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Thread ID: 22677	2002-07-27 03:46:00	For Elwin Way	dipstick01 (445)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
65906	2002-07-28 08:21:00	> If he was but closer to me I`d be the first to use his experience. > > > Still reckon I`ve learned more from this forum in the > last year than from anywhere else. Yes Iris i will second you on that - using Elwin if he was closer and F1 has also been the most useful tool I have used for teaching me about computers and solving my probs - like you i have learnt more from here than anywhere else in the year i have been visiting here! And its not just the knowledge people share that make the forum, its the people themselves, as you said look at the support Elwin has been given, and thats because we have all gotten to know him as a regular contributor in the time we have visited the site, along with all the other regulars too!	J ZEP (336)
65907	2002-07-28 08:39:00	Well, ain't this fun . My very own thread . . . :D I think it's about time I gave everyone a quick history lesson, and hopefully clear up some things and answer some questions along the way . . . As some of you may have noticed, I have a 'colourful' career history, seen by many as a job hopper . I have always done what I wanted to do, achieved what I wanted, and set my own goals . The reason is because I have an interest in lots of things . My first job was a tyre fitter, only because it was a job and I was pressured in to getting one (status thing in those days) . But then I went from door to door sales (still young and naive), to screenprinter, to graphic artist, to computer operator, to network manager, to mechanic, to signwriter, to supervisor in a plastics factory (yes, worked my way up in 16 months), to step-and-repeat machine operator (precision and programming), to . . . In 1999 I decided that I wanted to fix computers for a living . I put everything on the line (including $12,000) and got my 'Certificate IV in Computer Maintenance' . At that time, they were saying that there was a huge demand for techs . I thought that since I already had the skills (and equipment - I teethed myself on Funway kits when I was 10) that I could get the piece of paper to prove I had the skills and sail off into the sunset making heaps of money along the way . Incidentally, I finished the 1 year full time course in 7 months . . . When I finished, I moved out of Auckland (there, I'm an ex JAFFA . :) ) and moved in with my then girlfriend (now wife) in Foxton . Its a small place . There are no jobs . I thought I'd start my own mobile computer repairs business . I wrote my business plan, made sales projections, and did the market research . I went to WINZ, big bunch of papers in my hand ready to wave at them, and was told straight away (without me even saying a word) that funding was not available . I also have a bad credit rating (due to a finance company making a faux pa and kindly making me the scapegoat) so loans and banks and that are out of the question . And yes, I have tried . Anyway, we got married and moved to Porirua . I got a job at a local wreckers, but that finished after 8 months . I was too much a danger too myself - I went so far as to burn my hand severly with a gas axe . Just too clumsy . Our situation is such that my wife is on a student allowance, and therefore me too . Don't ask, I don't know . WINZ doesn't want to know about me until I have been on a benefit for 6 months . I can't go on one (aparently) while my wife is receiving a SA . She finishes her course at the end of next year . And just to make things really interesting, she is due in 2 months :D Anyway . . J ZEP - Thanks for the info, it's appreciated . But, been there done that . . . Roofus - the only people (apart from politians) who make money out of tax are accountants, eh Robo . . . :D Dipstick - >Perhaps elwin could do a training course which would mean he gets the student loan etc . A lot of computer repair courses also include the tools etc to get started and will also give elwin a pretty certificate to hang on his wall . . Am now owing a big student loan and a $6000 personal loan from doing just that . . . Poppa John I'm thinking, really hard . . . :| thanks! BTW, where do you get that 'y' from??? :p Heather P Thanks for the info . Now I know what project management is . I tend to wing it . I was a HUGE MacGuyver fan . Even went so far as to buy I genuine Swiss Army Knife! :D >Incidentally, how deaf are you? Stone deaf, tone deaf, hearing impaired? Very deaf . 80% left 75% right . Can hear things, but conversation gets very repetetive, phone use is out, and being a music lover, have built our stereo out of car components (including amp) but uses and computer power supply to knock 240v down to 12v . Sorry Im babbling . . >Was it recent - accident, illness or from birth? Yes . Sorry, I was told to say that . Um, from birth but I didn't know I was deaf until we had a compulsory hearing hest while working at CHH . I thought that ringing noises (and hissing - drives ya nuts!) was part of normal life . Would also explain why I didn't do very well at school . Godfather >could have some fun with that neat name! That's the spirit! Get it coming! Yea! Sorry, getting sarky now . My last name is going to be ditched in favour of my wifes when we can afford the court fees . Her last name is Brook . . .	Elwin Way (229)
65908	2002-07-28 08:58:00	Congratulations on the imminent arrival! I'm a little to far away to help with your bookwork (Yep, I'm one of those) but can I recommend the services of this forum in choosing a name for the little one. They did a stirling job on Mike's, and I am sure could come up with something eminently satisfactory for you and your wife!!!!!	Bryan D (895)
65909	2002-07-28 09:15:00	Was tempted to say, yea, why not, just to see what you guys could come with. We've settled on Jordan John or JJ for short :) Thanks for the offa	Elwin Way (229)
65910	2002-07-28 09:58:00	Elwin, Was getting confused on the deafness bit. One day you say you're deaf, the next you were busking with a guitar.... ?:| There are 3 basic methods of employment: 1. Employee 2. Self-employed 3. Sub-Contractor The first you get paid The second you bill the client The third you get assigned work from and bill the Contractor. Dipstick - are you in the position to offer Elwin work as a subbie whilst he looks at #2?	Heather P (163)
65911	2002-07-28 12:58:00	>Was getting confused on the deafness bit . It's a complex issue . I play (not busk!) a 'lectric . Louder than a 'coustic . 'lectric -> laptop -> headphones = not annoy the neighbours (or the wife who gets easily upset when I crank Enter Sandman out while Shortland Street is on)	Elwin Way (229)
65912	2002-07-28 13:15:00	>>So I did a little busking (hey GP I play guitar too!) on the corner and raked up enough 20 cent pieces to buy a cheapo second hand 15" monitor. Yeah.... right! And I do have an idea about the complex issues of the hearing impaired. Brought up by a half deaf mother - only one eardrum due to measles as a child - who lost a large part of what was left around 15 years ago. Reason I asked was there are quite significant differences in communication between totally deaf and partial hearing.	Heather P (163)
65913	2002-07-28 13:46:00	> >>So I did a little busking (hey GP I play guitar > too!) on the corner and raked up enough 20 cent > pieces to buy a cheapo second hand 15" monitor . > > > Yeah . . . . right! Oh your referring to that! :^O Sorry to be misleading - I was being witty / sarcastic / narcissistic (cross out which does not apply) I never did busking and doubt very much I ever will! I was trying to say that I scraped enough together to buy a monitor . > And I do have an idea about the complex issues of the > hearing impaired . Hmm . . but you know you can't say you know what it's like unless you actually are . The only people who really know how much of a c**t it is being deaf, are those who are deaf . I'll tell you what it's like . <---- start rant here ----> You have noises that run 24/7 . It sounds like a philharmonic orchestra tuning up over a bad AM radio . It stops you from concentrating on things . It stops you from going to sleep at night . It inhibits your learning ability . It inhibits your communication ability . It reduces your social life to nothing . Because people can't see that you have a physical disability, they presume that you are stupid, and best ignored . When you tell people you are indeed deaf, and not stupid or ignoring them, they still think your stupid, and/or start yelling at you . In most cases, yelling only makes matters worse . I don't bother with job interviews anymore . I just go to entertain them when WINZ sends me . And WINZ only sends me to jobs like picking up dead chickens on a chicken farm and working at a wreckers yard . I have discovered, the only way to make life even approach enjoyable, is to stay home and sit in front of a CRT . And no, hearing aids will not do anything for me . <----- end rant here -----> I'm sorry if I sound bitter, but life really hasn't given me much to be overjoyed about . And don't start on about how I have to seize opportunitys blah blah . If you'd be orphaned at birth, gone through 21 familys before being tossed out onto the street at 16, only to find not only are you messed up in the head, but progressively going deaf, you probably wouldn't be smiling much either . <---- really end rant here! ------> Okay enough . Incidentally, if you're wondering how I met my wife - we started talking via ICQ random chat . (we wern't married then :p) >Reason I asked was there are quite significant differences in communication between totally deaf and partial hearing . Heather, it's a grey area, and there are many forms of deafness . I'll leave it at that .	Elwin Way (229)
65914	2002-07-29 08:46:00	Elwin (with the I). Come on Mate, time to stop talking & get with the doing. The longer you prevaricate the harder it will be to jump.No more excuses, pull finger. Best of luck. Serious Poppa John.:) :)	Poppa John (284)
65915	2002-07-29 09:47:00	Yes, you're right PJ. So... I have explained what I have done, and what didn't work. I'm working on SusanB's idea of a fax marketing campain. Question - where do I get fax numbers from? I went to the library today to check out a local UBD. Couldn't find it (yes they had one). So I will be likely maybe to go through the yellow pages. Either way there is going to be a lot of manual work involved, as Autodiallers (Dial-O-Matic) are illegal I believe. :D Another question is, what businesses do I target? I have done an email campaign which was unsuccessful. Out of 500 targets (none had websites - I checked) I got two replies. Nothing has come out of either. And yes, there was a lot of manual work involved. I dunno, I'm not a pro marketer. However I do feel that a fax campaign would work better, as at least they would have something to pin on the wall for future reference. Right? And what would I put in the fax? Oh, and any more ideas for a business name? :D Desig 4Web isn't exactly repairs orientated..	Elwin Way (229)
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