November 2011

Wow, time flies. I can't believe that I haven't posted since August and it's now the end of November.



I guess there has been a lot going on. Like the fact that I am no longer working as a nurse. I had been looking for some other way to make money since I have been nursing since 1976. It's a job I loved and it has done right by me. I have not wanted for anything and I was able to raise my children. Yes  the nursing profession has served me well. I feel I have helped many people in that realm. Now it is time to move on.

My radio station, WDGP is doing well. More and more folks are making it their place for music. The Independent artists are continuing to submit their new music as well as new artists. I would like to see more business take advantage of our reasonable advertising rates, however, WDGP is growing by leaps and bounds. With a few more Authors sharing their work as well.

I remain on my path and even though I have faced some hardships in the year 2011, the year  promises to finish on positive notes.

Now I am planning for 2012. Looking forward to big things, like the launch of my non-profit company, yes I am still working on that. I hope your year ends and begins on a positive note as well. As long as we keep God first in all we do, we can't fail.

If you are looking for a way to generate a few extra dollars from selling items your no longer using try TripleClicks.com. It is also a good place to set up your own online store front.

Pleasing People?

I have always known, but the fact was recently hammered home to me, that no matter what you do, you cannot please all of the people all the time.

Some of you know that I own an Internet Radio Station. We promote Independent Artists by only playing music from them by them and we do not charge them for this service. However, we do charge them if they want to have their work in heavy rotation (our charge is nominal compared to other stations). But I digress. 

 I have used a service for submissions since I started the station. This is a service that I feel protects the Artist and their work. When I signed up to use them, it were free for Artists to submit to my site and in the 18 months WDGP has been in existence, I have never had 1 Artist complain about them, until now. I don’t know if this person cannot read, has low intelligence, thinks the world owes them something or is just a miserable bitter person.

This person, supposedly an Artist, sent me an email that said 

“No you don’t charge to play the music, you just send people to a submission site that does.”  

 

That was all. When I read it I became concerned, since no one else had mentioned this to me before. I shot off an email to this person, giving them another way to get their music to me. (I got no response.) 

I thought maybe the submission site had changed their terms on me and since I hadn’t received any notice of change in service, I went to the source.  There were no changes to the terms of use so I called them. No nothing had changed. Now I was a bit disturbed. 

Perhaps this person was just a bit confused. I sent another email, explaining that they were wrong, the service does not charge people to submit to my station, however, they do charge if you want to submit to other stations as well. They offer different packages at different prices, depending on how many stations the person wants to submit to.

I think this is fair. They do the work for you, keep track of which stations accept your music and send you emails for your own records. It is only fair that they be compensated. I invited the person to submit their music, if it was up to par, for consideration. You see I was now suspicious of the motive in sending the email in the first place. I had gone above and beyond, offering this person a direct link to me to submit, with no response at all.

It seems my suspicions were correct, judging by the response I got to the last email, saying that it was strange that I had to check with the service and they didn’t have time to sort through such a confusing site to find a free way to submit and no, they would not be submitting to my station. BIG lost for me right? NOT!  Hundreds of Artists have had no trouble finding out how to submit to WDGP. The proof is in the submissions I have received. 

But it is funny how one adverse response can give you pause. Am I not clear, do I need to change something in my print? I have spoken to several folks about this and they all say to just let it go, I want to, but this person is out there possibly spreading negativity about my station or about me or about the service I am using. I am told that they can’t do me any harm since I am established and have many Artists that would disagree with this person’s negative reaction. Still, it bothers me, so I decided to write about since there is really nothing else I can do and then let it go.  Am I correct that this is just bitter person, maybe not even an Artist, just someone with nothing better to do then aggravate me? What say you?

In God’s Time, Not Mine

I had every intention of writing a blog today, but little did I know that I’d have a totally different reason for writing it than I originally intended. That first reason will have to wait for another day.

Those of you that know me or follow my blog, know that I have a deep faith that God directs my steps and as such, I have to move my feet to get the blessings he bestows.  

You also know that I am a supporter of multiple streams of income. In fact, if it were not for multiple streams of income, I would not have survived the last 3 years since I have not been able to rely on any “job” for financial security.  I would also go as far as to say that those multiple streams allowed me to stand my ground when employers wanted me to do strange things like produce more work for less pay, and longer hours without compensation. I was able to say no even though I ran the risk of being let go so someone with less backbone and integrity could take my position and do the employer’s bidding just to keep a “job”. Honestly, I have never been that person; I have always stood up for me. 

It one reason I work with temp agencies, they allow me some flexibility in scheduling and I never have to stay with any particular company. I like being able to try them out before making a long term commitment.   

This is the reason I decided to take a temp position when my last job ended in February.  

 In actuality, this particular agency found me via the Internet, (I love the Internet) so I took what was to be a six week assignment. As it turned out, it was a great working environment. The staff was friendly, welcoming, capable and cohesive. This was my dream “job” environment. I had a Director of Nursing who understood the job I was hired to do and did not put an overload of nonessential duties on her MDS staff. My co-worker was a person with a similar work history and we had worked at a number of the same facilities. Beyond that we grew up in the same neighborhood and knew some of the same people. Even though I was only contracted for 6 weeks, the job lasted for 3 months. The administrator at the time told me that he had made a deal with the agency that when I had worked a particular number of days, that he could offer me a full time position (with benefits) and that he was waiting for that commitment to end. I was happy and the staff wanted me to stay, at least that is what they told me, and what they told the administrator. It was wonderful, and if you believe in adages, it was too good to last. 

The first thing that happened was the best DON I had ever had the privilege to know left the company.  Then, one morning the former regional rep stopped by morning meeting to inform the staff that he was moving up in the company and a new person was taking his place. I didn’t know the person leaving or the person taking his spot , of course, but some of the other staff knew the new person and they were not at all happy about this change and as a result, people started resigning and just like that, the perfect team disintegrated. 

Then there’s me. I have never been one to run from change so I just bided my time. I went to work every day and did my best, as I always do. I felt the tide shifting though and I wanted to alert my agency so they could start looking for a new placement but every time I called then, I got a recording, and although I left a couple of messages that I wanted to talk to someone, I did not get a return call, besides, it would have been difficult to speak freely at the work site. I made a promise to myself to call and be sure to speak to someone on Monday. 

Now, yesterday I got an email from a guy I recently met online. He wanted to speak to me about a joint venture. He left a number and I set a time to call him. Just as we said our hellos, I got a call waiting tone. I excused myself and when I answered I got the message that the contract was over and I should not report to work on Monday (tomorrow). Although I wasn’t shocked or anything, I was surprised they did it today and did not tell on Friday that the contract was over so I could have taken all my belongings with me.   

The point of this story is, I was just about to talk to this guy about his opportunity and I lost my income. It is so true that God never closes a door without opening a window. I am working on something as I told you in the last entry but I need income now and I will need income to fund my next venture and this opportunity presented to me today just might fill both pots. I have been given the guidance and the answer even before I had the question. I am sharing this just to help impress upon you that God is a good and mighty presence. He supplies all our needs and he has never failed me yet, Amen. 

I am more confident than ever that I am on my correct path. I am so overjoyed at this moment. Folks who don’t know God will probably say, “What overjoyed, she’s mad, no job and she’s overjoyed.” But I know those of you who do know God can understand. He’s clearing the way for me to reach my finish line. Amen, Amen, and Amen. So please no matter what you are going through, trust God to know what move to make on your behalf and remain ready to move your feet when the time comes.                                

FROM THE GM

FROM THE GM

We Go Through Changes, Changes We Go Through

I have had so much on my mind lately. The last 3 years have been so full of change. That is truly the one thing that has been constant, Change. I am born under the sign of Taurus and as such, I like routine. Yes I like to shake things up a bit at times, but I’m comfortable with routine. Needless to say, it’s been a trying time for me, but I am also a survivor, more than that I am a conqueror. My faith keeps me moving forward.


The bright shining star through it all has been WDGP. I love managing this station and being a place for Independent Artists to shine. I am meeting some wonder, talented and down to earth people. I love what I’m doing and folks are taking notice. I have plans to expand the WDGP reach. What I mean by that isn’t about how far we reach, because we are heard all over the world and that in and of itself is a blessing, but what I mean is that we are going to expand into areas other than broadcasting. This will be a good change, a sweet change because we will be helping more people, especially the children. I am so ready for that change.



I also hope to retire from the nursing field completely, although that will take a while yet. I am working on it diligently. You know I have to move my feet. You see, my job situation has been the biggest part of all the changes. I can’t seem to get settled in a job, maybe because I don’t want one. It makes me feel like a slave. Having a job means someone else owns my time. I want it back, I must have it back. I have so much to do, but again, it is all in God’s time and as long as I stay the course and remain on my path, it will all work out just as it’s supposed to.

I guess what I am saying is that in order to be fulfilled I have to continue through all the changes, trials and tribulations until I get to my perfect place. I will continue to ask for God’s guidance and His grace and be ever so thankful for both. I will keep pushing, keep striving because I am on a mission. I can’t share much about it right now but those who know me know, I mean business and I’m about business. Trust and believe, it’s all in the making. Keep your eye on me, better still, join me. Let’s go!

Born on May 16

Yes my birthday or earth day as some call it, is May 16th. As usual, my birthday brings up questions. Am I in a better place than I was a year ago? Am I making progress as I planned a year ago? What can I change about my environment, my thinking, my planning, about myself, that will improve the bottom line? These are some of the questions I ponder and these spark others and answer spark other questions and answers and then I realize that I am still on my path and that there are no wrong answers as long as I listen to my intuition.


I do follow star signs and I found an interesting post about the characteristics of folks born on May 16th. Admittedly, most, if not all of these can be attributed to folks born on other days, but, when I read them I saw myself. My question to you (those reading that know me) is do you see me when you read this?




"Tauruses born on May 16 have buoyant and fascinating personalities in matters of self-expression. They have their own view of life and their own style. They can seem argumentative because they enjoy exchanging opinions with others.

There is a special appealing aura about May 16 individuals. Friends are drawn to their eccentric persona and their grace and charm. In romance, they don't always make the most intelligent choices when it comes to selecting a mate. Although they fall in love many times, they bring the same joy and enthusiasm to each experience.

There is a great deal about their upbringing and family background that May 16 people do not wish to acknowledge. They seem to prefer forgetting the unhappy parts and concentrating on the pleasant ones. As parents, they may repeat some of the mistakes made by their parents yet are extremely loving and protective.

Because they need immediate gratification, it is very difficult for May 16 people to be as vigilant as they should be about maintaining their weight. Because they are not known for being the athletic type, they should take a brisk walk each day.

May 16 individuals don't like to follow the conventional path. They love being on public view and make exquisite performers of any art or craft. Because of their great talent and ability to extract the maximum attention out of what they do, they have considerable earning potential. They can also be extremely reckless with their finances and should consult a professional.

May 16 natives feel that they are successful if they can do what they love on their own terms. These people are innovators who value their freedom of choice above everything else. They see no point in maintaining tradition just for its own sake."


Now, It that me or is that me? LOL

Happy Earth Day to ME!


Thanks to Jill M. Phillips for letting me use this piece in today's post.




PS; Happy Birthday today, May 14th, to my Brother Fred, I love you Man!

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