Antbag.com

Would you be interested in taking part in a discussion? Almost all blogs give you the opportunity to leave a comment after each post. As a matter of fact, the practice is encouraged. If you are a blogger, one of the best ways to get comments is apparently to give comments on other blogs. It’s easy to be a “lurker”, but taking part in the discussion encourages the one who wrote the post as well as provides you with an excellent link back to your site. Personally, I’ve tried to take part more lately on the blogs that I regularly read, and one of the results has been more traffic to my site. Anyone with a website or blog wants that. This post was prompted by Chris Garrett’s post titled 10 Reasons Commenting is Good For Bloggers, where he points out:

Blogging is not just about saying your piece, it is also about going out and joining the conversation where it is happening. It’s about reaching out to people and exposing yourself (steady!) to new ideas.

To those of you reading my blog, don’t be shy. If you have a thought about something you read here, don’t hesitate to share it……I welcome the discussion.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to draw bargains like a magnet, while others pay top price for everything they purchase? If there are so many bargains available, why would anyone pay full price for anything? Well, I believe it boils down to several different types of people, and the way they make buying decisions.

A Simple Truth

Whether it’s fair or not, the people who get the best deals are people who have money. The guy who never has a dime to his name will always pay full price or more. As a matter of fact, there’s a whole industry that preys on the penny-less. That’s how credit card companies and cash advance establishments make so much money. They catch people when they’re down, and tack on the interest!

Why do people with money get better deals? Someone who always has money in his/her pocket gets the best deals for a variety of reasons. Here are a few of them:

1. They can buy NOW……..while the deal is hot.
2. If they were to borrow money, they are less risk for a lendor.
3. They will be offered bargains because of their ability to buy.
4. They know needs and emergencies are coming, and they are prepared…..which gives them money.
5. They know standard prices and seek discounts.

So it all comes down to having money. Always having money doesn’t necessarily mean that you make a LOT of it. It just means that you don’t spend every penny you get. It’s important to learn how to carry money in your wallet or purse, and not spend it. If you can do that, there will always be opportunities to save money on purchases. You just have to be prepared to take advantage of those opportunities when they present themselves.

Well, since I started my site over from scratch on February 1, 2007, I think it’s done pretty well when considering what type of site it is. The fact that it’s a personal website that tries to provide some informative content, rather than being a site to try and build a business off of, I’m pleased with the numbers so far. Of course, I would love to see my subscriber numbers rise, but after only a month, that doesn’t seem so bad. I installed the shortstat plungin on February 21st, and so far I’m averaging around 100 unique visits per day and I’ve had right at 8000 “hits” since installing the plugin on the 21st. The majority of traffic I’ve gotten has come from Google as a result of a few “How To” posts. Commenting on other blogs has provided some visits as well, as other readers of those blogs take a look at Antbag.com after reading the comments I leave. Hopefully, some of that traffic will stick around, rather than take one look out of curiosity and move on. I guess that’s where having good content comes in.

On a separate note, I always enjoy seeing what kind of RSS buttons other sites have, and I’ve seen some pretty creative ones. I’ve made a couple, and this one is my favorite so far. I have to think about the purpose in the first place so I don’t go over the top with it. To me, the point is for it to be easy to find and hopefully even draw the eyes just a little - without being annoying or distracting. Maybe this one fits the bill.

**My original title was “Non-Existence of Job Security”. This post was included in Brian Clark’s Headline Remix Madness on the popular Copyblogger.com. So I’ve changed the headline following his tips and suggestion.

To be honest, I think about this a lot. I’ve read many times that there really is no such thing any more. So why have I stayed at my job? I do feel a certain sense of security whether that be real or imagined. I don’t hate my job. As a matter of fact, I’ve stayed at my present job longer than any other job, and I’ve made far more money on my current job than with any other. Yet, I still don’t feel like I’ve found my “niche” yet. You know, my purpose, or my calling. I often daydream of working for myself in some way, where I have more freedom with my time and am able to be closer to my family.

As far as jobs go, what’s wrong with mine? Here are the cons, as I see it:

• Long days (sometimes 12 hours or more)
• Inside a huge facility rather than out and about
• Can’t have my cell phone with me
• Can’t access the internet and check my email - only company mail
• Work screwy hours
• On my feet all day
• Usually have to work on holidays

Okay, so if that’s what I don’t like about it, then what are the good points….I mean, why would I still be there after 10 years? The pros:

• Good Pay
• Decent Benefits
• Stable Company in a Stable Industry (seemingly)
• I’m good at what I do which brings a sense of pride and accomplishment

So I guess the question would be, do the “pros” or the “cons” weigh more? If I could come to terms with that, I wouldn’t be asking myself the question.

Dislike or Hate?

I’ve read several good articles lately that deal with this very subject. How to Survive (and Thrive!) In a Job You Hate and Finding Your Passion Amid The Hate are two that really stand out! In my case, hate is a really strong word, but the principles still apply. In the latter, Tony D. Clark says that there are positives to any job, and more than likely, your passion lies in one of the positives of your current job. I thought that was an interesting concept. If I were to find my passion in the pros I listed earlier, it would have to be “sense of pride and accomplishment”. I would assume there are many ways to acquire those things, as well as the pay. I suppose the point I’m trying to make is this: There should be something you like about your job. If you’re only in your job for the purpose of job security, you might as well continue searching for a better opportunity.

Something very strange is going on where I work. Apparently, everyone in management has been given an assignment to pick an employee to be their men-tee. Mentors are great, and I really believe that. They can serve a great purpose in answering questions, providing motivation, and giving that extra needed push to rise to the next level of accomplishment. However, I’m not sure how I feel about someone being my mentor as part of an assignment. I know there are mentoring programs elsewhere as well, but how effective are they? I believe for the mentor / men-tee relationship to work, the men-tee has to know that the mentor really cares about them and truly believes in their potential. If my “mentor” is there to complete some six-week assignment (complete with a small paper booklet), am I being taken under their wing because they see my potential? Hypothetically, what if the men-tee actually felt more qualified than the mentor? This situation got me thinking about real mentors.

A Mentor’s Worth

A few times in my life, I’ve had someone see potential in me, and give me advice on a continual basis. I considered these people mentors. I believe a true mentor:

• sees potential
• takes a personal interest
• advises and motivates the men-tee
• celebrates the men-tee’s success

My perception is that being a mentor for an assignment takes away the purity of the relationship. Especially when the mentor has a company guide to follow and blanks to fill out about our conversations. Perhaps I’m being too idealistic and/or negative. Do you have a mentor? Could you see a mentor being beneficial to you if the mentor was directed to “help” you? What do you think a real mentor provides?