It's true! I need bras, socks and underwear for the Montgomery County United Way 'Sock & Undie' Drive sponsored by Dr. Samer Faysal of Dynamic Health & Wellness (http://www.dynamichealthwellness.com/).
Throughout the month of July, Dr. Faysal and MCUW are collecting NEW socks and underwear for children ages 6-12, as well as cash for girls' undergarments, so that local children can go back to school clean and confident. If you donate before the month is up, Dr. Faysal is offering a FREE chiropractic adjustment.
Although my 4-year old thinks it's cool to go "commando", he's not yet reached an age of self-consciousness or a time for locker room insecurity. The truth is Elementary, Middle and Junior High school students from low income families often face the scrutiny of classmates and teachers, and many feel insecure about their appearance and ability to fit in. If we want the future leaders of our community to succeed in school, they need appropriate underclothes to feel comfortable and focus on academics. To donate socks, undies or cash--and take advantage of FREE publicity--please contact Betty Campbell at MCUW by email at betty@mcuw.org, or email me directly at mwright@growthb2b.com.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Are you a Good Witch?
There are days when I wish I could ride my broomstick to the office. Not because I am a witch, but because I want to be taken seriously. I want people to appreciate my gifts and talents, my acumen, my contacts and resources, my skill, intelligence and more.... I want people to understand that work is not a pageant or a popularity contest, and that performance and personal integrity are more important to one's power and success than appearances.
Why do you think Glinda rode around in a bubble? Because image and associations are important. But what about authenticity?
Be yourself! Burst the bubble! This doesn't mean you have to ride a broomstick; two of my favorite witches ride bikes and horses--and I know a few who operate under the influence, preferring the bottle. What is does mean is that you have to be true to who you are and unafraid of judgement.
Perhaps I will live long enough to be called a "tough broad" rather than a witch. To be known as the former is like winning the lottery, while the latter is less desirable. Still, the older I get the less I care about what others call me or what they think. A wise woman tells me this is a significant step along the road to "tough broad".
Where are your steps carrying you?
Why do you think Glinda rode around in a bubble? Because image and associations are important. But what about authenticity?
Be yourself! Burst the bubble! This doesn't mean you have to ride a broomstick; two of my favorite witches ride bikes and horses--and I know a few who operate under the influence, preferring the bottle. What is does mean is that you have to be true to who you are and unafraid of judgement.
Perhaps I will live long enough to be called a "tough broad" rather than a witch. To be known as the former is like winning the lottery, while the latter is less desirable. Still, the older I get the less I care about what others call me or what they think. A wise woman tells me this is a significant step along the road to "tough broad".
Where are your steps carrying you?
Screwed by www.guru.com, or a Lesson in the Perils of Outsourcing
Outsourcing work is a nerve-wracking crap shoot. My company recently selected http://www.guru.com/ to locate a freelancer to complete work on a special project. The whole experience was a NIGHTMARE. The programmer, Robert Samuel White, never delivered, and referred to himself as "Robert" or "Samuel" depending on his mood. Guess that should have been my first clue that I was dealing with someone special....
Never the less, it is http://www.guru.com/ I want people to know about. While they have postings on their site to the effect that they cannot recover client funds once a freelancer has been paid, and they encourage clients to use their SafePay escrow service for the "HIGHEST" level of consumer protection, I have learned this is all FALSE. Furthermore, they incentive-ize clients to use e-Check to receive a portion of all funds spent as a credit toward future purchases. DO NOT USE e-Check! Use your Visa card for payment, and keep all email, invoices, and project agreements in a folder (and backup) until the project is complete.
After 2 months of working with the programmer, I did not have a finished product. When asked about the project, delays and deadlines, he became increasingly abusive and insulting, then stopped answering questions altogether; so I turned to http://www.guru.com/ for help. There I dealt with Stacy Norman, Customer Service Manager (snorman@guru.com) and her underling Joe. At first they refused to assist me, telling me I had made a choice at my own risk and that they were not responsible to assist me, nor would they. Not one to accept "no" as an answer, I continued to push. Once they learned I had paid for GURU services with my Visa card, they offered Guru's mediation assistance program as a one-time courtesy on the condition that I sign a waiver relinquishing all of my consumer rights to VISA's product protection and dispute resolution services. When I refused to do this, they also quit communicating with me.
Lo and behold, when I filed the chargebacks with Visa, I received an email from Stacy to Robert notifying him that http://www.guru.com/ would indeed be pulling the funds back from his account with them, and that it was not their policy to fight Visa on chargebacks--hence their demands that I not contact Visa, and relinquish my rights to any recourse through Visa. Fortunately, the investigators at Visa were most helpful and absolutely correct in advising me against signing any sort of waiver. Visa is the BEST!!! (In this case, my Visa is through http://www.capitalone.com/, and I strongly recommed them to everyone.)
The liars at http://www.guru.com/ also locked my account access so that I could not post truthful feedback concerning Robert Samuel White's performance (or lack thereof). If you are seeking a freelance professional through http://www.guru.com/, understand that their feedback rating system is inherently flawed, as I cannot possibly be the first person to have this happen. Also note that if you use their e-check system for payment, you do not have any recourse. The money is gone and gone forever, unless you chose to sue--likely across state lines.
Finally, make wise decisions at work and at play. In this case, I did my best by researching the company, and chosing a freelancer with high-ranking and positive feedback located in the United States. None of this mattered much, in retrospect, now that I know how http://www.guru.com/ operates. Only Visa served me well.
My advice to professionals everywhere is to become familiar with the policies of the card you carry. For example, I learned that the MasterCard check/debit card issued on my Business checking account offers NO consumer protection, following another bad experience with a Canadian firm doing business online. Protect yourself, protect your business, and seek the assistance and insight of fellow professionals when the 'bad guys' seek to push you up against the wall.
Never the less, it is http://www.guru.com/ I want people to know about. While they have postings on their site to the effect that they cannot recover client funds once a freelancer has been paid, and they encourage clients to use their SafePay escrow service for the "HIGHEST" level of consumer protection, I have learned this is all FALSE. Furthermore, they incentive-ize clients to use e-Check to receive a portion of all funds spent as a credit toward future purchases. DO NOT USE e-Check! Use your Visa card for payment, and keep all email, invoices, and project agreements in a folder (and backup) until the project is complete.
After 2 months of working with the programmer, I did not have a finished product. When asked about the project, delays and deadlines, he became increasingly abusive and insulting, then stopped answering questions altogether; so I turned to http://www.guru.com/ for help. There I dealt with Stacy Norman, Customer Service Manager (snorman@guru.com) and her underling Joe. At first they refused to assist me, telling me I had made a choice at my own risk and that they were not responsible to assist me, nor would they. Not one to accept "no" as an answer, I continued to push. Once they learned I had paid for GURU services with my Visa card, they offered Guru's mediation assistance program as a one-time courtesy on the condition that I sign a waiver relinquishing all of my consumer rights to VISA's product protection and dispute resolution services. When I refused to do this, they also quit communicating with me.
Lo and behold, when I filed the chargebacks with Visa, I received an email from Stacy to Robert notifying him that http://www.guru.com/ would indeed be pulling the funds back from his account with them, and that it was not their policy to fight Visa on chargebacks--hence their demands that I not contact Visa, and relinquish my rights to any recourse through Visa. Fortunately, the investigators at Visa were most helpful and absolutely correct in advising me against signing any sort of waiver. Visa is the BEST!!! (In this case, my Visa is through http://www.capitalone.com/, and I strongly recommed them to everyone.)
The liars at http://www.guru.com/ also locked my account access so that I could not post truthful feedback concerning Robert Samuel White's performance (or lack thereof). If you are seeking a freelance professional through http://www.guru.com/, understand that their feedback rating system is inherently flawed, as I cannot possibly be the first person to have this happen. Also note that if you use their e-check system for payment, you do not have any recourse. The money is gone and gone forever, unless you chose to sue--likely across state lines.
Finally, make wise decisions at work and at play. In this case, I did my best by researching the company, and chosing a freelancer with high-ranking and positive feedback located in the United States. None of this mattered much, in retrospect, now that I know how http://www.guru.com/ operates. Only Visa served me well.
My advice to professionals everywhere is to become familiar with the policies of the card you carry. For example, I learned that the MasterCard check/debit card issued on my Business checking account offers NO consumer protection, following another bad experience with a Canadian firm doing business online. Protect yourself, protect your business, and seek the assistance and insight of fellow professionals when the 'bad guys' seek to push you up against the wall.
Friday, June 8, 2007
At Work & Play
Why do we (professionals) do what we do?
First, I don't know many people who don't have to work--and most of them still think it's wise. So I guess the rest of us work to eat. Or in my case, to keep teenage girls in Abercrombie and little boys in Legos.
Still, if we're lucky, we've launched or landed in a business that we enjoy.
Following college I had no clue what I wanted to do. As a a result, I stumbled through a series of relatively miserable jobs and made my parents rethink my college tuition. One of the 'dangers' of a liberal arts education is that you do not graduate with a 'trade'. Instead you have a noggin full of knowledge and nowhere to take it--except graduate school. Well, I opted to get married and start a family rather than spend another 3 or 4 years in school.
Like most, I started my family with little real preparation for parenthood. I approached this challenge as a good student would any other assignment--and read everything I could get my hands on. One look at the family pictures and you can tell Birth Control was not a subject I mastered.
Juggling the needs of these guys and work outside the home is a real challenge--and something for which no school could ever equip me; thus, I have learned an awful lot the hard way.
If I were to open a school for working moms, I would have all the standards such as "Saving the Deal (and Dinner)", and advanced courses like "Calling in Humiliation: How to Keep Your Kids in Line without Looking like the Bad Guy".
The truth is, I enjoy my family like crazy and my job has really grown on me, however, I am frustrated by my inability to be myself in business. In life, I have a "take no prisoners" attitude when it comes to incompetence, deception, malicious conduct and irresponsibility. At work it is virtually impossible to operate in the same manner. Moreover, many professionals are precluded from telling others in their communitites which companies and professionals are less-than-likely to perform at or above acceptable standards.
I'm not talking about mistakes, because everyone makes them....I am talking about transparency and accountability--about being a "stand up" person, professional or organization. As a result, I hope this blog will become a forum for community-based discussion of companies that do business here so that we can share the good, the bad and the truly disgusting.
I will begin by posting the following link: http://www.hasselmeierfraud.com/. If your company has done business with Ryan Hasselmeier, you may or may not be listed on the Unsecured Creditors schedule in his recent bankruptcy filing--the 3rd in less than 7 years. Please visit the site above to learn more about Hasselmeier and his record. Remarkably, he is already back in business in a company in his mother's name. See: http://www.advisorsgroupintl.com/.
My business is listed as an unsecured creditor. Ironically, I had forgiven this debt, until I received the bankruptcy filing citing $1 as the amount owed. I have spoken with the Bankruptcy Trustee, and his office is interested in learning everything they possibly can from those harmed by Hasselmeier, or familiar with his operations. Please feel free to email me for the Trustee's phone number if you have valuable information or insight to share.
First, I don't know many people who don't have to work--and most of them still think it's wise. So I guess the rest of us work to eat. Or in my case, to keep teenage girls in Abercrombie and little boys in Legos.
Still, if we're lucky, we've launched or landed in a business that we enjoy.
Following college I had no clue what I wanted to do. As a a result, I stumbled through a series of relatively miserable jobs and made my parents rethink my college tuition. One of the 'dangers' of a liberal arts education is that you do not graduate with a 'trade'. Instead you have a noggin full of knowledge and nowhere to take it--except graduate school. Well, I opted to get married and start a family rather than spend another 3 or 4 years in school.
Like most, I started my family with little real preparation for parenthood. I approached this challenge as a good student would any other assignment--and read everything I could get my hands on. One look at the family pictures and you can tell Birth Control was not a subject I mastered.
Juggling the needs of these guys and work outside the home is a real challenge--and something for which no school could ever equip me; thus, I have learned an awful lot the hard way.
If I were to open a school for working moms, I would have all the standards such as "Saving the Deal (and Dinner)", and advanced courses like "Calling in Humiliation: How to Keep Your Kids in Line without Looking like the Bad Guy".
The truth is, I enjoy my family like crazy and my job has really grown on me, however, I am frustrated by my inability to be myself in business. In life, I have a "take no prisoners" attitude when it comes to incompetence, deception, malicious conduct and irresponsibility. At work it is virtually impossible to operate in the same manner. Moreover, many professionals are precluded from telling others in their communitites which companies and professionals are less-than-likely to perform at or above acceptable standards.
I'm not talking about mistakes, because everyone makes them....I am talking about transparency and accountability--about being a "stand up" person, professional or organization. As a result, I hope this blog will become a forum for community-based discussion of companies that do business here so that we can share the good, the bad and the truly disgusting.
I will begin by posting the following link: http://www.hasselmeierfraud.com/. If your company has done business with Ryan Hasselmeier, you may or may not be listed on the Unsecured Creditors schedule in his recent bankruptcy filing--the 3rd in less than 7 years. Please visit the site above to learn more about Hasselmeier and his record. Remarkably, he is already back in business in a company in his mother's name. See: http://www.advisorsgroupintl.com/.
My business is listed as an unsecured creditor. Ironically, I had forgiven this debt, until I received the bankruptcy filing citing $1 as the amount owed. I have spoken with the Bankruptcy Trustee, and his office is interested in learning everything they possibly can from those harmed by Hasselmeier, or familiar with his operations. Please feel free to email me for the Trustee's phone number if you have valuable information or insight to share.
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