cheers” – may not be the best solution. Certainly, no one would criticize the occasional trip to the bar to hang out with friends. But, making it a habit can be expensive and harmful over time.
Also, even though Paul in the song is lonely, we can suspect that he may write novels, and, perhaps, dabbles in real estate.
Novelists, unless they have a big seller, generally don’t make a lot of money. Having multiple streams of income can help a person pursue his or her passion, and still make a living.
If Paul sells “novel” real properties, that could be very lucrative. “Novel” properties tend to be expensive. Commissions for selling them tend to be high. If that’s the case, even money can’t cure loneliness.
Let’s presume here that writing novels about real estate would not be a lucrative pastime.
The song says Paul never had time for a wife. Either he is busy pursuing his passion and side hustle, or he’s busy selling expensive properties.
If you are unsure what to do with your life, think of people like Paul. Perhaps you have a passion that may or may not pay your bills. If so, a side hustle may be necessary. There definitely is nothing wrong with multiple streams of income, regardless of your situation.
Whatever you pursue for a living, or as a passion, let it (they) not be a substitute for relationships, friends and other pursuits that ward off loneliness.
If you are having trouble meeting people, think of something you like to do and find an organization of people who like the same thing(s), with whom you could have friendships or relationships. There are many such organizations out there, regardless of what you like to do.
The key here is having in-person relationships, not online relationships.
Online relationships can have a place, but they should not be one’s primary social interaction.
We tend to tip piano players at bars. In fact, the pianists expect that you “put bread in my jar,” as the song says. But the song “Piano Man” can leave a tip for you. Pursue your passion, make a living and have multiple good friendships and relationships.
Play on, “Piano Man.”
Peter
Tag Archives: loneliness
LONLINESS IN THE WORKPLACE CAN BE QUANTIFIED
#LonelinessInTheWorkplace #loneliness #workplaces #SolitaryJobs
Some people are lonely at work.
So what? Who cares?
Well, loneliness has a cost to employers, according to an article by Danielle Paquette for the Washington Post. It was also published March 31, 2018, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“According to researchers who study the issue, the economic damage caused when employees suffer feelings of isolation could soon worsen as offices become increasingly automated and more people work remotely,” Paquette writes.
“Employers who tackle the issue now – rather than brush it off as a personal matter – will save money in (the) future,” Paquette quotes Gabriella Rosen Kellerman, a psychiatrist and chief innovation officer for BetterUp, a workplace consulting firm in San Francisco.
According to the article, Kellerman’s team crunched data from a survey of about 1,600workers across the country to better understand the risk by profession. The results, published in the Harvard Business Review, alarmed Kellerman: “Sixty-one percent of the lawyers in her sample ranked ‘above average’ on the loneliness scale from UCLA,” Paquette quotes Kellerman.
“Generally, the happiest – and most productive – workers feel like valued team members,” Paquette quotes Kellerman.
So, are you feeling lonely at work? Do you often – or always – work by yourself? Do you get to talk to anyone during your work time? Does your employer ONLY care about what you do, rather than who you are?
What if someone could show you a way to make money that would essentially REQUIRE you to interact with people. What if someone could show you a way that could not just potentially put extra money in your pocket, but also potentially exceed your current income? And, what if someone could show you a system in which advancement depended on how many people you helped succeed? To learn about such a vehicle, message me.
The article quotes a Gallup poll that found 42 percent of working Americans said they did some of their job remotely, a four-percentage-point jump from 2012. It also quotes a recent study from the global consultancy firm McKinsey, which predicted that demand for office workers in the U.S. will drop by 20 percent over the next decade because of technological advances. That could mean smaller or more siloed teams, it said.
So if loneliness at work has a grip on you, get a grip. Look for a situation that will allow you more interpersonal interaction. Oh sure, dealing with people can be a pain. But, as the article says, the alternative not only takes a toll on workers, but is costly to employers in terms of productivity.
The proverbial water cooler, cafeteria or other workplace gathering spots may be going out of favor. Try making it a point of sticking your head into someone’s workplace every day, just to see whether they are receptive to people.
Who knows? Maybe you can find people with common interests that you never knew had the same interests as you. Perhaps you can become friends and socialize outside of work, if it’s not possible to socialize at work.
If you are an employer, you might look at ways to conduct team-building exercises, personal growth seminars etc., for the folks that have solitary jobs. You may get a lot more productivity from them by doing that.
Peter