Motivation

I started to write a blog yesterday, but I have decided to can that idea and go with something else. You could say I have writer's block, but I also have a lot on my mind. This blog was originally started to give my views on things that take place within my life. Then, I decided to change the focus and have it center on motivation.

So what really motivates people? I could list off many people and ideas that motivate me. Others may use something else to keep them moving through this journey we call life. However, people sometimes stop and think is this really what I want? I know I have asked myself that question many times. Then, I look at my son and realize I have a responsibility to him. I also have a responsibility to myself: I cannot settle for something that I am "comfortable" with if it's not what I desire.

You could say that I have taken a wrong turn and need to find my way back to the right path. Yet, Albert Einstein said it best with the following quote: "Life is like a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you have to keep moving." You do have to keep moving, but you need to make sure you're moving in the right direction.

I feel my friend's addition to the quote is even better: "Life is like a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you have to keep moving - yes, even if you fell and bruised yourself." The issue with certain individuals, including myself, is that we give up if we have fallen off our bike. I could have gone the rest of my life without obtaining my degree and continue working in my current position, but that's not what I want.

I had to reassess my situation, and I have decided that I want my degree. I would like to be able to provide my child with the things he wants. Most of all, I want to do what I love. If it was not for my boyfriend, it may have been quite sometime before I realized I wasn't getting back on my bicycle. You could say he is another one of my motivations.

Before I leave my blog, let me leave you with one final thought. Keep moving towards your aspirations. Remember what motivates you, and do not stray from the right path. If you have to reassess, then do what is necessary. Whatever you do, do not give up on yourself or your dreams.

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly

-Langston Hughes

It is quite possible that my blog may take a different direction than originally planned. Typically, I can be the person who motivates other people to stay positive. You could say I am their own personal cheerleader. I give my advice regarding the decisions they are about to make, but I also support them no matter what route they take.

I chose this quote by Langston Hughes because of the current economy. There are many out there who have been affected: they have lost their jobs, their homes, and some have lost faith in our government. America is suppose to the be the land of prosperity; however, many have seen their dreams shatter right before their eyes.

At first, I was oblivious to the bad economy. I would go out with my friends, my family, and I would have a good time. Now, some of my friends have been affected by the economy's woes. They have lost their jobs, and are trying to start all over again.

The nation's unemployment rate in February 2009 reached 8.1% according to MSNBC. From my understanding, this is the highest it has been since the Great Depression. Hearing all this bad news keeps everyone wondering where things will go next. People's dreams, their hopes and their faith seem to keep faltering.

We must keep on dreaming and pursuing those aspirations we have always wanted. "Change" was the focus of the Obama campaign, and people must embrace change as it comes along. It's frightening to think about, but everyone must take chances. We must be flexible and willing to accept the unexpected.

Our world is constantly changing so we must stay on our toes. Take a chance and go for something that may not neccessary be your forte. I will admit that I have strayed away from my dreams, but I am working my way back to the "right path." Everyone encounters obstacles when getting back on track, but we have to believe that we will overcome them.

Turning away and conforming to your current situation is not always the best option. Think outside of the box and try something different, which is why I started this blog. I want to start writing again. Yes, I want to appease my audience, but I want to write about the topics I have a passion for. My current job does let me write, but it does not scream "me." Therefore, this blog is my change and a way to think outside the box.

So if you have been affected by this current economy, don't lose faith or forget your dreams. You too will get back on your feet, but it will not be an easy task. Do something you have never done before and don't be afraid of change. You never know what is waiting for you out there.

Bad Credit = No Job

I found this news article while searching for the original one that struck my interest. Like most news stories, it is fairly short, but it basically discusses how some employers check credit scores when hiring potential employees.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/call4action/18961542/detail.html

No employer is going to tell you that they will not hire you because of your credit score. Personally, I feel this is complete ludicrious. I understand that employers want to hire the best person for the position, but this does not necessarily mean that the person with bad credit has a poor work ethic. I will give the writer credit for saying that "some" (this is the key word) understand job searchers may have hit a "temporary glitch" compared to someone who has a long history of credit problems. Nonetheless, there is still not enough evidence to prove that someone who has poor credit could put a hinderance on the company.

One example would be the single mom. I am only using this example because I have personal experience in this area. This is a woman who has to do it all. She has to take care of her child(ren), work full-time, cook, clean, play chauffer, etc. Some single moms are fortunate to have help from their friends or family. Then, there are others who have to do it all on their own. If she cannot get a good job that can provide for her family and help with paying bills, then it is quite possible she will not have a good credit history. This could amount to even more stress because some organization will not hire her because of bad credit.

Again, I feel there is no justification regarding this issue. Hiring someone should be based on good character within the interview, the person's experience and their criminal record (this is not always something to judge quickly either, but I will save those comments for another blog). It is not a guarantee the company will have an A++ employee, but it is a chance they have to take.

Life is based on chances and decisions. Some people make bad choices, but they learn from them. This does not always go along with credit because finances are a lot tougher to manage. I personally would like a simple life, but even simple things cost an obscene amount of money. My child will always come first, before I do something strictly for myself.

I understand the economy is tough, and there are numerous people whp are looking for work. My only advice is to keep your head held high. Like Abraham Lincoln once said, "This too shall pass." Just stay focused and keep hope that hiring companies will stop being ridiculous. If you are an employer, do not pass up someone who could be a good employee because of their credit history. It is possible that this person may help advance your company.

The English Language

The English Language:

Before reading, do not get this preconceived notion that I do not like my job. I love my job, and I love writing. These are just my views in regards to interpreting the English language. It just happens that my job serves as a good example because of the encounters I have had.

I am sure many of you have heard that the English Language is difficult to learn, especially if it is not your first language. Many native English speakers will also agree that it is not easy for them either. Language itself is very subjective because everyone has interprets words, phrases, etc. differently.

My current occupation consists of writing references. This is not an exact definition of my job, so let me break it down for you.

• We have a candidate for our position.
  
• The candidate needs references to get the position or an interview with our client.
  
• He or she provides us with one to three names to contact. Once we have that information, we send them a form via fax or e-mail. Occasionally, the reference asks to complete the form by phone.
  
• After we have the completed form, we will type up the reference in a professional format.
  

Many of you may be wondering, what does she mean by professional format? Our client pays us to help them fill their open positions, whether it is for an executive or a physician. Since they are paying us money to perform this service, they expect us to carry out our due diligence. Rather than receiving a reference stating the word “Excellent” throughout the entire reference, we put it into a full sentence. A couple of examples would be, “he is an excellent communicator” or “she would perform exceptionally well as a medical director.”

Here’s the fun part about deciphering what’s being stated throughout this form: you never know what the person is trying to get across. Some people feel “good” means excellent, and others feel “good” means fair, but not poor. It varies from person to person, and the only way to understand this person is by talking to them directly. Even then, it can be difficult to put it on paper.

The audience/reader(s) could even interpret the message differently. Let me give you a scale as an example. The scale is based on 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest.

5= Excellent
4 = Above Average
3 = Average or Meets Expectations
2 = Below Average
1 = Poor

Some view “3” as not up to par, whereas others view it is a good ranking. Then, you have people who feel “4” is not meeting their expectations because they feel that everyone has to be “5s.”

My question is why? As humans, we want to be able to understand everything, but we also tend to make things more difficult on ourselves. Being an analytical person, I understand that I can misinterpret statements, feelings, etc. I have made several attempts to learn how to let this go; why should I read into things too much.

Everyone wants things to be perfect in their own way. However, the world, people, language and life will never be perfect. Why not just enjoy the English language and not over analyze what the true meaning is for every word. Each individual is always going to interpret every word differently.

A New Start

Previously, I started a blog concerning my cynical views on love and men, but that blog did not last long. It is partially due to my lack of interest in keeping it current: I only had one reader that commented, and I met a wonderful person who changed my views (he was the second person that commented on my blog). Plus, I was not very good at keeping it current since I have a son, friends and family that I would much rather complain to. :-)


I know starting this new blog will not guarantee readers, and I am still debating as whether or not I care. If I do happen to reach a good audience, then I might maintain my ramblings more often, but it all depends on my popularity. It is pretty sad that I am basing my blog on popularity since I am not big on popularity contests, but its how the cookie crumbles.

Feel free to stay awhile and read my upcoming blogs, and please let me know if there is a particular topic that you are interested in. Also, I would like to forewarn my readers that I tend to go off on a tangent from time to time. This happens a lot when there is a disruption in my thought process so I apologize if my writing is not as focused as it should be.