Eating Poo (I want to stay "G" rated)

By now, I've talked incessantly about taking a part-time job and well, it's not exactly a job that I thought that I would be doing at this point in my life. That reminder was driven home yesterday.

Really, for me the past 2 or so years haven't been great...professionally. My last year, well really 2 years at WGCL-TV in Atlanta really weren't a lot of fun. I got sabotaged professionally by someone who made my bosses think that I was something that I wasn't. Karma bit him in the ass and got him fired, but I still had to try an overcome an image problem that I never quite was able to. Previous to what happened, I had been recognized as one the best at what I did in Atlanta and around the country. That all changed when I got sabotaged, I lost responsibility and access. I had to continue working, but not at what I did best. I had to endure a year and a half of questions: Where have you been? How come you aren't around any more? Because I took the "High Road" I deferred and avoided a direct answer, but it was killing me.

Anyway, so you also know the rest of my story. I left Atlanta in September and have been looking for work since. I've gotten to know some good people here in the Cincinnati area who have tried to help, but I haven't gotten very far with a career track here to this point. Has it been frustrating...Yes. But I'm still plugging away.

In order to do something other than sit in the house all day long, I took a Part-Time job at Panera Bread down the street from the house. I haven't worked in a restaurant since I worked at the Mexican Eagle in 1986 in Statesboro, Ga. to pay for my session of Summer School. The Panera job has been okay, the people are very nice and it is fairly low key. Yesterday as part of my rotation I had to wash dishes, something that I haven't done since I was 16 years old.

Yes, it sucked ass. It was painful for me and brought back some thoughts about what I am doing. I am sure that there are people out there who can understand what I am going through but man, it's tough. I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would be reduced to this. Through it all, I've been a trooper, I've smiled, I've done my job and I haven't complained. But I'm not sure how long I will be able to do this. I guess what people say about "Doing what you have to do" or "Eating humble pie" is true. I don't totally miss my previous life in TV, but I really miss doing something more becoming of my time and experience. I am growing very tired of "Eating Poo".

Enjoy the Trailer for the Grinch: Thanks You Tube

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Things You Never Thought You Would Do

Today was the 1st time that I set foot in a restaurant as an employee since 1986. Yes, I'm the old dude working at the Panera Bread in Hyde Park (for those who don't live here...neighborhood in Cincinnati). Quite honestly, it's something I honest to goodness never thought that I'd have to do. Technically, I guess I don't, but I did need to do something to get me out of the 8 hour marathon Internet Job Searches and get some positive cash flow coming in.

I've been out of work for well over 2 months now. Despite some of my friends thinking that "He's retired", no, I haven't, I'm just having a very hard time finding work in my chosen profession. It's not to say that I won't or I won't stop looking, but I had to do something.

One of the biggest challenges that I've faced is aside from shooting, editing and producing video's is that there aren't a ton of other things that I am qualified for. Yes, it's been an issue. Along with the "Why would you want to work here?" question. I did have a job offered to me in October. Doing Customer Service on the phone; no...the more I thought about it, that wasn't going to work.

So, the question is why a restaurant? Well, how many of you worked in one when you were growing up? Yeah, that is what I thought. It's something that I can do. Probably the most appealing part of it for now is the flexibility and openness from the folks at Panera Bread. They are willing to be flexible with my scheduling if I can find freelance work or follow through with the classes that I want to take.

The other reason: Cash Flow. Obviously, since I wasn't employed, I wasn't bringing home any money. As much as Michelle loves me and she makes a good living; I had to do something if I wanted some warmer clothes here in Cincinnati. Plus, since my expenses are pretty low right now, I can pay off credit cards and start saving for the equipment that I want to buy. Am I making a fortune? No. Am I making more than I've been spending? Yes...or at least I will be.

My point today is this. Sometimes you might have to suck it up a little and do something you didn't think that you would have to. With a little time and research, you may find something fun or something that will pass the time. Either way a little something, sometimes...can go a very long way.

To stay with the Theme of the Day, enjoy some Bread...with David Gates and the Guitar Man. Thanks You Tube:

Taking one for the Team

Brace yourselves, this may be a long, rambling, stream of consciousness story this afternoon. I feel the need at this point to talk about what; at least to me is the most important part of the job searching journey...having a master plan...and modifying or adjusting it as you go

Believe it or not, I figured out my plan fairly quickly. I had a pretty good idea of what I want and wanted to do, I'm still trying even now to figure out how to put it into action. For instance, I've mentioned before I want to stay in the video or video production field. I do, it's what I do well, I love being able to tell stories...not just writing them, but showing them. I'm good at it. I am very accomplished at it. I love doing it. Honestly, I wasn't sure when I left my last job if I wanted to stay in it, but a lot of thought and looking back at things told me that it was the place I worked that brought me down, not what I did.

((Photo: Me and the West Virginia Mountaineer Mascot at the 2005 Sugar Bowl...yeah...he didn't get out much))

My plan is simple. I want to have my own production company. I want to not only utilize the skills I've learned over the past 22 years as a Videographer/Editor and Producer, I want to expand them. I want to take courses in Web Design and graphic design. I want to be able to do everything.

Sacrifice...

Sometimes you have to take one for the team. Really, you do. I did something today that I never thought I would have to do. I went to a Panera Bread store near the house and took a job with them. That's right, 23 years after the last time I worked in a restaurant, I took a job working in a restaurant.

Why do that you ask? Several reasons: (1) Basically Michelle told me this weekend "Find something to do, even if it's part time, just get out of the house". (2) In order to get some new clothes and start purchasing equipment, I need to start bringing in my own money. We make enough for us to get by, but we have to be much more careful right now without me bringing anything in. Hopefully that will change. (3) The General Manager at Panera Bread couldn't have been nicer and more accommodating. He told me that I can "Work as much or as little as I wanted to" and that he understood that I was in transition. He said "If you find what you are looking for, all I ask is for some notice before you leave". Honestly, I told him that would be the least that I could do.

Is it scary to go back and work like that? Sure, but to get what I want, I'm going to have to make some sacrifices and you know what. I'm OK with that.

**BREAKING NEWS UPDATE***- As I was writing this, I received a call from the Assistant News Director at WCPO-TV the ABC station here. He would like me to come in on Friday to meet with him and his News Director. Maybe it's true that once the gate is open, everything comes at once.

Finish the Drill....

Mark Richt, one of my favorite people uses this line with his Georgia Bulldogs all of the time. "Finish the Drill". You have to finish what you start...or why start it? It's the same thing with your plan. You have to have one in order to succeed. Not just in life, but for your job search and anything else that you do. You may have to take a step or two back in order to make your plan work...but if you do...so what...do it! Keep your eye on the prize because in the end you'll be amazed at how happy you are and how proud you will be if you accomplish it.

((I apologize for the gigantic font. Blogspot is being a pain in the ass and won't let me re-adjust it to the size it should be))

Enjoy the A-Team because "I love it when a plan comes together". Thanks You Tube:

Decisions, Decisions...Oh What to do?

Well, it's Monday and we are back to it. This time there may be some decision making involved, not necessarily what I want, but it may just be what I have to do.

Over the weekend, despite saying not to, I spent some time looking for work, any work. Part of that was just for something to do, part of it was because Michelle really wants me to find something to do that will get me out of the house. I understand that point and don't disagree with it. The tough part is that it is going to make me make a decision about several things.

One is work. I went to a couple of "National" store sites over the weekend and applied for a couple of jobs. Panera Bread was one of them, I submitted the application and did there ungodly long, complicated questionnaire and within the hour I got not 1 but 2 calls from different stores. I'm not sure how I feel about this, though it is better than some options that I've contemplated over the past couple of weeks. The goal, for now I guess will be to try and get a part time Cashier job or something of that sort to keep me busy, but not tied up.

The other option and one I'm even more mixed on is this: Michelle is a fairly big to do at Macys here in Cincinnati. They had a job...I think it is "Benefits analyst" or something like that. It's full-time. I applied for it and she can probably twist some arms to make that happen. I'm just a little torn about that. I'm a little reluctant to commit to that if I can land something closer to what I do. The concern is that if I take on something full-time like that it will limit my options trying to find something that I really want to do.

Really, I want to get back into my business or at least the part of it that will allow me to not work for a TV Station. I'm not going to say that I wouldn't take a TV job right now, because I would. That may be happening soon as well. I on a whim, found a job listing at the ABC station here in Cicni for a Part-Time/Fill-in Producer and I sent a resume' to there corporate website. 4 hours later I got a call from the Assistant News Director. He's interested, but has some other folks who are interested too. We talked for about 30 minutes or so and he said that if this doesn't work out, he'll keep my info if something else pops up...which is good and why I'm hesitant to commit to anything too serious.

The other opportunities for me are these: I've gotten on 3 Live Production Crew lists, good because that would be Video work, bad because I'm at the bottom of a long list...when there is work in the area. I've also made contact with a few people at 4 Production companies here in town. Good....it's what I want to do. Bad....I'm not qualified to do some of the "High End" stuff...yet... and I'm at the bottom of their call lists too.

So, to make a long story less long, I'm going to have a decision to make today...I think. More than likely I will do the Part-time thing at Panera if I can, because it will leave me the option to take Freelance Video work and to take the classes that I want to take after the 1st of the year. But the classwork is a blog for another day.

Enjoy the laugh of the day...an end reel from the TV Show Laugh In: Thanks You Tube