Job Satisfaction - A Myth

Have you ever worked in an organization where the climate is always stormy? Ask yourself these questions about your job.

1. Do you feel you are well liked or respected or both?
2. Are you the one who never says "NO"?
3. Are you motivated - in general?
4. Are there opportunities for training?
5. Are there avenues for promotion?
6. Do you feel challenged?
7. Are you stressed?
8. Are you bombarded with work?
9. Are you bored?
10. Do you get along with your boss?

There's no magic formula that if you answer 'yes to ten questions, then...", you will be rewarded or deflated. We just have to evaluate our situation and decide to move on. Unless you are in the tightest contract ever made, you can always go on study leave, get a transfer if possible or leave.

I am tired of seeing nepotism and other underhanded behavior. I hate seeing people lazing and procrastinating. I can't stand when an organization is held back because people are resistant to change.

Another side of it is when the people who are rude, judgemnental, crooked etc. Who really wants to work with a bukky? Notice people's behavior and be mindful of their critism.

POEM: Obstacles by Linette

Weary and teary eyes
from weeping and no sleeping
up all day yet wide all night
in such a fit
that it's such a sight
with daylight soon approaching
what obstacle will come next
will the reaction be fumingly vexed
upset - say something to regret
why is love an object
rather than a concept
is it so complex
that we regress
just thinking about love
it's another obstacle, isn't it?
just like people are
so crafty, so tardy
and so full of complacency
what a mix!
did you think
that I wasn't planning ahead too
do you know I can see through you
timing is slight
but I will not fight
I will express
I will address
I will speak wisely but not to regret
because it's not my fire to burn
some obstacles make an upturn
or a u-turn
whatever the deal
time will heal
cause life is too hip and too real
to be wasting time
eating sour limes
all day
regrouping is what to do
for the Father will see me through


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ORIGINAL MATERIAL COMPOSED 1/12/2011
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION

People suck - don't they sometimes?

I am having a bad day. I am pissed with the world. Thank God for some Tarrus Riley, Niyorah, Richie Spice, Abijah and other reggae artists to keep me calm.

If it was not for the music, I think the wrong person may have mashed my corn today and ohhhhhhhh it would not have been pleasant.

Lord, help me because they are pushing my buttons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are not supposed to let situations change us but so help me - I am becoming a grump. Of course, I'm still cracking jokes, singing and chatting with my friends but I really want to scrabble the offenders who keep pushing my buttons.

Everybody wants to be sensitive but yet they don't care about others. Everybody knows every thing but yet they really know NOTHING. Everybody has the best ideas yet they can't execute a thing.

As the young people say in conversations "LOL LOL." I guess I should try to be the bigger person, but I'm really not - I'm only 5 feet tall so I don't mind being petite (pun intended).

I am controversial and I tend to let ones know when I am not pleased about things because they like to pick at me. Unfortunately sometimes, I like to pick back with a smile.

Someone sang "better must come one day." I'm still waiting on that day but I hope tomorrow meets me in a better mood.

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BET's Programs: The Game, Let's Stay Together, Mo'Nique and More

The Game and Let's Stay Together will be airing tonight on BET. Read more at: BET's Programs: The Game, Let's Stay Together, Mo'Nique and More.

POEM: Miss Independent by Linette Rabsatt

Pyramid Schemes - A Matrix of Financial Ruin

Pyramid Schemes are not a way to improve your finances. Instead, these plans defraud many people of their money because the returns can never be realized.

In these harsh economic times, persons seeking a quick and high return on their money can be easily swayed to invest. Many people worldwide have lost money in pyramid schemes because of the promise of huge payouts on the initial investments. In recent days, investors in the Virgin Islands have suffered losses in a pyramid scheme. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that persons remain cognizant of fraudulent schemes when investing.

What is a Pyramid Scheme

A pyramid scheme entices investors by offering a huge and quick return on the initial investment with money earned from recruiting more persons to invest. Each new investor is also promised the same high returns once he brings more persons on-board. 

A Live Pyramid Scheme Example

John joins an investment plan where he invests $100 and once he can find four persons to join, he will get $20 for each one that joins. So John can make $80 if he recruits four friends while there is actually $400 being paid in by his four recruits. When each of the four persons, John's second level, invites four more persons, John gets $10 for each of the new investors, now John's third level, and he reaps $160. At John's third level, $1,600 would have been paid in by these new investors.

At John's fourth level, there will be 64 people investing with $6,400 paid in and John will make $320 if his cut is $5 per investor. At a sixth level, the investors increase to 1,024 and at John's seventh level, the numbers soar to 16,384. When the number of investors under John is totaled, it is 21,844 persons and they would have invested $218,440 ($100 from each person) through John's pyramid if there were enough new recruits. This cycle continues because every new investor to the scheme becomes a 'John' starting his own pyramid inviting new recruits.

Why Pyramid Schemes Fail

In the example above, the chances of John being able to increase to the seventh level are slim and an

eighth level would require 87,376 new persons. Problems with recruitment may begin at John's third level because difficulties may have already begun with gathering the 256 investors and as the pyramid grows, it gets worse. According to the Security and Exchanges Commission, "at some point the schemes get too big, the promoter cannot raise enough money from new investors to pay earlier investors, and many people lose their money". After a lower level investor makes his payment and can not find new recruits because of over-saturation, lack of interest or negative feedback, the scheme begins to collapse.

In the Prepared Statement of Debra A. Valentine, General Counsel for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on "Pyramid Schemes", she considered this latest recruit's perspective as they would have started their pyramid of investors but with being unable to gather recruits, would be unable to recoup their investment.

Virgin Islanders are Defrauded

Janice Dorette Rey, an Anguillan who resided in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) at some point and also the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), was arrested in Dade County, Florida on charges of Obtaining Money by False Pretense, Drawing and Delivering Worthless Checks, Securities Fraud, and Being an Unregistered Broker-Dealer. Rey, according to the USVI Department of Justice and the St. Thomas Source online news, defrauded investors in the USVI and in the BVI of over three million dollars with her pyramid scheme "Global Cohesive Economics (GCE)". She promised high returns on the investments and in the end was unable to maintain the promises and was eventually caught by authorities.

Errol George of the BVI Financial Investigation Agency Speaks

Rey's scheme caused the Financial Investigation Agency of the British Virgin Islands (FIA) to remind the territory of the danger of investing without researching first. FIA's Director, Errol George issued a press release about Rey's fraud advising people to be more vigilant because such fraudulent schemes are marketed well and lack of understanding and ease of trust make for easy targets.

The Director, when interviewed, suggested that persons interested in investing should be extremely careful before entering any investment and they should research, investigate and ask questions if there are any doubts. He noted that it is very prudent to seek advice from the general business community and the financial regulatory body in the country, such as the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in the BVI. George also suggested that persons should go with their gut feelings especially if the aura is negative. Everyone wants to make large sums of money in the fastest and easiest way. This makes it easy for thieves to come up with ways to defraud investors who are not investment or business savvy.

Pyramid and Ponzi schemes sound good to the listener but really do cause monetary losses and potential financial ruin depending on the level of investment since there is no way for the scheme to maintain the promised returns. Investors are reminded that they need to think carefully and choose wisely about the type of investment they want to pursue to avoid such schemes. Research, consultation and investigation are key to avoiding financial ruin from pyramid schemes. 

POEM: A New Definition

Check out my poem: A New Definition with Kanye West's "Touch The Sky" instrumental. "Touch The Sky" was inspired by Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up":