So you need a job. Maybe you are trying to move up or maybe you are not working now. Either way there is only one sure fire way to get the job you want. I spent 20 years in the Navy and 3 plus years with another company and when the economy hit the toilet and there had to be cutbacks I became a victim. I have been called a lot of things through 20 years on the Navy but this is the first time I was called a “cutback”. The next few paragraphs will either inspire you or it will depress you so sit back, relax and hold on for the ride.
When I was growing up as a child, my mother was the one who was always home. Dad of course wanted to be there but he had to sacrifice so that we could have what we wanted and needed. It is funny how little most kids realize the sacrifices of the parents who raise them. I always knew. My mother would give us advice all of the time like “don’t let your alligator mouth override your canary behind” or “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket”. These pieces of advice meant little to me then but have paid off huge in my later years. One in particular comes to mind and it is the prerequisite to a brighter future. She used to say “don’t burn your bridges”. Of course when I was younger I saw things a lot more literally than I do today and I figured as long as I don’t have a bridge I couldn’t burn it. So I imagined setting fire to a bridge over a body of water and thought that it will be easy to avoid. I was so literal when I was a kid that I was once asked what a pharmacist does during an I.Q. test and I said that he sold farm equipment. My teacher asked us as a group “what is the smartest animal in the world next to man?” I raised my hand and when called upon I responded with complete confidence (and innocence) “woman”. The teacher (a woman by the way) said ‘no, it is a monkey”. I was a little offended because my mother was very intelligent as far as I knew so I raised my hand again “well, a woman has got to be third”.
The big secret I and going to share with you is no secret at all. The operative word here is networking. Networking does not refer to something you do in the office to make all of your computers work together. It means that you are on a job interview every day of your life and in every setting both professional and personal. If you always do a good job and you are always courteous and responsible around people who may one day be able to help you, then you have set the groundwork for success. Almost everyone at some point has left a job on what could be categorized as not perfect terms. The most important thing for your future success is how you react to that situation. Hence, “do not burn your bridges”. Someone you worked for before or even a very dynamic person that you worked with may someday lead you to the “promised land”. If you constantly complain about the company or brag about how you “stuck it to them” you may be stunting your growth later in life. But if you treat them right and are considered someone that they can count on they may just be your ticket to that dream job.
The next thing you do is make sure you always keep in touch. Send a friendly card or e-mail once in a while and keep them on your radar. This also keeps you on their radar and on the” list”. This list is much more important than the one that will get you one night in that fancy dance club. This one might help you to fulfill your financial goals or just get a hand up when the chips are down. Any time you see an opportunity that might fit them you send it their way and follow up on their success. You build upon this relationship and if they are in position to bring someone along for the ride to success you will be in a good place. The most important thing to remember here is that if he is to vouch for you he puts his own reputation on the line. So even if the opportunity he introduces you to isn’t for you, bow out gracefully. This keeps you on the list and keeps his reputation intact.
I was recently in this situation. I had a job that was adequate and was invited to speak with some people based on the recommendation of a former colleague. It was not necessarily something I was looking for but I put on my best face and made both of us proud. When later I was laid off, I contacted my network buddy (and friend) and let him know my situation. Based on his prodding and my strong performance in the interview several months earlier, I got the job without another interview. Even in an economy where nobody is hiring, this tried and true method worked for me. So I will leave you with one more cliché and add my own “It’s not who you are, it’s who you know”. More importantly “It’s who you are to who you know”.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Solar Update
Just a quick update on our progress to become energy independent. We downloaded one of the e-books and went through a quick tutorial. We used the advice on how to get solar cells cheap or free. We have already aquired some cells for free using the tips in the book. This weekend we will pursue some of the options given for free battteries. Our initial goal is to power our garage, both koi ponds and the pool pump with our new do it yourself solar system. This will take time and dedication but it will be well worth it. I will keep you updated and post pictures and/or video of the final product. Till we meet again...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I Dream of Greenie
About four years ago, I retired from the Navy and at the same time my sister and her husband moved in with us for a short time. This arrangement seemed like a good idea at the time. They were just moving into the area and I would have some time on my hands until I found a new job. The biggest shock we got from their arrival was how much higher my electric bill got by adding two people to the household. We went from about $275 to almost $400 just from the extra power they used. It was at this time that my wife(Julie) decided to be more conscientious about how we use energy. A few months later, Julie saw a program on one of those home improvement channels about solar energy and an obsession was born.
The next thing I knew I was pricing solar panels and investigating the viability of buying a windmill for my yard. Knowing that the neighbors would probably not appreciate a huge windmill generator in my backyard, I focused mainly on solar. One problem immediately reared it's ugly head. As it turned out, solar power was very expensive to setup. The initial cost was so high it would take me 20 to 30 years at our present monthly rate to make up for the expense. Of course as a retired military man without a job I didn’t have that kind of money lying around. I checked into financing and determined it would actually cost us more monthly to take this on. At that point I just figured that the planet was just going to have to suffer.
Then Julie said to me “you always tell me that if man can do it so can you. Why not just build solar panels yourself?” It was at this point that I was reminded that there are consequences to telling your loved ones that you know everything and can do anything. With the cost of batteries alone this would be a big investment. Then to find materials to build panels can’t be easy. Still, I do always preach “do it yourself and don’t be afraid of a challenge.” I also realize that if we do not change the way we are doing things in this country/world there won’t be a place for our great grandkids to live and play. No matter where you stand on the subject of global warming, everyone knows that pollution is damaging to the planet. The very definition tells us that. So I decided to do a little more research and see what I could accomplish.
During my research I ran across a few websites that promise to show the average person how to build their own solar and wind generators for less than $200. These sites also promise to give step by step directions and secrets to getting high quality batteries for free or very little money. Imagine removing the chains that bind you to the electric company for such a small investment. It sounds too good not to be true. Julie and I have decided to invest in one of these companies and will follow up soon on how we have progressed. Some of these sites are listed with links below that you can click on and read their offers yourself. I won’t tell you what site we bought from, only that it is one below. This will give you a chance to make an intelligent decision by yourself because they all look like good programs to me. If we are successful I will reveal who we used. Take a look if you are interested and we will keep you updated on our progress. I will leave you with words of wisdom from Kermit the Frog. “It is good to be green.”
Click Here!
Earth 4 Energy
Click Here!
Homemade Energy
Click Here!
Energy 4 Green
Click Here!
Earth 4 Electric
The next thing I knew I was pricing solar panels and investigating the viability of buying a windmill for my yard. Knowing that the neighbors would probably not appreciate a huge windmill generator in my backyard, I focused mainly on solar. One problem immediately reared it's ugly head. As it turned out, solar power was very expensive to setup. The initial cost was so high it would take me 20 to 30 years at our present monthly rate to make up for the expense. Of course as a retired military man without a job I didn’t have that kind of money lying around. I checked into financing and determined it would actually cost us more monthly to take this on. At that point I just figured that the planet was just going to have to suffer.
Then Julie said to me “you always tell me that if man can do it so can you. Why not just build solar panels yourself?” It was at this point that I was reminded that there are consequences to telling your loved ones that you know everything and can do anything. With the cost of batteries alone this would be a big investment. Then to find materials to build panels can’t be easy. Still, I do always preach “do it yourself and don’t be afraid of a challenge.” I also realize that if we do not change the way we are doing things in this country/world there won’t be a place for our great grandkids to live and play. No matter where you stand on the subject of global warming, everyone knows that pollution is damaging to the planet. The very definition tells us that. So I decided to do a little more research and see what I could accomplish.
During my research I ran across a few websites that promise to show the average person how to build their own solar and wind generators for less than $200. These sites also promise to give step by step directions and secrets to getting high quality batteries for free or very little money. Imagine removing the chains that bind you to the electric company for such a small investment. It sounds too good not to be true. Julie and I have decided to invest in one of these companies and will follow up soon on how we have progressed. Some of these sites are listed with links below that you can click on and read their offers yourself. I won’t tell you what site we bought from, only that it is one below. This will give you a chance to make an intelligent decision by yourself because they all look like good programs to me. If we are successful I will reveal who we used. Take a look if you are interested and we will keep you updated on our progress. I will leave you with words of wisdom from Kermit the Frog. “It is good to be green.”
Click Here!
Earth 4 Energy
Click Here!
Homemade Energy
Click Here!
Energy 4 Green
Click Here!
Earth 4 Electric
Monday, March 2, 2009
Do it Yourself Wood Laminate “Floating” Floors.
If you have ever wanted the look of hardwood floors with the durability necessary in today’s pet friendly families, wood laminate flooring is for you. The materials and tools needed are very reasonably priced. We will discuss what they are and where to find them. The biggest cost when doing this project is LABOR. We will cut out this part of the cost and give you tips on all of the pitfalls involved in this endeavor.
First we will discuss the flooring. There are so many different styles, colors and qualities to choose from. It is all based solely on your taste and the size of your budget. You can find it in the big expensive showrooms where all flooring is sold or you can find it in more local places. Lowes and Home Depot are the biggest name in home improvement stores and they have a very good selection. There are others such as Lumber Liquidators and Floor and Décor Where the selection is much larger and the quality varies more. The quality usually shows up in the price (you get what you pay for). But there are other ways to determine how long this will last. Most flooring will have a warranty listed in years such as 10, 15 or 20 years. They also vary by thickness measured in millimeters. All of these decisions can be helped along while at the particular location by the expert salespersons to cater to your individual needs.
Once you have chosen the flooring you must find out how much of the flooring that you need to purchase. Of course you will need to know the size of the room to determine square footage. Square footage is length of the room times the width of the room. For instance, if your room is 10x15 you have 150 square feet. For irregular shaped rooms you might have to get into higher math. You will then purchase between 10% and 20% more than your total square footage (depending on the shape of the room) to ensure that you do not run out of flooring during the final stages of installation. You will lose some flooring to “cutting to fit” and improper installation (measuring wrong or improper tool use).
There are other materials that may be required depending on the space in which you re installing the flooring. If for example you are installing them on a concrete slab there will need to be a moisture barrier and a cushion. The moisture barrier consists of plastic sheeting and of course prevents moisture from getting under the flooring material. The cushion is to prevent clicking and other noises associated with floating floors moving on the slab. These two can come in a single product that can be purchased wherever you got your flooring.
Now that that is settled, there will be certain tools necessary to complete the job. Common tools for the installation of floating floors can be purchased at your local home improvement store. A power miter saw is what I recommend for the bulk of the cutting and sizing. They come in many varieties and prices ranging from about $40 to hundreds of dollars for the more commercial brands. You will buy based on your budget and the amount of work you expect to do. For instance, if you are not planning on doing this for a living, the less expensive brand will do. On the other hand, if you are “Tim the Tool Man” and want the biggest and best, more power to you (excuse the pun). There is also a kit that contains a block and another “tapping” tool that can also be purchased where you got the flooring (or your home improvement store) for a low price (usually about $15 or $20). A small hammer and tape measure round out the tools.
Installation is simple. First remove the old flooring and prepare the sub floor. I recommend removing any molding around the bottom of the walls to allow for reinstallation above the new floor. Then lay down your moisture barrier and cushion as needed. Next, start laying out the floor long ways and connect each next piece. The pieces will snap and lock in place. The last piece in line will need to be cut to size and tapped into place using your tools kit. When tapping, ensure you tap softly. You want to tap hard enough to make progress but not so hard as to damage the laminate coating on the flooring. The first time you do damage it you will know what is too hard (this is why we bought extra). It is very important to get the measurement correctly so measure twice and cut once. Use the remaining piece from the cut to start your next row. This will properly stagger the joints in the floor. If by some coincidence the floor and room are exact measurements then cut the next piece about one third of the way to get the stagger. Follow this plan until there is no more empty space then replace the molding along the floor.
The most important thing to get out of this article is the fact that this project is simple (if you have any skills with tools at all) and will save you a lot of money. When the task is complete you can enjoy the beauty of your new laminate wood floors.
First we will discuss the flooring. There are so many different styles, colors and qualities to choose from. It is all based solely on your taste and the size of your budget. You can find it in the big expensive showrooms where all flooring is sold or you can find it in more local places. Lowes and Home Depot are the biggest name in home improvement stores and they have a very good selection. There are others such as Lumber Liquidators and Floor and Décor Where the selection is much larger and the quality varies more. The quality usually shows up in the price (you get what you pay for). But there are other ways to determine how long this will last. Most flooring will have a warranty listed in years such as 10, 15 or 20 years. They also vary by thickness measured in millimeters. All of these decisions can be helped along while at the particular location by the expert salespersons to cater to your individual needs.
Once you have chosen the flooring you must find out how much of the flooring that you need to purchase. Of course you will need to know the size of the room to determine square footage. Square footage is length of the room times the width of the room. For instance, if your room is 10x15 you have 150 square feet. For irregular shaped rooms you might have to get into higher math. You will then purchase between 10% and 20% more than your total square footage (depending on the shape of the room) to ensure that you do not run out of flooring during the final stages of installation. You will lose some flooring to “cutting to fit” and improper installation (measuring wrong or improper tool use).
There are other materials that may be required depending on the space in which you re installing the flooring. If for example you are installing them on a concrete slab there will need to be a moisture barrier and a cushion. The moisture barrier consists of plastic sheeting and of course prevents moisture from getting under the flooring material. The cushion is to prevent clicking and other noises associated with floating floors moving on the slab. These two can come in a single product that can be purchased wherever you got your flooring.
Now that that is settled, there will be certain tools necessary to complete the job. Common tools for the installation of floating floors can be purchased at your local home improvement store. A power miter saw is what I recommend for the bulk of the cutting and sizing. They come in many varieties and prices ranging from about $40 to hundreds of dollars for the more commercial brands. You will buy based on your budget and the amount of work you expect to do. For instance, if you are not planning on doing this for a living, the less expensive brand will do. On the other hand, if you are “Tim the Tool Man” and want the biggest and best, more power to you (excuse the pun). There is also a kit that contains a block and another “tapping” tool that can also be purchased where you got the flooring (or your home improvement store) for a low price (usually about $15 or $20). A small hammer and tape measure round out the tools.
Installation is simple. First remove the old flooring and prepare the sub floor. I recommend removing any molding around the bottom of the walls to allow for reinstallation above the new floor. Then lay down your moisture barrier and cushion as needed. Next, start laying out the floor long ways and connect each next piece. The pieces will snap and lock in place. The last piece in line will need to be cut to size and tapped into place using your tools kit. When tapping, ensure you tap softly. You want to tap hard enough to make progress but not so hard as to damage the laminate coating on the flooring. The first time you do damage it you will know what is too hard (this is why we bought extra). It is very important to get the measurement correctly so measure twice and cut once. Use the remaining piece from the cut to start your next row. This will properly stagger the joints in the floor. If by some coincidence the floor and room are exact measurements then cut the next piece about one third of the way to get the stagger. Follow this plan until there is no more empty space then replace the molding along the floor.
The most important thing to get out of this article is the fact that this project is simple (if you have any skills with tools at all) and will save you a lot of money. When the task is complete you can enjoy the beauty of your new laminate wood floors.
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