I've been unemployed more in the past 2 years than employed. Anything will do.
Right now I am trying to build a business as a contractor, it isn't going well. It's work just to get work. I get paid by the job, not by the hour. I straighten out wiring closets for small businesses and fix their network issues. There is a mint to be made, but it is difficult to establish a re-pore with individuals you just met and get them to trust you to take down and fix their dieing infrastructure.
To these guys every penny counts. Many of these CEO's drive Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW's, but their companies survive on Shoestring budgets and band-aid fixes.
I worked my first 23 hour day 2 weeks ago and am still burned out. Yet I keep going.
I was diagnosed with Strep Throat Monday, went to a Doc-In-The-Box type of joint, picked up meds that night at a 24 hour pharmacy, and have kept going. Turns out I have a strain of Strep that is resistant to amoxacillin. I need to go in again, but have another 5 days worth of amoxacillin and don't know when I can go in.
Although the lesions in my mouth are starting to spread, I guess I will call them again today.
I don't sleep well, as every time I swallow it hurts so much I wake up. My body hurts from everything I do after finding jobs to get work. Balancing on ladders for 8+ hours. Up and down stairs with a truckload of gear.
If I factor in the time I do for everything I get paid less than minimum wage.
My wife just found work. $10 an hour. Pretty good for a college degree these days, and it is actually full time. This should allow me to some time to attempt to sleep.
My Sister has a Master's degree that is totally worthless. She has been unemployed since Graduating in May 2011. It's too bad she spent $80,000 on that Master's degree. She graduated college Debt free and didn't believe anyone but her teachers about going into debt for that stinking degree.
Makes you wonder about all these angry kids wanting hand outs and what bill of goods they were sold that never delivered?
Supposedly Dallas, and Texas in general, has one of the highest employment rates in the nation.
However, the employment numbers lie.
I know to many folks with good heads on their shoulders and degrees who have 3-4 part time jobs, and so do their spouses, and are focused on just trying to make ends meet.
Underemployed, those who have given up, those who have taken early retirement, and recent college grads, are all not counted in the Employed/Unemployed. It is to easy for someone somewhere to fudge a number and make this "Unemployment" number more rosy.
Look around, speak with people, see what is going on. Don't believe what you are told.
I only need to keep this up for 40 more years. Hopefully my throat won't hurt the whole time.