We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Max Grean a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Max, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
Best investment I ever made was in myself. Buying the tools to do various jobs. Taking the time to learn new things, to grow and a business person and artist.
Learning how to negotiate pay vs labor was extremely valuable. Before venture out on my own, it helped me negotiate high wages from employeers. Know your worth.
Know what your work produces and demand fair compensation. If my work is earning your company 10K and hour and all you offer is minimum wage, we have a problem. Extreme example, but not really all that extreme.
The old saying is true. It takes money to make money. So buy that tool and put it to use earning money.
Invest in yourself. Be it learning new crafts and skills, or buying the equipment to get the task done. Go for it, believe in yourself.
I don’t really have a worst investment.
Sometimes you have a variety of choices and you choose an inferior product. Cost of doing business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m have been a weirdo / artist all my life. I’ve been side hustling since I was a teen. It was until my mid 30s that I began selling my art and music. Until then it was basically just a hobby. It’s not something I could stop if I tried… but I did pour myself into it and enjoy the ride.
My goal as an artist was to be accepted and respected withing the art and music communities. I have that now and it is amazing. I call myself a success though I am no where near rich, or well off. In fact I barely scrape by.
My podcast got way bigger than I ever expected. I’ve sold more records than I ever expected. My art is on walls and bodies all over the state. I maty be broke, but I am happy.
I look for the positive in everything. If I can’t find any I will try and make something posoitive out of it. For me, the only real failure is not trying.
Set yourself small, reachable goals and work on them every day. Even just a few minutes. When you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Dust off and march on.
Now I am my own boss and I am living my childhood dreams.
I buy and sell things. Mostly collectible type stuff, toys, records, books, but also the occasional household item or vehicle.
I have a couple of bands that do ok albums sales.
I do art mostly for free or as part of my live performances (I even made money do that, something I never thought possible)
I do some minor show booking for certain friends and my own bands.
If you’re interested in working with me give me a call. I love collaborating and doing larger projects.
Check out my various projects.
Uncle Ghoulie Tv (Video Channel)
Truth Porn Militia (Artist Truther Community)
The New World Order Dance Party (Podcast)
U.G.’s Detroit Rock City (Podcast)
Christweasel (Solo music)
Assembly Plant (Rock band)
Moaning Dwarf (Noise band)
DEATH CAT (Art / theatrical band)
The Paper Boy (Experimental Noise band)
The Untested (Improv band)
TPM Booking & Productions (Show booking)
Cool Finds Detroit (Collectibles / Ebay)
Ghoul Grooves (Records, Tapes, Cd’s / Discogs)
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
I think NFTs are a joke. The whole digital currency bit is a joke. I don’t think it’s the right way to go as a society. Our monetary system isn’t a means of transaction. It is a means of contyrolling transaction.
I believe in a moneyless society where the individual has more freedom to transact with others. Right now, he who owns the cash is king. In the digital world, he who owns the cash is dangerous.
It’s a trap. Check out Ubuntu societies, no money, your comepnsation for effrts is something else (Like the end result proudct)
This worlds monetary system is a HUGE problem.
We have enough people and resources to do all sorts of wonderful things, feed to hungry, house the homless, give everyone anything they want… we just don’t have enough money.
Let that sink in.
Any given thing isn’t a dollar sign. Evil people slapped that $ on there as a means of control.
You computer was free. EVERYTHING to make it came from the earth for free. Your clothes, your car, your house… all free. What it cost was time and effort. It cost time for someone to invent it and make it. It cost effort to get up and make the item. The $ was placed there to control it and by proxy YOU.
Moneyless society not cashless. Cashless is a digital prison.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I consider myself a rare individual. I call myself a TERMINATOR because I just keep getting back up. Sometimes I might stay down and catch my breath, but eventually I will get up and keep moving.
I’ve restarted my life many times, had at least 4 different carreers, and when something stops working I either fix it or find a new way.
Start with what you have.
My first podcast was done with a laptop and an old 2 prong breadbox recorder microphone. (Look it up young folks…lol I am sure a few are saying 2 prong Bread what?)
At one point in my life I lost everything. Literally. I was down to the shirt on my back. I didn’t even have socks or shoes…. just a pair of sandals.
I am pretty resourceful. I also like to keep a good perspective. If I buy it for 1 dallar and you buy it from me for 1 dollar and 1 cent… well that’s a profit. 1 cent or 1 dollar or 1 billion dollars. I like to keep a godo perspective and not be greedy. I don’t get greedy. I get the deal done… everyone can go home happy. I prefer it that way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: uncleghoulietv
- Facebook: Max Grean
- Twitter: UncleGhoulieDet
- Youtube: UncleGhoulieTv313
- Other: https://christweasel.bandcamp.com/ https://www.discogs.com/seller/Ghoul_Grooves https://www.ebay.com/usr/coolfindsdetroit https://archive.org/@tpm_ghoulie