The Write Way

A Job to Complain About

Anyone reading my blog regularly knows that I am working to make 2007 my year to take my writing and PR consulting business to the next level.  And you know that while I am working on that, I am still holding on to my "day job."  I'm not ready just yet to take that leap and quit, mostly because of my two children. My husband is working yes, but life would be totally different for them if I stopped working my day job right now.

I have to be honest, getting up to go to that job is getting harder. Each day only shows me that working for myself is really what I want to do. The past week has been especially tough. I won't bore you with the details, just know that coming to work hasn't been fun. But over the weekend, I saw something that gave me a different perspective - one that I think can help many of us who struggle with going to a job we hate each day.

ABC's Diane Sawyer had a special on 20/20 called Waiting for the World to Change. She followed three children for a year in Camden, NJ living in poverty without enough food to eat. The story that struck me most was a little 4-year-old boy, Ivan, about to begin school. As the school evaluates his ability to count and know his numbers, he proudly shows what he knows, that is until they asked him about the three meals we should eat a day. He had no idea you were to eat that many times a day, much less that they had a name - breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was no breakfast for Ivan before he left for school. He dreams of a better job for his mother so they can have a decent place to sleep and food to eat.

His story made me stop and really think. My children never wonder if they are going to eat. They eat three square meals a day, not to mention snacks. They have more than enough to wear and a good majority of the things they want. They each have their own room complete with a bed, dresser, desk, toys and computer. My ability to work at a more than minimum wage job, along with my husband's income, has made all of that possible. I bet Ivan's mother would give anything to have a job making half of what many of us make.

So starting today, I am going to work hard not to complain and be grateful that I have a job to complain about. It doesn't mean that I'm going to be complacent - 2007 is still the year for my business to go to the next level. But while I'm working my day job I am going to remember Ivan, his younger brother and his mother. I am going to remember that but for the grace of God, I could be her. And I'm going to find out if there's a way to give Ivan and his family a little hope and let his mother know that she's not alone.

Thanks to Deborah Ng of www.writersrow.com. She gave the writeway a great review and many have stopped to visit my blog because of that. I promised that in return, I would encourage my readers to visit the blog of someone I liked, so visit: http://kayoz.typepad.com/. This is the blog of a thirty-something Australian mother on parenting, pregnancy and everyday life. Or, try: http://earlyr.blogspot.com/. This is the blog of Ryan Early, he calls himself an observer of the human condition. Enjoy!

Football and the President of the United States

Over the weekend, Senator Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for president. True, while she isn't the first woman to run for this office, she is the first woman to have a better than 50/50 shot at winning. But then, with Americans furious at our current administration for the bloody and divisive war we find ourselves in, any candidate the Democrats come up with has a better than 50/50 chance.

But politics is a fickle business and public opinion can change more often than the host of an awards show changes clothes. And the larger question still remains - is the country ready for a female president? Or what about an African American president? Without a doubt the media darling of the moment for the race for the White House is Illinois senator Barack Obama. And although he currently trails Senator Clinton in the polls of public opinion, he has opposed the war from the start and he seems to win the hearts of many every time he speaks.

I for one, would vote for either of them. Not just because I'm African American and female, but because I believe diversity in the office is sorely lacking. It bothers me that in more than 200 years of presidents, not one has ever been female or a minority. How is that possible? True, past presidents have diversified their cabinets and appointments and that is a step in the right direction, but when are we going to really practice what we preach?

To me, America can only truly tout that we are the land of the free and home of the brave, embracers of diversity and founders of the American dream, when we break this barrier. True proof, would be to allow a woman or minority to be our Commander-and-Chief, balance our budgets, find health care reform, relief from rising insurance rates and all the rest of it. What are we afraid of? Surely they can't do any worse than those who have been trying to get it right for decades.  I look forward to the 2008 race and I'm excited about casting my vote, especially if Barack or Hillary are on the ballot. It would be a chance to participate in making history.

And speaking of history I just can't end without telling you how honored I am to have had the chance to witness history, with not one but two Black coaches taking their teams to the Superbowl. In a sport that just a few years ago had very few Black head coaches, two of them are about to face-off in football's greatest race.  I for one plan to watch every moment of it. Even if you're not a football fan, this one, much like the 2008 presidential race, is worth watching.

- This blog is updated every Monday. Your comments to author Karin Davis-Thompson are always welcomed, just click on the comments link below.

Just How Far Have We Come?

I am a big fan of the Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS). It's funny, timely and I get a lot of news about the African American community that the mainstream press misses. As you all know, yesterday was t he celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. In honor of his memory, today's Express Yourself Question (where people call in to the TJMS and give their opinion)was "Does Racism Still Exist?"

For me, the answer to this question is easy. Without a doubt, the answer is YES! I live it on a regular basis. The tough part for me is that I have a double whammy. Not only am I African American, I am also a woman - talk about having it tough! Studies show that women are still fighting to shatter the glass ceiling in corporate America and that African Americans are still fighting to make equal pay as well. So to be Black and a female is especially challenging.

Often your management ability is questioned because as a woman, you aren't expected to be able to reason and make rational decisions. And I can't tell you how many times I've been complimented on being so articulate and able to speak well. As if they are shocked that a Black woman can speak clearly, concisely and with conviction. Very often I've had to prove myself to be not just as good as others, but better.

The sad fact is, many believe that since desegregation 50 years ago, things are great and programs like Affirmative Action and so-called quotas are divisive. But I heard a Historian once who said it best, 50 years is nothing when you consider more than 200 years of slavery and substandard education.

Add that to the fact that there are still some who think the "N" word is OK to use (Michael Richards still hasn't faded from memory) and organizations like the Klu Klux Klan are still alive and well and you realize there is still a lot to do. We live in a world where I must still teach my children about racism and help them to understand when they've been a victim of it - that's just a reality for me. No, I don't assume racism exists around every corner, but I also can't afford to bury my head in the sand and pretend that my daughter won't have to prove herself double-time because she is Black and female or that my son won't have to worry about enduring a traffic stop because he drives a nice car. Racism it a tough pill for many to swallow, but it can't be dealt with until we acknowledge that it still rears its ugly head.

Sadly, there are still those who preach hate and they teach it to their children, who teach it to their children and so it goes. But that said, I must admit, in 50 years there has been a lot of progress and I am encouraged about that. I hope that one day we will see the dream of Dr. King become reality. Until then, I am thankful for the progress we have made and hopeful for what is to come.

My Breakthrough Year

Sorry I didn't update this yesterday, but I was pretty sick. With kids, you never know what you'll catch from them! After a few hours of quiet sleep, I forced myself to get out of bed and do a little cleaning and checking messages. The last thing I wanted to do however was to try and be coherent enough to write a decent blog! But, it did give me some time to think about what I would write about.

A few weeks ago I told you I would keep you informed on my journey to really help my business to take off this year. Being home yesterday really inspired me on that score (even with a pounding headache). I loved being able to work from my computer, checking messages and following up on leads. Anyone who's been reading my blog knows that while I am working on my own business, I still maintain a job.

I am working on getting there, but I'm just not ready to take the entrepreneurial plunge without a safety net. I do have two children to consider. My husband works full time of course, but he IS in education (enough said right??). But I am happy to report that I've submitted my name and company resume to work on several projects and a few that I already had in the hopper are coming along.

Nothing major yet, but I believe that this year will definitely be my breakthrough year. It just has to be. In the past, I've allowed work and other obligations to get in the way. But I realize that if this is going to work, I have to make it a priority. I have decided to focus on two areas: writing and how I can use writing to help others. If you tell me what you need written, I can write it, and make it sound like it came from you! I've been doing it for free for years! It's only been in the last year or two that I realized that is a fee-worthy talent. I've set up my website (www.writerscornerbiz.com) and I'm working with small companies and non-profits to assist with their newsletters, writing and PR needs.

If you get a chance, visit the site and let me know what you think. And the next time you need help with your writing, (writing a speech, a term paper, a press release, an e-mail, a letter, anything) drop me a line. Meanwhile, I'll keep you posted on my progress and I hope that you will do the same.

Life is Too Short for Housework

I saw a commercial over the holidays that really spoke to me. Not on any deep level or anything, it was just funny and I saw so much of myself in it. It starts with a family frantically searching the house for some document. Finally, the husband locates it - it's the family resolutions from the previous year. On the list, getting organized, something they obviously did not accomplish.

With two kids, a husband, a job, church and community interests, I can never get organized at home. I start a task and then the kids start fighting, or the dog is in to something, or my husband (who is the KING of overlooking things) can't find matching socks for the children to wear. The area I am the most disorganized in is laundry. I HATE IT! The task never seems to end. You sort, you wash, you dry, you fold and all the while, children are taking off clothes and stuffing them into the hamper.

I stopped making resolutions long ago. Like the family in the commercial, I never seemed to achieve them, at least not to my satisfaction, by year's end. So, I won't call it a resolution, just a promise to myself - that I won't stress out when I can't get everything done. In 2006 I learned that it's OK for a mom to solicit help. For me, I send most of the laundry out to be done, it's just easier. This year, I plan to look for other short cuts I can take. Life is just too short for housework! If you have any tips, send them to me, I need all of the help I can't get!

Happy New Year!