UN-EMPLOYMENT IN TODAY'S ECONOMY

With the economy spiraling out of control and utilities sky rocketing, most of us think we have no control over our lives and allow depression to set in. This is the one thing we do have control over, and must over-come. We must keep our heads up and think "Positive". We must search out ways to cut utilities and lean on friends, Families, and even Social Networks for "Strength and Ideas".

I have found that most people I have encountered over the past 30 years of traveling are living in a cocoon. Many have been at the same job and even in the same town all their adult lives. Times have changed and we must change with them. Over the past 30 years I cannot count the number of job's I have had, but I will Try!
 Here is the list starting from my first Job's while in High school..
Taco Bell 3 months,
Janitor at a Weatherford TX. Elementary school 3 months,
Montgomery Wards, selling hardware/floor covering/paint/electrical fixtures 3 months,
United states Air Force 6 years (P/T cable television sales) (P/T gas station attendant)
Auto Mechanic, Big 4 automotive 3, months,
Lawn mower mechanic 2 weeks,
Electrician, Nuclear power plant Glenrose TX. 1 year,
Full Time Student on work study program at U.T.A.. Janitor,
Golf Course renovation Pecan Plantation CC 1 yr.,
Lawn care sales Tru-Green Corp.1yr.,
Landscape business, Stevan's Landscape Repair, Self employed 3 yr's.,
Telecommunications Installer 11 yr's.,
Ray Ban sunglasses sales 1 mo.,
Landscape Business Self Employed3 year's,
Generator Mechanic Cantwell Equip. 2year's.,
Vacuum cleaner sales, Rainbow( I only completed the training)
Roller coaster Mechanic,  seasonal Six Flag's 3 mo.,
Bar Back at Ace of Clubs's 3 months,
Welder repair business. Self employed 1 yr.,
Environmental protection for Gas drilling industry 1yr.,

Is it true that not many people like employees that have an unstable work history? By the looks of this portfolio it doesn't seen to matter...I had work, there are job's, and the only limitations lie within one's self to say "I can do that"! "I'm ready to go to work today" or "When do we start"?

It's true not everyone can be a Mechanic and transfer those skills from job to job or location to location, but lets look at where those jobs have taken me from my home in Fort Worth, Texas.

Canton Michigan, (and most of the northern part of the state),
Dearborn Mi.(and most of the southern part of the state),
Chicago Ill.,
LA. California,
Granbury TX.,
Acton TX.,
Weatherford TX.,
Grand Prairie TX..,
Dallas TX.,
Amarillo TX..,
Houston TX.,
San Antonio TX.,
Rio Vista TX.,
Williamsport PA.,

These are not all of the cities I have visited through my 11 yr. stretch as a telecom technician. There are far to many to mention. I traveled almost 1 million miles for that industry, including states such as Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Ohio, plus the above mentioned Michigan ,California, Illinois and Texas. While I had some good experiences and some bad one's, I don't regret one single mile, because every mile, every person I met, every task I was challenged with, provided a valuable lesson!
      What I want you to see first is how I "blended my skills" from one job to another, never afraid to say " I can do that". This where most of us sell ourselves short. No one is limited to an exact skill and should never deny themselves the opportunity to expand, adventure, and test something new or innovative. Some of the Task I undertook were never ever done before by anyone else in the world (Especially in the telecom Field). I believe that "One can't fail if it's never been done", It can only be a test and we keep testing until it works. Because of the new innovations in the design of telecom equipment, I had to lean on the engineers to solve many problems because the equipment was never field tested.
       There isn't anything new out there in the way of a job that overs much risk of being fired because you tried and failed. When it involves innovative ideas everyone is a guinea pig. That is what our economy is about right now. New and Innovative  As we move forward in developing jobs we find new and innovative ways to make things happen. We have the opportunity to jump into things that have never been tried before. We use tools that have only now become available. One important footnote here, is that, a person's gender, race, age and sexual preference does not matter at all. I have personally witnessed all of them succeed within all of the fields I have worked in.
 It's my belief that even a secretary can blend job's whether it's filing legal papers, filing Blueprint's or invoice's. Answering the phone is only limited to one's knowledge of the product, or business, or personnel within the business. all of which can be learned! My wife went from cosmetology school and working in a small nail salon, to 6 month's training for MA., to becoming a Medical Assistant in a Dermatology clinic. After1 clinic in Arlington TX. to 2 clinics in the Detroit area and 2 in DFW area, she's now  with her 6th and current employer for the past10 years. She has found work whenever, and wherever I have moved her, with only 6 months of school! She was without work for about 30 days once, and thought it was the end of the world! She lost Hope and Faith! Something we must never do! She has never been happier with an employer than she is today! Time and Patience paid off.
Too many people are going through life as if they were wearing blinders. It's time we took them off!

FINDING WORK...


As I mentioned above leaning on Friend's and Family is important, but, I want to focus on Leaning through Social Networking first. Networking is not limited to your Facebook or Twitter network of people halfway across the country, or around the world. Networking begin's in your local neighborhood, town, or city.
Learning how to start an "On line Forum"  for your respective city can provide a lot of feedback not only for you, but, for others whom will remember you in the event that they become gainfully employed.
city-data.com provides links to any city and you can input one of your own.
Moving to another city can be devastating to some people but in most cases it provides a much needed exit to many problems in life. In today's world a person must be as flexible with where they live as well as where they work. Moving can be a Breath of fresh air. When I opened my Welder repair business I could not afford the permits and taxes related with the big city. I looked around for a shop getting further and further out of town. The commute was a downfall, but, on the upside, the rent was cheaper, the utilities were cheaper, the people were friendlier, and welcomed my new business that would potentialy bring in more business to their stores, small shops, and the community as a whole. It was a win win for all of us. Again being flexible paid off for me.
       I remember telling a friend once that I had no experience in a particular field. He hounded me for a year that my past experiences and skills would blend in perfectly in this "new technology" field. I Finally gave up and joined him. With only 6 month's training and 3 years experience I was earning 50k a year building Fiber Optic network's for GTE. Only thing was, I had to relocate to Michigan. Not a problem, I have made some new lifelong friends, my first son was born there, and the memories are priceless!
While living in Dearborn Height's Michigan, I could not believe how many of my neighbors had never left their jobs within the Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, Pontiac Factory's and Auto plant's, and most had not even left the Detroit area, much less the state of Michigan. I felt sorry for many of them because their lives were pretty much over now and they had only enough retirement to exist on. They had yet to fulfill their dreams of seeing America, much less the World. Now they were watching their children follow in their footprint's and wishing there was more for them. During most of the 3 years I spent living in the Detroit area, everyone was on strike or the business was moving away. That included the local Newspaper. No one is immune from outsourcing and downsizing. We must all be prepared to make a move, change careers, develop new skills, and adapt to changes around us.

WORKING FROM HOME... next week we discuss the possibilities and the scams! 

Actions speak louder than words

            Most of my readers come from Twitter followers and not all are involved in the rescue of pets. I feel a need to address the Rants I sometimes go on, and want to remind my readers that @pamperedpetspal is my advocate for Pet Fostering and Adoption, trying to stay clear of political and religious views on the web media.
            While I rant on many different subjects as @stevegrimes it is important to know that I will not take a stand on any issue I am dumb and blind to! I elect to allow others to make their case whether educated or not! With six years of Military experience preceded by four years of ROTC I share a certain pride with Soldiers that comes from serving abroad under a Supreme commander! A Commander that a Soldier is proud to serve. Having said that, let it be understood that not all Soldiers are created equal and some are more inclined to reach out  for help than others! Soldiers are a mixed bunch by age, experience and now by sex! While few women will lay in the trenches and fire fully automatic weapons at an approaching enemy when the Commander calls upon her she will! If it so happens the he or she is gay is of no consequence to the Enemy nor the Commander because this individual joined the all voluntary service knowing full well the consequences. Being Gay isn't a reason for discharge  from duty anymore than a business in these United  States can "Legally" dismiss someone because of sexual preference! Even Congress is coming out of the closet and its just a matter of time before a newly elected President does the same!
            My point being is that "All" of us making our journey through this World have an obligation to someone albeit A commander our Spouse or a parent or Guardian. No-one walks  through this World alone! We all need someone to reach out to. I spent a year walking in search of my future but "Alone"" I was not, as I had an employer to answer to, and reached out to those around me when I was sick for comfort. We would all like to believe that we are the only ones responsible for our well being but any one whom thinks that is only a fool. Accomplishments are the direct result of failures somewhere in life, even if those failures were learned from someone else's mistakes!! We do not move forward without them. Many people have become stagnant and don't seem to be getting anywhere from where they are now, and that is what is bringing me to my point!
I see many people raising an ugly head about all the corruption in this country and Crying for action. Crying does not make action. Crying only leads to people shutting doors to your crying! Shutting doors becomes a pattern as others look to leaders to mop up the mess! Tea party this and Leftist that are nothing more than titles slung on fences saying stay out! No Trespassing, No Hunting, Private Property!

           Just how many of us work for a company we know is defrauding the public out of millions of dollars each day, but our income is so important that we elect to stand quietly by until the scales have been tipped, the company faces unsurmountable consequences and everyone is let go as a result of it, while the owners simply walk away with the ill gained profits and opens the business under another name! You are the least of his concerns! He got what he wanted from you...Silence!
          When is Enough, Enough! What kind of a person does it take to stand up and take Action? Well you are about to meet such a person!
In 1978 while stationed in Germany I listened to belly aching of everyone from the Squadron Commander, (a Full Colonel), to the Airman, bitch about the conditions on the Military Installation because of a lack of Groceries in the PX to the poor condition of the lanes at the Bowling Alley! Roaches came out of the window sill's at the local Snack Bar when anyone sat down to eat at a booth! My roommate worked part-time there and said "You should see them come out in the kitchen each time we bring food out"! I asked if he had complained to the manager and he said it falls on deaf ears! At what time do people stand up for what is right? Why is it always after some disaster such as Salmonella or food poisoning! here in this country millions of people work in the food service industry and know the dangers of spreading contamination through the food chain but remain silent!
 Everyone felt we were subject to the rules and regulations governing the Army! Nothing could be further from the truth, but as long as everyone remained silent and in a nice orderly manner the Army could run the daily operations anyway they saw fit! We ate what they served us at the time they prescribed, and the amounts they prescribed, We were able to shop at the local PX and BX, but only when we were instructed! s At the time I had less than a year of service and was a grade E-2 Airman! Work shifts were 12 hours, 7am to 7pm every day! Time was tight to achieve eating ,laundry and sleep! Anyone whom has served knows about KP and Latrine duty being worked into that schedule as well! The Military though process is that if the rats are busy they don't have time to think for themselves! Morale was rapidly deteriorating as the first six months went by and fights among the troops were becoming a common thing around shared facilities such as washers and dryers and even sandwich and candy vending machines! I administered CPR one evening until medics arrived as a result of a man being choked to death over a vending machine argument! The weather was a constant dreary rain and fatigue was setting in everywhere as the guys and gals in the unit would try to settle in for a 15 minute break huddled under tarps and canvas covered huts!  The more we moved equipment and people, the deeper the mud got, and no matter what type of road surface we put down, it would sink and disappear into the mud creating even further frustration among the troops! Two and a half ton trucks would sink to the axles and the one Forklift used to pull them out, had to be dug out several times a day!
          We worked under stringent deadlines to get equipment up and running while tying to maintain some high ground to work on the equipment! Our Radar wouldn't work as expected and several weeks of frustration built in the operations division as a result! My Assignment was to provide Generator power to the Radar and operations facilities with only one generator that worked and 17 others in hundreds of pieces! We worked from spot lights into the night and even began 16 hr shifts to try and meet deadlines with 2 hour rotating intervals to eat! I became sick and experienced severe chest and abdominal pains after 8 months and was hospitalized with a slight coronary for two days!
           I was instructed not to eat the food in the Army Chow Hall but to seek an alternative less fat, healthy diet! I was given extra money to eat elsewhere, but given the work schedule and the conditions at the alternative Snack bar, There was only one choice left! Take action to rectify the food served at the Chow Hall by the Army staff!
This is where my journey as an activist begins!