I tackled the caulking in my shower on my own and it was very easy. I cleaned the area, carved out the old caulking, wiped it clean again, then cut the tip off a new tube of mildew resistant white caulking. I squeezed the tube like toothpaste along the edge of the tile, then used my finger to smooth the caulk into a straight line. I let it dry 24 hours and Voila!, now I have a clean white shower corner. I wish finding a job could be so easy.
The nice thing about a clean shower is that it is a fresh start to a new day. No nagging thoughts or feelings of guilt for not taking care of the green slime that had been growing there. Those thoughts were banished from my mind and additionally I was feeling pretty proud of myself, for tackling something I was not sure how to do. Whereas my father could figure these things out on his own, I went to the great oracle of Google to find the right steps before I started. The oracle gave me many web sites with step by step instructions for just about everything. Ehow.com, dummies.com and about.com are all very useful with step by step instructions including photos and videos. Then there are the home decorating websites like HGTV.com and DIY.com. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have Eric Stromer or Carter Oosterhouse tell me how to caulk my shower than some handyman I have to pay.
My point is, the information is out there and more accessible than ever before. The internet puts all the knowledge of man right at our fingertips. There is no excuse for lack of knowledge in the information age. Lack of interest, lack of ability, maybe, money isn't really an issue anymore, as there are computers in libraries, schools and even in our cell phones. Do your research. Figure out the steps. Break it down into manageable pieces, then check those honey do items off your list. The feeling of self satisfaction will help carry you through until the next day and another fresh new start.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Honey Do List
When I was growing up, my mother kept a Honey Do list for my father. Paint the shutters, clean the gutters, plant the roses, you name it, Dad could do it. Over the years his honey do list included adding on a family room, screening in the patio, even sewing curtains and quilts. Whatever needed to be done, my father could always figure out how to do it. He had a logical, inquisitive mind and he liked the challenge of finding a solution. He would talk to himself, asking and answering his own questions, breaking things down step by step. Each step by itself was simple. When added up together he was able to accomplish the task, no matter how large or difficult.
I need to take the same approach with finding work. I need to break it down into little steps that I can accomplish, so I don't feel like I am failing all the time. I am creating my own Honey Do list for me to follow. Job Search/Income Creation being the highest priority, but also using this time to repair things that I haven't been paying attention to, like the green ribbon of mildew growing in the corner of my shower.
Today's Honey Do List
1) Set up my Linked-In page.
2) Update my profile.
3) Reach out to former business contacts.
4) Make recommendations in order to get recommendations.
5) Re-caulk my shower.
My sister turned me on to Linked-In, a social networking sight designed for business contacts. Setting up a profile is pretty easy. Mine was up in no time. You can add as much (or as little) of your resume as you want.
It is extremely easy to import your contacts from Gmail, AOL, Outlook and other email lists. You select which email list you want to add to your contacts. Click or unclick the suggested names in the list and connection emails are automatically sent to anyone you select asking to be linked in. Once they accept, you can see their contacts and if you want to meet someone in their contact list, you ask your contact to make the introduction. There is also a feature called recommendations. If you recommend someone, a little quote and picture of you appears on their web page. The way I look at it, this is a pretty good way to get your name out to people you don't even know. Plus by giving someone a good recommendation, it's easier to ask for one in return.
So today I am getting "out there" networking with friends and business contacts, all within the comfort of my home. And later today I will also tackle that moldy shower. I have the tools and the mildew resistant caulk. There is no point in putting it off any longer.
I need to take the same approach with finding work. I need to break it down into little steps that I can accomplish, so I don't feel like I am failing all the time. I am creating my own Honey Do list for me to follow. Job Search/Income Creation being the highest priority, but also using this time to repair things that I haven't been paying attention to, like the green ribbon of mildew growing in the corner of my shower.
Today's Honey Do List
1) Set up my Linked-In page.
2) Update my profile.
3) Reach out to former business contacts.
4) Make recommendations in order to get recommendations.
5) Re-caulk my shower.
My sister turned me on to Linked-In, a social networking sight designed for business contacts. Setting up a profile is pretty easy. Mine was up in no time. You can add as much (or as little) of your resume as you want.
It is extremely easy to import your contacts from Gmail, AOL, Outlook and other email lists. You select which email list you want to add to your contacts. Click or unclick the suggested names in the list and connection emails are automatically sent to anyone you select asking to be linked in. Once they accept, you can see their contacts and if you want to meet someone in their contact list, you ask your contact to make the introduction. There is also a feature called recommendations. If you recommend someone, a little quote and picture of you appears on their web page. The way I look at it, this is a pretty good way to get your name out to people you don't even know. Plus by giving someone a good recommendation, it's easier to ask for one in return.
So today I am getting "out there" networking with friends and business contacts, all within the comfort of my home. And later today I will also tackle that moldy shower. I have the tools and the mildew resistant caulk. There is no point in putting it off any longer.
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