Tag Archives: jobs

Columbus, GA is a Small Pond

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After talking with Nikki yesterday, I’ve decided to go wherever a job offer takes me. I like Columbus, Lucas, and I know that this is a place for pioneers in the tech/media/design fields, but I don’t have the capital to be a pioneer here. I just got an exemption from paying the healthcare insurance fine, since I don’t have a job but did tell the HC.gov agent of my Stafford loan payments over the last year.

I also just rejected a pyramid scheme which almost drew me and my mother in: 5linx.com. After two meetings at my mother’s church friend’s house with a 5linx IMR (independent marketing representative), it sounded too good to be true. Too much like Amway. Too much like Scientology. No matter how much the guy claimed that “we are NOT a Ponzi scheme. All businesses are structured in pyramids (shows slide of pyramid graphic with tiers of position levels), but we are NOT like other companies which focus on recruitment. We focus on selling products. But you get points for the number of recruits you bring in, even getting to levels like Silver Senior Vice President and Diamond Senior Vice President if you get enough points”.

While in that meeting, I read the RipoffReport and PissedConsumer.com reports on 5linx on my phone. Figured, “Yep, this is bullshit.” Saw our way out by saying that I needed to meet Bill Harlan over the UUFC site. Walked out, then told Mom, “NO”. I can’t live with this.

I am disgusted with myself. Between this and what’s going on with one of my clients, I need to leave the area.

Just found out that Jen, who helped me on the first day of the job at Domino’s Pizza on Fort Benning, is now the GM there. I couldn’t think of a nicer person to serve in that position, so I bought delivery for the first time in nearly a year from there tonight and told the delivery guy to give my congrats to her. It’s also my first from there since I quit.

Meghan Ganey, who was GM when I worked there, got demoted and works, last I heard, works at a Domino’s out in Albany. Good. I still have her texts. I still replay that period sometimes. She was an indiscriminate fire-breather. That is all. #DominosPizza #CowabungaLLC

Got a Client!

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I sold my work, made it personal, and listened to members. I demonstrated the website in action on my Macbook, answered all the questions, and I named a *reasonable price* upfront. By the time I finished, shook their hands and left the meeting, I knew that I had a captive audience.

As of 9:03, I can confirm that a small local progressive congregation’s board has approved my proposal to do their website, with a contract to be signed the middle of next month. I am so glad for this moment, and I thank those who lent their support to my proposal before the board meeting, as well as all those who urged me not to sell myself short.

Despite every past impulse compelling me to lower my price, this proposal was at my true, intended price. I will never doubt my skills or my talents, nor will I ever stop asking questions, nor will I ever stop believing that there is always a better way to communicate your ideals. And I now know a better minimum of what my work is worth. #wordpress

Civic Hacking

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The National Day of Civic Hacking – Columbus Ga Hackathon was very engaging.

I haven’t been around that many fellow techies since the last time I went to Linux group meets in Warner Robins (which is how I met Jeff Hatfield, Reginal Cross and others). Reminds me that I still need to learn Python. And I met many folks at the Hackathon, including Gil Strickland, Frank Braski, Wayne Summers, Patrick Smith, Brian Bolton, Geoffrey Gwdub Shoultz, Lucas Shaffer, Bryce Jackson, Fred Johnson, Savannah Sosa and Walker Randolph Smith.

Congrats to Patrick, Brian and Geoffrey for winning the competition, and I was really impressed by their app! It would definitely help with political literacy in Columbus.

I, however, came into the competition just out of curiosity, but I came out with a presentation which called for an overhaul of the city’s web infrastructure to an FOSS platform in order to facilitate transparency for residents. I was surprised that my presentation was so well-received. And after that, I went with Lucas and the winners of the competition to The Cannon Brew Pub.

Thank you, Lucas, for covering us. Anyway, an eventful two days to mark the beginning of summer 2014.

Had an interesting night at MPower Project.

During the meeting, I was disappointed by a phone call from an organization for whom I’ve long operated their website. This phone call was the culmination of 2 years of free, volunteer website work, and I was sorely disappointed by the decision against my proposed compensation.

I am now weighing my options, but as I’ve told the representative for the client organization, I’ve removed the website from search engine viewing until further notice. I also intend to abstain from maintaining their social media outlets on Twitter and Facebook.

One thing that has come out of tonight: Except for current interested parties, I will be very reluctant to do website or social work for non-profit orgs in the future. I am very numb and ill to the idea right now. No more freebies.

Last night at the meeting resulted in a very interesting set of developments. The air in the building was tepid due to the heat, and I had a headache for much of the meeting.

After the body completed other business, I was allowed by the chair to present my proposal next to a projection of the proposal, and I explained as much about the document and what it will do for this organization as I could imagine explaining.

The questions came, and they built in momentum. Most were questions that I could answer immediately, a few were questions that I somewhat staggered in answering. One person’s questions were so pointed that they could have sunk the whole thing if other members of this organization hadn’t intervened and explained what I was trying to get at.

Two sticking points: the price and the terms of the payment. Wanda, I stuck with my price, just like you said, and I explained what it would cover. I was reassured by many of the members that this constitutes a normal meeting, and that I did an excellent job in my presentation. However, I stayed outside for the rest of the meeting when they debated the only other rivaling proposal (the proposal’s author didn’t appear at the meeting, but I understand that it is far less in price than mine).

In the end, no vote was taken (a few of the members left, denying the meeting a quorum needed for a vote), and the question was delegated to a subcommittee to handle the matter, and to hold out for more candidate proposals, until the next meeting on 16 June.

One thing they could agree on: this organization needs a website as soon as possible. I made plenty of acquaintances last night, but I got a substantial, emotional taste in democracy that I won’t be able to shake off for a week. Still, I will see this proposal to the end. I already know what it will look like, what it will have, and what it will do.

This organization deserves a good website, and I feel that I’m the best at bringing it to fruition. Aaliyah’s “Try Again” comes to mind: “This ain’t a yes, this ain’t a no/Just do your thing, we’ll see how we go….” #braveface