Burned Out

[C&C Collecting]

It has been a while since I last sent out anything TTM to be signed. I still get returns but they don't excite me as they once did. It takes me days to enter the returns into my database and after that they just sit on my desk. I don't even put them in their binders right away.

Anyone else ever get like this? I don't know what it is, maybe cost, maybe lack of returns, maybe it's just that I feel like I am getting too old for autograph chasing. Don't get me wrong, I would love to add to my collection but I just don't have the enthusiasm I once did for it. I am running out of room to store the stuff and ran out of room to display long ago.

If you have felt like this in the past what did you do? My lack of enthusiasm coincides with me starting work as a sports writer of all things. Let me know if you have felt this way and what you did to pop out of it.

[palantri]

i quit ttm'ing about 2 years back- my computer crashed and my huge database was lost- after that, i had no real desire to start it up again. i dont really even do the email requests any more, unless I stumble upon an Olympian's website

[Oxxon]

I have slowed down some but that has to do with the Masters and second Bachelors degree that I'm working on.

[cyberer]

IP graphing is the biggest cure for the burnouts IMO.

I do sporadic TTMs but I get so few returns I largely have stopped over the last year.

[lizard-jd]

IP graphing is the biggest cure for the burnouts IMO.

I do sporadic TTMs but I get so few returns I largely have stopped over the last year.

Cyberer, I totally agree with you on this one!

[indyreds]

I get excited when working on a project. When I am in between projects I burn out as well. I have been waiting for something to grab my attention to get me fired up again as well. Different things in the past that I was thrilled about was chasing down the living players from the 1953 Topps reprint set, NASCAR drivers, HOF members, and Olympians. I suggest finding a project that you want to hunt down and enjoy it.

[Autofreak2842]

I haven't sent out a TTM request in months. I just do twice as much IP to make up for it.

I gave up on TTM cause I felt like I wasn't getting a good percentage of returns, based on the # I was sending out. Plus the costs do add up, although they don't sound for much. At the time that I quit TTM I was in school, too. Now that I have a job, I'd like to restart TTM once I get a somewhat of a steady income going, but I still will only do it lightly, probably.

[metsmagic18]

I feel you 203. I am having the same feelings as you about TTM, it just isn't mattering to me all that much anymore. I'd much rather go graphing IP rather than getting them TTM, but that's my opinion, like Erik said. Take a break, focus on work, maybe you'l start to miss it and you'll come back.

[Welker83]

i feel the only thing that keeps me going is reworking my lists of Dolphins stuff. It then makes me want to work on gettting more auto for my all time dolphins PC.
I do get the burt out feeling more and more but i do things to waver it. Would love to do autograph chasing but dont have the time.

[mrveggieman]

I would do it in spurts. I would do a whole bunch of ttm then stop because I would either move to another house and have to change mailing addresses or I would start to wonder how many of the ttms are fake and wonder is it even worth it. I also agree that IP autos are much better. The only thing about those is will the ballplayer that you really want sign and will the autograph police be out in full force.