16

16, the number of months I've been out of work. Do not feel bad for me. I've been busting my ass, and will shortly show you numbers to back that up. But first, I have to share this article from one of my local news affiliates here in the Denver area, regarding people losing their unemployment benefits. While you may think the news is tragic, it's not. It's sad, but not tragic. I want you to concentrate on the comments section, to see ignorance at its finest. To see political party line talking points. To see the nastiness of the human element. I don't want a handout, I want a job folks. I have a meeting this afternoon that might turn into something that could blow the doors off of any and everything I've thought of doing. I will keep y'all posted on that. Back to the comments section, I have rarely, if ever, tried to tell someone that they just need to get a job. It's difficult to get a job when so few are hiring. I do my networking, and mostly have been relying on my personal network to get anywhere. Believe me, Careerbuilder and Monster are nice ideas, but it's been proven that they are resume black holes, or your info gets stuck in a pile. I'm starting to think the same about LinkedIn and their job postings as well.

As for extending unemployment benefits, I'm torn. I'd appreciate the ability to continue to collect (just a note, I haven't been collecting for 16 months, probably half that time, if that), but I don't want any dime I get to add to the deficit. If the people in DC wanted to extend unemployment by using unused stimulus funds, I'd be down for that. I don't like being a burden, or even remotely feeling like a burden.

Just know that since yesterday afternoon, I've had a lot of good things shined upon me. I'm blessed to have great friends, and I know this. I'm glad they help keep my spirits high when they know I'm a bit down or feeling overwhelmed. Just go back to that link and read those comments, and how mean you can read some people being. I know, when I write this blog I am a brutal most of the time, but I don't remember calling anyone a bum or a shiftless layabout.

Since numbers (in my case) don't lie, I'll let you judge if I'm lazy or not.

646-Number of jobs applied for this calendar year (2010)
Break it down further, it's 445/Denver, 201 everywhere else.

798-Total for 16 months
Break it down further, it's 563 Denver, 235 everywhere else.

In my posting '15', the total number was 671.

So, if you can do math, that means for the month of November, I did 127. Please, tell me I'm not hustling. Because right now I'm not mad, angry, bitter or jaded. All you'd get out of me is a sly smirk, because I know what I've been up to.

Good things will happen, just be compassionate to your friends right now, you have no clue if they're struggling with being out of work. Ego plays a huge part in all of this. And I know plenty who could use a boost-a smile or a text message or an email or dear heavens a phone call would do wonders. If you've got the time and the postage, drop a line in that thing called the mail.

To my boy Toledo Rob-congrats on the new gig!! So happy for you, and know that good things will continue to happen for you, because you're on the grind.