NetworkForNurses

How to get a job you want

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:31:00 +0000

A nurse on a online board asked about getting a job in a doctor's office. Here are some suggestions I gave for that. While specific to her, they are relevant to any nurse who wants a new job. Despite a bad economy now, you can get the job you want. What's needed is not experience or an agency. What you need is creativity, a willingness to learn, and a bit of marketing savvy. Here's all 3 in five steps.

1. Take a map. Decide how far you'd be willing to drive for a job.

2. Draw a circle around your home for the number of miles you're willing to travel. So, if you're willing to drive 20 miles, you draw a circle 20 miles out from your home..

3. Get the names and addresses of every clinic and doctor's office within that circle.

4. Do a one page letter detailing your experience, your willingness to work hard, your ability to empathize with patients and work with a team. Include a web address (you can get one for less than $10 at places like GoDaddy). On your website, put your picture, an expanded resume, and a copy of your letter. (The website distinguishes you from almost everyone else, and indicates that you're creative, inventive, and willing to go a bit further. It also tells them that despite your lack of specific office experience, you're the type of nurse they want to hire). Of course, include your address, home and cell phone numbers, and an email address.

5. Get enough copies of that letter printed to send to every address in your radius. Have it professionally printed (a place like Pip) with a flattering, professional picture of yourself at the top. Send it out. I'm guessing you'll have multiple job offers (which means you get the pick of the best ones), and you'll be working at a place you like within a month.

Failure, Success, and Victory

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:49:00 +0000

"Failure is only postponed success as long as courage coaches ambition.
The habit ofpersistence is the habit of victory."

Herbert Kaufman, writer

Volunteering by Nurses

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:25:00 +0000

I've got to confess that I'm not a big fan of nurses doing nurse/charity volunteering. Not because I'm opposed to volunteering, but because most of the time nurses volunteer, we end up doing piddly little tasks that untrained or minimally trained folks could do just as well. Work situations usually don't have us doing piddly tasks because it makes no sense to pay a nurse $$ per hour to do the mundane little medical-sounding chores that nurses usually get roped into in volunteer situations.

(The example I always think of are mass blood pressure screenings, which is one of the most worthless ways anyone can spend their time. The folks getting the readings usually are there because it's free, and they do not pay much attention to what they're told about their BP. Nevertheless, it's a wildly popular thing to have, and you can usually count on finding long-suffering nurses parked around tables at shopping malls waiting for the mall walkers to pony up to the table to get the arm squeeze).

Nurses who want to volunteer -- as a nurse -- should make sure that the volunteer task is one that will use their skills in a productive, useful way. Otherwise, it's a lot better to simply work a little more, and give cash.

Boldness and indecision

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:05:00 +0000

"Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days... What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Novelist and Scientist

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 11:22:00 +0000

"Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working 24 hours a day for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force."

Using Websites to Provide Client Information

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:46:00 +0000

Hello ... I'm Jim Huffman, and I've created this web site to let you know about the examination the insurance company is requesting that you have completed. We want you to be informed, and we want you to be as comfortable as we can with our procedures.

Here are some questions folks frequently ask about their exams. But if you have other questions, please contact us, and we'll provide any information you might need. You can either email me at huffmanjim@hotmail.com or you can call me at (336) 227-0958.

About me ...

Who are you? Glad you asked. I'm Jim Huffman, and I'm the nurse who does exams for your insurance company. We work through a company called Portamedic, which handles the paperwork and billing hassles. (This is not an official Portamedic web site, and is not authorized by them. If you're looking for Portamedic's home page, click here: http://portamedic.com)

What are your qualifications? I'm a registered nurse (RN). If you'd like to verify my license, you can do so quickly at http://www.ncbon.org I graduated from Regents College nursing program in June of 1980. (The college changed its name in 2001; it's now known as Excelsior College). If you'd like, I'd also be happy to show you my nursing license when I meet with you ... I carry it with me at all times.

How much experience do you have? I began working as a nurse in June of 1980 at what was then Alamance County Hospital (in a later merger, it and another hospital became Alamance Regional Medical Center, in Burlington). I was a medical-surgical nurse for 2 1/2 years. I went out on my own in December of 1982, and have operated a full-time, free-lance solo nursing practice since then. I've worked in a number of areas, including critical care (ICU), geriatrics (care of the elderly), and home care.

How much experience do you have with sticking people for blood? A lot. Insurance companies began requiring blood sticks for many applicants in the late 1980s. I have probably drawn blood from several thousand people, and will often stick 8 or 10 people in one day. I am not perfect. But I am able to get most blood sticks in one try, and will probably be able to get yours.

Are you an employee of the insurance company? Are you an insurance agent? No, to both questions. I'm an independent contractor completing examinations for the insurance company, but I am not their employee. And I'm not an insurance agent. I'll be happy to answer medical questions about your examination, but if you have insurance questions, please ask your agent, who can help you with that end.

About your examination ...

Why am I required to have an examination? Your insurance company uses the information we collect to make decisions about providing you with the insurance. Normally, it's an automatic requirement, depending on your age, and the amount of the insurance. Occasionally, the company will require one because of something in your medical history, or because of your height or weight.

Do I have to do the exam? If you want the insurance, the exam has to be completed. If you refuse the exam, the insurance company won't sell you the insurance.

I'm going to be busy for the next several months. Can I put off the exam until then? Ultimately, you're the one who determines when the exam is completed. However, the insurance company will not finish processing the policy until your exam is in their hands. Insurance companies also give us a limited amount of time to complete the exam paperwork until they "close the books" on a case. If you need to put the exam off for more than a week or so, please let me and your agent know so we can make arrangements. And please remember: the exam can easily be completed in 30 minutes or less. I can sympathize with busy people because I'm busy myself. But I really will respect your time, and your schedule.

This is a family policy. Do my children have to take an exam? Usually no one under age 18 has to have any exam completed. There are exceptions to this rule, but your insurance agent can provide more information if a child under 18 needs any work done.

What does the exam involve? If you have to have a paramedical exam, we will ask you health questions, check your blood pressure, height and weight, and collect a urine specimen. If you need a blood sample, we will collect blood from either your arm or your finger, depending on the insurance company's requirements. If you need an EKG (an electrocardiogram: a heart test) we will hook a few "stickers" to your body, which will provide a reading of how your heart is operating.

How long will the exam take? Usually 15-20 minutes, unless we get to talking, in which case you probably need to tell me to get lost, that you have things to do. If you have a long medical history, it might take longer, but almost never more than 30 minutes.

What kind of health questions do you ask? I'll be asking about your medical history: your doctor's name and address, and when you last saw your doctor, operations you've had, hospitalizations, medicines you're on -- that sort of thing. I'll also ask questions about your family history: ages of family members or ages at which they died, their health history, and cause of death for any who have passed away.

I have some embarrassing medical or personal history. Do I have to give it to you? The insurance company needs a full medical history. However, you should know that nurses like myself deal with all kinds of illnesses and diseases. You are not going to surprise me with something you've had or something you've done. And honestly, I won't remember it 2 days later.

I'm afraid you might tell someone something I tell you. I understand your concern, but it's not going to happen. I don't tell anyone about folks I see. I won't even tell someone I've seen you. No one will know unless you tell them. I certainly won't. You can count on that.

I'm very embarrassed about my weight. Can't I just tell you what it is? Unfortunately, the answer is no! The insurance company requires me to actually weigh and measure you. However, you should know that I see many people, and honestly, if I didn't write it down, I wouldn't remember what your weight is. However, I won't say your weight out loud, and I won't repeat it to anyone else.

I'm not good with getting urine specimens. Can't I just get one before you get there? Again, the answer is no ... I have to be there when you get the specimen.

But I have trouble urinating when a test is needed ... A lot of people do. What I suggest is avoiding urinating 2 hours before the exam. Drink some extra water. And if the extra water "kicks in," tell me when I get there, and we can do the urine first. And you will be surprised, too, to see how little urine is needed.

I've had drug tests where they watched me urinate. Do you have to watch me? No, definitely not.

The insurance company has told me I need another one or two urine specimens. What is the problem? The short answer is, "I don't know." Insurance companies don't tell me why they request second urine specimens. (Often, the company will request another 2 specimens on separate days). Your agent can often get the exact reason they are requesting it. But usually it's no more than that a minor bladder infection showed up in the first test.

Can I have the exam if I'm having my menstrual period? If you are having your period, mention that. For most insurance companies, it's no problem, but a few request that we wait until your period is completed. If you are having your period on the day I do the exam, please let me know so I can note that on the lab slip. And if you'd rather wait until your period is done, that's no problem.

Do I have to undress for the exam? No. If possible, wear light, loose clothing, but there are no special requirements. If you are having an EKG done, you should not wear pantyhose, and you should avoid using lotion on your skin ... the machine has trouble getting correct readings with either of these.

Can you use blood work or other tests I had done at my doctors? Not normally. The insurance company requires certain specific tests, and your doctor's office would not have done that combination of tests.

What tests are done on the urine sample? Each company has specific tests done (I do exams for some 50 insurance companies) and so I can't say for sure which ones your company is requiring. However, the normal tests would be ones for sugar in the urine, kidney and bladder infections and disorders, and others.

Do you test for drugs? Yes. Almost all companies test for both legal (for example, high blood pressure medicine) or illegal (for example, marijuana) in urine samples. This is something done on everybody, and they're not picking on you.

What blood tests are done? The 3 biggies are an AIDS test (technically, it's a test for HIV antibodies), blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels. There are other tests done, too, but these are the main ones most people are concerned with.

Do I have to fast (not eat) before you take my blood? Some insurance companies require fasting, and others do not. If fasting is required, I will tell you about this, and you should have the appointment done first thing in the morning if at all possible. (Another possibility is to eat a light, early lunch, and then do the exam late in the afternoon, maybe 5:30 or so). Even if the insurance company you are dealing with does not require fasting, it's still a good idea. Even a couple of hours without eating will improve your lab results. Fasting means nothing to eat or drink, except water. You can drink as much water as you wish. You should also avoid tobacco or alcohol for 12 hours prior to the exam.

Are the needles you stick me with unused? ABSOLUTELY. The needles I use on you have never been used before, and never will be used again. There is a seal on the needle which I will unseal when I do the exam. When completed, I dispose of the needle in a portable container I'll have with me.

I'm really afraid of needles. I usually faint when I get stuck ... First off, you're not the first one. Getting light-headed when you have a needlestick is something that happens to a lot of people. When I call to make the appointment, tell me that you are afraid of needles. And remind me when I get to the appointment. I will take time, and I will not hurry you. I will do what I can to make you comfortable. If you'd like to lie down (on a couch, recliner, or whatever) we can do that. That way, in case you feel faint, you won't fall. If you'd like to watch TV or something like that, that may help. And while you're welcome watch anything that I do, you may want to not watch me stick you. That's the one thing that really bothers some people. But the main thing I want you to remember is that I'm not going to laugh at you. The big dark secret is that I'm not that fond of getting stuck myself, and I've done it to thousands of other people. But it's always a different thing when you're the one getting stuck.

Do you or my insurance agent know the results of the lab tests? No. Neither of us get the results. I collect the specimens, and ship them to a lab designated by the insurance company. The lab, in turn, faxes the results to the insurance. I know nothing of the results.

Can I get a copy of the lab work? Speak to your agent about this. Since I don't get a copy, I'm not able to help you directly, but the agent may be able to get the insurance company to send a copy to you or your doctor.

Will I be notified if something comes out wrong in the lab work? Yes. The insurance company will let you know that something turned out wrong, and will provide the results to you or your doctor. If everything is normal, your agent will normally deliver the policy to you.

Where is the exam completed? I will try to do the exam wherever it is convenient for you. I can do it at your home, your work, or wherever you would prefer.

When do you do the exams? Again, this is at your convenience. I can do them any time from basically 7:30 a.m. to later in the evenings. I also do exams on Saturday mornings. If you are able to do the exam during the day (for example, on a day you have off, or at work) I can complete it faster. My evenings just get booked up pretty quickly!

Is there a charge for my exam? Except under very unusual circumstances, the insurance company covers all costs for the exam. There's no charge to you at all.

I have an aunt in Honolulu who needs an exam. Do you travel to Honolulu? I wish I could help you, but my wife doesn't want me to go to Honolulu without her! I am connected with a network of other examiners all throughout the US, and we can get an exam completed almost anywhere.

I need the insurance quickly. Can you do something about that? If you need insurance approved quickly, the first thing you need to do is mention that to your agent, who can help shepherd things along. Do the exam as quickly as possible (if needed, I can often do the exam the same day or the next day). Remind me that you're trying to rush this through. All of this will help.

I'm nervous about you coming to my home. Can I have someone with me? Absolutely. The insurance companies do want you to be completely candid when speaking to me, so they normally want no one in the same room. However, if you would like someone there in the house with you (your husband or wife, a friend, or whoever), that is perfectly acceptable to me.

My house is a mess! Are you going to notice my housekeeping? Probably not. In the first place, I'm a pretty typical male, and I tend not to notice unless things are pretty bad. But honestly, I don't care. Your home is your home, and homes are for living in ... not for showing off to me! Besides, I have four children, I work out of the home, and my wife and I homeschool our two youngest. So, our house isn't always the cleanest, either!

I have medical background, and I'd like to do what you do. We often need new examiners. If you have medical background (nurse or EMT, for example), and have experience drawing blood, I'll give you a number you can call to see if this is for you. We'd love to have you on board!

Do you have more information about your business? I realized several years ago that many nurses were interested in doing what I do. So I wrote a book about it, and set up a web site. You can read more at http://networkfornurses.com. My book (Dare to Be Free: How to Get Control of Your Time, Your Life, and Your Nursing Career) was published in November of 2000, and is available from any bookstore or on-line bookseller. If they don't have it in stock, they can order it.

And thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to being of service to you.

How to Save Time, and Make More Money

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:55:00 +0000

This is a response to an online discussion group, of nurses (and others) who do exam work for insurance companies. One woman asked about how she could make more money, and how she could complete her work more quickly. This is my response.

An important thing to remember about controlling your work is that while time is not money, time is a tool, and we should all use it wisely. Focus on what you are doing, and you will make more money, and you will be better at what you do.

1. The fastest way to get a higher percentage is to sign on with several companies. Make certain that each one knows you are doing this. And keep insisting on a higher percentage. When "favors" are asked of you (doing exams at odd times, etc.) make certain that you don't do the "favor" without linking it to a percentage raise. Be ruthless about this. If it troubles someone, too bad for them.

2. I can usually get an exam done in 15-20 minutes. The fastest way to shorten time is to avoid chit-chat with the client. You don't want to appear unfriendly, but you are there for business, and not to be their friend. I remember one competitor who laughingly recounted that she had spent 3 hours at one appointment. (She and the client -- another woman -- had actually done some folk dancing while she was there). This examiner didn't last long.

3. You will also find that there is a percentage of the population who are hypochondriacs, and love to talk -- at length -- about illnesses and meds. You must gently inform them that you cannot talk about this, that you must get their exam done, and be on to your next appointment. If they ask you for medical advice (hypos love medical advice) remind them that it is unethical for you to advise them medically. Which it is.

4. If I have any doubt at all, I collect the urine specimen first. This helps if they forgot, and can't get the specimen right away (they have time to drink some water while we're getting the rest done).

5. While they are getting the specimen, do every bit of paperwork you can. Don't just sit there.

6. To save time on blood draws, always examine both arms first. This helps you find the best vein, and saves the time and frustration of more than one stick. When people volunteer that "they always stick my ___ arm at my doctors," I just tell them that each day is different as to how the veins stand out, etc., and I have to make the call that day. (If you say it with a smile, people don't get mad). The ONLY time they get to dictate which arm are the obvious cases, such as a woman who has had one breast removed, and has been told to avoid sticks on that arm.

7. If someone is just being impossibly slow, one way to speed things up is to get the blood draw done, and then plead that you must hurry "because I have to get the blood processed quickly." Which is true.

Succeeding by Failing

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:14:00 +0000

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot...and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Michael Jordan
Professional Basketball Player

Believing in Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:32:00 +0000

From Robert Schuller, minister and author:

"Every achiever that I have ever met says, 'My life turned around when I began to believe in me.'"

Growth and Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:49:00 +0000

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."

Abraham Maslow
1908-1970, Psychologist

Fears

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:16:00 +0000

"When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all. We all need some form of deeply rooted, powerful motivation - it empowers us to overcome obstacles so we can live our dreams."
Les Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:44:00 +0000

On a discussion group, the question came up (again ... ) about nurses using their last names on name tags in clinical settings. My response:

"Why should our last names be available for clients? Because we're professionals, and that's how professionals operate.

When was the last time we saw an attorney introduce herself as, "Hi, I'm Suzy J."? Likewise, judges, physicians, or any other group that provides professional services uses their full name. It's just the way professionals do things.

If we are going to compare ourselves with "WalMart checkers, our bank tellers, the people at the gas station," we can do so. But we have by that action forfeited any claim whatsoever to be professionals. If we want to be treated professionally, to have a collegial relationship with other health care providers, and generally have a place in the health care system in our country, we have to begin acting like professionals. If a nurse is afraid, begin by reporting -- quickly, immediately, and with no tolerance -- any threats. If a patient or family member threatens you, walk immediately to a phone and call the police. Do NOT take it up with hospital security, complain to your supervisor, or get weepy. Just call the police, file charges, and follow through. If your employers doesn't like this, well, what a pity! Do not back down. Show them that you are a tough professional who isn't going to be bullied.

Taking a gun class, getting a concealed permit, and carrying a weapon is likewise a good idea, if someone feels the situation is that dire.

The bottom line is that nurses need to stop cowering and stop acting afraid. Bullies, perverts, and other such vermin can smell fear a block away. But people who are not afraid, and who stand up to bullies will find that the bullies back down.

I've had women complain that I speak like this because I'm a man. That's nonsense. I deal with tough, competent, professional women all the time, and they don't somehow feel that it's "unprofessional" or "not ladylike" (I actually had a woman say that, though I still find it hard to believe) to stand up for yourself. It's called assertive behavior, folks. And it's time we all started practicing it."

Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 10:31:00 +0000

"Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come."

Og Mandino

Hot Weather Hints

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 15:30:00 +0000

Well, it's hot all over the country today. (Well, not the whole country: Barrow, Alaska, at the top of the state, and the top of the United States, is 36 degrees this morning. Maybe they envy the rest of us). But some hot weather hints for nurses working in the areas where it is hot.

1. Take care of yourself. If you are in a situation where you're exposed to the heat, do the things you know to do: keep hydrated, keep cool, and give yourself rest. If you are in a situation where you need to be outdoors for long periods, make certain you watch for signs of heat illness. If possible, work with someone else.

2. Watch for clients who may be suffering from heat illnesses, but may present with something symptoms that mimic something else. Keep "heat problems" as an operating thought in the back of your mind when assessing clients.

3. Encourage clients who don't have air conditioning to go somewhere else that does, at least for parts of the day. Some elderly folks are disinclined to leave their homes, and heat problems can get out of hand quickly, especially for people who have circulatory issues, or are older. If there are no heat shelters (such as are found in some larger cities) consider places like public libraries as respite facilites. Failing that, encourage them to visit with a neighbor who has air conditioning.

4. If you are transporting lab specimens, make certain you're keeping them at appropriate temperatures. A cooler will usually do the job for short-term transport, but try to get specimens to the lab as quickly as possible. While that's true for any time of the year, it's especially an issue during sweltering heat.

Achieving Your Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:00:00 +0000

"If you make the unconditional commitment to reach your most important goals, if the strength of your decision is sufficient, you will find the way and the power to achieve your goals."

Robert Conklin

How to Find True Wellness

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:11:00 +0000

"Let us be about setting high standards for life,
love, creativity, and wisdom. If our expectations
in these areas are low, we are not likely to
experience wellness. Setting high standards makes
every day and every decade worth looking forward to."

Greg Anderson

Don't Sell Yourself Short

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 10:47:00 +0000

Some superb advice from Gary North (garynorth.com)

"Sometimes a word of encouragement sounds like nagging to the recipient. It depends on the tone of voice, the immediate circumstances, and the comfort zone of the recipient.

My advice: don't sell yourself short. I have learned over the years that most people sell themselves short. The first time I can recall hearing this phrase was at a dinner meeting as a teenager. Two teachers took me and a couple of other students out to dinner. I had just finished running the annual conference of the regional scholarship society, where 1,000 students attended. That was my first seminar project. It remains the largest one I ever organized. The teachers had been faculty advisors.

One teacher warned me repeatedly not to sell myself short. I got the drift of his meaning, but I did not know the origin of the phrase. I did not know that you could make money by shorting a market, but only if you have shorted an overpriced asset whose price then falls. The common meaning of "don't sell yourself short" is the opposite: you will lose money by shorting a market if the asset is not underpriced. Its price goes up, so the short- seller loses the bet. A person who sells himself short has failed to see the underlying value of the asset -- in this case, himself.

It is a common mistake for people to sell themselves short. They do not recognize their own value to some production process.

This is why employers hire such people. The seller of labor services does not believe that he could sell directly to the customer. He may or may not understand that the employer is paying him a fraction of what his services are worth to the customer.

But doesn't the free market lead to pricing of every asset according to its value in the production process? Yes, but only on the assumption that every asset has been accurately priced by all participants.

If workers knew how to market their services, they would earn more money. Employers do not knowingly hire anyone at a loss. The employers' knowledge of the market for specific types of labor services is greater than the knowledge possessed by a worker.

The worker's knowledge of his own abilities is greater than the employer's knowledge. But he tends to ask less than he could earn if he were to bring all of his abilities to meet demand in a specific market where his ability sells at a premium. Why? Because of ignorance and fear.

If workers took time to accumulate information about each of the markets in which their abilities are purchased by employers, they could use this information to advance their careers. They could quit and take a better job. But they rarely do this kind of detailed research. They are too busy watching reality TV shows.

Another thing that holds down the price of labor is the laborers' fear of an unknown future. They rely on their employers to seek out the highest price for the final output of the production process in which they are a part. The price of labor is depressed by the hordes of laborers who do not want to take the responsibility of becoming direct sellers of labor.

Laborers therefore sell themselves short. They do not perceive that their services are worth more than they are being paid. They price their services too low. They pass on to their employer the difference between what they receive as salaries and what the employer generates from the employees' contribution to the production process.

THE DEPRESSING EFFECT OF FEAR

It is not just individual psychologies that get depressed. So does income.

Most people are afraid of the future. They prefer the steady paycheck to the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. They want that steady income. So do their wives. To buy this steady income, they accept a wage that is below what they could earn as independent contractors.

This strategy paid off for as long as corporations were not ready to cut back on employment. But today, the competition from Asia is so great that companies are laying off people, refusing to grant wage increases, and even closing their doors. Consumers give them no choice. Consumers are self-interested. The shop for low prices. Chinese imports offer low prices.

Workers who possess specialized information, as most workers do, trade this information for a salary. But most workers have knowledge beyond the rote performance of their daily services. They understand the industry they are in, the local plant, and the condition of the office. This information sits there. The possessors don't convert it into additional income. This lets their employers capitalize on this information, which makes the workers more efficient, but for which the employer need not pay.

Why not? Because workers either do not know how to capitalize this information or else are afraid to. Their employers do know how to capitalize it and are not afraid to. So, there is a wage-depressing combination of (1) a lack of employees' knowledge of the market for information and (2) the fear of those possessing it to sell it to other corporate buyers or to customers directly.

THE EARLY YEARS

I tell high school students to get a part-time job in a non-franchised business that has been around for five years or longer. The owner is a survivor. I tell a student to keep his eyes open. Watch how every phase of the business operates. This is a paid educational experience. The boss pays him to learn the business. That is not the boss's intention, but it is the result with those who take my advice. Probably not many do.

A student could do this in a fast-food restaurant, but there is less to learn. The system is an assembly line process. The owner is a physician or someone else with money to invest. The manager is a wage-earner. This is not the kind of business that makes a young person a millionaire by the time he is 45.

In high school, I had one Jewish friend. Larry was the only Jew I knew at my high school, or at least remember now. I knew nothing about Judaism. He was not a brilliant student. I never had a class with him. I was on the college track. He wasn't. But we were friends from junior high.

He was in the Junior Achievement program. He was the only person I knew who was. Junior Achievement is a very fine program. It teaches high school students how to start a little business. He tried to get me into it. I declined.

His father was in the restaurant business. That is a tough business: open entry makes competition fierce. His father taught him the business. Before I graduated from college, he ran a small diner of his own. He used to get up at 3 a.m. to drive to the Los Angeles farmer's market by 4:30 a.m. He would negotiate fresh produce. Then he would drive back to Manhattan Beach. He worked long hours. He mastered the details of that cottage industry.

By the time we were 30, he owned a nice upscale restaurant. He had the best gimmick I ever saw in a restaurant. After your meal, a waiter would come with a tray filled with uncooked meat and fish; steak, swordfish, etc. You could buy tomorrow night's main course for a dollar. That was in 1974.

How did he make a profit? My guess: (1) liquor sales by the drink; (2) repeat business. Was the place crowded? Yes. Did people buy a drink while they waited? Yes. Did they come back? Yes.

He did not learn marketing in school. He learned it as a teenager by watching his father. He learned it in his own diner.

He was my first introduction to the business mentality. I have much greater respect for this mentality today than I did in 1959. But that's because I have spent over 30 years as a businessman. I dabble in footnotes as an avocation. That was not my intention in 1959 or 1969.

In 1974, I was making $1,000 a month, with no benefits. He was probably making five times that. Or, more likely, he was plowing it back into his business. I began REMNANT REVIEW in 1974. Larry had a 15-year head start on me.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

It is never too late to learn how to observe what is going on around you at work. A salaried person is in a position to ask questions, all in the name of becoming a sympathetic listener. People will tell you just about anything if they think you are interested in hearing their story and are sympathetic to their latest disaster. I would not suggest taking notes . . . until you get into your car in the parking lot.

Every business has basic operational characteristics. These are hidden in plain sight. But most employees pay no attention. Because they regard their careers as either fixed or on a very narrow track, they regard as peripheral almost everything going on outside their narrow zone of responsibility. This is like living next to a gutter in which $100 bills are floating by. Nobody looks down. Michael Masterson says that 1,000 hours of study will make anyone competent in most jobs. If you have ever seen "Catch Me If You Can," you know it's true. But a lack of interest plus fear keep most people from ever pursuing business-related information beyond that which is required to earn a salary.

This opens up avenues for profit for anyone who keeps his eyes open.

Start with a used DUMMIES book. These books are amazingly good. They introduce you to the basics of any topic. They break down the parts into bite-size steps. If people would act on what they read, there would be a lot of competition. But DUMMIES books are like diet books. They do not change most people's behavior patterns for longer than a week.

If you decide to take my advice, don't talk about it. Just start looking. Ask a few questions that are appropriate for someone in your position who is trying to become a better worker, or, better yet, a helpful colleague. Then go home, buy a used DUMMIES book on-line, read it, follow its recommended reading list, discover relevant websites, and start putting together a notebook of print-outs.

CONCLUSION

Your goal should be mastery of the division above you if you're in a layered system of management. How do the people above you profit from your work? If you can discover this, you can get a major promotion, either in the company or from a competitor.

Second, learn the basics of the division below you. This will be useful if you ever make it into senior management.

See if there are aspects of your division that could be performed by an outsourced firm. If you like what you do, but the highest you could go in your company is Vice President in Charge of Your Division, consider becoming a third-party provider of these services. There, you can become president.

If you cut TV to one hour a day, and if you used that saved time to master the basics of your business, how long would it take you to accumulate 1,000 hours?

You may be too afraid to launch a new career. My suggestion: see what your level of fear is after accumulating those 1,000 hours."

A Simple Habit to Burn Fat Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:51:00 +0000

Here is a simple health habit that will help you
boost
your metabolism and burn fat faster.

If you want some help achieving that trim and fit
body, make it a
positive habit to drink green tea daily. Here are
just of few of the benefits you will receive from
this positive
habit:

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently
published
research demonstrating that a substance found in green
tea called catechin
polyphenols increases your metabolism and also increases
the rate at
which your body burns calories. Burning more calories
is your ticket to
a leaner body.

Green tea is also loaded with antioxidants, which have
been shown
to protect you from cancer and many other diseases. Other
studies have
shown that green tea may help you control your appetite.

"Do not call" list for cell phones

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:17:00 +0000

Its now time to get your cell phone number on the Do Not Call list ... Beginning June 23, 2006, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start receiving sale calls... and, you will be charged for these calls. To prevent this, register online at www.donotcall.gov <http://www.donotcall.gov> An alternative procedure is to call the National Do Not Call Registration 888-382-1222 from your cell phone. Please note you must call from the cell phone you are wanting to have blocked. It will only take a minute of your time.

Cut Your Losses

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:53:00 +0000

Most people have it backwards.

When an opportunity (a business idea, a new job, whatever) comes along, they plan too long. Try to analyze it from every angle.

For most of life, the answer is the opposite. We're better off grabbing opportunities when they come along, analyzing quickly, and deciding quickly.

The primary reason for operating this way is that it makes us mentally nimble, and gives our personality a bias for action.

Action's a good thing. And while analysis is good, too, most of us over-analyze.

We all know when we have a "sense" about something. It just seems right. Or perhaps it just doesn't.

The reality is that we take in information from a number of sources, and the rational side of our thinking is just a small portion. When we have a good sense about something, often our mind has quickly analyzed it, without our even realizing it, and judged the situation to be good. Trust that bias. You will occasionally be wrong, but in 9 times out of 10, you'll be right. If a chance (whatever it is) comes along, and after a quick look at it, it seems right, go for it.

Why Genghis Khan Never Lost a Battle

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Wed, 03 May 2006 02:27:00 +0000

OK, one of the dark secrets (well, it's not really such a secret: anyone who knows me well knows about it) is my interest in Mongolia. Get me started about that beautiful land, and I am not responsible for your having to hear all about it. : )

Mongolia is the northeast Asian country sandwiched between China and Russia. And while Mongolia isn't what you would call a world power in 2006, it once was: about 800 years ago.

That was when their then-president Temujin (OK, so he wasn't president ... they called him "genghis khan," which means "great king" and that's how we've come to know him) conquered most of the civilized world. If your skin is white, I can virtually guarantee that you have ancestors who were once terrified of this brutal general.

But Genghis Khan never lost a battle. Not one. And he had a simple trick that made sure of that. And that little trick can help you in your career.

He'd sit up on his horse, on a hill overlooking a battle scene, watching his soldiers. And when the battle began to go well in one area, he put all of his power and soldiers and horses into that spot. In other words, he concentrated on what was working for him.

We often do it differently. We concentrate on our weaknesses. We think about them. Ponder them. "Work" on them.

But Genghis Khan, evil man that he was, knew better. He didn't think about his weaknesses. He just played into his strengths. You can, too. And just maybe you'll begin to win a few more battles.

It's like this. We all have weak areas. Deficiencies. Whatever you want to call them. Just try hard not to think about them a lot. Build on your strong areas. Build on your skills. Do what you're good at. And be ruthless in trying to ignore what you're not good at.

So if you're in a job setting that you hate, and you're not good at the skills needed there, and it's just not working, you have 2 choices.

You can try to like your job. You can work hard at improving your skills. And try to make it work.

Or you can go somewhere that you think you'll like better. Where you have skills. And where the work just seems to flow.

Which isn't to say that you shouldn't try to get better. It's just recognizing that you have certain areas and skills and talents that fit you. And some you don't have. Isn't it better to use what God gave you, rather than trying to do what He didn't?

Why Nurses Fail

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 21:27:00 +0000

"The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of
persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those
which fail."

                            Napoleon Hill

How to Get Personal Advice from the #1 Expert in Your Field for 74 cents

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 22:11:00 +0000

    If you could get personal advice from the #1 expert in
your field -- or any field that you are interested in
entering -- would you pay 74 cents?

     Most people wouldn't.

     One of the amazing facts of life is this: experts
rarely get asked questions.  Warren Buffett does, but not
most other real experts.

     In every field, there are experts who are ignored by
the public.  They rarely receive a letter from a newcomer
who asks a few simple questions.  Only their peers ask them
questions -- people who may be after incredibly valuable
insider secrets.  They may clam up.

     But some guy (you) who is just getting started poses
no threat to an expert.  You would be amazed at how much
information an expert will share with newcomers.

     Sit down and start looking for experts in your field.
You may already know who some of them are.  You want the
top 0.8%: 20% of 20% of 20%.  Trade journals will usually
provide articles on these experts.  Make a list.  Get their
business addresses.

     Create a standard form letter that doesn't look like
one.  It should introduce yourself as someone just getting
started.  Ask for these bits of information:

     The titles of two or three introductory books
     The two best newsletters or websites to consult
     The #1 principle of success he has learned

     Tell him that this information is for your personal
use only -- not for public access.

     Tell him he can just jot down the answers if his
secretary is busy.  Make it easy for him to jot
down answers.

     Leave enough space in your letter for replies, in case
he scribbles his answers.  

     Include a stamped, self-addressed #10 envelope with
your letter.  (37 cents)

     Mail your letter.  (37 cents)
    
     Write to the top ten people. ($7.40)  You will get eight
replies.      

     What would this information be worth to you?  How much
time would it save you?  It this worth more than $7.40?

Changes to Your Favorite Blog : )

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 02:49:00 +0000

OK, I'm just back from a local fireworks celebration, and I promised my wife I won't be on the computer long, but I made some changes, and wanted to explain them.

First, I've gone from the dark background template I've been using (long time readers will see that quickly : ) and to one that I hope will be a bit more readable. I have had some tell me that -- at least for some readers -- the black is hard on the eyes, and I'm not trying to make my stuff hard to read.

Second, now there's a search option for the blog. Look up at the top. You have the option to search either this blog only, or all of the blogs hosted here. But I hope it's helpful to you.

Have a good Halloween. Enjoy the cooler nights, and the bright sunshine of November.

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Huffman) — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 11:18:00 +0000

First off, a heads up about a new blog I've created.

This one is a daily news brief about arthritis, and arthritis-related information, about treatments, meds, and unconventional, alternative treatments as well.

I'm aiming for 1-2 pieces per day. I'd appreciate your checking it out, and passing the word. If you have an appropriate site, please consider linking to it, as well.

Arthritis blog