Saturation Bombing

Early on, when I started doing this, my focus was going to be concentrating on my search for a full-time job. As things progressed and I got less and less successful and some other things were going on in my life, I kind of got away from that. I'm not sitting here and saying that I am going to get back to the mission that I started, but today I'm going to go back to it...a little.

So...its now going on 6 months and counting since I had a full-time job. My last day at WGCL in Atlanta was September 8th. Since then it has been one interesting experience. I don't know if I want to use the word frustrated, though I have been and in some ways, I currently am; rather I would prefer saying...I am more anxious.

By now, I've mentioned ad nauseum about working part-time at the Panera Bread down the street. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, it is...I'll say it...beneath me. But, I've gotta do something. I've realized this week, having been off for pretty much all of it, that you have to do something in order to interact with people on occasion or you will go crazy (at least I will).

My time this week has been spent pretty much on two things. One, my Sports blog site. I've been generating a ton of content and it has paid off a bit. Traffic is up and we've gotten some attention. The other, applying for jobs. Any jobs. Yeah, I've finally hit that point where I'm trying for just about anything. Dick's Sporting Goods, The Fresh Market, AT&T...anybody that will let me submit a resume'.

I still, believe it or not have a chance at a job here with WCPO, but the process has dragged out for over a month now. As much as I liked the people there and I like their shows, I'm not optimistic. The News Director has been very nice and responsive when I check in with him, but I'm not really confident. He's had too much time to wait out someone else he can hire. I also have a resume' in at WLWT where they are looking for an Assignment Editor. Yes, I am qualified enough to do that and they should have gotten my resume' etc. on Monday...no I haven't heard anything from them despite perhaps writing one of the best cover letters I've ever written. Heck, I even have a DVD and resume at the Fox station for a Promotion Producer/Photographer job. I haven't heard a peep from them either. TV wise, I am running into the "We can't pay you" wall. I had to explain to the folks at WCPO that "I don't need Atlanta money, I just need a full-time job for my sanity".

Honestly, what worries me is that though I've applied for 8 non-TV jobs this week and last, I haven't heard anything from any of them either. I'm very concerned because I'm not really sure where to turn next. Yes, I know that I was involved with the Networking group early on here and perhaps I need to revisit that.

The problem I think in some respects is me. I'm not a "Pushy", "Sell myself" kind of person and that seems to be hurting me. I'm not someone who wants to beg people to help. Is it pride? A little. Is it ego? No, I don't think so. I'm applying for all kinds of work. Is it lack of knowledge? Yeah, probably. I just am not very well equipped to deal with the "Modern" job search techniques. Can I skim the Internet and find potential opportunities? Sure, I'm actually pretty good at that. But...everything that I'm reading...and experiencing is telling me that while I might hit the "Needle in the Haystack" it isn't likely.

Is there a solution? I don't know. There has to be something...or someone willing to take a flyer on me. Really I am a good employee, I always have been. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and anyone who has ever been around me will tell you whatever it is that I end up doing, I'll be good at. The reason they say is my OCD tendency to have to learn everything possible about whatever it is that I am doing. Surely that...if nothing else makes me someone who somebody wants to hire....right?

For you entertainment enjoy a classic Monty Python sketch on a job interview. Thanks You Tube:

Re-finding Motivation

Is it safe to say that the holiday season is now officially over? Unfortunately, it now means...for some...going back to work and for others it means that it is time to get re-energized, re-motivated and re-invigorated and try to find some work.

The question that I have is how? Having never gone through the holidays in the position that I am currently in, I am trying to figure out the answer to that question. It wasn't hard to get motivated when I first got here nor was it hard to stay motivated for a good, long while after I got settled in.

((Me looking like I do when I am on the computer//Courtesy: Phil's I-Mac))

But now as I sit here with the Wonder Dog asleep next to my chair, I really don't know what to exactly do next. I spent a lot of time in the fall trying to get involved with some Networking groups, which was interesting and they did give me some background and perspective, but I am starting to wonder what else the groups here can offer me. There are not many (met 2) people from my line of work involved with the groups and they really didn't have much to offer in the way of help. I've already decided that I want to stay if not in my chosen field, at least something pretty closely related. I really think that even if I could manage to get some freelance work that I could over time make that work and I don't know how much the Networking group would help me there.

The other part of the problem is time. My time is somewhat consumed on the days that I work my part-time job. I generally work from 5:30am until 1 or 2 in the afternoon, which is great because I get some money out of it, but by the time I get home, eat some lunch and get organized, Michelle gets home and I don't get much else accomplished. Granted, I still have 3 or so days a week to get my searching done, but the Networking group that I mentioned in the above paragraph meets on Monday mornings and I am beginning to think though I am occasionally off on Monday, I can better spend my time here, on the computer looking for stuff as opposed to 3-plus hours with the group. On top of that, one of the projects I started before leaving Atlanta, co-authoring a book needs to be finished...soon so that is taking some time as well.

Is there a solution to the problem I stated before I started rambling? I don't know. There has to be some sort of middle ground and that really is what I am wrestling with. I am very much a creature of habit who likes to get into a bit of a routine in terms of what I do, when I do it and how I do it and since arriving in Cincinnati, I have been completely unable to do that. I am trying to figure out a way to at least cobble together some projects that I can make some money off of. Ultimately, I really just want to get back to doing what it is that I do best. I'm not very picky as to whom I work for or where I work for them, I just want to not have to do what I have been doing right now.

Enjoy a motivational speech...from Gene Hackman in the classic movie Hoosiers: Thanks You Tube

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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Motivation Part 2

OK, so I'm glad that I got yesterday out of my system. I guess that every once and a while that there will be days where you just don't want to deal with anything and Monday morning that was exactly how I felt.

The trick is finding a way to either get over it or get past it and I think that I did that. I admit, I was a bit bummed that I did not get the job at WCPO, not that working weekend overnights producing a show would be anything spectacular, but it would have been something to do and it would have paid a whole lot better than the current part-time job that I have does.

((Photo//Me at the old job Producing the Sunday Sports Show...Circa 2005))

I think I snapped out of it after I went out and ran an errand yesterday and returned to a nice e-mail from one of my Facebook friends who as it turned out has a cousin up here who works for another of the TV Stations. Will it work out? I don't know, but I sent his cousin an e-mail...I'm waiting to see if I actually get a response from him...but hey, it's something.

The other is a potential opportunity with one of the teams here in Cincinnati. The job is a bit different, I don't know that I want to get into detail, yet, but it would be a lot of work and a lot of hours. We will see what happens. The reason that I mention it is that I got on their radar because someone that I met knew someone who worked for the team and would be involved in the hiring process. He introduced me to her, we talked and I sent my information to her, we'll see what happens from there.

I guess that my point today is this. Don't dwell on bad days for very long. You are going to have them. Deal with it and move on. Chances are when you do, something good will happen shortly thereafter. It's weird how it works that way, but I've found, at least for me...that is how it works. Do I think that I will immediately get a job from this? I don't know. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. But opportunities or potential opportunities were created where there were none and really, given the situation...it's all that you can really ask for.

And on that note, enjoy the trailer for the Greatest Christmas Movie Ever: Thanks You Tube