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

Loyalty is for Dogs

"Loyalty is for Dogs."  Its a quote that I will never forget the head of HR at BookSpan saying in one of his Town Hall speeches. I remember being shocked by this part of his speech...thinking "who says that to employees???",  but I think the point he was trying to make at that time was that people don't stay with one company the way they used to. 

That was definitely true at the time of his speech. With the internet boom in the late 90s, you could increase your salary very easily job jumping.  And that's what lots of people were doing. 

But I was as loyal as you get.  I had been with the company for 10 years and counting.  My salary was increased dramatically year over year...but my starting point was $25K, so I never was making what I could have gotten elsewhere.  But I was respected and I loved the company.  It was a my family.   When I did leave, I cried.  It was the toughest decision I ever made.  But I felt that I had to go elsewhere to grow as a marketer.  It was the right choice, but a tough one, just the same.

I really liked my second company, Columbia House almost as much as BookSpan, I could have done a 10 year stint there too, but we were destroyed by a bomb called BMG and were all sent packing a year and a half after I got there.

Today I'm on my 4th job in 5 years. This one isn't even a permanent gig.  I seriously wonder if I will ever make it in one company for that long again.  This is a hard realization for a loyal person like me.

Part of the challenge will be to find a company that will stick around that long. These days, either big established companies are either trounced by the competition, destroyed by the economy, or sold off to make the owners rich, while the loyal employees are left trying to hang on.  

The other challenge is finding a company that doesn't look at the employees as expendable assets...A company that realizes the importance of organizational intelligence, and tries to keep people around, rather than fostering the revolving door.

Loyalty is for dogs... Boy do I miss the good old days.  

Doing the Limbo...

Elastic has been going well, which is why I haven't had a post in a few weeks. I'm enjoying the work and the break from the job search hustle.

I hate being in this limbo between temp and perm status, but is great to make an impact and feel good about what you do. I've introduced more testing to our email program and improved email reporting.

As always, its the numbers that make magic happen. While my boss was on vacation, I created a report that marries our email data to actual revenue. It didn't seem like a big deal to me, I thought it would be just another metric to measure an email's success, but THIS may be the thing that gets me full time employment. If the numbers are accepted as a metric by the company (which they should be), they show a very big impact to the bottom line. These numbers would help justify more targeted emails, which justifies a real Email team. All I can say is, "Thank God someone took the time to teach me Excel look-up tables..."AND "Stay tuned."

Either way, now that have insurance from the Freelancers Union I don't have to worry about hurting my back while I do this Limbo Dance. I am covered. :)


Top Five Limbo Quotes:
"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” Albert Einstein  
 
"How do geese know when to fly to the sun? Who tells them the seasons? How do we, humans know when it is time to move on? As with the migrant birds, so surely with us, there is a voice within if only we would listen to it, that tells us certainly when to go forth into the unknown.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

“Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. And you can do it when things are tough.” Richard M. DeVos
 
"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” - Anonymous

“Optimism doesn't wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time.” - Norman Cousins

Ready...Set....Go...

I'm so ready for my first full work week at Elastic!

I'll be working on the email team, which is right up my alley. This opportunity came to be thanks to the help of an old friend, who I reunited with during my "short stint" there back in May.

I don't know if it is the weather or the idea of getting back into the routine again...but it feels like "back to school" for me.  In the spirit of the season, I even went shopping for new clothes and shoes.

I'm not going to lie, I will miss my days at Panera...but I'm so looking forward to the steady income! Here's to bigger and better.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Good fortune shies away from gloom. Keep your spirits up. Good things will come to you and you will come to good things." ~Glorie Abelhas

When it rains...it pours

Well, its been a while since I wrote a post, simply because I had nothing to write. I wasn't up, I wasn't down...I just was.

But the last two weeks have been a a little different. It looks like employers are calling again. I had a few phone interviews...a quite few calls from friends saying that they might have an opportunity for me. And.....ELASTIC called again with another temp position for me. It looks like it might even lead to full time employment.

So as of yesterday...I am working. I'm not ready to break out the champagne yet...but I love the fact that I don't have to file for another week of unemployment.

A little lift...goes a long way.

What a surprise I had this week!   A woman at the gym, comes up to me and says, "Are you Barbara Sanchez?...I saw you this morning in the Advance...in the article about your office at Panera." 

Apparently the Panera article was reprinted.  This time, it must have had a much larger circulation, because now I am getting supportive emails from strangers, (and friends as well) .   And let me tell you, its the little lift I really needed.

Its hard to believe that I have been out over a year, and sometimes quite frankly, its a little embarrassing.  Even though I know it is not my fault, and do my best to stay positive, unemployment is sometimes is hard to deal with.  I hate when people ask what I do, I have to explain that, "I do marketing, but I am currently unemployed."    I already shied away from my college reunion, and now I have my high school reunion around the corner.  I feel bad when family calls to check on me and I don't have good news to tell them about my job search.

And even though I try to keep my spirit up, sometimes its hard...a year is a LONG time.  But then random things like the article reprint happen, and its the little lift that I need to keep on trucking. I am reminded once again, that I am not alone, and that I am doing all the right things to get back on track.  I have nothing to be ashamed of.  ....And most important, I have the support of family and friends (and even strangers) behind me.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

"Angels are all around us, all the time, in the very air we breathe." ~The Angels' Little Instruction Book

“Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.” ~Grandma Moses

“Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.” ~Bernice Johnson Reagon

How to Stay Positive

Unemployment is a series of ups and downs, good news and bad news. 

• Good News:  The recuiters are calling excited about your resume.  
• Bad News:  You don't quite have the skills they need right now.
   
• Good News: You got an interview and made it into the next round.        
• Bad News:  They loved you, but you didn't get the job.
   
• Good News: Looks like you will have the summer off.
• Bad News:  You have all the time do to what you want...but money's a whole other story.

You basically have 2 choices.  You can sit and stew and feel bad about your situation, or find the bright side and keep on truckin'.   I always try to choose the bright side. 

And here is a video that a good friend posted on Facebook today, aptly named " How to stay Positive."  Take a look and tell me this doesn't put a little bright side to your day!  I like this girl's style.

Official Recognition for Me and "The Office"

Its been over year since I was laid off, which is much longer than I ever expected to be out of work.  But I keep my head up and keep on truckin'...I know that things will change for the better soon. 

In the meantime, I am thankful for Panera, which gives me a place to call my "office."  Yesterday, I was featured in the Staten Island Advance, along with my "office mate" Joel Richardson of Soul Joel Productions.


I don't know how to describe it, but it feels really good to be recognized for making the best of a situation. 

Well...it was good while it lasted

Just found out my temp gig ends on Friday.

I'll miss the money, but not the insanity. You can imagine the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, chopping mailings right when they are ready to go to press...and then asking what happened to them. I don't get it. Money is being left on the table...and thrown out the window. And nobody will tell the queen what's what.

ANYWAY, My heart is not broken over this. I'll keep on truckin'. The headhunters are calling. I'm working towards landing a permanent gig! No Pepsi. I am ready for that Coca Cola!

Some days you need a good laugh...

Well, as many of you know, in my spare time I work for my friend, SOUL Joel, a local comedian, producer and radio host working his a** off to "make it happen." He's also my office mate at Panera...where I have been absent from for the past 3 weeks, thanks to my temp job (at a place that rhymes with "elastic").

Anyway...making a SHORT story way too LONG...

Through Joel, I met another up and coming comic, Reese Waters. Reese hired me to do some work on his website, and in the process, I found a funny clip of his on Unemployment. Thought I would share...

Jokes.com
Reese Waters - Recession
comedians.comedycentral.com
Futurama New Episodes Funny Demon Zombie TV Show Funny TV Comedy Blog

Hoped you enjoyed. A good laugh is good for the spirit.

Want to learn more about Reese and Soul Joel? Visit their sites at www.reesewaters.com and www.souljoel.com.

I'm back on the horse...(okay its just a Shetland Pony).

Well, its a miracle, but I got a job.  Don't get too excited. They only committed to 2 weeks.  I am sure it will go longer...but I have to keep on looking. Just in case.

As far as the first week goes...it was rough.  For one, I had to force myself to go to bed on Sunday at a decent hour.  I wanted to be bright and fresh, and on-time for the new job.  When I got home on Monday, I was exhausted. I felt like I ran a marathon.  I went right to bed.

My second day, I had a BRUTAL allergy attack.  I blamed it on the pollen, but I actually think it was due to a dusty shirt selection from the closet. Think about it.  I haven't worn these clothes in a year!

By the time Friday came along..I felt relieved.  I made it through my first week.  I can STILL do it. 

Anyway.  I'm back NYC.  I have my fingers crossed that this job will lead to full-on employment or will help me bridge on to my next job.  I think the cloud is lifting...a sunny future is around the corner.

Keeping my Head UP

Yes...today I open my my Yahoo account only to see the most disturbing headline of the day....
Job losses from Great Recession about to get worse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100205/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

I'm not going to rehash the article, you can read it for yourself.  And frankly it was not a surprise. The headhunters aren't calling...and everyone seems to be realizing that we are in trouble.  But man oh man...when you see this kind of stuff in black and white...it really makes me realize that things are BAD.  Seriously, this was not what I was hoping for as I turned into the new year. 

I'm at a loss....I just need to keep on trucking and stay positive.   My friends and family are there to keep me motivated and I have little wins here and there.  I'm not letting this economy bring me down.  NO WAY.

Quote of the Day
When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'

Sydney J. Harris

Happy New Year....Ten New Years Resolution Ideas for the Unemployed

Well, Happy New Year friends. Where does the time go? It feels like just yesterday  I was ringing in 2009.

I've been doing quite a bit of reflecting this year. I think this is a blessing that comes out of unemployment. When you are working, you are on track, and you don't have time to really sit and think about things like, "Where am I going? What are my flaws? Where can I improve? What do I really want to do with my life? But when your unemployed, not only do you have the time, I think you have to do this "work" to get yourself back on track.

In keeping with the theme of New Years resolutions, I decided to make some employment resolutions for 2010.  They may seem obvious, but I like the idea of having things to check off as accomplishments.

Here our my 10 New Years Resolutions for 2010.
1) Leave no stone unturned.
Networking is key to finding your next job.  I am going to do a better job of networking this year. I plan to attend 1-2 networking events a month.

2) Make getting out of the house a priority.
I always say that keeping moving is the most important key to keeping sane when unemployed.   I did a great job with this last year, but I have been slacking the last 2 months. I plan to get back to my list making ways and keep moving no matter what.

3) Stay on top of  health.
This year I plan to work harder on my fitness and diet. Starting the beginning of the year, I will do the Joy's Life Diet, go to the gym 3-5 days a week and get down to 180lbs.

4) Get to bed at a decent hour.
I've been going to bed at 3 and 4 am. This has got to stop. Its counterproductive and bad for my health. My resolution is to be sleeping by 1am.

5) Start beefing up the resume.
I have a great resume, but my experience is going to get real stale.  I will sign up for a class at NYU this spring.

6)  Get ready with my plan B
Unemployment is going to run out in April.  I plan to be working full time by then, but I need to start working on a plan B.  I think this will be consulting.  I have to get myself ready to do that. Networking will be part of this plan.

7) Volunteer and Give Back.
I may not have money, but I have time.  New York Cares is a great charity that I have worked with in the past. I think it is time that I use some of my time volunteering.  I will sign up at least 1 event a month.

8) Give myself a Break.
I love travel.  I know money is tight, but I can't keep denying myself.  I would like to go to California this year.  If things don't start heating up in the next few weeks, I am going to do it using my Frequent Flyer miles. 

9) Keep in Touch
This goes back to my networking resolution, but I need to reconnect with friends and former co-workers.  I have to start making coffee dates and making connections.  I will do 1-2 a month.

10)  STAY POSITIVE
This is my number one priority.  I will not let unemployment get me down!


Happy New Year Peeps.  We can do it.  We can do it!  Yes we CAN!

Merry Christmas. Love, Cobra....

What a Christmas gift I was given by the federal government...The 65% COBRA subsidy was extended from 9 months, to 15 months.  What a load off my shoulders!

In the past 8 months, I have been to the doctor more times than most of my 15 years working.  I even had a hospital visit. Anyone that knows me knows that going to the doctor is always a last resort for me.  But the body isn't what it used to be...and now health care is more important than ever.   I can't imagine the stress of knowing I need care, but skipping it based on the cost.

Thank you for the gift Mr. Obama.  This is what I need to keep my head above water.

 http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-yourmoney28-2009dec28,0,1437369.story

As far as the job hunt, it is going much longer than I expected, but I keep on trucking, with my head up. I know I am in good company and the new year is right around the corner.

Adjusting the sails....

Well, I am back at Panera today. It feels good.  I woke up to a nice sunny day, and I got up, got dressed and got myself OUT.

I say it again and again. Getting out is the key to staying positive.   And I am not going to lie...its been hard to stay up these days.  My sleep pattern and daily routine has been affected already.  I know I need to get back on track.  I am pushing myself, mainly because I can't afford to be negative right now. 

Anyway, step one to getting back on track is looking for new paths back to work.  So today, I'm back on the government websites...It takes a little time to decipher the descriptions, but I just know there are a few that are right for me.

Here are the websites if you are interested:

• New York State Employment Opportunities
• New York City Job Opportunities
• Federal Government Jobs

I'm also planning on attending a small business group tonight.  I think it will be a good networking opportunity.

Anything out there working for you???  Love to hear your advice.

Quote of the day:
“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” --Jimmy Dean

Great Minds Think Alike!!!

I've been writing here and on my Facebook Page about my "office" at Panera for months.  Many of my friends still think I actually work for Panera.  I do "work" there, but I don't don't serve coffee or make the bread. I am "working" at Panera looking for "work."   I use their Wifi and comfy seating to create a remote office.  This work does not earn a paycheck (but I think the only people who really care about that is is the unemployment office).  

In the meantime, I am thankful for the remote office. The key is that I am out of the house. I am dressed and on the move.  I believe in my heart that keeping focused on the search and staying positive is is the right way to get the job of my dreams. 

One other side effect of going to Panera, is that I have fallen in love with the Panera Mac and Cheese, which I now include in my profile photo.  One friend was so impressed by my promotion, she actually wrote a touching letter to Panera about me. How awesome is that!!!????  She suggested I would make a great commercial for them. I agree.   They wrote back. They said they would forward to the corporate office.  I am waiting for their call, or a team of managers to swarm up to me, like Ed McMahon and Publishers Clearing House, while I am sitting there "working." Come on, Panera.  Make my YEAR!   (My office hours vary, but I am there EVERY Wed from 12-5pm in case you need to schedule the camera crew).

Another  friend of mine sent me an article about people who created their remote office at coffee shops and the library. First of all, I was incredibly touched that he thought of me.  Its that power of friends that I spoke about months ago in ths blog.  Here's a friend that takes a second to send me a link, that says, "keep it up." That's priceless.  Anyway. I liked the article, THE DAILY GRIND by By DEIRDRE DOLAN and JENNIFER DANIELS and I thought I would share it here on my blog.  It just goes to prove that I am not alone.  I hope it inspires others to get out there and make something happen for themselves.  

Come on people, get out of your caves.  Opportunity is out there waiting for us to find it.   Maybe it is at Panera, maybe it is at the local library. I am 90% sure it is not on the couch!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Enjoy Life.  This is not a dress rehearsal."

Top 5 Lessons Learned from Unemployment (so far).

Well today is roughly my 7 month unemployment anniversary. It also is my 4 year anniversary of my first downsizing from Columbia House (which at the time I thought was the end of my world.)

While this layoff is much longer than the the last one (which lasted 4 months), I'm am in a much better mental place this time around. I am chalking this up to lessons learned from the first one.   Looking back I seriously think my first unemployment stint was God's way of preparing me for this tougher time.

As I reflect on these two unemployment experiences, I can't believe how much I have grown as a person.  I thought I would share some of the things I have learned.

Here are my Top 5 Lessons Learned (so far) from Unemployment:

1. Stressing yourself out doesn't find you a job any faster.
   I learned from my first experience that this kind of stress actually makes you sick, which is a downward mental and physical spiral. You have to just accept the situation, and do what you can to fix it, but don't let it get you down.
   
   
2. Make the most of the time you have been "given."
   Last time around, I was so focused on the job search, I didn't take time to smell the roses. I remember talking to this guy Eddie, right before we were laid off. He said that if he got the axe, he was just going to take some time and enjoy himself. I thought he was crazy. He had a family and a mortgage. How could he afford to do that???
   
   The truth is, you can "afford" it. First of all, you have to accept the fact that unless you have MEGA savings account, unemployment is going to hurt financially, no matter how frugal you live. But after you work on job hunting you are rich in TIME. My first advice is while you still have some funds, do SOMETHING (at least one thing) you always wanted to do. Take that trip you always wanted to take, experience life. You always said you wanted to see X or do Y.  My advice is to do it and make it the best experience ever!
   
   I always wanted to become fluent is Spanish. I decided right after I got the news that I was laid off that I was going to make it happen. I called my HS principal and asked her to help me make a connection with Sisters in Chile. Next thing I was in Chile living in a convent (That's a whole blog in itself). Do you know what a incredible gift that was? I paid for the entire trip with credit card miles. And I learned so much more than just Spanish! I also rode 100 miles on my bicycle in one day (TWICE) this year. This was something I have been working towards doing, but never had the time to train for. I made it a goal, and thanks to daily spin classes, I was able to lose weight and get in shape for the ride. What is better than that?
   
   Once you are done, taking care of YOU, then make the most of time with your friends and family. This time is a gift. So are your family and friends. Share this time with them. And then, after you do that, make sure you do things that make you feel good about yourself. Volunteer, help your neighbors, whatever. You have the time, enjoy it every way you can.
   
   
3. Your house is good for shelter from the cold, but bad for job hunting.
   Last time I was unemployed, I was given 3 months of going to unemployment counseling in the city. The benefit included counseling services, workshops and use of a computer, copier and fax machine. It offered me a great way to get out of the house. This time around, I have Panera. It offers great coffee, fantastic sandwiches and FREE Wifi.
   
   I just really think it is important to get out of bed and get out of the house. Its good for the brain and good to keep your mind stimulated. Technology really makes that that possible...all you need is a laptop with wireless access and a cell phone.
   
   
4. Your friends are the best support system in the world.
   Maybe it is me, but I have some fantastic friends. If they are not sending me job leads, they are just reminding me of my accomplishments. And now with facebook, this support system is intensified and multiplied. They are a gift and I am so thankful for them.
   
   
5. You need a plan for EACH and EVERY day.
   This is a lesson that I think is really important. Time flies and you have to make the most of every day. I end every day with a list for tomorrow. Its a manageable list, nothing too crazy, but a plan just the same. When I wake up in the morning, I know I can't stay in bed. I have to do the Laundry, go to Panera for 3 hours and job search, stop at the store buy a birthday card, go to the gym and do food shopping for the week. When I go to bed at night, I know that I did all (or most) of the things that I set out to do, and that makes me feel good. I don't have a big black cloud of "things to do" hanging over my head. I have a list that I can check off.
   

So, those are my lessons learned (so far). I am hoping to be out of this situation sooner than later, and will be celebrating my anniversary of my new job.  But I know I can take whatever comes my way. Do you have lessons you can share? I'd love to hear them.

The Dash - What matters most is the dash between those years....

You are so much more than your Job
I can't explain how easy is it to feel down about yourself because you don't have a job. Maybe it is because there isn't money coming in to give yourself financial "value." But regardless of your current employment status, it is important to remember: you are so much more than what you do for a living.

My sister sent me this video, and this really put things into perspective for me.



This video really made me realize and remember that yes, having a job is important. It is your way of earning money and contributing to paying your expenses. But, it doesn't define how smart you are, the kind of person you are, and what you mean to you family and friends. It is not your life.

Life is short. This time of unemployment will be (relatively) short too. You just have to do your best to get through it and find your next job. In the meantime, you can be helpful to your friends and family and those around you that can use your help and skills.

You are more than what brings in the bacon people. Don't let not having a job make you forget that.




Inspirational Poem of the Day:
The Dash Poem, by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?