After four months of a successful publication release we soon realized as a team that our sections were bursting at the seams. In order to solve this problem we created Mini Mags, each highlighting important sections in each monthly issue.
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All the best,
-John Strawn, Founder
2. LIFESTYLE
86
Before I tell you about the tips and unique
experiences I’ve encountered along my short but
meaningful road down the social media highway,
let me first tell you a little about me. I am a
twenty-one-year-old, African American male born
in Hayward, California about 30 miles north of San
Francisco. I have wanted to be a screenwriter
since I was ten years old. I guess you can say it’s
been my calling from a very early age. I’ve been
filmmaking for over six years and writing stories
since I was eight. After leaving high school, I
began my educational journey at Columbia
College Chicago. During that time a film producer
in Los Angeles and excellent professors at
Columbia College became my mentors. These
experiences provided me the foundation for my
growth as a screenwriter and fueled my desire to
grow my network and share my unique perspective
of the world.
This summer I started a campaign to
expand my social media network across multiple
platforms and to grow my network from 0-500
followers. After five months of vigorous networking,
I became the most viewed screenwriter on
LinkedIn amassing 4900+ followers and ranked in
the top 1% percent amongst my industry
connections. My connections include film, fashion,
music, graphic design, and high-tech industries
professionals. Through this process, I connected
to talent recruiters from studios like ABC, Amazon
Studios, HBO, NBC, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, and
Warner Bros, as well as talent agencies such as
CAA, IGM, and William Morris. I also have five
industry connections in every major film studio in
America. Through LinkedIn, I was able to connect
with executives, producers, and directors at the
BBC Network and with multiple European and
Canadian film production companies.
To achieve my goal I targeted two
professional networking platforms: LinkedIn and
Stage 32. Through these
awesome networking
platforms, I launched a
fierce networking
campaign that far exceeded my wildest
expectations. Today I have 4,967 LinkedIn
connections and on Stage 32 I have 2,592
entertainment industry connections—and growing
every day.
My Stage 32 campaign was hugely
successful in helping to create opportunities that
would have taken me years to achieve. Through
Stage 32, I connected with the founder and
executive director of Ghost Writers, Inc., where I
landed a gig to become a ghostwriter for them,
making me one of the youngest writers the
company has ever hired. My connection with
Ghost Writers, Inc., lead to a connection with a
diversity recruiter at Amazon Studios who has
taken tremendous interest in my work. She has
given me extremely important input on my short
screenplay Connor and gave me great ideas for
ways to further develop it into a script for a feature
length film.
The secret to my success came to down to
“C.U.R.E.” (Confidence, Uniqueness, Repetition
and Endeavor), a formula I created to drive the
success of my campaign.
1.Confidence
Target a social media platform in which you
have the most confidence. This will enable you to
attract the type of followers most likely to support
your future goals. “Lean in.” Driving a campaign
to increase your professional networking presence
in a big way will initially be time-consuming,
nerve-racking, exhilarating and sometimes a crazy
experience. There are many unknowns that can
B
By Jason Titus
3. LIFESTYLE
87
impact the number of people that will respond to
your comments, posts, and shares. The
confidence in which you communicate will attract
new followers and give your existing followers a
reason to continue to pay attention to you.
True belief in the content that you post, like,
comment, and share will transform your presence
on the platforms that you target. This
understanding has been vital to why millennials
attract huge followings.
2.Uniqueness
Highlight and embrace your uniqueness. Ignite
your curiosity by asking for feedback on ideas and
subjects in which you’re passionate. If you present
an idea, share a post or comment on content that
is unique, thought provoking, or just funny, you will
increase your viewers and followers. Don’t get me
wrong; it can be difficult finding a unique set of
ideas that will resonate and take flight as you grow
your network, but that should be the challenge.
Because sharing your uniqueness is worth the
effort and reward.
My uniqueness sadly comes from the fact that
I am among a small group of African Americans
pursuing and actively working as screenwriters.
This presents a unique opportunity to share our
view of the world while deepening the added
difficulties of getting our stories told. Inviting a
diversity of viewers and influencers into my
network has been invaluable to shaping my
cultural perspective and worldview.
3.Repetition
The third important aspect is repetition. If you
implement the C.U.R.E formula, you must be
tenacious and repetitive in your execution, by
posting and sharing content at least three times
per week. Once the formula morphs into a routine,
it will spark interest and help you increase your
network and viewership.
My routine for success began by going onto
LinkedIn and searching and connecting with
individuals within the film industry and industries
connected to it. I actively set a goal to connect with
50-100 industry professionals per day, and I would
endorse anyone of my connections if they asked
me. I ended up usually endorsing 20-40 people a
week. I also share at least 5-7 posts which vary
from job opportunities from talent recruiters to
articles written by my connections that I believe
were fun, interesting, unique, and most
importantly, positive.
4.Endeavor
The fourth and final aspect of creating a
successful networking campaign is to enjoy the
endeavor. Striving hard for something that you
deeply care about is one the greatest things
anyone could ever do. There are many people
around the world that never achieve their goals
and many more not put into a position to succeed
because society/life dictates another plan for them.
But if you are courageous enough not to care
about what the world puts in front of you, and you
strive hard to fulfill your dreams and goals, then
the skies are the limit. So enjoy and appreciate the
endeavor!
It has been a truly amazing experience growing
my social media network. I believe all human
beings are connected, and we live in a digital era
that allows anyone to connect to anyone,
anywhere. All we have to do is keep furiously
moving forward. Using formulas like C.U.R.E can
help you move from the point of complacency and
apathy to creating a vibrant and active social
networking sphere of influence and influencers.
Thank you for reading, I hope my tips and
experiences encourage you to continue to keep
moving forward with what you love and help you
network to connect with others that love to do the
same.
4. MARCUM BLOG
88
There is only one thing for certain about this year’s presidential election. Come January, the White
House will be thrown into a conundrum about the position of the First Lady.
The role of First Lady is one we take for granted. We live in a patriarchal nation (that poses as an
enlightened one) and, for two centuries everyone didn’t even bother to assume the candidates would
be straight married men, they just knew it. So, since straight men have to be married and have kids to
be valid human beings in this country (did I mention that we only pose at being enlightened?), we knew
that his wife would be the First Lady, the most important job in the country that gets no pay.
But when women finally said, “Enough, already!” we saw the rise of women governors, most of whom
were married, and whose husbands became—and this is an actual title—First Gentleman. The first First
Gentleman was James E. Ferguson, the husband of Texas governor Miriam A. Ferguson, who served
two separate terms in 1925-27, and 1933-35.
Let that sink in. Texas, the “everything is bigger” state, which espouses a brand of machismo that,
if bottled, could probably outsell iPhones or even Chia Pets, had the first elected woman governor!
And during the Depression, when we know a lot of men were already looking for work. Suck on that,
Vermont!
But wait, there’s more, an incredible synchronicity, in fact. You see, James Ferguson was a governor
of Texas before his wife served, but…he was impeached. That means if Hillary Clinton is elected
president, both First Gentlemen at the gubernatorial and presidential levels will have formerly held the
titles their wives filled, and both were impeached. In Ferguson’s case, he was removed from office for
misapplication of funds, and in Clinton’s case, he stayed in office despite a besmirched reputation and
befouled blue dress.
Of course, no such coincidence exists between Martha Washington and Donald Trump’s wife,
Melania. Martha was born in Virginia and, as far as we know, she never posed for anyone semi-naked
in a captain’s hat, though if she did, I am
betting it was for Alexander Hamilton. Even
more conversely, it was Martha who brought
the money to her marriage, so in every
category she and Melania seem to be
opposites. Martha was far from perfect,
though. She not only owned slaves, but
brought over one hundred of them into the
marriage. There’s no argument that as First
Ladies go, that’s a pretty low low point.
The Marcum BlogAn ongoing section of open thought and intellectual ambition by writer
& producer David Marcum.
Viva Michelle Obama!
5. MARCUM BLOG
89
I am not one of those people who enjoys
bashing Melania Trump. We all know who her
husband is, so hasn’t she suffered enough? Also,
I’ve never had to work to become an American
citizen as she did, and if posing for risqué pictures
gave me the money to further that arduous process,
then I’d probably have gone commando for Cosmo
faster than you can say Scott Brown. Still, First
Lady is a role like that of your local chairperson of
United Way; seeing him or her naked wouldn’t
lessen the impact of their work, but it would
definitely weird you out when you’re around them
at the charity 5K race.
So, while Americans aren’t thrilled with their
choices for president, I am going to posit that we
should be even less thrilled with the First Spouse
situation. We can’t, or don’t want to conceive
Melania hosting a dinner for the Queen. Any queen,
be it Elizabeth of England, Margarethe of Denmark,
or Harvey Fierstein of Hairspray. And is Bill really
the person we want giving a tour of Washington to
the President of Italy’s wife? Or anyone’s wife? He
would give literal meaning to Carly Simon’s famous
line about being “with some underground spy or
the wife of a close friend.”
Regardless of who gets elected and what kind
of job he or she does, the role of First Spouse is in
a state of flux. Therefore, I propose that we make
arrangements to keep the woman who has
inhabited the role most beautifully in that position:
Michelle Obama.
Everyone can make arguments for their favorite
First Lady but I will say with sincerity that Michelle
is best of them all. She has all the qualities of the
former first ladies rolled into one. Like Eleanor
Roosevelt, she is an activist for the
disenfranchised; like Jacqueline Kennedy, she
glam's up like a Russian princess; like Pat Nixon,
she knows how to weigh her words; like Betty Ford,
she has a keen sense of humor that endears her
to others; like Rosalyn Carter, she has a great
sense of ethics and fairness; like Nancy Reagan,
her husband is her brand and she’s popular with
the Hollywood crowd; and like Laura Bush, she
knows when to speak up or forever hold her peace.
A sad truth for Michelle Obama, though, and
our nation as a whole, is that she has never been
given the breadth these other women were given
because she is black. All First Ladies have been
self-possessed and cautious with their words and
actions, but Obama had to double down on such
behavior. She has championed causes against
which there could be no decent opposition, such
as aiding the families of our soldiers and military
veterans, and encouraging children to eat healthier.
Nonetheless, detractors of all things Obama,
liberal, Democrat, or African American came at
Michelle with mockery and derision, because they
think the action of helping those who serve our
country so well, or preparing our children for
healthy futures, flies in the face of American
freedom. The argument against Michelle’s causes
seems to be that homeless veterans and obese
children with heart conditions would be preferable
to genuine advocacy from one of the world’s most
admired and respected women, only because she
is one or all of the things they dislike.
That is exactly why Michelle Obama should
remain First Lady in the next term. Among her
many gifts, her greatest talent is knowing how make
the First Couple’s opponents come out of hiding
and into the clear light of reason, to be exposed for
all they are. Like a Greek myth singing to ocean
sailors, she lures them in with her siren song, and
then they crash and break on the rocks below. She
tidies the world of all the useless personalities that
inhabit the inner beltway and right-wing media.
What’s even more perfect, the Obamas have
already stated they are staying in Washington to
let Malia finish school with her classmates. Michelle
will need something to do, and she could continue
being the proud, beautiful face of our nation.
Naturally, she should get a salary since her
husband will no longer be President, so we could
solve that problem through crowd funding. We
could pool our resources and pay the woman who
won the heart of the world to continue greeting
dignitaries and wowing guests at the White House
and on trips abroad, but, more importantly, helping
us to avoid embarrassment.
Otherwise, our current First Spouse alternatives
have “international incident” written all over them,
and even a bottle of Texas Machismo couldn’t ward
off those problems.
7. “Just do it.”
Whether you associate these words with the brand
Nike, or the more recent, “Motivational,” viral video
of actor Shia Labeouf screaming, it’s actually some
of the best advice you’ll ever get when it comes to
doing whatever it is that you want to do, and that
includes getting fit.
When I was a little kid, I was a tomboy, playing
softball, soccer, swimming, even doing karate,
whenever I could. Something changed, however,
when I was 10-years-old, and my parents and
doctors noticed something was little off. I had
trigger finger in my right index finger, which was
no big deal, but a bigger difference between other
kids and me was that I was doing pushups on the
fingers of my left hand, instead of my palm. My
parents and karate instructors noticed it, and then
my pediatrician sent me to the doctors at The
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to have a look
at me.
I walked for the doctors, down hallways, around
a room, for what, as 10-year-old, seemed like
forever. They tested my reflexes and even scraped
the bottoms of my feet with a pair of keys. I had no
idea what was going on, what they were looking
for, or why it was taking so long. I remember
getting a lot of MRIs that year, on my brain, neck,
wrist, and hand. In the end, they diagnosed me
with very mild cerebral palsy.
At that age, I didn’t understand my life well
enough to look back with confidence and think,
“This has never affected me before and doesn’t
need to affect me now.” And while I kept playing
softball, changes were made in karate.
Considering that it might hurt me, I had to do extra
sit-ups and crunches instead of pushups, which
my doctor recommended I stop. I noticed, and
probably hyper-focused on the slightly odd gait I
have, favoring one leg that I probably never
would’ve thought about had I not being diagnosed.
I never tried to hide it, and talked about it whenever
I wanted, even though I suppose it sometimes
made me feel a bit different and alienated from my
peers.
When, like the other girls I’d played softball with
growing up, we moved on from Little League and
tried out for our middle school team, I was excited.
I played, “All-Star,” every year, shortstop, and was
confident in my try-out. I remember hitting the ball
from one end of the gym to the other, and being
sure I’d make the cut, but I didn’t. And I tried to
think where I’d screwed up, and all my family and
I could think was that there was one difference
between Little League and the school: I’d filled out
a green medical emergency card and mine read,
“Mild cerebral palsy.” I didn’t make the team in high
school either, and over the years, I let sports go,
and I let myself go.
I gained weight because I was feeling sorry for
myself. It’s no excuse at all. We have one body,
and it’s ours to treat with respect. I have no one to
blame but myself for the years that I was lazy and
didn’t eat right. Through high school and my
undergraduate degree, I focused on academics,
but not at all on health and fitness. I studied film,
read a lot of books, and watched a lot of movies.
I also ate a lot. Monday nights were pizza night,
JUST DO IT.By Ashley Dionne
LIFESTYLE
91
8. LIFESTYLE
92
and I, standing only four feet, 11 inches tall, would eat an entire pizza by myself.
My life started to change when I was diagnosed with food allergies. I had to make healthier food
choices, and I completely transformed when I started working out too. For years I tried fad diets, worked
out for a while, and then quit. I was forced to make changes, but I realized that the hardest part was
starting. Changing habits is different, scary, and it forces you to leave your comfort zone. But to get
better at anything, you have to change. I topped out at 168lbs, and now weigh 98lbs, because I eat
healthily and exercise daily. You can’t do what you’ve always done and expect different results.
This is why it pisses me off so much that people are using the “Body Positive Movement,” to promote
accepting an unhealthy weight, or worse, to tell people they should be proud to gain as much as possible.
Don’t get me wrong, fads built on bad information, things like telling people never to eat carbs, things
that aren’t sustainable, and harmful supplements that will make the body revert as soon as you stop
taking them aren’t any better. However, what is really scary about “Body Positive,” is that it seems like
it’s gone beyond the potential to stick. It’s sticking, and I can guess why. People are looking to women
like Tess Holliday, not for inspiration, but for something I know from experience everyone who is out of
shape wants: An excuse not to change.
If you really don’t want to change, don’t have kids you’re raising to adopt unhealthy habits. If you’re
happy the way you are, even when “Fat shamed,” by all means, do whatever the hell you want. But if
it hurts your feelings when someone calls you a name, or if you worry about what people are whispering
Visit Ashley’s Blog below at Freedom & Fitness. Also
check out her youtube video below about Body Positive.
9. LIFESTYLE
93
GOTTA HAVE
with Mike Conrad
With the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone
7 and Galaxy Note, one would think those were
the only phones on the planet. Let me say, I am
honestly glad I didn’t recommend the Galaxy Note
over the past few weeks! I recently took a look at
the Motorola Moto Z Droid. Now, most people
don’t remember when cell phones first came out,
Motorola was the phone to have! Then again, they
were pretty much the only manufacturers in the
cell phone game.
Being around for that long, one learns a thing
or two about technology. The coolest thing that
makes the Moto Z Droid a Gotta Have Gadget is
simply the Moto Mods. Short for modular, the Moto
Mods easily attach to the Z Droid to make this
phone even more powerful! If you like music,
attach the JBL SoundBoost Moto Mod, turning your
cell phone into a powerful stereo system. Need
more power? Simply attach the TUMI Wireless
Charging Power Pack Moto Mod, giving you an
additional 22 hours of power! Want to share videos
with your friends? Attach the Insta-Share Projector
Moto Mod, turning any flat surface into a 70”
screen.
For someone who was stuck at a birthday party
during week two of Monday Night Football, I can
personally tell you the NFL Mobile app from
Verizon and projector was a hit on this phone. As
far as the phone itself, the version I tested, backed
by the power of Verizon Wireless, had all the power
and speed I look for in a phone. Some of the
features that make this phone a stand-out include
the ability to get 8 hours of battery life in only 15
minutes of charging, its ultra thin design, and the
incredibly sharp pictures produced by the laser
focus camera with optical stabilization. For all the
technical specs, visit
https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-z-
droid-edition.
Welcome to “Gotta Have Gadget.” My name is Mike Conrad, and I have been
reviewing products for the past 10 years. Pretty much everything to me is a
gadget; however, not every gadget is a Gotta Have Gadget!
Moto Z Droid
10. LIFESTYLE
94
While we are on the topic of cell phones, how do
you move your pictures from your phone to your
desktop? I can’t tell you how many times a month
I get an email asking if one can recover deleted
photos from thier phone! Well, Picture Keeper
Connect makes it incredibly easy to transfer your
pictures, videos, and even contacts from your
phone to your computer. Simply download the
app, plug-in Picture Keeper Plus, and it will do all
the work for you. The Picture Keeper Connect has
a phone jack on one end and a USB on the other,
making it easy to connect to both your phone and
computer. Being a gadget guy, I had over 2000
files on my phone that needed to be transferred.
After one transfer, I was sold! The total time for
the backup was about 45 minutes. The one thing
I would really like to see is having the opportunity
to select folders to backup. However, in the short
amount of time it took, backing-up everything is
OK.
You do have the option to select to back-up photos,
videos, contacts, or full back-up. If you want to
see specifics or videos on how the Picture Keeper
works, visit http://picturekeeper.com/.
11. LIFESTYLE
95
By James Potter
Just like The Babe famously did, I am going to hit
a homerun on the next pitch…
The United States has by far the largest economy
in the world; it is both the largest importer and
consumer of products in the world. So, tell me,
who is going to “bite the hand that feeds” when it
comes to our national debt – in proximity to $20
Trillion USD. Yeahhhhhh, exactly…
As it lies within our current situation with China,
, the depreciation associated with
converting currencies (US Dollars to Chinese
Yuan) could perhaps be the largest issue facing
the payback. When the US purchases goods from
China there is more demand on the yuan then
there is on the dollar, and vice versa. Do you see
why this would be problematic and is such an
important topic in the repayment of our national
debt? It also goes the same way for Japan (yen),
as well as Saudi Arabia (riyal) – to which our
exact amount of debt is mysteriously—and
perhaps strategically—unknown or released to the
general public.
While it currently comprises approximately one-
fourth of our national debt, the $5 Trillion-ish
USD in treasuries are absolutely worthless if they
cannot be converted into yuan, yen, and riyal.
This is in direct relation to, and spawning from,
the aforementioned cataclysm.
12. LIFESTYLE
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Our largest creditors are buying more and more
real estate within high-growth zones throughout
the United States. This, in turn, will hold us, even
more, hostage of ever repaying our debt to the
respective countries (and vice versa, if you take
into consideration the current stalemate due to
the currency conversion catastrophe – which no
one foresees any kind of breakthrough ANYTIME
soon).
This is one tactic that we have seen our creditors
deploy to try and close in on payback. This can
be seen within developing areas, economically-
booming regions and—perhaps the best example—
offshored locations and corporations. How will
this ultimately swing things in favor of our
creditors? This might be the biggest catch 22 I
have ever seen…
Take China into consideration. Nearly 2 trillion
USD is owed to this leading manufacturing-based
economy. China is bar none the world’s leading
aluminum producer; it has 37 of the 50 highest-
cost aluminum smelters in the world (Forbes) and
consumes in the proximity of 80 metric tons of
bauxite per year. China sells aluminum as “coffee
cups” and “common parts”—that are easily created
by mass-producing machines and automatic
welders—to the United States and other
companies to exempt export subsidiaries. Why
do they do this? Because they can manipulate
and screw the US per policy by EXEMPTING the
import/export tax. Wow, that is really smart of us,
huh? Is this more of a smart tactic on their end or
an idiotic one on ours? It sounds pretty brilliant
but yet conniving at the same time. This has got
to end, and electing another Democratic
president who has ZERO knowledge of this and,
in turn, only increasing taxation, even more, is a
RECIPE FOR DIASTER. With that being said,
let’s take a further look into the current
relationship between China and us.
Then there is the root of all the aforementioned –
manufacturing. Our foreign trade policy with
these nations basically allows us to import items
for free from foreign nations. To be exact, this
might just be the biggest factor in “infuriating,”
so-to-speak, the Chinese, Japanese and other
“creditors.”
This is what China used to do before signing an
agreement with the United States to eradicate
export subsidies (after complaint to the World
Trade Organization):
1. Bauxite, the iron ore from which aluminum
is derived, is mined and mass delivered to
a certain smelter for processing into
alumina/aluminum.
2. The then aluminum is poured into formed
containers known as “pig molds.”
3. Upon solidification, the masses now
termed as “slabs” are joined by simply
welding a few areas together.
4. The Chinese now consider this a finished
product and term the goods as “deep-pro-
cessed extrusions.”
5. China sells “deep-processed extrusions” to
[the United States] as an export-subsidized
product.
This is what happens once the United States
imports this type of “finished product”:
1. The slabs delivered to a casthouse for
processing into what is really “finished
product”.
2. The slabs are placed in the main furnace
in a certain factory/plant for melting and
then are transported to several holding
furnaces via a launder/trough.
3. The aluminum must then be DEGASSED
in the trough to remove—among other con-
stituents—the Hydrogen that was inadver-
tently both contained in the before
13. LIFESTYLE
22
“finished product” and also added back
into the aluminum when melted.
a. Therefore, we are yet again having
to eat
manufacturing/labor/processing
costs by degassing the aluminum –
which also involves consumables
such as electricity, inert gas, chlo-
rine, plant air and other required
plumbing.
4. The aluminum is then cast into whichever
shape that the factory manufactures (in-
gots, bars, sheet, plate, and etcetera).
With this agreeance to eradicate export
subsidizing, should this not then obligate the
Chinese to write-off a calculated portion of this
relative debt incurred by the US? This is total and
complete BS if not.
How can debt still be held true on the
compromise of a tactic that the Chinese used to
screw over the United States for over a hundred
years? I mean c’mon people; this is not something
that changed in the world or “evolved”; it was a
manipulative money smuggling operation by the
manufacturing giant that exploited the naivety
and carelessness of numerous politicians and
government officials.
With that being said, remember that this is just
ONE of the germane industries and “products” …
In retrospect, I truly believe that the root cause of
all problems begins with manufacturing; this
sector is the feeder of importation and
exportation, as well as the generator for the
currency exchange catastrophe. Manufacturing is
the industry in which I both work in and have a
passion for, though a considerable amount of
steps have been taken in counteraction thus far,
many SMARTER steps need commencement to
figure out how to unravel the root cause of the
US national debt overload.
James Potter is a passionate American writer, engineer and visionary leader. He is
a lifer Georgian to date and holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia
Southern University. James has extensive experience in global manufacturing
throughout the Aerospace, HVAC and Electrical Distribution industries. He is also
a scratch golfer, exercise enthusiast and fanatical traveler. In addition to becoming
an executive leader, one of James’ ultimate goals is to design and manage his own
golf course.
PotterProfessionals.com
14. LIFESTYLE
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Fear, anxiety, joy, anticipation,
excitement, sorrow and satisfaction
are some of the many emotions men
and women at arms feel as they
take to the field of battle. As these
feelings are shared by many job
seekers as well (albeit at a different
order of magnitude), using a
military analogy is appropriate when taking on the
significant challenge of an effective job search
effort.
If you are looking for work or thinking about a
career change, careful thought and deliberate
actions are necessary to ensure success. Luck, by
definition, does not lead to consistent results. Just
as leaders carefully plan their moves in battle, you
must take the time to analyze information and
develop a plan of attack. Listed below are critical
steps which must be taken in order to become
victorious!
Strategize Your Attack (Carefully
plan your job search approach)
An effective job search effort takes time and
planning. A methodical and organized approach to
gathering viable job leads, strategizing application
methods and researching positions and companies
is an excellent way to kick off your job seeking
activities. Beware of the fact that some job
How To Be Victorious
In Your Job Search
By Adam Zajac | Guest Contributor
F
15. LIFESTYLE
99
seekers get overly caught up in the details and
become overwhelmed, so keep in mind General
George S. Patton’s advice, “A good plan violently
executed now is better than a perfect plan
executed next week."
Ready Your Weapons (Develop
excellent Résumés and LinkedIn
Profiles)
Having an exquisitely crafted and appropriately
targeted résumé, a well worded cover letter, and
a complimentary LinkedIn profile is crucial in
today’s job search environment. Gone are the
days when a simple résumé, faxed or emailed to
a company, landed results. In the age of Applicant
Tracking Systems (ATS), multiple layers of
screening personnel, and hiring managers with
little time on their hands, you must grab the
employer’s attention and make every word count.
If you are not well versed in current trends and
methodologies, you may want to seek assistance
from a Professional Résumé Writer or Career
Development Expert.
Mobilize Your Troops (Network
and seek assistance from experts)
Just as strong alliances can be crucial to the
success of a military operation, networking and
developing your support system can be a deciding
factor when seeking employment. Let your
friends know that you are looking for a job and
ask them for assistance, contact community
organizations that provide employment
assistance, seek out help from professional
recruiters and career development firms, and
network using LinkedIn and other forms of social
media. Networking does not come naturally to
everyone, but traditional and electronic methods
have never been more important to becoming a
successful Job Search Warrior.
Conduct Reconnaissance
(Research your targets)
Many job seekers today complain of how
impersonal finding a job can be. While this is true
in some respects, there are still ways to directly
contact hiring managers. Rather than viewing
websites, social media platforms and job boards
as an intimidating barrier, use them to your
advantage. Some relatively quick research can
produce excellent results (including direct
contact information) for a prospective employer.
When all else fails, call the company and ask to
speak with the hiring manager. You might be
surprised how often this still works.
Strike with Overwhelming Force
(Use multiple approaches when
applying)
Shock and awe is more than just an effective
military tactic. A coordinated, multi-pronged job
search approach is much more likely to yield
results than a singular application method. It is
easy to apply online for a position and then move
on to the next lead. For the best outcomes, use
your full arsenal. Apply directly to the company
and submit your information through third party
job listing sites. Send your résumé and cover
letter to the hiring manager directly as well.
Network and connect with the company’s staff
via LinkedIn. Call the company’s human resources
department. If the job is worth applying to, it is
worth doing so using all the tools at your disposal.
Spread Propaganda (Present
yourself in a positive and visible
manner)
Many job seekers are timid about self-promotion
when they begin a job search. It is time to get
over that! While you do not want to come off as
arrogant, self-confidence routinely ranks in the
top 5 attributes employers consider when
choosing a candidate. Make sure your résumé and
LinkedIn profile appropriately sell the product.
In this case, the product is you! As a balanced and
confident presentation is an art form, consulting
Professional Résumé Writers and Career Coaches
can provide a significant advantage.
16. LIFESTYLE
100
Assess Your Tactics (Analyze your
approach and adjust if necessary)
Chess Grandmaster Max Euwe once stated,
“Strategy requires thought, tactics require
observation.” A careful analysis of the successes
and failures of your job search activities is critical
to producing desired outcomes. By observing
trends, learning from mistakes and making
appropriate adjustments, you have a much better
chance of landing interviews and job offers in the
future.
Press the Attack (Follow up on
all active leads)
While no hiring manager wants to receive 10
phone calls from you within a week, appropriate
and measured follow up is key. Vary your
approach between emails, phone calls and social
media messages. Appropriately space out your
contacts but strike while the iron is hot! The best
qualifications in the world will do you no good if
the job has been filled before you are able to
make them known to an employer.
Negotiate Terms (Expertly
navigate the interview process)
The interview is the crescendo of the job search
battle. While some relish the opportunity, many
job seekers break in to a cold sweat at the
thought of meeting with an employer face-to-
face. As is the case in all aspects of job search,
preparation is crucial. Have confidence in
knowing you have made it through the gauntlet
of screening mechanisms, but take every
opportunity to research the position and the
company. Formulate customized answers to
questions you may be asked. Practice your
answers aloud but do not memorize word for word
(you may come off as insincere). Have a trusted
confidant rehearse with you in a mock interview
setting. Pay attention to your mannerisms and
appearance. Then, just when you think you will
go crazy with all of the preparation, relax. Keep
in mind that interviewing is a skill, and skills can
be developed with practice. If you fail at one,
learn from it when preparing for the next
opportunity.
Declare Victory! (Take pride in
your new job!)
Many of us know the joy and excitement that can
come from an excellent job offer. Employment
can shape our lives and bring fulfillment in many
ways beyond a paycheck. Seize the opportunity
to take the next step in your professional life and
go forth boldly!
Adam Zajac is the Chief Résumé and LinkedIn Profile Writer and
Senior Career Development Specialist for Vocamotive, Inc. As
a vocational rehabilitation and career placement professional
for the last 10 years, he has successfully assisted thousands of
job seekers and career changers throughout the United States.
Expert Résumé and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Career Development,
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Strategist
Adam Zajac
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/become-job-search-warrior-adam-
Original Article Here:
17. LIFESTYLE
101
Sailing is a sport that, while only
the details have changed in the last
4,000 years, remains an endless
labyrinth of nuances learned only by
experience. And when I say experience,
I think I mean mistakes. Mistakes that
are one moment irrelevant and
unnoticed; life-threatening the next.
That is what both thrills and frightens
me about sailing.
Of course, I’m no expert. The sum total
of my experience was maybe 200 hours
logged out west with a non-profit called
Bluewater Foundation. They take inner
city youth sailing in the San Francisco
bay, and their mission is to get people
sailing who otherwise would not be
able to- not just the groups of children,
whom absolutely love it- the staff as
well. Volunteering with them is how I
was able to fall in love with sailing. I
used to invite my roommate down the
hall every week but he always had
something going on. But perhaps a seed
was planted in young Alex Black. Later
he moved to Long Beach and joined a
yacht racing team. And invited me out
for the Santa Barbara to King Harbor
race the last weekend of July. Of
course! Unfortunately, three days
before my flight I severed my Achilles
tendon training for stunts in a parkour
gym in Miami. Well, I picked up an
ankle brace and some crutches- surgery
could wait- there was no way I was
missing this race.
The captain of the O’DAY 39 had been
described to me beforehand as a
unicorn, which I didn’t understand until
I met him and saw the huge horn
coming out of his head- that’s a sailor’s
joke- just kidding, it’s hardly even a
joke. Mike Price seemed perfectly
normal to me. He was a nice guy, a
young guy- younger than me by a few
years- though at least a foot taller; built
like a quarterback. He made high
quality sails and repairs for Ullman
Sails, and the night before shipping out
for the delivery most of the crew met
there and we examined, banded, and
packed all spinnakers like live ammo
into their bags for instantaneous deploy
during the race. I did not fully
understand how they would change
sails under way but was eager to find
out. These boys were the youngest team
in the LBYC and they took great pride
in that. They were professionals. Young
Masters.
Stepping into the boat on race day, a
layman, I felt apprehensive. For even
tied up in its slip and slumber, wavering
slightly with the rising tide, the boat
was a monster. Or, it was our horse, as
we chased down a monster. As my foot
left the solid earth I knew I was in for
adventure, danger, and the possible
attainment of greatness.
Rigging up the boat that morning
seemed very complicated to me. There
are no ropes on a boat, only lines,
sheets, halyards, main sheets and jib
sheets, foreguys, afterguys, on and on,
on wenches and grinders, cleats, cams,
cars, leech, luff… get a clew. There was
a lot of commotion. “Dude, you’re
outside the lifelines.” Reroute. “You
gotta be outside the shrouds, under the
afterguy.” “Through the cars, but over
the spinnaker halyard.” They routed
and rerouted, meanwhile others hoisted
Mike in a rock climbing harness to the
top of the mast to attach an LED light
to the windex. It was an anticipated 30
hour race for our fleet.
The swarm and frenzy of sailboats
before a yacht race is true spectacle,
boats like atoms weaving concentric
circles within a confined space. They
have timed horns, designating different
heats and fleets, 5 minutes till, two
minutes till, one minute till, go time!
All these synced watches, and boats
Pumping Swells
Ignite Chaos
By Eric Newcombe
18. LIFESTYLE
102
circling in such a way that when your
starting horn is blown, you cross the
start pin, not a second sooner or a
second later. “8 boat lengths to the pin!”
“30 seconds to start!” It’s tense. We
blew through the starting line head to
head with their heaviest contender, and
remained side by side for 40 minutes.
Then we made trees on ‘em. ‘Making
trees’ comes from eyeballing how
you’re doing speedwise compared to
another boat. I guess it didn’t make
sense here, because you use it when you
can’t tell, but now it is such a figure of
speech for pulling ahead, that it does
make sense. Does that make sense? If
trees are passing in front of the boat,
you’re taking them. If trees are passing
behind their boat, they’re taking you.
So they all say, “Making trees.” And
Alex, who had coined the term “Making
trees like an Indonesian Teak Farm,”
finally found fertile soil, cause Z-dance
and Stephan, engineers who came with
Mike’s English friend Bas, loved it and
it became the official phrase of the race.
And we did. Make trees like an
Indonesian teak farm. We buried them.
We crushed all day, peeling and
blowing up spinnakers, Mike pointed,
“See how our spinnakers all have the
same design? That’s so other boats have
a hard time seeing what size or shape
we’re using, as we pull further and
further ahead of them.” Code zero, A2,
A3, peeling and pulling. Guerilla
racing. Mike called commands from the
helm, the crew manifested them in a
snap. Perfect synchronicity. It was no
games with Mike on race day. Perhaps
at times he was abrasive, but what
winner can be carved from the muck
without the salt and sting of grit? They
told me a story how a boat had nearly
collided with them and the other skipper
shouted angrily ‘Watch where you’re
going!’ and Mike shouted back, ‘You
watch where I’m going!’ At that he
turned to me and said, ‘We had the right
of way.’
They let me grind for the guy on spin
sheet; that was the extent of the
responsibility I was allotted and to that
I gave my all. The Peacemaker team
had made a perfect run all day, not one
slip up, and their gargantuan lead over
all boats in their class testified as much.
We had rounded Anacapa Island, which
looked like Mars- a red planet with no
discernable life- and launched
explosively out of the island’s wind
shadow, watching the other sails
disappear into the horizon behind us.
We were even starting to pass boats in
other fleets. The Peacemaker team did
not loaf sail. They did literally
everything in their power, despite that
it was constant work with no visible
result, to shave seconds off their time.
Even pumping the main sail, which I’d
never heard of or seen, where you hook
up a webbing strap to the boom, and
right in the vortex of a swell you yank
the webbing with everything you got
like a surfer paddling to catch the wave
and when done right you ride the wave
boosted. This would produce a
humming sound, and everyone would
get psyched and cheer because it meant
the boat was pushing high speed. We
were holding the 10’s, 11’s, and we
topped out at 12.5.
They said pumping the main sail might
earn you a boat length every dozen
successful pumps. All in baby!
Everything for the glory. After a few
guys I had a turn pumping the main, a
little tricky with my severed tendon but
I made it work. After a while Mike said
hold off on the pumping for a minute. I
wanted to easily grab the webbing again
and not let it drag in the water so I tied
it to the lifeline in a very loose slipknot.
We’d been on a port tack for hours with
no plan on changing. If something
happened it would shake the slip, right?
Alex and Joey went down below to start
cooking up dinner for everyone as the
sun was setting. I looked down to see
that a bee had landed there on the boat
between my feet. I thought, ‘Wow,
you’re a long way from home bud,
unless you live on the boat.’ And I
didn’t hear the little ‘ping’ sound then
but I did hear Mike say, ‘What the hell
was that?’ And a second later he
commanded, ‘Drop the kite! I’ve lost
steering, drop the kite now!’
Everyone burst into action. I remember
hearing someone yell, ‘Drop the kite,
drop the kite! Wait, what’s the first
thing we gotta do?’ And with that, the
wind forcefully jibed the boat. I was
still right there on the rail, and ducking,
I shouted, ‘Look out, here comes the
boom! Jib Ho!’ and it went swinging
with tens of thousands of pounds of
pressure. The kind that kill you, no
questions asked. People ducked,
cleared, BOOM! But what? -the boom
snagged on my little slipknot to the
lifeline! It cinched impossibly tight into
itself. Unnaturally the boat lifted and
heeled almost totally sidewise. Things
went sliding, banging, there were chips,
water bottles, cans, lines, people. I tried
to yank the slipknot but the pressure
backing it was insane. It was like one
of those bad dreams when you try to
punch someone but you’re absurdly
powerless.
‘Cut that line!’ Mike yelled over the
chaos. Someone crawled up with a
blade and started slashing but the
pressure did not yield immediately.
This time no one thought to yell duck
as Drew was pulling the spin sheet from
the cockpit, fighting down the raging
spinnaker. Suddenly the webbing blew
like an explosion and the boom went
flying again in pure, unmerciful force.
Somehow Drew’s intuition kicked at
the sound of the line blowing and he
dove backwards, turning his face as the
boom literally skimmed the end of his
nose. He flew back into the binnacle
and dropped. The people who saw flew
over to him. I couldn’t move- my heart
was in my throat. He was okay! In
shock but okay. No death, no battered
in face, no missing nose. Not even cut
on the nose. But it had touched him. It
had literally touched him as it went by,
before crashing into its outer limits.
Relieved of the wind pressure, the boat
finally up-righted. But no time to
exhale, the spinnaker was still out of
control, knocking things and people,
pulled halfway in then ripped out, the
boat broadsided and giant swells
pounding. All things not tied down
sliding back and forth. I raced up to the
spinnaker to help Duke and Bas drag it
in, and several times it was yanked from
our hands by crazed wind. I remember
not the whole sequence but images-
being laid out on the deck somehow,
19. LIFESTYLE
103
the spinnaker pole on top of me. Then
it was in the water somehow, but
rescued before sinking. Then the kite
was dumped and in the water. One of
my shoes was gone as we stuffed it all
down the front hatch, getting soaked
and soaking everything in the V berth.
Until that spinnaker was fully
submerged below deck, it was like
String Theory, The Musical.
All of a sudden it was kind of calm. A
quick inventory of the crew revealed
perfect health- Thank God. I turned
and Bas handed me my shoe. I must
have looked at him dumfounded, cause
his response was a scholarly wink that
comprised all the charm of Great
Britain. Just classic. I couldn’t help but
laugh. Now it was rocky swells and
fading light vs the improv of the
captain and engineers. They opened
the lazarettes and threw all their
contents down below, while others
pulled all lines into the cockpit- many
from out the water. I untied what was
left of the blue webbing strap from the
lifeline, and just sat there awhile
holding it, not sure how to process. It
was haunting. I tried not to get neurotic.
Ultimately I was washed in gratitude. I
had been shown divine mercy. Again.
What a seemingly inconsequential
mistake. Until it almost killed Drew.
They released a squarish parachute
behind the boat called a sea anchor. It
helped stabilize things a little, as Mike
and Drew went down the lazarettes to
access the steering system. Turns out it
was just some pulleys and wheels,
fallen apart but a very basic system,
they said. However, the cotter pin to the
rudder, which had exploded under the
rusting of 30 years and our
championesque sailing, was rather in a
compromising position. Finding what
it was Mike said, “Damn. We were
scheduled to overhaul the steering
system literally next week.” They set to
jerry rig it back together, struggling to
find ways to stabilize themselves and
have hand usage amid the heavy
rocking. People scoured the boat for
extra pins and produced anything even
close. They tried them all and like a
glass slipper, nothing fit. The sun left
and it grew very cold in the wind and
waves. No land in sight.
The floor of the cockpit looked like
multicolored spaghetti. Down below
looked like the lazarettes had thrown
up. Intimations of sea sickness began.
I felt my eyes glaze over. My mouth
coated with saliva. But I stayed in the
game and held open a lazarette, handing
over and taking back tools. Drew came
up for air. He was getting mad sea sick
down there, but kept at it. Finally, after
an hour, he and Bas switched out. Also
finally, other boats started to appear.
Eventually, a few came and passed, one
pulling up to ask if we were okay. That
was nice. And then, with the last light
gone, and the stars and heavenly bodies
shining, Mike and Bas emerged from
the lazarettes. They had reached a
working substitute. Mike radioed in our
abandon race call, and I don’t remember
what he said but I remember the tone of
his voice. It reminded me of a father
holding his children in his arms.
We motored at 4 knots an hour for the
15 or 20 miles in to Marina Del Rey,
the closest port, famous for their racing
stripes. We put on our warm gear and
foulies. Made sense of everything, like
reflaking and retying the main sail.
Duke wrapped every line. Alex finished
cooking up his hot and delicious
spaghetti dinner he had started a few
hours ago, and we all ate, safe and
warm. Mike led a debrief. There was no
broken spirits here. There was no blame
passed around. In fact there was a buzz,
a reinforced comradery. It was magical.
And whether pulling my weight or
adding weight to be pulled, I got to be
there with them for a truly miraculous
happening out at sea.
“Until that spinnaker was fully submerged below
deck, it was like String Theory, The Musical.“
20. LIFESTYLE
104
TITO FERNANDEZNAKED TRUTH INTERVIEW:
A casual conversation with Mexico’s bad boy vigilante, Tito Fernandez
about government oppression, international women and his survival school.
TNT: Gracias por recibirnos en tu casa
secreta en algún lugar del mundo.
Tito: Es un placer tenerlos aquí, soy
un fan de su revista.
TNT: Tito, ¿podemos saber cuántas
misiones secretas ha usted tenido en
encubierto en su carrera como agente
secreto?
Tito: Esa es información clasificada,
pero puedo decirles que han sido
muchas y en prácticamente todos los
lugares del mundo.
TNT: Sabemos que tiene usted bares,
clubes, casinos y lugares de recreación
nocturna alrededor del mundo, ¿cómo
combina esto con su trabajo de agente
secreto?
Tito: La gente me critica por luchar
contra el capitalismo y al mismo tiempo
tener clubs nocturnos en Europa, pero
durante más de 20 años mi respuesta
ha sido la misma: “sólo me gusta bailar”.
TNT: La gente que lo conoce dice que
usted ha tenido cientos de mujeres, las
más hermosas, de todas
nacionalidades. ¿No tiene alguna en
particular? ¿Nunca ha estado
enamorado?
Tito: No. Estoy enamorado del peligro.
Punto.
TNT: ¿Kiton o Brioni?
Tito: Kiton.
TNT: En zapatos… ¿Testoni o Tom
Ford?
Tito: Testoni. No me gustan los
zapatos con diamantes. Se me hacen
de mal gusto.
TNT: Sus conocidos dicen que usted
tiene un precioso y clásico MIG ruso,
un auto Fórmula 1, un toro Miura, un
oso Grizzly llamado Ben, un león de
1,000 libras, un tigre de Bengala, un
tiburón blanco y un caballo pura sangre
de más de 70 millones de dólares. ¿Es
eso cierto?
Tito: (Riendo) Les faltó mencionar a
Danae, mi pantera negra, Ka, mi boa
constrictor, Karina, mi tarántula y
algunas mascotas más que tengo
alrededor del mundo.
TNT: En anteojos, ¿Chopard de
Rigo o Dolce & Gabbana?
Tito: Dolce & Gabbana.
TNT: ¿Tu cocktail favorito?
Tito: The Winston.
TNT: Ha roto usted varios récords
impensables haciendo proezas
sobrehumanas. ¿Qué opina de
Donald Trump?
Tito: Lo que le puedo decir es…
¡Constrúyela Trump! “Hit Us With
Your Best Wall!”
TNT: Gracias, Señor Fernández. Le
deseamos lo mejor con su libro “Tito
Fernández’ Professional Training
Manual for Undocumented
Workers”. Mucho éxito.
Tito: Gracias a ustedes.
Tito pictured with his Afghan family in
1991 shortly before his final departure
from the Middle East. Tito fathered
seven children while working covertly
in the 80’s
Tito set’s out to be the largest survival
school in the world. In the future he
hope’s not only to cater to Hispanic's
but to third world countries as well.
Tito in Mirabela, Spain where he
frequently spends his vacation time
at the Nightclub’s he owns and his
villa. George Clooney and Armand
Assanti are known guest’s.
21. 22
“PEOPLE CRITICIZE ME FOR
FIGHTING CAPITALISM WHILE
ALSO OWNING NIGHTCLUBS IN
EUROPE. IN 20 YEARS MY
RESPONSE HASN’T CHANGED, I
JUST LOVE TO DANCE”
Tito Fernandez
TNTMAGAZINE