Pout…

Well, this is the last day of my “vacation” (of sorts)… Tomorrow morning I go back to work… Pout/Cry/Scream…

I hope by the end of the week though I hear that I have a new job in the IRM department, or IT department as most companies call it, at the same place I currently work at. I had a “preferred” interview there last week, a week from today, and I pray that I am selected. Not sure what a preferred interview is, but I’ve been kinda told that means that if I’m qualified (and I am, I’ve been doing the work for over 20 years now!) I am supposed to get the job. But this is the US Government, specifically the Veteran’s Administration, and I’m a Vet, so the chances of that being the case isn’t 100%. We shall see!

As it is, tomorrow I go back to a job that I do not like, the first job I have truly NOT liked in my working history, for a shift I’m not overly impressed with, 0930 hours to 1800 hours. Only good thing is I don’t work as hard as I did when I was on the 0700 to 1530 hours shift. I work WAY less, but I liked the other shift hours and job much better.

And to make it worse, my knee still hurts, and is all wobbly… And has a LOT of fluid on it…

Sigh… Pout…

More of “I don’t get it…”…

I don’t get government management folks at all. I was in a job in which a person was doing such a pour job at work, they tried to get him fired in his first five months of work three times that I know of. This person even bragged about it to anyone that would listen. Now mind you, in the first year you work with this agency, you are on a one year probation in which they can terminate you for any or no reason. You sign a paper stating you understand that when they hire you! Somehow the Union got him out of trouble each time.

Now, this team had inspections frequently, and at least monthly, but normally more often than that. This guy flunked each and every inspection in a big way. You would often find him hiding in a room surfing the internet on someone’s computer (which he wasn’t supposed to be on) or on his cell phone or the company phone instead of doing his work. When he was asked why his work wasn’t done almost every day, he would say he was given too much work to be completed by one person.

At the same time there was a guy that was one of two people, out of about 20 people, that had passed his inspections 100% every time, never receiving a “gig” on his area of work. He tended to take more sick time off than most (to be with his son at HS sporting events, and after having asked for personal time off, and not getting it, because he didn’t schedule it in the December before (not that he was there for leave selection) that year) people on the team though.

A job opening in another department came up, and both applied for it. The guy that did crappy work, and who they attempted to fire got an OUTSTANDING review was a great employee, and highly recommended for the position. The guy that did OUTSTANDING work, although called off sick 8 times in six months was given a VERY BAD review and was recommended against the job.

Of course the “bad employee turned good in the review” got the job.

On the new job, this person who couldn’t do the first job continues to not work, always on the phone or in front of a computer surfing the internet. He would take 1 hour plus lunches instead of the 30 minute lunches he was supposed to, and instead of two fifteen minute breaks he would take thirty to fifty minute breaks as often as he wanted to, not just the two. Leaves the job at least 10 minutes early most days, and was coming 5 to 10 minutes late each day.

MANY people complained to management, but nothing appears to have been done about it. There was a two week stretch were “middle management” came into the area for “watching and shadowing” us, but all they did during that time was go to meetings or sit in front of their computer answering emails. There was no shadowing and no observing what was going on.

There have been even more complaints from this guys teams mates, and while there may have been one meeting (again with the Union involved) about his long lunches and breaks, nothing appears to have changed. There was a short two or three days where he took 30 minute lunches and his 15 minute breaks, but things are “back to normal” again. Long lunches and long and frequent breaks…

Then there is a person on this team that does their work daily, plus some, is on time, seldom takes his breaks at all (except lunch) and is continually getting “written up” for small things, often out of his control, and in some instances that of his non-working teammates job, not his!

What is up with management these days?

I know when I was management, ran companies or departments, if I had an employee that wasn’t doing their work, they would be talked to, the meeting and their responses document, their job performance documented, they would get three chances to fix their issues, and if they didn’t they were terminated and replaced. QUICKLY! So as to get the job done. I would NOT give the person a OUTSTANDING recommendation just to get them out of my department. That continues to negatively impact the company and it’s purpose in life!

Supposedly the Government follows that same process, but I’m not seeing it in this organization!

I don’t get it!!

US Education System…

Over the last 30 or so years I have watched a MAJOR decline in the education system here in the US. The teachers don’t seem to be teaching, and the students don’t seem to be learning (although, what is being taught right?).

The first issue I see is that the teachers are being required to teach to a testing program, and not to the basic requirements of life of reading, writing, math and history. The foundations that the rest of our education comes from. We have taken the arts out of school as well, which is also an important foundation that needs to return to education.

The second issue I see is that the students now seem to rule the school, not the teachers and administrative staff. The students just have to call “foul” in any way, because they don’t like what the teacher is having them do or they are not wanting to sit down and learn, and things stop till the issues are resolved, often with the teacher moving on and the student staying to cause more problems.

Then we have those students that are so bad, that get sent to “alternative” schools, were even less teaching is done, and the teachers just sit there babysitting. Doesn’t work folks.

And finally, but not least of which is directly related to the teachers on several levels. Many of the teachers I have seen, talked to, and watched over time don’t want to teach. They want to sit there and get paid to babysit or work with just those that cause no strife or don’t ask questions. Granted we don’t pay our teachers enough to do what they should be doing, and we have Unions getting in the way, as well as “tenure”. We need to get rid of the Unions in the schools, remove tenure, pay our teachers more, and base that pay on the performance of the teachers and the students they teach. I am confident, that if the teacher actually TEACHES, and keeps the attention of the students, the students will settle down and listen and work with the teachers, learning what is taught. And we need to get that focus back on Reading, Writing, Math, Arts, History and Sciences. (And let us stop re-writing history to make it “politically correct”. Tell it like it happened, as the documents of that time state it, and be honest about it!

If a teacher is not performing, the students are not learning, fire them and get one who will. Tenure needs to go away, and the unions need to go away. BUT, we need to pay our teachers. What they get now is below poverty level, and the teachers that will teach can’t live at the current level. (And with the unions, a good chunk of what they do get paid goes to the unions currently!)

If a student disrupts the class, increase their work load and make them do better. If the disruption is “dangerous”, arrest him/her and get them out of there. BUT, put them in a school where they still have to learn Reading, Writing, Math, Arts, History, and Sciences. Don’t let them get away from learning.

After a student finishes high school, they should NOT go straight to college. Who knows what they want to do after high school, aside from party and take a break?. I STRONGLY feel ALL students, both male and female, should spend 4 years in the military, they pick the branch, based on their desires and thoughts, and aptitude. If they spend 4 years in the military, they can earn the money to pay for their four year college degree, and they learn what they want to do in life, while they get a fall back skill (their job in the military) and the get to potentially travel the world while they “sow their oats” and “party”. This builds our defense capabilities, trains our youngsters, educates our youngsters, and lets them spend their time in college actually studying instead of playing like most do today.

Time for Change…

Obama was right we need change, and especially now. Things are not working well now, and as a Nation we are falling apart.

We are once again being over taxed on everything, often against our will, for a big government that we really do not need. Let us cut our deficit by shrinking our government down to a government that meets the needs of the nation, and get rid of the extras that really aren’t needed in the form of programs that are beyond stupid, meaning the various government ran research programs for mating practices of insects, etc. We should be restructuring our welfare programs and placing limits on who gets them and how. Instead of those that are not working, give the education programs to those working in low income jobs, and help them get better jobs. Then those that are not working can step into the jobs that are vacated by those moving up, and then those low paid people can start getting welfare training for better jobs after they work a few months to a year and get in the habit of working daily.

Next we need to install term limits to our House and Senate. Two terms and you are done, next! Now, don’t change the two sections of the Congress at the same time, and not in a year where we get a new President, but two terms is enough. The positions were not intended to be long term, and were not intended to be such high paid jobs with such great benefits.

Next, since it is a full time job now, the breaks must end, and the members of Congress should be “in office” year around, not just less than half the year between all the breaks. There is no longer a need for such long and frequent breaks. They can do some time in their State, which they don’t do much now, but they should be at work 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year, like the rest of us. No more permanent retirement plans, that are not paid for either. If they want their time to count towards retirement, they can do it the same way the rest of us must, by paying into it. (Or return all of us to a defined benefit plan instead of a contribution benefit plan.) For those that have already retired, we leave alone, but all those currently in office start paying today, and when this term ends, if they have already had at least two terms, they are done. Loosing all benefits they received.

When it comes for a new Bill to be passed, the Bill must ONLY deal with the aspects of the Bill, and no add on passages that have nothing to do with the bill. (No earmarks or what ever you want to call them.) JUST the particulars of the Bill. Then, after discussion it is a straight up or down vote on the Bill.

Let us get back to running the country like a business and making it successful and one of the most powerful and riches Nations in the World!

Ever changing life!

Well, this past Thursday I accepted a job at the VA Medical Center in Huntington WV as a Housekeeping Aid (Janitor) starting YESTERDAY! After a long 4.5 month wait from interview and initial acceptance of the job, my background investigation finally cleared and I start yesterday. Tonight I start cleaning though. Yesterday was all paperwork and reading rules/procedures, etc.

Now, this is, I pray, only an entry into the system. My goal is to get into a management position and/or into an IT position as soon as possible. It is hard to get into the VA system, and one should take any position one can get to get in. The benefits are great, the pay is OK, and I will be working Monday through Friday. Unfortunately evening shift, but I hope to change that to M-F Days soonest!!

YAY, no more cooking and dealing with food service!! YAY!!

Working for Yourself, in this economy and job market…

As our economy continues to be pretty weak, and many people are without a job, it is time to look at history and see what one can do to make their life better and to help bring money in.

Over the last several years, I have have occasionally talked about working for yourself. Several years ago TDBell Enterprises, Inc, my company became a Watkins Independent Associate and opened that portion of my business. When I actively worked it, I had over 200 down line Associates (people under me) and had made Manager. I allowed life to get in my way and I pretty much let the business tank. I now have 25 Associates under me as I have not sponsored, or worked the business for almost 3 years for the most part.

First, what is Watkins? Watkins is a 141 year old Direct Sales company that can say they are the start of the Network Marketing system! Watkins is best known for their spices, especially their pepper and cinnamon, and their vanilla extracts!

Now, when I say Network Marketing, over half of you readers will probably run away screaming, and some of you may never come back. I hope not, I only have a couple of Readers! But, Network Marketing is not all bad folks. And this one is not a get rich quick scheme either. It takes time and patience, and a like of the products. Speaking of the products, with few exceptions, and there have been a couple of exceptions, the products are pretty dang good, and in most cases, they are “green” products (as the company is).

After some heavy review of my life and where I am in life, I have decided to get back fully into the Watkins business again. What does this mean? This means that I am looking for any of you that are interested in building a side income from using and selling great products as well as in building your own team of Independent Sales Associates.

I am going to add the next four people I sponsor into Watkins directly under me, and then as I sponsor more people into Watkins I will be placing the new people under these four and two others I already have directly under me. In doing this I build my team and yours, so one in every 6 people that I sponsor (and I use to be good at this, and am betting that I still am!) will end up on your direct team (which is still part of my team, so it is a win win situation), growing your team and your income levels.

Now, what does being an Associate entail? Well, first and foremost, it means you should be buying the spices, personal and home care products that Watkins has from yourself instead of the store down the road. This is the first step. You get a 25-39% discount of the listed prices up front. Next, you should begin selling product to others, via the catalog or on line (http://www.watkinsonline.com/ Associate 335373 if you just want to buy some product from me now to check it out, or if you want to see what is available), in which you get 25-39% commission, paid monthly if purchased on line, 25% paid immediately if your customer buys directly from you (you may be eligible for the remaining up to 14% more which will be paid monthly).

Now, to begin making even more money, you start sponsoring more people under you. Now, keep in mind, that I will be helping you build your down line, but you still need to do the same thing. As you build your team of self users and sellers, your total volume goes up and you make more money. Your goal is to have at least six people directly under you that each have at least six people directly under you that have at least six … and on.

Now, this can take some time. I had over 200 people under me in under two years, some of which I sponsored, and some of which others that I sponsored sponsored, and those sponsored, etc. *** NOTICE *** This is not typical for all teams. *** NOTICE *** It takes work, I worked about 30 hours a week on my Watkins business some weeks, 10 other, and 40 other weeks. It takes USING THE PRODUCTS! Which means it will take some money! Now, this money comes from not buying the same product types from your local store, and redirecting that money to “your own store”. Now, this can be a slow build up or a fast build up. YOU get to set the speed in which you build your business, income, and team.

If you are not interested in being an Associate, I would very much like it if you went to http://www.watkinsonline.com using Associate ID 335373 and check out the products and potentially buy some. For those that do I will send a $10.00 gift certificate on your next order, provided you spend at least $10.00 in the first order, excluding taxes/S&H.

Watkins is a long living, successful company based on Christian principles and one that can help you in making your ends meet.

If you would like to talk about it feel free to drop me a line here, or send me an email. (Drop me a line here, and I will send you my email address.)