Progress!

Good evening all,

Progress means different things to individuals based upon their experience. To some, progress means changing the landscape to construct a new building. Others may agree that progress is the careful redevelopment of an area that generates the greatest benefits. A few others may have their thoughts of progress as watching their new child smile for the first time.

In this case, progress is referring to taking an unforeseen situation such as a job loss and slowly turning it in to a sustainable small company revenue generating career. Since being handed the keys to my future from my former employer a few months ago I have managed to stay focused on turning the entrepreneur engine. While not solo in this endeavor there is all the benefits of working for a nimble, proactive, and hungry company with vastly diverse professional experience to rely upon.

The experience that each bring to the table is making this engine begin to work. The talent that surrounds me is overwhelming and extremely motivating. In another word - progress! I have come from the depths of feeling used and worthless to that of self-worth and self-motivation. I am tapping talents that I haven't used in years and have been having more fun "working" than I have ever had.

One day at a time and each day a small success. Did you find your success today?

Until next time...

Politics & the economy

Good evening all,

The economy is still in the tank. Obama and congress is getting closer to finalizing a healthcare reform bill that will undermine future generations with debt that will not able to be paid back. All this is occurring while I am trying to drive sales for an upstart company in two fields that are beat down; healthcare and construction. Mix this in with being an alderman going through budget workshops and I feel like deer waiting for the pending gun-deer season to open.

Due to the economy this budget year is the hardest I've had to balance (9th budget). It is the hardest in two areas. First, is the fact that the municipality has seen a significant reduction in revenues. Secondly, we will need to cut positions to balance the budget but yet the levy spending will still increase greater than any other year. This is just the nature of the times, but what sets me off is talking with constituents that phone and want to talk about trying to save every position.

When I speak to these individuals I listen to them, try to explain the city's situation, and then listen to them argue with me saying that I have no idea what it would be like to be without a job and that I am just a politician. After their rant and they are not able to offer a single idea on how to balance the budget I explain to them what happened to me on July 15, 2009. A few actually apologized and realized that this is just a tough economic year and that we are trying to do our best and appreciate what I must be going through. However, most of them continue to argue their point that I have no appreciation for being without work. I further explain that being an alderman in the City of Pewaukee pays a meager $5,000 per year. At this point, there are few hard heads that continue their argument that I am the worst person to represent their needs yet still can not offer a single idea on how to balance the budget.

How does one cope with trying to provide services for 13,000 people, cope with a recent job loss, and work for an upstart company that will not pay until sales are realized? The answer is not a worldly. The answer lies with a great deal of prayers. Whatever you are going through right now its probably time to drop to a knee and ask for help.

Good luck finding your place. Mine is on my knees!

Until next time...

Life

Good evening all,

Another week passes and the clarity of the direction to take my professional career is as clear as a muddy stream. It all started months ago when I was informed that my position is being eliminated. During this recession being without job has been filled with plenty of highs and lows. There is still food on the table, roof over our head, and clothes on the kids. However, there is still a missing item within our home and that item is a paying job.

I am now spending my time marketing my own talents within healthcare as a consultant. It is more fun than I have had in years. Trying to package "value" around my healthcare experience and selling this has been challenging. But the goal is refreshing. I have been able to gain two meetings so far, but no pay check yet. Until that time I've been visiting 25 prospects a week to sell my wares. The upside potential is great and it provides an excellent work-family balance.

To put the amount of time I have been without work in perspective just think what has occurred since that bizarre lunch I had in July.

1. The federal government has has added another $500B to our country's debt.

2. There is now 15M people without jobs in the country, up from 9M when I was let go.

3. The federal government has extended unemployment benefits an additional 21 weeks.

4. To cover costs of extending unemployment benefits each employer is responsible to pay an additional $14 per year per employee.

5. The nobel peace prize goes to Obama for......doing the job he was elected for?!?

6. Finally - it is now approaching WINTER!

until next time....

Been a While

Good evening all,

It has been a great while since my last post. A great deal has happened and yet so much is still the same. What is the same are the kids are growing, the grass needs mowing, and meal time is still juggling act. The career path is morphing before my eyes into how can I create a market for my talents without working for a large corporate juggernaut.

In the last 6 weeks the availability of open positions have increased, but the number of applicants have also increased more. The competition is fierce and any flaws on a resume, appearance, speech, etc and you will be passed over. The single best method to obtain an interview is to find a friend or acquaintance in the company you wish to work so your resume can be delivered directly to the hiring manager. Without this step, you are almost always wasting your time. There are just too many people sending resumes electronically to job openings.

However, I have been rejuvenated by helping a friend of mine garner more business for his company. I'm using all my professional contacts to help him succeed. His success ultimately leads to my working independence and financial freedom. It is extremely invigorating to know that hard work will pay off without being a link in the chain. Although it is only two weeks into this endeavor I am cautiously optimistic of the results. We have a 90 day plan as a check point to see how sales are going with two appointments booked so far. This is the ultimate test in my ability and I am all-in!

By the way, 90 days takes us to Christmas. It could either be a great Christmas season or I get a lump of coal!

Until next time!