10 Years From Now...

Wow, 10 years, that feels like an eternity but if it moves at the same speed as college it will be here tomorrow. So, this is where I want to be in 10 years.
Like most people, I have always wanted to be financially successful and the underlying theme to being financially successful is money, money, money. The value of a dollar has always intrigued me. From the time I was little I have been budgeting, saving, or trying to make money. My parents, teachers, and peers have always told me to do something that I love. Well, for me it’s investing. I find investing in stocks, bonds, and/or mutual funds fascinating. They mesmerize me the way little children look at presents on Christmas day or we guys watch college football Saturday afternoon through Saturday night. Some of the wealthiest people in the world are positioned at the top because they were able to make great, sound investments. For example, the second wealthiest man in the world, Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire-Hathaway, was able to become so filthy rich because he made smart investments. Many experts have compared him to the Michael Jordan of the investment world. So, through research, a few late nights at the office, and a little intuition I see myself being a top investment banker at Capital One, whose headquarters are in Northern Virginia. However, I am also interested in real estate. Although the market is suffering right now, it should certainly regain its luster within the next 10 years. I can only imagine what it might be like to help first time homeowners purchase their house. If I defer to this option, I would like to be president and broker of a small real estate agency. I have been working at a real estate agency for the past three years and plan on obtaining my license this summer.
As for my personal life, I would like to be married to my girlfriend, Whitney, whom I have been dating for one year. She is an amazing person both inside and out and I consider myself extremely lucky to have her in my life. I would like to have a few children and purchase a plantation style home with lots of land somewhere in Northern Virginia, which is close to the majority of my family who reside in Maryland. Before having children, I would like to travel to a few foreign countries. The top three on my list are: Iceland, Portugal, and Greece.
Most of all, I want to be a good family man. I want to be involved in the day to day joys…and occasional sorrows… my children will face and instill good values and morals in them the same way my parents have done for me. I want to provide for them and know that they can count on me.

We Are A Digital World

The digital world is tricky in the advantages and disadvantages it contains. This current day and age is a digital world. The digital world keeps us up to speed with our fast-paced, ever-changing lifestyles. We can exchange emails with co-workers within our own city, country or the world. Communication that used to take days, now takes seconds. There is a chain reaction in the work force: speed can only increase efficiency, which increases production and results in decreased costs and increased profits. Information, past and present, is able to be stored and easily accessed on the Web. The Web provides us with real-time updates and current news articles that offer picture, video and audio. Stockbrokers are able to view current trading values, newscasters can report live from Iraq, common citizens can say hi to relatives overseas through video cam or YouTube and you can pull up information on how to make a margarita on Google in about 0.2 seconds. The Web offers endless possibilities.
However, the Web could be Us/Ing us. By communicating over the Web, people lose out on the face-to-face conversation and social interactions. The Web links millions of strangers together everyday, which could result in some dangerous activity. New, extravagant, make-believe identities are exchanged amongst people that correspond through online chat rooms, dating services and even college campuses. How do you know who I say I am without meeting me in person? Identities are not only changed but also stolen. A great hacker could obtain extremely personal or confidental information that is not for public viewing. As a result their is a lack of privacy. Even though the Web is convenient for email, writing suffers. The exchange of informal emails produces a lack of properly written, informative proposals to superiors.
Overall, I would say the Web is a quick and convenient way to communicate and conduct business. Nothing is perfect and all great things or people have flaws. The Web's advantages greatly exceed its disadvantages. So, if you are careful enough to minimize these flaws then the Web provides an abundant wealth of knowledge that is waiting for you to access or Google.

Introduction

As you may already know, my real name is Thomas, but I go by Tommy. I am Thomas L.M. II, my dad is Thomas L.M. I.
I am originally from Bethesda, Maryland, which is about 15 minutes outside of Washington, D.C. I went to DeMatha Catholic High School where I played football, basketball, baseball, and golf. After graduation, I attended George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where I played football for one year before transferring to Clemson University.
I have two younger sisters, Michelle and Monica and I consider my family to be the most important part of my life. I enjoy spending time with my immediate family as well as my extended family, most of whom live nearby in Maryland.
I plan to get my real estate license in the near future and pursue a career as an agent, eventually opening my own agency. I am also interested in investment banking and enjoy tracking the stock market, mutual funds, and the like.
Before I die, I would like to visit at least 10 foreign countries, go skydiving, live in Iceland, and own a Bentley, or 4.