Starting Over

Will I come back

Several times a day I'm asked whether or not I'll return to New Orleans. Some say the city will never be the same.

But unless you've been to New Orleans—unless you've lived there, it's impossible to understand the powerful, magical personality that New Orleans has. It's addictive. There is no doubt in my mind that New Orleans will be rebuilt. While many people have left—some for good—I believe most, including myself, will return at some point in their lives. It's just impossible to live in New Orleans for any period of time and not be able to think of it as home.

So I will return. Not tomorrow, next week, or probably even next year, but sometime in the future. I've been wanting to move out of New Orleans for quite some time. I'm ready to travel. But because the city is so magnetic it's hard to leave,  even for a short time. So I'm taking this opportunity to leave the nest and spread my wings. When will I come back? I'm not sure, but I will. Maybe when the Saints win the Superbowl.

Appointments

Well, after week one of Katrina we all knew Director Brown was not exactly on top of his game. Week two gave us a look into his past, proving that his (lack of) qualifications are the reason. I think political appointments are one of the most overlooked presidential powers. Especially when the President's party also controls Congress. Frankly I'm concerned about who he's appointing to the Supreme Court.

When the dust settles I hope all of the blame isn't placed on just Brown's shoulders. It goes much higher than that.

More news on unsung heroes

It seems like just the other day I was saying how difficult employers can be. But it also seems that many businesses that have employees in the New Orleans area are doing everything they can to help.

I've spoken to several friends and family members who are still getting paid, although there is little to no work that can be done until the city is cleaned up. I've also spoken to several of my clients who are struggling to Make Things Happen so that payroll can go out just like normal. It takes a tremendous effort in order for it to work, and the fact that many businesses are attempting this at all when they have such a great excuse for not paying their employees is a sign of both compassion and professionalism. These are some of the many heroes that you will never hear about on the news.

On a side note, this past week I started setting up temporary email systems and discussion forums for several New Orleans-based businesses. This is helping both clients and employees, who are now spread throughout the country, communicate with each other. I'm only charging $50 for the whole setup, which can take me several hours. I figure it's the least I can do to help.

Thank You FEMA

Although I'm not very pleased with most of FEMA's relief efforts, I do think the $2000 debit card/bank deposit is a great idea. Many people I know lost their jobs, at least temporarily, and that extra bit of spending money really helps. Especially when gas prices are through the roof.

I filled out my application on the FEMA web site a few days ago. For some reason it told me that I was not eligible for FEMA assistance. What did I do wrong? I thought they were giving these out to everyone in the area? But when I checked my bank balance today I noticed that they actually deposited the money into my account. I would have appreciated some kind of "Please give us a few days while we process your app" message, but beggars can't be choosers. Thank you FEMA.

Marketing Myself

Even though I decided to continue my consulting business, I am still sending out resumes.Although I am almost positive I won't accept any of the positions offered to me, there are several reasons why I don't think of it as a waste of time:

1. The Impossible. The off chance that I actually find a great company to work for (and that gives me the opportunity to advance to a management or partnership role in the future).
2. Contacts. Basically I need to get my name in front of as many people as possible. Even if there isn't an opportunity to work together at the moment, there may be some time in the future. This is what business networking is all about: long-term relationships.
3. Insight. Because most of my work revolves around the hiring process (see EmployApp, my hiring management software, as well as ERS , Brooke , Agilogic, and the many other clients I have in the HR industry), it's important that I understand the mind of a job seeker and the process they go through.

But as I was talking to a friend of mine she suggested one other reason that I didn't think of. Even if I'm not particularly interested in any of the jobs, I'm still gaining Experience.

"Wait a second", I said. "I've been in 4-hour meetings to sell EmployApp to Boards of Directors and C-level employees of large corporations. I have experience." She argued that there was a difference. The more I think about it, the more I am starting to realize that she was right—and that the main reason why I decided to go into business for myself is this: it's actually easier to sell a product or service than to sell yourself.

• I don't take it personally when a prospect doesn't buy from me.
• I go on sales meetings, not interviews.
• No one asks me to take a personality test or pass a background check.

I guess I never realized it before, but I can't believe what most people put up with in order to get a job. Employers are a real pain in the ass.

Back In The Groove?

Spent most of the day looking for work and buying parts to get my computer up and running. Took two trips to Comp USA to get everything working. You'd think that with all my computer knowledge I'd get the right part the first time. What can I say, some people are idiots.

So now it's back to business.

Fortunately not all my clients are located in the disaster area, and it looks like one of my upcoming projects will still come through. Unfortunately I owe most of this money to other people, but at least I'll be semi debt-free when I'm done.

I may already have a few projects to work on in North Carolina, thanks to Monster.com and a certain friend's Dad. Some of them sound very promising, although I don't want to jynx them by talking about it too much.

Also on my list for this week is to build some kind of portfolio web site to illustrate my work experience. I'm not sure why, but working on my own portfolio is always the hardest thing about my job. I started working on a resume but quickly realized there is no possible way I can work for someone else's company. Nothing against it, but I have a talent for doing things the hard way, so instead of looking for a full-time position, I'm looking to rebuild my consulting practice. This is the same reason I decided to start my own business in the first place.

On that note I bought some special paper from Office Depot so that I can begin handing out makeshift business cards. I hate the idea of using the out-the-box paper over getting them printed professionally, but they'll have to do for now. So far I have found that most people are sympathetic to my situation and aren't expecting that much from me.

I'm beginning to feel like I have a license to kill - or at least to get away with a few things that I normally couldn't. Of those luxuries, I particularly enjoyed speeding down the highway en route to North Carolina. Of course I'm not sure if even this special circumstance could have gotten me out of a 110 mph ticket, but I figured there's only one way to find out.

Now my main problem is that I have no reason not to get back to work. Because I was already on a scheduled vacation for 2 weeks when the storm hit, I haven't really worked (other than occasional phone calls or emails) in about a month. I'm trying not to sound spoiled, but it really is hard to pick up and get back to it all of a sudden. Hopefully in a few days this feeling will subside. I can't afford for it not to.

For anyone who has had a hard time at work after a long time off, you know what I mean.

Politics

I didn't intend for this to become a political blog, but in some ways it is.

BBC News has posted a harsh editorial proclaiming that because of Katrina the Bush Administration's spin tactics are no longer being tolerated. I can recall at one point watching, on the left side of the screen, the Director of FEMA preach that everything was under control, and on the right side was footage of people dying because of a lack of basic supplies. What shocked me even more was that this occured on Fox, which takes the prize for most conservative news network.

However, something tells me the whole story isn't being told. Here's a quote from an email I received which gives an update on what Congress will be up to in the next few weeks:

Now, as Republicans head back to Washington, instead of addressing the disaster left by Hurricane Katrina, they're planning to focus first on passing tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of the country.

Pushing the Estate Tax through on Tuesday isn't just bad timing, it's terrible policy.

At a time when the nation desperately needs funds to respond to this disaster and prevent future ones, the Estate Tax would reduce tax revenues by billions.

At a time when charities are struggling to raise enough money to deal with the need, the Estate Tax would dramatically damage their bottom line.  A significant portion of the funds charities raise are given by wealthy people when they die; repealing the Estate Tax would change that dramatically.

And at a time when it's never been clearer that the nation's poor are in serious trouble—that your class background can literally determine if you live or die—the Estate Tax would further concentrate resources in the hands of the very few and very rich.

When so many people are in harm's way, we need to do everything we can to make sure Congress focuses on the relief effort—not pushing along their right-wing agenda.

the Warm Fuzzy™ feeling

Sometimes I wish I was a firefighter. The desire to help other people in need is such a strong part of my nature. Any time I hear a story where someone was helped or rescued in a Big Way, it gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. People do care about other people. We're not in it alone.

OK, I'll never be a firefighter, but I'm trying to think of creative ways that I can help the hurricane relief effort. I know I'm on the victim side, but when I see so many acts of kindness being done every day it makes me wish I was a part of it.

There were the NOPD officers who patrolled for 3 days straight until the military finally got there.

There were the hundreds of people who opened their homes to people they've never met but who are now homeless.

There were the Salvation Army people who organized an outpost at a rest area all the way in Georgia. They were ready to give me more food than I could possibly eat, including hot dogs, which I've been fiending for ever since I left Rio. I asked the paramedic for an aspirin and she gave me a whole bottle.

There was the guy who gave my car a jump at 4 am because my battery died (car, I'm very disappointed in you).

There are the thousands of other people who I'm forgetting to mention here, but that's my point exactly. They're not doing it to be remembered, but because they care. Thanks.

My hero

Although there are many, many heroes following hurricane Katrina, this man stands out. In a time when politicians just can't wait to get on the air and broadcast to the world what they are doing to help the hurricane victims, this man is invisible. In a time when politicians stress that the hurricane relief efforts are in full swing, this man has the courage to challenge the powers at be and question why they are doing almost nothing to help.

I've always been a big fan of Mayor Ray Nagin. The following audio clip speaks volumes about why I love him so much. Be advised - much of this was never aired on the national news. The full story is a sharp contradiction to the televised comments of both the Director of FEMA and President Bush. I, like Mayor Nagin, want to know what's going on here.

http://www.atypical.net/mm/nagin.mp3

CD Collection

I almost cried.

My bags were packed, and I was ready to go. It was an overcast, hazy afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, and suddenly I heard the faint sound of a car horn. It was the signal for me to end my vacation and begin the long, perilous journey to build my life over from scratch.

Well, not completely from scratch. Good grace was on my side, and several remnants from my former life were still intact (fortunately, the most important ones). While I lost most of my possessions, I still had the few items I brought along to Rio, along with the promise of my car and computer, which would be waiting for me when I returned to the US.

The night before my flight I began plotting the course I would have to drive in order to reach my final destination, North Carolina. From Baton Rouge, where I was to pick up my car, I had a 25 hour drive to look forward to. By myself.

Well, I figured, it's not the end of the world. At least I have my car. I can get in my car, blast the stereo, and unwind. To me it's the best therapy in the world. Luckily I brought my CD collection to Rio with me, and I had more than enough to keep me entertained during the long ride.

The taxi honked again. Hmm, I wonder where those CDs are. Can't seem to find them anywhere. Ask around the house. No one has seen them. My friend suggests that some house guests may have mistakenly taken them home with them. Taxi honks again.

Rage starts to bubble (or maybe it was sadness, or some deeper, unknown emotion), but I supress it. This is the last time I will see my best friend for a long time, and it wasn't worth spoiling the moment. We say our goodbyes and I instruct the taxi driver, in broken Portuguese, to take me to the airport.

All of a sudden it sinks in. I realize for the first time what my life will be like now. Up until that point I had constructed in my mind a gradual transition to my new life using familiar things from my previous life...my car, my clothes, my computer, and my CDs, for example. Sure, I had to start over, but at least I had the essentials.

I began thinking about how long it took me to compile my CD collection. I began thinking about how long it took to make those CDs, about all the memories, about all the good times I had with that music in the background. I suddenly realized how long of a drive it would be to my new home without my music. It was supposed to be my crutch. My eyes began to tear up. It was like reality broadsiding me in the face. Just when I thought almost everything I had worked so hard for was gone, something else was taken away from me.

Buy hey, sometimes starting over is the best thing that can happen to a person. I just wish maybe the credit card companies I owe money to felt the same way. Chase, are you listening?