My Story is about discovering what's Really Important. Many of us believe it's about chasing money and things--truth is, money's purpose is simply to help us to accomplish our God-given mission and purposes. At age 50, I've cracked the code...that is, knowing The Why of that purpose. Here it is--to Teach and Lead Young People. I want to become a Public School Special Education Teacher!
Having both the alignment as well as purposeful desire is one thing--yet walking it is another. Serious study, certification, and formal instruction are only the prerequisites for become a Teacher. No matter how I've sliced this (Life) loaf of bread, the Dream requires MONEY!
Many of us have No Funds to pursue our dreams and goals...Others, have it but are unable to let go of our monthly monetary commitments. The latter is my case. For you see, in order to become a Teacher, I must give up my way of life (lifestyle) and pursue the teaching professional with a fully focused vengeance. Translation: Give up a full-time (present) career, salary, benefits, and savings to manifest this Life-changing teacher career calling.
With great humility, I have to reach out and unearth financial resources to replace my income but to also pay for the enormous expenses associated with becoming a teacher. Of course, others may deserve the CASH more so than do I...Nevertheless, I ask here and now to be strongly considered as a candidate to receive any or all portions of this contest's prize money. I Will become a Teacher--the question is, will AMERICA-DESERVES-A-RAISE dotcom be a financial contributor to my Career-changing goal realization.
Read and rate the full essay entry at America-Deserves-a-Raise
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Change is Hard Work
Change is Hard Work! No secret here—is it? Common knowledge…perhaps that probably why most of us stick to the ole status quo. Good is Good Enough.
Change can become a two-headed monster. Stressing us to grow and expand while simultaneously putting pressure towards the negative. Damage to the senses, body functioning, and mental distress. Change is constant…in the plant world, animal kingdom, and human societies.
We all want more, yet to get the tangible rewards of the want, the want requires change. Small Want—Small Change. BIG Want—Big…well, you get the idea. And here, Ladies and Gents, is where the train jumps off the track. The Want just ain’t worth the effort. CHANGE effort, that is.
Corporate America promotes: Change is Good! Many of us have experienced this faux change-is-good alternate reality. Double-talk for something is about happen to one of us. Perhaps a layoff or two, team-project redistribution, or an outright, we don’t need you anymore.
Change can become a two-headed monster. Stressing us to grow and expand while simultaneously putting pressure towards the negative. Damage to the senses, body functioning, and mental distress. Change is constant…in the plant world, animal kingdom, and human societies.
Change is evitable. Yes, it is evitable that something or someone will come along and shake things up. Rock our world and flip us upside down unto our heads. The reality is that we secretly hate change. I want things to stay the same. It often said that, the only constant thing about change is change itself.
My theory is that change reflects our feeling of loss of control. And control equates to power. Hence, when we are challenged or threatened by change, we feel a loss of power—we feel powerless. But what can we do about it?
Nothing! We do nothing. No strategy, No fixit, no dodging the bullet. Simply nothing… Best-selling author, personal development guru, and spiritual seeker Guy Finley teaches: Resistance to the resistance IS the Resistance.
To test this insight, simply watch a flowing brook of water for a few minutes as it travels along. The water, as it flows downstream, bumps against a rock. What happens next? You guessed it goes over/under/around but never does the water go through the rock.
Coming back full circle, we have begun to realize that to change jobs, relationships, finances, personal fitness, educational achievement, or even our own self-confidence and esteem involves change. Realizing this, we sheepishly admit this—Change is Hard Work!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Starting Back at One
As I move along Life’s Path, it becomes plainer and plainer that the more things change, the more they stay the same. We all want to grow and prosper, yet sometimes it become necessary to Stop and Take a Deep Breath.
I’m speaking about Reflection. If I don’t know where I’ve been, I won’t know where I’m going. Living comfortably within my 50 year old skin, I finally feel like, Oh, I’ve Got It! Reflection…this eZine posting is all about reflection.
Cleaning out my closet, office drawers, and anything that’s been lying around, it getting chucked. Don’t need it, don’t want it. Out with the old…in with the new. Hey, Not so fast.
All total eResumes4Vips has published 26 weekly eZine postings this year. For fun and giggles, let’s review the very first one. Stay tuned—here’s a reprint.
eResumes4Vips Free e-Zine, Issue #001 January 28, 2010
Dear Friends,
I'm Sooo excited to send out my very first e-Zine. My goal is to bring you all personal insights into my experience with resumes, career, life, and many other items of interest. First, let's talk about jobs and the economy.
Sure, this is perhaps the toughest time to be job-hunting. Employers are skittish about hiring. 1 worker has to do the work of 3. And you've been searching for a new career...weeks, months...I get it. You're feeling the BITE!
Tonight, the President emphasized JOBS, JOBS, and JOBS. Great; now what?
I feel your pain. Yes, I have a job. But I want a change. Personally, it's been a 6 month search. I've learned a great deal. Mainly...
1) Nobody's hiring
2) It takes More than a fantastic resume to get an interview.
3) I am my worst enemy
Let's explore Point #3...shall we. It's so easy to simply give up. After all, Nobody's hiring...Right? WRONG!
Jobs are plenteous; yet, they've moved underground. Companies are hiring. But simply, they've begun to rely upon present employee referrals. Moreover, if Somebody doesn't know ya...Faggedaboutit.
My advice is to become connected. If you haven't already done so, then signup for LinkedIn dotcom. Tweet? Start Twittering. Also, join some civic organization. I joined Toastmasters and am truly Lovinit!
Point is, we are social animals. Recall the song, Ev'rybody love somebody...sometime. Folks, meet people. While you're at it, remember the Golden Rule. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
I’m speaking about Reflection. If I don’t know where I’ve been, I won’t know where I’m going. Living comfortably within my 50 year old skin, I finally feel like, Oh, I’ve Got It! Reflection…this eZine posting is all about reflection.
Cleaning out my closet, office drawers, and anything that’s been lying around, it getting chucked. Don’t need it, don’t want it. Out with the old…in with the new. Hey, Not so fast.
All total eResumes4Vips has published 26 weekly eZine postings this year. For fun and giggles, let’s review the very first one. Stay tuned—here’s a reprint.
eResumes4Vips Free e-Zine, Issue #001 January 28, 2010
Dear Friends,
I'm Sooo excited to send out my very first e-Zine. My goal is to bring you all personal insights into my experience with resumes, career, life, and many other items of interest. First, let's talk about jobs and the economy.
Sure, this is perhaps the toughest time to be job-hunting. Employers are skittish about hiring. 1 worker has to do the work of 3. And you've been searching for a new career...weeks, months...I get it. You're feeling the BITE!
Tonight, the President emphasized JOBS, JOBS, and JOBS. Great; now what?
I feel your pain. Yes, I have a job. But I want a change. Personally, it's been a 6 month search. I've learned a great deal. Mainly...
1) Nobody's hiring
2) It takes More than a fantastic resume to get an interview.
3) I am my worst enemy
Let's explore Point #3...shall we. It's so easy to simply give up. After all, Nobody's hiring...Right? WRONG!
Jobs are plenteous; yet, they've moved underground. Companies are hiring. But simply, they've begun to rely upon present employee referrals. Moreover, if Somebody doesn't know ya...Faggedaboutit.
My advice is to become connected. If you haven't already done so, then signup for LinkedIn dotcom. Tweet? Start Twittering. Also, join some civic organization. I joined Toastmasters and am truly Lovinit!
Point is, we are social animals. Recall the song, Ev'rybody love somebody...sometime. Folks, meet people. While you're at it, remember the Golden Rule. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wouldn't it be Nice If?
Recently, I was listening to a CD book from Ester Hicks. The book, Ask and It is Given, spoke about imagining things working out as we desire. Wouldn’t it be nice if...fill in the blank.
Too often, we--myself included, shut ourselves off to the Wouldn’t It be Nice even before we receive the answer. Good or bad, up or down, we kill our chances even before the powers of the imagination can begin to fulfill our desires.
Case in point: My wife’s sports car needed EXTENSIVE work on the tires and suspension system. Little sports cars are a finely tuned machine...SENSITIVE to any type of bump or wrinkle in the road. Driving her Mazda Miata MX-5 changed from one of a mean-lean sports machine, to a wobbly-shaky-breaky-ride. Instead of a cool riding convertible, the vehicle rode like the Pony Express Stagecoach on the television show, Gunsmoke.
I decide to face the music and bite the bullet. Visiting my Tire Dealer early Saturday morning, I went in ready to do battle. I’m gonna tell HIM how do his job as well as dictate the price. Immediately, he replied, "Your Tires are shot…we ain’t touching your vehicle unless we change out the tires." So much for Wouldn’t It be Nice If!
Ok, I calmed down and got into the reality of the moment. I silently recited, Wouldn’t It be Nice If… Another middle-aged female customer was having the same kind of morning. Yet upon studying her face, body language, as well as demeanor, it was clear that she wasn’t practicing Wouldn’t It be Nice If. She chewed on the sales staff, cursed under her breath, and found issue after issue after issue.
Drawing upon her experience and the reality of having to spend mega money on my wife’s car, I went into a meditative state of mind--Wouldn’t It be Nice If? As we moved forward, the price of repair/replacement approached four figures. To make matters worse, there wasn’t any guarantee that the money hemorrhaging was about to end.
Sure enough, it turned out that my custom chrome rims were bent. My worst fear had come true; $450 USD per pop x 4 =$$$$$$$$. Get the picture?
Wouldn’t It be Nice If the total price was THREE figures; and the rims could be repaired for under $100USD. So I asked--put it out there. The sales rep paused, hesitated, scratched his chin, kicked the dirt, and replied, NO PROBLEM. Whoaa!
My friends, facing an impossible situation, confronting an issue, desiring to have More or LESS of something? Put it out there...Declare it! Wouldn’t It be Nice If…?
Too often, we--myself included, shut ourselves off to the Wouldn’t It be Nice even before we receive the answer. Good or bad, up or down, we kill our chances even before the powers of the imagination can begin to fulfill our desires.
Case in point: My wife’s sports car needed EXTENSIVE work on the tires and suspension system. Little sports cars are a finely tuned machine...SENSITIVE to any type of bump or wrinkle in the road. Driving her Mazda Miata MX-5 changed from one of a mean-lean sports machine, to a wobbly-shaky-breaky-ride. Instead of a cool riding convertible, the vehicle rode like the Pony Express Stagecoach on the television show, Gunsmoke.
I decide to face the music and bite the bullet. Visiting my Tire Dealer early Saturday morning, I went in ready to do battle. I’m gonna tell HIM how do his job as well as dictate the price. Immediately, he replied, "Your Tires are shot…we ain’t touching your vehicle unless we change out the tires." So much for Wouldn’t It be Nice If!
Ok, I calmed down and got into the reality of the moment. I silently recited, Wouldn’t It be Nice If… Another middle-aged female customer was having the same kind of morning. Yet upon studying her face, body language, as well as demeanor, it was clear that she wasn’t practicing Wouldn’t It be Nice If. She chewed on the sales staff, cursed under her breath, and found issue after issue after issue.
Drawing upon her experience and the reality of having to spend mega money on my wife’s car, I went into a meditative state of mind--Wouldn’t It be Nice If? As we moved forward, the price of repair/replacement approached four figures. To make matters worse, there wasn’t any guarantee that the money hemorrhaging was about to end.
Sure enough, it turned out that my custom chrome rims were bent. My worst fear had come true; $450 USD per pop x 4 =$$$$$$$$. Get the picture?
Wouldn’t It be Nice If the total price was THREE figures; and the rims could be repaired for under $100USD. So I asked--put it out there. The sales rep paused, hesitated, scratched his chin, kicked the dirt, and replied, NO PROBLEM. Whoaa!
My friends, facing an impossible situation, confronting an issue, desiring to have More or LESS of something? Put it out there...Declare it! Wouldn’t It be Nice If…?
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Magic Words are Freedom and Independence
Here we are…celebrating 4th of July American independence and freedom from British rule. Historic, indeed, don’t ya think. America’s freedom and independence from many of the World’s ills amazes me. How about you?
Of course, many of readers of this newsletter aren’t American. Google tells me that many of you are from Asia, Europe, some from Africa, and quite a few from California. Yeah, I know, California is a State. My point is that America, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave,” is a symbolic beacon of hope for many persons around the world.
Recently, I produced a two minute YouTube video and a PRWeb news release about Free Enterprise. I spoke of how immigrants risk their lives to enter this country. Dangerous oceanic passageways, language barriers, sleeping on the floor, etc., etc. These persons get it…they understand the wealth inherent and organic to the American fabric of life. Please understand, Wealth ain’t jus money (although it includes money), it’s also a spirit. A sense of being…a sense of self-worth.
Speaking of spirit, what about Freedom of Religion. Now that, my friends, is HUGE! Get this; religion ain’t church (although it can be). Religion is one’s personal and/or community belief and worship with a Higher Power. In America, most persons follow a benevolent Judeo-Christian God. Yet that God means many different things to many different people. It’s wonderful to be able to worship Whom and What I Want!
As you celebrate The Fourth, think of this. Many have given much to build this great land of ours. The majority of the world marvels and looks to us as an example of political hope. To quote the Reverend Paul Moore of St Christopher’s Church. “Freedom is a beneficial principle of society. Freedom is not a license, and freedom is not isolation. Freedom is negotiated self-restriction between independent bodies. When I hold back my punch by my own freewill so that it falls short of bloodying your nose, then I have performed the greatest act of freedom. I have freely restricted myself for the sake of community.
Of course, many of readers of this newsletter aren’t American. Google tells me that many of you are from Asia, Europe, some from Africa, and quite a few from California. Yeah, I know, California is a State. My point is that America, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave,” is a symbolic beacon of hope for many persons around the world.
Recently, I produced a two minute YouTube video and a PRWeb news release about Free Enterprise. I spoke of how immigrants risk their lives to enter this country. Dangerous oceanic passageways, language barriers, sleeping on the floor, etc., etc. These persons get it…they understand the wealth inherent and organic to the American fabric of life. Please understand, Wealth ain’t jus money (although it includes money), it’s also a spirit. A sense of being…a sense of self-worth.
Speaking of spirit, what about Freedom of Religion. Now that, my friends, is HUGE! Get this; religion ain’t church (although it can be). Religion is one’s personal and/or community belief and worship with a Higher Power. In America, most persons follow a benevolent Judeo-Christian God. Yet that God means many different things to many different people. It’s wonderful to be able to worship Whom and What I Want!
As you celebrate The Fourth, think of this. Many have given much to build this great land of ours. The majority of the world marvels and looks to us as an example of political hope. To quote the Reverend Paul Moore of St Christopher’s Church. “Freedom is a beneficial principle of society. Freedom is not a license, and freedom is not isolation. Freedom is negotiated self-restriction between independent bodies. When I hold back my punch by my own freewill so that it falls short of bloodying your nose, then I have performed the greatest act of freedom. I have freely restricted myself for the sake of community.
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