Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
My T-shirt Business Idea
No discussion on my business ideas is complete without discussing my t-shirt business. I have printed out a “Denial is not just a river in Africa” t-shirt. This has gotten some interesting looks and my Pagan recovery group flat out laughed at it because they thought it was hilarious. That’s what I’m going for. "Bill W. sent me" is a subtle t-shirt to wear around an alcoholic just to make them a bit crazy, in particular those alcoholics who are unaware of how much they pound it. I have now found a made-in-the-U.S.A. cotton supplier. This is a first step to producing t-shirts. Now I need to find somebody who can make t-shirts.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Journal
Life as a Superstore Associate
I have been working for this superstore for three months now and life can show you what a challenge is. People come from so many backgrounds and yet they all have the same thought because why not? "He/she is an store associate so he has to know everything about the store so we better ask him/her all of out questions we've got!" And that is what a challenge you have to surpass once you become an employee of a big corporate monster that is willing to do anything to make the costumer feel better about themselves but they forget that their workers are humans too, but that's okay: your paycheck is your reward.
By Angel Ruiz8 years ago in Journal
Book Editing Website Business
One of my business ideas is a website that people can edit books on. It would have a back office where you can log in. Then as an editor, you can edit a manuscript inside the back office using a program that allows for proofs with a track changes feature, like in Word 2017 or below. People would make money getting paid for their editing work done entirely online without a need to print anything. Authors have tendencies to procrastinate sometimes, in particular with regard to editing. Editing is what causes ferocious and serious procrastination tendencies. Publishing a book requires persistence, as well as writing talent, which reflects consistency.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Journal
So You Want to Be a Film Director?
I’ve spent the past 20 years making a living (occasionally lucrative, often precarious, seldom steady, largely rewarding) directing films. In the main, I've enjoyed a career I know I am very fortunate to have and I've travelled the world—from the North Pole to Saudi Arabia, from Kenya to Brazil. It has seldom been plain sailing, and at times I have navigated stormy waters, struggling to remember why I chose this ridiculous life, convinced that I’ll never work again or be able to feed my children. I’ve nearly frozen to death filming an expedition in the Arctic, nearly boiled my blood in the Arabian desert, seen the back seat propelled from a helicopter in which I was filming high above the Nigerian Delta and negotiated with the head-honcho in Rio de Janeiro favela. And throughout, I've worked with some of the most wonderful and some of the most trying people known to man.
By David Ward8 years ago in Journal
What's My Life Post-Creators Like?
Since Oct. 25, 2017, I'd bid my farewell to those I'd met during my time at Creators Media. The followers, the colleagues, the editors, and, ultimately, my first paid writing gig. A gig that allowed me to learn more about myself as a writer more than ever before.
By Dustin Murphy8 years ago in Journal
When Profiling Isn't Harmful
For over 15 years I worked the doors in Melbourne, I have encountered enough things to last a life time of articles and stories, but today I want to speak about how profiling can save someone from harm.Consider this, you are a bouncer at a club that varies the clientele nightly, in a weekend you may have a gay night, a "Race" night, you may have a 28 and older night etc. These nights are niches in which specific communities can gather together and have fun and act like tools in the comfort of whatever they are. Sometimes it is a great idea, others... not so great."Race" nights normally are not called this, its more a term we use in the industry and to be honest we know it will be a night of issues. Generally you hear "African Night" or "Croatian Night" etc. Here comes where profiling saves you from harm. I will explain from a personal story. In my early days of drunk babysitting, I was asked to assist in an African night, and I loved it, the vibe was great, girls gorgeous, dudes good fun. The night went on with a few squabbles and drunks going about their rants, till I made a mistake, let two whites dudes inside—not considering any harm, they were well dressed, well mannered and just starting their night type of drunk. It was not ten minutes in I hear the call to a huge fight, I run in, meeting my brothers in arms to a scene of several people beating the living hell out of these two white guys. We pulled them out, they refused medical attention and we ended up shutting the night down early due to that incident killing the vibe.Now some may hear this story and say, "Those Africans obviously racist." and that could be a case for possible individual feelings but not the reality. See the white guys went in and were greeted well, even offered drinks which they accept. While at the bar, the two white guys said and I am quoting the bartender here, "Even here we are superior," which obviously more than one person took offense too. From that day I decided I would be a professional bigot on the doors. This was not the only case of this sort of thing happening and generally comes from inexperience. I didn't consider race or religion or culture when I dealt with people, I only assumed their attitude, intoxication level, and or dress. Now that has changed.I got called a bigot often, and I took it happily cause I knew that whoever I refused based on profiling would not likely be waking up in hospital or worse the next day. I refused gay guys and Middle Eastern guys into redneck bars, I refused Greek guys into Turkish nights etc. It sounds wrong, and it is and hated doing it, but it kept people safer. Does this mean I always did this? No, you have to consider other factors. Now if someone who "isn't of the crowd" comes up with those who are, good chance that person will be safe.I was probably most selective at LGBT events than anything. I was not about to allow a group of straight guys go into a gay night or even Hen's nights. Trust me on this it can cause issues, damn the things I've seen. Now again, this is not some golden rule, I did on occasion let straight guys into gay nights, why? Some guys literally would go to those nights for safety reasons, or some would be discovering their own sexuality and I cannot be the guy to deny them that. In the end it is case by case but profiling can literally save your life if done for the right reasons—agree or not; I sleep well at night knowing I helped others avoid very dangerous situations.
By Shamus Roan8 years ago in Journal
How to Earn a Million
You are working that nine to five job somewhere mediocre, putting hours into making someone else rich. All you are rewarded with is just about enough money to keep the lights on and food on the table. Your boss, however, he is taking expensive holidays, dining out five days a week, showing off the latest phone, and driving around in his flashy car.
By No One’s Daughter8 years ago in Journal
How To Start a Business for Those on SSI
I have an idea for a turnkey website designed to help people start a business rapidly. It would help people on SSI and SSDI make money to get off those systems and live freely. It would be a massive collection of links to Nolo press as well as city websites everywhere in the United States for every major city. It would be functioning as part social network, part database. The website would help a business owner write a business plan using business plan template software. We would make every Nolo press paper or paperless contract available on the site. SSI could use this to promote the PASS Plan that gets people to plan ahead financial self-sufficiency.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Journal
Enough
I was taught young to take pride in my work, work with integrity, and be dependable and reliable. I'm an 80s baby and this was even a course in high school. They called it a business class and taught me how to speak, how to dress, how to have a good work ethic; they taught me that this is how you build security and grow in a company. Unsure if it is a grand scheme, but they conditioned me to believe that was it—no options. I stepped into the world believing I had to work for a company.
By Kristen Bryant8 years ago in Journal
The Year that Kohl's Saved Christmas
2017 was a bit of a rocky year and the turbulence hit a frenzied level when I lost my job at the beginning of May. What followed was five months of struggle—collecting unemployment, a small part-time “consulting” type gig that was inconsistent at best and the fear that at age 53, my best years as a marketing professional were behind me.
By Jonathan Pullano8 years ago in Journal
