Financial Life

Hi there kiddies,

I am not one to push a political agenda as I feel that every person has a right to vote how they see fit.

However, there is someone that I have decided is need of a Coming-to-Jesus smack up-side the head. Mr. Emmer wants to change the laws in Minnesota to count tip income towards the minimum wage that employers have to pay.

Basically what he wants to do is decrease the amount of money an employer would have to pay you if you are a tipped employee. Meaning, if you wait tables, any tips you would make would be taken and counted as part of your minimum wage payment.

Click here to read the article yourself.

TTFN kiddies, Xochial

Muffins:

Perhaps some of you have not heard of this – I hadn’t until last night and I pride myself on being in the know!  Mpls St Paul magazine and OpenTable sponsor Restaurant Week once a year.  It is a great opportunity to try an upscale restaurant on a limited budget.  Until March 5, 2010 you can log on to the OpenTable website and select one of many participating local metro area restaurants (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) and make your reservations.  There is no fee to do this and when you head on over to your destination of choice you will be treated to a substantially reduced bill for your experience!

Savings are significant for the items listed on the prix fixe menus ranging in price from $10.00 to $30.00.  Hurry though – these offers only go through March 5th!  Along with this post I am delighted to announce the addition of a new contributor to Heres-Margie – Slick Savvy Saver!  He will be contributing regularly in the Financial Life section of Heres-Margie.  He is the one who shared this saving opportunity with me and I would like you to join me in welcoming him to The P Team!

TTFN – go get your fill of savings!

Margie

Muffins:

I had a wonderful dinner last night with a delightful gay couple.  Paul and Rick and I sat around the table discussing all kinds of things but the most thought provoking was our discussion about Gay Marriage.

In a world so filled with drama and trauma we all concluded that the issue of Gay Marriage really boils down to language.  People assign such specific meaning to certain words.  Beyond that some words are much more emotionally charged than others.  Take for instance the word puppy.   For many the mere mention of a puppy brings a warm fuzzy feeling.  However, what if as a youth you had a puppy that you loved dearly and it was killed suddenly by a car.  The mention of the word puppy would no doubt trigger something less than a warm fuzzy.  Similarly (I apologize for those who enjoy this – Moisha) Gefilte Fish may not stimulate your appetite.  Well for those that use the term marriage as one to define something pertaining to an action of the church there are bound to be emotional attachments.  For those that believe marriage is a term that governs rights of select individuals it becomes a term which represents rights and class.  For many gay people marriage represents exclusion and dissent.  I have much to say on this topic but am in a rush today to pack for a much needed trip up North.  I decided instead to share a video with you.  The first time we put this up the audio was stripped by YouTube so here we go again…  Gosh I hope I don’t get booted off of YouTube for being creative!

Finally – a version they will allow!!!

This was the second attempt to be pulled down!

This is the one that was censored!

Thanks for the wonderful chat boys!  Love ya!

Margie

Legally, you’re considered strangers, so the wisest course of action is to put everything — everything — in writing. Unmarried heterosexual couples should follow the same advice.

Get everything -- everything -- everything in writing

Surprising a spouse with a new car or an extravagant piece of jewelry is an expensive way to express affection, but at least there aren’t tax consequences.
But gay couples, technically, should file a gift tax return — gifts worth more than $12,000 come with tax consequences. So one could imagine the results if an individual decides to retitle a home or bank account, giving half to his or her domestic partner. These issues, which don’t exist for the legally wed, are just the tip of the iceberg and underscore the importance of careful financial planning, whether you’re filing your income taxes or planning for retirement and regardless of where you live. The same issues apply to unmarried heterosexual couples.
Same-sex couples need to keep in mind that even though domestic partnerships or civil unions are recognized by some states, and gay marriage is allowed in others, you remain strangers in the eyes of the federal government. In fact, one financial planner points out that there are about 1,049 federal laws that benefit those allowed to take an official trip down the aisle.
“Any rights you would want to have as a married couple, you need to re-create in a legal document,” says Todd G. Sears, a senior financial adviser who founded the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) financial-services team at Merrill Lynch & Co.
That will require a lot of paper. Some of the documents needed and the terminology will vary from state to state, but here’s a basic list that same-sex partners should have:

Wills and/or revocable living trusts and pour-over wills: Without a will or revocable trust, you risk having your assets pass to family members instead of your partner. It also allows you to name a guardian for minor children. A revocable living trust — in which assets are titled to the trust and your trustee distributes your assets per your wishes after your death — is considered more difficult to contest. A living trust also keeps your affairs private because it avoids probate, unlike a will, which becomes part of the public record. A living trust should be used with a pour-over will , which will cause any assets left out to “pour over” into the trust after you die.

Advance health-care directive; health-care-authorization proxy; durable power of attorney for health care: Generally speaking, these documents appoint an agent — your partner — to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated. They also will allow visitation, which can be denied unless you’re a spouse or family member. Sears also recommends giving your partner Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act authorization, a document that will authorize your insurer to release medical information to your partner.
Durable power of attorney for finances: This document designates an agent, whether it’s your partner or an adviser who will keep your partner’s interests in mind, to make financial decisions if you’re incapacitated, says Philip J. Hoskins, an attorney in Los Angeles.
Domestic partner agreement: Much like a prenuptial agreement for married couples, this document — also called a living-together or property-sharing agreement — spells out who gets what in the event of a split or death. “There is no such thing as gay alimony,” says Merrill’s Sears.
Parenting agreements: Same-sex couples should visit with an attorney if they have or are planning to have children, because every situation is different. Depending on your circumstances and where you live, you might consider joint-custody agreements or second-parent adoption. If you’re thinking of adopting internationally, one planner says to wait to document your partnership (such as getting married in Massachusetts) because attitudes in other countries toward gay unions may impede the process.
Beneficiaries: Be sure to review your beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, stock options, life insurance and any other assets.
Domestic-partner registration: In certain states, couples can register as domestic partners and will be afforded state spousal rights, such as the right to inherit without a will. But even if you can and do register, experts advise documenting everything, no matter what your status.
“Whatever you do, put it (all) in writing, even if you register as domestic partners,” attorney Hoskins says. “Don’t leave things to chance. Otherwise, you are stuck with what the state tells you you’re stuck with.”

Muffins:

I am sure I have heard of this handy little tool before and forgotten but now that I am reminded of it I want to share!  Last night I was attending to battery issues and a friend of mine brought over a tool that looked more like a toy (or R2D2) than anything.

It was a power center that was able to provide a vivid light, a jump start to your vehicle (without being plugged in or the assistance of a second vehicle), air to your tires and even an outlet for charging other appliances.  WOW!

I was enthralled and amazed – so much so I decided to share it with you.  Look at the photos and then start shopping.  This is one tool you will not wish to be without now that you know about it.  Beyond the obvious benefits, I would like to add that you could just be the most popular gal on the block with a power tool many guys would drool over.

Love& Peace,

Margie

Now that you’ve either landed the job or started your own business you need to make the most of it. Even if you’ve been in the same job a long time and still love it, there is no time like the present to make sure you are maximizing your pay, benefits, and time off.

Whether you are an entrepreneur by trade or not, you need to take an entrepreneurial maximizing mindset if you want to make the most of your career. I’ve said this many times before but it bears repeating: even if you work for an employer, you are the CEO of You, Inc. and are the primary person responsible for your success. With this comes the responsibility of:

* investing in your personal and professional growth (education and more)
* staying current in your field or acquiring skills and training for a new field
* getting paid what you’re worth
* securing sufficient time off for personal pursuits and vacations
* funding your retirement
* knowing and capitalizing on benefits

The nice thing about this list is it is a good road map to follow whether you work for someone else or are flying solo. While the steps to implement may look different, the principles remain the same. Let’s take a high level look at each of these areas.

Investing in YOU

There is no better investment you can make than your own personal development. While there are no real hard and fast ROI figures for personal and professional development in general, it is a proven fact that incomes rise as the level of completed education rises. Dramatically, the salary difference between someone with an Associates Degree compared to someone with a Bachelor’s Degree was 64.9% according to 2003 Census Data. And this is just an example of formal education.

Let’s face it, lifetime learners are bound to earn more over time simply because their skill sets and talents are always evolving. In today’s environment you need to be able to learn and turn on a dime in order to adapt to changing technologies and environments. And, if you think hard skills are the only “real” worthwhile pursuits, consider the fact that soft skills are even more important to your opportunities for success. If you can’t communicate, relate, and empathize with the people you work for and with (that includes clients and customers too) you will go nowhere fast. At the very least you’ll find yourself in a dead end street trying to hang on. Ask any technology professional who only wanted to know how to code (let’s say COBOL) and now sees his/her job being performed overseas. If you don’t have other marketable skills and strong people skills you will quickly find yourself in the ranks of the minimum wage worker.

Investing in you also applies to the fun stuff. Learning a hobby or doing deep personal work falls into the same category of success (and happiness) enhancers. Things you learn about yourself while “off the job” can be as beneficial or even more so to your future than the more conventional educational paths, so don’t discount their true value.

Staying Current

Staying current is a combination of investing in you and simply being aware. Stay abreast of trends and developments in your chosen profession. Read, read, read, and then read some more – both online and offline. Interact with other people who do what you do. Volunteer for projects that excite you even if they have nothing to do with your current job. You never know where your next connection or opportunity may come from. My entire grant/development writing career came about as a result of me complaining about a piece of software on a technical forum. The editor asked me to write some influential language and that he’d pay me. That was 14 years and many grants ago. In addition, this resume item of “successful grant/development writer” helped me stand out amidst many candidates when I was applying for development jobs years ago. My point is to explore things that interest you and don’t be afraid to draw attention to these unique attributes in resumes, cover letters, and marketing materials. It helps answer the “why should I hire you?” question from both employers and potential clients.

Getting Paid What You’re Worth

Goodness knows I could write books about this one. Bottom line is that you deserve to be paid what you are worth and you need to negotiate and create the earnings you desire. It may look like changing jobs, negotiating with your current employer, raising your fees, starting a side business, or creating passive income streams. There is more than one way to create the flow of money into your life.

If you are working for an employer, you need to know what they going rates are for the type of job you do. Use one or more of the following salary sites to help you do that: Salary.com, Salary Expert, and Pay Scale. If you’re not making what your peers are based on experience and geography, it is time to do some negotiating. Even if you are earning a comparable salary, if you bring great results to your organization there’s no reason why you can’t earn more than the average. If you’re not happy with the pay (and other aspects of your job since pay isn’t everything), changing jobs can also be financially lucrative. Just be sure you aren’t simply chasing money because that is a recipe for unhappiness.

If you own a business take a look at how you charge for your products and services. Value based fee setting is the way to go because competing on price is a sure way for more stress and money struggles. You are not Wal-Mart, nor should you try to be. Instead charge for the value of what you offer — what is solving the customer’s problem worth to them? Most importantly, don’t put yourself on sale.

Two other great ways to earn more money is to start a side business while you are employed and to leverage passive income streams. Starting a side business is pretty self-explanatory, but what do I mean by passive income stream? I mean any way you can earn money with either minimal effort or an initial investment of time up front that then yields dividends without any additional time investment (think- creating an information product and selling it online). If you have expertise in an area, that information is valuable to someone else, so consider getting paid for that expertise!

Time Off

If you’re working for someone else, the more time off you get paid for, the better off you are. I have always felt that time is far more valuable than money and would go to the mat for vacation and personal time. You can always make more money, but you cannot create more time. We all get the same amount – 24 hours in a day. And, our lives are defined by how we spend our time and who we are not how much money we make. Always negotiate for time and flexibility (remote work, flexible hours, etc.). Remember that your bargaining power is greater before you actually accept a job. When I accepted a position at a Fortune 100 company, I made the mistake of not negotiating strongly enough for an additional week of vacation that I deserved based on the company’s policies and my work experience. I backed away after their first “no”. I regretted it for two years.

If you own your own business you must factor in ample time off into your time and money projections. What’s the point of being your own boss if you become a bigger jerk than the one you left at the office? While you will work hard flying solo, you need to relax just as tenaciously. Factor it into your fee setting and price your work accordingly so you can and do take “paid” vacations. Believe me, when you step away from working so hard in the business, (paradoxically) more business will flow to you. It is part of the law of attraction and self-care is a vital piece of that.

Funding Retirement

As I see it retirement is different than it is portrayed by so many employees. To me sacrificing my life in the hope of getting to “really live” for just a few years late into my life is not what it’s all about. Instead, retirement is about planning for your financial future by making the most of the present while socking money away for future needs when you might not want or be able to work or earn as much. The new retirement is more about shifting priorities and trying new things rather than sitting on the couch or playing golf all day. By the time those of us in our 30’s reach retirement age (whatever the hell that will mean in official government speak by then – 80?!?) it will be a whole new ballgame. You cannot rely on anyone or anything (the government, employers, inheritances) to provide for you. You need to create it for yourself.

That being said, I don’t believe you should sacrifice enjoying life now for some nebulous long term financial goal. Be smart, save for the future, and maximize your investments; then let go. Whether you are employed or work for yourself you need to take advantage of financial vehicles like tax advantaged accounts (401K’s, 503B’s,IRA’s, SERP’s, etc.) as early as possible and be disciplined about consistently saving. Never miss out on a company match (why kiss away free money?) and don’t treat your retirement savings as a piggy bank because withdrawals can be penalty ridden and more costly in the long run than you know.

Maximizing Benefits

Remember that big fat book your employer handed you on your first day on the job that you threw in a drawer or that drab benefits website that you never visited? Well, now is the time to look at the details because most companies allow you to make new benefit selections annually or after a “life changing” event. Of course as GLBT folks we tend to have less “life changing events” according to the law because of our inability to marry, but the strategies remain the same regardless and if your company offers domestic partner benefits you may be entitled to “almost” the same benefits as your married counterparts.

I already talked about the importance of getting the full company match on your retirement contributions, but your company might offer benefits like medical spending accounts or dependent care accounts which you shouldn’t miss out on. Both of these accounts are tax advantaged ways to pay for necessary expenses related to health care and dependent care. What happens is you contribute money pre-tax to the accounts and then get that money back when you submit receipts for qualified expenses. The only catch is usually you can’t carry over money in the accounts from one year to the next so you need to do a good estimate of your expected expenses or you could lose money. Other benefits such as life insurance, disability insurance, and other company sponsored goodies are often available as well. The most important thing is that you know what is offered, understand the details, and make it work for you to the maximum benefit possible.

If you are self-employed you are in the driver’s seat for selecting and paying for your benefits. That’s the good and bad news. In most cases you will need to augment your health and other insurance with “spending accounts” to cover expenses not covered in high deductible or limited coverage policies. In addition, you need to tend to other details that are often automatically handled by an employer like disability, life insurance, estimated tax payments, and more. Find yourself a good small business advisor and related service professionals to help guide you through. Organizations like the National Association of Self-Employed (NASE) are great as well as alumni associations and professional business groups. Ask trusted colleagues who are successful over the long haul for recommendations as well. As with anything, do your due diligence because common practice is not always the best practice.

So, make the most of it! And next time I’ll talk about what to do when the current status quo just isn’t lighting your fire anymore.

Here is the show from a couple of days ago.  I hope you enjoy!

Love, Margie

Hello Muffins:

Well last night Xochial, Moisha, Cowboy Stevie and I all gathered round the table to chat for a bit about the upcoming Pride activities we are each involved with.  We recorded a new show that I am hopeful will go “live” a little later this evening on the podcast. 

I am experiencing technical difficulties with my host and am waiting for them to get back to me. 

In the meantime, why not start sending me the acitivites you will be engaging in over Pride.  Let me know the parties, the shows, the things you are planning and hosting.  Let’s get the word out. 

Send your info to mrspederson@gmail.com

Oh, and remember, tomorrow is another day of Garage Saling over at 3639 39th ave. south to benefit TheColu.mn .

Until the show airs I will give you something to look at:

Moisha – the early years!!

You really are something dear!

P

Hello Muffins:

We’ve had a lot of activity this past week and so I am simply going to post a few links to help capture it all.

Sunday night we had our Oscar night celebration and Friends Dining with Friends event to benefit Clare Housing.  You can read all about it on Meefers.com.

On Monday my dear friend Xochial Crash and I did a podcast about the night before and wondered where Cee Cee Russell and Camille Collins wandered off to.

On Wednesday another show went up on the podcast featuring Kate Nelson, Public Policy Coordinator for the Minnesota AIDS Project.

 Today I planned the next video which will be a collaboration between Mrs. Pederson’s production company (See You Next Tuesday Productions) and The Smitten Kitten.  You won’t want to miss it as I am sure it will delight!

Quite a productive week I’d say.  Hope yours was as well!

In the words of Xochial…

Ta Ta For Now (TTFN)

Margie

In Part I of “Landing the Job” I talked about researching possible employers, preparing your resume, and finding and applying for potential positions. This time I’ll cover what happens once you get that call you’ve been hoping for: interviewing, receiving the offer/rejection, and negotiating.

As I said before, the resume’s sole purpose is to get you an interview. The interview is where you get to sell the potential employer on the benefits to them if they hire you. It is also your chance to get into their environment, have a look for yourself, and interview them.

Preparing for the interview phase is crucial. The devil is in the details. You need to be concerned about a myriad of things once you set the date and time of your interview:

• How do I get there (directions and travel)?
• What do I wear?
• What do I need to bring?
• What will be expected of me? (number of interviews, nature of the interview, any testing involved, etc.)
• How do I answer the questions they ask me?
• What questions should I ask them?
• What should I be looking for as I observe the environment and the people?
• How do I demonstrate knowledge of this potential employer?
• What do I do after the interview to follow up?

Now that I’ve probably thrown you into overwhelm, let me reassure you that the single most important thing you need to do in an interview is to be yourself (albeit a professional version of yourself and not the hanging out on a Friday night version, but authentically and genuinely YOU nonetheless). Why is that? Well, as someone who has tried to fake her way through an interview being what I thought they expected of me I can tell you the outcome of such fakery will be one of two things:

1) They see right through it and choose not to pursue you any further (which is a godsend oftentimes).

or

2) You land the job and suffer mercilessly like a drag queen in pumps 3 sizes too small.
Either way it’s a waste of time and energy.

Let me address each of these questions at least briefly.

How do I get there (directions and travel)?

Interviews are nerve wracking. Don’t add to your stress by winging it. Get clear on the directions, any detours, and other travel details. Most importantly, leave yourself extra time. It’s better to sit in your car with a magazine for 30 minutes than sweat it out on the freeway.

What do I wear?

Consider the type of position and dress code of the people in it. Dress as they dress plus a notch above. So, for instance, if it is business casual, still wear a suit to interview. And, wear something that flatters you and is unique to your style, but remember that while you want to be authentic, you don’t want to overdo it on the first impression.

What do I need to bring?

At a minimum, bring the same number of copies of your resume (printed so they look professional on high grade paper – we may live in a virtual society but interviews are still high-touch for the most part) to equal the number of people you are meeting. Add a few extras for good measure. Depending on the type of job you’re seeking you may need to bring additional items (for example: artists usually have a portfolio of their work with them). Don’t be a packrat, but demonstrate professionalism and preparedness.

What will be expected of me? (number of interviews, nature of the interview, any testing involved, etc.)

Find out as much as possible beforehand. Who are you meeting? How many different people are you meeting? How long will the meetings last? Are there any sorts of aptitude or other testing required?

How do I answer the questions they ask me?

Honestly, to the point, and in a way that demonstrates your value as an employee. You will be evaluated on what you say, how you say it, and how you can relate it to the job you’re applying for. There are some great resources on the web around acing the interview. Here’s a few to get you started: “Successful Interviews” and “A Guide to Successful Interviewing”.

Again, this interviewing is an area where it might pay to hire a career counselor, coach, or trusted friend known to be skilled in the interview process. Role-playing is great. I had a colleague who helped me prepare for an interview a few years back who was great. She asked me tough questions and really coached me on how to answer them in a way that is authentic and leaves a positive impression on the interviewer.

Different questions are aimed to measure different abilities of the prospective employee. Remember that it is expensive for a company to recruit and hire someone. And, any employer worth their mettle knows that it is better to hire the right person and train the skills later than it is to hire someone skilled in one specific thing that can’t function behaviorally. The exception to this might be something like brain surgeon, but even then patient and colleague interactions are almost as important.

To get prepared to answer questions you need to be ready for both the “Common Interview Questions” and the “Weird and Toughest Questions”.

Once you’ve thoroughly prepared, let it go. This isn’t a quiz nor will you receive a grade in the end. Do your best and keep the essence and intent of what is being asked (and what the interview wants to REALLY know) and answer appropriately.

What questions should I ask them?

You want to be prepared with a few questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the company as well as a few that will help you uncover more about the company culture and the hiring manager’s personal style.

One thing I would add to their advice is to ask some questions about the person interviewing you (if they are someone you will either work for or with). For example: tell me what you find most challenging and most rewarding about doing this work? What do you like most/least about this department/company/project? While people will only answer so honestly during an interview, it does give you some sense of what is on their minds. And, if you interview with multiple people you can detect trends.

What should I be looking for as I observe the environment and the people?

You can learn a lot about what is written between the lines by watching others. What are people wearing? Do they look harried or calm? Are they upbeat or somber? Do they look energetic or like they could fall over tomorrow from lack of sleep? What are they wearing? What does the work environment look like? Do people say hello and act friendly? Consider yourself like a private detective trying to solve a crime, be very observant.

How do I demonstrate knowledge of this potential employer?

While you want to demonstrate that you know something about the company and their industry, you don’t want to go overboard. Don’t stump the interviewer. I did that once by asking about something from a recent news article and how that was going to impact his department. He was speechless. I’m still not sure whether that was a positive or negative.

To prepare, do a little reading. Check out the company’s website, do a Google search to find out recent news, and read the local paper. Don’t go wild, but do enough to have a sense of what is going on at the company and what some of its challenges are.

What do I do after the interview to follow up?

First of all, thank you cards are a must. Thank them for your time, reiterate your interest in the position, and restate something that you discussed. You should have asked them what their timing was for decision-making in the interview so you should have a sense of what the next steps are and when they will happen. Keep in mind that oftentimes those timelines slip, so don’t take them too literally. Yet, feel free to follow up with a phone call if you haven’t heard anything. I know I had great success at a previous job when I called to follow up. It gave me a chance to reiterate why I was the right person for the job and it demonstrated my proactive nature.

Receiving the Offer or Rejection

If you receive a rejection (these days sometimes you never hear another word), don’t take it personally. Unless you are experiencing a pattern of seemingly positive interviews followed by a rejection, it is best to just let it go and move on. If you are experiencing a trend, it is time to definitely hire a career professional to help you deconstruct what is going on. It could be something as minor as how you answer certain questions that are holding you back. Or, it could be that you’re marching down the entirely wrong career path and the world is trying to save you heartache. Either way, it helps to work with a coach or counselor to get to the root of the issue.

If you receive an offer — congratulations! You stood out from the crowd! You’re not home free, yet though because now it is time to talk details. All those conversations that you couldn’t have before — about benefits, vacation, salary, etc. are now priority one.

First things first – express your gratitude at receiving this opportunity and express how excited you are to come and work there. Then, gather all the details you possibly can about the position and ask for a chance to consider them in detail, letting them know you’ll do it quickly and get back to them with any questions. Set a date and expectations to touch base again but realize that it pays to sleep on all major decisions.

This is where negotiating comes in.

Negotiating

Unless everything is perfect, more exciting than you could ever imagine, with the offer, you will likely find yourself negotiating. Even if it is a fair offer, negotiating is important to maximize your end of the bargain.

When I was younger I wasn’t one comfortable with negotiating. In fact, the last job I accepted, I was unhappy with the vacation package. It was a step down for me and I was NOT happy. I asked some questions, but ultimately was told “no” with some nebulous excuse. I was advised by a friend to accept the job and then negotiate later once I was in the door. WRONG ANSWER. While you can be successful negotiating once you’re in the door, my vote is to do it up front. Take the time to have meaningful negotiations before you seal the deal. If it seems more appropriate to prove yourself for a few months first, that is fine – set an agreement (in writing) up front that you will reconvene in 3 or 6 months to reopen the discussion. I encourage you to stay strong & get the courage to ask for what you want.

That being said don’t be an ass. If you come to the table being inflexible or uncharacteristically demanding it ends up being a lose-lose for everyone. Remember you always have the power to say “no” to the job offer if you carefully consider the details and determine that it isn’t the right fit for you.

The book “Getting to Yes” is a great guide to win-win negotiating. I listened to the audio book quite a while ago. The point of the book is that negotiating isn’t a battle. It is a conversation in which both parties benefit. If you approach the conversation with the attitude of how can we all benefit, it not only becomes much more productive but also more likely that everyone walks away with what they want.

What if you’d rather eat snails that work for someone else? Stay tuned because in the next part in this series I am going to talk about starting your own business. There is more than one way to earn a living.

Last night , as Xochial mentioned in her earlier post, was the year end holiday celebration of the P Team. 

 We celebrated at (as you might imagine) The Independent in Uptown Minneapolis. 

 I believe all who attended had a good time and I left feeling energized as well as accomplished.  It is always fun to gather with those who spurn your creativity and bring additional talent and skills to your work team.  In March 2008 we created Heres-Margie.com and since that time we’ve been able to go live in May of 2008, build out P’s Sexy Sinema in June of that same year and begin our own podcasting as of August 2008.  The very talented team of contributors (the P Team) who strive to provide a site that is content rich with something for almost anyone over the age of 18, partied together and enjoyed the fruits of our success in what is not yet even a full year of operating.

A very warm and special thanks to the P Team and guests who were at the soiree to help celebrate the first year of amazing accomplishment.  Without each of you we would not still be around.  Because of you – I am looking forward to continuing the development of Heres-Margie and to bringing our readers and listeners more fun, education and community-building opportunities in the year ahead. 

A very special thanks to Sam and the Indy for helping me put on such a fantastic party.

I look forward to spending more time with each of you soon.

Love & Peace

Margie

Hey there kiddies,

I was just sitting here looking over the site and I happened to peak out my garden level window and noticed that there was still a bit of daylight outside.

I wish I would have been able to get out a bit today but I am still trying to recover from last night’s P Team Holiday Party. It was fun and good times. I do hope that all who were in attendance had a good time. I know I did.

I met a few people that I did not know before the event, but I hope to get to know them better, they were such nice people.

I do hope that Margie is able to get her pix in order and is able to post a few here in the next few days for you all to see.

But, back to my reason for this post, I am so glad that we are now on the upward climb to more daylight. I, for one, dread the downward slide in the late summer and fall to longer nights. I am a light-loving girl and while my friends would probably disagree, I do thrive on daylight. The energy that comes from the sun puts me in a better mood and I just feel a whole lot better after spending even a small amount of time in the sunlight. It must be sunny for this to work on me. Gray and gloomy will put me in an even fouler mood if it has been so for more than a day or two.

Oh well, it is the nature of living in Minnesota I guess.

So, I am off in search of nourishment, after last night’s fun I need to replenish my energy.

TTFN, Xochial

Now that you’re clear about what type of career you want (Career & Money – Skill vs Passion), it’s time to get started. In this article I’m going to talk about strategies and resources for landing a job working for someone else. Whether the employer you are seeking is large or small, the overall process is similar. (Note: for the purpose of this article I am going to call all employers “companies”, but the same process can be adapted to working in academia, non-profits, etc.)
As I see it, once you’re clear on what you want, the process breaks down as follows:
1) Research possible employers
2) Prepare your resume
3) Find and apply for potential positions
4) Interview
5) Receive offer/rejection
6) Negotiate
Wrapped around the entire cycle is the process of networking and connecting with others whether online or offline.
I’m not about to tackle this job search process in great detail. People have written volumes on each of these topics. What I will do, however is bring to your attention key points and resources that, based on my experience and research are critical to your success.
The all-time job resource is the book “What Color is Your Parachute” by Richard Nelson Bolles. For years I resisted buying this book, but I must say that it takes a pretty holistic and realistic approach to job hunting. It is well worth your time. It covers all the steps in the job search process and is the perfect companion to any job hunt or career change.
Research Possible Employers
Where might you want to work and why? The first step is to get an idea of what employers exist in your geographical location. If you’re willing to relocate for the right position, consider what area(s) you are willing to relocate to and research those locales as well. While it’s not worth the time to become an expert on every company in your geography, it does pay to put your finger on the pulse of what companies are nearby and the details about those companies. How large/small are they? Where are they located? How many employees work at that location? What industries are prevalent in your area?
Depending on the nature of what you’re looking for, you will either limit your search to a subset of the local companies or expand your search far and wide. For instance, if you know you only want to work in one or two industries, you can limit your search right there. If, however, you know you want a position doing “XYZ” then the type of company doesn’t matter, you can expand your search as you see fit.
While I am one for relying on the Internet for just about everything, this is one of those times that it pays to tap the local library. There is a wealth of information in your local library as well as your county’s information office. You can find information on publicly traded companies in publications like Moody’s or Dun & Bradstreet. The local publications geared toward people moving to the area are a goldmine of information. There is typically a section on the area’s major employers as well as local businesses. This information is great for those job hunting.
As I said earlier, the idea of networking wraps around the whole process. When it comes to research, talk to people. Talk to friends, neighbors, acquaintances, people in the store, recruiters, people at social and business networking meetings, you name it. Not only can you find out insider information on what it is like to work at different companies but you also can find great contacts and job leads. Use this information to pursue informational interviews with people who work where you want to work so you can learn more about the specific jobs and companies that interest you.
I can’t stress enough the power of the informational interview. An informational interview is a short appointment with someone who either works at a company or in a profession you are interested in. You basically sit down with the person for no more than 30 minutes and interview them about their job. Most people will happily share information with you. The key is to remain professional, flexible, courteous, and mindful of taking up as little of their time as possible. If someone declines to have an informational interview with you simply thank them, don’t take it personally, and move on.
Prepare Your Resume
The resume is synonymous with the job hunt. However, it is not the be-all end-all of the process. It is simply a tool that, if done well, will get you an interview. Rarely will a resume get you a job. Think of it as a page or two of paper meant to entice someone to learn more about you (that is, invite you to interview for the job).
My biggest lessons learned with resumes are 1) Do your homework on what works and what doesn’t and 2) Don’t agonize over it forever; Create a working version and move forward with it. You can always tweak it later.
The most important points to remember when building your resume are that:
·    Details matter (no typos, misspellings, etc.)
·    Formatting is important
·    Brevity is rewarded
·    Focus on the benefits to the company when writing your accomplishments (i.e., no one cares that you are a genius Java programmer – what did the project you work on do for the company/customer in terms of saving time/money, creating efficiencies, or increasing revenue?)
Resume writers and consultants are like bunny rabbits. They are everywhere and seem to multiply everyday. However, I do recommend finding someone in the know about the current job market and resume practices to help you. As with hiring any professional, do your due diligence. If you are a do it yourself type, sites like Pongo Resume or The Resume Builder could do the trick. Otherwise, check out resources like Career Journal or About.com to educate yourself. One blog I am particularly fond of is Blue Sky Resumes which offers a lot of great tips and resources.
Once you have a resume, remember to keep it up to date. As someone who has ignored it for years and then suddenly needed one, I can tell you it pays to update it at least yearly. Then, you are always ready to roll if the need arises.
Find and Apply for Potential Positions
Once you have an idea of where you’d like to work and you have a resume to throw your hat in the ring, it is time to find a ring in which to throw it! As I mentioned earlier, networking is the #1 way to find out about job opportunities. Not only do you sometimes get the inside information, but you also have a connection on the inside that can offer up a good word for you. It is less risky for a company to hire someone who comes recommended to them than it is to hire blindly. That is why many companies offer a referral bonus for employees who refer new people.
In the old days, the newspaper classifieds were the #1 thing to review. While there are still some great job sections in the papers, the online world has become the new wild west of job openings. There are millions of sites with job listings. Individual companies post their career opportunities as do industry-specific job sites. Some of the bigger sites are Monster and Yahoo Jobs. The Riley Guide offers a long list of job directories on their site. You may also want to consider things like Career Fairs or Trade Shows and working with a recruiter.
The most important thing to remember is that recruiters work for the companies that hired them, not you. Much like a seller broker in real estate is more interested in selling the property than helping out the buyer, the same holds true for recruiters. It is just one technique to use within your overall job search. And, just like buying a house, don’t let anyone pressure you into tight deadlines to make decisions. You need to feel right about how any position you take.
If you’re looking for LGBT specific or LGBT friendly jobs, consider exploring sites like GayJob.biz, the NALGBTCC Jobs Board, and the HRC Workplace Links.
If this seems a bit overwhelming, that is because it is! Searching for a job can feel like a full time job (and if you’re unemployed plan on structuring your search like a job with set hours and tasks). Yet, due diligence and consistent action is what yields results. In Part II of “Landing the Job” I will cover the next 3 steps in the process: interviewing, receiving the offer/rejection, and negotiating.

As I’ve been thinking about Career & Money Part 4 – Discover Your Ideal Career I decided I needed to share a bit of an addendum to the article. While I helped you to hone in on values, I thought a short distinction around skills versus passions would be worthwhile.
The way the process works for most people is that they discover they have a skill and then they build their career around it. For instance, you find that you’re very good at math and numbers in high school. You’re not really sure what you’re passionate about, but you know you excel with this skill. So, you find yourself in college and are faced with having to declare a major course of study. Again, you’re still not sure what options are REALLY out there and your passions are not yet clear. After all, even if you procrastinate, you’re still forced to declare a major by the time you’re in your late teens or early 20’s. You know you’ve always been good at math and it seems like an employable skill, so you opt for a numbers based degree (math, accounting, finance, engineering, etc.). In this example you are SKILLED at math.
Take another example. You are absolutely passionate about science. You are cuckoo for biology. All your spare time is spent doing science type things. You may or may not be actually skilled in science, but it makes your heart beat faster. In this example you are PASSIONATE about science.
The difference between skills and passion is often ignored until you find yourself in a job you could be good at but are totally bored to tears with and you wonder what happened to passion. Or, you absolutely love what you do but either aren’t very talented at it or find you can’t earn the living you desire doing it.
The key is looking at skills and passion as an equation. Consider the following chart:

In an ideal career, you find yourself in Quadrant 1 where you’re not only passionate about what you do, you’re damn good at it. This is where you have the most potential for success because your heart AND your talent is at its peak.
Many people find themselves in Quadrant 3 where you’re skilled at something, but your heart couldn’t be less interested. You find yourself living a daily grind filled with frustration or boredom. While you may experience some success in this scenario, you will always be held back by your lack of interest and passion. The only real exception to this is if you consciously choose to have just a “job” (Career & Money Part 2) in this Quadrant so you can fuel your passions elsewhere.
In Quadrant 2 you find yourself passionate about what you’re doing, but not particularly skilled at it. Again, you may have some success because you are inspired, hard working, and really engaged. However, your lack of skill holds you back. If you can improve your skills (which may or may not be possible) you could start the movement toward the Quadrant 1 ideal. Or, you may find at some point that the activity makes a great part-time endeavor or hobby, but your lack of skill leaves you at a dead end.
Quadrant 4 is the career from hell. You not only don’t care one bit about what you’re doing, you’re not good at it either. It results in utter misery and sets you up for failure. Inevitably your attitude and/or incompetence will get the best of you.
Ask yourself the following questions:
·    If you are currently in a career, what quadrant does it fall in?
·    Where do you want to be in terms of your career?
·    What adjustments might you need to make to shift into the quadrant you most desire?
As promised, Part 5 will start to delve into how to land the best job for you.

In Part 3 I talked about how to discover your values and gauge the type of money you’ll need to earn for the lifestyle you desire. In this installment of the Career & Money series I want to talk about finding the right fit and the myriad of ways you can earn money.

Now that you’ve discovered your values you should be starting to get a sense of what is important to you in terms of your life plan and your career plan. As I’ve shared before, it is crucial to have these be in alignment.

When it comes to finding the right fit for your career you need to not only take into account what your values are but also your preferences. This is where knowing yourself pays dividends. You learn at the core who you are, what you want, and what you truly do not want from your days on the planet. This relates to your work life in a number of ways. Ask yourself this:   “If I am to feel alive and thrive in my career, how would I answer the following questions?”

• Do I want to work for someone else or for myself?

• What type of employer would I like to work for? (For profit, non-profit, academic, government, start-up, etc.)

• How large or small of a company would I like to work for?

• Am I a strong, self-directed person or do I like a lot of direction?

• Do I love to lead or prefer to follow?

• What type of work culture do I enjoy? (Conservative, cutting edge, open, hip, old school) How do people treat one another and how well do they walk their talk?

• How supportive is my employer of my sexual orientation? Do they have policies in place?

• What type of physical environment do I work best in? (Albeit, I’ve yet to find a soul who loves a cubicle, there are many who feel right at home there.)

• What skills and talents do you want to use in your job? ie: Do you prefer mental or physical work? Like working with your hands or on a computer? Love to interact with people or prefer solitude? Teams or independent projects?

• What industry might I want to work in? (Retail, electronics, pharmaceuticals, health care, software, etc.)

As you answer these questions keep on writing about what your ideal situation looks like. Tap into the feelings behind why you answer the way you do. How strongly do you feel about your answers? For instance, you might absolutely feel 100% strongly that you want to work with people yet the industry you work in doesn’t matter quite as much. Take note of this so you can dissect your answers to arrive at a list of attributes for the career you most desire. On this list consider having 3 categories:

• “Must Have’s” -The non-negotiable attributes

• “Like-to-have’s” - Items that you are willing to negotiate or at least have
  intermittently throughout your career

• “Neutral” - You really have no preference

As you make your list don’t shortchange, second guess yourself, or start making compromises. I can tell you now that your mind will try to rationalize your heart’s wishes to fit some preconceived belief you have about how things “have to be” or how “reality” works.  As someone who has spent much of his adult life feeling like a square peg being hammered into a round hole I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to honor the answers your insides are telling you in this exercise. If you try to fake it you will make your life a living hell. That doesn’t mean you won’t ever work in a less than ideal career but you need to be conscious of what your real needs, values, and preferences are if you want to have success on your own terms and design a life you love over the long haul. Think I am being overly dramatic?

Consider this recent article by Pam Slim over at Escape From Cubicle Nation called “I have a “great job,” lots of money, responsibility and respect. Why aren’t I happy?” As I read this I almost wondered if Pam were writing about me.  I remember having the same epiphany – “What a relief! Now I know why my day jobs have never been a fit and it’s not because there’s something wrong with me”. I likend the wrong job to being forced to wear the wrong sized shoes. For instance if you wear a comfy size 8 shoe and then try to spend your life wearing only size 6 ultra-narrow stiff pumps. It’s painful and ugly. I now go on to ask the million dollar question:

So why in the world do we try to jam our foot into an unattractive, uncomfortable shoe, otherwise known as our day job?

Because our social self (shaped by family, educational institutions, the media, religion) is so strong that we believe that our “great job at an investment bank where I have an outstanding reputation, many years experience and an amazing salary” should make us happy. Even if we know that it is in direct contrast to the picture of our ideal life!

Indeed! We try to rationalize our way into a belief that we “should” be happy because, after all, look how wonderful things appear on the outside. To me it is like the futile silly statements we hear as a kid “eat your peas because people in the third world are starving”. Did that statement ever make you feel better about peas? Did it help even a single soul in the third world feel satiated? I don’t think so. The same holds true for careers that you ‘think’ should be a fit but yet feel like hell.

The Ways to Make Money are Endless

We often get fooled into thinking that there is only one way to earn a living. At least for me, having had only role models of people who worked hard for others and traded time for money, it took me until just a few years ago to realize there really are other ways to earn a living. While I won’t fool you, you still need to invest time, expertise, and hard work, it shouldn’t feel like drudgery. Even if you decided back in Part 2 of this series that you didn’t want a career and only wanted a job, you still shouldn’t settle for being unhappy ever day.

If you Google the phrase “ways to make money” you get over 45 Million results. While I bet a lot of them are get rich quick scams, my guess is there are still millions of ways you can earn a living. In fact, so many people now desire to do a variety of careers all at once; the term portfolio career was born. A portfolio career is one in which you work at multiple careers at the same time (all part-time) and they combine to make one full-time career (and revenue stream). Just off the top of my head I can think of the following ways to earn money:

• Work full-time or part-time for a company
• Freelance
• Own your own business
• Sell products (online or off)
• Sell services (online or off)
• Turn a hobby into an income stream
• Invest your money (real-estate, financial investing, etc.)
• Creative/artistic pursuits

These are only broad categories. Within these there are tons of different combinations and possibilities. Just think of the sheer number of different types of business you could own (solo, small, multi-level marketing, franchise) and then the possibilities beneath that. It could go on and on. My point being — don’t fool yourself into thinking it has to look a certain way based only on what you’ve seen to date or seen modeled for you by friends or family.

So, get started making that list what type of career you really want. If it doesn’t match up with what you have now, don’t sweat it — awareness is the first step toward changing things for the better. Next time I’ll be talking about how to get that job you really want.

Hello Muffins:

Many of you have sent me well wishes both yesterday and today and I am very appreciative of your kindness.  As many know, yesterday was my birthday and I went up North to celebrate at a cabin with my man and friends from Here’s Margie: Killain & Steven.  I am very excited that over the past few months we have been able to bring you so much new content on Here’s Margie!

I will be back in the saddle on Sunday morning with another guest to interview for the podcast – Jerry Hughes, President of the Hughes Foundation .

The vision of Hughes Foundation is to be a worldwide, inter-religious, holistic and God-centered organization that will be a global voice in stopping the spread of HIV through awareness and by offering hope and care to all who are affected by HIV/AIDS.

Look forward to that important interview posting next Wednesday, October 8, 2008.

I apologize for not putting up this week’s podcast on Wednesday this week – celebrating life seemed more important.

Rest assured that the interview with William (Bill) Burleson, author and lecturer on bisexualtiy, will go up tomorrow morning.

Until then, thanks for being a wonderful part of P’s World.

XXXOOO

Margie

In Part 2 of the Career & Money series I talked about how you can do some life planning and determine if you really want a job or a career. This time I am going to take that a step further so you can align your career choices with your values and the type of lifestyle you wish to live.

What Are Your Values?
Our values are the things that allow us to thrive in our life. After our basic emotional and physical needs are met, we yearn for something more in order to feel fulfilled, happy, and purpose driven. This is where our values come in. While we may all have numerous things we value, there are typically 4-6 core values that really make us tick. These core values turn on the Technicolor in our lives.

How can you determine your values? When I work with clients we take an extensive look at needs and values through a series of exercises. However, you can start getting clear on your values with this simple exercise.

The following is a list of common values (by all means not comprehensive of all possibilities). Read through them and make a note of the ones that truly excite you and feel like they touch the core of who you are when you’re at your best. If a particular word conveys a sense of what is important to you (ex: adventure) yet doesn’t feel quite 100% resonant, try replacing the word adventure with similar words that may hit home more strongly for you (ex: risk, danger, experience). If you don’t see a word that you just KNOW is right for you run with a dictionary or thesaurus or simply brainstorm in your journal until you hit on it.

Here’s a list of common values

Adventure
Risk
The Unknown
Thrill
Danger
Beauty
Elegance
Grace
Refinement
Impact
Touch
Inspire
Encourage
Influence
Alter
Contribute
Serve
Assist
Strengthen
Create
Invent
Build
Imagine
Design
Discover
Learn
Discern
Uncover
Educate
Feel
Experience
Emote
Feel Good
Lead
Guide
Govern
Persuade
Mastery
Expert
Excellence
Dominate Field
Outdo
Compete
Fun
Sensual
Sex
Entertain
Sports
Play
Bliss
Be related
Part of community
Connected
Unite
Nurture
Family
Love
Tenderness
Compassion
Sensitive
Support
Respond
Spiritual
Passionate
Religious
Honoring
Teach
Instruct
Enlighten
Inform
Prepare
Coach
Win
Accomplish
Achieve
Attain
Attract
Triumph
Integrity
Honesty
Truth

Once you go through the words and choose some, see how they feel. Try them on for size. Journal about them. Say them out loud. See how they resonate with you. Again, a number of these words may ring true to you. For instance, most people would value honesty, truth, or integrity. Yet, only certain people will have them as a core value because they are at the core of what their life purpose and plan is.

Values hold important clues about who we truly are. The more we can align our lives and our careers with them the more joyful and successful we’ll be. If you value freedom and independence yet work in a punch a clock manufacturing facility, you’re probably going to feel stifled every day. Trust me, as someone who knows the purgatory of the cubicle yet values independence, being unrestricted, and free, I know how incongruent and painful the misaligned choices can be.

How Much Do You Need and Want to Earn?

You might read this question and think — of course I want to earn lots of money. For some that is true and for others money is the last thing on their mind. Regardless of what camp you fall into, there are certain money realities to be considered as you choose what kind of career you want to support the lifestyle you desire. Remember back to Part 2 where we did some life planning. Money is just one aspect of the overall plan, so whatever career you choose needs to be compatible with what you want your life to look like. For instance, if you value tons of freedom, time off, and working from home, you probably don’t want to pursue a career as a corporate executive. It’s not that living an authentic and balanced life isn’t desired and possible for a corporate exec, but that balance looks a lot different than say a freelancer who works remotely and wants to live simply in a low cost area.

There’s a difference between what you need to earn and what you want to earn. What you need to earn I’d define as the amount of money you need to earn in order to pay your basic living expenses without struggle. I stress the basic living expenses portion here and that doesn’t include a ton of toys or a million dollar mortgage. Of course if you already own all these things, it is in your “need to earn” category unless you choose to simplify and downsize your life.

Your basic financial needs can ebb and flow throughout your life and the goal of a truly fulfilling career is to earn beyond what you need to get by. Surviving is not thriving. How much you want to earn beyond the basics is a function of what lifestyle you want to lead.

I’ve talked about the difference between building a life or a lifestyle before and I’m sure I’ll do it again. For the sake of authenticity here, I’ll assume that you have chosen to build a life and within that life you desire a certain lifestyle.

How do you answer the question – what do I want to earn? A little self-discovery and exploration. Here are a few things you can do to uncover what you really want.

Write a description of your ideal life. In it consider questions such as:

• Where do I want to live? What is the cost of living there?
• Do I want to own a house or rent?
• What type of house do I want to live in?
• Do I want to own multiple properties?
• What do I enjoy doing that requires money — dining out, hobbies, travel, recreation, volunteer activities, etc.
• Do I want children and if so how many?
• Am I single? Do I want to find a partner?
• Am I in a relationship? What is his/her needs and desires?
• At what age do I want to retire?
• What types of things do I want to own (ex: type of cars I want to drive, boats I want to own, etc.)

These are just a few questions to get you thinking about the things you currently enjoy and those you want to incorporate into your life. Again, this could look different at different times in your life but it will give you a sense of whether your dreams lie in a small cottage in the remote mountains, a fabulous penthouse in a major city, an everyday house in the suburbs, or an awesome mansion on the cliffs of the ocean. The income requirements for these different lifestyles are radically different. And, since we regularly write about the perils of building your dreams on a flabby financial foundation, the secret to doing this right is actually having the income to match your desires, not living on the brittle ground of credit and creative financing.

Once you get an idea of what you need and want to earn, then you can start exploring the income potential of careers that appeal to you. In Part 4 I’ll talk more about what kind of careers are out there and how you can get an idea if something is the right fit for you.

In Part 1 of the Career & Money Series I talked about the question “How Did We Get Here?” when it comes to our work lives. This time I’m going to delve deeper into the career versus job distinction by giving you information and tools that will help you answer the questions “Do I want a job or a career?” and “What do I want my life to look like?”.

Most people plan for their work lives backwards. That is, we look at “what do we want to do to earn money?” and go from there. Rarely do we take a broader view and do some serious life planning first. Just as a business plan is crucial for someone starting a business, a life plan is essential for everyone. Since our work lives take up a significant part of our time and energy, it is so important that it is congruent with who we are and our overall life plan.

Life planning often gets a bad wrap. People think they don’t need to do it (or fear it is a futile exercise) and by omission end up living a life by default versus a life by design. We put off the things that matter most to tend to the crises of the things that matter least and eventually wake up one day and wonder what the hell happened. While it is true your life plans will ebb, flow, and shift over time, you still need a roadmap or you’ll simply be all over the place and end up somewhere you don’t really want to be (or simply have no clue where you are). more »

Volunteering

You may not realize this but volunteering your time to help others puts you in an elite group of remarkable people. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, only about 28.8% of the United States civilian non-institutional population, age 16 or over, volunteers any of their time to helping others. If you donate just one hour per week you will be in the top 15%!

Volunteering your help does not have to be a full-time job. Many of us are already working full time. Your work may be at a job or taking care of a family. That is not a problem! There are many volunteer opportunities that do not require a significant amount of time.

Don’t delay in getting started as a volunteer. Many people are counting on you to help make this world better in your special and unique way.

What are some of the benefits of volunteering?

Here’s a list of just a few of the benefits you receive from volunteering your time:

• Making new friends and networking contacts
• Building self-esteem
• Learning new skills
• Having fun
• Making a difference in the lives of people
• Personal satisfaction
• Using the experience on your resume

Finding Volunteer Opportunities

The number and type of volunteer opportunities are almost unlimited. To aid you in your search for opportunities that are right for you, I am writing a report entitled “How To Find Volunteer Opportunities.” It will be available on this website soon. In the meantime:

• Ask at your local GBLT organization of interest;
• Visit http://www.onebrick.org
• Visit http://www.pointsoflight.org
• Contact your local United Way organization.

Have fun on your search!

__________

SOURCE: Everyday Giving, 2008

Steve Hintz (Pay It Forward) is a motivated and successful gay entrepreneur having run a number of his own business’ over the past 40-years including: Frugal Financial and Marketing Group – teaching low to medium income adults how to manage, save and invest their money; and S.C. Consulting Group – working with corporations to manage their potential growth and internal communication as well as the motivation it takes to get there. In addition, he has worked in the Funding Development and Grant writing sectors of the Not-for-Profit world throughout his career.

In the coming weeks I will be doing a multi-part series on the topic of Career and Money. I plan on writing this series fairly organically so I don’t have a nice outline to share up front of what I am going to cover or how many articles will be in the series. So, for those planners out there, sorry to disappoint. However, I plan to approach this series much like I believe the career and money path unfolds throughout our life — there is an intention, plan, and goal, but we never really know how it is going to turn out; even the best laid ideas often take wicked ups, downs, detours, and new destinations. What I can say is that after you read this series you can bank on the fact that you’ll think about your day to day career and money differently. Even if you’re pleased as punch with what you are doing and what you are earning, I would bet my house that you’ll at least look at it from a fresh perspective. more »