Friday, September 30, 2005

Failure vs. Success: Unemployment

Right now I am unemployed for the third time this year; and, I am wondering what have I done to deserve this! I have both an MBA and a BA, strong data analysis, economic research and communication skills; however, this unemployment spell has been gnawing at my soul. I have value but it is hard to land a job here in Cleveland. I just don’t know. I have racked up frequent-flyer interviewing for economist positions in Washington, DC (because, hey, at least those employers are interested!). This state of not working has somewhat eroded my self-confidence because I don’t know when it will end. Hopefully soon because I cannot face being unemployed anymore.

Minor Setback

I have delayed taking the written portion of the driving test until Tuesday because I do not have a great grasp on the points and traffic violations yet; however, by the weekend, I will.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

What's Good About Cleveland

This post derived from today's Field Economist phone interview. The interviewer wanted me to write a two to three-page essay about What's good about Cleveland? Below is my essay.

What is good about Cleveland

Cleveland, a city of a little over 500,000 people, is a cosmopolitan metropolis with an abundance of arts, music and entertainment to satisfy anyone.

Arts, Culture and Entertainment
During this summer, I partook in three different but amazing festivals. The first one was IngenuityCleveland, a festival which combined arts, culture and music with technology and innovation. Throughout the Labor Day weekend, I was treated to the Cleveland Museum of Art incorporated technology to offer visitors a fresh perspective on art. There were 3-D animated movies and a laser machine that uncovered Picasso’s mistakes in one of his blue period paintings. NASA Glenn Research Center highlighted its Garrett Morgan Business Initiative partnership with a Cleveland school to teach students about implementing music with computers. During the hour-presentation, local music production and filmmaking were highlighted. The Art Gallery Hop offered me a chance to view various downtown, East and West art galleries via a trolley. During this event, three other festivals, Tremont Art Festival, the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper’s ArtJam Festival and the Cleveland Playhouse Theater’s Centerfest, ran concurrently allowing me to culturally immerse myself in art, acting, ballet, fashion and theatre. At the ArtJam Festival, I visited Pink’s Daily Planner, a start-up haute couture here in Cleveland; while attending the Tremont Festival I ate sweet potato chips. The Taste of Cleveland, also during the Labor Day weekend, I enjoyed music entertainments and numerous concerts from big-name artists.

Sports
Cleveland is home to a bunch of die-hard fanatics. Right now the Cleveland Indians are tied with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees for the American League wild-card pennant race. I am also an avid fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers (basketball) and the Cleveland Browns (NFL football) as well as the Ohio State Buckeyes! Plus I religiously watch Channel 5’s Sports Saturday and Sunday; Channel 3 The Point After and Channel 19’s Sunday and Monday BrownsTown for all of the latest sports information.

Travel
Cleveland is strategically located 500 miles from both Washington, DC and New York City. Its prime location provides the access to diverse array of cultures, arts, theater and entertainment, because I can take either a plane, bus or train to these two cities. I have accumulated frequent flyer miles because of my jet-setting lifestyle and my love for arts, culture and entertainment. Washington, DC has the Smithsonian while New York City has Broadway. During my last DC trip, I visited the Freer Art Gallery where I viewed the Asian, African and Arabian artwork. As a connoisseur, Cleveland’s location allows me to get my art fill.

Cleveland offers an eclectic mix of arts, culture, and entertainment and many travel options to other cultural hubs. This is an exciting place where there is always something interesting to do, and these three things are what is good about Cleveland.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

I have finally done! I have finally walked into the Maple Heights Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 9am to ask about the written test examination procedures. The state patrolman asked if my license was suspended to which I replied, "No." Then he said to complete the paperwork and wait in line. It was THAT easy! While leaving, I notice that the bureau opens at 8am. I will be there bright and early at 8am Thursday morning because I will pass the written test, obtain my temporary license and become more self-reliant in the process.

I have been scared about securing a license because of my epilepsy and seeing numerous crashes on television and personally being affected by my mother's car accident; however, today, is the first step towards getting over that fear.

Henceforth, from each day onward I will devote myself towards becoming more self-reliant.

My Financial Aha! Moment

I have just had my Aha! Moment today while reading the backcover of the Sister CEO book. A famous actress asserted that the author's book, "enables me to see that if I could take 10% of my money and give to tithes or charities, I could also take at least 10% and reinvest in myself and my children to come."

That was a powerful statement because it makes me realize how I should allocate my money. I can save 10% for donation, therefore, I can save 10% of my money towards my business. No doubt the Sister CEO book will provide me with a wealth of knowledge which has placed me on the right path towards becoming the first black Fortune 500 CEO with majority ownership!

Gallery Hopping Part 1

I took the 7:48am 19 bus downtown to get a bite to eat then connect with the 9:01am 25B. Well, that didn’t work because I missed the bus by thismuch and was forced to wait another thirty minutes. Rats! This detour made me lost because MLK Drive is in a different location on Woodland Avenue than Buckeye. Lost I asked an old man for directions to MLK Drive off of Buckeye. Two lights down, he responded. While walking down Buckeye en route to my destination, Full Gospel Evangelistic Church, the 25B magically appears passing me as it chugs uphill to South Moreland. What do you know?!

At least I hadn’t arrived too late I secretly murmured to myself as I finally arrive, however, there is another problem confronting me: how to enter this fortress. The steel fences locked the church and I could had located any entry. Luckily, passerby familiar with the neighborhood and he too leaving a volunteer assignment at a local church found one. Immediately I scrambled inside the church to begin work. Throughout the incessant downpour, the rain didn’t make the basement musty! Yet the work area was twenty degrees hotter than the hallway. Upon entering the volunteer room, I met with the coordinator who told me where my t-shirt and name sticker were. After putting them on, I asked for instructions. He instructed me to vacuum the floor to get rid of the plaster. The only way to cut the industrial vacuum cleaner on and off was through the plug so everytime I used it I had to scoot down on the floor with the millipedes to put the plug back into the socket! L The coordinator took pictures of us working with this digital camera and throughout the day we discussed our lives after Hiram. Honestly, I was amazed that I was one of the youngest alumni there especially in the Cleveland metropolitan area. Being the youngest was an asset to me because I could talk to engage in conversation with everybody from the alumni to staff.

During my doughnut break, I talked with the panty coordinator. An elderly lady in her sixties, she discussed the length of the program, its service to the community and her family. She had two daughters: one who worked in Washington, DC at the Internal Revenue Service (is that I sign since my I received a phone interview for the IRS Economist position?) and another daughter who graduated from Spelman and attended Case for her graduate studies. This exchange made me realize that I needed to volunteer more in order to meet more progressive people like her. As the break ended, I reentered the storage room. Painting the walls were next on the agenda. Although I was by myself, I managed to do a pretty good job of painting the wall instead of myself. Not even the snide remark by the go-for-nothing parishioner dampened me spirit. Impressed with my hard work, left told the coordinator that I would be leaving.

Upon exiting the church, I sat at the bus shelter in the rain for the (you guessed it) the 25B to take me down to the Gallery Hop. Even though it was raining, I remained undeterred because this was an event I would be attending, That decision was made right after the IngenuityCleveland Festival! Rain, sleet, hail, snow. Didn’t matter because I wanted to view all of the different art galleries throughout Cleveland; and, my ticket to ride was a $5 Gallery Hop trolley pass which could be used then entire weekend. Cool! First stop was the CVS was I purchased a camera. Second order: purchase the $5 Gallery Hop trolley pass. Immediately buying it, the trolley appeared. Impeccable timing or what. Throughout the ride, I saw The Centerfest on East Fourteenth Street, the ArtJamFestival located in front of the city’s newspaper central office on Superior Avenue, and the artist sections of Saint Clair. My first official departure point was the Tremont Festival which usually was a bustling place but because of the rain deterred many people from partaking in the events. I wlaked around tasted some sweet potato chips (they were good!), bought a $3 hamburger dinner (it came with macaroni salad and baked beans and you cannot beat that). The next place were the two galleries in Tremont. One in particular had this magnificent jewelry box, and though it cost $65, I could see it in my collection very soon. Hopping back on the trolley, we passed Tremont Scoops. Both the passengers and the tour guides raved about this place and after visiting Arterfino I promised myself that I would eat some ice cream.

The return ride back from Tremont was unforgettable. We had Vicki Blum Vigil, the author of Cleveland Cemeteries, served as our tour guide providing us with an abundance of history during our trip. She quizzed the riders on local trivia. While on the Carnegie-Lorain bridge she asked us a question about a famous Cleveland chef but before she finished I shouted Chef Boyardee. Vicki said “Oh, she gave away the answer! (Well, that historical fact plays on Channel 5 every morning.)” Then trolley driver espoused about how the Gateway district was once Big Italy because 90% of Cleveland’s population consisted on Italians. Now that’s when things got interesting. Chef Boyardee was Italian and the commercial said that he was buried in Parma, OH; but, Vicki proclaimed that he wasn’t because she had some verifiable proof. Plus she wrote about cemeteries should she should know. Whew! Go tell! :)

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Total Money Makeover

Yesterday I attended a meeting sponsored by BankBlackwell, the only black Internet bank to pitch its investment opportunity prior to the Black Enterprise Financial Education Seminar. The president of the bank discussed some important topics within the black community and during the presentation motivated me to develop a financial plan to ensure that I deposit the $1000 necessary to join by the February 26, 2005 cut-off date.

While he spoke all of a sudden passages from the Financial Money Makeover book popped into me head. Automatically the $1000 emergency fund flashed in my mind. If I can save $1000 for an emergency then I can cave $1000 for an investment opportunity! This goal I dubbed as my Pre-New Year's Resolution.

The BankBlackwell president also mentioned that the average age of a black bank customer was 55 years old, whereas, his target market is aged 35 years. After the meeting, I told him that I was only 28 years and he said that the bank would consider anyone over age 18. Cool! This exchange further helped solidify a financial game plan because I know that by age 35 I will be well-off. Well, better off than those two kooky people who tried to undermine me when asking a question about placing ATMs into the major airports as part of BankBlackwell's campaign. The asshole remarked "Well, people fly Southwest. Whatever!" The average price ticket is still higher than Greyhound1

Overall, the meeting had me seriously thinking about wealth generation and for once this week that was a good thing.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Not Today but It's Okay

Yesterday after jumping on the rapid only to jump right off at East 55th Central Rail station because my phone is still acting up, I eventually made it to Shake Square Cinemas to catch An Unfinished Life. However, the ticket counter representative informed me that "they are having problems with the film." Rats! "But I could view any other movie free of charge." Great! Immediately I ordered a large Pepsi and sat in my seat to once again see Four Brothers. I am addicted to this film because it is just so great. The critics are right when comparing it to an updated Western because whenever one brother is in trouble the remaining brother round up "the posse"! Okay back to day.

Today I must return to the same mobile phone company counter to receive a store credit because it messed up my service. I will arrive as soon as the store opens because this cannot hamper my day. Besides, I have things to do such as submit applications and look for work. This recurring disruption will not be tolerated under any circumstance!

Another roadblock (well this time it is of my making). I have decided to attend the Financial Education Seminar today only after reading a critique from the paper. When I visit the website, the Cleveland is not longer available. Argh! That means $65 at the door. The reason why I have had reservations about attending is because I am currently unemployed. Well, I will attend this event if not this year then next. But the first order of today is to find a permanent full-time with benefit. Well, there is always Cleveland Saves.

Monday, September 12, 2005

This is unbelievable!

Last Friday during a phone interview my pay-as-you-go phone cut off mid-interview. Luckily, I was at home and had a landline phone available to continue it. Immediately afterwards, I traveled to the next mobile store to switch my plan from prepaid to postpiad. The representative asked me if I wanted to keep my original number and I replied, "yes." Okay. The represenative told me that the conversion process would take 24 hours meaning that by Saturday everything should have been set up. Right?

Wrong! It is Monday and low and behold when I enter my original number into the phone company's database, it spits out that my phone number is cancelled. What! I am taking this first to the kiosk point-of-contact then to the Consumer Safety Product Commission because the representative signed the contract stating that my current number is temporary.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Labor Day Weekend

Let the party begin! Today is Saturday and I will be attending two events: IngenuityCleveland and the Taste of Cleveland. I will imerse myself culturally and take pictures!

Friday, September 02, 2005

Basking in All of the Glory

Good news! A federal agency is so interested in me as a candidate for the Economist position that HR has emailed me the employment forms (which I immediately mailed today) and a recruiter has arranged a phone interview for early next week! Also, the recruiter has mentioned that she wants a writing sample forwarded prior to the interview. I have the discretion of selecting the length and subject matter. J This makes the second government agency that has contacted me this week. And, including the private sector Associate Consulting Economist position, my weekly total is three. Things are really looking up for me!

Earlier this morning, I tested 81% in Word and 84% in Excel at a temporary agency! Calling the downtown recruiter regarding the receipt of my scores (I took them at a different branch and they failed to print), he said that early next week he should have an answer for me because my scores are great!

While I bask in the glory receiving all of the good news regarding the Economist positions, I have finally taken the Labor recruiter’s recommendation about my failure to meet the minimum GS-07 requirements into full consideration. She stated that I needed more graduate economic courses. I asked if I needed 18 and she concurred. Today I filed my FAFSA and searched for scholarships at Cleveland State University. Even if I do garner these other positions, I will still use tuition reimbursement to finance my doctorate in Economics. The recruiter’s comments were sound and unbiased plus she didn’t to attack or degrade my contributions.

Later today I will finish typing the final thank you letters for my Monday Economist interviews, enjoy the weekend!