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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Its Been a while - An update
If you have noticed that I haven't been posting much lately, things have been moving and shaking around here. Here are some updates.
I have been interviewing quite a bit lately so the interviews, prepping, following up, looking for new leads have been taking a lot of time. All good things. No home run yet so if you know of any one who needs marketing or channel management help send them my way.
There has also been a lot of fun stuff going on. Finishing up Cub Scouts and crossing over my Den of 10 Webelos - 9 with the Arrow of Light. Enjoying the big snow storm we had in Dallas. See my last post for how I spend those days. And finally the Olympics. Every four years you have to see the maniacs do half pipe, aerials, luge bobsled and all the other crazy speed events. Throw in a little figure skating for some culture and you have the winter olympics. Fortuneately they will be over this weekend so I can get some work done and get some sleep.
In other news, I am working on a new home and some expansion on More than Half Full. I am not ready to spill the beans yet so stay tuned for some fun stuff.
Look for me to be more regular with my postings and trying some new ideas.
Have a great weekend.
I have been interviewing quite a bit lately so the interviews, prepping, following up, looking for new leads have been taking a lot of time. All good things. No home run yet so if you know of any one who needs marketing or channel management help send them my way.
There has also been a lot of fun stuff going on. Finishing up Cub Scouts and crossing over my Den of 10 Webelos - 9 with the Arrow of Light. Enjoying the big snow storm we had in Dallas. See my last post for how I spend those days. And finally the Olympics. Every four years you have to see the maniacs do half pipe, aerials, luge bobsled and all the other crazy speed events. Throw in a little figure skating for some culture and you have the winter olympics. Fortuneately they will be over this weekend so I can get some work done and get some sleep.
In other news, I am working on a new home and some expansion on More than Half Full. I am not ready to spill the beans yet so stay tuned for some fun stuff.
Look for me to be more regular with my postings and trying some new ideas.
Have a great weekend.
Monday, February 15, 2010
No Job Joy #69 Snow Days
When you live in Dallas and you wake up to 2 inches of snow and more is on the way, things start to shut down. Since my phone interview had been canceled, I had nothing I had to do so I decided to take a snow day. A day to do things that I truly love but never make enough time for was what this day was all about.
My snow day started with two hours of taking photographs. I explored an area that I had been dozens of times but never ventured off the path. Today, I took the path not traveled. What I ended up with can be seen here. Snow Day photos Being in Dallas yet not seeing anything that resembles one of the largest cities in America was amazing. I felt as if I was back in Iowa for the first snow of the year. The large flakes, the silence of being in nature and the beauty of fresh snow.
After getting lunch and drying off, I went to pick up my kids from school. Another Dad and I carefully set up an ambush for the kids as they got out of school for a three day weekend. What followed was a 20 minute melee where everyone was covered with snow and exhausted from throwing and dodging flying snow. The joy of the kids being free to be kids in weather that they almost never see was inspiring. The amazing thing was that the snow was falling as hard as ever.
That night we had some small power outages as the trees started to feel the strain of the beauty that was piling on them and they came down taking power lines with them. Fortunately we had power all night. With me setting my alarm for a pre-dawn wake up call to capture the snow after it stopped. As we went to sleep we could see the brightness of the city lights reflecting off the clouds and snow making a strange glow everywhere.
As I drove around making photographs I had to avoid trees and branches that had fallen overnight. Making sure to pay attention to the stop lights that were out. This really wasn't a big problem as few people were out before daylight. Each time I set up my tripod I was amazed at how much snow we had. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen this much snow. Since there was no wind as the snow came down there were no drifts and the snow was a smooth layer of white icing on the world.
As I was revelling in the beauty of what seemed like a foreign land, the silence was occasionally broken by the sad sound of branched straining and breaking under the weight of the snow. Just as anyone who was with out power for more than a short time can attest, beauty can have a price.
After almost three hours of photographing the winter wonderland, my wife called and the power had gone out. Not that there was much I could do but I had the only camera that was charged so she has no way to capture the kids frolicking in the almost foot of snow. When I got home I found kids, dogs and adults playing in the snow along with a new snow man my wife had built.
The rest of the day was spent wondering when the power would come back on and trying to dry clothes by the gas fireplace. When the power did finally come back on here is what I found I had created earlier that day. Wonderful memories of a snow day.
The reason that this is a no job joy is that I had no where to be, nothing I HAD to do and was able to enjoy the snow day as if I were a kid again and create something I can share with others in my photographs.
My snow day started with two hours of taking photographs. I explored an area that I had been dozens of times but never ventured off the path. Today, I took the path not traveled. What I ended up with can be seen here. Snow Day photos Being in Dallas yet not seeing anything that resembles one of the largest cities in America was amazing. I felt as if I was back in Iowa for the first snow of the year. The large flakes, the silence of being in nature and the beauty of fresh snow.
After getting lunch and drying off, I went to pick up my kids from school. Another Dad and I carefully set up an ambush for the kids as they got out of school for a three day weekend. What followed was a 20 minute melee where everyone was covered with snow and exhausted from throwing and dodging flying snow. The joy of the kids being free to be kids in weather that they almost never see was inspiring. The amazing thing was that the snow was falling as hard as ever.
That night we had some small power outages as the trees started to feel the strain of the beauty that was piling on them and they came down taking power lines with them. Fortunately we had power all night. With me setting my alarm for a pre-dawn wake up call to capture the snow after it stopped. As we went to sleep we could see the brightness of the city lights reflecting off the clouds and snow making a strange glow everywhere.
As I drove around making photographs I had to avoid trees and branches that had fallen overnight. Making sure to pay attention to the stop lights that were out. This really wasn't a big problem as few people were out before daylight. Each time I set up my tripod I was amazed at how much snow we had. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen this much snow. Since there was no wind as the snow came down there were no drifts and the snow was a smooth layer of white icing on the world.
As I was revelling in the beauty of what seemed like a foreign land, the silence was occasionally broken by the sad sound of branched straining and breaking under the weight of the snow. Just as anyone who was with out power for more than a short time can attest, beauty can have a price.
After almost three hours of photographing the winter wonderland, my wife called and the power had gone out. Not that there was much I could do but I had the only camera that was charged so she has no way to capture the kids frolicking in the almost foot of snow. When I got home I found kids, dogs and adults playing in the snow along with a new snow man my wife had built.
The rest of the day was spent wondering when the power would come back on and trying to dry clothes by the gas fireplace. When the power did finally come back on here is what I found I had created earlier that day. Wonderful memories of a snow day.
The reason that this is a no job joy is that I had no where to be, nothing I HAD to do and was able to enjoy the snow day as if I were a kid again and create something I can share with others in my photographs.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
They grow up way too fast
It started with the "simple" task of signing our 6th grader up for classes as he starts Jr.High. For some strange reason he wants to take Latin. As far as I know the only people who use Latin are priests and bug researchers. He said it was that or German.
We were some what surprised that he competed the form correctly by himself. We just couldn't get over the Latin thing so we (Susan) started looking into what the impact of his decision might be. To make a long story short, what seem like a simple decision could impact the rest of my son's life including the possibility of summer school, if or which college he could get into and if he takes Latin he would use it if he went into science or became a vet.
I don't think our son is ready to make that type of commitment in the 6th grade. He isn't ready to look that far into his future. I'm not ready to look that far into his future. The thing is, the way we have pushed kids to be more like adults they have to make these choices at younger ages. When I was in the 6th grade the biggest commitment you had to make was were you a Cowboys, Raiders or Steelers fan and who you were going to sit by at lunch.
We were some what surprised that he competed the form correctly by himself. We just couldn't get over the Latin thing so we (Susan) started looking into what the impact of his decision might be. To make a long story short, what seem like a simple decision could impact the rest of my son's life including the possibility of summer school, if or which college he could get into and if he takes Latin he would use it if he went into science or became a vet.
I don't think our son is ready to make that type of commitment in the 6th grade. He isn't ready to look that far into his future. I'm not ready to look that far into his future. The thing is, the way we have pushed kids to be more like adults they have to make these choices at younger ages. When I was in the 6th grade the biggest commitment you had to make was were you a Cowboys, Raiders or Steelers fan and who you were going to sit by at lunch.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
No Job Joy #68 What a year it has been
It was a year ago today that I got on the plane leaving Grand Rapids a day earlier than I had planned. It was the start of a new adventure. I was unemployed. While I didn't think it would last a year, here I am with the chance to look back.
Most people see unemployment as the worst time of their life. While I won't say being unemployed is fun, it isn't all bad. Here in a nutshell is what I did with my year.
Spent with my family, went on a trip to Colorado, visited NASA, the USS Texas, the Nebraska state capitol, San Jacinto, the Dr. Pepper Museum and saw Mammoth bones, I helped with homework, optimized making breakfast and lunches, started practicing leave no trace on the walk to school, rode 3300 miles including 2 centuries and a 50 miler with my oldest, showed my wife where I went to college, made new friends, learned new technologies, got a certification, researched some new companies, built a fence, refinished a window and a shelf, finished many a honeydo that I had put off, went camping 10 times, caught up with old friends, made a rain barrel, learned how to tie knots and lash poles, lost my airline status, learned to twitter, and blog and many other things I know I forgot.
After all this if I haven't figured out that the most important thing is spending time with my family, being healthy and learning new things then I have wasted a year. Not that I didn't like my job, its just that sometimes we get too caught up making a living to live.
Second is trusting the right things to find a new job, do the right things for your family, that you are prepared to get through till you start working again and most importantly that you have something to offer that someone will pay for.
Looking back between now and then it has been quite an adventure. Over the year I have learned a lot of new things. Who my friends are and how to make new ones. What is really important in life and
Most people see unemployment as the worst time of their life. While I won't say being unemployed is fun, it isn't all bad. Here in a nutshell is what I did with my year.
Spent with my family, went on a trip to Colorado, visited NASA, the USS Texas, the Nebraska state capitol, San Jacinto, the Dr. Pepper Museum and saw Mammoth bones, I helped with homework, optimized making breakfast and lunches, started practicing leave no trace on the walk to school, rode 3300 miles including 2 centuries and a 50 miler with my oldest, showed my wife where I went to college, made new friends, learned new technologies, got a certification, researched some new companies, built a fence, refinished a window and a shelf, finished many a honeydo that I had put off, went camping 10 times, caught up with old friends, made a rain barrel, learned how to tie knots and lash poles, lost my airline status, learned to twitter, and blog and many other things I know I forgot.
After all this if I haven't figured out that the most important thing is spending time with my family, being healthy and learning new things then I have wasted a year. Not that I didn't like my job, its just that sometimes we get too caught up making a living to live.
Second is trusting the right things to find a new job, do the right things for your family, that you are prepared to get through till you start working again and most importantly that you have something to offer that someone will pay for.
Looking back between now and then it has been quite an adventure. Over the year I have learned a lot of new things. Who my friends are and how to make new ones. What is really important in life and
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Leave the world better than you found it
Many of you have heard of Leave No Trace which is program that helps teach people how to minimize their impact when they are camping and using other recreational parks. It is a great program that helps maintain our natural resources.
While most of us want to live in a cleaner world we rarely do anything about it except when we to organized clean ups of parks or neighborhoods. What if we all just did a little bit every day?
A few years ago I read about a cyclist who on every ride he picked up one piece of litter. The sad thing is he said it wasn't much of a challenge to find something to pick up and put in his jersey.
While that may not seem like a big deal this person rode almost every day so over the course of a year he would pick up 2-300 pieces of trash. What I have done as a goal for this year is to do the same. While I ride only about 125 times a year if each of us when ever we go for a walk, take a jog or ride our bikes were to do that the numbers get pretty big pretty fast. Imagine how much cleaner our neighborhoods, parks and roads would be. It would also reduce the amount of money spent by our local governments which could be used for other services.
My challenge to all my friends who exercise outside is to pick up one piece of litter each time you work out. This way you can leave the world better than you found it. Check out www.lnt.org for more on leave no trace.
While most of us want to live in a cleaner world we rarely do anything about it except when we to organized clean ups of parks or neighborhoods. What if we all just did a little bit every day?
A few years ago I read about a cyclist who on every ride he picked up one piece of litter. The sad thing is he said it wasn't much of a challenge to find something to pick up and put in his jersey.
While that may not seem like a big deal this person rode almost every day so over the course of a year he would pick up 2-300 pieces of trash. What I have done as a goal for this year is to do the same. While I ride only about 125 times a year if each of us when ever we go for a walk, take a jog or ride our bikes were to do that the numbers get pretty big pretty fast. Imagine how much cleaner our neighborhoods, parks and roads would be. It would also reduce the amount of money spent by our local governments which could be used for other services.
My challenge to all my friends who exercise outside is to pick up one piece of litter each time you work out. This way you can leave the world better than you found it. Check out www.lnt.org for more on leave no trace.
Friday, January 22, 2010
No Job Joy # 67 Busy Busy with more on the way?
I know it has been a while since I have posted but it has been crazy around here. Good things on the job front. Good things on the family front.
I am glad to have the time with my family. With any luck the luxury of being able to drop every thing and go for a ride or play football with the boys will be over soon. The last week has been filled up with visits from family, preparing for and having interviews, taking some training and all the other stuff we do in our lives.
When I do land my next job and am running back and forth between work, scouts, school and once in a while seeing my wife, I know I will look back at these days and be glad for the time when I could enjoy all that was going on around me.
Now its off to Boy Scout Camping.
I am glad to have the time with my family. With any luck the luxury of being able to drop every thing and go for a ride or play football with the boys will be over soon. The last week has been filled up with visits from family, preparing for and having interviews, taking some training and all the other stuff we do in our lives.
When I do land my next job and am running back and forth between work, scouts, school and once in a while seeing my wife, I know I will look back at these days and be glad for the time when I could enjoy all that was going on around me.
Now its off to Boy Scout Camping.
Monday, January 11, 2010
No Job joy # 66 Some good things about cold weather
I do have to admit that for Dallas the recent cold weather has been a bit extreme, but nothing like that my friends up north have been facing. That being said there are some good things about cold weather.
First it confirms to my wife that I need to confine my job search to at least 300 miles south of the Mason-Dixon line. It also confirms why I moved to Texas. I remember doing chores when the steam from your breath froze on your eye lashes (somewhere around 10 below) and fully understand that cars are easier to start when it is 105 degrees vs 5 below and the obvious advantage that you don't have to shovel heat.
Second, it has been a good opportunity to use my cold weather cycling gear. Instead of leaving it in the closet while I die of boredom on my trainer, it is getting good use helping me ride off all the Christmas goodies my wife made. While searching for a job having a positive attitude is important. Having winter riding gear helps me avoid the suicidal tendencies of someone who has stared at the inside of their garage too much while going no where fast on their trainer.
Third, it makes my wife want to make soup. For those of you who don't know my wife is a great cook and has more recipes than the library of congress has books. The colder weather motivates her to try out her soup and stew recipes which usually go unused. This lets her express her creativity in the kitchen and I get some good food which also means I need to ride more.
So for those of you in Dallas who are looking forward to the warmer weather this week I will be thankful for the fleeting blast of arctic air.
First it confirms to my wife that I need to confine my job search to at least 300 miles south of the Mason-Dixon line. It also confirms why I moved to Texas. I remember doing chores when the steam from your breath froze on your eye lashes (somewhere around 10 below) and fully understand that cars are easier to start when it is 105 degrees vs 5 below and the obvious advantage that you don't have to shovel heat.
Second, it has been a good opportunity to use my cold weather cycling gear. Instead of leaving it in the closet while I die of boredom on my trainer, it is getting good use helping me ride off all the Christmas goodies my wife made. While searching for a job having a positive attitude is important. Having winter riding gear helps me avoid the suicidal tendencies of someone who has stared at the inside of their garage too much while going no where fast on their trainer.
Third, it makes my wife want to make soup. For those of you who don't know my wife is a great cook and has more recipes than the library of congress has books. The colder weather motivates her to try out her soup and stew recipes which usually go unused. This lets her express her creativity in the kitchen and I get some good food which also means I need to ride more.
So for those of you in Dallas who are looking forward to the warmer weather this week I will be thankful for the fleeting blast of arctic air.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The season of waiting is over
Christmas is often called the season of waiting. Looking forward to friends and families, presents and the beginning of the New Year.
For those of us looking for a job the season of waiting has additional meaning. It is the season of waiting for managers to get back from their vacations and get back to work. Now that the holiday parties and year end close efforts are over the people we need to talk to are back and looking at how they are going to make this year better than the last.
Now is the time for those of us who have been waiting to make sure we are best candidate. This includes adding new ideas and energy into who and how we pursue our next job. New training, new connections, new companies, new groups and new attitudes are how we are going to get the job we want.
Good luck to everyone in the New Year!
For those of us looking for a job the season of waiting has additional meaning. It is the season of waiting for managers to get back from their vacations and get back to work. Now that the holiday parties and year end close efforts are over the people we need to talk to are back and looking at how they are going to make this year better than the last.
Now is the time for those of us who have been waiting to make sure we are best candidate. This includes adding new ideas and energy into who and how we pursue our next job. New training, new connections, new companies, new groups and new attitudes are how we are going to get the job we want.
Good luck to everyone in the New Year!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
No Job Joy #65 Ready for Christmas
Being unemployed at the holidays for most people means less under the tree. While we all want to open lots of new stuff on Christmas day there are up sides to a minimal Christmas.
First their is the love/hate relationship with shopping. We love to share with others but hate all the going and looking for a better price and the wrapping and shipping. With a minimal Christmas there are no malls, no all night wrapping sessions or the stress of finding just the right gift or running all over to find a specific item.
It also gets you off the hook for buying presents for nieces and nephews who already have too much stuff and you never know what to get for them.
Next is Christmas day. You can open your gifts and clean the place up before Noon. In our case that means we can be at Grandma's in time for Dinner.Unfortunately, there isn't any football on Christmas day so having free time just means hanging out with the in-laws.
The down side of having fewer things to wrap my wife feels the need to revive a practice they have in her family of wrapping everything. That includes candy canes, chap stick and even AA batteries just to fill up the stockings on Christmas morning. Have you ever tried wrapping or opening a gift wrapped AA battery. It is basically all tape.
So now that we are ready for Christmas my wife also has more time to bake,. If I can keep her from giving it all to the teacher, neighbors and co-workers I might actually get to try some of her treats.
Merry Christmas
First their is the love/hate relationship with shopping. We love to share with others but hate all the going and looking for a better price and the wrapping and shipping. With a minimal Christmas there are no malls, no all night wrapping sessions or the stress of finding just the right gift or running all over to find a specific item.
It also gets you off the hook for buying presents for nieces and nephews who already have too much stuff and you never know what to get for them.
Next is Christmas day. You can open your gifts and clean the place up before Noon. In our case that means we can be at Grandma's in time for Dinner.Unfortunately, there isn't any football on Christmas day so having free time just means hanging out with the in-laws.
The down side of having fewer things to wrap my wife feels the need to revive a practice they have in her family of wrapping everything. That includes candy canes, chap stick and even AA batteries just to fill up the stockings on Christmas morning. Have you ever tried wrapping or opening a gift wrapped AA battery. It is basically all tape.
So now that we are ready for Christmas my wife also has more time to bake,. If I can keep her from giving it all to the teacher, neighbors and co-workers I might actually get to try some of her treats.
Merry Christmas
Friday, December 18, 2009
Why send Christmas cards?
They start coming the week of Thanksgiving. Cards arriving from people we see everyday and some we haven't seen in years. The competition begins. Who gets a card and who doesn't. Especially if we want to stay on their list.
As November moves into December, the days pass and the list gets longer. You haven't started your list, picked out a photo or started writing the Christmas news letter. You start to panic. Along with Christmas shopping, decorating, school, work and church Christmas parties you think, when am I going to have time to write Christmas cards? Some how most of us manage to get them done although some delay long enough to make it a "NewYear's" Card. It is usually either automated by printing address labels and simply signing the card or having your kids get in on the act.
As crunch time gets closer, there is "the decision". Do you have to send a card to someone you don't really know/ like/remember and if so do you have to personalize it or can you just sign it and send it. This is a bigger and bigger decision every year. After all we are all busier than ever and of course jt costs almost 50 cents to mail the darn thing. Is this person really worth it?
The other questions is do you really have to send a card to someone you see every day/week? They know what is going on in your life. They were sitting next to you at the band concert/football game/PTA meeting. you are unlikely to tell them anything they didn't already know. So why waste a stamp on them just because they were crazy enough to mail something when they live three blocks away? Will you lose face if you don't reciprocate when they send you a card? Will you feel like you have to make an excuse like you are boycotting the mail service for raising the price of stamps so you aren't sending cards on principle?
Here is where the Grinch's heart grows three sizes one day. Step back and think what a difference taking the time to hand write a note to that person you don't really know or care about? Maybe they have been laid off or lost a loved one and maybe you don't even know about it. If you do know that they have had a hard year, what would a word of encouragement do for their spirits? What would it do for yours knowing you made a difference? After all if you are going to spend 44 cents to mail the card you may as well get your money's worth.
Will I hand write all my cards this year? Probably not, especially if I want the recipient to be able to read it. Any of you who have gotten cards from me before know what I mean. What I will do is make sure the person I am sending it to knows that I was thinking about them for the few minutes that I scribble a few thoughts to them that someone, somewhere cares for them.
If you don't get a card from me either one of two things happened. Either we keep in touch enough that you don't need to know what I am doing or what I am up to or post man couldn't read my writing.
As November moves into December, the days pass and the list gets longer. You haven't started your list, picked out a photo or started writing the Christmas news letter. You start to panic. Along with Christmas shopping, decorating, school, work and church Christmas parties you think, when am I going to have time to write Christmas cards? Some how most of us manage to get them done although some delay long enough to make it a "NewYear's" Card. It is usually either automated by printing address labels and simply signing the card or having your kids get in on the act.
As crunch time gets closer, there is "the decision". Do you have to send a card to someone you don't really know/ like/remember and if so do you have to personalize it or can you just sign it and send it. This is a bigger and bigger decision every year. After all we are all busier than ever and of course jt costs almost 50 cents to mail the darn thing. Is this person really worth it?
The other questions is do you really have to send a card to someone you see every day/week? They know what is going on in your life. They were sitting next to you at the band concert/football game/PTA meeting. you are unlikely to tell them anything they didn't already know. So why waste a stamp on them just because they were crazy enough to mail something when they live three blocks away? Will you lose face if you don't reciprocate when they send you a card? Will you feel like you have to make an excuse like you are boycotting the mail service for raising the price of stamps so you aren't sending cards on principle?
Here is where the Grinch's heart grows three sizes one day. Step back and think what a difference taking the time to hand write a note to that person you don't really know or care about? Maybe they have been laid off or lost a loved one and maybe you don't even know about it. If you do know that they have had a hard year, what would a word of encouragement do for their spirits? What would it do for yours knowing you made a difference? After all if you are going to spend 44 cents to mail the card you may as well get your money's worth.
Will I hand write all my cards this year? Probably not, especially if I want the recipient to be able to read it. Any of you who have gotten cards from me before know what I mean. What I will do is make sure the person I am sending it to knows that I was thinking about them for the few minutes that I scribble a few thoughts to them that someone, somewhere cares for them.
If you don't get a card from me either one of two things happened. Either we keep in touch enough that you don't need to know what I am doing or what I am up to or post man couldn't read my writing.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
No Job Joy #64 Christmas shopping
I admit that spending money while you are unemployed is something you should take very seriously but at Christmas there still has to be something under the tree. So with my very brief list I headed out.
As I arrived at my designated stores, I realized that one bonus of not having a job is that you can go shopping while everyone else is working. No sneaking a trip to the Mall between conference calls or getting up early on Saturday to beat the mobs. Instead, the unemployed are greeted by happy clerks who are at the start of their shifts and are still happy to be there.
So for the unemployed while we may not have as much money to spend, we can at least take joy in getting a decent parking spot, avoiding long check out lines, and smiling clerks who haven't been working since 3 AM. While our employed friends are exhausting themselves at the mall, we can be at home watching "Its a wonderful Life" with our family. Although depending how long you have been looking you might be wanting to spend some time away from your family.
Today's No Job Joy is for empty parking lots and happy store clerks.
As I arrived at my designated stores, I realized that one bonus of not having a job is that you can go shopping while everyone else is working. No sneaking a trip to the Mall between conference calls or getting up early on Saturday to beat the mobs. Instead, the unemployed are greeted by happy clerks who are at the start of their shifts and are still happy to be there.
So for the unemployed while we may not have as much money to spend, we can at least take joy in getting a decent parking spot, avoiding long check out lines, and smiling clerks who haven't been working since 3 AM. While our employed friends are exhausting themselves at the mall, we can be at home watching "Its a wonderful Life" with our family. Although depending how long you have been looking you might be wanting to spend some time away from your family.
Today's No Job Joy is for empty parking lots and happy store clerks.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What your Christmas card says to your friends
In the spirit of Christmas I am going to do some posts on the time honored traditions of Christmas. Today I will start with Christmas cards.
We all get them. Love some, hate others. As you start making your list and writing out your Christmas Cards think about your card says about you.
Vacation Photo Card
This is the I took a cooler vacation than you card.
Close friends read: That's nice. They went some where nice. I really have to get on my spouse to get us somewhere nice next year so we can have a cool photo. Also I need to get matching outfits so we look nice.
Acquaintances read: Anything from "you show offs" to "that's nothing, wait till you see where I went this year".
Unemployed friends read: Sucks to be me.
Do gooder friends read: Just think what good you could have done with the money you spent or You just doubled your carbon footprint with the airplane flight.
The Generic Christmas card with just a signature
This is the "I'm busier than you so I can't write anything" card. That or the "I had a really crappy year and didn't want to bring every one down"card.
Close Friends read : You must be really busy not to write something more personal to ME.
Acquaintences read: I'd better send them one or else I'm off the list next year.
The year in review letter
The card of choice for the creative type. Typically sent by empty nesters, busy bodies or Moms who have kids who are in music sports, drama, drill team so I have to tell the world that I am in carpools so much I have time write this letter while I am waiting in line to pick them up.
Close friends read: We all know your kids are wonderful. Why did you waste the stamp, I knew all this because I was sitting in the carpool line behind you at all these events.
Acquaintances read: Wow my life must really suck if I can't think up enough stuff to fill a page and send people I barely know. That or my friends have way too much time on their hands.
Single Friends read: Having kids can't be that hard. They still had time to get out this silly letter.
So before you start writing your cards this year. Think of your audience.
Merry Christmas
We all get them. Love some, hate others. As you start making your list and writing out your Christmas Cards think about your card says about you.
Vacation Photo Card
This is the I took a cooler vacation than you card.
Close friends read: That's nice. They went some where nice. I really have to get on my spouse to get us somewhere nice next year so we can have a cool photo. Also I need to get matching outfits so we look nice.
Acquaintances read: Anything from "you show offs" to "that's nothing, wait till you see where I went this year".
Unemployed friends read: Sucks to be me.
Do gooder friends read: Just think what good you could have done with the money you spent or You just doubled your carbon footprint with the airplane flight.
The Generic Christmas card with just a signature
This is the "I'm busier than you so I can't write anything" card. That or the "I had a really crappy year and didn't want to bring every one down"card.
Close Friends read : You must be really busy not to write something more personal to ME.
Acquaintences read: I'd better send them one or else I'm off the list next year.
The year in review letter
The card of choice for the creative type. Typically sent by empty nesters, busy bodies or Moms who have kids who are in music sports, drama, drill team so I have to tell the world that I am in carpools so much I have time write this letter while I am waiting in line to pick them up.
Close friends read: We all know your kids are wonderful. Why did you waste the stamp, I knew all this because I was sitting in the carpool line behind you at all these events.
Acquaintances read: Wow my life must really suck if I can't think up enough stuff to fill a page and send people I barely know. That or my friends have way too much time on their hands.
Single Friends read: Having kids can't be that hard. They still had time to get out this silly letter.
So before you start writing your cards this year. Think of your audience.
Merry Christmas
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Gilligan's Campout
This weekend my oldest son had a scout camp out. To commemorate the trip I thought I would channel some Gilligan's Island. My apologies in advance to the original lyrics.
Just sit right back and you hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from a parking lot,
with boys and men and kit.
The scout master was a mighty scouting man,
The quartermaster brave and sure.
Twenty boys went to camp that day,
for a weekend of fun, a weekend of fun.
The weather started out quite rough,
the troop they bundled up.
If not for the leaders of the fearless troop,
the troop would be lost, the troop would be lost.
They came to camp to learn some skills to get them through the wild,
Like campfire building,
and lashings too.
Orienteering and cooking food.
They ate some cobbler with their Dads,
and spent time in the woods.
So this is the tale of the first year trip,
They stared with a five mile hike,
then learned some knots and how to lash.
And how to read a map.
They learned,
they grew
and played some ball
despite the wind and cold
you'd never know that it froze, except we got a bead
They made the dinner and pitched their tents
with out the help of Dads.
They even did a skit or two,
and gave us all a laugh.
So next time they go camping,
we know they're sure to smile
with all the skills they learned in camp
they can do it them selves.
Thanks to our first year leader and all the other adults who made Troop 890's first year camp out a success and learning experience for all the boys.
Just sit right back and you hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from a parking lot,
with boys and men and kit.
The scout master was a mighty scouting man,
The quartermaster brave and sure.
Twenty boys went to camp that day,
for a weekend of fun, a weekend of fun.
The weather started out quite rough,
the troop they bundled up.
If not for the leaders of the fearless troop,
the troop would be lost, the troop would be lost.
They came to camp to learn some skills to get them through the wild,
Like campfire building,
and lashings too.
Orienteering and cooking food.
They ate some cobbler with their Dads,
and spent time in the woods.
So this is the tale of the first year trip,
They stared with a five mile hike,
then learned some knots and how to lash.
And how to read a map.
They learned,
they grew
and played some ball
despite the wind and cold
you'd never know that it froze, except we got a bead
They made the dinner and pitched their tents
with out the help of Dads.
They even did a skit or two,
and gave us all a laugh.
So next time they go camping,
we know they're sure to smile
with all the skills they learned in camp
they can do it them selves.
Thanks to our first year leader and all the other adults who made Troop 890's first year camp out a success and learning experience for all the boys.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
How being Unemployed is like having a disease part 4
Being sick is never fun and one of the ardest things to do is have patience. When you are sick you want to lie around for a while hoping you feel better. As time passes you get tired of feeling sick and laying around watching TV.
Looking for a job can be the same way. You may need to take some time off to get over the idea of having to look for a job. Eventually you decide it is time to get out there and get your next job. Here is where things get interesting. When you are sick and you get up too early you are worthless to yourself and those around you. When you start looking for a job too soon, your attitude may not be "well" or you may not have decided on the right "cure" for joblessness. In this case you can make things worse because you can "infect" others with your sick attitude or you can relapse by getting a job that is a bad fit in which case you be "sick" again soon.
I am not saying wait around until everything is perfect. What I mean is that you have to have your attitude and your goals set before you start looking or you will waste time looking at things that are not good for you or you will turn off good contacts with a bad attitude that could have been the help you needed.
So the doctor's orders are to get your attitude in a positive place and know what you want from your next job so that you can get it.
Looking for a job can be the same way. You may need to take some time off to get over the idea of having to look for a job. Eventually you decide it is time to get out there and get your next job. Here is where things get interesting. When you are sick and you get up too early you are worthless to yourself and those around you. When you start looking for a job too soon, your attitude may not be "well" or you may not have decided on the right "cure" for joblessness. In this case you can make things worse because you can "infect" others with your sick attitude or you can relapse by getting a job that is a bad fit in which case you be "sick" again soon.
I am not saying wait around until everything is perfect. What I mean is that you have to have your attitude and your goals set before you start looking or you will waste time looking at things that are not good for you or you will turn off good contacts with a bad attitude that could have been the help you needed.
So the doctor's orders are to get your attitude in a positive place and know what you want from your next job so that you can get it.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Top 10 things I am thankful for this year
Since I didn't post on Thanksgiving I will give you my post holiday view of things that make my life wonderful David Letterman style. Sorry this is going to be a long one. I hope you have a long list as well.
10. A healthy family - This year I know of many friends who have been through tough illnesses or the loss of loved ones.
9. People watching - Not only can it be entertaining and put your life back in perspective but it is free. Especially entertaining at a Renaissance Fair.
8. My Mother in laws pecan pie - While she didn't actually make it herself this year, the fact that I am the only one who really likes it and every year she makes sure there is pecan pie at Thanksgiving is something I am thankful for. Bonus - the pie was home made as part of a fundraiser so at least the profit went to a good cause.
7. Not having to go shopping on Black Friday - I got to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast and spend the day with my family. No digging through messed up displays, waiting in long lines, standing outside a store while it is still dark for something I can pay 5% more for with out battling other sleep deprived crazy people.
6. Texas weather - Even though I grew up knowing the brisk chill of late November and seeing the empty corn fields of Iowa I still like Thanksgiving in Texas. The first time I had Thanksgiving with my wife's family and cutting the Christmas tree in shorts, fighting off mosquitoes seemed a little strange. Growing up we had to dig the snow away from the trunk of the tree to be able to get the saw where we could cut it. I got over it when I didn't have to put up Christmas lights with out gloves and heavy boots.
5. Football - This time of year college football is really getting exciting. The conference championship games, the rivalies ( Go Mizzou beat KU!) and the annual BCS debate. It is also important to me in that it brings back memories of working out side in the fall cutting firewood with the Iowa or Iowa State football games on the tractor radio and wondering where my little brother was hiding so he wouldn't have to do as much work. We usually found him in the house drinking hot chocolate and reading, especially if it was cold. (Sorry Andy I just had to go there.)
4. Bicycles - Not only do they help keep me in shape so I can enjoy my favorite brew from Shiner,TX, they also give me something to share with my kids. We get to go on rides together, watch the Tour de France, and share a classic sense of freedom.
3. Good tools - While I typically don't have as much time to use them as I would like, my tools help me maintain the house, fix kids toys and make new things. Having good tools makes the job get done faster and easier. Fixing and building new things helps me stay in touch with that side of men that enjoy knowing we can make things. Too many of us just generate reports, or manage people who do and forget the spiritual satisfaction of taking raw materials, investing time and creativity to create something that doesn't evaporate when we turn off our computer.
2. The Internet - Yes, kind of a big generic thing to be thankful for but it has helped me this year with a lot of specific things. Facebook has helped me connect with family across the country and keep up to date on people down the street. LinkedIn helps me as I stay connected with my work network and make getting a job easier for a lot of people. Blogger for giving me a place to express my self and Twitter to have a new gadget to play with and keep us informed on breaking news like Michael Jackson's death and what color underwear Ashton Kusher is wearing today.
1. Not having a job - Yes that is a bit over the top even for this blog but the truth is not having a job has given me a lot of things to be thankful for. De-compressing from the rat race, spending time with my kids and wife, meeting new people, getting things done around the house that I wouldn't have done if I were working, learning new things and all the other No Job Joys that I have written about.
10. A healthy family - This year I know of many friends who have been through tough illnesses or the loss of loved ones.
9. People watching - Not only can it be entertaining and put your life back in perspective but it is free. Especially entertaining at a Renaissance Fair.
8. My Mother in laws pecan pie - While she didn't actually make it herself this year, the fact that I am the only one who really likes it and every year she makes sure there is pecan pie at Thanksgiving is something I am thankful for. Bonus - the pie was home made as part of a fundraiser so at least the profit went to a good cause.
7. Not having to go shopping on Black Friday - I got to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast and spend the day with my family. No digging through messed up displays, waiting in long lines, standing outside a store while it is still dark for something I can pay 5% more for with out battling other sleep deprived crazy people.
6. Texas weather - Even though I grew up knowing the brisk chill of late November and seeing the empty corn fields of Iowa I still like Thanksgiving in Texas. The first time I had Thanksgiving with my wife's family and cutting the Christmas tree in shorts, fighting off mosquitoes seemed a little strange. Growing up we had to dig the snow away from the trunk of the tree to be able to get the saw where we could cut it. I got over it when I didn't have to put up Christmas lights with out gloves and heavy boots.
5. Football - This time of year college football is really getting exciting. The conference championship games, the rivalies ( Go Mizzou beat KU!) and the annual BCS debate. It is also important to me in that it brings back memories of working out side in the fall cutting firewood with the Iowa or Iowa State football games on the tractor radio and wondering where my little brother was hiding so he wouldn't have to do as much work. We usually found him in the house drinking hot chocolate and reading, especially if it was cold. (Sorry Andy I just had to go there.)
4. Bicycles - Not only do they help keep me in shape so I can enjoy my favorite brew from Shiner,TX, they also give me something to share with my kids. We get to go on rides together, watch the Tour de France, and share a classic sense of freedom.
3. Good tools - While I typically don't have as much time to use them as I would like, my tools help me maintain the house, fix kids toys and make new things. Having good tools makes the job get done faster and easier. Fixing and building new things helps me stay in touch with that side of men that enjoy knowing we can make things. Too many of us just generate reports, or manage people who do and forget the spiritual satisfaction of taking raw materials, investing time and creativity to create something that doesn't evaporate when we turn off our computer.
2. The Internet - Yes, kind of a big generic thing to be thankful for but it has helped me this year with a lot of specific things. Facebook has helped me connect with family across the country and keep up to date on people down the street. LinkedIn helps me as I stay connected with my work network and make getting a job easier for a lot of people. Blogger for giving me a place to express my self and Twitter to have a new gadget to play with and keep us informed on breaking news like Michael Jackson's death and what color underwear Ashton Kusher is wearing today.
1. Not having a job - Yes that is a bit over the top even for this blog but the truth is not having a job has given me a lot of things to be thankful for. De-compressing from the rat race, spending time with my kids and wife, meeting new people, getting things done around the house that I wouldn't have done if I were working, learning new things and all the other No Job Joys that I have written about.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
No Job Joy #63 Camping in the rain update
As you may have read in my last post I was headed for a wet camping experience so I wanted to update you on our adventure. A job search is very similar to camping in the rain. Your attitude can make or break your search and interviews. Try new things you might surprise yourself. Finally while being unemployed is not a great place to be, it is worse in your mind than reality.
While it was raining as the boys hiked in and the adults set up, the rain did end before lights out. Unfortunately we did get another shower around 2AM. We woke up to wet grass and some soggy trails. Regardless the boys and the adults went about the activities of the day with enthusiasm. After lunch the sun even came out to help dry things out.
A few things to take from this experience. First is that attitude is everything. As we were driving up none of the boys cared that they would be hiking and setting up tents in the dark and in the rain.The boys could have been complaining about getting wet. When they came into camp they were laughing and joking. When you are interviewing the same thing applies. You can't worry about how long the search may be or what if I don't have enough experience. Your attitude will carry the day.
Second you may be surprised what you can accomplish if you try. Setting up in the dark can be hard add rain and things can get challenging because you want to hurry to keep things dry. Despite the challenge, all the boys were dry and happy on Saturday showing they could get the job done. Working a job search will have many challenges and give you plenty of chances to give up. If you do you will be wet longer. If you try your best odds are you will get dry faster.
Finally things are never as bad as you think they might be. As you might have gathered from my last post I felt there was a good chance we would be wet and cold on Saturday morning. Even though it rained during the night, things dried out and everyone had a great day. Despite all my concerns about getting wet and cold, proper planning and execution kept us warm and dry. In your job search you may go through some rough times but if you have done your preparation and have a good attitude things will likely be worse in your mind than they are in reality.
Today's No Job Joy is for camping in the rain and staying dry.
While it was raining as the boys hiked in and the adults set up, the rain did end before lights out. Unfortunately we did get another shower around 2AM. We woke up to wet grass and some soggy trails. Regardless the boys and the adults went about the activities of the day with enthusiasm. After lunch the sun even came out to help dry things out.
A few things to take from this experience. First is that attitude is everything. As we were driving up none of the boys cared that they would be hiking and setting up tents in the dark and in the rain.The boys could have been complaining about getting wet. When they came into camp they were laughing and joking. When you are interviewing the same thing applies. You can't worry about how long the search may be or what if I don't have enough experience. Your attitude will carry the day.
Second you may be surprised what you can accomplish if you try. Setting up in the dark can be hard add rain and things can get challenging because you want to hurry to keep things dry. Despite the challenge, all the boys were dry and happy on Saturday showing they could get the job done. Working a job search will have many challenges and give you plenty of chances to give up. If you do you will be wet longer. If you try your best odds are you will get dry faster.
Finally things are never as bad as you think they might be. As you might have gathered from my last post I felt there was a good chance we would be wet and cold on Saturday morning. Even though it rained during the night, things dried out and everyone had a great day. Despite all my concerns about getting wet and cold, proper planning and execution kept us warm and dry. In your job search you may go through some rough times but if you have done your preparation and have a good attitude things will likely be worse in your mind than they are in reality.
Today's No Job Joy is for camping in the rain and staying dry.
Friday, November 20, 2009
No Job Joy #62 Camping in the rain
Tonight my oldest son and I are headed out for a Boy Scout Campout. Our troop goes rain or shine so the fact that it is raining and is forecast to rain all night is not great news. Setting up tents and sleeping in the rain is not an ideal way to camp.
The thing is camping in the rain is a lot like getting laid off. Do you want to do it? No. Do you have a choice? No. Is it going to be fun? No.Will you remember it? Yes. Can you grow from it? Yes!
The this camp out will mean struggling to keep dry while doing the activities, cooking, sleeping and hanging out. While not typically seen as fun it will be a bonding experience. The boys will learn what they need to do to stay dry and may fail in their efforts. They will learn can do more than they thought they could and in the end will have memories to share for years to come.
Being unemployed has the same opportunities for adults. I am not trying to say being out of work is a fun experience but it can be a real bonding experience and can teach us more about ourselves then we may think. Odds are we will try new things and fail in our first attempt. We will think we are doing everything right and then realize we have wet socks until someone else shows us a better way to do things. We will also make new friends that we can have a shared experience and in the end be stronger for having been through it.
So think of us tonight as we hope our tents don't leak and we try to avoid puddles. My No Job Joy is that my socks get wet and I dry them out in new ways with new friends.
The thing is camping in the rain is a lot like getting laid off. Do you want to do it? No. Do you have a choice? No. Is it going to be fun? No.Will you remember it? Yes. Can you grow from it? Yes!
The this camp out will mean struggling to keep dry while doing the activities, cooking, sleeping and hanging out. While not typically seen as fun it will be a bonding experience. The boys will learn what they need to do to stay dry and may fail in their efforts. They will learn can do more than they thought they could and in the end will have memories to share for years to come.
Being unemployed has the same opportunities for adults. I am not trying to say being out of work is a fun experience but it can be a real bonding experience and can teach us more about ourselves then we may think. Odds are we will try new things and fail in our first attempt. We will think we are doing everything right and then realize we have wet socks until someone else shows us a better way to do things. We will also make new friends that we can have a shared experience and in the end be stronger for having been through it.
So think of us tonight as we hope our tents don't leak and we try to avoid puddles. My No Job Joy is that my socks get wet and I dry them out in new ways with new friends.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
No Job Joy #61 Free webinars
A lot of people get caught in a rut when in their job search. You have looked at your resume for the one millionth time trying to find that silver bullet to make sure you get a call back. You have emailed your network so many times they start filtering your messages to their spam folder and you have bruises on your ego from every network connection that has lead to a dead end.
This is the time to look for new ideas. New ways to connect, new people to talk to, new things to learn. Here one thing I have used to get connected with a new company.
Have a target company? Find out if they are doing any webinars. Almost all do and they are almost all free. During the webinar ask a question. Make sure it is relevant and try to make sure you are identified in the question.
As you are in the webinar get the contact information of the presenter. Many times the presenter will put their contact information in the presentation. Otherwise you will have to call the company.
After the webinar contact the presenter with a follow up. Once you have asked the second question you have established a relationship that can let you open up about your interest in their company and ask to set up some time to talk with them about their industry and opportunities in general in their company. As with any other kind of networking interview you are not asking them for a job. Just information. They are doing you a favor so respect their time. Only if THEY think you may have something to offer their company can you ask if there is a referral bonus at their company and ask how to best make this a win win.
Yes this takes some time and may be out of your comfort zone but it can be a great way to learn something new about a new company and get a connection.
Today's No Job Joy is about connecting out of the box.
Share your out of the box ways of connecting to new people or networks by commenting below.
This is the time to look for new ideas. New ways to connect, new people to talk to, new things to learn. Here one thing I have used to get connected with a new company.
Have a target company? Find out if they are doing any webinars. Almost all do and they are almost all free. During the webinar ask a question. Make sure it is relevant and try to make sure you are identified in the question.
As you are in the webinar get the contact information of the presenter. Many times the presenter will put their contact information in the presentation. Otherwise you will have to call the company.
After the webinar contact the presenter with a follow up. Once you have asked the second question you have established a relationship that can let you open up about your interest in their company and ask to set up some time to talk with them about their industry and opportunities in general in their company. As with any other kind of networking interview you are not asking them for a job. Just information. They are doing you a favor so respect their time. Only if THEY think you may have something to offer their company can you ask if there is a referral bonus at their company and ask how to best make this a win win.
Yes this takes some time and may be out of your comfort zone but it can be a great way to learn something new about a new company and get a connection.
Today's No Job Joy is about connecting out of the box.
Share your out of the box ways of connecting to new people or networks by commenting below.
Monday, November 16, 2009
No Job Joy #60 Other skills
This weekend I was remind twice that my value as a person is not defined by what I do to make a living. The first was at a get together for my oldest son's football team. Over the years my love of photography and the fact that I have some of the best equipment has made me the unofficial team photographer. Most parents have stopped taking their cameras relying on me to take and post photos.
As I thought our gathering might be the last time we would all be together I made my usual team video of still shots that I had taken during the season. Each parent was amazed at the shots of the boys. The fact that I can make them happy with something I love to do reinforces that I am not just a job.
The second time I was reminded of this was as I was working on another home improvement project. Having the right tools and the ability to use them the right way to get the job done really helps boost ones confidence and drive home the fact that I am not just a job.There is something about making sawdust that makes you feel good.
Today's No Job Joy is the satisfaction of completing a project and using talents other than those that people pay you for.
As I thought our gathering might be the last time we would all be together I made my usual team video of still shots that I had taken during the season. Each parent was amazed at the shots of the boys. The fact that I can make them happy with something I love to do reinforces that I am not just a job.
The second time I was reminded of this was as I was working on another home improvement project. Having the right tools and the ability to use them the right way to get the job done really helps boost ones confidence and drive home the fact that I am not just a job.There is something about making sawdust that makes you feel good.
Today's No Job Joy is the satisfaction of completing a project and using talents other than those that people pay you for.
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