Every morning my dogs wake me up at 5:30AM to go outside. I lie back down for an hour, burn essential oils and drift into a dreamy alpha state. This morning I had a very thought provoking revelation.

No doubt that I’m different then most women. I look back on my life and see that there were things that would have changed the course of my life and pushed me out of the mainstream. I remember being a young teen and thinking that life around me was pretty fucked up and that there was no way in hell I was going to fit into it. I spent a great deal of my life feeling like an outcast because I didn’t find the great American dream all that appealing. I felt a tremendous amount of pressure especially being a woman.

As my thoughts rambled through my head I began to wonder if it were the incidents that happened in my life that lead me to this place I’m at now or was it the experiences in my life that made it ok for me to be here today?

I remember making excuses and telling lies about what I did for a living. I feared that people wouldn’t accept me because I was a sex worker or involved in the adult industry. I even stepped away because there was a part of me that felt that I was contributing to some kind of bad planetary karma. (rolling my eyes) I stepped back in with a whole new perception after working with non-adult companies and seeing that the bullshit there was worse.

At least in the adult industry they tell you to bend over before they fuck you, right? (laughing)

Today I’m proud and when someone ask me what I do I quickly reply, “I work in the adult industry!” - I don’t say porn because right away people think you appear in movies.

What sets us all apart from other people? Is there a common thread between us all that makes it ok? Is there a characteristic we all share?

Has the industry tainted you or have you’ve grown from it? If not porn, what path would you have chosen?

Yeah - we all have big fucking "issues". I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. I'll have to think for a while first though. I seem well-adjusted in my own mind.

If not for the internet, I would have been a stockbroker. For me, internet came first - porn second.

Tainted? Probably, yes. So many interactions it's hard to explain. For example, if I change because of contact with Serge did I change "because of the industry"?

If not porn, what path would you have chosen?
******************************************

I was quite happy being a sign maker...
;-)

There are 100s of professions I could be happy in.

Mathematician, physicist, stock broker, market analyst, writer, corporate raider, drug dealer. The list goes on.

For me, internet came first - porn second.
------

same here!

I was heading into a Melrose Place style advertising career ... but got sidetracked by the internet and could no longer start work at 9am. with all career prospects gone i stumbled on porn.

or something like that

if I change because of contact with Serge did I change "because of the industry"?
******************************

Colin,
what have I done?

we were BOTH quite fucked up for this industry even before we met!
;-)))

http://cotac.com/colin.jpg

I do understand that this topic takes time to think about. I do, however look forward to your honest views on this.

I use to publish a magazine. I often published articles and pictures of myself and my experiences. My editor often asked me, "Do you really want people to see/know this?" It was often personal.

I found strenght in that. It's hard to describe but I did. I guess if I worried about what people thought I wouldn't be here now.



DV

:cdance: :bjump: :cdance: :bjump: :cdance:

serge, you have the coolest scrapbook ever

There's still time to escape!

LOL- shit on that. I agree with CJ, who the hell wants to get up at 9am to rush off to deal with people when you can sit behind a monitor and piss on people all day?

Why did you sell that and get into porn?

Why did you sell that and get into porn?
-------

$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$
$$bling$$

:bdance:

Why did you sell that and get into porn?[/b][/quote]
I NEVER sold sign business,
my company is still called
Signs, Signs, Signs, Inc
;-))

I just closed sign division down for the reasons cj put so eloquent
;-)))

signs and what I do on internet is very similar..
it's all about marketing
:P



Last edited by Serge_Oprano at Nov 14 2002, 07:43 AM

I used to work for a foundation that set up communication links with third world countries as a "technical assistant". Basically I fiddled with unix and internet stuff for a living and loved it.

The government stopped funding the foundation so I lost my income. In the end I found another occupation where I could continue to fiddle and still make money.

I guess I would have ended up working for some IT firm, or as a freelance nerd :lol:

Greetings,

Art

Are you kidding me? For example, sometimes I forget my prepositions - Russian style.

I've learned many interesting things from you over the years but I refuse to share in public. Secrets , I've learned, are better kept to myself (Spanker!) - except any that may have appeared at http://www.buildinganempire.com of course.

I DO like that tie.

I NEVER sold sign business,
my company is still called
Signs, Signs, Signs, Inc
;-))

I just closed sign division down for the reasons cj put so eloquent
;-)))

signs and what I do on internet is very similar..
it's all about marketing
:P[/b][/quote]
Serge, where is that interview with you where you talk about the sign business, and pricing points and marketing. Dianna would get a lot out of it i'm sure ;-)

I had fallen into corporate customer service, so I would probably still be doing that. I studied psychology in college, but then got married, had a kid and got divorced all in 2 years, so going back to college then would have meant spending even LESS time with my son than I already was.

I've always been interested in real estate and that's where I'd like to end up. I'd also like to go back to school - not to get a degree (though I'm the only person in my family for 3 generations not to get one - which I'm reminded of constantly.....), but just to learn more things. :bjump:

I started working online more after I put up a hobby BBS and it started making money. If the web had been hopping then I would have jumped on it because I didn't have the time I needed for my son who is now 25. I look back with many regrets.

Does your son know what business you're in? Does anyone here have kids that know what they do and what is their reaction?

Serge, where is that interview with you where you talk about the sign business, and pricing points and marketing. Dianna would get a lot out of it i'm sure ;-)

**************************

ahhh....the more things change - the more they stay thye same
;-)))

http://www.letterhead.com/profiles/serge/

Has the adult business affected me? Only to the extent that it has taken up time that I might have wasted doing things like sleeping.

What would I be doing otherwise? If I wasn't so old, I'd still be a computer/printer tech. As it is, I drive a truck during the day and try to work porn at night and on weekends. :zzz:

http://www.letterhead.com/profiles/serge/

As inspirational as the first time I read it! :matey:

Yes I did read that.

Everyone has a different style of business. Does any of that work in porn? Who do you do business with and why?

Yes I did read that.

Everyone has a different style of business. Does any of that work in porn? Who do you do business with and why?[/b][/quote]
DV,
I do business with anybody who pays...as simple as that.

I miss the words "enough" and "up front".

Greetings,

Art

I miss the words "enough" and "up front".

Greetings,

Art[/b][/quote]
Art, thanks for pointing it out
;-)))

you are 100% right!
;-))

Amen to that !!

The bottom line in this business is DollaBillz, and how I can get more than the next guy :grrr:

Amen to that !!

The bottom line in this business is DollaBillz, and how I can get more than the next guy :grrr:[/b][/quote]
who cares about "next guy"?
does "next guy" let you peek in his pocket?

make $$$ goal and march to it,
and leave the "next guy" alone,
his income has no correlation with yours
;-)

I agree to a point,

But in todays climate you ALWAYS have to worry about the next guy,
you need to know who's pocket he's got his hand in.

I agree with Serge on that. If I spent too much time wondering what the next guy is doing I'd drive myself crazy.


Competition is good for the soul!

Good morning Oprano!

Dianna, I'll post my thoughts on this topic in a bit....still trying to finish up travel plans for Vegas. Are you coming??

DV, look at it as market research.

You can't be in this business with blinders on.

Don't you think that Walmart (or whomever .. pick one) knows what JC Penny's price points are ?


just my 2cents

well, true and false...
for example,
I know Meat and Aga have their hands in Ron's pocket.

MikeAI amd me know Ron and don't do business with each other,
so how the knowledge of the next guy's hand location helps us?

On the other hand,
knowing the pocket where the "next guy" got his hand burnt is DEFINATELLY a big plus!
;-))

wow you do exist!

Yes, I think so. My house up north sold and they want to try to do the closing during the show dates and I'm trying to get it closed before the end of this year then I'll had right over and maybe stay a few extra days and party. How long are you staying?

If I wait until the last minute will I be able to get a room at the hotel? Flights I'm not worried about.

I can't wait to hear your reply to this. This should be very interesting.

"keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

The Godfather

exactly my point,

not all situations apply to all people, but to not be up to speed
on what the next guy is doing or has done would be silly.

information is a powerful tool.

exactly my point,

not all situations apply to all people, but to not be up to speed
on what the next guy is doing or has done would be silly.

information is a powerful tool.[/b][/quote]
tell me about!
;-)

"We are in the Information Business"
;-))

My 2nd year in law school I knew I did not want to practice law, so I started looking around at other options. I came up with the idea to create courtroom graphics, models, and virtual recreations on computers. ( Just like they did for the OJ Trial) So I started messing around, tried to find some small jobs in the multiemedia world.... peopel asked me about the "World Wide Web" which I knew nothing about, so I bought my first Netcom account....

Stumbled into porn, saw that I could make a few bucks - figured it would be something I could do on the side and at night to make a few K a month. Guess I was right.... :)

If it was not for internet porn, I would be practicing law, or in construction probably.


However, f you would ask most of my friends who would they vote most likely to get into porn, it probably would have been me. I always had the biggest collection, and all my friends would come and borrow.... hahaha

Thing is now, I really do not look at porn that much. I prefer to see it in person and up close! :awinky:

have you views changed at all or do you have any regrets?

When you have Katie have kids how will you feel about your business? have you thought about it?

I took a wrestling scholarship to college where I thought of being a Chiropractor. Of course, after 10 years of training and cutting weight, I wanted to chase pussy and drink beer, so I dropped out.

My folks could not afford to send me to college, so I decided to continue landscaping, which is what I did while in High School.

Then, BPJ called me in Atlanta and said he was making good money selling bonds and that I could get a job as a salesman doing that if I moved to Little Rock. I thought it was bail bonds, but it ended up being investment banking. :yowsa:

After 12 years in investment banking and other securities businesses, I went to work for ATS in late 1996. My first big client was IBM. They didn't do squat and in looking around on the Internet it was clear who was making money -- ADULT.

That is how I got started in processing for adult.

Mike - you just brought back a memory for me. It was 1994 and I was still in college. I went and asked the librarian how I would go about finding a specific table of data and said I could not locate it in the school library - despite the 9 million books there. She said "Have you tried Mosaic?" I'm like -- "what the hell is that?" As soon as I saw it I knew it was WAY COOLER than gopher. I was hooked immediately.

Anyone remember lynx? I still use it when not sure if I am having a connectivity problem or browser problem.

How about "pine"? Those were the good old days.

Way worse :)

See above :)

Did they leave the pages stuck together? ;)

errr I'm right here ;)

Dianna, while I have no kids yet, I am no hypocrite. I will not willingly expose them to porn, but I am not going to hide. Of course by the time I have kids who have an idea of what is going on, I will be retired.

I am semi-retired as it is, Stan the Man runs day to day operations. I am just the smiling face of HiRise. :rolleyes:

My sister brings my nephews by the office all the time, you would never know we run a porn business.

Same here. I think outside visitors expect to see a Playboy mansion type setup. :(

Not that I would be against that kind of setup.... hahaha


I am off to Atlanta!!

Going to the Saints-Falcons game?

Gonna be a good one.

I'll answer for Mike, Colin - since he just walked out the door on his way to the airport... YES! :yowsa:

I feel that way. My son happens to know but today if you walked in my office you would now unless you opened the closet. Then you'd get an eye full.

It's beter your loved ones hear it from your mouth then on the news.

wow, last night I had a dream...

I dreamed that the humane society came to my house and took my dogs away because someone told them I did porn. I'm not kidding.

When my son was growing up I ran the BBS, published a magazine and ran a phone sex room. I was also into the scene pretty heavy. I had a huge dungeon in my house. I'm great friends with my son and he knows everything I do, but I use to worry that they would take him away from me. I was lucky I guess.

Now we talk about it and he tells me that he really wants to get into the business. It's not hot air because he's been telling me this for a few years. He's 25 now. I told him if he still feels that way in two more years I'll let him run my business.

I use to think that I'd feel weird talking to him about the industry and sex. In fact I avoided it because I didn't feel he was ready for it. I did answer his questions but stop short of any details. Now that he's older and our relationship has evolved, I talk more openly. He's given me some great ideas on concepts and I often talk to him about the course of my business.

Wow, thinking about it almost brings a tear to my eye because I get so caught up in the stress of life that I forget to look at my life and see how lucky I really am.

I think its great that you and your son have that kind of relationship in this day and age - cherish it, Dianna!

I've never hidden my involvement in the industry - except from my last girlfriend's parents (at her request). I tell anyone and everyone who asks me what I do for a living! Personally my parent's could care less that its adult - moms only worry about their children's happiness!

I definitely lost a few friends from my Stanford days when they found out I own a porn co. Then again they are now cheating on their wives, souless attorneys and scumbag wall streeters.

I like to cloak myself in the comforts of the First amendment- hey we are defending the right of free speech, freedom of expression, etc.

Oh and also the money.

You will find your real friends will be genuinely intrigued by your invlovement in porn. The rest aren't worth your time and energy.

Would you rather be in insurance? Banking?