In the well-know song “Limelight” by the rock band Rush, there is a line that says, “Living in the limelight, the universal dream”. Although the song is catchy, I have to say that being on stage, in the spotlight, or in any way having fame is not my dream or appealing in the least bit. Performing in front of people, being called out, speaking in front of groups, is not at all my style. I feel very uncomfortable with this. I would much prefer working behind the scenes, having my privacy and anonymity. I like doing my tasks off camera where I am not observed or open to criticism. I take pride in being kept off the front page. It is my goal to work privately and independently, to earn a good living for sure, but in a place not known to many people.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Relocation
Today I am going to write out some thoughts on the matter of relocation. You may ask what could be better than a small town in the upper mid-west. It is true, there are some advantages of being here. It is quiet, stress levels are low, the stars come out at night, there isn't a lot of strife, cost of living isn't especially high, and people leave you alone. However, in a small town there are not a lot of opportunities. I would like to have more chances to attend seminars, workshops, and classes. They are few and far between here. To attend a festival, lecture, or gallery, I have to be very deliberate and drive quite a ways. I would like to have a growing, enjoyable career. So far I have not found that in this or any neighboring village. Getting connected with people is hard as most probably like to stay at home just as much as I do. Having outdoor recreational options are somewhat available here but not all the ones I would like to have.
So that brings up the issue of relocation. It is a possibility. I have heard that Americans move on average every seven years. I have been in this place since 2005 and the matter of moving has been brought up with my significant other. It is in our system as Americans to move and find a better life and I see that as a good thing. If we can improve out lives by relocating, I think that is fine and should be encouraged. Therefore, I am open to selling this home and moving to really anywhere. This is the United States after all and I am free to do so. The issues that come up with moving are considered next. My wife has two living parents, and a few other relatives, with some need of support. I have one surviving parent who is fairly independent. Other relatives for both of us are in the area and it is easier to stay connected to them by living where we do. Our house is another issue. As money comes in, we fix things up and replace things as we see fit. If we move, all those plans and ideas would be left behind for someone else to experience. We are also tied into the community through friendships, stores, church, and events. If we were to leave, those things may get easily over looked as minor but later show up in a feeling of lose.
I am not apposed to moving. In some ways, I would look forward to the change and the challenge. I would like to move where there are many opportunities and where there is a good community and economy. Mild weather with less snow and darkness would also be a plus.
So that brings up the issue of relocation. It is a possibility. I have heard that Americans move on average every seven years. I have been in this place since 2005 and the matter of moving has been brought up with my significant other. It is in our system as Americans to move and find a better life and I see that as a good thing. If we can improve out lives by relocating, I think that is fine and should be encouraged. Therefore, I am open to selling this home and moving to really anywhere. This is the United States after all and I am free to do so. The issues that come up with moving are considered next. My wife has two living parents, and a few other relatives, with some need of support. I have one surviving parent who is fairly independent. Other relatives for both of us are in the area and it is easier to stay connected to them by living where we do. Our house is another issue. As money comes in, we fix things up and replace things as we see fit. If we move, all those plans and ideas would be left behind for someone else to experience. We are also tied into the community through friendships, stores, church, and events. If we were to leave, those things may get easily over looked as minor but later show up in a feeling of lose.
I am not apposed to moving. In some ways, I would look forward to the change and the challenge. I would like to move where there are many opportunities and where there is a good community and economy. Mild weather with less snow and darkness would also be a plus.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Spend money to save money - part 6
Around a typical home, there are many electronic devises that are plugged in and draw power although they are in stand-by mode and not in use. Computers, televisions, printers, space heaters, radios, and many more things. To cut your electric bill, a good thing to buy is a power strip with an on-off switch. We have a basic 6-outlet strip like the one in the previous link but you can also buy ones that power things down on their own when they recognize the appliance is not in use. The less sophisticated one is only $16 at Amazon and I think the pay back would be less than a year if used to turn off idle power-hogging electronics. I think a surge protector would also make a nice, practical gift.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
What I liked in my past jobs
I will attempt to convey what I liked about my last three jobs.
As an Inside Sales Representative at a Cisco reseller, I liked creating quotes for hardware. By getting the quote to look attractive to the customer or the outside sales rep was something I took pride in. Before the quotes were made, I would have to configure the products. This was done in a special online tool that Cisco had developed so that people would order the right products. I thought I was pretty good at that. I enjoyed working in an office that was clean, where people tried to help, and the coffee was free. It was also helpful to have an incentive on gross sales for the month.
As an Inside Process Specialist at a call center, I liked the variety of tasks that would go into the selling of Cisco service agreements. I enjoyed gathering customer contact information, working up equipment reports, and discovering sales made by my customers. It was satisfying to keep track of the sales process and discover a purchase that I could take credit for. This job provided some training in sales and an exposure to many computer and online tools. Having a quarterly bonus to work for gave me something to look forward to. Being a work from home agent allowed for a short commute and much savings in terms of money and time.
As a Lab Assistant at the local blood center, there were several things that made this an enjoyable experience. I liked the variety of tasks that I engaged in. I would label products, prepare shipments to hospitals, organize testing tubes, along with many small things that added up. I was able to have control over my whole shift and I took what I did seriously. The time of day I was there allowed me to work independently so I was able to select the radio station I listened to and when I took breaks. I felt I had managements trust. Being associated with an organization that was a good cause in the community was important to me.
As an Inside Sales Representative at a Cisco reseller, I liked creating quotes for hardware. By getting the quote to look attractive to the customer or the outside sales rep was something I took pride in. Before the quotes were made, I would have to configure the products. This was done in a special online tool that Cisco had developed so that people would order the right products. I thought I was pretty good at that. I enjoyed working in an office that was clean, where people tried to help, and the coffee was free. It was also helpful to have an incentive on gross sales for the month.
As an Inside Process Specialist at a call center, I liked the variety of tasks that would go into the selling of Cisco service agreements. I enjoyed gathering customer contact information, working up equipment reports, and discovering sales made by my customers. It was satisfying to keep track of the sales process and discover a purchase that I could take credit for. This job provided some training in sales and an exposure to many computer and online tools. Having a quarterly bonus to work for gave me something to look forward to. Being a work from home agent allowed for a short commute and much savings in terms of money and time.
As a Lab Assistant at the local blood center, there were several things that made this an enjoyable experience. I liked the variety of tasks that I engaged in. I would label products, prepare shipments to hospitals, organize testing tubes, along with many small things that added up. I was able to have control over my whole shift and I took what I did seriously. The time of day I was there allowed me to work independently so I was able to select the radio station I listened to and when I took breaks. I felt I had managements trust. Being associated with an organization that was a good cause in the community was important to me.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Books
While shopping this weekend, I went into a bookstore. There were streams of people coming in from the parking lot. I don't think the regular old book is ever going to go completely away. People like to hold them, touch them, and put them on shelves. They also like to give them as gifts. I think that is why Barns and Noble was crowded on Saturday. A book is a thoughtful little present to put under the tree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)