11-1-11 Starbucks - Create Jobs for USA

I bought into the concept of Starbucks CEO meaning to do well, thus I donated $5.00 for a braclet to help support the program.  Now, let's see if they can support me, a business man barely surviving and homeless.  Can they help me get an investment loan that will allow me to hire the staff back, to keep my business alive and to help the 100 authors and artist that count on me?  I hope so!

Life goes on...I go on.

11-1-11

Eelier in my postings, I had been clear that there were several issues that combined caused my current situation.  I have talked briefly about one of them, now it’s time to discuss another one.

I have no education from a college of any type on how to run a business.  Everything I know has been from practical experience in running restaurants to my own businesses in the past.

When a large publishing firm s crewed up one of my books, I was furious to say the least.  That to me was the death of my book and it was from that anger that I set out to create my own publishing company.

That was part of the error, no experience in the publishing world that would prove vital to establishing a publishing company.  I was therefore on a very steep learning curve that lasted four years.  Thankfully, it was while the eBook generation was being created, so like many companies, I was learning the same thing they were at the same time.

One of the other issues of starting the business was not being 100% clear about the service I was offering.  At first it was along the lines of a self publishing company format.  Over time it grew into a traditional publishing house, with the emphasis on new authors and artist.  Helping them to become their best and ultimately recovering my investment with a best seller or two.  That has not come to fruitarian as I had hoped for.

Another issue was my contract.  At no time had I locked any of my autho5rs into a multiple book deal.  That has proven costly.

Finally the big problem that every business can find themselves in is the lack of start up funds.  This has been the biggest error in starting the business.

Not having the knowledge of how to create a biz plan, and how to find investors, I have limped along from book to book.  When I did expect certain flows of income to happen, but found myself in a position of scrambling when authors missed deadlines, or printers not producing the books as hired to do, and not having the money to sue anyone for their failure to full fill their contract.  This last part alone has cost me to lose over $100,000 in revenue.

Not having the funds to hire an attorney is one of the most frustrating aspects I am dealing with.  What happened to Lawyers protecting the common man?  Forget that!  If you don’t have the money to pay their outrageous fees that are monopolized by their organizations you are screwed!

Now know that I didn’t have the knowledge to create a proper biz plan, I sought out organizations that help give you the basic knowledge, but that’s all you get, is very basic knowledge.  I don’t have the funds to enroll into a community college to learn about it.  And I have become ever so clear that investment funds are not really available for publishing companies.  Thus, I remain at square one, lack of funds.

Now that’s all the negative parts of this issue.  Here is the positive.  I come from a writer’s perspective.  I’ve gone through the publishing experiences of self publishing and large house publishing.  I know and understand what authors need and by not having full knowledge of what publishing traditions is, I can and do think outside the box.  Creative ways to help market my authors and their books.  Some of that works, some of it doesn’t.  But, I have to be honest and admit; not having the money is THE biggest obstacle that keeps me from succeeding.  And that Must and Will change.  Now, I just need the economy to cooperate…lol

Life goes on…I go on.

11-1-11 Occupy Austin

I really do want the Occupy movement to succeed, but I am still greatly concerned over the lack of direction it has.  Here is an example:

A group meets as the finance committee last night.  I sensed from what I heard that it was their first meeting.  Apparently, money has been donated to the group, and it was time to become financially responsible for it and the group.  As the meeting seems to stumble along, I asked someone what they were fore, they stated Occupy Austin.  I thing asked, “Ok, what is Occupy Austin?”  As usual they could not answer the question, and the first person I asked, pushed me off to someone else in the group to answer the question.  They too, could not answer the question.  So I then asked, "If you cannot tell me what Occupy Austin is, then how can you open a checking account?"  They were quick to say, well join our group and help us figure that out.  Sorry, but finances is not my thing as demonstrated by my own company.  However, I did know that real soon, today preferably, if not last night, people within the group of Occupy Austin and all other groups were going to have to determine what Occupy is.  Is it a political action group, an educational group, a for profit, or non-profit, etc.  If they don’t address this and begin moving in some direction, they will be lost. 

If been hounding this issue for the past week now and I feel it falling on deaf ears.  The die hoards that spend the nights in the tents don’t want to do much more.  The die hoards that are trying to create something are allowing too much influence from everyone to keep them from becoming something.  There is absolutely no reason at all that Occupy must be just one thing.  This group and the movement can become many things, various groups splintering off from the main source.  But sometime real soon, if they don’t become something, other than an occupying group, the movement will be lost. 

I do what I can when I can, and that is very, very limited I am sorry to say.  My focus is my business and for me to no longer be homeless.  Until that is corrected and improved upon, my time for the Occupy movement will remain limited.  I just hope what I write does help others to be moved in some way to help out and make the change that is necessary.

Life goes on…I go on.

10-31-11 Occupy Politics

Earlier today, I went down to Occupy Austin to see what was happening with the organization considering the current arrest that has been made.   It is clear that the numbers are down, and that the moral is starting to sway a bit.  It is also clear that many people are more energized to keeping the movement alive.  While I talked with a couple of people it became clearer to me that they do need to take on a Political aspect to their movement.  I had posted on this subject earlier in the day.  Thus, the reason for this follow posting now.

Below is the beginning concept of what I feel needs to be created to keep the Occupy movement alive.  It is rough, and I am sure it needs some more feedback from those involved.  So, please feel free to email me at OccupyPolitics@live.com, or add your response here to my posting.

Life goes on…I go on

Occupy Politics

Occupy Politics is a grass roots organization born out of the Occupy protest movement.

Goal:

To be a clear voice for Middle America politics that clearly finds the middle ground of the Right and the Left to keep our country strong, vibrant and powerful on a global basis.

An Occupy congress is created first on a local city by city level, then by State level from those city organizations, then a National level by the state organizations.  Each entity is to be focused on the issues related to their local needs and desires, while then addressing it on a State and National level as needed.

To create an Occupy congress, participants within the individual Occupy movements will select one person from each of the follow categories:

Caucasian

Hispanic/Latino

African American/Black

Asian

Other Nationalities that are represented within their Occupy group as needed.

LeTs Bi Gay/Homosexual

Straight/Heterosexual

Male

Female

Democratic

Republican

Independent

Homeowner

Homeless

Income of less than 25,000

Income of $25,000 to $50,000

Income of $50,000 to $100,000

Income of over $100,000

A spokes person, a treasurer, a director and a Chairman will also be selected from the group.

It should be noted that on an ideal basis, one person should only represent one category, so that they may be able to focus on the concerns and issues for that group, thus not having their time & energy divided up by other category issues. 

It should also be noted that no one racial or ethnic group should have a majority of elected members.

The strength of the organization will cause the party leaders from political groups to respond to and work with Occupy Politics.  Furthermore, those seeking a political office will address gatherings of Occupy Politics within their area.

At NO time, will an Occupy Politics organization support in any manor via an endorsement, financial aid, financial gift, or an6y other form, a political group or person running for a politi9cal office.

8-31-11 Love

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a Halloween party.  During the event, I was flirted with by many people, as I also flirted.  It was a lot of fun and it was good for my ego.  However, there was one person that I had flirted with previously that said they would call, and had previously mentioned that they were in the middle of mid-terms.  I had posted about this person and another one previously.

Today, I post that I am still confused with some people.  This person was all over me that evening, and we said and did things that were fun.  I, however, was also very clear with what my feelings are for this person, and while they seem to reciprocate, it also seemed later after not hearing from them, that they are all talk and no action.  This really sucks!  We all put ourselves out there at some time, and most of the time, it does not work.  But, why can’t people be honest with themselves and others?

I am at the point that I really can’t date anyone, as I had mentioned before, I can’t really see myself inviting someone back to my storage unit for a sleep over, or dinner.  Plus, the money is not there.  Let’s face it; it’s not cheap to date these days…lol.

But, at the same time, I want to be clear about my feelings, so that if they are interested in some extent, then they will either work with it, or if they are not interested, then say no.  But to act and to say things that lead a person on is just not right.

The other issue is also where I meet people.  Let’s face it; there are not many good healthy places to meet people these days.  Bar’s and friends are about it.  Friends mean well, but they really don’t know you enough to select your future spouse.  Bar’s are about drinking and one night stands more than about meeting your future spouse.  So, you go on with life, and meet people in various places, not sure if you can really flirt with them for you don’t know if they are married, seeing someone, etc.  And then you run into those who want a sexual encounter, but not a romance, that’s another headache all together.

On a spiritual level, yeah, I know, the person that I have chosen to be with will come when we have chosen it to happen.  Until then, I really shouldn’t get frustrated and annoyed, but just enjoy everyone I meet.

Life goes on…I go on.

10-31-11 Occupy Austin

Well, the city of Austin has started to treat he Occupiers like all the other cities have, as a nosecones and something to get rid of.  I understand their frustration, they’ve been Occupying the front square of city hall for 24 days and not much has come from it.  But that sadly is the case for all of the Occupy cities.  So many of the Occupiers claim there is not one person in charge of their group, that they all are in charge and that they all vote on what the movement wants and declares it to be.  But, in the process, things are not getting done at a pace that will keep the movement alive.  Instead, this slow Occupying process is just that Occupying.  No movement, no forward motion.

On Saturday, I was there to be a part of the march.  The march started late, so I could not stay as long as I wanted to.  During my time there, I was able to talk with a few people, including those who were doing independent films.  The same conscious aspect was emerging from each person, enough Occupying and now let’s do something that moves the movement forward.  The march a few weeks ago that closed out some bank accounts at Chase and B of A was a good move; it made the banks aware that there was some backbone to the movement, the anger.  But that was it, nothing else is happening.

Therefore, the cities are starting to get tired of it and want the Occupiers gone.  If no political power is created, then there is no reason to keep the movement alive.  It is past the time for Occupy to do something of value, other than occupying. 

I strongly encourage ALL Occupy cities to have an internet conference and begin to act as a political movement.  Choose someone from each city to represent the city, and then choose a group of people from those to represent the country, etc.  Create the power of a political movement, for that is the only aspect that politicians will listen to.  Create a platform that majority of American’s can support, that is in the middle of the Right and of the Left.  Not everyone will be happy, they never are.  But, by creating the single voices, you begin to give a focal point that people can see and can begin to get behind.  Right now, Occupy is occupying and losing their momentum.  Don’t let this happen!

Oh, and for those of you who always encourage people to take up the fight and do something, don’t keep passing the buck.  You are there; you are a diehard Occupier, so make the movement move forward and become a true reality of change.  Those of us that are doing our best to survive will be there when we can.

Life goes on…I go on.

10-31-11

Happy Halloween!  I have been homeless for over a month and now well into the Fall weather and the Holidays.  What will the following days and weeks bring to me?

On a good note, I was able to “Borrow from Peter to pay Paul,” as the saying goes, and pay for November rent on my storage unit.  That is good…lol  It cost me an extra amount, but hopefully, it was worth it in the longer term.

The weekend was full of interesting events, and for that reason, I will break the postings down into smaller ones to help with the flow and the interest.  What I will say here is that as I go through this event in my life, I do my best to not look or act homeless.  That means, I wash my clothes as and keep them as clean as possible.  I make sure I keep my gym membership so I can shower daily, and thankfully, help me work out and relive some stress as well.  Thus, when I talk to someone in person, I don’t want them to know I am homeless by my looks or actions.  I will, if I so choose will tell them that I am homeless.  Homelessness is not something to be proud of, and it is not something that I wish for anyone, unless they want it and there are plenty of people happy to do so.  But for myself, and the millions of others that are caught in this situation, I pray to God that something changes soon in our politics, and our mental consciousness to share the wealth and to make all living beings healthier, happier people.

Life goes on…I go on.