Road to Financial Abundance – Week 46

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on film/movies, and offer my awesome writing services
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

I put all my tasks on hold due to the discovery of a certain book - What Color Is Your Parachute?, by Richard Bolles.  A friend from the Landmark Education recommended  it, and it’s proving to be extremely useful in job hunting and figuring out a career.  I’m only half way through it, and I feel very hopeful reading Bolles’ different suggestions and advice on job hunting techniques.  For example, in one chapter, Bolles lists the 5 least/most effective job hunting techniques (craigslist, networking, cold calling, etc).  Turns out that job hunting via craigslist is one of the least effective methods; networking is among the most effective methods.

So I’ve been devouring this book and am just now doing a self-inventory exercise to determine my skills, passions, knowledge, etc.  Apparently, this is the most effective method of job hunting (don’t ask me how just yet, as I’m still figuring that out).

Have NOT been reaching out to other websites centered on film/movies, because last weekend I got two calls – one from a technical writing agency regarding working for them (turns out the majority of their work doesn’t start till June), and one from a temp agency regarding a temp job that was supposed to start on Monday (that job fell through).  So, in my excitement, I celebrated by not job hunting and writing Thursday – Monday.  Oh well.  I’ve been feeling guilty about it, but I know guilt doesn’t accomplish anything, so I’ll let that go and move on to better things.

Also have not been diversifying my writing portfolio for the same reason as above.

So I have been making reading this book my number on priority, because I believe it has some great job hunting techniques, and I should probably reassess my transferable skills.

Next week:

1. Finish reading What Color Is Your Parachute?
2. Complete all relevant exercises in What Color Is Your Parachute?, to better aid my job hunt and goal of getting a flexible, part-time admin job by May 31st
3. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
4. Find and reach out to other websites centered on film/movies, and offer my awesome writing services
5. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 45

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on film/movies, and offer my awesome writing services
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day
4. Attend BNI networking events in Kirkland, then assess whether I should attend those of surrounding areas

Been doing pretty good about checking craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs.  I applied to some ideal positions.

Great news!  Campus Point (a local recruiting agency for college graduates) called and said they might have a temporary full-time job for me starting Monday!  It’s right by my house and it’s a data entry position for an entertainment-like company, which is great, because I’ve been wanting to work in the entertainment industry.  I should hear today whether I got the job, but even if I didn’t get it, I feel like things are happening.  Plus, I got a phone interview for a technical writing agency this morning, thanks to a great friend from a money management class at a local Center for Spiritual Living.  Woohoo!

Reached out to about 10 movie websites last week and offered my writing services, so I’m hopeful they will see my potential and respond.  I’m excited to reach out to more, as I got really excited at the idea of writing about movies/entertainment.

I started diversifying my writing portfolio even more, after a professional writer recommended I use the site, WritersDigest.com.  I found one section to be particularly helpful – the Weekly Writing Prompts section.  So in an effort to maintain and strengthen my writing muscle, I will start creating content based off of these writing prompts.  I’m looking forward to seeing my imagination and writing style diversify and expand to colorful, gargantuan proportions!  You can see these weekly writing exercises in myWritings section.

I attended my first BNI networking event this week and it was very productive.  It was amazing to see so many driven people helping each other succeed.  Turns out you have to be a member (which costs about $350 per year) to attend the networking events, so I’m not sure I can afford that at this time.  And once a member, you have to attend one meeting per week, which sounds like a big time commitment.  Regardless, I met some great people made some great contacts, so I am really glad I attended the event.  I’ve been questioning whether or not to attend surrounding BNI group events, since I can only go to two events per group before they ask that I decide to become a member.  I think I might attend one in Fremont, since the lady that suggested the BNI attends those ones, so I would have a great connection.

Next week:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on film/movies, and offer my awesome writing services
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

 

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 44

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on interests, and promote myself
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

I’ve been doing very well with checking craigslist every day for writing & modeling jobs.  I applied to some, which felt great, though at the same time, I think, “It would be a lot better if I got a job through a contact, so there would already be a level of trust established”.  Oh well; I guess either method works, as long as I find a job I love.

So my mom & I attended a guest speaker event last night at the Landmark Education office.  The event was centered around breakdowns.  The biggest thing I got from it was that it’s so very important to COMMUNICATE, especially during a breakdown, as your peers can help you spot your blindspots and help you think up new actions to take.

So I made a new commitment out of last night-

To have a flexible, part-time job that I love by May 30th

As you all might know, I’m also working hard on becoming a writer full-time, so I am writing every day, in order to diversify my portfolio and just to exercise my creative muscles.  But in the meantime, I figured I’d do admin work, since that’s what I have the most experience in, and it seems like it’s a more stable job than writing.  Ideally, I’d love to work with the entertainment industry (i.e., tv, radio, flim, etc).

A lovely young lady sitting next to me last night recommended I check out BNI.com, which is a global networking organization that organizes regular networking events.  She said I should come to the one in Fremont on Thursdays.  Their website also lists networking groups/events happening in my neighborhood (Kirkland), with all of the events taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  So, I’ll attend both until I find a part-time job.

Just ordered 250 free business cards from VistaPrint (Christ, I’ve heard that ad so much on Pandora.com).  I’m excited to start using them to promote myself and my skills, and to network with others.

I need to find and reach out to websites centered on film/movies & video games, as I would love to write for free for such industries.

Next week:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on film/movies, and offer my awesome writing services
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day
4. Attend BNI networking events in Kirkland, then assess whether I should attend those of surrounding areas

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 43

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on interests, and promote myself
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

Been doing better about checking craigslist everyday for writing, modeling, and admin type jobs.  But I find when I reach the end of the list, I get depressed and hopeless about ever finding a job.  I know I’ll find a great job (or jobs, if I can do freelance writing to pay my monthly expenses), but right now it feels totally hopeless.  Can you tell I’m in a low place?

Been doing EFT (tapping) to help work through all this frustration and to get in a positive attitude (law of attraction).

I have been reaching out to websites centered around film/entertainment and video games, as I’m finding that I’m really passionate about those two things.  But I haven’t heard back from any of them, which leads me to believe that my time is better spent networking.

It’s been very fun adding to my writing portfolio every day.  I find that I’m better able to express my thoughts & feelings in more concise and creative ways, as a result of writing every day.

One of my biggest frustrations from networking with other professional writers (or professionals in general), is that the majority of them are so reluctant to give REAL help.  The majority refer me to some great resources (mostly websites) for writers, and say “Good luck!”  But no offer to reach out to see if they know anyone who might be hiring writers; no offer to answer any other questions I may have; no offer for guidance/mentorship.  Did these people forget that they were once struggling, aspiring writers?  Or did their family or peers always hook them up with jobs & opportunities?

I know I have way more people/forces helping me, than those who are not, but at the moment, I feel only anger & frustration at the majority of professionals unwilling to be a guide/mentor.

One of the biggest aspirations I’ve gotten out of this most recent job hunt and from Landmark’s teachings about networking, is to set up some sort of mentorship system in the US public education system.  I remember in high school and college, the most we had was job shadowing, but even that had a lukewarm energy to it.  There was no real effort to ensure a long-lasting, mentor-like relationship between an apprentice and a master.

When I have financial abundance, I’m going to set up some sort of mentorship system in the US public education system.  I’m going to make millions of people realize that they are always both an apprentice and master in at least one area in life.  And, that it’s their duty as a master to educate, pass down, and guide willing apprentices to mastery of that area.

A recent quotation I read really sums up my feelings about this:

“The greatest gift of success is to teach others how to obtain it”

Or something along those lines.

I feel like an old man in his rocking chair on his battered porch, whining about “what’s wrong with this country”.  The problem is that nobody wants to be a mentor to anyone.

In the meantime, I’m tapping at least once every morning before I do anything, in order to get myself in a positive state of mind.

Next week:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on interests, and promote myself
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

 

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 42

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Search for jobs on craigslist
2. Search for websites & blogs centered on interests (video games, film, languages, fitness, technical writing, food, travel, etc) via AllTop.com.  Ask website owners if you can write for them
3. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
4. Write every day, whether it be on this blog or GamersRoute.com

I’ve been focusing more on adding to my writing portfolio, than I have been about searching for jobs on craigslist.  No reason why I can’t do both though, so I will check craigslist for part-time technical writing or customer support type jobs, as well as modeling jobs.  Right now, I’d really like a part-time customer support or virtual assistant job that will at least pay my monthly expenses.  That would reduce a lot of stress.

I have only reached out to a few webmasters, since I’ve been focusing more on writing/editing articles for GamersRoute.  So far, I’ve been writing/adding one piece every other day.  Reason being, I was at my boyfriend’s this past week doing tons of yard work.  But I don’t want to use any excuses; I want to diversify my portfolio every day, or at least 5 days per week.

Finally, I finished reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People!  Woohoo!  The chapters about Habits 2 & 3 were a little too technical, and I almost gave up reading it, but I chose to read all of it so I could glean as much useful information as I could.  I definitely recommend it.

This Sunday, April 29th, I will be modeling for a collaborative shoot for AMDEF – an independent collaboration between the communities of Art, Music, Dance, Entertainment and Fashion.  I’m really excited, because I’ll be able to promote myself as a great representative for the hybrid (half Asian, half white) community.  I’m committed to inspiring and empowering people from my modeling, through creative, original media formats (photography, television, film, etc).  For more details, check out the Facebook event details here: Collaborative Promotional Photoshoot for AMDEF Artists

Next week:

1. Check craigslist everyday for writing & modeling jobs
2. Find and reach out to other websites centered on interests, and promote myself
3. Diversify my writing portfolio every day

 

 

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 41

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Search for jobs on craigslist
2. Search for websites & blogs centered on interests (video games, film, languages, fitness, technical writing, food, travel, etc) via AllTop.com.  Ask website owners if you can write for them
3. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
4. Write every day, whether it be on this blog or GamersRoute.com

I’ve been doing well about searching for jobs on craiglist.  Actually, I found and applied for some great freelance writing jobs today, and they were centered around my own interests (i.e., LGBT community, travel, film, etc), so that felt really good.

I have not searched for websites or blogs centered on my interests.  I think because last week (and to be honest, this week also) I was feeling so down about a lack of job, that I just didn’t feel confident enough to reach out and contact webmasters.  Though after doing some EFT tapping, I feel much better and more able to promote myself and skills.

Making progress on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  I should be finished with it by Saturday.

Haven’t been doing very good at writing every day.  I know this is most problematic when I’m at my boyfriend’s house.  The only solution I can think of, is to simply be more proactive and mindful when I’m at this house.  I’m definitely getting better at it.

Next week:

1. Search for jobs on craigslist
2. Search for websites & blogs centered on interests (video games, film, languages, fitness, technical writing, food, travel, etc) via AllTop.com.  Ask website owners if you can write for them
3. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
4. Write every day, whether it be on this blog or GamersRoute.com

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 40

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Celebrate having gotten my dream job!!!
2. Continue networking, enrolling people in my life and goals
3. Listen to at least one Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode
4. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Ugh.  Didn’t get my dream job by 4/11.  Had an interview for a company, which gave me hope, but it was a no-go.  I’m disappointed, but not as disappointed as I would have been in the past when I wasn’t able to fulfill a goal.  I think that’s due to Landmark Education’s recommendation of leaving out morality from certain things; takes away guilt, which can be debilitating.

On Wed, I went to a networking event organized by the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), which was a lot of fun, especially because it was on a boat.  Made two really great contacts, plus a dozen others which you never know can end up being lucrative or enriching.  Some things people suggested which have given me new directions in my job hunt:

• Search for jobs at companies specializing in education or educational software, since that was my most recent job
• Update & advertize my portfolio more (http://donanza.me/mitsk2002)

Enrolling people in my life & goals has become second nature by now, as I love to hear and talk about people’s goals.  So that’s great!

Truckin’ through The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  I’m halfway done, and my goal is to finish it by Tuesday.

Found some great podcasts geared more towards writers and how to become a professional writer, so I can’t wait to listen to them and glean some really helpful gems of advice.

Next week:

1. Search for jobs on craigslist
2. Search for websites & blogs centered on interests (video games, film, languages, fitness, technical writing, food, travel, etc) via AllTop.com.  Ask website owners if you can write for them
3. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
4. Write every day, whether it be on this blog or GamersRoute.com

 

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 39

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Do EFT tapping for wealth (YouTube video here) twice per day
2. Continue networking, enrolling people in my life and goals
3. Listen to at least one Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode
4. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Haven’t been doing EFT tapping for wealth, because I’ve been getting home so late from work and have been really busy.  But I’m fine with that, since my temp job ends April 11th, and then I’ll have more time to fit in EFT tapping and other activities.

I’ve been getting more and more out of the Landmark seminars I go to every Wed night.  There are a total of 10 sessions, and last night we completed session 5.  So far, the biggest things I’ve been gleaning from the seminars are the following:

• Enrolling people (aka, networking) into my goals and life
• Taking action despite fear of looking good/bad
• Incredible support group
• Not assigning morality to so many things

Of course, there are other great things I’m gleaning from this course.  I highly recommend it to anyone, as it’s chock-full of extremely useful advice about living a more powerful life.

I listened to another Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode last week and it was uplifting, but I forget the specific wisdom I gleaned from it.  Hehe.  The one I’m listening to today cracked me up and inspired me lots.  A regular guest (Karen?) was talking about “Love equaling Money”, and how there is a stigma against money and the desire to have money – something I have been a bit frustrated about lately. But she inspired me, talking about how she believes it’s perfectly OK to want money just for the sake of having money.  I totally concur.

Definitely been networking/enrolling people in my life and goals, especially my most recent one (which I am committed to obtaining by April 11th):

To write for a progressive, creative company where I only work 20-30 hours/week, so I can invest more time in other writing projects, modeling, and other interests.  I want this so I can be free, wealthy, and creative.

Still reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s getting a little too technical for my tastes, so I’m a little reluctant to finish it, but I still want to glean as much as I can from anything, so I’ll finish it.

Next week:

1. Celebrate having gotten my dream job!!!
2. Continue networking, enrolling people in my life and goals
3. Listen to at least one Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode
4. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

 

 

 

 

Road to Financial Abundance – Week 38

Last week I said I would do the following:

1. Get that awesome writing job by Thursday, March 22nd!
2. Do EFT tapping for wealth (YouTube video here) twice per day
3. Continue networking, enrolling people in my life and goals
4. Listen to at least one Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode
5. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Well I DID get a nice temp job by 3/21, so that was semi-cool.   I like the company, the people I work with, and my co-workers, but I do not like my position – customer support.  I’m so sick of customer support, and I really don’t like that I’m solely on the phones.  I’m wanting to get two things out of this job though:

• Networking
• Temporary income

I’m going to an LGBT Youth networking event (http://www.thegsba.org/events/events.php?category=Special&type=GSBA+Young+Professionals+with+Pride) tonight, so I’m excited to meet some really driven, talented people and get that awesome writing job through one of them (or several of them).
I had been doing EFT Tapping for wealth up until I got this temp job, and it really cheered me up and motivated me.  I’ve been arriving home so late since I got this job though, that I’ve been too tired to do much (as you saw by the lack of my blog posts last week).

It’s a bit difficult to find a place to do EFT though, since i have to tap and speak aloud – not exactly sane behavior.  But I know I’ll fit it into my schedule somehow.

Networking continues to go well.  I find myself a different person in that area, where i’m excited to know people’s goals and to share my own, so that we can help each other achieve them even faster.

Listened to another Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode, which was uplifting as always.  One thing I gleaned from it was this: When you observe something, you attract whatever you feel as you observe it.  Useful information.  So I’ve started making an effort to observe wealthy, satisfied people more, as well as observe things that make me unhappy, less.

Have been stuck on a certain part of he 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, since I have to make a chart and I haven’t had the time.  Will do so and read more of the book this week.

I find the more I network and share my goals with others, the more leads I get for my goals, and thus the more excited I get.

Next week:

1. Do EFT tapping for wealth (YouTube video here) twice per day
2. Continue networking, enrolling people in my life and goals
3. Listen to at least one Law of Attraction for Financial Freedom podcast episode
4. Finish reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Web of Goals

Little experiment which could greatly benefit everyone involved – Why don’t we tell each other our goals?  I’m not just talking about New Year Resolutions; what are our goals for the month?  The year?  The next 5 years?  Our life, in general?

The more people we tell about our goals, it makes sense that we create more resources/possibilities with which to achieve our goals (this could be labeled “networking”, but this little thing I’m going to start is much more proactive, I feel).

So let’s help each other out; even if we can’t help each other make progress on or achieve a specific goal, won’t we have a more enriched friendship from knowing our deepest goals and desires?

So I’ll start this thing – I’ll list my  top 5 goals, and the background or specs about the goal.  This could be your reasons for wanting this goal, and how this desire was born in the first place.  The reason for doing so is because I’ve found that it’s much more inspiring to know where a person is coming from and the reasons why they want something, as opposed to them simply stating their goal out of the blue.  Then your turn.

Goal 1) To have an awesome writing job(s) by March 22nd, where I work part-time and make $3,000+ per month

Background: I love to write.  I love money.  I love having a flexible schedule where I only work part-time, so that I can dedicate my time to other hobbies in life, and thus enrich more facets of my life.  For example: traveling, learning languages, modeling, graphic design, watching & reviewing film, playing video games, spending quality time with friends & family, reading, doing sporadic things.  I would love to write about those topics.  I know this is a possible goal, because I’ve talked with successful writers with the same situation (even better in some cases).

Goal 2) To have a monthly income of $10,000 by February 2013

Background: All my life, I’ve been poor.  The word “poor” is different for everyone, and I know tons of people can say they have been way more poor than me, but for me, I’ve always felt limited in life because of my limited finances.  My immigrant parents worked hard to ensure we had enough food and went to good schools, but money was always tight and I could see it on their faces and feel it in their energy constantly.  So I’m just sick of being limited by money. I want to be making $10,000 per month so I can buy my parents a house and ensure they don’t have to work another day in their lives unless they want to; I want to be able to buy things I want and do things I want anytime without having to check my bank account; I want to help others achieve financial abundance by donating to and setting up charities with which I align – LGBT/equal rights, children in developing countries, green energy, teaching languages & foreign culture in school, organic food, and much more.

Goal 3) To have a slim, toned body with a six-pack and V-cut stomach

Background: I was a butterball when I was a kid – I had moobs.  But one day I made a goal of being slim, and I’ve been committed to that goal ever since.  It’s been a road full of trial & error, frustration, and achievement, and I’ve come so far.  Each time I reach a physical goal, I create another, higher one.  Now my goal is to have a slim, toned body, because I find that sexy and graceful.  Plus, as a part-time model, I want to use my whole body to express and invoke a whole range of emotions in my photography.  Plus, I want to feel sexy.

Goal 4) To visit family in Ireland this summer with sister and mom.

Background: My dad’s family is in Japan, my mom’s in Ireland.  I want to have an enriched, deep connection to my Japanese & Irish relatives.  My family and I didn’t go last year because we didn’t have enough money, but I don’t want that to ever be a limiting factor again.  I want to visit my relatives in Japan and Ireland every year, at least once.  And I would like my younger sister, mother, and brother and his wife to join me, as I feel this will only enrich and strengthen our family bonds.

Plus, with so many of my Irish relatives popping out children, I feel a big sense of urgency to get to know and bond with these new family members.

Goal 5) To be living with Dustin in a place we both love by February 2013

Background: I want to live with Dustin because we make each other very happy and we love each other.  We want to see each other everyday, so we can make each other smile, laugh, support each other, and finally have a place of our own.

Now your turn!  What are your top 5 goals?  I want to know.  We, your friends, want to know.  Heck, even people you don’t know want to know your goals!  Let’s help each other.