Happy 2010

Between November 30 and December 29, 2009, I was in training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. So many other things have failed for me between August 2007 and today that I didn't want to mention any of this until I earned the certificate. On December 30, 2009, I accomplished that goal with a final score of 93. The top student scored 94. Beginning on Monday, January 4, 2010, when all the festivities and vacation is washed out of the country and we all go back to work, I will be seeking employment with the one nursing home willing to hire me fresh out of school. I have one year after completing my classroom instruction to test for state certification. Once I am state certified, I can increase my pay and work in hospitals.

I have always wanted to be in the medical field, but I was under the impression that you had to have a two year degree for even the most basic of jobs. I remember what my sister went through to become a dental assistant. Given my circumstances, I would not have survived two years of struggle without a reliable income.

Completing CNA training was a miracle from start to finish. I was riding with a friend on Old National Highway who needed help locating the post office on Godby Road. On this day, the car I was riding in lined up with a sign I never saw before - "Free Training For Those Who Qualify." It was posted in front of a building I always passed but never paid attention to each time I rode the bus to the train station. Since I already knew I didn't qualify for the free training (I don't qualify for any government programs) I took down their number anyway, just to ask questions. While my friend was in the post office, I called the school and they proceeded to tell me about Certified Nursing Assistants, how in demand the jobs are, how men are strongly in demand for the position, and that they had just two seats remaining in a class that just started. Tuition was $600 and I could start the 5 week class immediately if I had $250 to start.

I just cleared an overdraft in my checking account and had ZERO dollars available, but I had to be in that class. I went to the school the next day to tour the facility and ask more questions. When I met the students in the class, something just clicked with me, the instructor and the other students. The energy just felt right, so I filled out the paperwork with half a mustard seed of faith and the school accepted me with $50. That triggered a $34 overdraft fee.

I then needed $60 for the next installment in order to get my book and bus fare. My friend helped me by giving me back the CLEAR commission I paid him.

My good friend Thaddeus needed a reformat and restoration of his Dell laptop. Even though I did the work for free, he paid me for the work. I was able to get my first set of scrubs.

My friend at the house gave me $20 because his spirit moved him to do so. I purchased a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff at Walgreens for $18.18.

Even though the school is 5 miles from where I live, making the trip in this cold weather was not easy. A few times, I had to make the 30-minute walk to the bus stop. When I rode my bike, the time was reduced to 10 minutes, but my hands and face paid the price every time.

But, the big miracle happened when I needed to pay for final $490 due on December 17. That payment was critical because without it, I would be unable to get CPR training or complete the 16 hours of clinical experience in a nursing home. The last three weeks would have been a waste. And, my friend told me that if I was unable to make the $490 payment, he wouldn't be able to help me and offered to buy me a bus ticket back to Los Angeles. Nearly every day leading up to the 17th, the enrollment counselor nagged me about the payment. The main plan I had in place to earn the money failed. I hatched a plan to service computers for just $20 a pop, no matter what the problem, so I could pay for school. Other than Thaddeus, no one took me up on the offer. I asked each of my Facebook friends to consider sending me just $20. Only one person responded and he told me how lame it was for me to send a message through Facebook asking for help. All of my friends and family were unwilling or unable to help me. Seems I asked one time too many for help.

On the day the payment was due, the administrator of the school gave me one more day to come up with the funds to pay the tuition. Otherwise, I would be dropped from the program. A good friend who was visiting family in North Carolina called and told me he would pay the $490 on my behalf.

Now that all of my lifelines have been used and Plan Z seems to be working, I need one last miracle - a job with that one nursing home or organization within reasonable distance by bus that is willing to hire a new CNA who doesn't have a GA driver license or a car. Georgia will not issue me an ID card or driver license until I pay a fine associated with my expired California driver license. I have a valid Missouri ID card, a Social Security Card and birth certificate. I worked for 15 years with LAPD, so my identity is very easy to verify. Other than having the worst possible credit, I will pass any background check and drug test. I know that facility is out there. I just need to find them.

Happy New Year, indeed!

An Update

My good friend Thaddeus sent a simple message, asking where I had run off to.  I felt it was time to come out and play for a little bit and let everyone know what is going on with me.

Since my last post, I officially stopped marketing CLEAR.  I was not able to successfully market the service due to my lack of resources; namely a vehicle or bus fare, telephone and a predictable income to support a shoestring-budget business.  Waiting waiting two months for a commission check didn't help things, either.  I could have done it for one month, but two months really pushed me.  As soon as I started, minutes on my prepaid phone ran out, and with no way to get around town, I was dead in the water.  By the time I regained communication with the potential clients I had lined up, they had either subscribed to CLEAR with someone else and disconnected the service, or they decided they no longer wanted the service after all.  The dealer I worked with is now very unhappy with CLEAR corporate, concerned that he invested all of his retirement money into a venture that will ultimately fail him.

I now have AT&T's unlimited prepaid talk and text package.  For $60, I receive 30 days of unlimited talk time and unlimited text messages. I was able to pull my Palm Treo out of retirement and use it again, enjoying full signal strength in the basement and using a keyboard to send text messages.  I have enough money on my prepaid account to keep the account active till January 12, 2010, and the number won't expire till 2011. And, since I can transfer the number to a standard postpaid account, I won't have to change the number when I finally upgrade to an iPhone.

Last Tuesday, I enrolled in school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.  Yep, I will be a Male Nurse and I am looking forward to finally making some money again.  Besides, I think I'll look pretty good in scrubs.  I am told that nursing is one of the fastest growing fields, especially for men.  Guys have strength women lack when it comes to lifting heavy patients or just relating with other guys in a hospital setting.  For four weeks of training, I get access to entry level work that pays decently.  My main draw was the low tuition cost ($600 total, plus $107 for the state certification) and the fresh start this training gives me, a "hard reset" of sorts.  I just wish I found the school when I first moved here because I would have never needed to have gone through any of the drama I went through during the last eight months of unemployment.  But, I learned what I am made of.  Now, I just need to dredge up $550 to pay for school.  I need $60 for tomorrow in order to resume school, but I don't have it.  Since no one will loan me money, I will run my debit card and hope the charge goes through.  If it does, I will have to deal with the $34 overdraft fee the bank will surely charge me.

And finally, I may have a solution to these short-term financial problems.  I found this fantastic service, LogMeInRescue.  It allows me to securely connect with a computer located anywhere on the Internet and take control of it (with the owner's consent), performing service on the computer as if I were there in person.  The service is web-based and works with Macs or PC's.  With a Paypal account, I can service anyone in the world.  The customer just needs a phone and Firefox or Internet Explorer installed on their system.  I will offer $20 remote and $40 in-person unlimited remote computer service for as many people as I can get.  I will also offer unlimited 3/6/12 month support packages for $275/$450 and $850, and special incentives for small businesses.  If this works, I will solve my most immediate problems: driver license, new iMac, CNA school.  If it really works, I will solve many more problems.  I plan to run my ad on Craigslist.  I already have a Twitter account, dedicated cell phone and dedicated email account.

Mac is Sold - Back to Windows (for a little while)

The screen on my 17 inch MacBook Pro was cracked and I had no money to properly sell CLEAR. As my very last asset - and the final tie to my former life - I sold my Mac for $550 on Saturday, $100 less than I wanted. Had the screen been in good condition, I could have gotten $1100 for it.

Selling the Mac was bittersweet. I want a new unibody Mac, but I don't have the funds for one. And, I needed a Windows machine, but I didn't want to go so cheap. However, my options were limited, so choices were made in the name of being successful. Not only will I miss the Mac, all of my data is locked up in the Mac format. Very difficult to convert it back for use on Windows.

The sale of the Mac puts me in business. Its sale helped me to get a new Acer Aspire 5516 laptop running Windows Vista Home Basic for $299 at Micro Center, a Canon PIXMA iP2600 inkjet printer for $30 at WalMart and a CLEAR USB modem with the first month of service paid for.

I expect to be very successful selling CLEAR. I plan to have a new 17 inch MacBook Pro by November. I will also upgrade the printer to a unit that scans, copies, faxes and is network capable.

Using Windows Vista isn't that bad. It takes a bit longer to startup and shutdown, but for what I need, the job is being handled well. This is the most exposure I've had to Vista. I moved to Mac OS X when my XP computer crashed in 2004. I have used the evaluation version of Windows 7 and it is nice. But, I'm sticking with a Mac as my primary choice.

The Acer Aspire 5516 is actually a nice computer. If you're looking for a very inexpensive NEW Windows computer that looks good, you can't beat it. I recommend it. It compares well to the $999 MacBook. Other than the 1.6 GHz AMD processor and lack of a webcam and integrated microphone, the feature set of both computers are identical - 160GB hard drive, DVD burner, wired and wireless networking, 15.6-inch display (1366x768, compared to the Mac's 1280x800 13.3-inch unit). And, with a clean install, this little Acer can run the 64-bit versions of Vista Ultimate and Windows 7 Ultimate.

The Acer has an SD Card slot, a very helpful feature the Mac lacks, unless you pay $200 more for the aluminum unibody 13 inch MacBook Pro. The Mac is built a bit better than the Acer, but for $299, I've let A LOT of things slide.

As a technology professional, I will have an ongoing need for a Mac and a Windows computer. As such, the Windows laptop will continue service for Internet Explorer, the Windows version of Microsoft Office and specific programs that do not run on a Mac. Even though I can run Boot Camp with my Mac, I prefer not to have a Windows installation on my Mac. Everything else, I prefer to handle on a Mac.

I Have A New "Job" - CLEAR Wireless

It is said that preparation plus opportunity equals good luck. Recently, I've heard that hard work and skill equals success. Well, the moment I have waited for has finally arrived. I signed an agreement with an authorized reseller to sell CLEAR Wireless in Atlanta. Let's just say I did the numbers and I will do quite will with this "job." I don't even consider selling CLEAR a job because I love technology and I love helping people solving problems with technology. It also helps that I know how to sell, especially to businesses and high net worth individuals.

For me, this is the right product. I finally found my thrill.

Right now, I am starting with a thread of a budget and a 17" MacBook Pro with a cracked screen. I don't have a car, either. But, being the enterprising fella I am, those bumps will be dried and gone by November.

When I worked in Los Angeles, I was guided by the tagline of First Republic Bank, a financial institution that serves affluent clients: "It's A Pleasure To Serve You." I made that slogan a personal mission for all of my clients and I was highly successful. As I sell CLEAR, that same commitment to superior customer service will continue. Not only will I offer Best In The Business customer service, I will offer an Incentive Program for my customers. For each customer that activates CLEAR service through me, they will receive a Customer Incentive of $35. And, each of my customers will receive a Referral Incentive of $20 for each of their direct referrals that activate CLEAR service through me. For now, all incentives will be paid within 45 calendar days. By November, I will pay those incentives instantly.

If you live in Atlanta, contact me regarding CLEAR. I will advise you about 4G, the service and how it will benefit you. CLEAR is running a special promotion through August 31st - Pick 2 for $45 a month. This service is normally $55 a month. The $45 is locked in for life and it covers two devices.

When it comes to my customers, I mean business. They are the source of my success and I show my appreciation by rendering superior customer service. I look forward to serving you.

This is the finest use of my talents. I am thankful to have found CLEAR. I have big plans for this opportunity.

Back In The Job Market

OK, I told myself I would stop with these long posts, but hey - I like to write (sometimes) and I need to write out all the details of this moment in my life.

The sales job didn't last long. As bad as I need a job, the values of the company did not match mine and I decided to quit after three days.

I worked as a telemarketer, qualifying potential clients for a credit card interest rate negotiation service. If the client had a FICO on 630+, was current on $4,000+ in credit card debt at 10% or higher and was willing to make payments on that debt for at least one year, the company wanted that person's business. However, from the start, there were little things that I should have heeded before accepting the position.

First, the Craigslist ad said INCOMING calls. When I interviewed for the position, I was told the call was an OUTBOUND position. That alone should have sent me for the hills past the Air Force base, because that "correction" spoke directly to the integrity of the company - I was attracted to the job because I thrive with inbound calls, but suffer with outbound calls.

However, I needed a job - ANY job - so I gave it a try, hoping things would be different this time.

Each time I called a potential client, I had to read a script, and I was not to deviate from it. In that script, I had to say:

"Hello Mr. Client, my name is Pete Blow from Financial Services and I'm calling in regards to your current VISA and MasterCard accounts. I'm not calling about any problems with your accounts. I'm calling to see if you received the letter we sent in regards to lowering the interest rates on your credit card accounts. Do you remember seeing that?"

The script has more information and takes a few moments to read. If I don't get an answering machine or get hung up on, I make it to the letter. However, the company never sent a letter. That part of the script is a lie, and I basically lied 300 - 450 times a day. On top of that, I felt like a robot.

The name of the company that paid my check was different, and the website we referred potential clients to had yet another name. Using "Financial Services" with no indication of LLC or INC as the company name is about as vague as it gets. Since the parent company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, why not use that name in all communication? All the misdirection on the name of the company concerned me.

My ultimate responsibility was to obtain the 16 digit credit card account number, the last four digits of the potential clients' social security number and confirm the billing ZIP code. Then, I was to call the toll-free number of the issuing bank to confirm the total credit, available credit, last payment and next payment. Once I confirmed that the client qualified for the service, I would turn over the call to a closer would secure a $995 - $1595 sale.

Out of 300 phone calls, I had to "pull" the information on at least one credit card a day to keep the job. However, because I was new, I was given four days to pull four credit cards. I was regularly reminded that if I did not achieve 5 credit card pulls a week, I would not have a job.

Much easier said than done.

My working hours were 9:45 AM to 6 PM. Lunch was from 2 PM to 3 PM. These were great hours because I was able to travel from College Park to Marietta via MATRA and CCT for three hours if necessary. During my short time with the job, I was fortunate to get a ride in the morning to the Arts Center Station where I took CCT 10 to the job, and I received a ride home with a coworker who lived in College Park.

There are 20 employees in the office and the company has 5 office suites - 100 employees total. In one day, the company makes 30,000 telephone calls.

In each office there are 5 closers, and those closers earn EACH office around $17,000 A DAY. Using these numbers (provided by the company to motivate us), I did the math:

The company makes:

$85,000 a day

$425,000 a week

$1,700,000 a month

$20,400,000 a year.

Very nice, especially considering that those 100 people are paid $7.25 an hour, work 35 hours a week, work mandatory alternating Saturdays on a commission-only basis and have no health or dental benefits.

I understand the costs of running a business and I'm not hating on that. What rubbed me the wrong way: I'm at work in business attire, speaking to a client with a 700 FICO and $50,000 in credit card debt while explicit versions of songs like "Birthday Sex," "Put You To Bed" and "In The Club" are playing through a speaker pointed in my direction. When some employees advised that the music was too loud or unprofessional, the comments were ignored because we managed to work through those "issues" anyway.

But the final straw was when we were ordered to stand because the "energy level was low" and we were not pulling enough credit cards. We were not allowed to sit back down until we pulled a credit card. In essence, I had to hunch over and operate a computer at desk level while remaining professional on the phone with clients. Having worked for government agencies, I saw that order as a workplace abuse.

When lunch came, I took a LONG walk in 90 degree heat. In fact, I tried looking for the employment agency office a friend pointed out in the area, but I couldn't find it. I would have quit the job on the spot, but I didn't have CCT bus fare (I have funds on my MARTA BreezeCard), so I had to work through the day and wait for my ride home.

Also, one of my classmates told me that the friend who recommended she get a job there was fired because she took a day off to arrange emergency child care for her son. A shameful decision from a company that makes $85,000 a day.

Needless to say, I did not go in the next day.

One thing I will say - EVERY closer was genuinely interested with my success as a cold calling telemarketer. All of the closers LOVED their jobs and truly believed in the product they were offering to the clients they served. Every closer treated me with the highest level of respect and everyone I worked with was just plain nice.

Yesterday, I signed an agreement to sell CLEAR Wireless Internet Service as an independent contractor. I report for sales training on Tuesday and product training on Thursday. I absolutely love technology, I enjoy helping others understand technology and I know how to sell. It's a commissioned position, and the first check won't come until October, so I still plan to get a basic job. However, should I not be able to get an hourly job in a couple of months, my efforts from CLEAR will pay off and getting a regular job will be a nonissue.

I Finally Have A Job!

I have been unemployed since October 15, 2008, the day the real estate company I worked for in Saint Louis went out of business. Since then, it has been very difficult to find work. Last week, I received a very simple email requesting that I report for an interview, Monday through Friday, 1 PM to 4:30 PM. It took me two days to get clothes and bus fare to make it to the work location, but I was there. I was formally offered the job on Friday and I began August 17, 2009.

I am in sales. The Craigslist ad clearly said inbound sales, but when I learned of the actual position, it was an outbound sales position. That and the three hour bus/train commute gave me pause - not to mention the integrity of the company - but I needed a job and it was the first opportunity that has come my way in ten months.

I have the opportunity to make great money at this position and I hope to correct a lot of issues very soon, as well as fund the marketing efforts of a few home-based opportunities I long planned to participate in.

The first day, four people out of the training class of nine were let go. I made it through the first round. If I want to keep the job, I just need to make 5 deals per week (one a day). This is from 300-400 calls per day, 1200-3000 calls per week.

If everything goes well, I expect to have a car in a couple of months.

New Career Path

I recently went to Sanford Brown College and I have an idea of what career path I want to pursue.

My immediate goal is to get a job. So far, my first real lead is being a cart pusher for WalMart. A huge step down from my days in 2007, but I am creating a new life for myself, so for the next few years, I'm 18 again.

After securing the cart pusher job, I plan to go to school as a medical assistant. The instruction is 11 months long. I can use the money I make as a cart pusher to market three Internet businesses. There is also a work at home program I can take advantage of.

After securing a job as a Medical Assistant, I will continue my education with Sanford Brown as a Cardiovascular Sonographer. When I complete that program in 20 months, I will have an AS degree. I will then continue on to a BS degree, either in Biology or Chemistry.

The world of Finance is no longer an option for me, so I'm putting all of my talent and energy into the medical field. I love Chemistry and Biology, and the human body has always fascinated me.

My dream medical job is to be a urologist or proctologist (seriously), but I am really cool working in Cardiology at this level. I'll still be able to buy a house and get that 650i convertible.

First Hurdle Crossed

am very pleased to report that I have 30 days worth of unlimited bus and train travel on Atlanta's public transit system. On Sunday, I had NO IDEA how I would get the funds, but things came together nicely and I am very pleased.

I spoke to my friend/landlord about my bus situation and he got upset that I didn't advise him sooner. He gave me $20. I later received a phone call from a non-profit organization conducting a study on sexuality. I forgot I left a message for them, but there were persistent, and finally reached me at home. The study pays $35 for the first meeting, $40 for the second meeting and $45 for the third meeting. I attended the first meeting today at 11 AM. An hour later, I filled my Breeze card!

The next step is to find a job. I have 29 days.

YAH! Onward And Upward! YAH!

Well, I sat down and evaluated where I am today, so I can get to where I want to be. Instead of focusing on the war, I'll knock out each battle.

The first battle is securing enough funds for 30 days worth of travel on the bus and train. I have determined that an inability to get on the bus is my biggest problem. Solve that battle, and I'm on the right track. As of today, I have been given $20, and I expect $35 more from a study I am scheduled to participate in tomorrow. YAH!

The next battle is to find a job I know I will stick with for at least one year. It can be a minimum wage job if necessary. Now that my financial obligations have been reduced, I can turn sow to silk. I need to find the job within 30 days.

Once the stream of income is restored, I will establish a prepaid account with T-Mobile.

After that, I need to restore my driver license. That one will take time, which is OK. Not only will more diverse employment opportunities open for me, but I will be able to rent vehicles and join ZipCar. I also love to drive, so a major source of happiness and entertainment will return to my life.