My Secret Goal - Explained

I try not to use this blog for rants about books and authors and how much I love to read (I know, nerd) but you've probably gleaned that I am a big reader. Don't believe me? Check out my post 10,000 Pages and Counting

Anyway, what you might not know is that I have secret goals that involve writing. It's been my dream for quite awhile to see my name on the cover of a printed book. Clearly, I'm not there yet but I'm hopeful that it won't end up a "what if" kind of dream. When I was trying to think of goals to follow as Quitsville changed gears, I briefly toyed with the idea of making this one of my goals - actually writing a novel. It's desperately hard to get writing done with life in the way. In the end, I'm not sure anyone is interested in reading a blog about me trying to write. However, I'm not promising that in a year or two you won't be reading about my goal to get said book published. I mean really, what's better to follow then endless rejection letters on the road to success?

All of this is only chatter that is leading up to a post about John Irving. I know a lot of people thing his work is grotesque and inappropriate and just plain messed up, but John Irving is an example of why I want to write. He is the author of my all-time favorite novel (The Hotel New Hampshire) and I think his books are amazing. Sure, he's written a few things that were - for him, at least - sub par. But overall, his work is enthralling. His characters are meaty and engaging, his plot is incredibly dense, his books have literally taken over my life (when I was reading them). To say that I have incredibly respect and reverence for him as an author would not be saying too much.

And last night, I had the chance to see him read/speak through an independent bookstore here (check your local stores - he might be coming to you too!). I'd be lying if I tried to tell you that I wasn't a completely geeked out emotional mess because of it. Part of me was very nervous that he wouldn't live up to the stock I've put in him through his books. What if he was arrogant or annoying or *gasp* stupid?! We all know that good art can be made my bad people but dear god, what would that do to me?

Luckily, dear readers, that did not happen. He is obviously a very intelligent and deliberate man. He read briefly and then spoke at length about his process and his methods, how he finds his stories and how his novels come to be. He was grizzly and direct but also funny. I've always found his books to be funny - if incredibly dark - and it was wonderful to see where that comes from. He wasn't arrogant but definitely knows himself well enough to know where he excels and where he falls short. I did not get to shake his hand or meet him (books were pre-signed) but the experience was one that I will hold very close to my heart. It was only an hour (probably more like 45 minutes given the inefficiency of the local bookstore) but it was wonderful. He has no idea that he has personally affected me but he has. His books have been a big part of my life for a decade or so (and he's been writing for 40 years!) and if I had been able to speak to him, I would have thanked him for that.

I've now started his most recent novel (released yesterday): Last Night in Twisted River.

And you should too.

How to Survive Unemployment

Yesterday I read a post on the Personal Branding Blog about creating an "unemployment routine" for yourself while unemployed and it really reminded me how much "work" it can be to stay active, relevant, and motivated when you're unemployed.

Okay, I know it's not actual work but let's face it - part of the reason we don't consider it work is that we're not getting paid for it. I wrote about this phenomenon in my post Unemployment Sucks...Duh?. Some people seem to think that just because you're unemployed, you must be having the time of your life - sleeping in, doing anything you want, fraternizing with celebrities. Okay, maybe not that last one but you get the point. I admit that when I was unemployed (years ago), I did enjoy the first part of it. After I got over the sting of being let go, I went to the beach, I slept in, I read books. It was sort of like a vacation. But with a vacation, you always have the knowledge that you're going back to something. Eventually, the routine of not having something starts to eat away at your sanity, self-worth, etc.

All this is to say that yes, it's vital to have a set routine when you're out of work. And I don't mean the routine of sleep in, play video games, nap, eat - as tempting as it can be. I wrote recently about my Job Search To Dos and how they kept me sane and productive while looking for work and the concept is not so different. Having something that you do every day while you're unemployed helps to keep you moving forward - or at least gives you the impression that you are moving forward.

The Personal Branding Blog recommends getting up on time, being social, having daily tasks, etc. These are all great ways to stay focused on not being unemployed. For me, I did a lot of work on cutting expenses but one thing I did not cut was the gym - having a daily (okay, every-other-daily) routine of getting myself out of the house and to the gym was immensely helpful, not to mention the fact that working out lowered my stress level.

If you're looking for work, I strongly recommend setting up a schedule for yourself. Whether you do something every day or once a week, creating a routine will help to create relevance and worth in your actions. In a society that places most of one's worth in "what they do", this is vital.

Click here to read the full article from the Personal Branding Blog

Unemployment Might Linger

We've all heard the rumors that the economy is back on its way up. Sure, we hit 10,000 again (woo... yay, late 90s) and the market is showing signs of recovery but what a lot of folks don't seem to be seeing is the return of a robust job market.

According to a recent article that I spied on Boston.com - we've lost 7.2 million jobs as a country since December 2007. 7.2 million is quite a few jobs in case you were unaware. And even more startling is the fact that quite a few economists (from all walks of political life I might add) agree that we might not ever get those jobs back. We're currently hovering around 9.8% for unemployment with reasonable sources telling us that 10% is right around the corner.

10%. Now I know that the unemployment has big pockets in certain industries, towns, etc. but just for giggles, imagine that 10% of your friends and family are out of work. They may already be out of work so it should be easy. You may have a job but if 10% of those around you don't, things will change. Your life will be different. Imagine those 10% clamoring to do your job... better... faster... for less.

Click here to read the full article on Boston.com

Another article, in the Huffington Post, reminds us that our baseline against which we gauge growth is bottom of the barrel. Sure - we're improving. Sure - stocks are on the rise. Sure - the market is stronger than it's been in months. But let's face it - where it's been wasn't so hot. And lingering unemployment will continue to weigh us down.

Click here to read the full article in the Huffington Post