Many years later, when Kevin was in his backyard with his children, his daughter Ava cried out, “Dad! Josie is cheating at Tag!”
Kevin said just one thing.
“Is that so?”
*Kevin the Complainer
writing
Page 20*
Kevin watched. The wheels in his little mind were turning.
*Kevin the Complainer, to be published in March 2019
Page 11*
At lunch, Lily was sitting by herself. Kevin looked over at Minji and Carlos. They were talking and laughing and ignoring him.
So Kevin sat next to Lily.
“Hello,” Lily said.
“Hello,” Kevin answered.
They chewed in silence.
*From my next book, Kevin the Complainer
Excerpt from “Kevin the Complainer”*
Ms. Meretta was teaching a new math lesson.
Kevin looked out the window. The storm subsided and the sun was out. He wished he could be outside, playing Kick and Cover.
“Kevin, pay attention. You need to learn this,” Ms. Meretta said.
Sighing heavily, Kevin muttered, “I knew this was going to be a bad day.”
*my second self-published children’s book – check out “Esther, Mia and the Stars“!
Person, Place or Thing?
I showed my husband this illustration for my next book, Kevin the Complainer. This is Ms. Meretta, Kevin’s teacher. (My favorite teacher of all time was Ms. Meretta and she’s becoming a mainstay in all my books!)
Husband – sans glasses – squints. Awkward wait time follows.
At last he says, “Oh! I thought that was a chestnut!”
Passing the Time
“Be ambitious for the work and not the reward.”
Jeanette Winterson, writer
Doing the Deep Work (Part 2)
Deep Work*
Doing deep, meaningful work requires a lot of time in quiet solitude.
I’ve been procrastinating and distracting myself from my deep work (National Board Certification, writing and illustrating Book 2).
So, I shall remove the distractions: posting and reading feeds in social media (FB, Twitter) and checking (and re-checking) the news. Honestly, reading the news and getting upset is not helping anyone. But somehow, I believed that being up to date on current events was being good citizen. As long as my vote is informed, I’m good.
Now, on with the deep work…will you join me? What are your distractions and excuses?
*Cal Newport
Bullet Journal and Financial Tips
Thought I’d take a chance and be vulnerable. Share.
Above, my journal entry for yesterday and today.
Below, my financial tips that have helped my husband and me reach our goal of $1,000,000.
I know it’s totally taboo in America to talk about salary and net worth. But I really want to help people who struggle with money.
I’m a teacher, for Pete’s sakes.
I don’t make a lot, but I also don’t spend a lot. I started my career in radio and I made $17,000 a year. I ate pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner until I developed a food allergy. Of course, I was unable to save for retirement during that time. I don’t have regrets: I met Gloria Steinem (she’s a goddess!), the lead singer of Simply Red (he was a jerk) and Lou Diamond Phillips (swoon)! I befriended Steve, our Program Director, who encouraged me to be a writer. So, I don’t regret that year, but it was an entire year that I did not save or invest money.
My next job: administrative assistant in a money managing firm. Wow, did I learn a lot. I learned about stocks and investing and I started my 401K.
There are two things I recommend you do ASAP:
- Start a financial spreadsheet with every asset you own…how much you own. Also, keep track of your debt (credit cards, mortgage, etc.) and make a plan to pay them off immediately.
- Another Must Do: start an IRA. Contribute to your company’s 401K.
If you can, find an excellent financial advisor. We did this and I attribute much of our success and wealth to him. You’ll need to do research and be financially savvy. NEVER simply hand over your finances to someone. ALWAYS know what is going on with your money! And don’t be shy about telling him/her what you want to sell and what you want to purchase.
Owe Vs. Own
Guess which one you want to grow?
Maybe you have a lot of debt. Maybe you have no debt but very little savings. Whatever you dream for yourself, you can do it! Just make a plan and begin.
Podcast for Artists and Consultants
I’ve been following Seth Godin’s work for many years. He just gets better and better. This podcast episode got me jazzed. If you’re considering freelancing or being an entrepreneur (or if you believe they are synonyms(!)) this podcast is for you:
“Freelancers”
Here are notes from the podcast:
First of all, entrepreneurs are people who start companies, make money while they sleep and employ people. Freelancers actually create the work and usually work alone (might shop out aspects of their work, but mostly do it themselves). When he said this, I realized I am definitely not an entrepreneur! But being a freelancer resonated with me when it comes to my personality and goals.
Choose an industry that is glad to see you arrive.
Possess hard-earned skills. You can charge a lot, but deliver more than what people pay for.
Focus on the smallest viable audience – not a large one [This is the opposite of what so many failed businesses do!]. As a freelancer, you can only handle so much. This small group of people (your customers) will talk about you and wait in line for you.
Commit to the discipline of prospecting – you need to do your work and spend time getting work (building your business). Dedicate some time every day to honing your skills, finding new tools, spreading the word, earning the privilege of working for others (NOT networking parties).
Godin uses an example: He knows a photographer who shoots in a specific location at specific times and only those for clients. She
What gets you picked is you being in the Category of One. No one can substitute you. Get beyond being One of Many. Do quirky, unique, exceptional work – work that sounds like you, looks like you….the work that most people do not like. (Are you trying too hard to be liked by everyone?)
Kismet 