faulker009

According to figures from January 2010, there are more than 14.8 million unemployed Americans, that’s a rate of nearly 10 percent. A staggering figure. Unless of course, you compare it to the rapid rate of divorce in this country. I recently read one report that said the divorce rate in the U.S. for first marriages is 41%. The divorce rate for a second marriage is 60%. The divorce rate for a third marriage is 73%. Now I got a 620 on my SAT math, but those numbers just blow me away. My wife and I have been married for more than 15 years, which seems like a world record based on those stats. I have been out of work for the last 15 months, which doesn’t seem like much of an accomplishment at all considering the current unemployment numbers. During those 15 months, I have had several conversations with a former boss of mine, who I have worked with three different times. From day one, 25 years ago, right up to our most recent conversation about a week ago, he has taught me ...

For the last 15 months, my therapist has learned a lot about me. This week, I learned something about her. She likes buying books from amazon.com. Big books, little books, new books, old books. Just books. This week, she showed me a used book that she purchased called, “I Believe in You”. Based on the title, I’m guessing its pretty inspirational, but we never made it to page one. On the inside of the front cover was a handwritten note from a man to his daughter, dated Christmas 2000. Kelly, 24 things to always remember and 1 thing to never forget. your presence is a present to the world you're unique and one of a kind your life can be what you want it to be take the days just one at a time count your blessings, not your troubles you’ll make it through whatever comes along within you are so many answers understand, have courage, be strong don’t put limits on yourself so many dreams are waiting to be realized decisions are too important to leave...

Last weekend in Las Vegas, we rode the roller coaster at the New York, New York hotel. It was loaded with ups and downs, twists and turns, highs and lows. Basically, it’s the same feeling I get as a member of the unemployed. I have my good days and bad days, but I have been really fortunate to enjoy the majority of my time staying at home. I enjoy my family. I enjoy my free time. I enjoy the opportunity to live. What I don’t enjoy is this 900-pound gorilla on my back. His name is FAILURE. Failure doesn’t poke out his head very often, but when he does, it gets very ugly, very quickly. Perhaps the best thing to come out of writing this blog has been the opportunity to speak my mind. So here goes. I am one of the lucky ones. I have an incredible family -- a wife and three healthy children. I enjoyed tremendous success working in the TV business since I was a freshman in college in 1985, winning five Emmy Awards. I have an incredible support system, with frien...

Let’s get WAAAAAAAY ahead of ourselves here for a moment. There is a very interesting dilemma on the horizon that, with any luck, could be playing itself out in the next couple of weeks. Last night, I was cruising the internet job sites and found a couple of local jobs that speak to my experience. If I am being honest, I would say that both jobs are a major step back in what used to be called my career. The good news here is that both jobs are local. That means that my kids stay in their same school and activities, my wife keeps her current job and our life returns to somewhat of what it used to be before getting laid off. I’m sure both local jobs pay MUCH less than the job I had here before, but I'm sure we would find a way to make it work. Scenario #2 is a lot more complicated. There is a lead on a job -- which is just that at the moment, a lead on a job -- but if it plays out, it would be a SIGNIFICANT step up. Then again, based on my current employment status,...

According to dictionary.com, the first definition of karma is: action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation Based on that, I definitely believe in karma. I wouldn’t say that I spend a whole lot of time thinking or worrying about it, but I definitely try to do what’s right, believing that in the end, the good people win and the bad people don’t. That theory has been tested, oh, about nine million times since I was forced out of work nearly 15 months ago. Why are the people who did this still working, while so many of us are not? What kind of karma is that? Well, the third definition of our word of the day, is: fate; destiny I guess, there’s still time for the good guys to win. This morning, as my wife left for school, she asked if I would be able to make a doctor’s appointment today for our six-year old, who had developed a rash. Considering the empty lines on my daily planner, I was excited to have so...

I’ve always considered myself a bit of a comedian. I’ll never forget the time in 5th grade, when a girl told me I could be the next Mork. Note: for those of you under 30, without Mork (and Mindy), we would’ve never met Mrs. Doubtfire or Patch Adams. I really do love making people laugh, but I have never had it in me to do it in front of an audience. I couldn’t imagine doing stand-up comedy, but I would love to write the jokes. In comedy, there is something referred to as a callback, that’s when a joke in the standup set refers to one previously told earlier in the routine. Well, where better than Las Vegas for me to LIVE a comedy callback. (Insert harp music and the slow flashback dissolve.) Wednesday night, we departed for Sin City, all five of us, to watch my 12-year old daughter perform in her national dance event. Two years ago it was in Cincinnati, last year Orlando, this year Las Vegas. With that kind of upgrade rate, I’m thinking Bora Bora could be next. Th...