Today Leave us our Dignity

I was talking to my brother the other day, one of the three I have, and he was telling me that in this New Economy he has had to find employment in another state because the jobs that are available here are going to the "less" qualified. I asked him what he meant and he told me that he has applied to jobs, jobs that he is well qualified for and jobs that in the past he used to get, and has been beaten out by those who the company could get for less money and who would be grateful for the pay the offered.

The job market being flooded gives businesses ample choice for their pick of employees and most are opting to pick "less qualified" so they don't have to pay the price of the "well qualified." Yet his family is still at their home because moving to the other state would be too expensive and plus you never know these days how long a job will last. Worse still my brother said that he has also applied to jobs he was obviously over qualified and usually over dressed for when he has gone to an interview and been told that if he really needed the job (and yes he did) he would need to sign an 18 months contract to stay there – 18 months for a $12-$15 an hour job.

Now for those of you professional executives faced with the same New Economy job market, you know of what my brother shares. My brother, who would do anything to support his family, when finding he could not even get the entry level jobs, decided he had had enough. He says he would have stocked shelves at night to pay the family's bills, but only until something better came along. Why would someone ask someone of his professional caliber to sign away his life or 18 months of it stocking shelves? As my brother said, "you can do anything you need to do as long as you have hope that things get better. Signing away that hope even for 18 months skewers someone into a life without hope and dreams. Anyone doing what they have to do rather than what their passion dictates is already suffering enough.

My brother said the last job he tried for in his state was a mid-level marketing position with already low pay. He asked the hiring manager about the pay scale and she said, "We can get anyone we want to do this job for us now and at any pay!" The job it seems had an application pile of over 270 people. They skipped over my brother, who would have done wonders for that company, even at that pay scale, and hired someone just a year or two out of college. My brother told the hiring manager that she should hire him, he would gladly accept the pay and work hard for it. He wanted he told her to work in his industry, to do what he loved to do!" The hiring manager choose one of the less qualified, less experienced candidates and paid them well. Her comment being, "we know we will keep him! You can go get a job doing anything til something better or more suited to your background comes along!" His retort was, "That's just the point, what you are offering is all there is! I can work here for less money than I have ever made but be happy or stock shelves on a contract 18 months at $10 an hour"

My brother's comment was, "Geez at least leave me my dignity!"

I think he has a point. Perhaps they aren't many jobs, perhaps we need to accept less pay for the ones there are, but please at least leave us our dignity! No one with a love or passion for his career is jobless by choice! We are all willing to humble ourselves and work harder and longer for less but please don't strip us of the last vestiges of who we are and what we stand for to stock shelves. Please leave us our dignity!

My brother found a job down south somewhere selling. He travels for 18 days of every month away from home. He has taken a cut in pay, he works harder for less and away from his family, but he is doing well, very well, because he has his dignity! 1 Victory for us! J Perhaps we will see more!

And speaking of the worry of it all . . .

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise, and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, either n splendor or behind a mask of clouds – but it will rise. Until it does , we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day – Today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities – Yesterday and Tomorrow – that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives us mad – it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what will happen Tomorrow!

McKall Won her Basketball Championship Game!

12 year olds battling it out for first place on the basketball court! Very exciting and McKall's team won! Yay! could not be prouder of her! Photos will follow!

Triumph is alive in Small Business! Share their stories

on my Talk Radio show at www.wcww.com and www.powerstrategies.TV! You will love what you hear!

24 Hour Internet Talk Radio Marathon Celebrates Small Business Marketing Survival Series with Messages from Small Business Owners!Blog title...

During a 24 Hour Talk Radio Marathon to introduce the “24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing”, Part 1 of the Small Business Marketing Survival Series by Kim Power Stilson, she and co-host, Tom Egan will share the messages of 50 small business owners.

Tom Egan and Kim Power Stilson, hosts of the new Web Campus World Wide (WcWW) talk radio show devoted to sharing 21st Century tools with small business owners who want to market and sell online will talk for 24 hours (2 days at 12 hours a day) as a launch for “24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing and what it can do to teach small business owners a strategy in 24 Hours as part of her Small Business Marketing Survival Series!

They will interview small business owners 12 hours straight for 2 days in a row! Thursday and Friday, February 26th and 27th! You can join them by listening on www.planetarystreams.com.

Tresia Korich: Style Inn Motion
Suzette Caplin, Becky Cox: doTERRA Essential Wellness
Brandon Allen: Build Your Soul
Bob Craghaed: Intrinsic Motivators
Brad and Jillian Jensen
Roger Preble: People Skills In A Box
Darren Schmidt, Krust Buster
Caroline Updike: Feeling Fabulous
Jacqueline Edwards | Business Solutions Analyst
Shahar Boyayan: Buzz Boost
Carolla Blackham: Mainspring Day Spa
Donna: Busy BEEVAS
Vince Blackham: Primary Affect
Pam Robinson: Institute of Healing
Veronica Chapman: ProDigital Photos
Jana Dahl: ITEX
Rand Bateman:BATEMAN IP LAW GROUP
Lawrence Law: Advnatage Credit
Carroll King Schuller
Nate Stockard
Michael Andrews: a Robert Workman company
Bryan Bliss: Netmentor
Alex Bigney's Talking to Tesla
Jeremy Albrecht: Info Genix
Sally Witzky
Jerrilynn B. Thomas

The 24 Talk Radio Marathon is focused on giving Small Business Owners a chance to learn 21st Century tools so they can successfully market and sell.

“Business owners are interested learning how to sell their services online with tools like social media and Internet marketing,” said Kim Power Stilson. “So we decided to launch the new Small Business Marketing Survival Series with the premiere Social Media tool, Internet talk radio!”

This Small Business Marketing Survival Series is available online on www.powerstratgies.TV and the Web Campus World Wide online education site, wcww.com.

“Once you have a plan, a strategy and you know what you need to do then you run out of excuses to not take the time to market and sell,” said Kim Power Stilson. “With each marketing effort company owners gain a little more success. With consistent efforts like even 24 hours a month focused on marketing, they will see real results in the areas of increased name awareness and sales.”

24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Part 1 of the Small Business Marketing Survival Series is offered online as, a robust video, audio, Internet, Web, Social Media & Marketing certified education course on Web Campus World Wide.

For Free Media trial contact: Anne Roberts at chad@powerstrategies.TV or 801-691-4588.
###

About Kim Power Stilson:
Founder of Power Strategies, Inc., Kim Power Stilson, is the author of 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing and the Small Business Survival Series.
Her professional marketing background includes over 17 years experience and a proven track record of success. She has created marketing positioning campaigns based on her own copyrighted Make, Bake, Shake, Rake & Fresh marketing strategy to build name awareness and speed up the sales process hundreds of companies delivering award-winning campaigns to national and international audiences for at 60% savings over costs, with an 140% increase in name awareness and delivering ordered sales of $50 million plus.
About Tom Egan:
Co-host with Kim Power Stilson on the new Web Campus World Wide talk radio show devoted to sharing 21st Cnetury tools with small business owners who want to market and sell online. Tom Egan is an eCommerce Multi Channel Leader with 16 years of Internet and eCommerce experience in the areas of Internet marketing and distribution using current technology, with an extensive background in the underlying technology as a consultant to diverse hospitality, computer system, telecommunications, military, and industrial organizations, with extensive

About Power Strategies, Inc:
Power Strategies is a Social Media, PR, Web & Internet Marketing Strategies Company providing Education, Marketing Consultation and Public Relations Services to women and family owned businesses and corporations in the United States and Ireland. www.powerstrategies.TV

Happy Single Awareness Day

Or at least that is what my single daughter calls it! wWowowowowo!

We can lean on friends!

Last night I needed a solution to a tough problem. I thought of a friend I “used to know” someone I hadn’t talked to in a while, someone I knew who might help me find a solution. I looked for her in my phone address book and texted a note to her, “Is this you?” meaning I hoped it was the right friend. She texted, “yep it’s me!” and I shared my problem with her though we hadn’t talked in months. The next morning she texted back the solution to my problem, not just advice, but the entire solution. I was amazed! Grateful! I asked (as our polite moms taught us) what I could do for her and she texted, “Kim that is what friends are for! If we don’t have friends to lean on during these tough times we won’t make it, we won’t survive. I am happy to help!”
She then went on to share how tough things have been for her, her husband laid off and a failed business partnership. I asked what I could do for her and she said, “If I think of anything I will let you know!”
Now here is something important to note the solution she had provided for me was within her line of work, something she could charge for, and she did let me know that if I needed more than that she would charge me but she was happy to do what she did for me, gratis, for a friend this time, for free. “Why would you do that?” I asked. She said, it was simple didn’t take much time and she knew I needed help. If I needed more she would send rates, but again she was happy to help and (get this) glad I called or well texted.
I thought about her this morning, a friend I “used to know” was there for me, when I needed her, to support me without a price. I wondered if I was that kind of friend and I hoped so. I think her text words are so accurate now, perhaps, more than ever before in recent history with all the bad things happening around us. “If we don’t have each other to lean on how do we survive?”
I love her words, she is right. We need each other. Thanks to Social Media and the Internet and Web we can reconnect with old friends. We can talk like we used to when we met in the halls or at the store and say, “how are you?” “How’s work?” “cheer up” “I know someone who could help you with that!” in ways that were constricted by geography only a few years before. Now I can see what my “used to know” best friend from high school is having for lunch just be reading her Facebook wall. Thanks to Social Media we are all in contact again.
So, today, after that great experience with my friend, I want to make sure I am that kind of friend too. Whether you “used to know” me or whether we talk daily, I want you to know I am here if you need a friend to lean on. Whether you need a new recipe, advice on raising giant dogs, or a little marketing and advertising help! Here is what I can do to help, if you ever want or need it. Obviously, I do Social Media and marketing along with a weekly talk radio show about business. I once had a friend interview on the show, no cost to her, and she sold 12 of her quilt making kits. Maybe not a lot of sales, and I surely can’t promise, but it helped her pay that month’s bills. So, if you need a little extra help marketing, I can help in this way . . . I can share advice, I can give you Free advertising or interview you on my talk radio show, I can edit or write if you need a quick hand, you can lean on me, first time free.
Perhaps you don’t need that kind of help? I don’t have many other talents, certainly not singing, but I can put together tasty, inexpensive Crockpot meals or desserts in 2 minutes or less. I am a good listener. I may know someone who needs someone like you to hire. I may not be able to give you a solution but I probably know someone who can. In those ways and any other you may be able to think of, like my “used to know” friend, am happy to help! Now having written that I am going to challenge you, as a good friend would, to share your talents, if you want and if you can! What can you do to ease another’s burden? If we don’t have each other to lean on, how do we survive? It’s just a thought I came up with this morning, and it is up to you!
Either way, I want you to know I care, you can text me anytime and ask “Is this you?” and you can be sure of reaching a friend you “used to know” who loves you still and will help if she can!

If we don’t have each other to lean on, how do we survive?

Last night I needed a solution to a tough problem. I thought of a friend I "used to know" someone I hadn't talked to in a while, someone I knew who might help me find a solution. I looked for her in my phone address book and texted a note to her, "Is this you?" meaning I hoped it was the right friend. She texted, "yep it's me!" and I shared my problem with her though we hadn't talked in months. The next morning she texted back the solution to my problem, not just advice, but the entire solution. I was amazed! Grateful! I asked (as our polite moms taught us) what I could do for her and she texted, "Kim that is what friends are for! If we don't have friends to lean on during these tough times we won't make it, we won't survive. I am happy to help!"

She then went on to share how tough things have been for her, her husband laid off and a failed business partnership. I asked what I could do for her and she said, "If I think of anything I will let you know!"

Now here is something important to note the solution she had provided for me was within her line of work, something she could charge for, and she did let me know that if I needed more than that she would charge me but she was happy to do what she did for me, gratis, for a friend this time, for free. "Why would you do that?" I asked. She said, it was simple didn't take much time and she knew I needed help. If I needed more she would send rates, but again she was happy to help and (get this) glad I called or well texted.

I thought about her this morning, a friend I "used to know" was there for me, when I needed her, to support me without a price. I wondered if I was that kind of friend and I hoped so. I think her text words are so accurate now, perhaps, more than ever before in recent history with all the bad things happening around us. "If we don't have each other to lean on how do we survive?"

I love her words, she is right. We need each other. Thanks to Social Media and the Internet and Web we can reconnect with old friends. We can talk like we used to when we met in the halls or at the store and say, "how are you?" "How's work?" "cheer up" "I know someone who could help you with that!" in ways that were constricted by geography only a few years before. Now I can see what my "used to know" best friend from high school is having for lunch just be reading her Facebook wall. Thanks to Social Media we are all in contact again.

So, today, after that great experience with my friend, I want to make sure I am that kind of friend too. Whether you "used to know" me or whether we talk daily, I want you to know I am here if you need a friend to lean on. Whether you need a new recipe, advice on raising giant dogs, or a little marketing and advertising help! Here is what I can do to help, if you ever want or need it. Obviously, I do Social Media and marketing along with a weekly talk radio show about business. I once had a friend interview on the show, no cost to her, and she sold 12 of her quilt making kits. Maybe not a lot of sales, and I surely can't promise, but it helped her pay that month's bills. So, if you need a little extra help marketing, I can help in this way . . . I can share advice, I can give you Free advertising or interview you on my talk radio show, I can edit or write if you need a quick hand, you can lean on me, first time free.

Perhaps you don't need that kind of help? I don't have many other talents, certainly not singing, but I can put together tasty, inexpensive Crockpot meals or desserts in 2 minutes or less. I am a good listener. I may know someone who needs someone like you to hire. I may not be able to give you a solution but I probably know someone who can. In those ways and any other you may be able to think of, like my "used to know" friend, am happy to help! Now having written that I am going to challenge you, as a good friend would, to share your talents, if you want and if you can! What can you do to ease another's burden? If we don't have each other to lean on, how do we survive? It's just a thought I came up with this morning, and it is up to you!

Either way, I want you to know I care, you can text me anytime and ask "Is this you?" and you can be sure of reaching a friend you "used to know" who loves you still and will help if she can!