One One Cocoa

Still Good at Getting Nothing Done

oneonecocoa — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:07:16 +0000

This blog is a true testimony of my inability to stick to my goals and do what I say I will. How long has it been? OK, let’s try to have a go at this again.

Let’s review my goals (both long-term and short-term) that I set out in my very first post:

1. Be able to work from home —-A goal still to be acheived and which I have done little so far to achieve.

2. Buy a car—-Did manage to do that after getting frustrated with taking the bus.

3. Finish writing my masters thesis—-still a millstone around my neck

4. Save money—–Did save some, but broke the bank again buying a car, so i need to get back on this.

5. Invest—-epic fail

6. Start a non-governmental organisation with youths as the focus—still on the to-do list

7. Write more—- I am but not in the ways I want to. I need to write more for enjoyment and not just for my job

8. Write a book—–I think we all agree that this is a project for later.

So that’s the progress, or lack thereof, for anyone interested.

Tagged: cocoa, goals, one, procrastination

King or Pawn?

oneonecocoa — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:01:57 +0000

We are either kings or pawns of men- Napoleon Bonaparte

I was among 70 persons who were laid off from my job, a newspaper company, on the last day of January. I wasn’t at work, so my boss called me to relay the news. I was in disbelief because, not to appear cocky, I considered myself and was told by several persons that I was one of the best workers in my department. That department was dedicated to providing news content for the radio station owned by the paper. Anyhow, being the kind of person whose mantra in life is “there’s no use crying over spilt milk”, I quickly added up how much savings I had and how long I could afford to be without a job. My ex-boss of course gave me the story about how I was chosen to be laid off because of economics as I was the highest paid in the department outside of management ( I was recruited by the company, so they made the package attractive). I don’t know why she felt the need to explain this to me. I think it was guilt because I honestly believe the reason for my being laid off was more personal, anyhow, that’s not the point of this post.

The point is, the paper announced again last week they would be cutting more jobs today. They gave the standard, company losing revenue because of current recession, needing to cut cost, yadda, yadda, ya. Quite frankly, I don’t believe them. I think they are using the recession as an excuse to get new staff who they can pay sub-standard wages. For example, I know for a fact that someone was hired to replace me and that that person is being paid WAY less than I was being paid over four years ago, when I just started working at the company….and by the time I left, my paycheque had almost doubled.

The news that the company would be laying off more staff got me thinking about the reasons for my uneasiness even in my current job. You basically sell your skills to someone at less than market value; you get paid just enough to make it through the month; while the expenses associated with getting to your job or eating lunch or buying work clothes or renting somewhere near to your job eat up most of your salary. So, you’re not only giving away your talents to your job, you are also giving back to the job the meagre salary you’re paid for basically whoring out your talents.

It makes you wonder, if you have this talent why not try to find a way how you can get the maximum benefits from it, while reducing your anxiety about pleasing your boss or your getting fired. Solution….self-employment. of course self-employment is not easy or even feasible for a lot of people, but despite the headaches and expenses of having full responsibility for your bread, it seems awfully attractive to have the say over your own life, to decide what you spend your days doing, to be the play maker, rather than the pawn. I don’t know about you, but self-employment is looking rather attractive nowadays, in fact I’m getting a little desperate to fully be the King Queen

Achievement this week: I made over $10,000 (over US$112…again, the exchange rate is ridiculous!) just proofreading a thesis and an essay this week. Self-employment is sounding SWEET already.

Visit my other blog: http://atmycrossroads.blogspot.com

Tagged: kings, pawns, proofreading, redundancy, self-employment

The underachiever

oneonecocoa — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:46:51 +0000

I am the girl with all the potential, who never fulfills that potential. The unfulfilled promise. I am the girl with all the brightest, grandest ideas, who rarely starts and almost never finishes a project. The girl who is always helping others in school to get the best grades, but is always too lazy or nonchalant to put her all into her assignments. I’m the eternal procrastinator and underachiever.

Today, a friend and I were reminiscing on high school and she told me quite frankly that my life has too many “coulds”, that she is tired of hearing about my potential,she would like to see it. That shut me up for a few seconds. Now with my tail between my legs like a shamed dog, I’m here trying to clarify what I want out of life and what step i’m going to take today to achieve my financial freedom.

In my undergraduate years I studied media and communications, I’m currently studying international relations. Though I was the top performer in my masters group, I just seem to have hit a snag in finishing my thesis to get my degree. I just don’t seem to have the energy to put together my research paper. Another example of me quitting in the middle of a project. I still don’t know if I’m going to finish. I need to figure out what it is I want to do.

Things I’m currently working on:

Bringing my savings account total to $100,000 (approx. US$1,130) by the end of this month. (yeah i know, the exchange rate is ridiculous!!!)
Finishing proofreading work for a magazine as well as a thesis for a client in England.
Getting more proofreading/editing jobs
Finding a magazine to freelance for
Getting an online business with my bf off the ground…if we could just stop procrastinating.

To read my thoughts on other issues apart from goal setting visit my other blog: http://atmycrossroads.blogspot.com/

Hello World!

oneonecocoa — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:39:37 +0000

The title is the one WordPress gives you for your first entry. How presumptuous to think the world will actually be reading what you write. For all you know, and most likely, you will be the only one who reads this diary/journal/blog. haha.

If anyone is reading, to learn more about the name of this blog and about me visit the about page.

At the start of this year, I did a reflection, and decided the year would not end with me looking back with regret, or thinking about all the goals I did not accomplish. I have not been doing well so far.

This here is just a little space where I will try to be accountable and, hopefully, get advice from persons who are more knowledgeable about setting goals, working towards them and achieving financial freedom.

My goals (both long-term and short-term):

1. Be able to work from home

2. Buy a car

3. Finish writing my masters thesis

4. Save money

5. Invest

6. Start a non-governmental organisation with youths as the focus

7. Write more

8. Write a book

Here’s to hoping that having these goals stare right back at me in black and white, and having others know these are my goals will help me to actually work hard towards acheiving them…if not just for the sake of accomplishing them, at least for the sheer embarrassment it will cause me if i don’t. (-:

Tagged: cocoa, financial, freedom, goals, hello