When Circumstances Are Right, Do It

Make Yourself at Home

Originally uploaded by shainelee

Sometimes circumstances align themselves in such a way that you have to do something. For example, you could be the only person certified in CPR at an accident scene; or you could have just arrived at an empty easy chair in front of a big screen TV while your Dad is shopping. Things sometimes come together and all you need to do is sit down and enjoy the show. This happened to me today. Consequently, I quit my job.

I stayed home today to get updates on my father’s condition. He has had some heart problems that led him to go for an outpatient procedure. Things did not go so well, but seem to be turning around. He lives in Wisconsin and I in Texas. Taking my family up to see him is not something I can repeat in immediate succession. I took the day off so that I could make phone calls and inquiries. I did not know that my wife, Alma, also took the day off because she had to watch our baby daughter rather than work. We don’t use daycare.

Four things happened. First, I had the time to devote to finding out more about the condition of and deciding whether I should go see my father. I only have one shot at it. If I go once and he’s OK, I will not be able to repeat if his condition reverses. I have to be certain that I need to be there. Second, I got to spend time with my wife and baby daughter while the other two children were in school. That’s just nice. Seriously, it’s nice to spend time with your wife and the baby. Third, Alma and I got a lot done today. There are a lot of personal things that must be done during the week that just get put aside while we work. We were able to address them during business hours and finally get them squared away. And finally, I keep getting calls for computer services; and they keep increasing. It feels wrong to turn away business because I have a job.

On top of all this, I have other goals that involve social media and “community organizing” (thanks Barack). I could not devote enough time to these efforts between work, family, or sleep. Other things I was not doing were podcasts, videos, blog posts, and other content creation. The very things that bring me satisfaction were going unfulfilled.

My now former job was fine. There was enough technical challenge to keep me mentally occupied. I think the main drawback is the problem of fitting a square peg in a round hole. It fits if the hole is big enough; but there is a lot of empty space left over.

Things have aligned themselves in such a way that seeking my own fortune is not full of fear and trepidation. Much like my son, pictured above, it seems like the conditions are right for me to sit down and take my place in front of the big screen TV. I just need to watch my story unfold. For the very first time, I am confident I have done the right thing in leaving steady income. I believe I can accomplish both my need to create content and generate income by striking out on my own.

Learning About Radio Communications

I have been learning about radio communications lately as a result of my new job at South Texas Communications. From my point of view, radio has been the stuff of those few geniuses who venture to become ham radio operators and learn electronics, the realm of engineers. I think, for the most part, it was probably true. My impression is that, like microchips, radio has become simple, reliable, programmable, and increasingly standardized.

This mirrors the information technology field in many ways. Computers are modular, where you can swap out computer parts because they have standard connections and interfaces. Computers are simple to operate once they are set up. In a work environment where users don’t have free reign to download crap onto their computers, computers are rather reliable. Of course, computers are programmable. Software companies create all kinds of programs to meet the needs of people in all sorts of industries. And, there is a move towards open standards in the tech field.

Since radio is mirroring the tech industry in so many ways, it is only natural that radio systems begin to operate as data networks. Radio devices have IP addresses. They use RJ-45 connections. They use Cat5 cable. They use switches and routers. They use SNMP. They use NTP servers. In my short experience with this company, there is so much in radio that is familiar to me simply because there is so much crossover.

Granted, I couldn’t solder a circuit board or know the different bands at which radio communications operate. Maybe I’ll know later, but for now, it doesn’t matter. The devices either talk to each other or don’t. Radio devices are so reliable these days that they can’t be down, ever. Systems are modular and parts are quickly swapped out to restore service. I am learning quite a bit about the communications field. I am at the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more learning beneath the surface. Things may get interesting.

Is Personal Outsourcing An Option During a Slow Economy?

Recently, my thoughts have turned towards the feasibility of keeping a virtual assistant on the job, if the economy decides to slow down a bit. If you follow this blog, you may remember that I hired a Virtual Assistant on a monthly basis back in January of 2008. It has now been a few months since then. I want to share some thoughts I have about having a Virtual Personal Assistant during a slower economy.

There are a couple of scenarios that come to mind when thinking about a slowing economy. Your job may be affected by the economy, or not. If you work in government, for example, you probably do not have to worry much about losing your job. In this case, you will not be affected much by economic slowdown and your ability to afford a Virtual Personal Assistant. If, on the other hand, your employment is sensitive to economic conditions, you may have to carefully consider continuing the services of your Virtual Personal Assistant. There are some advantages to having somebody help you when your livelihood may be affected. If you do not have the money to hire an assistant, then the point is moot.

One of the first things you learn, when you go out into the job market, is that it is much better to have a job waiting for you before you quit or get fired from your current job. We have all had that situation in which we seek, or are given, the opportunity to succeed outside the company. When there is no job waiting, you may take the first job offered, especially if you are unemployed long enough. That job offer may not be the best choice for you. The problem is, how do you get or find the good jobs if you are busy working hard at your current job?

This is where a Virtual Assistant comes into play. You can have your VA searching for job opportunities for you and submitting your resume to different companies while you work. In this way, you avoid the issue of job hunting on company time. Using your work hours to look for work tends to create a self-fulfilling prophesy; your work suffers from your job hunt and you become one of the first people to get laid off. This would not be so with a Virtual Assistant; you could focus on your current job and still have a set of eyes looking for opportunities. The only time you would actively participate in the job hunt is the occasional job interview. Like with insurance, you have to have that job waiting before disaster strikes.

If disaster has struck and you have enough savings to float you for a while, it still may not hurt to have a Virtual Assistant in your employ. Another set of eyes in your job search may help you cover more ground than you doing it yourself. You could have somebody filtering through all the opportunities and making phone calls on your behalf while you are out and about interviewing. Realistically, we tend to act like we are on vacation when we are between jobs. Your VA can pick up some of your slack.

Finally, there is another way in which a slow economy would affect your decision to hire a Virtual Personal Assistant, if you are a small business owner. The cost of hiring a full-time, or even part-time employee to perform repetitive, but necessary, tasks can often be a big decision. After all, you are paying wages, taxes, and maybe even some benefits. In an uncertain economy, you may not want the risk of adding an employee to your payroll. Virtual Assistants can add a buffer to your hiring process. You can outsource a few tasks here and there when there is demand, until you reach the point where you can sustain an additional employee.

There are perhaps plenty of other ways in which outsourcing during an economic slowdown is advantageous for individuals. I have only covered outsourcing to help you find work before or after you lose your job, and the flip side where you are the small business owner. I’m curious to learn any other ways in which outsourcing can help out individuals during an economic downturn. Please drop me an email or leave a comment with your ideas.

Job Detour: Joining South Texas Communications

I have been lax in announcing another change in my employment. Recently I announced joining up with RGV Helpdesk. Well, within a week, RGV Helpdesk was in negotiations to join South Texas Communications. As a result, I had to re-interview for a job I already had. I was a bit hesitant at first because the job requires full-time involvement.

I have worked to build multiple sources of income, so going back to a single source of income causes me to hesitate. Still, the project that South Texas Communications is currently involved in made me want to be a part. Currently, we are working on a project to connect all the hospitals along the Rio Grande Valley with a private network that uses microwave bridges. Some of these network bridges will cross a street while others will cross many miles. I’ve not worked on this type of computer networking, so this is cool.

South Texas Communications has historically been a radio company. It has been in business for over 60 years. Much of their business depends on servicing city, county, and other government radio needs. They have roughly 75% of the radio market in our region. Furthermore, South Texas Communications is the leader in selling and servicing Motorola products in the RGV. Having said that, I know very little about radios. I’m a computer guy.

Why would they hire me? Well, it turns out that radio is increasingly integrating with computer networks. Carrying voice over radios is down to a science. Now, there is increasing demand for radio that can carry data. The radios are physically the same, but the infrastructure at the ends of the radios is more IT centric. That’s where RGV Helpdesk and I come in. We are there to fill the void where radio meets computer networks. Therefore, South Texas Communications will broaden the meaning of the Communications part in the name.

It was a tough decision for me to finally agree to join South Texas Communications. It is a fine company with a good track record. I think a few years back I would have jumped at the opportunity immediately. My hesitation mainly came from being comfortable where I was working for a State Representative and doing computer jobs on the side. I had steady income and access to important people throughout the state. I was ready to turn the job down. I even asked for a raise and got it. In the end, being comfortable is what changed my mind. If you are comfortable, you aren’t growing. I figure it is best to move out of my comfort zone and try to grow into something else.

In the coming month, I’ll be working on a big project that is both physically and mentally demanding. Afterwards, I’m sure that more challenges will be thrown my way. I don’t know what lies ahead exactly, details were rather vague, something about a career and opportunities. I don’t know about all that, nor care. I’m going to pick up some skills and put them to work alongside my existing skills. The key here is growth.

Joining Forces With RGV Helpdesk

Today, I joined forces with RGV Helpdesk. RGV Helpdesk and I have complementary skill sets and mindsets for achieving success in the Small and Medium Business (SMB) technology field. In order to improve my service offerings and keep up with demand, I thought it best to become a part of a team.

As many of you know, I have ventured into providing computer services in South Texas. I’ve been at it since December, technically, but have only really been actively seeking business since March. In this short time, I found myself a little bit stretched thin and experiencing the limitations of being a break-fix technician. There are certainly some benefits to my existing clients by my joining the geeks at RGV Helpdesk. Amongst those benefits are improved response times, improved resources, and more well-rounded solutions.

I look forward to working with the team. Please don’t hesitate to call me at the new business office. I look forward to serving you with a little help from my friends.

Morning Show: Is your blog your resume?

See “My Blog is a Resume?”

Today we talk about what your blog says about you. Does your blog help you or hurt you in your search for work?

Replacing Power Supply on a Pavilion 514c

I can’t believe that HP put a computer out there with a 200w power supply. The computer I’m working on seems to have a failing power supply. It doesn’t start on the first try. You have to power it up a few times before it kicks in. Other symptoms include an inability to power a USB external drive and a detected, but unpowered network card. I don’t know for certain if this is a case without using a multimeter, but it sure looks that way. The model number for the power supply is FSP200-60SPV-D, which is readily available at this time from $25 to $45 plus shipping.

Afterwards, I’ll be rinstalling Windows XP on this computer without reformatting.

My Blog is a Resume?

I was just visiting over at Darowski.com and found this post about blogs being the new resume. There is plenty of discussion through the comments on his post. I’ve read articles in which people are advised NOT to write blogs because it makes it easier to find the dirt on you. Of course, if you write embarrassing things, embarrassing things will come up when a potential employer Googles you. In Darowski’s post, he argues the opposite. Having a blog gives potential employers a way of learning more about you that a job application or resume can’t convey. Presumably, you have not written anything stupid that will tell your prospective employer that you are stupid (I passed that bridge a while back).

I find myself in a position where I know that blogging will limit my options at landing certain kinds of jobs. I know I’ll never be a super-spy at the CIA anymore. I don’t mean that I’d be blogging all kinds of secrets. Rather, I couldn’t do any covert ops. That’s one dead dream. I’m being silly. Seriously, I worry that blogging might limit my options, though I have not yet suffered such a result. I don’t rule it out. At this point, the dice are cast and there is no turning back.

Of course, there is always the possibility of what Darowski writes, which is that blogging will be an enhancement to my resume. If this is the case, I look forward to the doors that will open for me. In the meantime, I will be working on a backup plan in case I can’t land a job due to blogging. I imagine that whatever offers I get would be related to blogging, podcasting, or even marketing to some extent. My name is unique enough that it would be a waste not to brand it to some extent. With the knowledge that future employers would probably Google me, I’d rather control what comes up on the searches by creating the content.

I’m interested in hearing what you think about your blog being your resume. Feel free to post a comment.

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UPDATE

Connie Reece is also joining the discussion in her post Hiring Is a Conversation. Feel free to chime in on the conversation.

Other links:
Blog for jobs.

Evaluation of the Capitol job landscape

Evaluation of the Capitol job landscape

Originally uploaded by shainelee.

There have been some very interesting bills in committee today. I have really enjoyed listening to those that have been laid out before the committee. In my job at the committee, I have no input. Committees offices are generally apolitical. Our job, for the most part, is clerical. Due to hard deadlines and being subject to accepting bills from all members, there is no time or leeway to be political. As a committee clerk, you almost have to see bills as mere numbers. I say almost because clerks have to read the bills and write bill analyses. Otherwise, it’s a process that applies to all equally.

Depending on your preferences, if you want to work at the Capitol, you should consider your tolerance for politics. If politics is not your cup of tea, consider working in a clerical capacity. There are plenty of such jobs here early in the session. You can work for a committee, House Administration, or work on the House floor for the support functions like the Chief Clerk’s office, the Journal Clerk’s office, or some other similar clerical position. In these jobs, you are expected to be apolitical. Being overly friendly with House Members is frowned upon because these offices should not show favoritism.

If you are more politically minded, you should work directly for a House member. Keep in mind, you still need to be courteous to other offices and members. Even though you represent your rep and are an advocate for him or her, any Rep could ask to allow you to succeed OUTSIDE the House of Reps. You can favor your boss, but that does not give you license to be a jerk towards the others. Still, you can’t be blamed for playing favorites.

Keep in mind that working for a Rep does not automatically make you a part of the campaign. IF you choose to work for the campaign, it should be after work. If you are a die-hard political type, working the campaign is up your alley. In that capacity, only the boss can fire you and you are expected to highly advocate for your boss over the opposition.

So, you see, there are opportunities out there for different degrees of political interest. In my experience, I have the opportunity to see different parts of working for the House of Reps. I have also had the opportunity to talk to people in different job capacities. There are opportunities for people of most temperaments.