From 1973 through 1997 I worked in the insurance industry. I started in my fathers brokerage house as a file clerk and by 1981 had purchased the business from him. Though I did well at this business I consider my involvement a mistake.

I certainly could have done worse in life. At least I maintained a much needed discipline in my youth. I was seldom short of money. However, to say I never liked this business is an understatement. It gnawed on me that my work was absolutely devoid of any creative outlet. The ONLY reason I kept on with this business for over 20 years was the money. Perhaps for some people that's enough. For me, simply to exist for the sake of existence was a never ending source of mental trauma, self inflicted as it was. I began to hate myself, and my job. I felt engulfed by the shallowness of my life as an insurance salesman. About 1978 I began to show signs of stress. I had unexplained anxiety attacks. I drank heavily and when I drank I became hostile and belligerent. I had headaches that would pound on for days. I had constant fantasies of violence.

On one particular day I became so angry that I tore up my house ... It was that same day that I vowed that I would dedicate any time I could steal away from the demands of my occupation to drawing. Drawing was the one thing that I had some ability for. This somehow seemed important. Those drawings eventually evolved into paintings. And since these works were solely for my benefit, I did not need to compromise in their subject matter.

So perhaps the frustration of working at a job that I thoroughly hated had a positive influence in my life after all ... ?

I am no longer in the insurance business. I managed to sell out in the end. The end was not well. I continued to the end to be more and more depressed, in spite of my artistic catharsis. I eventually became extremely alcoholic and addicted to narcotics. This culminated in the burning of my house. For all the years I spent in this business I have very little monetarily to show for it ...

Pick your career carefully ... Time goes by quickly, and you will wake up one day to realize that what you do for a living defines who you are.