A double round weekend in Ireland was crammed for Emmet Ryan. Yet, oddly, it also led him to reflect and ponder things. The great river that is self-employment has floods and droughts. It’s best not to get too caught up in metaphors if you want to deal with it.
Two games. That’s what this weekend was in its simplest terms. UCD Marian played Ballincollig on Saturday night. UCC Demons played Sligo All Stars on Sunday afternoon. The goal was to get to both and do some videos. That worked, that’s what matters from this weekend. At least in terms of the output from work.
The prelude
It’s not a desire to work less that had me irked. It was a wish that I could control time. The volleyball game between Palmberg Schwerin and Dresdner is of little interest to this site’s readers. It is, however, of relevance.
That’s not because it was an excellent five set thriller, which saw Dresden come from behind to win. Nor is it because volleyball has the most consistently high crowds amongst women’s sports in Germany. The academic interest alone would get the attention of some of you.
No, it’s because I was on commentary for that game. The difference between it being decided in straight sets and going the distance mattered. It meant that instead of comfortably making it to Belfield for the start of UCD Marian’s clash with Ballincollig, I had to race just to not miss too much of the first quarter.
A chess match with a live narrator
The battle in Belfield was a matter of move and counter move throughout. Neither was ever in a position to feel either at ease or without hope. They also had the bonus of running commentary from Conor Meany on the PA. The (three-time) retired baller wasn’t shy with the crowd and made for an amusing soundtrack. That said, the refs might disagree.
Yet for all that happened in the first 39 minutes and 56 or so seconds, it was madness at the end that puzzled me. Adrian O’Sullivan was at the line with 3.9 seconds left. His Ballincollig team trailed by 3 points. The logical call here was make the first and miss the second. The odds of getting a chance of a putback in conventional scenarios wasn’t great but context matters. He had Keelan Cairns, who had a clear reach advantage, there to go for it. Furthermore, it was still a higher percentage opportunity than the alternative.
O’Sullivan made the second. Thus that latter choice was there. The Cork side needed to foul and hope to get a shot off, in live play as they were out of timeouts. The first part didn’t work. No foul was called and UCD Marian had the win. There were mild remonstrations but they died down quickly.
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Balancing reality
Were I fitness focused chap like Adrian O’Sullivan, my choices afterwards would have been different. I’m not and I know it so sense hit me when I got home. There would be no effort to get a Luas followed by another Luas to Heuston Station. Spending on a taxi would be worth it to get some more sleep.
The clocks were changing. That was an extra hour in bed. Not enough. The snooze button is an evil function. 5 minutes more turned into 45 minutes more, over a series of 5 minute chunks. The bargain I made with myself came due. Up and washed to order a cab. There was mild panic over diversions due to the Dublin Marathon but there was ample time to spare at the station.
Fighting the choppy data connection on the train, even using my phone as a hotspot, is also ropey. No matter, a piece on Dario Saric was done with a cover pic for it designed on Canva. More importantly, one superfan of his in the US was made happy in the process.
Cork City was buzzing once I got there. A lovely stroll up Oliver Plunkett St at lunchtime and it was already hopping. The Cork Jazz festival was on. It’s sponsored by Guinness, which explains why I couldn’t get Murphy’s or Beamish later that day in a hostelry. Still, the buzz was nice and the damp air was welcome.
My true almighty
More sedate options were on the agenda for me first. The Green Frog café out by UCC had all I needed. That being sockets, seats, tables, and coffee. It was there that I engaged in my Sunday service to Google Calendar.
Excluding this website and its social channels, I have seven primary businesses that I work for as a freelancer. That excludes the handful I do occasional work for that still matter when it comes to paying the bills. Those 30 minutes on a Sunday are, by far, the most important of my week.
It’s not just that I’d be in a mess work wise without the organisation. It’s vital to ensure I make enough time for my partner and my Ma, without just “fitting them in.” The scary bit about working for myself isn’t economic uncertainty. At least it isn’t once I’m organised. The situation is precarious. That said, if this were a LinkedIn post I’d say I’m diversifying my revenue streams.
Work stuff might change but I can find a way to make up for any gig that I lose. No, the bit I worry about is that the business costs what really matters in life. That’s what terrifies me.
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Who’s at home?
Sligo All Stars, on paper at least, should have been the more sluggish side at the start in the Mardyke. It was a long journey to Cork for them. Instead, they were much smoother than UCC Demons in the game’s opening quarter. It was a treat to watch, 33-27 for Sligo with them beating the buzzer from deep at the end of the frame.
There’s the race post volleyball again in six days. That is unless it’s straight sets. Then there’s Athens two days later. I’m starting work on a documentary series while also covering the Greek derby. My commentary gear will be in tow, just in case there’s a late substitute opportunity on commentary midweek.
It’s wild, I’m working more than ever yet it feels sustainable. It requires being smart, disciplined, and, oddly, going easy on myself. Both Shubhangi and Ma were worried that I was too hard on myself as I dove into self-employment. They were right. There are plans, there are targets, and there’s more to do. Thankfully, I try to take on just one battle at a time.
If you can’t appreciate a ref directing a guy on where to wipe a towel, what can you enjoy?
A matter of attention
The game in the Mardyke really was all the fun. Heaven forbid anyone played any D in this one. UCC Demons had the slightly better of the quarter. Sligo All Stars remained in front though, 51-48.
The main output from Irish games at this point of the season is short form video. YouTube is heavily pushing its Shorts. BallinEurope is monetised there so that means it needs content to fill. Instagram is a platform where the brand is weak in terms of follower count. The Reels are a big help in changing that. This short form content, typically less than a minute long, comfortably brings in 10 times the viewers and watchtime that a conventional 2 minute video would.
It’s not a gripe, it’s a matter of understanding what works. If longform video is to work, it needs short form to support it. That’s no different to a squadron of heavy bombers needing fighter support alongside it. Adam, my guy in Canada on brand stuff, keeps me honest on BallinEurope work. He reminds me about shorts and he’s right to do so as well.
Easing up
The game barely slowed down in the second half. Sligo All Stars played a smidgen more D than UCC Demons and that was enough for them to win 99-92. The visitors always looked smoother and were good for the W. The postgame shorts done, it was time to find Shubhangi.
They were in town for Cork Jazz with a friend. A couple of drinks at the Woodford, followed by takeaway grabbed at Wok and Roll, and it was time to head to Dublin. It’s a different kind of tired to what I was feeling a few months back. The exhaustion then was overwhelming. Every rest felt like it was just delaying another spell that couldn’t be managed.
Now, everything is still on fire and the emergency exits aren’t easy to access. Still, at least I know what is required to manage each fire. Survival is no longer a concern. Living is the focus. That’s sure better than a kick in the…
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