One of the main reasons I worked on the Barack Obama's presidential campaign
was because he
promised to work tirelessly to complete a goal that I've admired since I was
ten years old travelling in
Canada with my parents and a sick baby brother whose ear was so infected he
had rubbed the skin off
the back of it. We were far from Dr. Dreyfus, our pediatrician back in
Chicago, but we went to the
Emergency Room in Montreal or Toronto and a doctor examined us, gave us a medical card, and
medicine.
The visit was feee and so was the medicine - oh brave new world that has such people in
it!!! It's
Canadian Universal Health Care, and they even share it with their tourists.
You know where our tourists go who have no insurance coverage? Cook County
Hospital, and they're
lucky to be able to go there! I assure you, the difference in experience is like the
difference between
having tea with the Queen and trying to revive a two week old grilled cheese sandwich from under
your roommate's bed.
So, I wanted Universal healthcare - and as I courted volunteers and donors
from the very beginning
of the campaign, that has been my personal story. Like I said, I was ten years old so I have been
waiting a long time!!! When the Healthcare Reform Bill passed and was signed, it was a bittersweet
pill to swallow because it
wasn't all it could be, but I drank the Kool Aid and rejoiced with the rest of
the bunch. To the extent that I am able, I sold its
promise, I learned all I could about what to expect
and I was more pleased than sorrowful. I knew, however, that the day would come
when it would be
taken to court, and as hard as we worked to get the bill passed, as many times as I told that story
at
Camp Obama and at committee meetings,and at fundraiser support sessions, I saw ALL that hard
work slipping away.
I mapped out game plans to handle any potential reversal that might adversely
impact employees, I
tried my best to squelch fears and be prepared for whatever today might bring and you know
what? I
was completely unprepared for the avalanche of emotion I felt when I heard that Health Reform was
being
upheld. I was even more unprepared to learn that the Chief Justice was the deciding vote in it's
favor. I don't
know what happened, I don't know why it happened, but I'm grateful that it did happen,
because every single person in
this country gets sick, and everyone should be able to get well without
going broke trying to do it. The battle
is not over, but I am encouraged that we can face the next few
hurdles as Health Reform rolls out and people realize what my
people already tell me - "This
Obamacare ain't half bad...." Sometimes you have to be reminded that the battle is not
yours....
"There is no pain Jesus can't feel
No hurt He can not heal
All things
work according to His perfect will
No matter what you're going
through
Remember God is using You
For the battle is not yours
It's the
Lord's
There's no sadness Jesus can't feel
And there is no sorrow
that He can not heal
For all things work
according to the Master's
holy will
No matter what you're going through
Remember that God is only
using You
For the battle is not yours
It's the Lord's
It's the
Lord's
Yes It's the Lord's
Hold your head up high
Don't you
fright
It's the Lord's
It's the Lord's
Yes It's the Lord's
No
matter what
You're going through
Remember that God
Only wants to use
you
For the battle is not yours
It's the Lord's
No matter
what
You happen to go through right now
Remember that in the midst of it
all
God only wants to use you
No matter what you're going through
For
the battle is not yours
It's the Lord's
No matter what it is
That
you're going through
Hold your head up, stick your chest out
And remember
He's using you
No matter what you're going through
God is only using you
For this battle is not yours alone
This battle is not yours,
no
You can not handle it all by yourself
No, no, no, no, no, no
It's
not yours
This battle is not yours
It's the Lord's, not yours
This
battle is not yours
The Lord is the only one who can fight it
He wants to
use you as His vessel
So be open to Him
It's not yours
No It's not
yours
It's the Lord's, not yours
The battle is not your's
It's the
Lord's
Hallelujah
yeah! *"
* The Batle Is Not Yours - by Hezekiah Walker sung by Yolanda Adams
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
One Day You Will Retire
My advice is to take all of the retirement classes that your company offers - if your company doesn't offer any - call the company that handles your retirement plan - somebody offers something and you need the advice. You might retire once or twice in a lifetime - I beg you to handle it well. It is going to be difficult, but you need that advice to make the right decisions for you. Time is ticking whether you want it to or not We may not be retiring with millions like the people in the article below - but their millions would feel like hundreds if they didn't prepare for this day - if you do it right you'll be retired for many, many years. I read this article from FORBES magazine and thought it should be shared. I meet with people all the time who want to retire, and even if they think they'v done everything right - it's like stepping off the 30 foot diving board into a pool the size of a postage stamp.
"To quote pro golfer Annika Sorenstam, “I didn’t grow up really rich or especially poor but I was taught to respect money.” She remembers her economic status as a child, noting, “Yes, I had to share my first set up golf clubs with my sister; I got the odd number clubs and my sister (who now works for Annika’s golf academy) took the even ones.”
The athletes I interviewed earned millions of dollars playing their sport but none of them came from a wealthy family. All either mentioned – or implied – that they came from a modest upbringing and that both the life lessons they learned growing up and their time as a pro play significant roles in their financial dealings today.
NFL star Desmond Howard grew up in a middle class Cleveland, Ohio, community. “My parents taught me the value of money and importance of working hard,” he said. “I was never flashy … even though I was the number four pick in ‘92 draft. I drove my old beat-up college hatchback to practice at Redskin’s Park every day.
Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller turned pro at age 13 to help cover costs associated with pursuing her sport. “I had a very small endorsement deal with McDonalds, which basically paid for the grips I used on the uneven bars,” she said. “Growing up I had to watch my budget. I carried a notepad around with me when I traveled and would write down every personal expenditure …food, souvenirs, whatever.”
When I asked Deion Sanders if he felt comfortable managing his money when he turned pro. He was quick to reply with a resounding “NO! And anyone who tells you any different is lying. Nobody in my family ever went to college let alone knew what do to with a million dollars.”
MMA pioneer Tito Ortiz who faced major battles at home before ever entering the octagon. “My parents were drug addicts,” he admitted, “and I had to fend for myself a lot. I was the youngest of four kids and a troubled youth until I realized I could get a lot of attention from slamming people to the mat as a high school wrestler.”
Oftentimes, star athletes are perceived as having it made, with no financial worries. But actually, they’re no different than average Joes who have to figure out a plan for saving money, grow their wealth, and protect their legacy.
Savings Formula
Like many of us who are told to save at least 5% or 10% of our earnings, athletes face a larger savings rate considering that they will generally retire 20-30 years younger than most people. Of the athletes I interviewed Annika was by far the most hands-on when it came to saving and investing.
On this subject, Annika said, “I was always very conscious of my money and I saved from the very start. I’m very conservative with my investments and realize it takes some ice in your belly … you know, staying cool and not making emotional decisions. I’m a blue chipper,” she confessed, “and in it for the long haul. I manage my investments the way I play golf. I don’t take risks, and lately I’ve been studying how different investment sectors rotate in and out of favor.”
Since when do professional athletes talk about sector rotation? Desmond Howard and Kris Draper also follow pretty straightforward formulas for saving and investing.
Draper, formerly with the NHL, is very savings conscious, telling me, “After taxes, I always tried to save at least 50% of my game checks;” adding that he recently spoke with his advisor and structured his allocation toward 40% stocks, 35% bonds and fixed income, and 25% cash. When I asked him about the heavy cash position, he said, “I want to be protected from the market’s volatility and not lose a bunch of money.” That on-guard philosophy matches his hockey playing style, as evidenced by being awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy recognizing the NHL’s most defensive-minded forward.
Retired football pro Desmond Howard is also in the moderates’ camp but followed a different savings formula. “I was advised to save my signing bonus for a rainy day,” he said, “and to live on the money I was generating off the field through trading cards deals and other endorsements.” “Many players live beyond their means,” he carefully suggested. “It’s not that they are overspending but they’re acting like the money they are making now is going to be there forever.”
Unlike Sorenstam, Draper, and Howard, Deion “Primetime” Sanders and The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, Tito Ortiz, have investment styles that run counter to their sports personalities.
Ortiz , an aggressive fighter in the ring, said, “I’m pretty conservative because of issues from my childhood and a tendency to not trust people because of my parent’s drug addiction.”
I asked Sanders if his investment style mimicked his flashy style and trademark antics on the field. Speaking in the third person he explained, “You’re talking about a personality I created when I was playing … Primetime. That’s not Deion. Deion is a very different person.”
How a star projects themselves on the field, in the ring, or on the ice may or may not mimic their individual investment approach, which holds true for many everyday Americans. Whether you’re a conservative CPA or member of a SWAT team, you’re investment asset allocation should reflect what you’re comfortable with in up as well as down markets as should be comprised of investments you can easily explain or track. That’s a very simple rule for both current and future stars as well as average Joe’s to take to heart: It you can’t explain it, you shouldn’t own it!
That basic rule combined with the simple fact that “nobody cares more about your money than you” can dramatically change the relationship people have with money and their financial advisor for the better… And yes that could mean putting millions of dollars into a short-term CD or your mattress until you’re ready to treat your money with the same care and devotion you have given to your career.
Selecting A Financial Advisor
When it came to selecting a financial advisor I was not surprised to learn that all of stars I spoke with picked an advisor from their inner circle. Some like Deion Sanders have had the same advisor since he started in the big leagues. Others like Annika Sorenstam and NHL great Al Iafrate, switched advisors because of investment performance issues and, of course, there are those star athletes who discovered too late that they were working with a crook.
As he theorized on why many young athletes end up broke, Desmond Howard put life as a young millionaire into perspective. “You quickly realize,” he said,” that you’re the boss of something you don’t really understand. You’re supposed to be the one in charge but you really feel subservient because you don’t understand any of it.”
Former Detroit Piston John Salley added, “It’s so overwhelming that you usually just end up saying ‘have you’re people call my people’ because you have no idea what is going on and don’t want to blow your image.”
Surprisingly, what both of these stars describe isn’t that much different than what I see when meeting with a surviving spouse or family member who is simply clueless when it comes to investing their money and managing their relationship with an advisor.
Howard’s advice echoes my own suggestions for star athletes and widows alike: Get a second and third opinion before doing anything. Don’t sit and nod your head “Yes” (which suggests you know what an advisor is talking about) when you should be saying “help me understand.” “Make sure you ask lots of questions,” recommends Howard, “and work with someone who can explain it to you instead of just accepting the person referred by your agent or friend at work.”
Salley discussed how his former advisor squandered millions of his professional earnings. “At the end of my career,” he lamented, “I thought I would be moving to L.A. with all of my earnings, where I could live like a modern day Beverly Hillbilly. Instead, I ended up second in line, behind the IRS, and basically had to start from scratch.”
Second, don’t be afraid to have more than one advisor. More and more wealthy people are segregating their assets among two or three wealth advisors to make sure one bad apple doesn’t ruin the retirement party. And thirdly, ask them to get back to you on something like research on a particular stock or product feature. It’s a simple way to see if they follow through right off the bat with what they say they are going to do.
Living On Less Income
Typically, average Joes are advised to plan on living with less money than what they’re accustomed to earning in the workplace … usually only 60-70% of their pre-retirement income. Pro athletes, however, may be looking at a much more significant decline.
As I shared in the first of this series, Annika Sorenstam stated, “My income dropped by more than 50% but I had planned and prepared for that.”
“No one took as big a pay cut as I did going from player to my current role,” said Kris Draper, “You just have to start cutting some things out and not necessarily doing all the things you were able to do before.”
John Salley says you generally have all the same expenses going out but no more income coming in, so everything changes. After his basketball career, Salley wasn’t handed a role in The Best Damn Sports Show or given a role in Bad Boys movies on a silver platter. He, like many starving actors, had to take classes and attend hundreds of auditions … and there aren’t a ton of roles for sever-footers.
There’s nothing automatic about retirement for athletes or every day people. It doesn’t just happen. It takes time, energy, and practice. Whether your multi-million dollar contract isn’t renewed or your pension or social security won’t cover all of your expenses, the longer it takes you to adjust your spending to meet your current income level, the longer it will take you to secure your future.
All-in-all, Deion Sanders said it wisely and well, “Money only magnifies what you already are. If your dumb and broke, money will only make you dumb and rich … if you’re smart and broke, money will make you smart and rich.”
And so too is the case when it comes to retirement. If you’re not prepared to deal with it both mentally and financially, it will only magnify the positive or negative things you’re already doing instead of creating the legacy you deserve.
Join me for the last segment next week as I cover how each of these retired pros are making the most of their next phase of life and what you can learn from their remarkable careers. Also, be sure to read the first story in the series that discusses the mental and psychological aspects of Retirement for Star Athletes." From FORBES magazine
"To quote pro golfer Annika Sorenstam, “I didn’t grow up really rich or especially poor but I was taught to respect money.” She remembers her economic status as a child, noting, “Yes, I had to share my first set up golf clubs with my sister; I got the odd number clubs and my sister (who now works for Annika’s golf academy) took the even ones.”
The athletes I interviewed earned millions of dollars playing their sport but none of them came from a wealthy family. All either mentioned – or implied – that they came from a modest upbringing and that both the life lessons they learned growing up and their time as a pro play significant roles in their financial dealings today.
NFL star Desmond Howard grew up in a middle class Cleveland, Ohio, community. “My parents taught me the value of money and importance of working hard,” he said. “I was never flashy … even though I was the number four pick in ‘92 draft. I drove my old beat-up college hatchback to practice at Redskin’s Park every day.
Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller turned pro at age 13 to help cover costs associated with pursuing her sport. “I had a very small endorsement deal with McDonalds, which basically paid for the grips I used on the uneven bars,” she said. “Growing up I had to watch my budget. I carried a notepad around with me when I traveled and would write down every personal expenditure …food, souvenirs, whatever.”
When I asked Deion Sanders if he felt comfortable managing his money when he turned pro. He was quick to reply with a resounding “NO! And anyone who tells you any different is lying. Nobody in my family ever went to college let alone knew what do to with a million dollars.”
MMA pioneer Tito Ortiz who faced major battles at home before ever entering the octagon. “My parents were drug addicts,” he admitted, “and I had to fend for myself a lot. I was the youngest of four kids and a troubled youth until I realized I could get a lot of attention from slamming people to the mat as a high school wrestler.”
Oftentimes, star athletes are perceived as having it made, with no financial worries. But actually, they’re no different than average Joes who have to figure out a plan for saving money, grow their wealth, and protect their legacy.
Savings Formula
Like many of us who are told to save at least 5% or 10% of our earnings, athletes face a larger savings rate considering that they will generally retire 20-30 years younger than most people. Of the athletes I interviewed Annika was by far the most hands-on when it came to saving and investing.
On this subject, Annika said, “I was always very conscious of my money and I saved from the very start. I’m very conservative with my investments and realize it takes some ice in your belly … you know, staying cool and not making emotional decisions. I’m a blue chipper,” she confessed, “and in it for the long haul. I manage my investments the way I play golf. I don’t take risks, and lately I’ve been studying how different investment sectors rotate in and out of favor.”
Since when do professional athletes talk about sector rotation? Desmond Howard and Kris Draper also follow pretty straightforward formulas for saving and investing.
Draper, formerly with the NHL, is very savings conscious, telling me, “After taxes, I always tried to save at least 50% of my game checks;” adding that he recently spoke with his advisor and structured his allocation toward 40% stocks, 35% bonds and fixed income, and 25% cash. When I asked him about the heavy cash position, he said, “I want to be protected from the market’s volatility and not lose a bunch of money.” That on-guard philosophy matches his hockey playing style, as evidenced by being awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy recognizing the NHL’s most defensive-minded forward.
Retired football pro Desmond Howard is also in the moderates’ camp but followed a different savings formula. “I was advised to save my signing bonus for a rainy day,” he said, “and to live on the money I was generating off the field through trading cards deals and other endorsements.” “Many players live beyond their means,” he carefully suggested. “It’s not that they are overspending but they’re acting like the money they are making now is going to be there forever.”
Unlike Sorenstam, Draper, and Howard, Deion “Primetime” Sanders and The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, Tito Ortiz, have investment styles that run counter to their sports personalities.
Ortiz , an aggressive fighter in the ring, said, “I’m pretty conservative because of issues from my childhood and a tendency to not trust people because of my parent’s drug addiction.”
I asked Sanders if his investment style mimicked his flashy style and trademark antics on the field. Speaking in the third person he explained, “You’re talking about a personality I created when I was playing … Primetime. That’s not Deion. Deion is a very different person.”
How a star projects themselves on the field, in the ring, or on the ice may or may not mimic their individual investment approach, which holds true for many everyday Americans. Whether you’re a conservative CPA or member of a SWAT team, you’re investment asset allocation should reflect what you’re comfortable with in up as well as down markets as should be comprised of investments you can easily explain or track. That’s a very simple rule for both current and future stars as well as average Joe’s to take to heart: It you can’t explain it, you shouldn’t own it!
That basic rule combined with the simple fact that “nobody cares more about your money than you” can dramatically change the relationship people have with money and their financial advisor for the better… And yes that could mean putting millions of dollars into a short-term CD or your mattress until you’re ready to treat your money with the same care and devotion you have given to your career.
Selecting A Financial Advisor
When it came to selecting a financial advisor I was not surprised to learn that all of stars I spoke with picked an advisor from their inner circle. Some like Deion Sanders have had the same advisor since he started in the big leagues. Others like Annika Sorenstam and NHL great Al Iafrate, switched advisors because of investment performance issues and, of course, there are those star athletes who discovered too late that they were working with a crook.
As he theorized on why many young athletes end up broke, Desmond Howard put life as a young millionaire into perspective. “You quickly realize,” he said,” that you’re the boss of something you don’t really understand. You’re supposed to be the one in charge but you really feel subservient because you don’t understand any of it.”
Former Detroit Piston John Salley added, “It’s so overwhelming that you usually just end up saying ‘have you’re people call my people’ because you have no idea what is going on and don’t want to blow your image.”
Surprisingly, what both of these stars describe isn’t that much different than what I see when meeting with a surviving spouse or family member who is simply clueless when it comes to investing their money and managing their relationship with an advisor.
Howard’s advice echoes my own suggestions for star athletes and widows alike: Get a second and third opinion before doing anything. Don’t sit and nod your head “Yes” (which suggests you know what an advisor is talking about) when you should be saying “help me understand.” “Make sure you ask lots of questions,” recommends Howard, “and work with someone who can explain it to you instead of just accepting the person referred by your agent or friend at work.”
Salley discussed how his former advisor squandered millions of his professional earnings. “At the end of my career,” he lamented, “I thought I would be moving to L.A. with all of my earnings, where I could live like a modern day Beverly Hillbilly. Instead, I ended up second in line, behind the IRS, and basically had to start from scratch.”
Second, don’t be afraid to have more than one advisor. More and more wealthy people are segregating their assets among two or three wealth advisors to make sure one bad apple doesn’t ruin the retirement party. And thirdly, ask them to get back to you on something like research on a particular stock or product feature. It’s a simple way to see if they follow through right off the bat with what they say they are going to do.
Living On Less Income
Typically, average Joes are advised to plan on living with less money than what they’re accustomed to earning in the workplace … usually only 60-70% of their pre-retirement income. Pro athletes, however, may be looking at a much more significant decline.
As I shared in the first of this series, Annika Sorenstam stated, “My income dropped by more than 50% but I had planned and prepared for that.”
“No one took as big a pay cut as I did going from player to my current role,” said Kris Draper, “You just have to start cutting some things out and not necessarily doing all the things you were able to do before.”
John Salley says you generally have all the same expenses going out but no more income coming in, so everything changes. After his basketball career, Salley wasn’t handed a role in The Best Damn Sports Show or given a role in Bad Boys movies on a silver platter. He, like many starving actors, had to take classes and attend hundreds of auditions … and there aren’t a ton of roles for sever-footers.
There’s nothing automatic about retirement for athletes or every day people. It doesn’t just happen. It takes time, energy, and practice. Whether your multi-million dollar contract isn’t renewed or your pension or social security won’t cover all of your expenses, the longer it takes you to adjust your spending to meet your current income level, the longer it will take you to secure your future.
All-in-all, Deion Sanders said it wisely and well, “Money only magnifies what you already are. If your dumb and broke, money will only make you dumb and rich … if you’re smart and broke, money will make you smart and rich.”
And so too is the case when it comes to retirement. If you’re not prepared to deal with it both mentally and financially, it will only magnify the positive or negative things you’re already doing instead of creating the legacy you deserve.
Join me for the last segment next week as I cover how each of these retired pros are making the most of their next phase of life and what you can learn from their remarkable careers. Also, be sure to read the first story in the series that discusses the mental and psychological aspects of Retirement for Star Athletes." From FORBES magazine
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Mortgage Relief for America
A Letter From The White House
Good afternoon --
For many of us, buying a home is about more than a roof over our heads. It's the place where we'll watch our kids grow up and an investment that will guarantee our long term financial security. There's a reason that a home is an essential part of the American dream.
But right now, owning a home is a source of anxiety for millions of Americans. Last week, we heard from thousands of homeowners who are paying their bills on time but struggling and could benefit from being able to refinance their homes at historically low rates. Unfortunately, too many families who work hard and play by the rules just can't seem to catch a break. Here's what one homeowner in Mission Viejo, California told us:
President Obama has proposed a plan that will cut through the red tape keeping millions of responsible homeowners from mortgage relief. It will save these folks hundreds of dollars a month -- and it's starting to get some momentum in Congress.
The President has been traveling all over the country to build support for his plan, and it's time for you to speak out with him. Add your voice to his.
If we make this happen, it's the kind of change that can have an outsized impact on the entire country. With a little extra money each month, our friends and our neighbors will be able to do more for their families. That means stronger communities and a stronger national economy.
Here's what another homeowner in Virginia told us about how this would impact not just their homes, but the entire country:
So even if you don't own a mortgage or don't need to refinance, it's important to add your voice.
We need to show that this is the kind big, national priority that transcends petty partisanship. Republicans and Democrats alike own houses, and they call each other neighbors. It will mean good things for all of us if every responsible homeowner can get some relief.
So speak out beside President Obama. Tell us why you support refinancing, and we'll make sure your story resonates here in Washington and around the country.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/why-refi
We have an opportunity here, and with your help, we can make it a reality.
Thank you,
David
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
Good afternoon --
For many of us, buying a home is about more than a roof over our heads. It's the place where we'll watch our kids grow up and an investment that will guarantee our long term financial security. There's a reason that a home is an essential part of the American dream.
But right now, owning a home is a source of anxiety for millions of Americans. Last week, we heard from thousands of homeowners who are paying their bills on time but struggling and could benefit from being able to refinance their homes at historically low rates. Unfortunately, too many families who work hard and play by the rules just can't seem to catch a break. Here's what one homeowner in Mission Viejo, California told us:
| Listen, people like me aren't looking for a handout. I've got decent credit and if weren't for the value of my home being significantly less than I owe, I would refinance now. If I could refinance at the historically low rates, I could do two things 1) pay off some other debt and 2) buy things I and my family need. |
President Obama has proposed a plan that will cut through the red tape keeping millions of responsible homeowners from mortgage relief. It will save these folks hundreds of dollars a month -- and it's starting to get some momentum in Congress.
The President has been traveling all over the country to build support for his plan, and it's time for you to speak out with him. Add your voice to his.
If we make this happen, it's the kind of change that can have an outsized impact on the entire country. With a little extra money each month, our friends and our neighbors will be able to do more for their families. That means stronger communities and a stronger national economy.
Here's what another homeowner in Virginia told us about how this would impact not just their homes, but the entire country:
| Any way that you can help the middle income people will go a long way with helping the economy. Home ownership is one of the biggest expenses people have and anything to help them reduce their payments would help immensely. The only thing is cut the red tape ... |
So even if you don't own a mortgage or don't need to refinance, it's important to add your voice.
We need to show that this is the kind big, national priority that transcends petty partisanship. Republicans and Democrats alike own houses, and they call each other neighbors. It will mean good things for all of us if every responsible homeowner can get some relief.
So speak out beside President Obama. Tell us why you support refinancing, and we'll make sure your story resonates here in Washington and around the country.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/why-refi
We have an opportunity here, and with your help, we can make it a reality.
Thank you,
David
David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Child Abuse in the Workforce
There's a line in Spike Lee's movie "Malcolm X' that resonates in the hearts of all parents of teenagers:
"Get your hands out my pocket..."
You want your kid to get a job, and they want one too - but before you ship them off to the corner store, fast food restaurant, or local small business - heed my advice: Watch your child's boss!
Children in the workforce are frequently (not all day every day, but certainly more than the norm) the victims of sexual harassment, wage and hour abuse, and bullying by their managers. You aren't sending them out there to be treated like someone else's pin cushion. Children who are desperate to earn over and above their weekly allowance may find themselves in situations that are compromising and they aren't sure how to handle themselves.
My first job was working at South Shore Day Camp - I was a camp counselor to a group of seven and eight year olds. The senior counselors were college students and the owner had run the place for decades. I had been a camp just a few years earlier - in fact I learned how to swim there - it was a great place and I have nothing but fond memories. After that I was at White Castle flipping burgers and workinf the register on Friday and Saturday nights. My mother drove me to work and picked me up the next morning. I spent every weekend at one of craziest corners in the city - 79th and Stoney Island! Every nght was a new experience, but those experiences never included abuse of any kind. I was paid weekly and I was treated the same as the rest of the gang. Every young person's experience should be as stellar.
I suggest that you meet the managers your child will be working for and check the minimum wage rate in Illinois for your child's age and type of work to confirm that your child isn't being taken advantage of. Yes, it's true that children under 18 can now be paid less than the state minimum wage, which is about $8.25 an hour, so call the Department of Labor before you burn the place down. It's also a good idea to stop by every once in a while, just to make sure everyone knows that the kid has a family that is involved. That can be enough to prevent someone from trying anything.
Make your child's first work experience a safe and happy one.
"Get your hands out my pocket..."
You want your kid to get a job, and they want one too - but before you ship them off to the corner store, fast food restaurant, or local small business - heed my advice: Watch your child's boss!
Children in the workforce are frequently (not all day every day, but certainly more than the norm) the victims of sexual harassment, wage and hour abuse, and bullying by their managers. You aren't sending them out there to be treated like someone else's pin cushion. Children who are desperate to earn over and above their weekly allowance may find themselves in situations that are compromising and they aren't sure how to handle themselves.
My first job was working at South Shore Day Camp - I was a camp counselor to a group of seven and eight year olds. The senior counselors were college students and the owner had run the place for decades. I had been a camp just a few years earlier - in fact I learned how to swim there - it was a great place and I have nothing but fond memories. After that I was at White Castle flipping burgers and workinf the register on Friday and Saturday nights. My mother drove me to work and picked me up the next morning. I spent every weekend at one of craziest corners in the city - 79th and Stoney Island! Every nght was a new experience, but those experiences never included abuse of any kind. I was paid weekly and I was treated the same as the rest of the gang. Every young person's experience should be as stellar.
I suggest that you meet the managers your child will be working for and check the minimum wage rate in Illinois for your child's age and type of work to confirm that your child isn't being taken advantage of. Yes, it's true that children under 18 can now be paid less than the state minimum wage, which is about $8.25 an hour, so call the Department of Labor before you burn the place down. It's also a good idea to stop by every once in a while, just to make sure everyone knows that the kid has a family that is involved. That can be enough to prevent someone from trying anything.
Make your child's first work experience a safe and happy one.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Make A Lasting Impression When You Apply For That Job
Looking for a job is like torture, but it has to be done. Unfortunatly, a winning lottery ticket isn't guaranteed to any of us, and we do like being able to turn on the lights when we get home - so, we are forced to work.
After you've sent out about 1000 applications and resumes, you finally start getting responses. Here are some tips to help make sure you make the most of the responses you do receive:
Make a list of the positions and the companies that you applied for - you don't want to be remembered as the person who said " Who is this calling? What was the job for??" You're not going to fare well when compared to the person who enthusiatically answers the phone and says "Oh, I've been waiting for you to call...."
Answer the phone! It's sad but true that a lot of people miss it when opportunity knocks. If you live with a relative who can't take messages when you aren't available, don't take a chance - either collect all calls on your cell phone and keep the ringer turned up - or take the chance that you miss the opportunity to schedule a face to face appointment for your dream job - when applicants are called to set up interviews - its first come, first served. I was in the middle of a 4th of July party when I got my high school job, but I wasn't too busy to accept the offer.
Turn off the television and the stereo - you need to concentrate on what's being asked of you. If you can't arrange a better time to talk to the recruiter, suck it up and find the nearest closet and get a flashlight to hit all of the highlights of your resume. We've all been there, so don't be embarassed. You may not get another chance to prove how spectacular you are - so put your best foot forward, put yourself out there and get that job!
Do a dry run - practice driving to the interview location - please don't get lost on the way to the meeting - one time I was interviewing for a job in Indiana, and I took the Skyway. The drive was punctuated by a flash flood that cajused the State Police to close the Skyway. When I got to the location, which was about forty miles away, there was NO sign that it had ever rained. My pantyhose (yeah, this was a while ago) were drenched and I looked like I had been caught in the rain, but I was early so I had time to straighten up. The manager who interviewed me was so impressed when she got home and saw the devastation the storm had caused tha she offered me the job the next day.
Listen to a friend - I have a group of friends who read my resumes, help me select my suits, and make suggestions on my jewelry and shoes. I'm too conservative left to my own devices, but they challenge me to take chances and to make my look pop - nobody knows everything - you need a second and sometimes a third opinion to prepare for an important day.
In these economic times, this is no time for foot soldiers - you need generals - this is war. Put on your gear and make that paper!
After you've sent out about 1000 applications and resumes, you finally start getting responses. Here are some tips to help make sure you make the most of the responses you do receive:
Make a list of the positions and the companies that you applied for - you don't want to be remembered as the person who said " Who is this calling? What was the job for??" You're not going to fare well when compared to the person who enthusiatically answers the phone and says "Oh, I've been waiting for you to call...."
Answer the phone! It's sad but true that a lot of people miss it when opportunity knocks. If you live with a relative who can't take messages when you aren't available, don't take a chance - either collect all calls on your cell phone and keep the ringer turned up - or take the chance that you miss the opportunity to schedule a face to face appointment for your dream job - when applicants are called to set up interviews - its first come, first served. I was in the middle of a 4th of July party when I got my high school job, but I wasn't too busy to accept the offer.
Turn off the television and the stereo - you need to concentrate on what's being asked of you. If you can't arrange a better time to talk to the recruiter, suck it up and find the nearest closet and get a flashlight to hit all of the highlights of your resume. We've all been there, so don't be embarassed. You may not get another chance to prove how spectacular you are - so put your best foot forward, put yourself out there and get that job!
Do a dry run - practice driving to the interview location - please don't get lost on the way to the meeting - one time I was interviewing for a job in Indiana, and I took the Skyway. The drive was punctuated by a flash flood that cajused the State Police to close the Skyway. When I got to the location, which was about forty miles away, there was NO sign that it had ever rained. My pantyhose (yeah, this was a while ago) were drenched and I looked like I had been caught in the rain, but I was early so I had time to straighten up. The manager who interviewed me was so impressed when she got home and saw the devastation the storm had caused tha she offered me the job the next day.
Listen to a friend - I have a group of friends who read my resumes, help me select my suits, and make suggestions on my jewelry and shoes. I'm too conservative left to my own devices, but they challenge me to take chances and to make my look pop - nobody knows everything - you need a second and sometimes a third opinion to prepare for an important day.
In these economic times, this is no time for foot soldiers - you need generals - this is war. Put on your gear and make that paper!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Good Bye to a Prince
As wonderous as life is, some seem to leave it much too soon - Orlando Woolridge is one. Back in the dark ages when I was just getting into the swing of working, a group of Deltas and their friends found themselves at a Bulls game. We were so young and naive that we didn't know that many of the other women who would attend were treating going to the Bulls game like a job interview - or a fishing expedition if you will - you can see the modern day version of such women on "Basketball Wives".
These girls were wearing glitter gowns and rhinestone covered shoes - we came to the game in slacks and a nice sweater set. We had to go to work the next morning, these chicks were open all night. They were Saturday night, and we were Sunday School. Maybe it was sitting in the midst of those gaudy get-ups that made us stand out.
That night Sidney Green sent one of his boys up to get us - he had taken an interest to one of the girls in our group, and we hopped in a cab with the guy and had dinner after the game. It wasn't pheasant under glass and lobster tail, it was more like Bennigan's.
That night Sidney met us and brought along Orlando Woolridge and a new rookie named Charles Oakley. These guys were all about our age, so we weren't cowed or intimidated in any way. They were fresh out of school just like we were, and they were tall, knew how to dance, and it was a new experience. We hung out with them a lot, we even spent very short spurts of time with the infamous Quintin Dailey and a young phenom named Michael Jordan.
They were learning Chicago, and learning how to handle themselves and their fame. It was a lesson for all of us, and I was willing to teach as much as I learned. Working at the Palmer House on the night shift was like working a confessional in Sodom and Gomorrah - so these young brothers were like lambs to the slaughter in my eyes. We taught them how to avoid waking up in the middle of the street in their underwear and we got to witness the raw side of fame up close and personal.
It can't be fun to live your entire life as the king of the hill, only to reach your ultimate dream and realize that your best still isn't good enough. It's not Jordan's fault that he was absolutely the best out there, that the accolades all seemed to be showered on him.
Some people buckle down and pull themselves together when they see they aren't hitting the high notes, and other people stop competing. It was a little like living in the movie "Amadeus". Woolridge will always have my gratitude for telling me the truth about sharing your life with a professional athlete - your sport comes first - it's literally the only thing you have depended on your entire life, so you will do whatever it takes to make sure you can depend on your ability to perform - because when that day comes that you can't depend on your ability - you don't have a lifeline to cling to. He taught me that it ain't all peaches and cream and that's insight you can't learn in a book.
6/1/12 7:27 PM
By: MARK POTASH Twitter: @MarkPotash
Orlando Woolridge always seemed to be at the right place at the wrong time.
The former Bulls forward, who died at 52 Friday of an apparent heart condition at his parents house in his hometown of Mansfield, La., parlayed his unique physical abilities — his small-forward skills in the body of a 6-9, 220-pound power forward were hardly the norm in the late 1970s and early 1980s — into a four-year career at Notre Dame and 13-year career in the NBA.
But he was born either too early or too late. He hit the NBA when the league was mired in a drug culture that ruined careers and threatened the popularity of the league — Woolridge eventually was suspended in 1987 for violating the league’s drug policy. He would play for five different teams in the final six years of his NBA career that ended with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1994.
There have been far more tragic figures than Orlando Woolridge in NBA history, but he had a star-crossed, tough-luck career. Woolridge averaged 16 points a game over 13 NBA seasons. He averaged 22.9 points a game in Michael Jordan’s rookie season of 1984-85 and averaged 20.7 points the following year, when Jordan missed most of the season with a broken foot.
And then he left. At 26, Woolridge signed a free-agent contract with the New Jersey Nets in 1986. The Bulls had the right to match the offer, but let him go for a No. 1 draft pick and two No. 2s.
It was typical of the poor timing that haunted Woolridge’s career. With Jordan healthy, the best was yet to come for the Bulls. With recently hired Doug Collins, the Bulls had a coach who would specialize in nurturing young talented players like Woolridge. Woolridge would lead the Nets in scoring in 1986-87, but other than his 20.7-point scoring average nothing would be the same. The Nets went 24-58. The Bulls went 40-42 — 10 games better than the Woolridge-led team the previous year — and were on their way to greatness.
Jordan and the Bulls eventually reached the pinnacle, but Woolridge never did. It was the story of his career, and his life, as it turns out. Woolridge played with Jordan and the Bulls but not when they won NBA titles. He played with Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the Lakers (1988-90), but not when they won titles. He played with Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars with the Pistons (1991-93), but not when they won titles.
Woolridge finished his NBA career with Moses Malone and the 76ers in 1993-94 — when both Moses and the Sixers were a shell of their 1983 NBA championship team. The Sixers went 25-57.
Woolridge’s Bulls career was typically unsatisfying. The Bulls selected him over Oregon State’s Steve Johnson with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1981 draft. He was a contract holdout as a rookie and missed the first five games of the 1981-82 season. The Bulls had an opportunity to trade him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Mike Mitchell and Bill Laimbeer, but turned it down. He finally signed a five-year, $1.5 million contract. His first appearance in an NBA game was delayed momentarily when he answered coach Jerry Sloan’s call off the bench, but couldn’t get his warmups off. Woolridge averaged 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds a game as a rookie.
Woolridge developed into a capable NBA scorer — he averaged 16.5 points a game in his second season with the Bulls. But trouble never seemed too far from him. In 1986, concerned about upcoming contract negotiations, he went AWOL for two games in March. He apologized and was fined. But his Bulls career was all but over. The Bulls drafted Brad Sellers in 1986 when it was unclear whether Woolridge would return. They let him sign with the Nets in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. It ended up being Stacey King, drafted sixth overall in 1989. The disappointing Woolridge era had come full circle.
But if it was difficult for the Bulls, it was more difficult for Woolridge. A flamboyant, gregarious personality, Woolridge was a star who never became a star at a time when the NBA was making a star out of almost anyone who wanted to be one. Woolridge was a big-time scorer on bad teams — the 1984-85 Bulls (38-44), the 1985-86 Bulls (30-52), the 1986-87 Nets (24-58) and the 90-91 Denver Nuggets (20-62). As a role player, he was never the guy to put a team over the top.
After his NBA career, he played overseas and coached in the WNBA, but never totally got his life together. In February, Woolridge was arrested for stealing aluminum tubing in Louisiana. The material was sold for scrap — an unfortunate final public chapter to the Orlando Woolridge story.
From the Chicago Sun Times
Sent from my iPhone
These girls were wearing glitter gowns and rhinestone covered shoes - we came to the game in slacks and a nice sweater set. We had to go to work the next morning, these chicks were open all night. They were Saturday night, and we were Sunday School. Maybe it was sitting in the midst of those gaudy get-ups that made us stand out.
That night Sidney Green sent one of his boys up to get us - he had taken an interest to one of the girls in our group, and we hopped in a cab with the guy and had dinner after the game. It wasn't pheasant under glass and lobster tail, it was more like Bennigan's.
That night Sidney met us and brought along Orlando Woolridge and a new rookie named Charles Oakley. These guys were all about our age, so we weren't cowed or intimidated in any way. They were fresh out of school just like we were, and they were tall, knew how to dance, and it was a new experience. We hung out with them a lot, we even spent very short spurts of time with the infamous Quintin Dailey and a young phenom named Michael Jordan.
They were learning Chicago, and learning how to handle themselves and their fame. It was a lesson for all of us, and I was willing to teach as much as I learned. Working at the Palmer House on the night shift was like working a confessional in Sodom and Gomorrah - so these young brothers were like lambs to the slaughter in my eyes. We taught them how to avoid waking up in the middle of the street in their underwear and we got to witness the raw side of fame up close and personal.
It can't be fun to live your entire life as the king of the hill, only to reach your ultimate dream and realize that your best still isn't good enough. It's not Jordan's fault that he was absolutely the best out there, that the accolades all seemed to be showered on him.
Some people buckle down and pull themselves together when they see they aren't hitting the high notes, and other people stop competing. It was a little like living in the movie "Amadeus". Woolridge will always have my gratitude for telling me the truth about sharing your life with a professional athlete - your sport comes first - it's literally the only thing you have depended on your entire life, so you will do whatever it takes to make sure you can depend on your ability to perform - because when that day comes that you can't depend on your ability - you don't have a lifeline to cling to. He taught me that it ain't all peaches and cream and that's insight you can't learn in a book.
Tough luck always followed former Bull Orlando Woolridge
6/1/12 7:27 PM
By: MARK POTASH Twitter: @MarkPotash
Orlando Woolridge always seemed to be at the right place at the wrong time.
The former Bulls forward, who died at 52 Friday of an apparent heart condition at his parents house in his hometown of Mansfield, La., parlayed his unique physical abilities — his small-forward skills in the body of a 6-9, 220-pound power forward were hardly the norm in the late 1970s and early 1980s — into a four-year career at Notre Dame and 13-year career in the NBA.
But he was born either too early or too late. He hit the NBA when the league was mired in a drug culture that ruined careers and threatened the popularity of the league — Woolridge eventually was suspended in 1987 for violating the league’s drug policy. He would play for five different teams in the final six years of his NBA career that ended with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1994.
There have been far more tragic figures than Orlando Woolridge in NBA history, but he had a star-crossed, tough-luck career. Woolridge averaged 16 points a game over 13 NBA seasons. He averaged 22.9 points a game in Michael Jordan’s rookie season of 1984-85 and averaged 20.7 points the following year, when Jordan missed most of the season with a broken foot.
And then he left. At 26, Woolridge signed a free-agent contract with the New Jersey Nets in 1986. The Bulls had the right to match the offer, but let him go for a No. 1 draft pick and two No. 2s.
It was typical of the poor timing that haunted Woolridge’s career. With Jordan healthy, the best was yet to come for the Bulls. With recently hired Doug Collins, the Bulls had a coach who would specialize in nurturing young talented players like Woolridge. Woolridge would lead the Nets in scoring in 1986-87, but other than his 20.7-point scoring average nothing would be the same. The Nets went 24-58. The Bulls went 40-42 — 10 games better than the Woolridge-led team the previous year — and were on their way to greatness.
Jordan and the Bulls eventually reached the pinnacle, but Woolridge never did. It was the story of his career, and his life, as it turns out. Woolridge played with Jordan and the Bulls but not when they won NBA titles. He played with Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the Lakers (1988-90), but not when they won titles. He played with Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars with the Pistons (1991-93), but not when they won titles.
Woolridge finished his NBA career with Moses Malone and the 76ers in 1993-94 — when both Moses and the Sixers were a shell of their 1983 NBA championship team. The Sixers went 25-57.
Woolridge’s Bulls career was typically unsatisfying. The Bulls selected him over Oregon State’s Steve Johnson with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1981 draft. He was a contract holdout as a rookie and missed the first five games of the 1981-82 season. The Bulls had an opportunity to trade him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Mike Mitchell and Bill Laimbeer, but turned it down. He finally signed a five-year, $1.5 million contract. His first appearance in an NBA game was delayed momentarily when he answered coach Jerry Sloan’s call off the bench, but couldn’t get his warmups off. Woolridge averaged 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds a game as a rookie.
Woolridge developed into a capable NBA scorer — he averaged 16.5 points a game in his second season with the Bulls. But trouble never seemed too far from him. In 1986, concerned about upcoming contract negotiations, he went AWOL for two games in March. He apologized and was fined. But his Bulls career was all but over. The Bulls drafted Brad Sellers in 1986 when it was unclear whether Woolridge would return. They let him sign with the Nets in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. It ended up being Stacey King, drafted sixth overall in 1989. The disappointing Woolridge era had come full circle.
But if it was difficult for the Bulls, it was more difficult for Woolridge. A flamboyant, gregarious personality, Woolridge was a star who never became a star at a time when the NBA was making a star out of almost anyone who wanted to be one. Woolridge was a big-time scorer on bad teams — the 1984-85 Bulls (38-44), the 1985-86 Bulls (30-52), the 1986-87 Nets (24-58) and the 90-91 Denver Nuggets (20-62). As a role player, he was never the guy to put a team over the top.
After his NBA career, he played overseas and coached in the WNBA, but never totally got his life together. In February, Woolridge was arrested for stealing aluminum tubing in Louisiana. The material was sold for scrap — an unfortunate final public chapter to the Orlando Woolridge story.
From the Chicago Sun Times
Sent from my iPhone
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