Some good news...in the news

Just going through the news and came across this article.  Since I have been hired at Elastic I feel like I am out of the fire. But, seeing articles like this one make me feel even better about the job situation though I still think it is pretty bad.

As always I am hopeful that the economy will turn around a bit more and the jobless rate will continue to decline.

3rd straight decline puts jobless claims at April 2008 levels
Dow Jones Newswires
7:32 AM CST, December 22, 2011

New claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, reaching the lowest level since April 2008 and providing another sign of improvement for the weak labor market.

Initial jobless claims declined by 4,000, to a seasonally adjusted 364,000, in the week ended Dec. 17, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast claims would rise by 14,000, to 380,000.

The decline carried claims to the lowest since the week ending April 19, 2008, and marked the third drop in a row. For the week ended Dec. 10, claims were revised slightly up to 368,000 from an originally reported 366,000.

Weekly figures are volatile, particularly during the holidays, and economists prefer to look at the four-week moving average of new jobless claims. Last week, it dropped by 8,000 to 380,250.

The four-week average has remained below 400,000 for six consecutive weeks, a sign the economy is adding more jobs than it is shedding. Private employers continued hiring in November, according to the Labor Department's monthly employment report. The report, a critical look at the U.S. labor market's strength, also showed the jobless rate fell to its lowest since March 2009.

That said, the Federal Reserve is forecasting an unemployment rate ranging from 8.5 to 8.7 percent in 2012, with economic growth picking up yet remaining modest. Headwinds continue to sweep over the long recovery from the recession and the housing market bust. Stock market prices have fallen amid Europe's debt crisis and home values are down, making people feel less wealthy. Efforts in the U.S. to reduce the government budget deficit carry the risk of higher taxes. Consumers and their spending habits are a big driver of the economy.

The Labor report Thursday showed the number of continuing unemployment benefit claims--those drawn by workers for more than a week--decreased by 79,000 to 3,546,000 in the week ended Dec. 10. Continuing claims are reported with a one-week lag.

The unemployment rate for workers with unemployment insurance for the week ending Dec. 10 was 2.8 percent, down from 2.9 percent in the prior week.

The state-by-state breakdown in initial jobless claims is also released with a one-week lag. It showed California with the biggest drop in new claims - 15,583. The biggest increase came in New Jersey, where claims rose by 3,068.

A Labor Department official said there was nothing unusual about the latest state-level claims data.

One Month On the Job....

Well, its been one month on the job at Elastic.  Its was like a light switch was turned on.  Everything CHANGED.

Now I am on   the company email distribution list, so now I know in advance when something is going on...instead of finding out minutes before.  Now I have my own phone number with phone mail.  My email address doesn't end with "-temp" on it and I have a regular ID card.  It feels good.

But the biggest gift was that I don't have to pay medical insurance. That saves $500 a month.  I decided to use a little of that savings to help out a few students in my former high school.  I learned that there were a few students that might have to leave because they couldn't pay tuition (parents recently laid off).  It just felt like the right thing to do.  I can't imagine leaving HS in the middle of my career there...I was glad I was able to help.

I also get vacation days!  I can't believe it! That was my biggest stress of being a temp. Every day off would cost me.  Now...I have to figure out what to do with the days I have been given!!!

As a side note, I walk by Occupy Wall Street every day. Its part of an exercise thing I am working on.  I've gained a bit of weight since I have been back to work.  Up until they cleared the park they were occupying, I'd see something different every night. Anyway...its been interesting and made me wonder if I would be right there with them if I was still unemployed.

So here is what I decided.  I totally respect the right to protest, and I agree (whether I am employed or unemployed) that the country is screwed up.  I also respect this group because for the most part, they have not interrupted business to get their points across.  I've experienced unemployment first hand, and seen how the crisis affects my friends and family. I agree that something needs to be done.   I just can't make the connection between the protest itself and how it is going to fix the problem.  So I think I would support from afar...unless I was presented with something compelling to get me physically involved.

Anyway...I'll be slowing down the blogging here...but this topic will always be front and center in my mind, and I will continue to share my thoughts as they arrive.


Today's Quote
The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.


Abraham Lincoln

I'm HIRED...

My unemployement adventure began on April 15 2009.  Today on Oct 14, I am officially employed.  After temping for over 15 months, they finally made me a permanent member of the company.

I almost cried when I got the news.  Funny thing.  It feels good.  But at the same time, you see big changes in the company.  Not everyone gets good news. 

So...now I have benefits, vacation days and a little bit more security than yesterday, and boy does that feel good.

I've learned a lot of good lessons during this experience.  The biggest one is that it always pays to be planning ahead.  So...I'll keep planning sharing my experiences.

Thanks for the support!

Find NEW Cheese!

When I was in Grad School we were required to read the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?"  by Spenser Johnson, MD. It had any ugly cover and I always hated assigned reading.  Of course, I wanted to pass the class, so I cracked the book open and read it.

After a few pages in it was clear that this is not a boring business book.  This book was different. It was a really short story about two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two humans, Hem and Haw, a maze and some cheese.  

It took all about  an hour to read (if that). The story was simple, but the lesson was big:  If someone moves your cheese, you can keep going back to where it used to be, hoping it will come back.  Or you can plan ahead, anticipate change and find more cheese.

You can apply this book to your business, your career and to your life.  Things change.  They always do. You have to decide how to deal with this change.

A few years ago, I bought copies for my staff  and we spent a few hours talking about how it applied to our team, the industry we were working in, and our own development. (they were not happy about assigned reading either...but they enjoyed the exercise.).   I got the books for $2.00 each on Alibris, but you can also read it for free online.

Today, I open the book once in a while to remind me that I always have to be planning ahead. Each time I read it, I apply it to something different in my life.  Today I have a good situation at Elastic, but I am pretty sure it won't last forever.  Numbers are down...cuts will be made. Will my cheese be moved?  What will I do to find more cheese?  What can I do to prepare for change?

These are questions I need to ask before the change happens.  This book helps you see how important it is to do this.

Barb's Top 5 quotes about change (inspired by Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved My Cheese?):

• “What would you do if you weren't afraid?”― Spencer Johnson
• “Change happens when the pain of holding on becomes greater than the fear of letting go.”― Spencer Johnson
• “Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger change that are to come”― Spencer Johnson
• "What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.”― Spencer Johnson
• "When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don't do something, it can prompt you into action. But it is not good when you are afraid that it keeps you from doing anything.”― Spencer Johnson

Social Media is not Set up and Forget it!

You have a website, or maybe you don't.  You decided you are going to create a Facebook and Twitter page for your business because everyone is telling you that you need to have one.   Well that's not necessarily true. 

In my opinion, if you are just going to set up the page and just leave it there, don't bother.  You need a social media strategy.   Here are some questions you should ask yourself when setting up your social media page.

1) Can I keep my page fresh?  You MUST make a commitment to post at least once a week.  Decide what you can post on the page on a regular basis to let your fans know that there is a living body on the page.  

Remember, social media is a CONVERSATION with the fans.  Its not just telling them that there is a "Sale" or you are promoting an event.  You can post about your business anniversaries, ask for opinions, welcome new staff members, post an article of interest, or let them know something about your industry.  If you are linking to another page, try to keep things mysterious so that they are intrigued enough to click on the link.

I suggest creating at least 25 "evergreen" posts in advance.  This way if you don't have time to think of something, you have a back-up post to let them know the "lights are still on" on your social media page.

When you get a response to a post, you must be ready to respond, with a thank you, or advice or a follow up with better customer service. Otherwise the conversation is one sided and that's boring for everyone.

2) How am I going to drive traffic to this page?  You can have the best page in the world, but if nobody knows about it, you won't get many fans.  It won't happen "Virally" at first (maybe ever).

Evaluate all your current communication with your customers.  If you have a website, make sure there is a link to facebook, if you are sending emails, the links should be included there too.  In addition, business cards,  stationary, advertisements and even the signature on your emails, should include a "follow us" link.

Once you covered the basics, then try a few grassroots ways to up the "Fans" to your page.  Ask your friends to help you increase your fan base and ask their friends to fan your page.

Create a promotion for "Fans" of the page.  A quick and easy way to get fans is always a sweepstakes.  Make sure you promote the sweeps as much as possible.

3) What are my goals for Social Media?  If you don't set goals, you won't be able to measure success or evaluate if social media is right for your business.

I suggest setting a goal for your page. For example, in the first month your goal is to get 100 fans through grass roots, followed by 1000 by promoting the sweepstakes in month 2.

If you are struggling to hit these goals, you have to either re-evaluate your strategy or decide if you want to dedicate resources to building your social media presence.  But if you are going to keep the page up,  I strongly suggest you stick with your weekly postings.

Barb's Top 10 Quotes about Social Media:

1. “New marketing is about the relationships, not the medium.” – Ben Grossman, founder of BiGMarK
2. “You can be professional while also ‘keeping it real’ with your customers. By interacting with customers in a less formal way, you’ll build a strong human connection that helps build brand loyalty.” David Hauser, co-founder of Grasshopper
3. “If your social strategy relies on advertising in social media, it’s probably better to hang on to your money.” – Taddy Hall, chief operating officer of Meteor Solutions
4.  “Social networks aren’t about Web sites. They’re about experiences.” – Mike DiLorenzo, NHL social media marketing director
5. “To utilize social media tools effectively and properly, you must absolutely generate spontaneous communications in direct response to what others are saying or to what is happening in that moment. Be yourself. Be conversational. Be engaged.” – Aliza Sherman, co-owner of social marketing firm Conversify
6. "Quit counting fans, followers and blog subscribers like bottle caps. Think, instead, about what you’re hoping to achieve with and through the community that actually cares about what you’re doing.” – Amber Naslund, Social Media Today
7. 
   “Engage rather than sell … Work as a co-creator, not a marketer.” – Tom H. C. Anderson, market researcher
8. "The most successful marketer becomes part of the lives of their followers. They follow back. They wish happy birthday. They handle problems their customers have with products or service. They grow their businesses and brands by involving themselves in their own communities.” – Marsha Collier, speaker and business author
9. “Ask yourself this question CONSTANTLY: where can I add the most value to what matters most to me and the people who care about me?” – Chris Brogan, author of “Trust Agents”
10. “Think like a publisher, not a marketer.” – David Meerman Scott, DavidMeermanScott.com

 

   

Websites 101

If you have a small business, you need a website.  It doesn't have to be fancy or have a lot of bells and whistles.  It just has to work and be up to date.

The first step seemes to be the hardest.  You have to buy the hosting and url.  Once that's done, the rest is "easy."

Your website should have the following basic information:

1. Business Name, and or logo.
2. Brief decription about your business.
3. Contact information for your business.

That's it.  If that is all you have that's enough.  But if you want to add more here are some other suggestions.

• About your business - Why you started it, what you do for your customers, and why you do what you do.
• Description of your products/services - What are the different services you offer to your customers.  You may "need" your help and how you are are different than other vendors.  If you have set pricing, you can also include this there.
• Links to resources that may be helpful for people who visit your site, or other businesses you recommend. 
• Frequently Asked Questions -  Provide a list of questions customers typically ask, and explain how you can help them.  
• Testimonials from customers - Share letters from customers, case studies, or a simple customer list as a reference.

Start pulling this info together.  Then build the website yourself, or bring it to a web designer to bring your vision to life!

If you need help with your website, I also provide these services.  My business website is http://www.linkwizards.com/.

Mental Health Day

I'm not going to lie. Tough days at Elastic.  Its our busy season...so its been very crazy. I've been stressed and super grumpy even though I just got back from vacation.

ANYWAY, this week was tough for me. I was very very sad.  I think it was 9/11, I don't  know.  But  I decided to take a day off to get out of the office.  Mom and I went to AC.  It was a nice drive, we won a little money and I went to work today, much calmer.

The day cost me, but I believe with all my heart that you have to always remember to take care of yourself.  Your body and your mind.  You are no good to ANYONE if you stress yourself sick.


Barb's Top 5 Stress Free Life Quotes:

On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the Escape key. Meaning – take a vacation, learn to relax sometimes.


The time to relax is when you don't have time for it. ~ Sydney J. Harris


For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. ~Lily Tomlin


Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow. ~Douglas Pagels, These Are the Gifts I'd Like to Give to You


Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. ~Etty Hillesum

Have you read Ayn Rand???

  

I just discovered Ayn Rand.   I bought her book Atlas Shrugged while ago.  I think I saw it on a list of books I should read in my lifetime.  Its had been sitting on my bookshelf for some time...if I only knew.

Atlas Shrugged was a big book, so I brought it with me on my 23 hour flight to Australia.  Someone on the plane saw me reading it, and asked me how I liked the book.  He  commented that it was a great read and particularly interesting in these times.  I agreed with him, but I hadn't gotten to the point that that was obvious.  I think I finished about 100 pages on the trip.

Halfway through the book (400 pages), one of my co-workers saw it on my desk and asked me how old I was.  Apparently, I was supposed to read this books in my 20s.   Sooo...I'm a little late.

Another co-worker commented that it was disgusting. I asked her why, and she said I would find out for myself. 

Anyway, after 3 months I finally finished the 800 page book.   The scary thing is...this novel was written over 50 years ago, but  the story is very applicable to today's world.   In a nutshell, there are people in the government and in big business that have an incredible impact on the rest of the world.  While some people are fighting to hold things together, there are others trying to push forward their own agendas.

Reading this story, you see how much today's unemployment, financial crisis, failing business are all related to greed...This book tells what happens when society fights back (Actually, its probabaly deeper than that...but that's as deep as I get.)  I loved every page.

Anyway. If you haven't read the book.  You should have already.  But it is not too late.   :)

Barb's Top 5 Ayn Rand Quotes

• Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.   Ayn Rand
   
• I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.  Ayn Rand
   
• Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.  Ayn Rand
• When I die, I hope to go to Heaven, whatever the Hell that is. Ayn Rand
• A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.  Ayn Rand

Remembering 9/11

Today was the 10 year Anniversary of 9/11.  It was surprisingly a tough day for me.  Thankfully, I didn't lose anyone close to me on that day, but I will never forget the fear and anxiety of that day.

The morning of Sept 11, 2001 I was late for work because I had been looking at a condo I wanted to buy.  It was a BEAUTIFUL September day.   I was on the bus and headed to Manhattan when the first plane hit.  I called my boss to tell him that I was going to be late for work, because a "small aircraft" hit the twin towers.  He told me not to worry about being late and thanked me for calling him to let him know.

I called my cousin John and asked him if his dad was still working at the Trade Center.  He told me no, he had retired a while ago.  He turned on the TV and and said "Holy Shit."   

We were headed on the BQE. I could see the smoke coming from the tower when the second plane hit.  The girl next to me started hysterical crying.  I tried to calm her, but she was getting to me.  Someone yelled, "It is a terrorist attack."  My phone didn't work anymore.   The bus started moving.  People were shouting at the bus driver to stop...not to take us to the city.  He bus driver yelled to stop telling him what to do.  The girl next to me was still hysterical. Her boyfriend worked on the 13th floor. 

Finally, the bus got off the BQE.  The driver said anyone who wanted to go into the city could grab the subway.  I got off.  I couldn't take the girl next to me anymore.  My old boss Ginny was on the bus too.  She said to me, "Barbara, don't go to the city."  I told her I wasn't.  It was the truth. I wasn't going anywhere.  I just wanted to get off that bus.  I wanted to control where I was going and how I was going to get there.  I didn't want to be on that bus. 

I walked down to the water to where the warehouses are in Brooklyn. I think around 59th street.  I could see the towers burning.  People were on the streets watching.  One man said, "Those people are not going to be rescued up there..."  I  remember him laughing, not like he thought it was funny, but like he knew something everyone else didn't know and how stupid everyone around him was. I stood there for a while, and then went to find a way to get back home. 

I went back to where the bus left me, and got onto another express bus headed to Staten Island.  My friend from the neighborhood Derek was there.  We talked about how crazy the day was and how we couldn't believe everything that had happened. 

The bus driver was getting reports from his wife on his phone. He was waiting to hear word back from his daughter.  Someone else had a radio and gave it to the bus driver to put on the microphone for everyone to hear.  That's how we learned about the Pentagon and  the plane in Philadelphia.

The bus driver was older, this apparently was his second career.  He explained to us that he was a steelworker and worked on the towers.  Then we heard the report that the first tower fell.  The driver said he couldn't believe that the towers came down as he knew how they were built. He was concerned about all of us and did as much as he could to reassure us.  Then the second tower came down.    It was unreal. 

The bridges were all closed and so we couldn't get back into Staten Island.  The driver pulled into Bay Ridge into the parking lot of the Nathans.  Derek and I waited in Nathans until they told us to go back to the bus. 

We drove through the side streets of Brooklyn.  From the bus, I saw a woman in her car with a rosary bead in her hands.  It took us hours to get out of Brooklyn and get over the bridge.  I think it was about 3:00.  I saw a black man in a full suit carrying a business case covered with dust walking on the side of the Staten Island Expressway as we came over the bridge.  My guess is he walked all the way from Wall Street to Staten Island.

Derek and I got home around 5:00.  It was the longest day of my life.  And I we didn't know if there was more coming. 

Then at home we got a call from my Aunt. She had been in Manhattan with my Aunt Aida.  They got evacuated to Jersey. They were at my cousin's in Union City.  She didn't have her medication.   My dad and I went to go get her. The tank was on "E" and we were stuck in traffic.  We finally got off the Turnpike on on a side street somewhere for gas.  We got to my cousin's house (usually a 45 minute drive) at around 10 pm.   We learned that bridges were closed back into NYC (which included Staten Island). 

That night I slept on an air mattress on the floor of my cousin's house.  We ended up staying until around 1pm the next day. 

In the days that passed we were on constant alert for other attacks.  There were reports of vans being stopped, or bomb threats and everything else were on the nightly news.   I wasn't leaving my house until I felt it was safe.  I sat on my parent's couch and watched the news non-stop that entire week.

There were reports of all the stories of the people who were in the building that day.  Some survived because they were late for work, others died because they were there that day for a random meeting.   There were stories about the local businesses who gave out water to people who were running out of the area, and others that were charging ridiculous prices to take advantage of the situation.  There were reports of people cheering that the towers went down and those of people who were beat up for being Arab or anything that even looked Middle Eastern.

I remember the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald crying...he lost most of his company employees in the attack.  The Fire Department lost over 300 of their men.  The death toll numbers changed daily. 

Many of the people who died were from Staten Island.  Many were from the Fire Department as well as people who worked in the towers.  I didn't know many of them personally, but one was my classmate from OLQP, Shuan Bowman  he was 28, had a small son and his wife was pregnant with his second child.  He worked at Cantor.  The other one was Sal Lopes, a travel agent that I used to call at AAA Travel.  Sal had just left AAA offices in Long Island, to work for his new job. I remember him telling me he was leaving and  he was very excited about his new job in the city.  I don't think he was working there more than a few months. 

I remember stories of  volunteers coming out to being turned away because they wanted to control the rescue and recovery efforts.  There  were questions about the dust and if it was safe.  The EPA said it was.  There were family members waiting outside the rescue area with pictures of their loved ones.  Waiting for ANY word if they may have survived.   The stories went on for weeks...good and bad.  Bad and good.

Ten years ago feels like just yesterday.  I will never forget that day.  I pray for the families of those who lost someone. I pray for those who were part of the rescue/recovery who are now suffering from the dust that was not safe.  I pray that those with troubling memories of this day (many much worse than mine) find peace in their minds. 

I pray that we never experience a day like that again.

God Bless America.

FREE Stuff for your Start-up

As you all know, right now I am temping at "Elastic," but I do web design and other odd jobs on the side.  What I have learned from my experience is that you don't need a ton on money to get your business going.   Here's some FREE advice for you:

1) Business Cards

Its your calling card. You should always have a few on you, whether you are going to a networking event or to the supermarket.  You never know when or where a business opportunity may arise.  Be prepared.

You can professional looking business cards from Vistaprint.com for FREE!

In fact you can get LOTS of good stuff from Vistaprint, like magnets, pens, postcards, lawn signs and banners for FREE.  Sign up for their emails, and you'll start receiving great deals right away.

2) Facebook Page
You really should have a website, but if you are not able to design one for yourself, you can at least set up a Facebook Page for your business for FREE.  Ask your friends to help you get started by becoming a fan of the page.  Make sure you write a good description for your business and come up with a posting strategy to keep your page current. Try to do one post a week.

3) Business Plan This should really be the FIRST thing you do.  It helps you map out the strategy of your business and define who you are and what you want to do.  It helps you prepare for talking to investors, or potential clients.   A good business plan takes time and research.  You can find Business Plan templates for FREE on the internet.  Bplans.com has some great samples to get you started.

4) Business Phone Number
I suggest getting a phone number which is seperate from your personal cell phone.  Google.com/voice  offers a FREE phone number, with Voice mail, call forwarding, texting and more.  If you have a phone with internet, you can use this service to send and receive calls from your business.

5) Internet
I made it a mission to take my home office, outside of a home.  If you have a laptop, or Ipad, this is easy to do.  You can find FREE Internet at Starbucks, Barnes and Noble and Panera.  Check out my list of other free NYC locations here.


Barb's Top Quotes on FREE Stuff:
“The best things in life are free.” -American Proverb

“Smile, it's free therapy.” - Doug Horton

“Dreams are free.”

“Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun.”

“Ask yourself, "If all jobs paid $2 an hour, what job would I want to do?" When you answer that question, start doing it, even if you have to do it for free at first” Greg Aldrik

Top 5 Invoicing Tips

For someone running your own business, one of the most important things you need to create is an invoice. Its how you get paid.  Creating an invoice is not a big deal, but if you've never done it before, it can be overwhelming. 

Here are a few tips:

1)  Find a template you like.  Microsoft Word offers a invoices as a template you can modify for your use.   Every invoice should include the following information:

• Your business name, address, phone, fax and email.
• Date of invoice and date payment is due.
• Name and address of the person and company you are billing
• A unique invoice number.  I like to use a three letter code to represent the business and a date.  (ex. LWZ-20110906)
• A description of the work your are charging for and the amount.
• Any warranty for the work you did should also be outlined within the description.

2) Keep record of all the work you have done and time spent, especially if you are billing by the hour.  This will be important in the cases when someone questions you on the total hours you are billing for.   I recommend http://www.paymo.biz/.  This tool  is free.  It allows you track your time and has tools to help you create your invoice.

3) Invoice immediately after the work is done.  Do not hesitate. If there is any issue with the work you did, it needs to be addressed immediately, not after your client has time to reflect on what they should have asked you to do.

4) Keep records of invoices and which ones are still unpaid.  You have to stay on top of this to make sure you get the money you are due.

5) Keep a spreadsheet of all your invoices.  This will be useful when you prepare your taxes or review your strategy for the following year.


Top five quotes about Invoicing:

You don't get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.   --Jim Rohn

I get satisfaction of three kinds. One is creating something, one is being paid for it and one is the feeling that I haven't just been sitting on my ass all afternoon. --William F. Buckley, Jr.

What more can you ask for - getting paid for doing what you love. --Tiger Woods

 

Deliver more than you are getting paid to do. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work that eventually you will become indispensable. --Mandino, Og

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work. ~Robert Orben

Happy Labor Day, Dammit!

Labor Day was a creation of the labor movement to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers.  In these times, these achievements should include keeping your head above water.

We've had hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wars, market slides, and hitting our country harder than ever. Businesses are closing, people are defaulting on bills, losing their homes, and hope.   Some people try to fight the good fight, while others concede that they can't win for trying. 

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, "...the unemployment  rate held at 9.1 percent this year...  Employment in most major industries changed little over the month"  That's scary.  Obama is out there trying to rally the country, but he's been trying to do that for 3 years...its not working.  In fact, looking back to one of my first posts in 2009, the rate is up from 8.6%!!!

This Labor Day, like many Americans, I celebrated on the beach.  But unlike every other Labor Day that I can remember, I am 100% thankful for the opportunities I have been given in the past year to contribute to the Labor Force...and after a nice relaxing weekend, I am looking forward to another day at "Elastic."

I pray for all my friends fighting the good fight in these tough times.  I know we will all  make it...we have to keep on. 


Barb's Top 5 Labor Day Quotes

Work isn't to make money; you work to justify life. ~Marc Chagall


A mind always employed is always happy. This is the true secret, the grand recipe, for felicity. ~Thomas Jefferson


A bad day at work is better than a good day in hell. - Scott Johnson


One machine can do the work of 50 ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man. -- Elbert Hubbard

I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.-- Thomas Jefferson

Being your own Boss is TOUGH!

Working at "Elastic" has a lot of perks.  For one, I have a steady paycheck, and for that I am always thankful.  Secondly, even though I am still a temp, they try their best to treat me like an employee of company, and that the most I can ask for.  And it is a really nice company with a great mission, and that makes me feel good.

But at the end of the day, I am my own boss and I have a business to run. By that I mean I have to pay my own taxes, get my own insurance, stay on top of keeping records and receipts. I know for a fact, I'm not good at this.




My strong suit is marketing, coming up with great ideas and helping businesses make money, not administrative tasks.   Prior to being being my own boss, the only bill I was worried about staying on top of was my mortgage.


Last week, I almost lost my medical insurance, due to the fact that I didn't pay my bill.  Its not that I didn't have the money. It was that I MISSED the bill. 

Last year, I actually lost my Cobra benefits for a similar reason.  Due to the lapse of insurance (which I was unaware of), I had to do a lot of legwork to prove that I had no pre-exisiting conditions. And then, I had to wait another 30 days for the new insurance to kick in.

Had I lost medical insurance this time, it would have been 9 months before I could apply with them again.  So not only would I be without insurance, I would have to research another carrier.  I seriously don't have time for this.   Who does?

But as my own boss, I have to keep my "business" running.   I have to come up with a plan to stay organized.   I MUST make myself better at administrative duties.  I cannot afford to make a mistake.

Here are some of the things I put in place to help the process:
1) Taxes - My accountant made me a nice schedule of paying quarterly taxes.  I have updated my calendar with these dates and have a folder on my desk, which I check on a regular basis.

2) Medical Insurance - I now have this bill set as as an automatic withdrawal from my account.  I don't like to do this with my bills, I like to control the payments, but I already messed up 2x with insurance. I don't want it to happen again.

3)  Invoices and Receipts - Most of my expenses are recorded on my Credit Card bill.  I only have one credit card, to keep things simple.  I have a  box that I store all my receipts, and when it comes to taxes at the end of the year, I use that box to inform my accountant of my deductions.  My invoices are stored on my computer and sent via email, and I also record them in a spreadsheet.

 Barb's Top 5 Quotes about Getting Organized:

• "Don't find fault, find a remedy." - Henry Ford
• "Organization is not an option, it is a fundamental survival skill and distinct competitive advantage" - Pam Woods
• "Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. " -A. A. Milne
• “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” - Roman Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi
• “Life is too complicated not to be orderly.”- Martha Stewart

Inspirational Words - Celebrate YOURSELF

An good friend gave me these words of wisdom, and I thought I would share.  Whether it is unemployment or just tough times, the advice is solid. 

CELEBRATE YOURSELF

1) Never think or speak negatively about yourself, for that puts you in disagreement with God.
2) Meditate on your strengths:  Learn to encourage yourself, for most of the time nobody else will.
3) Never compare yourself with anyone else. You are unique, one-of-a-kind original.  Don't settle for being a copy.
4) Focus on your potential, not your limitations.  Remember, the "greater one" lives in you.
5)Find something you like to do and are "Gifted" to do well...and do it over and over.
6) Have the courage to be different.  Be a God-pleaser, not a people-pleaser.
7) Learn to handle criticism.  Let it develop you instead of discourage you.
8) Determine your own worth before others do it for you.
9) Keep your flaws in perspective, you are still a work in progress.
10) Focus daily on the one and only source of your confidence - GOD! Work on your relationship with him.

EARTHQUAKE in NYC!!!

So yesterday NYC experienced its first substantial earthquake in a very long time.  According to reports after the Japan quakes, we were long overdue.

When this earthquake hit,  I was on the ground floor in the "Elastic" Bookstore with my friend and her toddler daughter who came to visit.
Like many people at ground level, we didn't feel a thing.

I didn't realize something had happened until I saw EVERYONE leaving the "Elastic" offices and filling out to the street.

What shook me up was ACTUALLY the aftermath, (not the actual quake).  I stood outside with a lot of nervous people on the street looking up at the buildings and had (minor) flashbacks of 9/11. There was the the fear of the unknown, and questions of what was coming next.

Then someone asked the question of whether it was smarter to be standing in the street or in the building? (We were all outside looking up at the building).  Nobody seemed to know.

Then in the middle of this, I had a new fear: is this going to shake the economy too?  Seriously... that was my next thought, which always comes back to the question "Will I be unemployed (again)?"  

Thankfully, at the end of the day, it was a small quake...there were no aftershocks, and no damage in the city.  We ALL went back to work, and life went on as if nothing happened. 

People were even joking about it, posting silly photos on facebook of the "damage" (lawn chairs knocked over, water bottle on the floor).

All the worry and anxiety was for nothing. 

I believe every experience has a lesson learned.  Here is mine from yesterday:

What to do during an Earthquake:
If you are inside drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it firmly. If you’re in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator.


If outside, stay out in the open and away from buildings (you could be hurt by falling bricks and glass.


What do to about Worry...Don't. Don't worry about things (like natural disasters and aftermath) that you can't control.   Just do your best to be prepared, be smart with your money and keep on truckin'.  No matter what happens, you will figure it out.


Barb's Top 5 Quotes About Worry:

Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there. ~Author Unknown


We are more disturbed by a calamity which threatens us than by one which has befallen us. ~John Lancaster Spalding

Rule number one is, don't sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it's all small stuff. ~Robert Eliot

You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. ~Pat Schroeder


Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weights you down. ~Toni Morrison

This is why I have a REAL Financial Advisor.

Yesterday I was watching TV and saw Ivanka Trump. She said something about real estate mortgage rates being at an all time low, and that this was a great time to refinance. I promptly called my bank and asked for some rates.

After 30 mins on the phone with the broker, It ALL sounded great.  I could consolidate my bills, my payments would be lower and I could own my home in 20 years.  I was ready to sign and get my lower interest rate like Ivanka suggested.

I shopped around a little, but as I remembered from my original mortgage experience, every bank has different offers, and its never apples to apples. ( I think I finally I settled on my original mortgage because in addition to it being a good rate, the broker went to church with my Mom.)  But based on what I could tell, this refi rate sounded good.

Just before I started moving the on the refi, I called my personal Ivanka,  my financial advisor, Rae.   I never make a move without her.

She said it sounded good, but she gave me a bunch of questions to ask the broker. They were questions I wouldn't even know to ask. I called the broker back, got the answers, and called Rae.  Then Rae crunched the numbers and explained that the closing costs were so high and that my current rate was pretty good. At the end of the day, it wouldn't really be worth it.   (Who knew?)

I have discussions like this at least 4 times a year with Rae. She always helps me realize if I am on the right track, or if I have considered all the possible sources of money available to me, and most importantly, keeps me from making some costly mistakes. Most of the advice she provides me are on decisions that will never put money in her pocket (at least not in the near future!).  I might not always take her advice, but I always understand the situation better after talking with her.

Rae's helped me buy a condo (when I thought it was impossible), got me through 2 periods of unemployment (unharmed),  and she took my 401K that was basically only the money that I had put inside in it for 11years and made it GROW. She's even helped my friends get engaged, and buy the homes of their dreams.

Anyway...the moral of the story really is, don't believe everything you see on TV, and if you don't understand the fine print or the nitty gritty, find someone who does. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you're generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don't make.” --Donald Trump

G'day, mate!

Well, I am back from my trip to Australia. It was fun to see the sights, get some culture and have a good time with great friends.  

When you watching your money, reminders of what you have (or don't have) are all around you.   The prices of EVERYTHING in OZ were very high compared to the US.  Coke was $4.00, a coffee and a pastry were $12.00.   But in this case, I just tried not worry too much about the money.  Seriously, If I stopped to think of what everything cost me, I wouldn't have enjoyed the moments.  What is the point of flying 22+ hours if you are not going to make it count?  And really...what the heck are you working for...if you can't enjoy life???



During my tour of Brisbane, Sydney and Melborne, I went to an Australian leage Rugby game, found a way to eat vegamite that I like, had a real australian BBQ, learned Aboriginal dances  and fed Kangaroos.  The big highlight (for me) was the climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge (I won't even tell you how much that adventure cost! But it was worth it. )

Watching the Australian news, It was a bit of a shocker to be in  another country and see the US dollar so weak and then see the news reports on the US Economy.  Add to that the riots in England, and I kept thinking, "What is this world coming to!?!???

Anyway...after a quick stop in LA, and a lot of sleep, its back to work. Or how I like to think of it, that much closer to my next vacation!  :)

Barb's Top 3 Quotes for Living in the Moment
"Study as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow."  Isidore of Seville


"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." Buddha

"We are here and it is now. Further than that all human knowledge is moonshine." H. L. Mencken

Vacation Calling.

Well for those of you who are counting at home...it will be a year in August and I am still temping at "Elastic." 

A part of me says, "who cares...I am working!"  The other part of me says, "Don't get tooooo comfortable."  And then I think, "just smell the roses."

All in all , its been a great year.  Work has been steady, I have been slowly paying off my bills and I have my health benefits from the Freelancers Union.   I think about job security from time to time, but to be honest I don't know if "job security" really exists anywhere, anyway.  If this gig was to end, I wouldn't be eligible for unemployment, but for now, we are really busy, so that's not one of my main concerns.

So now, I am going on my first (albeit Unpaid) vacation to AUSTRALIA.  I'm using my credit card miles to pay for some of it, and the rest is just from  saving and spending smart all year. Its my gift to myself.   If not now, when?

I feel bad leaving "Elastic" right in the middle of back-to-school season.  But you know what, I guess this is one of the "perks" of being a freelancer.  :)

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. " --Saint Augustine

One of those Days...

I had a "why me moment" today and then I had flashback...to my earliest days of Job Searching.

Picture this: Spring 1994 - I was working at Kmart in the Appliance Department over Spring Break from Marist College and one of the full-timers there asked me, "Aren't you worried about finding a job when you graduate?"  I answered confidently, "No, I'm not worried...I'll be fine. I have good grades, and have been very involved in the school, I'll get a job easily." 

May 1994 I graduated from Marist with a shiney new degree in Communications. Within days of receiving my diploma my car's air conditioning broke, I had my first car accident (unrelated to the air conditioner), and literally came home to my parents house to a pile of bills on my bed.  

I distinctly remember sitting in my room, looking at all the bills and crying.  My days at Kmart were over.  I had no job prospects, and no potential income.  My mom came in and told me not to worry...I'd be fine. 

I purchased the Sunday NY Times and I sent out 20 resumes  on special paper. I went to Dress Barn and bought 3 business suits.  They were about $150 each and not the best quality material. They were dark and had long sleeves.  I traveled Manhattan almost every day that HOT summer in June, July and August, in my pantyhose and sensible shoes with sweat pouring down my back.  I was miserable and was not looking foward to dinner when my parents asked me how my day went. 

I remember my BIG "why me" moment one night riding home from a disappointing interview on the ferry.  I looked at every single person and wondered why they had a job and I didn't.  I was mad at that whole ferry, Marist and everyone I interviewed with that didn't hire me. 

It took almost 5 months..but, I finally landed my first job - a permanent temp position with no benefits (which is a whole blog in itself) only 2 weeks before the October homecoming at Marist. 

We all have "Why me???" moments.   Its just natural.  Its hard not to look at those around you, whether they are friends, co-workers or family and wonder why they have it "better" than you do.  Today I was frustrated because I'm still a temp at 'Elastic."   This was all triggered by something very simple: my computer privledges had been revoked.  This is built in to the system to for temps and happens every few months.  I had to have my boss send an email toHR and then HR to instruct IT to extend my priviledges.   This, along with the fact that I don't receive company emails, and other little reminders of my limbo status, can get frustrating. 

 But I'm not going to let it get me mad like I was that day on the ferry.  I'm working.  I'm making money and building my skills. And my mom was right.  I'll be fine.

Its was just one of those days...but I won't let it keep me down. 

TOP 10 POSITIVE THINKING QUOTES:
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”
Herm Albright

“You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.”
Ralph Marston

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”
Willie Nelson

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

Henri Matisse

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”

Albert Einstein


“People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong...Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”
Thich Nhat Hanh

“In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.”

Lee Iacocca

"Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright”

Bob Marley

“Remember even though the outside world might be raining, if you keep on smiling the sun will soon show its face and smile back at you.”
 Anna Lee

Taking time to do what is important

So as anyone who reads my blog knows, a day off costs me (ALOT).   I always have to think twice about taking a sick day, or time for a doctor's appointment or vacation.  But when it comes to my work with SI Career Coaches with teens at McKee Technical High School, I really don't think twice. I just do it.

The SI Career Coaches mentor students as they prepare to enter the business world.   We help them with their resumes and get them ready for interviews.   I actually helped found SI Career Coaches in 2010 when I was unemployed.  I'm not going to lie, it felt a little weird to be coaching students on their career when I was didn't have a job myself, but I was an "expert" on interviewing, so why not?  In introducing myself, I shared my story and what I was doing to keep going during a tough economy.


When the program started up again this year I wasn't sure if I could commit.  I have my gig at Elastic.  I felt the push-pull of "This is going to cost me" and "I really want to do this." The "I really want to do this won over." Thankfully.

A few weeks ago, I went to McKee to kick off the 2011 program with the Career Coaches. I was so happy to see familiar faces of students we mentored last year. Many shared that they found the program helpful and many found jobs after we visited.   Tomorrow, I'm going back to conduct mock interviews with the students.  Its so worth it.

 McKee Tech and its students are absolutely amazing.  They teach everything from cooking, cutting hair, fixing cars, carpentry, graphic design--you name it, they do it.  These kids get a great high school education and many can go right into their trades after school.  The success of this school really is the Principal, Sharon Henry and Assistant Principal, Jim Barbieri.  They have created a amazing environment for the students to learn and grow.  I am just so impressed by what they have done.  (So much so that I am blogging about it).   I wish I could go there myself.

Sometimes, money isn't everything.  I think this is one of those times.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"A good deed is like peeing in your pants. Everyone knows you did it, but only you can feel it's warmth.”

Anyone interested in joining the SI Career Coaches should contact Valarie Contrino at valarie@contrinotravel.com.  For more about the program, visit our blog at sicareercoaches.blogspot.com

Seven Months...Will the offer EVER come?

It has been seven months since I started as a temp at Elastic.  I knew this was going to be a long process, but when you think about how long its been since I started,  I seriously wonder if the offer will ever come.  And to be honest, even if the offer did come...in this economy what exactly does that mean? 

I am very happy in the company and I am working hard making progress.  And I know that times are tough all around  and really my biggest issue these days is that I haven't been able to really consider taking a vacation because it is really going to cost me double.  First the vacation and then for the time I took.  So...I just keep on trucking...My vacation will come.

So in the meantime, I continue to focus on new things.  Like working on a presentation with my boss to help build our case for a bigger team.  And ME.  I'm dieting and get back in shape.  There is nothing worse than feeling bad about the way you look.  And just in case I have to start interviewing again, I'll fit into my interview clothes again!  :)