I loaded up the ipod with new (old) Rush that I hadn’t really examined since maybe junior high.  That’s what we called middle school when we were kids.

One main theme running through most of the “Signals”, “A Farewell to Kings”, and “Moving Pictures” albums that I wouldn’t have noticed as a 14 year old is the message of the small man making it big. The villagers making plans to tear down those walls. In these down times and when so many people are looking for the next big move out of their job, Rush was able to say in 1977 that you have the power.

You have the power to make your marriage better.  You have the power to know what’s right and to do it 100% of the time.  Quit stewing in the cubicle of life and remember that creativity is the blood of every great movement whether you’re an accountant or rock star.

There are other stories of paying it forward and dreaming big for others besides yourself.  Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and my favorite Neil Peart knew their crap then and they know it now.  I was reminded to dig into my Rush collection after I saw “I Love You Man”.  Ya — I remember about four straight months when I raced over to the O’Boyle’s house near Travis Junior High.  We were there in a small, probably 8×8 extra bedroom where Bill had his full trap set taking up 80% of the space.  He could ALMOST emulate Peart on drums.  I realize now how good Bill was.  We were there putting the needle back on the album for Bill so that we could hear “Tom Sawyer” over and over and over.

Btw, check out Neal Peart doing Jazz at the Buddy Rich memorial concert.

In these lyrics of “Cinderella Man”, Rush goes back and forth from reality to fantasy but the thread is real.  It says you are in control and you must hold on to your dreams and fight the fight with the man.

Cinderella Man
Doing what you can
They can’t understand
What it means
Cinderella Man
Hang on to your plans
Try as they might
They cannot steal your dreams

If this isn’t the song you plug into your 8 track as you’re leaving the plant from a firing, I dunno what is.  I also like the lyrics in this one — “Closer to the Heart”.

I interpret it to mean let’s come together to make a better place.  Another song for the current times.

Philosophers and ploughmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart
You can be the captain
I will draw the chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the heart

After the run I dreamed off into space and imagined what it would be like if Rush opened for U2 at the Rose Bowl tomorrow night.  I heard half the audience of under-30 somethings moaning. Then those of us with nicely shaped yarmulke bald spots were falling over with glee with air guitars and air drums at the ready.

And before I get a bunch of people telling me what the “real” meaning is behind Rush lyrics, please know I had the same “altered” experiences back in 77 that you did.

FedEx announced today that they will print 25 resumes for free for any job seeker so in need.

As discussed before, the resume is dying a slow death. The idea of sending the information electronically or through the long tail (like how this blog basically represents who I am) is the way to win a job.  You’ll be there faster, and your message will be more prevalent and long-lasting.

What if…

• Baseball or other sports pros stop by a ballpark or gym and play ball with kids in the ”other” part of town.  Maybe their dad isn’t around.  Maybe he won’t be soon.  Set up a fixed time each week you’ll stop by.  Maybe you can even create a team that plays in a league and all they really needed is your organization skill.
• Piano aficionados call around to some schools in the public system and offer a half hour to anyone that wants to show up.  Meet them at your church piano if you don’t want to have strangers in your home.  Offer them a very cut rate to continue and don’t chase them down when they’re late paying.
• Financial gurus go by those predatory tax shops and offer your services free to someone that’s willing to listen.  Or ask your pastor or priest who in her parish could use some free financial advice in this tough time.  When they get back on their feet, you’ll have lots of new clients.
• Film nerds make just one phone call to an important person in your Rolodex on behalf of a rising star that just needs a small leg up.  Set one day a month that you make that call for the next person on your list.
• You take someone who’s recently laid off  fishing that’s never been and let them find a new and inexpensive hobby to replace one they only could afford while employed.  If you’re a hiker or walker, this is a great way to enhance your time off with new conversations with new people.
• Someone offers a clubby discount that only you get to someone that would learn from it or take them away from their troubles.
• You call a family that you read about in the paper who lost a loved one tragically and make a meal for them.  Or offer to take a burden off their hands (like babysitting for the adults who need a break) or let them sit at your beachhouse and stare at the horizon for a day.

THE CHALLENGE ::

My challenge to you is to step up and make your time exponentially more valuable by giving it away.  No checks can be written!  I’m also not advocating unsafe activities.  There are plenty of good people in need of your great services, but be careful of scammers willing to take your free love.

WHAT I’LL DO IN RETURN ::

For my part, I give you University Guy.  This won’t be a blog I post to unless I have success stories.  You can also view my lens here. I hope there is a massive response that blows out my servers.  I will be loading quick reference information there very soon to help people find their way with small problems.  The big problems?  Well…

Over the past year, I have helped a few college students on my planet navigate the truly scary world of FAFSA (student loans, grants, etc.), late-night calls to registrars to hold off eviction, stepping up to better schools (seems almost every high school grad I meet needs a little look in the mirror to see their potential), getting rent paid to landlords when your bus-boy job just can’t cut it, swimming through the nightmare of lengthy applications, and the cold-calling to provosts and college presidents that might be needed.  (phew!)

I have been very successful in the past four semesters in this exercise and come away amazed by the results of the students I’ve helped.  (the cool thing about volunteering is that you will walk away AMAZED).  I don’t have any real music talents and my running habit is something I haven’t created a lesson plan for yet so running my mouth — my number one useful trait — is yours for the asking.  Maybe all you  need is a temporary parent, but I’ll try anything I can think of.

I will provide these and other related services free of charge to any student who has the chutzpa to contact me.   If your dad runs Harvard and I find out, I will out you like you’ve never been outed and you have to quit college altogether. YOU MUST HAVE THE DESIRE TO SUCCEED.  That’s my only rule.

This offer comes with NO GUARANTEES and you and/or your parents will have to sign a short release of liability to get started.  I’m just a new team member.  I am not replacing the work you have to continue doing.  I will be dealing with your private information like socials, transcripts, and such.  Also, this process can be lengthy and protracted.  If you’re in a hurry surely contact me but I may not be able to get anything done overnight. If you feel as though the college mountain is too high, email me at stinly at gmail dot com with UNIVERSITY GUY in the subject line and we’ll interview each other.  Also, if you are trying to pierce the private school veil and you are also financially challenged, give me a shout.  There is financial aid for private K-12 for those that deserve it.  I know the Southern Cal market in private schools but I’m willing to give any place a try.

This offer is open to parents and their children , old folks going back for the 3d degree, or anyone that just needs to “finish dammit!”  Also, if a student in your life just needs a quick kick in the pants to figure out where she is going, I’m happy to give them some time to complain so we can get to the real task at hand.  If you need to know more about me, then send me the email. I’ll answer any questions or direct you to information about me.

BACK TO YOU, The Challenger ::

I want reports of your personal challenge efforts! (if you click on the permalink [title] of this post, you can make a comment anytime or hit the other blog or squidoo lens.  Let’s see how you do.  I bet you’ll find that your time is easier to find than you think and that your heart is a little fuller with eyes a clearer. [thanks Friday Night Lights for that great phrase ]

Here are some quick ideas on how to publish your new ’opportunity’ to the masses! ::

Go to Craiglist and place an ad.  Probably the most effective and simple way to go about any type of communication with strangers in 2009.  You can also search for someone that might be looking for you.  It’s a nice two-way street.

Use Yotify to consolidate your craigslist search into one concise email.

Put out a message repetitively on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networking site.  Your already established group is usually the best place to start.  Use Squidoo to create a mini blog or lens to announce your offer.

Give of yourself to a mainline charity.  I didn’t say write a check.  This challenge doesn’t allow direct checks to charities or recipients.  But here’s a list of places that might need your service, your connection, or your input. (notice I didn’t say time.  volunteering is great, but we need you Bill Gates’s and Steven Spielberg’s to show us your true potential!)

Grocery stores fit this model. I shop almost daily for this household’s groceries and I can easily tell you how much a certain family staple costs at each store. I scan each of the four store circulars that come in each week in a few minutes and take out what I need.

Fresh & Easy came on to the LA scene pretty strong in 2008. We have one near our home and I tried it. It’s a mix of Smart N Final (feel/texture/size) with Trader Joe’s (packaging, pricing) and any other general supermarket (they have bad stuff like Coke). The prices are competitive and on the low end in any pricing poll, and the whole concept is relatively cutting edge. There are 1/2 the employees on duty, maybe less. You self check. It’s all very European just like F&E’s owners.

They began marketing with a $5 on $25 coupon in circulars that was also always available and in the pockets of everyone in the store. Coupon expired? Here’s another and a pack for your four friends. Override needed because the register didn’t like your coupon? Fine. In late fall the coupon moved to $6 on $30. I pushed a lot of shoppers to try F&E and I know the recruitment was successful on most occasions.  It is a strong trust builder when you train customers over a seven or eight month period to expect to be able to use a coupon on each stop whether you had one or not. Then suddenly everything went south.

On a recent trip they began to not have any coupons in store. Then when mine was expired it took two managers and lots of angst to get them to give me the $6. I was handed cash in a rush and made to feel as I might not want to come back. Now, 20 years + in retail tells me the customer is not always right and maybe I’m not.  And also I realize this was marketing based on trialing and testing for a giant new investment.  But, I’ve been conditioned to want this coupon and I’m angry.  I know many others are.  We can’t continue this money saving practice and that’s a bummer.  In this economy what better time than to continue offering ways to save more on stuff for survival. There are no club cards to track me by and offer “sale prices” on the things I buy at F&E.  This is it.  What the numskulls don’t really get it is that in almost each occasion, I put things in my cart that the $6 savings will [sort of] cover that I wouldn’t have bought without it.  I spend more money folks!

On the other hand, I have been largely impressed by the Starbuck’s black/gold card (whichever you feel most proudest of). It offers me to commit $25 to save possibly hundreds over a year’s time. If you run the numbers and know what direct response gives most promotions it’s a winner for Starbucks. I’m not a winner for them — I shop there all the time. But it does keep me from going to Peet’s, a coffee I like better, just because I get the 10%. I’ve asked Peet’s to follow and I’m asking Fresh & Easy to do it as well.  Guess what?  In the case of the 10% card, I SPEND MORE MONEY FOLKS!  It’s a no brainer really!

If I were asked to pay an up-front charge to save 10% on my grocery bill each and every time, I’d be happy to. Look also at the success of Amazon Prime. Today my bill would have been reduced by $4.30 instead of $6. Fresh & Easy would have made money. Lots of people won’t show after the initial buy-in and the store does well. The loyalists like me will have smiles far and wide.

I KNEW they would get rid of this sweet sweet deal and I’m angry not only for the long tenured tease but also because I was right.

Playing with words and phrases and changing the spelling is cute, but then they go and add a tag line that adds even more angst. Ya… I get it… it’s supposed to relate to their animal mascot.  Any great advertising professor would cut this to shreds in about 2 seconds. I know.. I had one.  

This stuff will not sell more airline tickets.  Being on time and standing behind their product will.  The funniest part is that a very high paid ad exec came up with this in some bored (misspelling intended) room and thought she was the most clever cutie in the room.

Simple stupid.  Simple.

I sort of feel bad for the employees that are working for companies like this, but then I don’t.  As someone that’s worked alongside mediocre business owners, I know that employees are as responsible for the most part in signing on to deliver just-so products or services.

The bank cleanout is one giant example that reaks of mediocre death.  We might be back to three or four giant banks by 2009′s end and so many of the banks that were barely making it work (while possibly gouging their customers) will be gone.  This can spell problems for competition, but hopefully not so much we all suffer in the opportunity department.

The very good part – and something lots of bloggers talk about — is that innovation careens into the stratosphere when times are hard.  People get anxious and start to develop new ways to make do.  Through this experimentation phase, we as consumers and business people get to trial and help develop through our feedback and purchasing power.

If your car dealer, your dry cleaner, or your local bodega has always cut corners or given you a fight when they were in the wrong, just hide and watch.  They’ll be gone soon.

As a nice closing to the year, the hothead will share 31 gifts of news, information, discounts, and advice to get your 2009 off to a money saving start.

Here’s the first.  The secret code for 40% off any Hertz rental.  Add in your AAA number and you’ll get more than 50% off. [worked as recently as 11/22/08]  As a test one of my good rental deals went from $325 to $218 by using this code.

Use PC 1652960 on their website or over the phone.

The average credit card limit has been reduced by 25% this quarter, people are tapped on their HELOCs, and some of us are unfortunately out of work.  No telling what these reductions will do for the common man, but it will partially make up for the giant losses we’ll see come December sales reports next year.  Target, WalMart and other big Christmas sellers are really just trying to cover their bills on goods bought in June before wallets are shut tight in January.

If you’ve been saving up, the best deals will be on electronics.  Go get em!

This is a new formula I devised for media marketing.

Sticky — get yourself into all aspects of the audience you are selling to.  YouTube.  MySpace.  Cover songs to make your way into the hearts and minds…

Tricky — Buy CDs or Books 100% similar to your product and resell on eBay at full price.  See other post I have on this from Seth G.  Free partnerships that you don’t have to ask for.

Quickie — Don’t spend ANY time on your MySpace or YouTube.  Get it out there.  Make your song sound good enough for the web and shoot some beautiful backgrounds if you are ugly.  Don’t wait to “make it right”.  Over-production is not what makes YouTube click.