Tag Archives: work

‘Numb’ers and Dates or: Growing That Biz

16 Thursday Jan 2020

Posted by in Life as We Know It, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

In the last two days, I have done some “grown-up” things with my business, Such-N-Such Limited, Inc. I’ve gotten a lot busier and honestly, my calendar is filling up and when clients call or email or text and want to get a time, I have to look at the Google Calendar I have and wonder, did I put everything in that I needed to?

Well, I will usually put them down for when we agree on and hope that no one calls or shows up at that time. It doesn’t happen a lot but it has happened in the past. I started looking at online appointment booking tools and realized that I had a brand new tool right under my nose. I am a Square customer for payments, online and in-person. They have a service/tool called Square Appointments and it allows me to put a button on the Such-N-Such Media (the production wing of my business) website and Facebook page as well as The Less Desirables Facebook page.

Square

©Square

Now, customers and clients can click on that button, they can click to find when I have availability and then schedule their appointment. It then syncs to my Google Calendars (and vice versa). I can still make my own appointments in-person and, again, it syncs up. Then I can bill the client or take payment from there. I dig it. I feel all “grown” now.  At least on the scheduling side.

Then, I’ve been using my cell phone number for all my business stuff. Which is fine, really. I try to direct folks to send me an email over a phone call. I don’t like talking on the phone, to be honest. So, I got a Google Voice number to apply to all my business needs. This number allows me to get texts and voice mails via my email and I can reply there.

As much as I hate talking on the phone, I hate typing on my phone just as much. I don’t mind using it for all kinds of “smartphone” things, but I really don’t like typing on it for IMs, texts or emails. I would much rather use a computer for that. This allows me to do that. I can still do it on my phone if I need to, but also able to do it on the computer. Also, I can download voicemails and keep them. That also means that if listeners of any of the podcasts call and leave a voicemail, then I can play it on that podcast. It’s another way for interaction with those listeners.

Or… if you’re reading this blog, I’m going to give out my number so readers can contact me. I may use it here (if I can figure out how as this is a little different than the other blogs I post) if you send me something. If nothing else, I can use the transcript, right? Right. So, I had a few to choose from and I picked the one I did because I could use a word to talk about it. You know how places say “call 1-800-PICK-ONE” or something like that? Yeah, I found one that kind of fits me. After all, I am “less desirable.” So, here’s the number: 336-422-6862. I call it 422-NUMB. I like it. I go with it. Send me a text or leave me a voicemail on that number, I would like that.

Don’t worry, I’m not afraid of people blowing up my phone, I can ignore you fairly easily. It’s my “business” number and I don’t mind giving that out. Well, that’s it, I grew up, I guess. Finally, says The BCPF.

Until tomorrow, keep the digits and schedule an appointment…
Scorp out!

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“A Voice number works on smartphones and the web so you can place and receive calls from anywhere.” – Google Voice

The Podfather or: Clients Rule!

18 Tuesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Blogging, Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

I love my job. I love all my jobs. I don’t do things that I don’t enjoy. Not anymore.

For many years I was the office manager/VP of my parents’ company. I loved that job, although they would probably not agree with me. Now, don’t get me wrong. I hated the industry. I hated trucking and I hated sand. But, I liked the business aspect of it.

I almost purchased a now-prominent restaurant in town and I would have loved that.

I briefly owned a comic book store. I loved that because I have always been a fan of comics.

I have been a musician most of my life, at least 34 years. I loved being in those bands (most of the time… and when I didn’t, I wasn’t in that band).Clients061819

I love being The Man Who Ate the Town. I love that restaurants trust me in promoting, talking about, photographing and eating their food. I really love that job.

I love talking for a living. Podcasting, voice-overs, announcing, emceeing, etc.

And, I love producing podcasts for others. I love getting them conceived. I love getting them started. I love the look on the faces of the clients when they hear their product and the sigh of relief when they can breathe after that first one and in some cases after the 20th one. Producing podcasts and consulting with companies that want to do them, is how I truly make a living. The Less Desirables Network is my fun time and with the exception of Fan Interference and Apartment 5B, I don’t get paid for producing them. I do get paid with sponsorships for some of the podcasts on the network but the production and consultations are my real paycheck.

I spend anywhere from 15-25 hours a week producing for others and about 10 producing the TLD Network shows. The other 5-20 hours a week is in blogging, doing voice-overs, eating, taking food photos, meeting with folks about podcasts, how I can help in the community, networking and so on. As I always say, if I’m awake, I’m working. Whether others would consider it working or not. Heck, even I don’t consider it work. I never go to “work.” I go do what it is that I do and do it darn well if I do say so myself.

Anywhat! Going back and checking what it is that I do, I realized that there are 10 companies that I either produce for or have helped with consulting for their podcasts. I have meetings set up over the next few weeks for even more. I love what I do and I love the folks that help me contribute to the integrity of my household by trusting me with their brand and voice. Thanks so much to Ty Collins & Hailey Brooke McFadden; Jeff Evans & Rory; Dara & Garth; Kerri Sigler; Will Lewis & Ken Coopwood; Elizabeth Nance, Jodi Tate, Julie Aites Campbell, Lorraine Howard, Billy Bjorklund, Kim Vestal; Kate Reece; Dr. Shawn Ricks; James Taylor; Kayla Bell, Michelle Bell & Heather Scherer. I love working with you all.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“If you care about a subject, there’s a podcast for it.” – Michelle Dean

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Ketchup? or: Time’s A-Rollin’

10 Friday May 2019

Posted by in Blogging, Food, Life as We Know It, Podcasting

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Salutations™!!

You have to be careful about what you ask for, right? You ask for more business, you get more business. You want more work, you get more work. Even when you aren’t at work, if you’re self-employed, you’re working. I had my networking meeting this morning and did run over to see my mother afterward, but when I got home, I had to go over some rates, get schedules finalized, maneuver other schedules around, plan new things, close out old things and just still work my arse off. 59dd89f6188ea6037ce2c15af676b6b3_1388540153_cropped

When it’s not podcasting, it’s food related, or voice-overs – more on that soon. I’m at restaurants taking pictures of food, writing about food, podcasting about food or I’m in the studio, still, making a commercial or Voice-On-Hold/Auto Attendant work. Or, trying to put in a show with Clay or VSS or a game with the Cobras.

And not one of those things above am I even remotely complaining about. I love it all. I love being busier than I ever have been. I love being under “pressure” with new clients. I love getting new clients and I love working with my old clients. I love clients. Can I work with anyone? No, no one can work with everyone, but we can narrow down what works for us and what we can do. Again, I love it. What do you do, Dear Reader? What keeps you busy? Is it life? Work? Kids? Talk to me about it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Auto-Attendant (or automated attendant) is a term commonly used in telephony to describe a voice menu system that allows callers to be transferred to an extension without going through a telephone operator or receptionist. The auto-attendant is also known as a digital receptionist.” – 3cx.com

Can’t Beet That or: Red Head Shot

23 Tuesday Apr 2019

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Salutations™!!

I did something I’ve not done in a while today and that’s got a sunburn. I met with my friend Stallone Frazier to do a few headshots for a project or two I have coming up and we were on top of a building downtown. I wanted scenes from the town I love. That’s not what did it, though.

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So red I glow! (no, not really)

Stallone is an awesome dude and we had a two-hour conversation about life, business, business life, kids, parents, and so on. It was just cool talking with him. I dig him a lot and what time we get it was good just hanging out on the top of this building. The bad part was it was right in the sun. There was a lovely shaded space but we didn’t move there. I think we both thought we’d end the conversation at any time but it went on for two hours. But, you know what? To me, it was worth it.

So, for the next few days, I’ll still be able to fry an egg on my head and will start peeling, but that’s okay. All is good. Thanks again, Stallone! I’ve seen other people’s headshots he’s done and they’ve been great, but the subject matter was me this time. I will probably hate them because I’m in them, but I’m sure the shots will be great! When I have something, I’ll share. Stallone is also working on branding for me for a “new venture” which isn’t really new, but he did The Man Who Ate the Town logo, which I love. You should contact him if you need photography or graphic design done.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they now do.” – Will Rogers

The Proud Papa Part 2 or: He Washed What!?

02 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

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©Niki Farrington

I promise that I am not going to keep rambling about this. But, I think I’m allowed to still be proud of my boy. He started work today and there were some hiccups that were all on him and had nothing to do with the job. He was there on time, he did what he was told.

Chef Niki said he was humble, attentive, and enthusiastic.

He even washed dishes. We asked how she got him to do that. Her response: “I told him to wash dishes.”

So, the first night was a success. He said he was a little tired. But, okay, I’ve given you all that you can probably handle.

Yesterday we recorded The Man Who Ate the Town, The Beer Dads and today we recorded Apartment 5B. You can listen to the latest episodes here:

The Man Who Ate the Town

The Beer Dads

Apartment 5B

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Your first job can set the trajectory for the rest of your career.” – Daniel Schwartz

Catching a Buzzy or: a Long Day Through

13 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Food, Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

We recorded Fan Interference today and TC and HB interviewed Greg Dortch, a former All-ACC WR from Wake Forest who is attending the NFL Scouting Combine in a few weeks and hopes to be drafted. It was a cool interview.

WF Live

Sam (l) and Seth performing live on The Less Desirables

Then I ran down to Uncle Buzzy’s and attended a tasting especially for food bloggers. I ate myself stupid. I probably had around three pounds of food. That may or may not be the case, but it sure did feel like it. It was all so good, though. Look for a post about it in the next few days, over on The Man Who Ate the Town blog/podcast. Again, it was a lot of food.

Then we recorded The Less Desirables and we had Sam Foster and Seth Williams of the band Whiskey Foxtrot and they played three tunes on the podcast, live. I did Facebook Live teasers of the three songs. So you should go listen to them, as they’re pretty awesome tunes.

To hear the interview with Mr. Dortch, listen HERE. To hear the songs from Whiskey Foxtrot, listen HERE.

I’m done. Oh, the “posting movie” this week is 1984 starring John Hurt, Richard Burton and Suzanna Hamilton.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“I need a wheel barrow.” – Me after Uncle Buzzy’s today.

Finis or: The Long Week Behind

08 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting

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Salutations™!!Xse5IUi

This has been a long week, Dear Reader. It has been long and wonderful. I wish every week were this busy and fruitful. I wish every day could be any day this week.

From sun up to sun down I was doing exactly what I needed and exactly everything I could want.

So, as my gift to you being this is a great week for me, is that I won’t make you read a bunch of baloney. I just wanted to say thank you to all my podcast partners, co-hosts, content providers, clients and listeners. Man, this has been great!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“I work 90 hours a week. I work 5 to 9, it’s not 9 to 5.” – Angie Harmon

I’m Not Tellin’ or: Game Changer

16 Wednesday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

I told you yesterday that I had something to write about today but I have decided that it’s just not time yet. I mean, I will write about it, I just can’t tell you what it is. I am still working out details but it is a “job” that will allow me to do what I feel is one of the things I’m pretty good at, and that’s talking. shure_mikrofon_55s

Yeah, I do podcasts and talk all the time on those, but this is a whole different world. It’s also something that I’ve been trying to get into for a while. Now, it’s a temporary but possibly permanent thing. I know I’m Vague-booking right now, and I apologize for it, but it’s a big deal to me and, again, I don’t want to jinx it until I know all the pieces have fallen into place.

So, sorry for the copout but I promise, when I can talk about it, I will. It will be a “game changer,” though.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Let the people who love your work know that you appreciate them because that’s how you build your fans.” – Megan Nicole

Behind or: A Piggyback

15 Thursday Nov 2018

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Salutations™!!

I forgot to say — because I was writing other things on Monday — that we did The Man Who Ate the Town and The Beer Dads this week (and The Less Desirables). But, on The Beer Dads this episode, we talked about teaching the kid about budgeting. Cl1JVyyWYAAbovF

I found it funny that 3B came home today during his “travel period” between Career Center and high school and needed gas. After a long discussion about his First Quarter grades not being “too hot” as he called it, he had to get back to school. I took money by school for him a little bit later.

First of all, yes, he has a large SUV that sucks the gas like fish suck water. And, he has started living here at his grandmother’s house (Ma Mère’s) during the week because his mother for whatever reason decided to buy a house in a small town 45 minutes away. So, it is a little better now as he only has to fill up weekly, not $50 worth every three days. But, he hasn’t even gotten his “after 9s” yet. Wait until he starts going places and doing things. Yeah, I’m waiting. I won’t be able to help all that much.

Some think its better that he concentrate on school and not get a job while others think he should get a job. I see both sides and have overall mixed feelings about it. He’s finally found something that really interests him and I want him to concentrate on that. However, he’s not doing “jack” in the rest of his classes that don’t contain the words “weight” and “lifting.” Money is tight and he’s going to want to do things. So, I don’t know what to do about it.

Anywhat, I digress.

Follow the link if you want to hear the episode for:

The Man Who Ate the Town
The Beer Dads
The Less Desirables

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Dad, I need gas…” – 3B

 

Silent Sunday or: Silent Saturday

19 Sunday Feb 2017

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday, The BCPF and I walked a short morning walk, ate at Mary’s Gourmet Diner and then I went to work. We left the studio around 5:30p and went to eat, which was a small adventure, but we had wine and that’s okay. We’re back to the studio this morning to finish the work that I’m charged with. See you tomorrow…

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Until then, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele