Life of MJ Schrader

2009 Year of the Roadblocks

In 2008 after attending Unseminar 5, I realized jobs and I were not friends, in fact we were in fact not even on friendly terms. If anything, we have a mutual hatred of each other. (As long as it’s mutual right?) And that it was actually possible to make a living online. But I had promised my clients I would work one more season.

One More Season

Tax season started early in November because our company offered a “pre-season” loan that reduces the refund, by giving clients money now. This early loan bothered me ethically, the interest rate was legal, yet the fees associated with it made it reprehensible.  Plus unfortunately this mostly preys on the uneducated and we are “encouraged”  to push them to get the loan if they sit at our desk.

Starting in November threw me off schedule for the things I needed to have done before Christmas and on my business. But throwing me worse was that twice I had the boss visit me at my desk to publicly yell at me. During this last season she yelled at me at least a dozen times. Yes, yell, raise her voice and yell at me. No, I am not deaf.

Every tax season, since I started at the new office, I would get laryngitis for almost a week. This year was different, I got it in November, in January, and in late February. 3 TIMES. One co-worker was getting her associates degree online when we were slow, my co-workers on crafts that they would later sell. Yet my writing a book was strictly prohibited. When clients came in, my crafty co-workers were given a moment to get things off their desk, I was not. And in the end I got the least pay that I had received in years.

With the laryngitis and other oddities, it was like being given a big “have you finally had enough?” kind of warning.

Roadblocks

So as soon as tax season ended, my credit card got hit with a HUGE fee for an annual subscription that I didn’t know I had. The company refused to refund my money, because I had “agreed” to the subscription. The credit card company refused to work with me. And now I have a subscription to service that has ebooks and articles written by non-English speaking writers. Mistakes are common.

Salem, my now 10 year old cat was attacked by another cat. It’s happened before, he normally needs a few days to recoup, but he started getting worse not better. The vet prescribed antibiotics, and said he’d might need surgery and come back next week. Next week resulted in the same issuance, so 6 weeks after the first visit he finally had surgery and a final week of antibiotics. Just in time for Luna to cut her paw open…

Having not been much of one for being sick (except for the annual laryngitis and a bit of flu then), I was shocked to get the flu in the middle of the summer. Every time I tried to make big progress with one of my businesses I got sick. Blocks appearing to get me discouraged and whenever I wanted to make progress. So it was a bummer… but

Progress was made!

July 20th, I hosted a 12 hour web Ustream marathon. Interviewing different people on how to conquer fear. The book I started writing in 2008 was put on a shelf until I could make money. Yet I produced an ebook and two videos. I created 3 new websites during 2009 that have been my new hub, my business and personal blog (which you are reading). My personality has changed to a stronger and more positive.

While there are some who say I am negative, a lot of my posts here must reflect my own stories of abuse because I cannot tell someone else’s story, nor can I tell what has been disclosed to me personally. Plus if I only include the positive how can I hope to help people find the positive from negative situations, or to realize that they deserve better than abusive situations. Too often we only qualify physical abuse when there are other forms of abuse.   In addition sometimes what others view as negative is statement of facts for me.

That’s my story… and I’m stickin’ to it.

So please comment with what have been your roadblocks?

MJ

#ThemeWord and Goals

Personally I am not big into resolutions. Resolutions do not seem to work for most people. Perhaps because we resolve to “work out more,” or “eat healthier” or “read more.” There are no solid resolutions, no commitment or number.

Work out more? Eat healthier? By choosing to eat an apple today instead of a doughnut by definition is healthier. Yet this is not really what we need to do, we need to decide to eat an apple everyday. Decide to work out 3 times a week . Commit to reading 2 books a month. Commit to losing 5 pounds for the next 4 months and then maintain.

These are defined goals. SMART Goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

Specific ~ an apple. Measurable ~ every day. Attainable ~ a slight stretch going from once a month to every day. Realistic ~ 1 apple vs 5 (unless you really love apples) Timely ~ for a year

The other thing to setting “resolutions” is to turn them into goals. Not goals for right now, but goals for the end of the year. So you have to keep working towards that end goal.

This is the idea that bubbled into my head reading Erica Douglass and her New Year blog. She has a #themeword for the year, Create. She wants to create more. More of everything. In Erica’s blog you can read that her goals are SMART.

After spending a few days in thought, my #themeword appeared. My #themeword for 2010 is “Action.”

Because for years I haven’t taken action. Because I want a massive change in 2010, which requires action.  Because I don’t want to go back to a job, action is necessary.  Because I must take action to get out of debt and into a new home.  Because I want to get my ideas on paper and on video, which requires action.  Because I have a lot to share that floats in my head, action again. Because I want to exercise 3 times a week in addition to daily walking, action. Because I want to travel, action. Because I want to spend time with someone special, action. Because I want to visit my friends in Texas, action. Because I plan to cook 3 times a week, action.

So yes, I do believe my #themeword is action. As for my goals… well I have them written down, but I don’t plan on sharing most of those. Yet, you will be seeing some interesting posts in the next few days.

What’s your #Themeword? Comment below and I will add your #themeword to this page.

MJ Schrader

Mentors Help Online Business Success

There are some elements which are very necessary for your online business success.

Do you have a mentor?

For years I wanted to create a business online, I started working online 7 years ago. My income was minor, but it was there. At the end of each year I had enough money to pay for Christmas. This was not exactly the business success I envisioned.

Then 2008 I wanted more, my income increased but not enough. Finally in July of 2009 I decided to finally get a mentor. My business started growing, I learned little things to help my business succeed, while my blog makes money now. If you are curious about my mentor visit Pat’s Coaching.

How does a mentor help?

Having a mentor has meant someone who stirs me into action. He guides me along the path, without forcing me or the situation from school “it’s my way or else.” Business is not like that, there is not one correct answer. However there are times when we need assistance and direction. A mentor also helps give advice when you are stuck.

Is it worth a monthly fee?

Well, as a friend would say, “it’s worth testing.” If you decide you want to try a paid coaching program commit yourself to three months of training. You don’t have to pay them for three months, you may quickly find you and the mentor are not compatible. However if you like them, then commit to 3 months. It takes time before your business will see any success, so quitting too quickly could shut you short.

What is the last important factor?

Yes, a mentor can help you. Yet, only if you make a commitment to work, to aim for success and go for it. So like mentioned previously and will be mentioned again YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOU!