Justine Crowley
Bio
In a career crossroads all of a sudden. Re-discovering freelance writing.
Author of 12 Non-Fiction eBooks - Smashwords as the distributor
Author of Kids Coloring Print Books on Amazon
Lives in Sydney, Australia. Loves life.
Stories (128)
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You Can Beat Inflation. Top Story - June 2022.
Go to any supermarket, and it may feel like doom and gloom. You can grow your own food if you feel inclined to, yet if you play your cards right, you will be able to buy what you need. Throw in rising interest rates, as well as expensive power bills, and it can feel like a recipe for disaster. Know that inflation is currently out of your control, although on the flip side, your reaction to this once in every decade (or sometimes two decades) economic event is something that you can control.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Lifehack
What The Confessions Of A Shopaholic Movie Teaches Us About Money And Life
Whether it is ironic, or an appropriate wake up call; money is more important than ever, even though our hard earned cash is becoming more and more worthless. On the flip side, Rebecca Bloomwood's clothes were not in the end. Let's face it, we all have addictive tendencies, even though calling such as a vice is a more softer approach. And then again, not when you have debt collectors (who actually stalk you, and you would not want them to fall in love with you when all is said and done) chasing you for $9K of (bad) consumer debt, of which Rebecca Bloomwood (played by Isla Fisher) was experiencing first hand in the Confessions of a Shopaholic movie, directed by PJ Hogan. If only Rebecca could print some more Prada? Forget it. At best that is illegal, and no conspiracies here.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Geeks
Keys, Phone and Wallet: Are These The Basics of Getting Your S#@t Together?
The book of the same name (Getting Your S**t Together) by Sarah Knight is all about having these basics in tact, when it comes to actually being acutely aware that for the first time in your life, you are either well organised, or on the contrary an epic fail. With ebbs, flows, distractions, and life's unpredictable moments; even the creators of kaizen can fall into the trap of not completely having their ducks in a row on that embarrassingly odd occasion.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Motivation
Why SaaS Startups Fail: And How Can This Be Avoided?
Respecting the odds in business is a respectable thing, yet it is fairly common (according to statistics bureaus around the world) that 90% of SaaS (software as a service) startups are set to fail. If you plan on setting up a SaaS business in providing a valuable service, whether through an app or a paid subscription desktop style model; you need to understand that with any business or startup, it takes around ten years to build a solid base. Just because one SaaS startup moved to scale up stage and beyond; it does not mean that any sister ventures will, or completely new ventures for that matter. In saying this, you can lean the odds in your favour, and this is where your software based product (app or otherwise) needs to solve a pressing need in the marketplace. In other words, a "problem" for its users. Otherwise, what is the point?
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Lifehack
Have Something To Look Forward To
The magnitude of our happiness and life satisfaction increases rapidly when us human beings engage in at least one activity that we are looking forward to the most, no matter how simple. When restrictions happen (some event that limits your movement or mobility in some way, shape or form); it is only natural to take life and our choices for granted. To help you out, one part of this article is all about sharing some important pieces of learned wisdom on this concept (kind of like giving you the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle) while the other part gives you a set of keys into what I am personally doing right now in order to have something (actually things) to look forward to, to help you get onto this path, and to keep depression (trust me, it can sneak up on you like a tick) at bay. And to recover from a setback or two. Even from a new life event. (Yep...Covid, depression, long Covid, a new job, and a new lover have all recently entered my world, combined with losing a freelance client all at once. Oh, and giving my tenant notice to leave my investment property soon to be own house. Time to get back on the happy horse.) That is a fair exchange. I am giving you some fish, as well as teaching you how to also fish for yourself.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Motivation
Sleeping Is Not Overrated
You can thank me later if you wish. In the spirit of setting realistic new years resolutions, goals and/or systems (depending on how you flow) around (finally, or consistently) getting a great nights sleep; this article is born out of that need, and on what you can do to help you get a great nights sleep. Sleeping well at night has to be a priority, yet there are activities (resolutions) that we need to do in order to be much kinder to ourselves in the process.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Motivation
A City Barn Owl Is Rescued
This is a rare bird, in so many ways, making news headlines for getting stuck near some barbed wire at a popular apartment building in the CBD. Amid the planes flying in the sky, and office workers briskly walking to work, with laptop bags thrusting around their tight and tense shoulders, with a cup of joe in their spare hand, and maybe a mobile phone in another; it feels like they are ignoring the birth of something special, yet this bird needs to be rescued right now.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Fiction
Why I Will Be Selling My House, and Choosing To Rent.
Then again, we are all rentals. When our time is up, we cannot take any real estate with us into our grave. It stays where it is planted. Or in the case of a moveable home, it moves around. Nothing is permanent either way. Even when you 'own' a property or a few; you do not own them forever, even if you are lucky enough to get the banker off your back. You do not live in them forever. Although moving house is (or can be) frustrating to the core, however there are times when you just have to "make the move" into your new home. In ending what has been a trashy year (thank you 2021); yours truly ended up writing one of the most difficult articles I have ever had to write on Vocal Media in a while (if ever), also while in self isolation due to COVID-19. It is a heavy heart that I have decided to sell a valuable piece of real estate that I have owned for 15 years. Please let me elaborate as to why.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Lifehack
When Work Cut Your Hours...You are Authentically Blessed.
Then again, all jobs (and businesses you own, if applicable) are temporary, irrespective as to what level of employment you are at. If you believe and accept that meme, then you will be less attached to the outcome/s around your current job/business/career. The pandemic has quickly demonstrated the importance of not resisting change. Your work status does not matter either. Permanent jobs can quickly change at the (proverbial) drop off a hat. Permanent means that you are simply a permanent employee on an employers payroll, with the entitlements to match. Not permanent as in forever. Those days are long gone, where people would stay at the same company, and possibly in the same role for their entire working career. They (as in employers and clients) can still stand you down, get rid of you/let you go, and reduce your hours if work volumes decrease or are low unexpectedly. Your performance and like-ability is irrelevant here. Your cheese has been moved. (The latter saying is based on the book Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. You're welcome.)
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Motivation
Trick or Treat? Halloween Beats To Spook or Impress. Three-Hour Playlist. Tunes to Delight.
As we know, the majority of us reading this article celebrate New Years Day on the 1st of January. The Chinese celebrate their special mark of a brand new calendar a few weeks to a month later, while the Celts celebrate New Years Day on the 1st of November. Therefore the comfort foods of pumpkin and cinnamon spice (am I allowed to say chocolate?) naturally kick in, in the cooler, winter months. According to the Celts, the cooler months (aka winter) brought forward a blur between life and death on their take on New Years Eve (off hand, over 2,000 years ago now), and the trick or treat concept came from that, on what they called All Hallows Eve. Welcome to Halloween then. There you go, Halloween is a British concept, and not an American one. (It is like asking what came first...the chicken or the egg?) Who cares, and maybe they both did.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Beat
Becoming a Foster Child
Not to gain any sympathy, yet this coming of age is designed to impress upon you the importance of grit, resilience, and determination from converting a blow of blows into a fairly triumphant situation. Did I say it would be easy? Not on your life. I am sure that you can now relate to what tough times really mean, having lived through the last couple of years in particular. You are resilient, and that is why you are here. Hopefully this story inspires you.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Families
The Candle In The Wind. Home Sweet Home.
The lights will never go out. If our electricity supply was to cut off for any unforeseen reason; we (collectively) will have a candle or two to thank us for keeping us in the light. That is one benefit of this sweet pillar of wax right there.
By Justine Crowley4 years ago in Lifehack
