#no way should I continue struggling financially for a company that would fire me immediately if it benefit them | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

stevenbasic · 3 years ago

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So far AJ’s day, his first at this new job, had been predictably miserable. He figured that was sort of normal, kinda expected. He’d been his own boss, owner of his own little construction firm for years, so going back to being a manual labor grunt for someone else again was sure to feel like ten steps in the wrong direction. But working on a demo team for a bunch of girls? The women, the company that had put him out of business? That was turning out to be particularly soul-sucking and demeaning work. But, hey, a buck’s a buck and he needed as many of those as he could muster these days. His saving grace was, with a little effort keeping his head down, that he could remain faceless and anonymous and just do his work. The morning had been spent taking down some walls in the area of the building that was to be the new wing. He’d sat by himself for his meager lunch outside - his buddies, guys that used to work for him, were on another team entirely, at another site - and he had now this afternoon been asked to step into the doctor's office area to look at some venting. Privately, he leapt at the chance: maybe he’d be able to see Angie. Or, for that matter, catch a glimpse of - or even meet - that statuesque, brunette boss of hers, her friend Melissa...

He was in luck.

“Oh! H-hey, hun,” AJ said, acting surprised to bump into his girlfriend, Angie, as he turned the corner in the back hallway. He’d already checked out what he’d needed to see, looked at the thermostats, and had been sort of aimlessly drifting around, avoiding others, waiting for just this moment. He managed what he hoped was a casual smile. “Funny meeting you here haha,” he joked, wiping plaster dust from his forehead, “H-how’s the first day?”

At first, Angie looked surprised to see him, too - eyes widening. But she didn’t even give him a word of greeting before her eyes flashed, her smile grew into a grin, and she bit her lower lip. Looking behind herself, down the hall, checking if they’d be seen, she then suddenly grabbed him by the collar of his green, grime-covered t-shirt and pulled him aside. “Here, let’s go in here-“ she said, opening the door to a supply closet and yanking him into it. She shut the door behind them and flipped on a switch.

“Hey wow..!” AJ exclaimed, eyes immediately going wide in pleasant surprise, “Nice to see you too!”

The switch she had hit had turned on an overhead fluorescent, which was just flickering to life. “Shush,” she said, locking the door, “The last thing I need is someone to see us together.” She’d just gotten out of lunch, where all the office girls had assembled, crowded into the too-small breakroom for a welcome meeting. She’d had a few great little chats and was just really beginning to grasp what was going on here, what she was now part of. It was thrilling and her blood was still on fire from the excitement, the potential. Yes yes yes...female empowerment, sisters united, blah blah blah. But there was opportunity here for her.

She’d just been headed to her new temporary, makeshift desk in accounting when she ran into her, well, boyfriend. Though AJ was here doing some work for the construction company hired to renovate the building, she really didn’t want to be seen with him. Things were too big here, there was too much at stake for her to risk getting muddled down by, well, him. “I can’t be the girl dating the hired help,” she said, not smiling, but her heart still thumping.

“Hey, that hurt..!” AJ remarked, taken a bit aback by her bluntness but trying to laugh. Angie looked so good in her short, floral dress, boobs big and on display. “How’s the first day?” he repeated.

Angie faced AJ, mind still swimming with the excitement from the meeting and an electric, estrogen-fueled energy. “Eh, sort of chaotic, with all these new girls, there’s not enough space for us all until the new wing is ready,” she answered, looking him up and down. She’d seen him in his construction gear countless times before, but here - on the job, dirty, as a low-level grunt - he just looked so plebeian. And too tall. “I got to meet the doctor, this morning,” she said, feeling her eyes sparkle and the enthusiasm in her voice, “he’s sooo vulni…”

He’d heard that term before, and he knew how girls were all starting to like that: small, weak, vulnerable men. It had been why she’d had him stop going to the gym, eat less, get skinnier. He thought she liked it, though it never seemed as if it was quite enough for her; he was still tall and lanky, and he felt she’d actually like it if he was somehow smaller than her, shorter than her, weighed less than her. That was the fad, these days, and Angie was into it. But he’d never heard that weird tone in her voice when talking about another guy, not in all the months they’d been together. Here in the supply closet he felt the first pangs of jealousy, starting in his stomach, and it was envy for Angie’s new boss. Not because he was successful, a doctor, and was her superior here (though Ang probably loved that too), but because he was so “vulni” . As he watched her face, seeing how she talked about this guy, the sensation grew heavier, and worked its way up to his throat.

“He was hiding, totally hiding, in his office. But I went in and met him,” she said, “he looked like a kid sitting at a big-boy desk. He was afraid to stand up in front of me, but I bet I’d be taller than him in my heels…”

There it is, AJ thought.

“Your friend Melissa probably has him by more than a foot, then,” AJ blurted, smiling but speaking before thinking and immediately regretting it as Angie’s eyes narrowed, analyzing him. His grin disappeared as her expression changed.

“Yeaaaaah...have you noticed?” she continued, still watching his face, “a lot of the girls here are tall. They’re all hot…”

Smart enough at least for this moment, AJ held his tongue. Saying too much would just dig him deeper into the hole that he was apparently already in.

Angie still looked at her boyfriend of these many months, her smile crooked, and considered him. He’d always felt like she could read his mind, and seemed to be doing it now. She knew what he wanted. “Take off your shirt,” she instructed, hands on her wide hips.

Without as much as a thought, AJ was peeling himself out of his dusty work tee, revealing his trim, lean torso, his ink. Angie’s eyes immediately drifted from his still-defined abs, up his chest and went to the new tattoo on his throat, her name: “Angie Wade”. She reached out and gently caressed it.

“Yeah, he’s surrounded by women here, pretty women,” she continued, once again talking about this dude that AJ was starting to like less and less, “Lots of them are taller than him, walking around in their pumps, their high wedge sandals.” Her hand drifted up to cup the right side of his face, tenderly, watching how her words affected him. “They’re all ditzes, but they adore him,” she said, her expression still hard for him to read, “Imagine that? Imagine being surrounded by huge, brainless bimbos that all love and adore you and just want to get into your pants? I’ll bet he loves it. God that’s so hot.”

AJ, still knowing he shouldn’t say a word, just watched her as she looked at him. Despite his rising jealousy - what kind of girlfriend talks about another guy like this? - he was starting to feel himself hardening between his legs. He had no idea what she was thinking, what she was doing (or why she’d had him take off his shirt) but there were gears turning in her head, for sure.

“And,” she pressed on, “his office is smaller - a lot smaller - than hers. The way she was talking today, you’d have trouble knowing exactly who was in charge, here...” Angie’s left hand had settled behind AJ’s shaved head, holding it, and her right was now resting lightly on his chest. The feel of her soft palm on his shaved skin was exciting him. “...But I’m going to find out. There’s something going on under the surface here, something big. Here. Sit-“

At that, Angie pushed his chest, forcing him to half-sit back on the low shelving unit behind him. He knocked over a couple reams of paper towels, but was left with his eyes at just about boob-level.

She stepped in close.

“Lunch, with all the girls,” Angie continued, smiling again as his eyes settled right into her cleavage, “There was so much estrogen in the air, what with all the laughing and rah-rah cheering for this new place. Most of the girls here are morons, but damn if they aren’t hooked up to the right train, as things are going to be changing.”

She was talking almost to herself, he thought, while he knew he was being so passively quiet. He struggled to think of something to say. “Wow, Ang,” AJ finally spoke, “your tits look really big today.”

Angie chuckled, took a casually deep breath for him.”He’s a boob-guy, just like you,” she mused, reveling in the gift of her naturally big, full bosom, with its perfect, milky skin, “so, yeah, I wanted show them off…think he’ll like me?”

The jealousy continued to sit with him, inside his throat, tightening.

“Well, uh, y-yeah, of course,” he managed, figuring he should be supportive rather than risking her ire by sounding indignant. “Wh-what are they going to have you doing?”

“I’m going to be working with Kathy, this lady reassigned from some pharmaceutical company, to help run the practice’s accounting,” Angie continued, “Technically she’s my immediate boss, for the time being. But it’s okay, for now. She actually sounds like she has half a brain.” Her hand went up onto the side of his head, stroked his scalp leisurely, kept his gaze focused where she wanted it. “If I play my cards right, I’ll get hooked up doing financials for this study, with all the money coming in from the grants,” she said, her tone aggressively self-assured, “I’m going to be on it, totally in the right place, when things go down. Meet the right people, rise up the ranks, make more and more money…”

This was...yikes, wow...really turning him on. Secretly he loved hearing Angie embellish her own ego like this. Her boastful narcissism - she was constantly convinced that she was the smartest person in the room - was just always so hot to him. And he wasn’t nearly sure what she was talking about, but he loved how excited she sounded and how, in the face of his recent career troubles, how powerful she wanted to become. When had he gotten this way? When had he gotten to be such a junkie for the, well, submissive thrill he felt hearing a woman talk about being smart, successful...superior?

“Yeah, well, t-they’ve given me some responsibility too…” he found himself saying, maybe out of a reflexive knee-jerk reaction, some male pride bubbling weakly to the surface, “They’re having us tear out the old HVAC systems, and have me inspecting the venting, some of the thermostats...” Angie was letting him talk, possessively stroking his head, so he just continued. “Supposedly they’re putting in a new central one that’ll handle the whole building,” he explained, “be able to put some sort of aromatherapy into it. Weird, huh?”

“Aromatherapy, huh?” Angie asked, her interest piqued - and betrayed by a new purr, “In the air-conditioning?” She continued to pet his head, and drew in a little closer to him as she thought to herself. “Can you find out...any more about that for me?“

“Oh, uh, yeah...sure…” he agreed, though not really sure what he could do. Lots of this project seemed so under-wraps, at least from the guys. He hadn’t laid eyes on much in the way of blueprints or tech sheets or whatever.

“Good boy…” she praised, speaking plainly, “pull down your pants.”

Suddenly, AJ’s heart leapt. Was he about to get some?? Here in a storage closet?? Ha he’d take anything he could get these days, he thought to himself as he clumsily unzipped his thick, loose-fit utility pants, started to pull them down.

“B-boxers too?” he asked.

“Sure,” Angie allowed, and in a moment they were down at his knees, too. His erection already stood proud; of that he was glad. He wanted her to know how much she turned him on. But, then he thought - how had they gotten here? Didn’t she used to be the swooning drama nerd in high school, who’d barely been on his radar? The one who used to have the crush on him??

“A-Angie…?” he began.

“Shush, quiet,” she said, “grab your cock.”

“Wh-what?” he stammered, knowing exactly what she wanted him to do, “n-no I’m not going to, like, j-jerk off here in a cl-“

“Yes you will,” she stated, her confidence only making him harder, as she physically took his hand and planted it on his erection, balling it into a fist around his turgid shaft, “because you're submissive, just like him, and you’ll do exactly what I say...just like he will, some day.”

”I-I’m n-not,,,’submissive’..!” he bristled, male ego once again raising its battered head in the face of insult and jealousy. Like, what did she mean, ‘just like he will’??

“Okay sure, you’re not submissive,” she chuckled, laughing unpleasantly at his little snit, “prove it.”

With that, Angie took AJ’s full head between her hands, palms on his face and manicured fingers stretching back behind his head, and faced him solidly into her plumply bulging cleavage.

“Now stroke,” she directed, and to his own aghast he couldn’t help but obey. He’d been conditioned, over these past months, helpless when confronted by her, powerless to defy her will...especially when she used her tits. What was wrong with him??? In his hand, with his eyes plastered on the pale, soft flesh of her big breasts, his cock suddenly became even more needy, ached immediately for release. He groaned, both in spleen at himself and this crippling arousal.

She laughed again. “Not submissive, hm?” she purred, “Look at you. You're totally dominated by women. You’re working for women now, you do everything women tell you to do. At the job here, in bed with me…”

”hey..!” he began to protest, eyes rising for the moment, looking for hers, “I thought you liked-”

“Oh, I do, we all do,” she capitulated, shaking her hair over her shoulder with a toss of her head, redirecting his gaze back to her chest, “we love when the roles start reversing like this. Like you, getting to be my little bitch.”

“h-h-heyyyy…” he began to protest, but his voice faded, most of his fight lost between her E-cups.

“Aww, don’t feel badly,” she said, “I’ve been reading up on this. I really think men in general are getting more submissive, turning more beta, just watching as women take charge more. The doctor here included. Look what he’s done - or let happen. This whole place is run by girls.”

“H-h-huh…” AJ stammered dumbly, not even realizing he’d fallen into a rhythm, stroking himself, staring at Angie’s breasts.

“This is my chance, to get in, to take my piece,” she pronounced, ego swelling her bosom like a deep breath, “I’m so fucking alpha, I could run this place.”

”oh, uh, y-yeah..?” he spoke, bewitched and befuddled by every ripple and jiggle under her skin.

“You men like me to be in charge, don’t you? The thought of a woman boss?” she pressed, “You’d all never admit it but it gets you excited, how the women here - everywhere - are really the ones running the show, that any male authority is really just a thin facade, ready to be, like, cracked.”

“Oh my god Angie,” AJ moaned, now in the full grip of arousal, starting to pump himself with more abandon as Angie’s words struck chords with him neither he nor she had yet heard. Angie was experimenting, learning.

“Women have always been the ones to take up responsibilities, accept them and take them on, when men fail. We’ve been getting more able, more and more competent, while you all just, like, get lazy and dumb and shrink away,” she said, watching how his eyes were glazing over, his face going slack. Still he stared at her tits. “And you know the best part? It fucking turns you all on. You like getting weaker, losing responsibility and authority, your lives getting smaller as ours get bigger…”

“J-j-jesus Angie yes,” he stammered, mouth fully gaping now, his whole body shaking as he jacked off to her, to this vision of women.

She pulled his face closer. “Look at my tits. Look how big they are, look how deep and dark my cleavage is,” she commanded, “I’ll bet you wish you could shrink down and sink in there. Just become a little man and live between your girlfriend’s tits.”

“A-Angie n-n-n-...” he began, trying to deny but unable to come up with a sentence, in the face of the shame.

“Shhh, I know. I know what kind of porn guys have been into these days. I know what kind you’ve been into,” she said, “the shrinking, the bodybuilders, the giantesses…”

“unnh...unnnh…” he grunted, vision starting to close in, laser focused between her tits.

“And our breasts,” she continued, but knowing she had him close, “When did you become so obsessed with breasts? Even when you sleep, they’re there, aren’t they? Vision of my breasts swim in your head all night long.”

It was true. Her boobs were all he dreamed about. He moaned in forbearance and began to shudder.

“It’s true,” she said, her words echoing his thoughts, right as his climax began to crest, “It totally is. It’s why you wake up in the middle of the night sucking your own thumb. You want to be our fucking babies…”.

That was it, that was the final blow, and AJ could take no more. He groaned, finally closed his eyes, and came. His body lurched, shook, and cum shot up out of his cock.

Angie backed off, an inch, his head still in her hands. “There you go,” she said, plainly, “don’t get it on my dress.”

AJ, for himself, opened his eyes again, now jerking himself through it while staring into her tits again. He didn’t want to get it on her dress, so he pointed it back at himself, soiling his hand, his belly, his thigh.

“That’s right, get it all out,” she employed, patience now starting to wear thin, a new edge sharpening her voice. Though his climax still had him, she released his head, backing off another step. Her hands went to her top, pulling her neckline now more fully up over her breasts. “Finish up…”

AJ groaned in distress, his orgasm waning but ruined in its final moments. He just wanted those tits to bury himself into, and she was stepping away...

“Mommy’s got to go,” she said, finally, looking down at herself, shimmying herself back into some semblance of modesty, “Now, Aaron. This is it for us. I’m through.”

“w-w-wait whut?” AJ sputtered, confused, as his cock - just starting to deflate - leaked its final jisms onto his hand.

“I said I’m, like, done,” Angie said, straightly, looking down at him again, “You’ve been the perfect toy to practice on, and I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been fun. But I’m moving on, to bigger and better things.”

“Wait, no…” AJ managed, sobering quickly in shock but still struggling to grasp what was happening, “...are you...b-breaking up with me?”

“Yep,” she said, no hint of empathy softening her words as she watched the guy she’d lived with, the man she’d broken, start to shake. He was flailing, looking down at himself, at his mess, unsure what to do.

She reached out, grabbed a team of paper towels, and tossed it at him. “Here, clean up.”

“Angie, wait,” he tried, pulling several sheets out and starting to wipe himself down. She can’t do this, not now..! he thought, What will I do? Where will I live?? He had to stop her. “Let’s-“

“No, I’m done waiting,” she stopped him, turning away, hand already reaching for the door, grabbing the handle. An image of Melissa, her last Instagram post, flashed into her mind, made Angie seethe. “I’ve got things to do.”

And then he was alone.

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sorry for the poor image quality, ‘twas the best I could do.

more stuff, newer posts at my Patreon

#growing into the job

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coeurdastronaute · 5 years ago

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Either/Or: WWC

“Jess?”

“Yes, Ms. Luthor?”

Squinting behind her glasses, the CEO peered at her schedule on her computer screen and furrowed as she read, but failed to comprehend the words under the seven o’clock time slot that seemed to take up majority of her evening. There should have been nothing there. She carefully kept track of every second, trusted her secretary to do the same, and suddenly, she had to be somewhere on a night when she could have been home.

Leaning back in her chair, Lena Luthor scrolled and clicked on the offending task highlighted in a deep forest green. National City FC.

National City Fire Council?

National City Financial Committee?

National City Freedom Conference?

“What the hell is National City FC, and why is it taking up 3 hours of my evening?”

“The team you had us buy a few months ago. It’s their home opener.” the secretary explained, filing a few things in the drawer in the closet in Lena’s office.

She didn’t bat an eye at such questions. It was her job to know those things, to take care of things, like when her boss came in with a circled article from her ride into the office, and told Jess to fix it. This somehow included a struggling council measure to bring another sports team to the city and help the underfunded women’s program develop.

There were no follow up questions to how it got done, as Lena was immediately onto the next thing, but for Jess, there were hours spent meeting with officials and the in-house entertainment division to see how accumulating a women’s soccer team would diversify their holdings. This meant weeks pouring over spreadsheets and crunching numbers until the small team that was created for just this singular task, that again, came from a circled three inches of newspaper print, developed a plan to make it a success.

“What did I do?” Lena asked, looking up from her computer as her assistant continued her work of pulling and rearranging to prepare for end of month reports.

“You gave me an article about how the city wanted a team but couldn’t drum up the money to commit, and they were going to lose the bid for an expansion team.”

“That sounds somewhat familiar.”

“You said that expansion and bringing professionals into the city was how we continued to grow.”

“I’m sure I did.”

Quickly, Lena googled the team and found a few headlines praising the companies initiative to help grown equality within the sport, to bring jobs and joy to the community, to expand programs for children and sports, to bring a championship to the city. It was all news to her but still made her smile.

“I put together a team who did everything from polling to scouting locations to permits and projections,” Jess explained as Lena scrolled. “You helped pick out the colors and design the logo.”

“I did?”

“No,” she chuckled. “I did all of that. It’s been my pet project. I played in college, you know.”

The webpage was green, deep and royal. A white logo with the crest of the city and an outline of a roaring bear over it sat in the corner. The banner had the team picture with rows of tough and smiling girls looking back. A schedule followed and links to tickets. It was an actual thing.

“You did all of this?”

“I delegated,” Jess explained, handing over a folder. “Take a look at this so you have your talking points.”

“This got past the board?”

“A bit of community outreach, your name on the field, the logo on the jerseys, community services, tax breaks, and city-wide gratitude. It went a long way, and was a sound investment, set to see returns as early as six years.”

“Are you sure you don’t want that promotion?”

“I’ll just take another raise,” the secretary smiled as her boss looked over the papers in the folder.

“This still doesn’t explain why it’s on my schedule though,” Lena decided, closing it and laying it back on her desk.

“It’s the inaugural game. You have to go show your support.”

“I don’t like sports,” she reminded her. “That’s why I created an entire division of this company to manage such things.”

“You wanted more photo ops, and I’m creating that moment for you.”

Jess was right, which was something Lena still wasn’t particularly fond of admitting. Ever since her brother’s implosion and her ascendence to help the company two years ago, it felt as if her full-time job wasn’t being a CEO but rather a figure head looking to make people believe that she was just as strong, just as capable, just as, if not moreso, credible as the leader of a multi-billion dollar organization.

Lena looked back at the file on her desk and sighed, invariably giving in.

“Fine, but I’m not going to wear a jer--”

Smiling, Jess held up her personal jersey with DANVERS printed in big white letters over the number eleven. She wiggled her eyebrows and tried to hide her amusement.

“It’s to support the team.”

“That’s not even my name.”

“You don’t play for them, just own the team. You don’t get your own name on it.”

“I couldn’t get a custom one? I don’t even know who that is.”

“This is your star player, Kara Danvers. Got her in the expansion draft. She’s amazing. Led the league in scoring the past three years, only been in it for four.”

“This is soccer, right?”

With a heavy sigh, Jess tossed the jersey across the desk.

“Keep reading. I’ll have the car here at six.”

Lena smiled to herself as she held up the jersey, happy to have her name on it anyway with the logo of the rebranded L Corp. She never got used to seeing that, her accomplishments come to fruition. Somehow she accidentally bought a sports team, and though she wasn’t thrilled about having to spend her evening not at home on the couch, she was excited to see what her assistant created, excited to have done something for the city she grew to call home.

Not the biggest sports fan on the planet, Lena looked back at the screen with the team on it and found number eleven and gulped slightly, deciding that sports couldn’t be that bad.

XXXXXXXXX

The music blasted in the headphones, so loudly that nothing else could be heard, not even a thundering heartbeat or heavy breathing. The world and its honks and horns and yelling and voices and city chatter completely disappeared to nothing outside of the stadium, outside of the pitch of fresh grass.

Before the first fan would be welcomed, before they thrust open the grates on the concession stands, before the lights were tested and left on, a single player began her routine, sitting in the stands alone and taking in the world around her, as soon it would be chaos-- screaming people on the sidelines, lines calling changes and plays in the heat of the moment, chirping from those coming to disrupt her home. The soccer player’s head nodded to the beat of the song as she prepared, washing the rest of it away and focusing, centering herself.

The stadium was beginning to breathe again, with works appearing, setting up for the sell-out crowd. By the time the first few teammates began to filter out to warm up, Kara was warming up, making her way from side to side with a light jog, stretching muscles and coming back from her solitary centering.

“Are you getting nervous yet?” Nia asked as she sat on the ground, working hamstrings into something more tenable.

“I’m getting excited,” Kara corrected.

She was a leader on the team, and she took the responsibility very seriously. That included measuring her responses for the younger teammates, making sure that she was always on. It also meant that she played her heart out and left every ounce of energy on the field. She was going to lead the league again. She was going to keep her national team spot. She was going to accomplish great things, just as her parents always told her.

“I’m getting nervous,” her teammate confessed. “Sarah Lance is a terrifying defender. And Foster is a sniper.”

“But you’re Nia Nal,” Kara smiled, helping to pull her goaltender up. She didn’t let her escape though. She held her shoulders in her hands and gave her an intense look. “You are a brick wall. You are unstoppable. You are a fortress. That’s your goal, and no one is going to score today.”

“I know.”

“I don’t think you do,” the captain disagreed, grinning a little wider now. “Hey, Allen, tell Nal what she is.”

From over her shoulder another teammate immediately chimed in.

“Nia Nal is a force to be reckoned with! She’s not allowing one point this entire year.”

“See that?” Kara grinned, turning back to her goalie. “Everyone already knows it.”

“I know,” Nia nodded, a little less worried and a little more serious.

“Good. Let’s run some drills. I’m no Foster, but I’ll try to make it hard for you.”

Leadership was a role Kara felt both thrust upon her and eager taken up, as if it were second nature. She didn’t think about it, not directly, but often her time was spent planning her moves within the team to make them successful. It showed on the field.

On the pitch though, Kara was completely untouchable. She was focused on her goals and she was ready for anything. She was the captain, the heart, the everything for her team, and she gave her all because for so long it was all she had.

“Danvers, lets go,” the coach’s voice called as the player finished getting ready, completing the final tasks of her routine. “I need you for some press stuff.”

“I thought that was after,” Kara furrowed as she trotted over to Cat Grant as the rest of the team finished up in the locker room.

“Opening day means a lot of parading around,” she explained as they walked through the corridor. “You know this team is precarious at best. We have to do everything we can to appease the money bags.”

“I was going to do some appeasing on the scoreboard. Try to put on a show.”

“If you could do both, I’d appreciate it.”

“You know I can.”

With a comparable grin, Cat nodded and tugged open a door that led to a lobby area, where post game interviews would be held, where the team would meet before the huddle, only this time it was nearly empty save for two women.

“Ms. Luthor,” Cat held out her hand as she approached the striking woman that Kara was stuck staring at. “It’s an honor to have you out here to see our first game.”

“I’ve heard you’ve done amazing things. I’m excited to watch,” she smiled back, clasping Grant’s hand with both of hers.

Dimples were there, right on her cheeks. There was also red lipstick. Cherry red and full on the lips. And her eyes. The green of the jersey was absolutely perfect for making her eyes seem like never-ending forests. Kara cleared her throat when she remembered to swallow and looked away from her face quickly, afraid of gawking too long, though her own cheeks grew a bit warm with the observations. The problem was that looking anywhere else was just as bad. Skin-tight black jeans betrayed hips, and the jersey was enough to not hide her chest, and Kara wanted to pluck out her own eyeballs.

While she introduced her assistant, Kara looked helplessly at the door and shifted on her feet, hoping to avoid the weird feeling in her chest and head.

“This is one of our stars, Kara Danvers. She’ll be doing some press with you after the game, so I thought it’d be better to look as if you’ve met before.”

“Good thinking,” Lena smiled and held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Kara nodded, curt and polite enough, the handshake not lasting very long.

“I will confess I don’t know much about soccer, but I’ve done my research on you,” the money explained. “Jess was telling me how brilliant you are, and I’m excited for you to share your talent with the city.”

“Me? Yes, um. I am as well. Excited. I love this city. My second home it is.”

With a funny look on her face, Lena just nodded and turned back to the coach, her glance following a beat later as Kara looked away, her cheeks full firetrucks.

“I wont interrupt anymore of your prep time,” Lena explained. “Thank you Cat.”

“Enjoy the view from the owner’s box.”

“I get one of those?” Lena asked, her voice going a little low as she asked her assistant.

Kara lingered for a moment as her coach made her way back toward the lock eroom to prepare. She met Lena’s lok and offered another shy smile before hurring to turn around.

“See you later,” she offered and cringed as she turned around.

The entire walk back to the locker room, Kara hung her head, oddly confused about the very short but very weird meeting. She didn’t know what to do or what she had done, just that she had a game to win and now knew that Lena Luthor existed.

XXXXXXXXXXX

“Good evening National City!” the CEO cheered from the edge of the pitch, a giant television of herself played just behind her for everyone to see in the sold out crowd.

The sun was beginning to set behind the city, the stadium sitting on the edge of the water with a view of the skyline and the lake behind it. It was all so new and clean and nice, that Lena took a little bit of pride in the fact hat she had some hand to play in it all even if she wan’t acutely aware of it.

“I am so happy to introduce you to your National City FC!”

The crowd roared again as she smiled into the microphone and surveyed the edge of the field with the waiting players and their tiny equivalents.

“It has been an honor to be part of bringing the next great franchise to our wonderful city, and I know these women are going to make you all so proud!”

The cheering was awfully addicting, and Lena was going to try to figure out how to get twenty thousand people to follow her around and agree with everything she said.

“What do you say we get this inaugural season underway?”

Lena smiled and waved, handing over the microphone to the emcee. The deep voice began to introduce the team as the owner walked off of the field toward her assistant who smiled, much too knowledgeable about the fact that her boss was actually having fun despite her inability to admit it.

“You looked good out there,” Jess nodded as Lena stood beside her, shielding her eyes from the squint of the sun as she looked at her team.

“Sports aren’t that bad,” Lena shrugged.

Despite herself, the CEO found Kara Danvers in the lineup, a little girl standing before her as they did the anthem and introductions. Even though everyone was quiet and preparing for the game, the little girl was antsy. Kara held her hands and lifted her up slightly, swinging her a bit, her shoulders and biceps straining. Lena swallowed as she watched Kara giggle with the little girl, and wondered how someone could exist that was insanely hot and also a big old goober. It didn’t seem fair.

“Let’s get to the box,” Jess offered, interrupting the absolute dehydration Lena was experiencing and hoping to hide. “We can go over some of the basics and I can finish explaining the strategy.”

“I trust your judgement, but I should learn a few things for press. This is going to take a lot more of my face than previous expected, I guess?”

“I was hoping a few showings of your face, and if we win, we’ll solidify the team. National City is lacking a prestigious championship caliber team.”

On the field, Kara hopped slightly before stretching out her legs and getting out the jitters. Hair pulled back tightly, her armband meant she was the captain, and she commanded her team with precision.

“Is this our first championship team?”

“I think so.”

“This is a much more enjoyable investment than all those property deals and some of those research labs I have to hear about.”

“Says the engineer?”

“It pains me to admit it.”

The whistle blew and Kara sprinted out, capturing the ball and immediately making her way toward the other goal. Lena’s heart jumped into her throat at the sheer force and speed of it all before she allowed Jess to tug her back to her box.

“How much do you know about Kara Danvers?” Lena asked, hoping it as subtle enough to be taken as small talk.

“It’s all in the folders.”

The CEO nodded as the elevator ascended, and she didn’t dare to chance a look at her secretary.

XXXXXXXXXX

No matter how many times she played, the adrenaline from a game was still mildly addicting. No matter how many goals she scored, the elation of scoring another was a fix that Kara Danvers chased perpetually. Nothing compared to it.

After the final whistle blew though, after the game ended and there was nothing left to give, she found herself full of these things, and no matter how tired her muscles and body became, the high was slow to come down from. It did make everything happen quicker though, and somehow, not long after winning, and a hat trick under her belt, Kara found herself seated in the media room with the team logo behind her and her new owner beside her.

“You must be fairly happy with the game tonight,” one reporter began, “any worries about the team as a whole that you will be working on this week at practice?”

“We’re always looking to be better, and I can’t say we were flawless, but I’m so excited for where we’re at as a team, that I’m just going to bask for the evening before we get back to work in the morning.”

The group chuckled slightly as the PR director called on the next hand.

“Ms. Luthor, how important was it for this team to get a win tonight? Was it validation for your involvement? Vindication maybe for all the naysayers who were against the expansion?”

“I can honestly say I haven’t paid any attention to anyone who was against this project,” Lena smiled as she earned a laugh from the audience. “It’s important to win as many games as possible for any team, let alone this team. We have a lot to prove as the new kids on the block, but I think Ms. Danvers is right, and we should celebrate and come back ready to continue in the morning.”

For the life of her, Kara wasn’t sure why the mention of her name or the corresponding look from Lena made the tips of her ears burn, but she smiled awkwardly and tried to ignore it.

“Ms. Luthor, what made you invest in this team and this opportunity?”

“The excitement in my advisor’s face when she talked about the team,” the CEO explained, nodding to the woman Kara didn’t remember officially meeting. “I can’t take credit for doing much more except being completely taken with Kara.”

The player snapped to look at the CEO for the pause that seemed to last much too long.

“Wait,” Lena shook her head and laughed. “Kara and her team. The sport really. The little girls that come out with the team. My advisor was one of those little girls, and she is now one of the most admirable and driven people I have ever met. If a team like this can give her joy and hope, imagine what it can do for all of the other little girls.”

“How does it feel to have the most powerful woman in the world behind you, Kara?”

“I’m quite taken by it,” she offered humbly with a smile, earning a laugh from the group and Lena in particular. “To be honest though, it is a truly empowering fact. To have someone with such kindness and tenacity as an example, it’s amazing.”

The pair shared a smile, and Kara looked back at the crowd, preparing for the next question.

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karofsky · 5 years ago

Text

Urgent Life Update: We Need Help.

I feel like I’ve done nothing but serve bad news for months now, but it’s something I’ve unfortunately just come to terms with being the normal.

Amidst my recent and ongoing health issues, our personal traumas and losses, and our already poor financial situation due to many collective issues, my girlfriend was just laid off from her job that would have made us okay. We are now both unemployed for factors outside of our control.

We are now facing eviction, our amenities being cut off, fear being sent to collections, and a cut to our renters credit and personal credit scores. RE: Help-- My parents are in the middle of a messy and expensive divorce, and her family cannot provide any financial help or space for us. Our complex is the cheapest in the area, but we can’t afford a down payment to move regardless. None of our friends can house us, either because of a space issue or our pets.

We plan to be okay next month. We have to be, and our working our asses off to get there. We just have so much to pay this month that shouldn’t have been a problem and now is, and frankly, we are drowning.

To ease any worry, we are okay on food. Neither of us are starving, though we admit to being more cautious with how much we eat. We have two very good friends that have been providing for us over the last few months, and are very fortunate because of it.

I feel the need to be open about what any financial help will be spent on, so-- our rent, our phone bill, our internet bill, our utilities, our small credit debts from past bill payments, my medicine and hospital bills, and my work portfolio (which is my only source of income atm). Basically, bills. But I wanted to be clear, and honest: we are just two people in an unfortunate situation.

So, whether it be a reblog, a shoutout, or a financial contribution, we really appreciate it. Honestly. Neither of us are okay, and we already feel so indebted to everyone that has helped us in the last few months. But it’s appreciated.

PAYPAL:

paypal.me/MadelineBrooks

paypal.me/KaitLikesCereal

VENMO:

starkurt

kaitlikescereal

Commissions have been my only source of income these last few months, and are always open --

http://starkurt.com/art

http://starkurt.com/commissions

My girlfriend makes lovely props and costumes, and does take commissions for them as well --

https://www.instagram.com/kaitlikescereal/

(She made a really cool shield recently; you should ask her about it)

Thank you all again, for so much.

Breakdown of the last ~4 months under a cut, just as some more background (or if you need proof, or a sob story, or whatever. I’ve never done this before.)

I left my then fairly longterm job because I received an offer for a fulltime position at another company. I liked my job, but the company was a mess, and my hours were being cut alongside the thousands of other employees. (Worked for the Mouse, if you were curious)

The second day I was at my new place work, I got permission to leave on my lunch because I was very ill and had a fever. I went to urgent care, and ended up having a sweltering 104 degree fever. I let my boss know I would be out the rest of the day and the next, and he approved. The next day, I received a text from my boss that the head boss “didn’t think my attendance was what they were looking for” (remember, it was my second day, and I had a dangerous fever, which both she and my supervisor were made aware of), and was promptly fired.

Spending 10 days bedridden with a fever that would only break for a few hours a day, I soon found out the company had never submitted any of my legal information, which means I was never officially employed despite working, and because of that I couldn’t submit for unemployment.

Shortly after, my girlfriend, who had been on a state mandated, legally approved disability for her physical and mental health, was illegally fired by her employer for “self termination”. We did seek legal action, but could not pursue it immediately due to our new financial stress.

After recovering for a month (as I could not physically leave the bed/couch), I began applying for jobs again, and had a few interviews. Most were promising but fell flat. I’ve been applying to jobs every day since, and have only seen any improvement once I changed my name (

My girlfriend started a new job which promised her a raise within a few weeks, which turned into a few months. Her wage was not as promised and we were broke for 3 months as I continued to struggle.

I ended up in the ER twice-- once in June, then once in July. The first was an entirely traumatic experience that forced me to undergo about 15 tests and biopsies, and I was left confusing every doctor as to what had caused it. I was fine following it, though was mentally put off because of the later developing fear of something more. My second trip was brought on by what I had thought was a heart attack from my stress, then once the panic settled, believed it was horrible food poisoning. I went in, was on IV and got more scans and tests, and with no results, was discharged with food poisoning. The next day I burst into a 102 degree fever and continued to be violently sick the week following, which only put me out of jobhunting again. It passed, but it left me with a gastro issue that I am continuing to deal with.

During this, my girlfriend had started her training for her promotion, all while being promised a raise and reimbursement for our phone and internet bills, since she was working from home 90% of the time. Once it came time for her to finish her training, take her certification test, and get promoted, her employers ghosted her for about a week, and then eventually let her know she was being let go due to budget cuts, and that they did not have the money to pay her. They still have not paid either our internet or our phone bills despite their constant promises, and both bills have now racked up multiple months of late fees because they were never taken care of.

So yet again, we are both unemployed and broke, but now have nearly $2000 of bills to pay, which doesn’t include my hospital bills which have only just started coming in.

Truly, if you can help in any way, it’s appreciated. We have been each other’s support systems these last two and half years, and losing our home and potentially all of our credit we’ve built up right before trying to move and get married will destroy us. We have both had so much loss and negativity, not even just these last few months, and we are just trying our best to continue seeing the good in life.

#signal boost #mutual aid #donation post #help needed #please help #this is so long and i'm sorry

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snibnoom · 7 years ago

Text

the fantagio situation

MAY 14, 2018 KST VER.

fantagio was founded as noa in september 2008 by na byungjun. the company was renamed as fantagio in june 2011.

fantagio entertainment is the company as a whole.

fantagio entertainment has 4 subsidiaries (founded in 2011/2012) and a manager training academy (founded in 2013).

madin entertainment (january 2011, for managing actors/actresses)

5urprise and surprise u

kim sungkyun

kang hana

chu yejin

various members of hello venus, astro, and weki meki and more

fantagio pictures (november 2011, for production of movies and dramas)

production of the crucible, cunning single lady, astro’s to be continued, surprise u’s idol fever, and more

fantagio music (may 2012, for managing idols)

hello venus

astro

weki meki

ong seongwu of wanna one

solid c&m (2012, for restaurant franchises, education, distribution)

people/names/companies you need to know

na byungjun: founder and now-former ceo of fantagio entertainment

woo youngseung: now-former ceo of fantagio music

jc group: a chinese company that invested in fantagio

wei jie: chairman/ceo of jc group and now ceo of fantagio entertainment

there’s a lot of info beneath the cut so settle in and get comfy if you’re gonna read the mess that has happened within the last 5-6 months between fantagio and jc group.

let me also preface this by saying that something like this has never happened before.

alright so fantagio hit a rough spot in late 2016 (december-ish). their stocks were down an they were struggling. cue jc group, a chinese company (they do a lot of stuff, housing, hotels, product production). they bought up (roughly) 27.3% of the company, and wei jie became co-ceo with na byungjun. at the time, it was a really good thing. it helped fantagio quite a bit and propelled astro through the tail end of their autumn story promotions. it wasn’t a really big deal at the time, and i don’t think a lot of people were aware of it. (at the very least, the wikipedia page never got updated, so i guess that says something.)

in late fall/early winter 2017, jc group bought more shares of fantagio, now owning 50.7% of the company. they owned the most of fantagio, giving them quite a bit of power (as i understand it, at least). in a board meeting in late december 2017, jc group kicked out na byungjun and put all company credit cards on hold.

side note: it is possible for a company to limit how much of their company shareholders can have access to (at least in america, i believe), but that isn’t something fantagio did (or maybe they couldn’t?)

fantagio staff sorta kinda freaked out when they realized na byungjun was no longer the ceo. a lot of the fantagio staff (at that time) had been there for years and knew na byungjun personally. the staff held an emergency meeting, where they threatened to go on strike if na byungjun wasn’t reinstated as one of their 9 demands (more about those demands in a bit).

the company credit cards being pulled was also pretty bad. these cards were used only for business purposes. fantagio actors were filming and promoting dramas. astro and weki meki had things to do. everything that their artists did came out of pocket. actors traveled to and from filming location with their own money. astro (might have) paid for aroha’s meals at gayo daejejun in early 2018 and astro and weki meki (might have) paid for their fans meals during isac. fantagio artists are the best.

it also came out that jc group had been sending fantagio’s money to an unrelated company in hong kong. the way i understand it is that everybody knew it was happening, but there was no proof. (either because it was being done so slyly or what, i have no idea, but they couldn’t prove it as far as i know.)

sort of related (but honestly not all that important, but it makes me distrust jc group more), jc group first said they removed na byungjun because of a “management deficit” and the next day they said they removed him because they were going to go in a new direction.

here’s a rough translation of the 9 demands of fantagio’s staff. (they said they would go on strike if these 9 demands weren’t met. also this is a really really rough translation)

(also gonna be honest and say i don’t know what 100% of these are referring to but here they are)

major shareholder jc group will immediately apologize for their actions

abandon any attempt to finalize recruitment of fantagio (stop buying stocks)

apologize immediately for all fund operations (includes financial enforcement, financial transactions, and account management)

apologize immediately for deliberate missteps and accidents against artists, staff, and customer payments

apologized for corporate credit cards being abolished, which has affected the operations of their artists

funds leaked to hong kong (not related to original business) immediately stopped and all funds retunred

jc group has to declare that fantagio is not a company operate solely for the sake of the major shareholder (which is jc group)

reinstatement of na byungun to co-ceo position and reinstatement of all dismissed staff

jc group should remove all group officials who led the incident (meaning remove wei jie and his people)

by the time fantagio staff announced their demands, however, jc group was quite powerful and they couldn’t really make him do anything. but na byungjun was given a position on the board. he quit, however, releasing a memo saying he felt like he had let down the company and the employees that were loyal to him. he didn’t want anyone to lose their job because of a strike, so he left. prior to this, quite a bit of the fantagio staff fired and replaced with workers from jc group (which isn’t an entertainment company in the slightest). there also came about a rumor that jc group would be “selling” fantagio trainees to other companies for profit. (it’s not entirely unusual for companies to do this, but rather (as i understand it), it’s more of trading than selling. jc group would not trade, they would be selling kids as if they were products.)

fantagio music was largely unaffected by this change (aside from the bit with the company credit cards). woo youngseung is the ceo of fantagio music and still holds quite a bit of power over the artists/promotions. however, weki meki’s second mini album release did get pushed back due to these issues. madin entertainment was also largely unaffected, though i believe seo kangjoon did turn down a pretty major lead role around when this was happening (we don’t know exactly why, but we assume it’s because he was unsure if he’d have the money to actually go to the filming).

yesterday (kst, 180513), however, jc group dismissed woo youngseung. this has caused a big issue because wei jie doesn’t have the right license/experience to be running a south korean entertainment company according to the stands set out by the CEMA (the korean entertaiment management association) in the act on the development of the public culture and arts industry.

from soompi:

article 26 of the act on the development of the public culture and arts industry states the following requirements:

those planning on working in public culture and arts must be registered by the ministry of culture. this applies also when the circumstances initially registered change.

those trying to register with a different method of what is listed in section 1 must match the following requirements

you must fulfill one of the following categories. however, if you are a corporation it must apply to more than one board member.

at least 2 years of experience working in the public culture and arts planning industry

complete curriculum regarding public culture and arts planning work that is carried out and determined by the department of sports, culture, and tourism.

i’m assuming that all was fine until woo youngseung was removed from power, and now the above from article 26 has been violated. because of this violation, fantagio would be considered to be working illegally due to not having the right licenses/registration/requirements. there is now a “red light” on all fantagio artists, meaning they are not allowed to promote or do anything, honestly, because it would be illegal if they did.

this is what i understand from here:

in a meeting on march 11, jc group decided to remove woo youngseung from his place and replace him with a new ceo that’s an employee of jc group. in wake of this, woo youngseung resigned on march 13. the person who has replaced woo youngseung is apparently the secretary of wei jie.

fantagio artists are currently not allowed to leave the agency to join na byungjun’s new company, stardium, as they are in contracts. with how wei jie has handled the situation, there are restriction on fantagio artists’ activities.

fantagio/jc group now have 45 days to appoint a new person that is registered with the CEMA and has the proper experience/requirements/licenses.

this article about astro’s apparent comeback planned for june says basically the same things as the other.

so, what does this all mean? i can’t say for sure, as i’m not really an expert on south korean laws when it comes to the entertainment business. what i can say, however, is that there isn’t really anything to be worrying about at this exact moment. it appears there are 45 days for this issue (about nobody having a license) to be resolved before things start to get really iffy. if, at the point after 45 days from now, nothing has been done, then we can probably worry.

from what i do understand, investigation into fantagio/jc group couldn’t happen until now. because there was no proof of jc group doing all of the bad things staff said he did (sending money to hong kong, removing na byungjun without notice), the korean entertainment management agency couldn’t really do anything. now there’s a real problem that can be faced and punished.

there’s a previous case similar. CEMA investigated a rookie actress who was terminating her contract. the company was investigated and CEMA said that the company didn’t have the right registration (like fantagio currently), and her contract was nullified. we may see something happen similarly with fantagio’s artists, but we can’t be certain on what will happen.

for now, we have to wait for updates and news. i will continue to keep everybody posted to the best of my ability when new information comes out. If anybody has any questions, please come to my inbox and i’ll do my best to answer them.

#fantagio #update #text #i hope this clears up some questions #fantagio update

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11-ish · 7 years ago

Text

three | the dom next door

genre: angst

pairing: jimin x reader

synopsis: when you’re tired and jimin is too afraid.

one | two | three | four

three: job hunting

A week had passed, you thought Jimin would ignore you after telling you that the both of you should remain acquaintance but he still treated you the same way, he would still flash you his angelic smile, he would greet you whenever he sees you and he would still give you some of his extra food. Everything went back to normal, except you. Every time Jimin would approach you, give you some small talks or just give you his smile, you dreaded more. All what Jimin told you that day, what he wanted to do to you, you wanted that but you were tired of getting rejected.

Jimin had already emphasized twice that the both of you should only remain acquaintances, nothing more and you’ll have to respect that and put aside your feelings. You step outside your apartment, and as you fumble with your bag, you didn’t notice that Jimin was already outside his apartment, he didn’t let know his presence, he just simply stared at you as you were clumsily looking for your key, and dropping a lot of things. When you suddenly dropped your bag, Jimin was quick to take it.

“Oh Jimin…I didn’t realize you were there.” You said as you struggled to close the door, your key was rusty and you realized that you should probably clean it or better, duplicate it already because one of these days, you’ll probably lose your key. Jimin chuckled at your disheveled appearance, you turned around and smiled at him. “Remind me that I have to duplicate this key.” You said casually, and he nodded. You stride along the hallway of the apartment, as your hands gripped tightly to your hand bag. Jimin took a glance at your appearance, and he noticed that you were wearing a corporate attire, and Jimin have to loosen his tie because his mind suddenly played a series of scenes involving you and that attire.

“So, where are you going so early in the morning?” Jimin asked, it’s rare for him to see you so early and already dressed. You were usually up in the morning just to get the newspaper or the milk from the land lady. You shyly smiled, “Well I’m just going downtown, I’ll be job hunting.” You were recently fired from your job because the company needed to lessen their employees due to financial issues and you were one of the employees whose contract was about to end, and although the sweet old land lady insisted that she’ll give you two months off, you instantly rejected her offer and told that within a week, you will get a job, she has done a lot of things for you, and the last thing you wanted is giving you two months of not paying. Jimin patted your shoulder and smiled at you, assuring you.

Both of you stepped inside the elevator, “I’m sure you’ll land a job. What particular job are you targeting?” He asked.

“Well, anything that could pay my rent, honestly.” It’s true. You weren’t really picky, either desk jobs or a cashier or a waitress, you were okay with that. You were diligent about anything but if you have to choose….” maybe in a cake shop?” You chuckled at your own answer, “I like cakes, so probably that?” Jimin smiled, he could imagine how you look at the front desk, taking orders from different people or maybe a waitress, you would probably get hit on. Your eyes widened when he suddenly caressed your cheeks. This was the first time he was giving you this kind of contact for the past week. You wanted to pull away but you secretly crave this kind of intimate touch from him, so you let him be, oh how you crave his touch so much. His touch was warm and gentle, and if it wasn’t for what Jimin had said to you, you would lean closer to him but you just stood there and let him touch your cheeks.

“Boys would line up and think that you’re more delicious, more sweet than the cake itself, angel” Jimin said as he massaged your lower lip with his thumb, he stared at your lips for a minute, memorizing its curve and how it would redden when you would bite on it. Your insides tingled with his endearment and stared at Jimin’s eyes, his eyes were trained on your mouth, he slowly looked up to your eyes and as if he was pulled back to reality, he sighed, he immediately removed his hand on your lips.

“I’m sorry, Y/N. I wasn’t thinking and you might have been offended with my sudden actions.” On cue, the elevator arrived at the ground floor and Jimin immediately stepped out. You chase him and grabbed his wrist, he immediately paused and turned his heels to look at you. He stared at your hands, and you immediately removed it. “Y/N…I really apologize for my actions. I know I keep giving you the wrong signals and you don’t deserve that, and I’m a jerk but I just couldn’t help myself when I’m in front of you. I really meant it that we should just remain acquaintances but…” You held his wrist again, and he paused.

You felt the sharp pang in your heart. Thrice. This is the third time that Jimin emphasized this with you and honestly, you were getting tired. You were getting tired of rejected, you were getting tired of the label he puts on to you and you were getting tired of hoping that maybe someday Jimin would someday change his mind. “Look, Jimin. I’m really tired that this keep happening, this is the third time and I think instead of acquaintances, let’s pretend that we just don’t know each other.” Jimin’s mouth formed an ‘O’, he was taken aback at what you said. “I think it’s for your own good, and my own good, I think we should stop continuing this delusional connection we have because who are we kidding? We both are still trapped with what happened at that day, and to be honest, it’s kinda tiring to pretend that day didn’t happen…and we keep forcing ourselves to come back as acquaintances, so starting from now on, let’s erase everything, from that hole agenda, from that day, from what we’re feeling, instead of acquaintances, let’s just be strangers.”

Jimin watched as you loosened your grip around his wrist, he watched you as you stepped back and smiled at him, hurt was visible in your eyes and he wanted to comfort you from the misery he let you feel but he didn’t know what to say, what you said haven’t registered in his mind, he watched you held your hand bag tightly as you politely excuse yourself from him, he watched you walk away and he didn’t even bother chasing you. His head hung low of the mess he just did. This is not what he wanted, he wanted to still talk to you even in the shortest time, he still wanted to be the receiving end of your smiles and your greets but he didn’t want you near him than that, selfish but it was really for your own good. You were an angel, a dream come true and he knew if he would let you be closer, you would get corrupted. It was such a temptation for him when he knew you were alright with what he does but what you found out from him wasn’t everything about him. He was more vile, vicious, he was pure sin incarnate and he was afraid to taint the pure feathers of an angel, but he was more afraid what would happen if you know the true him.

“Thank you, Ms. Y/L/N. We’ll call you.” The woman in front of you smiled, her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and she immediately shoved your folder inside her cabinet and with her gesture, how she didn’t bother asking you a lot of questions, and how she didn’t even once look at your resume, you were sure that she wouldn’t call you. She was not impressed with your presence, so how were you even sure that she would call you? Still, you stood up and politely excused yourself from her, and you sighed how she didn’t even bother to look at you once last time as you exited the door. You looked at the people who came after you, and they were more fitting to be a secretary. You sighed, as you gripped your bag and move on to another job. You swore this day you would get a job. You struggled walking with your heels, as you kept looking for jobs. A night before, you listed all the possible jobs you could take, and all the places who was hiring and you were almost finished with your list and you haven’t impressed at least one.

You stopped in your tracks, you looked up at the establishment in front of you, oh how destiny loves playing with you, you were in front of a cake shop, and coincidentally, they were looking for a cashier in an immediate time. You sighed, there was no time to backtrack what happened this morning and instead, you entered the shop. You were greeted by an angelic smile of a guy who was a bit younger than you. You politely smiled at him, and looked around if there’s any sign of the HR room. The young man simply stared at you, and tiled his head in confusion. “Are you looking for someone?” You looked at him and nodded.

“Ah yes, I was wondering where is the HR?” You asked. You kept looking around, and you felt the young man’s eyes trained on you, you looked at him and tilted your head in confusion. You felt him checking you out, as his eyes examined your features from your head to toe then he gave a boyish grin. “I’m not the HR, but I’m the owner of this shop” He said, as he leaned in closer to the cashier desk, and you looked around to the people who was around and you felt the jealous stares of the women in the shop, you gulped and looked down to your toes.

“Well, I saw the sign in front of the door—“

“Oh the sign! Yeah, we’re still looking for extra people, preferably who would manage the cashier or a waitress. ” He smiled, and patted the cashier register.

Your face brightened, “Oh, well, I was looking for a job and…”

“Oh, then follow me in my office. Ms?”

“Y/L/N.”

“Right.” He said, as he removed the apron he’s wearing and called someone who was older than him to manage the front desk, you followed him to the second floor and it was his office. For a small place, you could feel the coziness and its home-y feeling. He entered the room, and casually slumped on the swivel chair while you carefully sat on the couch. “So, well?” He asked. “How do I know if you’re qualified for this job?”

“O-Oh. Right.” You immediately stood up and placed the documents he needed on his desk, he immediately read it and you were scared out of your wits because there was silence for a few good minutes, and his bright appearance before became serious and his eyebrows furrowed every time he flipped a page and you were getting scared. You knew you don’t have an astounding resume, you were home schooled and the only proper schooling you have was college and you were always cooped up in your home that’s why you couldn’t add something good in your resume. “I know that I really don’t have astounding performances in my education but I guarantee you—“

“You were fired before?” His tone, displeased and you gulped because it might affect his view to you.

“Well, they have to fire me because they have to slim down their employees due to financial issues and my contract was about to end, that’s why…” You sighed. You were a goner, you were fidgeting around and you were getting nervous every minute. The young man looked up to you and the end of his mouth pulled up, amused by your nervous behavior. “But I promise you that I’m really a diligent worker, I’m never late for work, and I don’t complain how much workload I have...Mr…” You looked at the name plate on his table. “Mr. Jeon.” You forced a smile, forcing a last drop of hope that he might consider you. The young man smiled at you, he closed your documents and put it inside his cabinet and you gulped because you knew it was never a good sign. He pushed back his hair, and you just registered the fact that the young man in front of you was actually hot but you immediately scolded yourself for even thinking about that when you’re in the middle of getting rejected again. For the nth time.

“Okay, let’s be honest Ms. Y/L/N. Your resume doesn’t really impress me.” You sighed, “but” you looked up to him, “I’m not really a believer of not giving second chances. So, listen, I’m really in need of employees that could multitask since I don’t want to pay that much. So, I’ll give you a week to test your work ethics and skills and if you passed my standards, well, you’re getting the job. What do you think about that?”

“Oh! That would be great, Mr. Jeon! So when do I start?”

“Tomorrow morning. 8:00 sharp.” He said and smirked. He pushed back his hair once again, “And you could call me Jungkook, by the way, no need to be formal…” Jungkook slowly approached you, your brows furrowed with his sudden actions, he was taller than you and was hovering you, you gulped, “…We’ll be together for a long time, so we should at least be…acquaintances?” Acquaintances…Oh, how that word left a bitter taste in you and memories immediately flashed back to what happened this morning, you mentally erased your thoughts and forced a smile to Jungkook.

“That would be much appreciated. I think I better go, I have to do groceries, and I have to take the last bus since I don’t have much money for—oh, why am I sharing this to you? I’m sorry.” You smiled, and politely excused yourself, your eyes widened when Jungkook held your wrist and pulled you back. You turned around to look at him and he smiled. Your breathe hitched because you were so sure this man was younger than you but look at him, so confident but graceful in everything he does. Then suddenly, he pushed you back and scratched his head, he might have realized that you were shocked with his sudden actions and you couldn’t help but be amused by his sudden shy behavior.

“Sorry about that, I usually do things I don’t really much think when I’m in front of pretty girls.” Your mouth formed an ‘O’, obviously impressed by his smooth line. Jungkook scratched one more time his nape and sighed. “And that didn’t meant to be a pick up line. I swear.” You chuckled at his sudden outburst of awkwardness and shyness, and you nodded, accepting his excuse. You politely excused yourself, and this time, Jungkook let you go as he was busy mentally beating himself up for suddenly being shy to you. You thought his behavior was cute, he was confident but he would get shy and awkward but you sighed and brushed off your impressions to him. After what happened this morning, you were not really ready to look for a distraction and besides, your work was already enough distraction from Jimin. You walked on the cold streets of your city, as you hugged yourself, you didn’t expect that it would get cold or maybe you weren’t really just used in walking so late. This time, you would already be by your home, sleeping or watching television.

You stopped by at the nearest grocery to buy some food, as you were looking at some refreshments, your eyes trained on the the alcohol. You were never the type to drink, your alcohol tolerance was low, that’s why you avoid drinking in big gatherings. You shook your head and turned your heels, you have to go work early in the morning, Jungkook gave you a chance and you weren’t going to screw it up. When you finished your groceries, you walked idly on the cold streets of Seoul, you sighed, you felt the shivers between your fingers and your legs and you cursed that you didn’t wear warm clothes. Well, you didn’t expect that it would get cold. You also cursed that there was less transportation around this area, there was no bus, nor even a cab.

This day was tiring, after what happened with Jimin this morning, the constant stress in job hunting and the 2 inch heels you are wearing. You just wanted to sleep. You gripped your hand bag and forced yourself to walk, you mentally gave yourself motivation but suddenly, a man wearing an all black suit suddenly appeared in front of you, hovering you, your eyes widened with his sudden appearance and you took a step back. You examined him closely and your eyes immediately caught the coat of arms that was embroidered on his pocket. Oh shit. You didn’t expect that they would find you immediately, but you knew you were being careless these past few months and they must have seen you while you were walking around this area. “Ms. Y/N, please come with us.” The man said with an authoritative tone.

You shook your head, as you immediately turned your heels but you were caught off guard when another black suited man was right in front of you. You were trapped. Oh how you loathe this day. You immediately think of ways of how to escape, as they immediately grabbed your wrists and you tried to fight it. You kicked both of them in their groin, and when you felt them loosening their hold. Forgetting the pain from your heels, you run as fast as you could to your apartment. You didn’t straightly go to your apartment, and immediately took the other, longer road where you could hide from those black suited men. You saw a large 4x4 car and you immediately hid there, hoping that they wouldn’t find you. You tried to hide yourself from your black blazer, you watched those men running around the area where you are hiding, when you saw them running past the car, and going straight to an other direction, you breathed a sigh of relief.

You slowly stood up, looking from the car window if the men were still there and suddenly, the car window slowly drop down and you almost fell out of shock when Jimin was right in front of you. His hair was disheveled, like he just woke up, he was wearing the clothes he wore this morning and you gulped. “Y/N?” You wanted to get away but you saw the shadows of those men were coming back, and without second thought, you immediately pushed yourself inside Jimin’s car. Jimin’s eyes widened with your sudden intrusion, he was about to speak when you immediately covered his mouth, and put your index finger on your lips. You looked up at the men who was still looking for you, Jimin followed where you were looking, he was about to open his mouth when you glared at him to silence what he’s about to say. You only removed your grip from his mouth when you saw the men walking away from the area. You breathed a sigh of relief and pushed back your hair. Jimin looked at your disheveled appearance, you look tired and you were sweaty. You were heavily breathing and keep pushing back your hair.

It was a dead end for you if they ever found out where you are, they would surely take you back home and you wouldn’t let that happen. You spent a lot of years to hide your identity, even to the point in moving away in a far away place. A place where you are trying to grew accustomed to. When you relaxed, as if you were slapped back to reality, you realized you were inside Jimin’s car and he was staring at you in confusion. Oh gahd. Just when you told him that both of you should just treat yourself as strangers, here you were inside his car. “I…I gotta go….thanks for letting me hide here…” You said as you removed your shoes, you decided you were going home barefooted, you wouldn’t handle the pain if you would walk in your heels. Jimin looked at your feet and it was swollen, before you could even open the door, Jimin held your wrist, making you look at him. Your face, puzzled at his sudden actions. Your eyes widened when he suddenly lift one of your foot, you immediately pulled it back but Jimin’s grip on your leg was tight. You were about to protest when Jimin stared at you, his stare was commanding, and dominant, the one that completely controls you.

“You’re not going to walk home with that swollen feet.”

“But—“

“Y/N.” He said in authoritative tone, he looked at you. “Let me just take you home safely then after this, we could forget everything. I promise.” You bit your lip, then looked down at his hands that was slowly massaging your foot, you immediately pulled back your foot and sighed. You just simply nodded, and immediately looked away from him and decided that looking outside was more interesting than Jimin.

It took every self control of Jimin to not touch you in a way that he likes. After all, this was the aftermath after all his mixed actions. The moment you said those words, he could see the hurt in your eyes and how were you tired of his push and pull actions and he knew he screwed up so bad. The drive on the way to the apartment was quiet, and the both of you didn’t tried to talk or have a conversation. You wanted to talked to him so badly, ask him how his day but that just means you have no hold on to your words. You promised yourself that you will treat him like a stranger, that you would avoid him, that you would cut the connection that you both have. You silently yawned, and tried to resist drifting off to sleep, you were tired, after waking up so early, job hunting, running away from those suited men, you were physically and mentally exhausted and as much as you didn’t want to sleep inside Jimin’s car, you couldn’t help it, the chair was too comfy for your exhausted self and you find yourself drifting off to sleep.

“Ah, we’re here, Y/N—“ Jimin glanced at your direction, he saw you sleeping soundly and could hear your little snores and he couldn’t help but smile at how cute you look. The way you scrunch your nose, while your brows furrowed, and how your hair was all over the place. He caressed your cheeks, “Y/N….” He immediately removed his hand when he remembered what he was doing. You slowly fluttered your eyes open, you noticed that you arrived in your apartment. You immediately became stiff when you realized you were still inside Jimin’s car and he was staring at you. You gulped. “We’re here.” He curtly said. You nodded, and started picking up your things, you slowly wore your heels, to avoid the pain you were feeling a little bit. Jimin suddenly exited from the door, as he turned around to your direction, he opens your door and you were surprised with what the next thing happened as Jimin was already carrying you.

“Jimin!” You were panicking, and unconsciously wrapped your arms around his neck because you were simultaneously scared that because of your behavior, Jimin would lose his balance and fall. “You don’t have to carry me” You said. “Get me down Jimin. I can walk. My feet may look swollen but I can manage myself.” Your forehead knotted when Jimin didn’t respond and continued walking to the apartment, he glanced at you when the both of you stepped inside the elevator, you didn’t try to fight with Jimin because there were people around you. You could see how they were hiding their smiles, they were amused with the both of you, on cue, the sweet old land lady stepped inside and greeted the both of you.

“I didn’t know that you were both dating.” She smiled sweetly.

“Oh! Oh no, we’re not really dating. My feet were swollen and I can’t walk, so…he carried me.”

She smiled, sympathizing your pain and gently patted your feet. “That’s a shame. Have you already found a job?”

You nodded, “Ah yes. In a cake shop.” You gulped when you felt Jimin’s stare. You tried avoiding his stare, as you continued talking to the sweet old land lady. As you have both arrived in your floor, Jimin stepped outside the elevator, as you bid goodbye to land lady. The walk to both of your apartments were quiet, and you didn’t try to strike a conversation. Jimin gently put you down when you arrived in front of your door, you winced at the pain and Jimin was quick to assist you.

“Are you alright Y/N?” He asked. You nodded, you fumble with your keys and struggled to open the door. When you finally get to open the door, you turned around to Jimin, “Thank you for helping me tonight. I’ll repay—“

“No need, Y/N.” Jimin smiled. He stepped back, “Please take care of yourself.” You watched him get inside, and you didn’t say anything as you entered inside your apartment. You already promised yourself that you’re going to stay away from Jimin, that what he does and his existence shouldn’t concern you after this…then why were you staring at the hole? The crumpled paper blocked the hole, and you slowly removed the paper. You gulped. You were scared, you were worried that Jimin may notice that you were removing the paper, and it’s only been a few minutes and you heard Jimin’s voice.

“Y/N?” His voice was gentle, and you closed your eyes out of embarrassment because you were immediately found out by Jimin. You immediately put back the paper but Jimin immediately removed it. You gulped as you saw him sitting down his chair. He tilted his head to look at you better, and you looked down. “…for some reason, I knew you would peek.” You could see him opening a can of beer, and you resisted an urge in asking him why he was drinking. “I don’t know why but it’s intriguing how I could read you and understand you like a favorite book of mine. I knew you were going to get a job in a cake shop, I knew you would peek in this hole…I just knew you.”

“I’m going to sleep…good night, Jimin.”

“God…your voice sounds like a song when you say my name.” You gulped. What was happening with Jimin? A few minutes before, he was gentle and was quiet and now, he was getting bolder. The alcohol must be affecting him. You could see how he kept pushing back his hair, how he was loosening his tie, and how he leans his head on his palm and was staring through the hole. You pulled your lower lip between your teeth and felt shivers running through your spine as Jimin piercing eyes stared back at you. You were about to speak when he cut you off. “I’m sorry.” Your mouth parted, you could see him placing gently his can of beer, he stood up and slowly approached the hole. You felt shivers in your spine when you could see Jimin peeking out.

His cheeks were already rose colored, and his lips were wet and his presence smelled like alcohol and just by a sniff of it, you could be intoxicated. You could see his index finger peeking out of the hole and you pulled your lower lip between your tongue to fight the urge to touch it.

His hands were always small but it perfectly fits you. “I’m sorry for being a jerk…angel.” You stared at his peeking eyes, you could see the regret in his eyes and he bit his lower lip and looked down. “I was protecting you from me. I was scared, a coward, I know that if I let you in to my world…I would just hurt you more, give you more pain and I couldn’t handle that. I don’t want to hurt you but from the process of not wanting to get you hurt, I’ve already hurt you and I’m so sorry for that. I keep giving you mixed signals, I keep pushing and pulling, and here I am, you told me that we should avoid each other but I can’t keep myself away from you…you’re like a magnet to me. I am so damn attracted.” Two fingers were already peeking out of the hole, you slowly approached the hole and as you stared through the hole, you saw his eyes staring back at you. You gulped. “You’re so beautiful…” Jimin whispered to himself and you couldn’t help but blush at his words.

You stared at his fingers, and how you were drawn at the shape of his fingers. You watched as how Jimin would keep on tapping the hole, drawing circles in the air or would trace your wall while simultaneously speaking. You were trying to understand what Jimin has to say but your eyes kept looking back at his slender fingers, and you wondered what would Jimin’s reaction if you touched it. Then your mind flash back to that day, when he let you suck his fingers and your insides tingled when you remembered how hard he pushed his fingers inside your mouth and how much you love sucking it as you imagined it was his member.

“So beautiful…so serene…so pure….this is why I’m scared to corrupt you. I’m scared—“ The first touch of your lips on Jimin’s soft fingers made Jimin pause, and the way you left kitten kisses on his fingers made him hiss. “What are you doing angel?” Jimin watched in dazed as how you slowly left kisses on his index and middle finger. You were bend on your bed as you tried to leave wet trails with your sloppy kisses on his fingers, and Jimin’s throat contracted and he could feel the crotch of his pants tightening. Jimin watched as you darted your tongue out and started licking his fingers and how he could wish he could pat your head but the both of you were blocked by a wall and for Jimin, it was a good and bad thing. He could at least control his urge. “Why are you doing this angel?”

You looked up… “I don’t want you to be scared, Jimin. Don’t restrict yourself from me. I don’t mind being corrupted by you, Jimin….I’m a big girl, I could handle that.” At that moment, you pushed his two fingers inside your mouth and Jimin couldn’t help but hiss, and push more of his two fingers inside. You sucked his fingers like a favorite lollipop of yours, and the more you suck his fingers, the more you imagined it was his dick and with that thought, you couldn’t help but clench your insides and pressed both of your thighs together. Jimin watched as your small lips take all of his two fingers, and he just imagined that it was dick that you were sucking and unconsciously, he shut his eyes and just feel your mouth on his fingers. Your lips were soft, and how he wished he could feel your lips on his but he’s already contented with what’s happening, contented that he could touch you.

When you removed your mouth from his fingers, and leaned out to look at Jimin, you tilted your head to take a good look at him. Jimin slowly fluttered his eyes open, he sighed. “I want to touch you so badly, angel.” Jimin motioned you to come closer, and you obeyed. He caressed your cheeks with his two fingers, still wet from your saliva but you didn’t mind, you badly needed his touch. “Is it really okay to touch you like this, angel? You would let me be near you?”

You pulled your bottom lip between your teeth and nodded. “Use your beautiful mouth, angel. I need to hear what you say.”

“Yes, Jimin.” With Just two words, Jimin was already relieved. He was already freed from the prison of his thoughts. The days and nights that he thought he was no good for you was completely erased by just two words from you. Then, he remembered the men who was chasing you and he knew why they were chasing you, the horror in your face when you were running away from them and Jimin was afraid that some day they would take you away from him but seeing your hopeful eyes comforted him with those kind of thoughts. From now on, Jimin would do anything, even reaching impossible heights to make sure that you would always be with him.

You laid on your bed while Jimin is watching you, you chuckled at the course of events today and Jimin tilted his head, curios to why you were laughing. As if you knew what Jimin is going to ask, you immediately answered him. “This day is a rollercoaster for my emotions.” You recollected as how your day started with telling Jimin that both of you should remain as strangers, then the tiring job hunt, then the suspense you felt when you were running away from those black suited men and now this….as you laid on your bed to finally drift off to sleep while Jimin is staying by your side. You looked up to him, “Are we still acquaintances, Jimin?” You asked, you were afraid of Jimin’s answer, you were scared that tomorrow, he would still insist you on this label.

“Do you want us to be?” You immediately shook your head, and Jimin smiled at that action. “Then what do you want us to be, angel?”

You bit your lower lip, you were happy but you tried to remain calm and suppressed the thought of something more because honestly, you were already fine if Jimin stated that you are friends, or a close friend. You were contented at the thought that you and Jimin are friends because friends could always be together, right? “How about friends….” You softly spoke and you could see Jimin pouting to what you said. He was disappointed in what you said because there was no way that he would let his fingers be sucked by just a friend. “You don’t want to be friends with me?” You chuckled.

It was his turn to shake his head. “I don’t see you as a friend, angel. I see you as someone that I want to mark mine but if you’re more comfortable with being friends…I’m also fine with that. As long as I could still be near you.”

You lift your fingers and put it inside the hole, you closed your eyes when you felt Jimin touching your fingers. “…Then I’ll be yours, Jimin.” You softly said as you were drifting off to sleep and the last thing before sleep envelops in you was Jimin’s adoring smile and felt him kiss your fingers.

Jimin watched you sleep and it was a foreign feeling for him to see you so peacefully sleeping. He never gets the chance to watch his submissives sleep after one of their sessions. They would immediately go home. Honestly, it was a bit lonely but Jimin decided that forming a romantic connection with his submissives were never his intention because he knew that at the end of the day, they would leave him. They were just his master during those sessions but he was not their master in their life, they still control their lives after that and in the end, they chose to leave him. Jimin didn’t mind but it always happened and Jimin became numb with the loneliness when they would always have to say that they need to leave this kind of relationship. Jimin stared at you, he wondered if you would be like his previous submissives…would you leave him? Maybe it’s also one of the reasons why he was afraid to mark you his, he was afraid that you would leave him. Scared that one day if you leave, he wouldn’t be able to numb the pain and loneliness.

Jimin sighed, and pushed back his hair. Frustrated with his thoughts, frustrated that deep down, he was just a coward who was to scared that one day, when everything unfolds and you have to leave him, he wouldn’t be able to go on with his life without you.

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scarlettrhettelizabethrichard · 4 years ago

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Chapter 3. Impression, Rising Sun, my GWTW fanfiction

Chapter 3 of The Robillard Boutique

Charleston, December 1873 Sitting back in a comfortable chair, Rhett nervously inhaled the smoke from his cigar, a sheaf of documents in one hand. The other was gripping the armrest firmly. Without taking any notice, his fingers were mechanically scratching the already worn leather of the good old Chesterfield. He had waited so long for this divorce certificate. As soon as he returned from Atlanta and his altercation with Scarlett, he had gone straight to his notary's office after leaving the station to give him the form signed by Scarlett O'Hara. "Don't flinch! Break the bond now. » And then the wait for the official notification began. For the next three weeks, his nervousness put Eleonor and Rosemary to the test. They could not enter the library. The place reeked of alcohol and the ashes of burnt cigars. At the slightest signal from old butler Michael to open the front door, Rhett would appear, looking for a courier to deliver the envelope. He hoped for it, he dreaded it, he looked forward to it, he hoped it would never happen... How many times had he had to restrain himself from rushing to his solicitor's office and ordering him to cancel his divorce petition! His constant changes of mind had finally caused him stomach cramps. "Thank God I held out! Free at last! "Rhett Butler chuckled to himself. It's true, he had doubted. Scarlett had clouded his judgement with her incongruous declaration of love when Mrs Wilkes died. After twelve years of desperate waiting! But no, it was too late. The little pest had succeeded in drying up her capacity for emotion. In any case, Bonnie had taken all her love with her. "That Scarlett should cry in turn is only fair! » And besides, did she really love him? From the speed with which she had accepted the end of their marriage, he doubted it. When he arrived in Atlanta last November with the divorce form in his pocket, Rhett anticipated many months - even years - of struggle before Scarlett agreed to stop calling herself Mrs Butler. Dumbfounded, he had seen her stand up, take the pen with a determined air and sign "Scarlett O'Hara" at the bottom of the document. Without a fight. A twinge of guilt surprised him, but he quickly banished this emotional reflex. Ah, if it had been for Ashley... All those long years during which she had waited patiently for this vain puppet. But in the case of Rhett, her "great love" miraculously revealed according to her, two months had been enough for the distraught lover to annihilate her patience and to probably change her love target again. "Definitely, no, there is nothing to regret. No more Mrs Scarlett Butler. The rope with which you strangled me for twelve years is cut. It's over, Scarlett! A clean, sharp break. Brutality suits you so well! From now on, there will be no more ties between us. No more enduring your whims and cruelty, no more being in your presence, no more drowning in your emerald eyes, no more wrapping your long locks of hair around my neck, no more being able to touch you... Never again, Scarlett..." He celebrated his new status as a divorced man with his stash of whisky and shut himself up in his room for three days. A week later, judging it best to avoid the ire of a mother outraged by his "abandonment of wife and children", he had run away - "as usual", Scarlett could have said. "Of course not, it's not running away. I'm just going to enjoy my single life. » *************************

Paris, January 1874 He left for London where his English partner was waiting for him. It was while talking to industrialists that he got the idea of starting a new business. "We'll see when I get back to Charleston. I've got time to work on my project. » Then he crossed the Channel to spend a few weeks in Paris, his favourite European capital. There, too, the wealthy businessman planned to do some business and invest in successful ventures. As on his previous visits to the French capital, Rhett the art lover admired the architecture of the Eternal City and its museums. He made a few days' foray into the provinces to visit the châteaux of the Loire. Rhett the epicurean enjoyed the sophisticated gastronomy, the Parisian life and its nightly shows. Rhett the jouster found above all his refined places of priced pleasures. The seductive American with the enticing smile was welcomed with open arms, of course. Every evening he greedily chose his playmate for a few hours, never for the whole night. On Tuesday, this one was chosen because her blond hair contrasted with Scarlett's hair, which was as black as darkness; on Wednesday, this one accompanied him because her skin was the colour of gingerbread, contrasting with the pearly whiteness of Scarlett's body; on Thursday, he preferred the third one because her hips were wide, contrasting with Scarlett's slim waist. It was unconscious. He didn't even notice. At social functions with friends, he was often placed next to young girls to be married. In France, his situation as a divorced man did not seem to panic the families of good society. On the other hand, his bank account was certainly attractive. Jacqueline, a pretty young person with blonde curls, had been his date on trips to the theatre and the opera. She blushed. Rhett, who had been out of the habit of dating "maiden" since a certain barbecue, was flushed. Had the 16-year-old Scarlett blushed at Twelve Oaks in 1861? No, certainly not to him, but perhaps to Ashley... He admired the young Frenchwoman's literary and artistic knowledge. It was a change from his ex-wife, whom he had taken to slyly mocking because of her poor school education! After a few discreet caresses exchanged, kind words spoken, the prospect that the lady would probably become a perfect housewife, submissive to her husband, cultured, pleasant, loving and... so boring, he grew weary. "To my great regret," he confided to her apologetically, "my duties call me back to America. Rhett Butler, a great aesthete since his adolescence, took advantage of his stay in Paris to indulge in more cerebral pleasures. On 15 April 1874, following the advice of his friend Jean, he went to 35 Boulevard des Capucines in Paris, to the studios of the famous photographer Nadar. 30 artists had gathered for the first time to show their paintings, sculptures and engravings for a month. Most of the exhibitors were unknown to Rhett. Their common denominator was an innovative, provocative and revolutionary style, according to the art critics. One of the critics, in mockery, later called them "Impressionists". He did not linger long in front of Berthe Morisot's painting, "The Cradle": a young mother leaning tenderly over her sleeping baby. Scarlett had never taken the time to admire her precious Bonnie in her little bed. Rhett stood petrified before a painting entitled "Impression, Rising Sun". The author of the work, Claude Monet, observing this elegantly dressed American, took care to comment on his creation, the effect of the mist on the port of Le Havre. Rhett thanked him warmly. A disturbing emotion made his imagination wander. He was mysteriously caught up in the scene: an orange sky, symbol of fire, of burning passion; in the background, port buildings and boats reflected in the water, with blue pigments similar to the eyes of his dear little girl; finally the sea, a gradation of green hues: water green, like a tear-fogged eyelid; pale green surrounded by a thousand shining sequins, like eyes flooded with sweetness after love; emerald green, a hard, raging green, heralding flashes of anger, Scarlett's last look on that November day in 1873. He inquired about the price and immediately reserved the painting, making sure that it would be shipped to him in Charleston as soon as the exhibition was over. He cut his visit short. On the way back to the hotel, he stopped at his travel agent's and booked his place on the first boat to leave for America the next day. Rhett was looking forward to seeing "Impression, Rising Sun" in his armchair in Charleston. Perhaps he would install it in his room so that he could not take his eyes off it until he fell asleep. ********************** Charleston, May 1874 When she returned, Eleonor gave Rhett a big hug. As usual, her favourite son had spoiled her and Rosemary. Packages were piled up in the hallway, between Parisian-style trinkets and boxes of chocolate pralines. "I'm finally turning the page! "he thought with conviction. He immediately contacted his solicitor to check that he had not received any letters from Atlanta sent by Henry Hamilton, Scarlett's solicitor and uncle by marriage. "Not that I care in the least, by the way! "he convinced himself. It was high time to manage his business. These were difficult times and Rhett had to take a serious look at his investments. He couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled the ironic coincidence between the resounding financial crash on the New York Stock Exchange in September 1873, triggering a string of industrial bankruptcies, and the day Rhett left Scarlett and Atlanta. The Nothern Pacific Railway was ruined that day, followed by 89 other railways. Fortunately Rhett had divested himself of the company and sold all his shares earlier that year. One of his partners who had speculated on the rail frenzy had not had the same reflex. Overnight he was ruined. Yes, divorcing Scarlett seemed like an earthquake, even on the New York Stock Exchange, he quipped. "And I'm afraid I'll continue to feel the seismic tremors for some time to come," he said bitterly. The former war profiteer Rhett Butler had proved to be quite adept at managing the improperly earned Confederate money. Of course, large sums had been invested in hedge funds. So he too had suffered some losses. But nothing that would threaten his fortune. When Bonnie was born, in order to protect the future of his beloved daughter, he had embarked on a vast real estate project in New York, in Yankee country. In this bustling city, every piece of land was now prohibitively expensive. In 1869, Rhett had acquired a large area of wasteland in a fast-growing district. He had built buildings of about ten storeys. Rhett demanded that his high-end properties be equipped with all the comforts of new technology, lifts, good ventilation and sanitation. Central heating fed by a low pressure steam circuit ensured comfort for the lucky occupants. To make the most of every precious yard, the ground floors opened onto large glass galleries with shops. In short, Rhett Butler's property portfolio on that May day in 1874 was impressive. "Fortunately, I took the precaution a long time ago to convert my financial liquidity into gold bars! "The businessman congratulated himself once again. Unlike many of his acquaintances, who had to endure the catastrophe caused by the decision of the US Congress and its Coinage Act*. Overnight, their fortune in bundles of money was deflated. Thanks to his foresight, flair and experience, Charlestonian Rhett Butler had managed to weather the financial and economic crisis without much damage. Rhett was very rich. "Rich enough to continue paying Scarlett's expensive pension." Deep down he knew he would continue to protect her financially well beyond the five years agreed in the divorce. He laughed under his breath at his ex-wife's incomprehensible and in no way deserved show of generosity. Ex-wife... " It's been seven months, and I still can't get used to it..." Rhett shrugged. "Scarlett, you can continue to squander part of my fortune without fear of running out! "He hoped, with a childish reflex, that Clayton's former county belle would hear him in Atlanta. ***************************** Endnotes to Chapter 5: *Coinage Act: On 12 February 1873, the US Congress voted to change the monetary standard from silver to gold.

Disclaimers : I do not own the history and the characters of the book and movie of Gone with the Wind, which beloong to Margaret Mitchell.

#novel, #writer, #fanfiction, #GWTW, #Gone with the Wind, #historic novel, #french painters, #Impressionnists, #1875's krak

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frontproofmedia · 4 years ago

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Jessica McCaskill: Teamwork Is The Key To Success

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Published: March 04, 2021

A few weeks out from her first defense as unified Welterweight champion and rematch with Cecilia Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs), Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill (9-2, 3 KOs) feels comfortable with her training.

“It’s almost one of those things where I’ve pushed my body and my limits so high that it’s normal, and I almost feel like I should be struggling more,” stated McCaskill. “Or I should keep pushing myself to a higher limit. So to be where I’m at is a weird feeling, but honestly, it's more of a workout than anyone I know can handle. The guys that come in for sparring leave bloody. Certain things have to give me confirmation that what we’re doing is not easy work. “

That being said, McCaskill says, “Boxing is not the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through in life. So, when I get into the ring, there’s not a lot of pressure built up; there’s isn’t a bunch of fear.”

The struggles McCaskill faced as a child are well documented. It built character and turned her into one of the hardest working boxers in the profession. Her trainer and manager, Rick Ramos, regularly posts photos on social media of McCaskill performing 4:45 am workouts, followed by a full day’s work at her day job in the financial sector, only to finish the day with a sparring session.

What may be viewed as a hectic day for most people, McCaskill views it as a way to prepare for the unexpected in the ring.

“We’re ready to do things on the fly,” said McCaskill. That’s one of the reasons I don’t mind having a day job while we train because there can be a million things that happen during the day that we don’t control.

"Someone calls and wants to do an interview in the middle of the day, and we have to move, sparring up several hours before our normal time. I have a meeting at work, and I have to do a presentation over the phone that’s 45 minutes long. We need to get deliveries of water and Gatorade at the gym, so we’re stocked for the class that evening. There’s a snowstorm that hits, and everyone is coming in late for class.

"There’s a million things that can happen in 24 hours that can make us adjust last minute, and that prepares you for stuff - getting in the ring with somebody and then everything you think they’re going to throw at you is completely changed. You learn to adjust. We put ourselves in positions to learn to adjust on a regular basis.

"You’re not thinking about it, but that’s what’s happening. When you’re locked up in a camp, far away, with nobody around, and you’re picking at your toes all day, and you don’t have interaction in life, you’re just sitting there, and when you get to the ring, you’re just sitting there, you don’t have anything to bring. “

Being locked up in a faraway camp is a comment directly critical of Braekhus and her team. In their first fight, Braekhus was expected to outbox McCaskill and surpass Joe Louis’s record with 27 consecutive title defenses.

McCaskill's majority decision upset victory prevented that. Immediately after the loss, Braekhus spoke of retirement. A week later, she exercised her rematch clause and began making excuses for her loss.

It was Braekhus’s first fight training with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, CA, and because of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, she was stuck in a remote mountain town by herself. She publicly complained about the difficulties she faced in isolation and how it translated to the ring.

youtube

McCaskill's retort: “that’s on you and your team.” She openly ponders,

“What does that say about her team?. It says they don’t work together well as a team. That they may not be on the same page, if I was up in Big Bear and Rick wasn’t there, we’d probably still have a meeting every day at 9 am. Did you do XYZ? Yes. Okay, this is what I want you to do. Take a nice bath, rent a car, go into town. Rick would make sure I had everything I need.

"If I needed company, he would send somebody to be with me. Nobody locked the doors and chained her to the wall. She could have made changes to what she was doing, and she just didn’t. The thing about our first fight, it’s nobody’s fault that Cecilia lost except for Cecilia’s.

"It’s not even my fault. It’s her fault; it’s her fault that she came up short. It’s her fault that she struggled with her weight; it’s her fault that she didn’t do more in the ring. She’s put the blame on everyone else.”

Trainer Rick Ramos chimed in, “Also, I feel like there’s no comradery, there’s no communication. Cecilia and Abel don’t really know each other. I don’t think they care to know each other. Which is the reason it doesn’t work.”

In fact, Braekhus has gone through multiple trainers over the past few years, believed to be to her detriment. McCaskill emphasizes that her team is an integral part of her success.

“I feel the old school of boxing is you’re hired, teach me,” said McCaskill. “This isn’t working, “you’re fired.” Next person, “you’re hired.” We have gone through a lot of life experiences together as a team, so it’s not that kind of relationship. I’ve come along with Rick for his stuff with his other fighters so I can learn what his hardships are and how to help him and how I can come into this role when my time is ready.

"Or, I’ve had the experience as an amateur fighter, so I’m helping and coaching within my parameters, not stepping on any toes. So, we’ve built this bond. We have breakfast together at least once per week, and there’s so much more than “you’re hired, teach me, you’re fired.”

If it isn’t a lack of teamwork between Braekhus and Sanchez, something else is obviously wrong. In a recent DAZN press conference, Braekhus was visibly uncomfortable. Braekhus’s discomfort didn’t go unnoticed by McCaskill either.

"That is her right now in a really poor state,” McCaskill stated. “She wasn’t that bad for the press conference for the first fight. This time it’s like night and day. She looked like she wanted to cry; she looked like she didn’t want to be there.

"She could never physically say she lost [the first] fight. She made a lot of excuses, pointed a lot of fingers, blamed a lot of other people. She never really talked boxing. When asked what she is going to do, she didn’t talk about elements of boxing; she just said, “I’m going to be myself.

"So, I don’t think her mind is clear. I don’t think her mind is stable. I don’t think she’s emotionally stable. She’s just very mopey, temper tantrum-ish. That’s what I got. I felt bad for her, I wanted to help her, but it moves from that to being upset because she has all these fans and all these kids that look up to her, and she’s not being a responsible adult in her profession."

Despite Braekhus not appearing to be mentally prepared for their rematch, McCaskill is not worried about letting her own guard down.

"I don’t relax,” said McCaskill. “My first fight, same thing. I walked into it; the girl couldn’t look me in the eye, she looked really nervous. I said, okay, I’m going to do her a favor and get her out of there. If she’s going to come in a certain way, that’s fine, but I’m still going to come in 100% - plus.

"I’ll be ready for whatever she brings, and my goal is to put her down and get her out. I don’t think she’s good for the sport right now, so the best thing I can do for boxing is eliminate her all together."

Regarding elimination, McCaskill earlier posted on social media that by defeating Braekhus in their first fight, she interrupted Braekhus’s career. In the rematch, she plans to end it.

To do so, McCaskill is sparring exclusively with men at her weight or heavier. All are local to the Chicago area and have extensive amateur backgrounds or some pro experience.

Coach Ramos confidently states:

"Cecilia isn’t that good. She’s a solid amateur. That’s how I see it. We’ve brought in better talent before. These guys with 20-30 amateur fights are as good as Cecilia, and they’re bigger and stronger. Why would we waste $5,000 to $6,000 on three or four sparring partners when Cecilia is average? Now, if it's Katie Taylor, it’s different. But for Cecilia – no, it’s not worth it."

The reference to Katie Taylor is an important one for McCaskill and women’s boxing. Promoter Eddie Hearn has already announced that the winner of McCaskill v. Braekhus II will face Taylor.

McCaskill lost a decision to Taylor in 2017. In it, Taylor neutralized McCaskill's brawling, come forward style by continuously clutching and grabbing with little to no warnings from her home country referee.

If the rematch occurs, McCaskill, as the unified Welterweight champion, will be in the driver’s seat. Team McCaskill will likely be able to dictate where the fight occurs and assure that Taylor doesn’t have a “home court” advantage again.

But most importantly, Coach Ramos is adamant; if the Taylor-McCaskill rematch takes place, it will be the first women’s boxing match where both women have $1 million purses.

The prospect of having the biggest payday in women’s boxing history does not, however, distract McCaskill from the task at hand.

With a wry smile, McCaskill says, “Our sparring partners are not just punching bags. They’re grown men trying to keep their pride. If I can break a grown man’s will, then I’ll do okay with Cecilia.”

If McCaskill is able to end Braekhus’s career and do “okay,” then bigger and better things are certain to come.

In the first fight, Cecila fought your fight. What do you expect in the second fight?

"I expect the same thing. I suspect that they have tried to put on a little bit of power muscle-wise. I don’t think that’s going to work, and she’ll have to revert to movement and boxing. And boxing.

"We’re prepared for several different outputs from Cecila – coming straight at me, moving and boxing, a little bit of both. Or something totally new that we haven’t seen yet.

"When you have a kid, it’s easier to say “don’t do these things” as opposed to letting them fall and seeing how they react and keep going. It’s not like I’m teaching you to be tough right now. It just happens."

It’s interesting because you’re saying that full-time athletes miss an essential element of life.

Yeah, even if I didn’t have my day job, I’d still be doing a million other things to make sure that I don’t go flat.

(Featured Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing)

#SW #Jessica McCaskill #Women's Boxing

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newstfionline · 7 years ago

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5 Ways You Should Treat Yourself Like a Business

By Ryan Warner, Early to Rise, Apr 5, 2018

Successful businesses are efficient, value-producing machines. They have missions, create detailed investment plans for how to spend their time and revenues, boast a robust network of relationships, and take action every single day to move closer to their end game--whatever their definition of success happens to be.

On a flight from Oakland to Chicago, while reading Richard Branson’s “Losing My Virginity,” I thought about what would happen if I treated myself as a business. What if I lived every day as the president and CEO of RyanWarner.net? How much more productive would I be?

I wrestled with the question for a few days, and ultimately decided to play out the possibility. I’m now three months into managing myself as a business, and have experienced a number of positive benefits:

I have shifted my focus, time, and energy to things that really “move the needle” in my life.

I have discovered (and constantly reiterate) a life mission--something that guides every action I take.

I’ve learned that I’m the only one who will succeed (or fail) in my own life. My butt is on the line, so I make every minute of every day count. I’m driven to make an impact on the world.

If you’re on board with what a business lens can do to your own life, then start implementing the steps below.

1. Define Your Business Philosophy. If someone were to navigate to Yourname.com and click on the About page, what would they find?

Tim Ferris shone a light on this self-definition recently. On his podcast, Ferriss hosted psychologist Michael Gervais, during which Gervais told a story about how he came to develop his personal philosophy, “Make every day a living masterpiece.”

Twenty years back, Gervais was asked by his mentor who he was. A simple question, right? But Gervais fumbled. He jumped into hokums about what he liked to do, what he did in the past, and what his goals were. The elderly mentor smiled and said, “Come back to me when you’re ready.”

Young Gervais--the now world-renowned performance psychologist--could not answer this seemingly simple question. But he endeavored to find an answer. What resulted was his personal philosophy.

You should do the same for yourself as a business. Why? Your business philosophy is what continually reminds you what you stand for. A well-crafted philosophy will not leave room for ambiguity or loopholes; it will hold your feet to the fire every day.

Before you move onto the steps below, then, take a few hours and sketch out your own philosophy. What do you stand for? What is your “business”? What are your end goals? These will need tweaking, of course, but it’s important to start now.

To get you started, here’s my “business” philosophy in a nutshell: Ryan Warner will always be grateful for obstacles. He will maintain the discipline needed to attack every task with absolute focus. He will spread love and laughter every day.

As you can see, philosophies are not all about stuff. In fact, the best ones tackle the most important questions of morality and purpose, leaving money to fall where it may. That said…

2. Capitalize on Investments. Investments are focused on how we spend our time and money. The former is the scarcest resource in the world; we should be mindful of this when we commit ourselves to daily tasks. We want to invest only in those things that move the needle in our “business” every day.

What would a business do with a hefty helping of time? They would invest labor and research in things that create value for shareholders. Likewise, we should put our time into activities that build us up as individuals and enable us to offer value to our family, friends, coworkers, and the world at large.

Here’s a good example: Spend a Sunday morning analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. Be ruthless about your weaknesses, and really drill into what you want to improve in your life. Do you want to learn how to be a better leader or public speaker? Do you want to be more present for your family? Do you wanted to be more invested in your job? What are your friends, family, and colleagues doing well in these areas that you could learn from?

The second piece of our daily investment is financial. How does a business look at finances? In simple terms, it’s about increasing top-line growth while maintaining a tight bottom line. Incoming dollars are viewed not as income, but as revenue, and revenues are re-invested in the company to increase growth.

Now think of yourself as a money-making business. What sort of revenues are you bringing in? And how will you get the best return on investment for the money you spend?

For example, if you--as a business--have $20 left over in the budget after a light month, would you reinvest in yourself or squander that money on meaningless stuff and empty activities? Would you buy a book or head to the bar and buy a round of beers?

By thinking of yourself as a business, always looking to increase value, your investments will start to align with your philosophy.

3. Nurture Relationships. How important are personal connections and relationships to a business? Very. They make or break a business’ success; without relationships, there are no customers, partners, board members, or staff.

You need relationships in your business. A lone wolf will not make it.

Former UFC champion Frank Shamrock has a strategy for building relationships that he calls “Plus, Minus, and Equal.”

For the Plus, he looks for someone who is more successful than he is (however one might define success). This person is at the level where Frank wants to be at some point. He or she would make a great mentor.

On the flipside, a Minus is someone whom Frank can teach. Teaching not only helps a Minus, but also helps you increase your understanding of the topic(s) you teach. After all, you can’t teach a subject effectively unless you know it inside and out.

An Equal is a peer--someone with whom you can share feedback as you move your “business” closer to success. These shared struggles and success stories build on mutual experiences and inform future decisions for even better outcomes--increasingly value exponentially.

It’s important that every business have a balance of Plus, Minus, and Equal relationships to keep them afloat. Each one encourages development, maturity, and social engagement.

4. Maintain Health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may seem like a given, but many people ignore it. I love focusing on health for my “business” because it often has the most immediate ROI. Don’t believe me? Hop on an elliptical for 30 minutes, then spend 15 minutes meditating. How do you feel? It’s amazing the amount of energy and focus we gain from working out.

But what’s the business angle here? Well, think of your mind like the CEO of the company and the rest of your body as employees. You want to spend time making sure each part of your body--or “employee”--is healthy so it can work properly, both on its own and in conjunction with other parts of the body.

To make that work, feed your body what it needs--lots of fresh vegetables, lean meats, and limited carbohydrates. Avoid refined sugars and processed foods. Then, keep a regular exercise regimen going.

The result: A healthy body--”collaborative workforce”--that is an unbeatable productivity machine.

But don’t neglect the mind. Dedicate time to meditation, reading, and journaling throughout your week. Challenge your mind with new types of learning, like language study, crossword puzzles, or trivia games. These activities keep your mind sharp, ready for whatever life throws at you.

5. Take Action Every Single Day. A CEO doesn’t take weeks off without working on his/her business, and neither should you. Every day is an opportunity to improve the state of your business and a chance to increase the value you deliver to your shareholders.

Entrepreneur Jesse Itzler takes this concept to a whole new level. He calculates the average life expectancy of a Caucasian male and subtracts his age from it. That leaves him with the number of years he likely has left in this world. Seeing that number in black and white makes only one thing matter: The mission to do the most with your life TODAY.

Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, takes a different approach. He focuses on the hours that comprise a day, and at the end of each hour asks, “What did I just accomplish in the past hour? Would my family be proud of how I lived in the last 60 minutes?”

In both cases, however, the idea is the same; as the old saying goes, “Live your life like there’s no tomorrow.”

There are two parts to this imperative action. The first is your “why”--which is derived from your mission statement. Don’t just act to act; act knowing what you’re doing is a real-life manifestation of your mission statement.

The second is your “how”--derived from your investment strategy. How do you act in relationships, at home, and at work to reflect your commitment of time and money? How are these an accurate reflection of what your mission statement demands?

Don’t let these questions derail you, however. Examine your actions--carefully, but not too long--and act with integrity, confidence, and purpose.

Treating yourself as a business has the potential to reframe your personal development and rebrand your identity with a crystal clear “why.” Be thoughtful about crafting your philosophy and mission statement to make this possible; bear these out in your investment decisions; nurture your relationships with these principles at your core; and act like there’s no tomorrow.

Be energized, be focused, be true to yourself and humbly inspired by the possibilities of your life. If you can manage this--as any good business would--you will find success, however you define it.

#Ryan Warner #treat yourself like a business #productivity

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orbemnews · 4 years ago

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Toll Worker Job Losses Highlight Long-Term Fallout of Pandemic John Mahalis of Philadelphia was two and a half months from his pension’s vesting when he learned that he would be permanently laid off from his job as a toll collector on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The news was a gut punch; Mr. Mahalis said it would leave him less able to financially weather retirement. “It came out of the blue,” said Mr. Mahalis, 65. He had worked for the turnpike for five years after 20 years of unemployment due to an injury he sustained as a dockworker. He had loved the work, especially interacting with customers, and earned good money: By taking as much overtime as he could get, he made about $53,000 a year, along with benefits. “It was the best thing I ever did,” he said. “I felt like a man again.” The job evaporated overnight when the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, decided in June to move up its plan to lay off nearly 500 toll workers and replace them with electronic tolling. Dismissals planned for early 2022 instead went into effect immediately, a move that the commission said would help the system financially accommodate weaker traffic during the economic downturn. The United States may be witnessing the bleeding edge of a labor force shuffle that often occurs during recessions: Employers who have been forced to cut workers turn to existing or new technology to carry on with less labor. But this time the shift could be magnified by a wave of forced layoffs at the start of the pandemic and by the fact that demand in some cases came back before employees safely could. That has created a big incentive for employers to figure out how to produce more with fewer workers, powered by new technologies that allow for more automation. Layoffs have shifted from temporary to permanent as the pandemic has dragged on, and many workers have moved to the sidelines of the labor market as service jobs in particular — everything from conference centers and hotels to tollbooths — are downsized or streamlined. It is unclear how quickly workers facing firings will find new jobs that are good substitutes in terms of skills and salaries. “We’re learning that technology can replace people even more than we thought, and some of that is happening,” Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, said at a news conference last week. “We’re still going to need to keep people in mind whose lives have been disrupted because they’ve lost the work that they did.” Technology adoption can lead to faster productivity growth — or at least a one-time bounce — that might improve the economy’s potential. But it can be difficult for laid-off workers to move into new jobs that pay as well and fit their qualifications. “This story isn’t new,” said Nela Richardson, the chief economist at ADP, the payroll-processing company. “There was always a question about what to do about those left behind by technology and globalization that was never answered.” The Pennsylvania Turnpike offers a stark example. Its workers knew that machines would eventually make them obsolete, but they thought they would have time to prepare. Faye Townsend, 50, was on a trial period at the turnpike’s administrative building, working a job that she hoped would lead to an even more secure one before the switch to cashless tolls. When the coronavirus crisis began, she was sent back to the road system but not allowed into the tollbooth. Instead, she and her colleagues spent worried days clocking in, sanitizing the building and waiting to learn whether and when they could return to collecting. Updated Feb. 4, 2021, 4:59 a.m. ET Early in the summer, they were told that their jobs were gone. “They had assured us, ‘Your jobs are not in jeopardy,’ and it felt like a betrayal of a relationship that you’d like to think you can trust,” said Ms. Townsend, who had worked at the turnpike for seven years and lives in Mount Joy, Pa. “There are jobs out there, but the pay is not as competitive, and I’m a little apprehensive to take anything.” The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission maintains that it had the authority to move to automated tolling and carry out layoffs before 2022, and it is trying to help its displaced employees find new jobs, a spokeswoman said. If there is good news for displaced workers in the United States, it is that the Fed knows they are likely to take time to return to the job market. During the last economic recovery and expansion, officials at the central bank thought they knew roughly where full employment was: somewhere in the vicinity of a 5 percent unemployment rate. Around the time joblessness dropped below that, officials began to raise interest rates to slow lending and spending, which feeds through the economy to slow hiring and make sure that it does not overheat. This time, Fed officials are poised to think more holistically about what the job market is able to achieve and to not rush to raise rates. Mr. Powell announced in August that the Fed would focus on “shortfalls” from full employment rather than deviation, suggesting that it would be comfortable with what it would have previously treated as a hot labor market. Patrick T. Harker, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, specifically mentioned the turnpike workers in his state as an example of the sort of lingering labor market weakness that policymakers should look out for. “I expect that, as we recover, the economic picture will remain uneven, with wildly unequal outcomes across sectors of the economy,” he said last month. Consumer changes might roil the business travel industry, he said, displacing people who had worked at hotels and conference centers. “I’d like to challenge all of us to think hard about ways to make sure the coming recovery is not only strong but equitable,” Mr. Harker said. It is unclear how big the labor market reshuffle will be this time. On one hand, unemployment has come down faster than many economists expected, falling to 6.7 percent from a peak of 14.8 percent. But it is still high: Adjusting for people who have moved to the labor market’s sidelines, Fed officials regularly suggest that joblessness may have been about 10 percent in December. In Europe, about 55 percent of employers expect to employ fewer people over the long term than they otherwise would have post-pandemic, according to a recent European Central Bank survey of 72 large companies across its currency bloc. That seems to reflect that “businesses have learned to maintain production in spite of restrictions on labor inputs due to social distancing,” the authors wrote. It is hard to tell how widely companies are reaching a similar conclusion in the United States. And it matters what sort of jobs are lost. If people lose work in fields with transferable skills and working structures, they might be easier to move into new jobs. If they are highly specialized, it might be tougher. “It’s not easy to change careers completely midcareer,” Mr. Powell said last week. “It would be wise as a country for the longer-run productive capacity of the country if we were to look out for those people and help them find their way back into the labor force, even if it means continuing support for an additional period of time.” If a significant number of Americans find themselves shut out of work, it could mean that some, like Mr. Mahalis, will leave the labor market permanently. Losing workers costs the economy potential room for growth. And with less income, those like Mr. Mahalis might spend less, creating an unhappy loop. Others, like Ms. Townsend, might need to retrain. While she has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, she is worried that it is obsolete. She said she had thought about getting her commercial driver’s license or going to school for medical coding. But for now, Ms. Townsend is mostly hoping she will be recalled for some sort of job working on Pennsylvania’s roads. “Part of me is still hoping that I might be one of the ones who gets a callback,” she said. “I thought I would retire with the turnpike.” Ben Casselman contributed reporting. Source link Orbem News #fallout #Highlight #Job #longterm #Losses #Pandemic #toll #worker

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allenmendezsr · 4 years ago

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Koi Farm Guide

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“A Multi-Billion Dollar Business”

The Ornamental Fish Business Is A Multi-Billion Dollar Business and Is a Business where literally anyone can make a six figure income in…and you don’t need a University Degree to do it.

Keeping and raising ornamental fish (including Koi) is the #2 hobby in the world, 2nd only to Photography!

The total spent on the hobby in the U.S. alone is over $2 billion a year.

Nearly 13 million households, and growing, in the U.S. currently keep ornamental fish.

The Koi Industry is a multi BILLION Dollar Global Industry and a large chunk of the demand for the product lies right in the United States.

Many in the U.S. previously obtained Koi through international imports but USDA regulations have made this increasingly more difficult and costly.

Now…Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room here:

The Demand is There (we love Koi)

A Supply Source has been stifled with “red tape”

Prices have gone up as a result

Can You See The Huge Opportunity In Starting Your Own High Profit Koi Breeding Business?

You get in on a high demand, exploding industry.

You set your own hours and are in complete control of your life.

You provide a service with exceptionally high profit margins

You can run this business from your home – no office needed.

Earn a full years income in a matter of months

You are your own boss and don’t take orders from anybody.

From: JT Abney

Dear Friend:

My name is JT Abney and I have something to share with you.

If you are an entrepreneur who is looking to find the exact steps that you can take to set up your own highly profitable Koi Farm, then I suggest that you read every word of this letter...

“Koi Farming is about to explode as an industry”

So if I were to reveal to you (which I will in a minute) that Koi Farming is about to explode as an industry, you’d rightfully ask “Just who is this guy that’s talking to us about Koi Farms?”

Well…for starters I’m not just some marketer in a plush office who saw an opportunity on CNN and decided to write an ebook. That’s not the case at all. In fact, many generations of my family have worked and made their livings in the Gulf of Mexico and it’s fishing grounds. Below is a picture of the actual oil platform that my grandfather worked on in the 1950’s, as my dad grew up on Grand Isle, La.

I continue to live and work on the Gulf Coast and became heavily involved in promoting the aquaculture industry after the Gulf Oil Spill that had such a tragic effect on our region. My highly acclaimed Shrimp Farming Guide and Tilapia Farming Guide have both been on the market for several years and continue to help people investigate and enter these industries daily.

In my time, I have found that there is ALWAYS a way to build something sustainable from any ruin that has been tossed on our doorstep, including changes in market conditions, government regulations – you name it. Koi Farming and Koi Breeding is just another logical step. .

I see an opportunity and a demand in the market so have put some very serious time into creating a valuable product to help fill that need – but I am also a very interested party.

“This is My Home…”

This is my home and my hope is also that some of the displaced businesses and business people in this economy will find their way into some new opportunities such as this one, because it’s a beauty!

Whether you are one of the many unfortunates affected by environmental conditions or simply a savvy entrepreneur who knows a hot market when they see it, information on starting and running a Koi Farm is scarce!

Are you frustrated wiith the limited quality of Koi Farm books on the market? Are you disappointed again that they are difficult to follow? Not enough information? Do you have questions about raising koi properly that need to be answered?

You have tons of questions about raising koi and you’re sick and tired of searching for information from all over the place, struggling to get the true and complete facts.

If you have any interest at all in koi farming…and if you want to find out what type of Koi you should grow…or you just want to figure out whether you should start a koi farm or not…keep reading on for the most important information you need to know.

“Raising Koi For Profit”

If you’re serious about Raising Koi for profit, there are several questions you need to consider:

How many types of Koi are there? Which ones should I raise?

How much does it cost to get started?

What type of food do Koi eat?

How do you feed growing Koi?

What enemies or predators do Koi have?

How much space do you need for raising Koi?

Making a mistake when farming Koi can be deadly for your fish…not to mention costly, frustrating and downright depressing.

You also need to consider:

Are there any permits or licenses needed???

You have heard of fish farming actually being harmful to the environment. Is this really the case…what does it actually mean…and how can you counteract that???

Are there any associations, clubs or organizations relating to Koi breeding and aquaponics where you can get support???

How do you know what the water quality in the ponds should be and how to test it???

“How to Farm Raise Koi”

If you or one of your loved ones wants to know how to farm raise Koi from start to finish, but have a lot of doubt or questions…

…then this could be the most informative letter you have ever read.

Koi…The Essential Facts

Discover just how long koi have been around and their incredibe symbolism

Learn the origins of Koi Breeding and Aquaponics

See why Koi Shows are popular and why you should be involved

What is a Koi anyway? An overview of Koi physiology and anatomy

Learn the different breeding methods for Koi reproduction

Disease is a major concern in Koi Farming…important information to keep your crop safe

Weather…Did you know that El Nino and La Nina can drastically impact Fish Farms world-wide?

Why not just “what” you feed your fish BUT “how” you feed them can have a huge impact on your harvest

Harvesting and Packaging…learn the importance of doing this exactly the right way every time.

Your Important Alliances. Discover EXACTLY who you need to align yourself with to get your product to market…for the best price.

“Everything You Need to Get Started”

Resources, Resources, Resources

Loads of resources you’ll need to connect with a huge number of Koi breeders and aquaculture suppliers across the globe.

Find everything you need to get started rasing Koi including: equipment, supplies, medicine, feed, feeders…you name it!

Do NOT get this if…

You want to get rich overnight: Hey, who doesn’t, but this is NOT fantasy land.

You immediately want to start a big high-profile, sloppy enterprise with no regard for your industry, your community or your environment. You can’t build any kind of business without a foundation and a network. Bottom line: For any structure to stand – you need a solid foundation.

You want a pretty coffee table-style book to impress your friends. Nope again. This is nuts and bolts presented in a non-flashy manner so that you can start planning your operations immediately.

Before I go on…let me ask you a few questions:

Would you like to quit the Rat Race?

Are you tired of working to make your boss rich instead of you?

Would you like to lose the fear of being fired or laid off?

Do you want to take complete control of your financial future?

Would you like to have instant cash in your pocket whenever you need it?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, DO NOT STOP NOW, what you are about to read below could help you change your life…

Consider this:

Build your business and work your business according to what YOU want and are happy with.

You will never have to look through the “help wanted” ads again.

Build your company to as big as you can handle. Make your goal to work part-time or to have 5 crews working for you. It’s all up to YOU.

Obviously, there’s hard work involved. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just selling “the dream” and… unfortunately that’s all it is.

So if you’re looking to develop financial freedom and financial independence…the reason why I’m doing this now is because I know things that you may not know. I know what’s happening with the U.S. dollar. I know what’s going to happen with the economy in the United States and around the world.

If you think things are tough now, hold onto your seat.

The next few years are going to be tougher than you can imagine. The governments are propping it up. And they may succeed in keeping it propped up, but it’s on false promises and it’s being propped up on false hope. At some point, it will crash.

The time to build your business is now.

The good news is…today is your lucky day. I’ve assemble some of the greatest materials on starting a Koi Farming business ever created. Never before has there been such a wealth of material all in one place.

There’s no risk whatsoever with The Koi Farm Guide

I’ll give you immediate access to all of the materials right away.

I am completely confident that you’ll love everything.

If…on the off chance you don’t – no problem…I’ll gladly refund your money. If within 60 days from the receipt of your package you’re not totally in love, simply send me an email with your receipt and I’ll promptly process your refund. It’s that simple.

That being said, I mean it very nicely when I ask that if you don’t have the intention of going through and taking action, please don’t order. I know the power of the material and it would just be a waste of your time and mine if you don’t even intend on reading it, agreed?

If you’re the type of person to read it and review it as well as take action to make your dreams come true faster than you ever dreamed possible – I can’t wait to send you your guides.

So what does The Guide that has All of the Information YOU NEED in One Place cost?

This amazing guide has been priced at…$67.00!

But for a short time I’ll do better than that…

If you respond Immediately,

“Koi Farm Guide”

Is Only $28.00!

“Koi Farm Guide!” The Only Updated and Most Exhaustive Guide Online”

($67.00) $28.00

My guide contains a wealth of information about starting a Koi Farm and Breeding Koi for profit. It includes incredible word of mouth tips, tricks and secrets – tons of information that is next to impossible to find all in one place.

It’s the most incredible guide to Koi Farming available anywhere!

Order Immediately and I’ll Include…

FREE BONUS #1:

First, This isn’t just a Bonus. This is an ENTIRE COLLECTION of Supplements hand-crafted specifically for the Koi Farm Guide.

Koi Marketing Guide!

An incredible supplement to the Koi Farm Guide that concentrates on the various ways to market and sell your Koi. This includes an in-depth discussion on Koi Valuation and insight into the various opportunities available to sell your product that you may not have thought of.

Koi Farm Business Planning Workbook! Designed to get you started on the task of product selection, business planning and even the financials. Loaded with Worksheets and Questions to make the process easy! Now with a Reference Section of over 75 Pages of helpful Resoiurces including: Associations, Consultants, Small Business Development Centers and Venture Capital & Financing Companies.

Koi Farm and Aquaculture International Directory! A world-wide directory of aquaculture equipment suppliers, hatcheries, consultants, credit companies, packing plants, processors, feed suppliers, and more… This Directory is kept Completely Up To Date with Sections added to the Guide for – Importers, Exporters, Fish Agents. This thing is worth the price of the Entire Koi Farm Guide Alone! Pure Gold!

Exclusive Software for Fish Farm / Aquaculture Calculations and Conversions! It’s not enough that I’m giving you the most comprehensive guide on Koi Farming Available. I had to raise the bar – This is BRAND NEW in 2011 and updated again This Year. I call it Fish Scales and it’s Cool! It’s a Desktop Software App (Windows) that does over 15 Calculations and Conversions – From Simple Weight, Volume, Area – All the way to Water Treatment Levels, Water Flow, Density, Tank Volumes, even Drug Treaments! Yours Free! Stay tuned for the IOS and Android Apps (they are in development).

Lifetime Premium Access to ALL future Koi Farm Guide Updates – FREE!

When a new version of the Guide or any of the Supplements gets published (see above), you get Free Access to those updates…for LIFE.

FREE BONUS #2: As a special free bonus for acting immediately I’ll also give you a copy of “597 Business Letters Library“. This is a $39.95 value.

597 Ready To Use Business Letters Library at your fingertips just about every kind of letter or form you might need for your business…ready for your instant use!

With the 597 Business Letters Library you will never be at a loss for words. This easy to use collection provides you with almost any type of business letter you can imagine. Just select a document and change the name and address to suit your needs.

This powerful tool is a must have for every small business. Just type in a key word for the document you need and hit the Search button. What could be easier?

With this one easy-to-use tool you can save time, save money, and project a professional image.

Here are a few of the ready-to-use letters/forms in the 597 Business Letters Library:

41 Different Sales Letters (tailored for different products/business)

30 Different Thank You Letters (tailored for different products/businesses/customers)

100+ Common Business Forms

40+ Announcement Letters (new business, new location, new employees, etc.)

Video, Photo and Audio Recording Release Forms

Permission to Use Copyrighted Material

Non Compete Agreement

Power of Attorney

Assignment of Copyright or Trademark

Bill of Sale, with warranty of title

Confidentiality Agreement

Request for Advertising Rates

Correction to Credit Report

Employment non-Compete Agreement

Fictitious Name Certificate

Notice to Pay Rent or Quit

Overdue Payment Reminder

Security Agreement

Welcome New Customer

And hundreds more.

Having the 597 Business Letters Library is like having an experienced adviser at your side, telling you exactly what to say to produce the response you desire. It could save you hundreds in consulting, research, or legal fees the first time you use it.

The 597 Business Letters Library works with any version of Windows. No extra software needed, easy ‘one-click’ to use!

FREE BONUS #3: How to Sell Anything to Anyone Getting into any business requires you to do one thing – sell something. It’s not just about business though; even if you are just working as an employee, you are selling your talent and skills.

The best profits come in when you are able to sell things in the right way.

Here is how you can do that effectively.

FREE BONUS #4: Time Saving Strategies for the Average Guy “Learn About How Time Saving Strategies For the Average Guy Can Have Amazing Benefits For Your Life And Success!”

Learn about how to save 2 hours a day by focusing on the essentials!

Learn how to save 2 hours a day by focusing on the essentials!

Time is your friend, not your foe. When you encompass time when an abundant attitude, you really have more of it. Time relishing raises you awareness of what you have in the present moment. By savoring the moment, you make the decisions informed by that abundance.

If You Want to Skyrocket Your Success And Improve Your Overall Life…You Need to Have A Look At Time Saving Strategies For the Average Guy!

The truth of the matter is time is a concept we designed. It’s an organizing principle to help us make sense of our lives. So if it’s not real, how come we treat it like the monster under our bed?

In this book, you will learn all about:

Handle Expectations

Get Your Priorities In Order

Improve Focus

Learn To Say No

One Thing At A Time!

Much MORE!

FREE BONUS #5:

Tips and Tricks for Success for New Entrepreneurs

Sure Fire Ways to Have a Successful Business Venture!

To become a successful entrepreneur you need good ideas, a little luck, money and lots of hard work. 90% of successsful people fail, which means to gain something (profits, equity, etc) you must first lose something (your initial investment). Phat-farm is a multimillion dollar company whose owner Russell Simmons lost 10 million dollars in the first five years.

A lot of experience and resources are not required but to become a successful entrepreneur you need to have passion and persistence.

Turning everyday ideas into business is what makes an ordinary entrepreneur extraordinary. This talent or gift is what makes them unique. Most start with very limited resources and jump ahead of their competitors through personal effort. The moves have to be fast and good decisions need to be taken to gain share in the market and move foward against bigger competitors.

Customer Testimonial

No doubt about it, there is Nothing out there that compares to this Guide and the sheer amount of information that has been added with all of the Supplements. The International Directory and Software are worth the cost alone.

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Customer Testimonial

Good book. Lots of great information and the additional resources were great!

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In addition to everything you’ve read above, don’t forget that you’ll also receive access to my private “Premium Updates” email list that will send you and email every time I update these guides, providing you with immediate access to the new material. This will ensure that you stay on the cutting edge of the Koi Farming business.

I know this sounds like a lot. That’s because, well… it is!

Please note that all of my Koi Farm Guides and Bonuses are delivered to you digitally. That means you will have access to ALL of this information once you fill out the order form and check out right on your computer. There is nothing to deliver via mail service!

“Still Worried About $28…Gimme a Break!”

So why am I charging $28 for this guide? Well, I’ll tell you. I thought about what to charge and I can charge just about anything I wanted. Most people think that $28, once they get their hands on the materials…is way too cheap for it. And that’s why I’m planning to raise the price pretty soon.

The main reason I decided to charge at least this much for the materials is because I would have people who were willing to take action. Winners. Real doers. Nothing I hate more than to listen to somebody talking about wanted to be in any sort of business and not be willing to take any action to be there.

Everybody thinks you have to be really smart to be successful and it’s just not true. You just have to get the information that you need to get started. And then find other smart people.

One of my heroes in life, Henry Ford, said “I can answer any question in the world if you’ll give me 30 minutes”. That’s because he had a golden rolodex of experts that advised him.

Most People don’t have any idea that Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb had no idea about science, none at all. He had no training, no formal education in science, but he had experts around him that knew everything there was to know about chemistry and electricity and all of the other sciences that he used to invent the incandescent light bulb.

This is the true demonstration that Napoleon Hill talked about in his great book Think and Grow Rich. All you need is desire coupled with specialized knowledge and an action plan to achieve any level of success that you want.

Now, I have the specialized knowledge and I have the action plan. Do you have the desire? If not, this isn’t for you. If you’re just looking around reading on the Internet, dreaming about what life might be like if you had a business, don’t waste your money.

But if you really think you’re going to take action, if you’re really going to do something, if you’re really going to make your move, make your mark in life, then go ahead and order this information right now. It will be the smartest investment you’ll ever make.

This is your opportunity to shine. Are you going to actually do something? Or are you just going to sit there and kick some more tires? Come on. Hit the button below and let’s get started.

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YES! JT, I want to learn the exact strategies and techniques to start my profitable Koi Farm Business.

Yes! I want Full Access to your Koi Farm Guide now!

Yes! Send me the Exclusive Koi Marketing Bonus Manual

Yes! Include the Business Planning Guide So I Can Get Started

Yes! Of Course I Want the International Directory!

Yes! Bring on the NEW Fish Scales Software!

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To Your Every Success,

JT Abney

P.S. – Remember…with the iron-clad guarantee, you’re risking absolutely nothing by taking advantage of this incredible offer today. You have complete peace of mind knowing that I’ll happily hand you 100% of your purchase price back if you’re not satisfied.

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P.P.S. – Please remember that I have the right to raise the price at any given time. If you come back even 5 minutes too late, I’ll have to apologize and ask you to pay the higher amount.

The opportunity’s on the table now – claim yours right away!

Questions? No Problem! Contact Me by email at JT(at)KoiFarmGuide.com.

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bordersmash8-blog · 5 years ago

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Ruth Reichl on Why Gourmet’s Website Was Doomed From the Start

In 2009, Condé Nast shuttered its premiere food magazine Gourmet after 68 years in business. It was a shock to readers, food lovers, media world watchers, and restaurant industry reporters. It was a shock to Ruth Reichl, the woman at the helm. “A world without Gourmet was unimaginable,” Reichl writes in her new memoir Save Me the Plums, where she recounts the full story of her decade at the magazine for the first time. As the recession hit and revenue plummeted at a magazine dependent on luxury advertisers, Reichl figured change was coming. “I’d fortified myself against the pain of being fired, but this was worse: They had murdered the magazine,” she writes.

Of course, the memoir centers on more than the magazine’s demise. Reichl’s story is one of learning how to manage a staff and run a magazine after a career in newspapers, juggling demands at work and at home, and living through the golden era of Condé Nast, with its notoriously exorbitant salaries, clothing allowances, black cars on demand, and generous operating budgets. It is also the story of the evolution of the modern food world and media’s place within it.

In this excerpt from Save Me the Plums, Reichl recounts the difficulties she had finally launching Gourmet’s website, something she had been asking for since she arrived, and the internal rivalry with recipe site Epicurious. —Amanda Kludt

If you need inspiration when you’re planning a party, chances are you’ll leaf through cookbooks and magazines, dreaming up dinner. But if you come home from the farmers market with a bushel of ripe peaches or a fine cheese pumpkin, you’ll probably head to the Internet.

Cooks embraced the Internet from the very start, immediately appreciating the ease of googling an ingredient and finding dozens of different ways to use it. They treasured the ability to comment on a recipe and warn other cooks away from a dud or to suggest alternative methods. Instant communities sprang up, as cooks asked and answered dozens of questions. The Internet literally transformed the way we cook.

The possibilities the Internet held for Gourmet were so exciting that I began fighting for a website from my first day on the job. But Si [Newhouse, then the chairman of Condé Nast] was wary of the Web; while other media companies invested in technology, he sank a reported one hundred million dollars into a new print magazine. “Sank” is the appropriate word: Portfolio, his flashy business magazine, flamed out after two years. Meanwhile, he pursued an Internet strategy that involved shoveling the contents of his many magazines into super-sites like Epicurious and style.com.

But having Epicurious as our only online presence made me miserable, and for years I tried to persuade Si that Gourmet deserved a standalone site. I presented data about recipes being the most wanted content on the Web. Si didn’t care. My talk about Web advertising strategies interested him not at all. After each session I stomped back to my office to sit by, impotent and angry, as Epicurious siphoned off our recipes.

I did not fume alone. Everyone at Gourmet hated Epicurious. They were our archenemy. “We’re getting robbed!” Zanne [Stewart, Gourmet’s executive food editor] once complained. “And what’s worse is the way our recipes get tossed in with all the others as if there was no difference between us and Parade, Self...” Morosely, she listed all the other publications whose recipes lived on Epicurious. “At least Bon Appétit has a test kitchen,” she said darkly, “but some of the others...” I thought of our insane testing process and the vast amounts of money we spent ensuring that our recipes were absolutely foolproof.

When I complained to Chuck [Townsend, former Condé Nast CEO], over yet another bland lunch, he sighed deeply. “I hear the same thing from Anna Wintour,” he said. “You both want to support your brands with standalone sites. I certainly understand, but Si won’t budge.”

I don’t know what made Si change his mind, but when he finally did, he came in person to deliver the news. “I want you to create gourmet.com as quickly as possible,” he said as he sat down.

In my excitement, I began to babble. “You won’t be sorry; we’re going to create the best food site on the Web. We’ve got so many ideas! We’re going to hire a videographer and put webcams in the kitchen so readers can get to know the cooks; I was thinking we might even script a little show and call it Soup Opera. Just a few minutes from the kitchen every day. And we’ll create an online course: ‘Learn to Cook with Gourmet.’”

Was that a smile? Hard to tell. “That could be lucrative,” he said cautiously.

“We’ll go behind the scenes of all the restaurants we review,” I rushed on, “take cameras right into the kitchens. We’ll get our foreign correspondents to send daily dispatches from every corner of the world. We’ll put up episodes of our television show, Diary of a Foodie. And then of course there’s all the great content from the past. . . .”

Si’s face told me I was talking too fast, that he found my enthusiasm frightening. I reined myself in, tried to slow down. “Our recipes alone should quickly build traffic; everybody knows they’re the best-tested and most reliable recipes in the world.”

Si fidgeted, looking more uncomfortable than usual. “No,” he said.

Everyone at Gourmet hated Epicurious. They were our archenemy.

“No?”

“You can’t have your recipes.”

“Excuse me?” I struggled to understand what he was saying. “Every recipe published in Gourmet belongs to Epicurious. That will not change.”

For a moment I was too stunned to speak. When I’d mastered my emotions I squeaked, “Are you telling me you want us to create a website without recipes? I’m sorry, but that’s insane!”

Si drew himself up. “Epicurious,” he said with regal deliberation, “is the oldest recipe site on the Web. It is very successful.” He rose, ponderously, from the chair. “It will continue as in the past.” He turned toward the door; the audience was over.

“Wait!” I couldn’t not try. “What if we put the recipes up on both Epicurious and gourmet.com?”

“That risks cannibalizing their traffic, and we don’t want to do anything to jeopardize our most successful website. When readers want recipes, we’ll just redirect the traffic from Gourmet to Epicurious.” He had reached the door now, but he turned to throw me a bone.

“Any extra recipes you create,” he said graciously, “anything that hasn’t run in the book, are yours to use as you see fit.” His smile suggested I should be grateful for this gift.

“It’s a disaster!” Doc [aka John Willoughby, Gourmet’s executive editor] was appalled.

“Worse than that,” said Larry [Karol, the managing editor] gloomily. “It could destroy us. Building a website and staffing it is going to cost a fortune; I’ve been working on the figures. How are we supposed to make it back if the recipes live on Epicurious? They’ll get all the ads.” He darted out of the office and returned with a handful of documents.

“Do you want to know how much we spend on creating the recipes?”

“No,” I said. He didn’t have to tell me that the meticulous Gourmet system ate up a small fortune.

Larry ignored me. “The kitchen budget is huge. Salaries for twelve cooks, three dishwashers, a photographer, and his assistant. Food costs alone run more than a hundred grand a year. Props for photographs. Corporate charges for the kitchen. Not to mention copyediting the recipes. And we’re supposed to just hand them over for free?”

“Epicurious should at least share the costs,” said Doc. “If the recipes are going to live on their website, it’s only fair.”

“It would be simple to do,” Larry pointed out. “Just bookkeeping; no actual money need change hands. All they’d have to do is shift some of the costs on paper, put some of the expenses on their budget instead of ours.”

But when we presented the figures to John Bellando, the chief financial officer, he laughed as if we’d told a hilarious joke. “That,” he said succinctly, “is not going to happen.”

“I blame myself,” I said as we gloomily left the office. “I kept pushing for our own website. I never dreamed they’d handicap us like this.”

“It’s not your fault,” said Larry. “How could you have imagined this? How could anyone? Of course we should have our own website. Food sites are huge.”

“Yeah,” I said glumly, “but what people want are recipes.”

“We can’t have a website without recipes,” Larry agreed. “And unfortunately I can only think of one solution. The kitchen’s going to have to create twice as many.”

“That’ll be great for morale,” I muttered.

“Not to mention the budget,” he added. We stood there, the two of us, envisioning the huge piles of food the cooks were now going to require.

Looking back, I should have just said no. But, reluctant to be a squeaky wheel, I drove on like a good girl, devoting more and more resources to a money pit that could never be solvent, a hungry maw that could never be sated, a future we could never quite reach. I knew I was tilting at windmills, but I loathe confrontation and I kept hoping that somehow it would be okay.

There were high points. We were the first print magazine to hire a full-time video producer, and through her work readers came to know — and love — all the cooks. We were able to demonstrate techniques — boning fish, icing cakes, sharpening knives. We created crazy recipes for ingredients that would never have made it into the magazine: offal, insects, corn silk, and carrot tops. Best of all, for the first time we had the luxury of space. Now, whenever someone came up with an offbeat idea, it was easy to say yes. “We can always put it on the Web...” became our mantra.

And that is exactly what I said when Ian Knauer and Alan Sytsma approached me about the goat.

Ian Knauer was our most unorthodox cook. A talented chef, he was also a farmer, forager, and hunter, and this unique set of skills set him apart from everyone else in the kitchen. You never knew what he’d show up with: a deer he’d shot over the weekend, the season’s first chanterelles, a slew of ramps he’d stumbled across in Prospect Park. Ian came to us as a backup recipe tester, and when I told him we were promoting him to full-time food editor, he stared at me for one shocked second and then said, “Shut the fuck up!”

Now he was poking his head into my office. “Alan and I have an idea—” he began.

Alan picked it up. “We just saw this cool documentary called A Son’s Sacrifice—”

“Slow down,” I said.

Ian gestured to Alan to continue. “It takes place in a halal butcher shop filled with live animals; you choose your beast and then they slaughter it.”

“So,” Ian picked up the thread, “we want to do a story about how it feels to watch an animal make the transition from living, breathing creature to something that you cook.”

Five years earlier, this story would have been too gruesome to consider. Now I hesitated, wondering if Gourmet readers were ready for this.

“We can always put it on the Web...” became our mantra.

“It could be very powerful,” Alan pleaded. “The meat movement is starting to take off; people are really interested in butchering.”

He had a point. The artisanal food movement had turned butchers into heroes, and nose-to-tail classes were selling out. Maybe this was worth doing?

“We can always put it on the Web,” I said.

They returned from Queens carrying two huge black plastic sacks, and you could smell them halfway across the building. The reek of the abattoir was so intense it seemed they had brought the entire contents of the butcher shop with them. The goat’s body was still warm, and as they drew closer the primal scent grew stronger. By the time they reached the kitchen door, the animal funk was overwhelming. Up close, the sharp metallic smell of freshly spilled blood made the hair on the nape of my neck rise; despite my strong wish not to, I put my hand over my mouth. For a moment I stopped breathing.

“I can’t believe the guards let you in.” I cautiously lowered my hand.

“They didn’t seem happy,” Ian admitted. “But we flashed our employee passes and ran for an elevator before they could stop us. The doors were just closing.”

“I hope it was empty.”

Ian and Alan exchanged a glance. Ian heaved his plastic bag onto the kitchen counter. “Anna Wintour was in there.”

I stared at him, fascinated and appalled. “What did she do?”

“What could she do? She just kept backing into the corner until she couldn’t go any farther.”

I watched as he removed sundry bits of bloody goat from the bag. “Goat tacos,” he said, “are on the menu.”

I eyed him suspiciously — did Gourmet readers want goat tacos? Briefly, I envied Anna; she didn’t have to dream up ridiculous ways to generate traffic for her website.

Later, reading the story, I was ashamed of myself. There was nothing remotely ridiculous about the article Ian and Alan had written.

The halal butchers they introduced were proud men who had invested every penny they had in their shop. After September 11, they said sadly, everything changed and their once-thriving business began to struggle. Faith kept them going: They sincerely believed they had a God-given mission. Their goats were humanely raised on a rural hillside, and they were convinced their customers would appreciate how much finer spoke they were than ordinary goats, how much more delicious. “It is this food” — the butcher said reverently — “that can help the rest of America accept Islam.”

As Ian and Alan waded among the flock of goats, trying to select the finest animal, the butcher stood to one side, sharpening his knife. He prayed over the chosen goat, thanked him for his life, and dispatched the beast with a single slash to the throat. As he delivered the carcass into Ian’s hands, he said quietly, “I know you guys will treat him well.”

It was a solemn moment, for the goat represented something much bigger than food to these butchers. It was hope for the present — and a prayer for the future. Looking back, it occurs to me that it was the perfect metaphor for gourmet.com.

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Source: https://www.eater.com/2019/3/29/18285307/ruth-reichl-memoir-save-me-the-plums-excerpt-gourmet-website

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shopinapp-blog · 6 years ago

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From Jeff Bezos to Elon Musk: What True Innovators Know About Risk

Jeff Bezos is widely known as the CEO of Amazon, currently the richest man in the world, and it’s clear that his success didn’t just come from nowhere. He left the security of a high-level position at a Wall Street investment firm to start Amazon, which at the time was of its inception, just an online bookstore. Bezos understood the risks of starting over and attempting to build a company from the ground up. He even warned his earliest investors, his parents, that there was a 70 percent chance Amazon would fail.

It took 60 meetings to raise Amazon’s first funding round, eventually resulting in 25 investors participating with cheque sizes of about $50,000 each. In a famous 60 Minute interview, Bezos confides: “The riskiest moment for Amazon, Charlie, was at the very, very beginning. I needed to raise $1 million at a certain point, and I ended up giving away 20 percent of the company for a million dollars… And it was nip and tuck whether I was going to be able to raise that money. So, the whole thing could have ended before the whole thing started. That was 1995, and the first question every investor asked me was: ‘What’s the Internet?’”

Throughout his career and personal life, Bezos has based his risks on what he calls a “regret minimization framework.” Instead of assessing how much risk a decision has, he instead questions if he’ll regret a decision in the future. Before starting Amazon, he asked himself if he would regret not being a part of the internet boom that was happening at the time, and he found that the answer was yes. That simple but elegant mindset drew Bezos towards the continued risk-taking that has defined Amazon’s success.

Bezos has driven a significant amount of innovation throughout Amazon’s existence. Just consider how far the business has come from simply selling books online, now selling a wider variety of products than any physical store. The company is always striving to further diversify their offerings, which include Amazon Web Services and Amazon Prime among their most successful endeavors. Bezos founded one of the largest companies in the world on a monumental risk, and he continues to innovate and take risks to this day.

Elon Musk also dismissed safety and comfort in his career to push forward and innovate. After Paypal was bought out by eBay in 2002, he took his money to create SpaceX in hopes of commercializing spaceflight and eventually attempting colonization of other planets. His other companies grew to include Tesla, The Boring Company, SolarCity, and more.

Musk’s biggest struggle came in 2008, as SpaceX faced repeated failuresin its tests and Tesla was losing money fast. Musk was broke, and his companies were close to bankruptcy. But finally, SpaceX managed its first successful launch and subsequently earned a $1.6 billion contract from NASA. Meanwhile, Tesla investors decided to increase their investments, saving the company. Instead of seeing the end of the line and giving up, Musk chose to fight for his vision until the last second, and was rewarded for his perseverance and determination.

The stories of Bezos and Musk indicate that risk-taking can pay off excellently — but only for worthwhile risks. Despite the high chances of failure, they didn’t enter their endeavors recklessly, but instead with intense vision for the future and a plan to carry it out.

This sort of major risk-taking is something that’s often avoided in businesses today. According to Scott Galloway, clinical professor of marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business, most CEOs now won’t take a risk that has anything less than a 50 percent chance of success. Bezos has opposed this view, and was quoted early in his career as saying, “Given a 10 percent chance of a hundred times payout, you should take that bet every time.”

An entrepreneur can take a single risk and have it pay off, but if they spend the rest of their career playing it safe, they’ll never capitalize on or multiply the success found previously. Both Bezos and Musk are constantly trying new things — Bezos and Amazon are always developing new ways to involve themselves in various industries, while Musk’s lineup of companies show that he is not afraid to continually take risks and pursue new ideas.

Type 1 vs Type 2 Decision Making

According to Bezos, there are two types of decisionsthat any business will make: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 decisions are irreversible, and should therefore be made with caution. Type 2 decisions are ones that are easily reversible. If a Type 2 decision is not working out, a business can simply revert back to its former state. Amazon makes a lot of Type 2 decisions, constantly trying out new services or products and quickly cutting them if they aren’t working out. The best example of this was the Amazon Fire Phone, which failed to have any immediate impact and was swiftly taken off the market.

But this sort of Type 2 decision-making has also led to the development of Amazon Web Servicesand Amazon Prime, two of the company’s biggest services. In addition, the payoff from previous successful risks allows the business to take more risks in the future with less consequence. If one of Amazon’s projects fails, the company’s losses are minimal. But a smaller company making a comparable investment would likely fail altogether if their project doesn’t work out. This is why in retrospect, Amazon’s Fire Phone seems like only a minor failure. Continually taking risks creates success, which eventually builds to the point of mitigating the effects of potential failures going ahead.

While innovators and businesses should lean heavily toward Type 2 decisions, there are many factors to consider before deciding to follow through on an idea. All risk must be measured, and one must question what the impact of an idea will be. In this sense, business is alchemy — every idea and decision must lead you to ask: how far off are you from transmuting lead to gold? Answering this question thoroughly with data and careful planning is what bolsters innovators and their ideas.

Bezos and Musk may be exemplary individuals, but innovation is impossible without a team to build on an innovators’ ideas and keep them in check. Risk-taking is a team effort, and it requires surrounding oneself with people who provide value and insight into the pursuit of innovation. My team at Shopinis constantly questioning ideas, considering the ramifications and always thinking about how an idea can thrive. Having a reliable team is another way to strengthen the power of innovation and to mitigate the risks involved. Innovators don’t have to carry their burdens alone.

Of course, Musk’s recent run-ins with the SECshow a different, darker side of risk-taking that innovators often face. After tweeting a drug-related joke while espousing plans to take Tesla private, the SEC sued Musk for securities fraud, claiming that the tweet was false and misleading, which caused unnecessary volatility in Tesla’s stock. He has been criticized for his behavior, but Musk has defended himself by asserting his freedom of speech. While Musk and Tesla reached a settlement with the SEC, Musk maintains his disdainfor the situation, even going so far as to say that he does not respect the SEC.

Putting aside the controversy, Musk’s insistence on maintaining his position and not backing down offers a meaningful lesson in risk-taking. When opposition bears down on all sides, innovators face a choice: back down and allow one’s vision to dissipate, or charge forward and learn from the experience. Musk, for better or for worse, believes so strongly in his vision and his business methodology that he willingly stood against one of the most prominent government agencies. Bezos too, faced oppositionfrom his peers and from the public when he started Amazon, but both leaders understand deeply that sometimes, to be innovative is to be uncompromising.

One of the most intimate and inspirational videos I’ve seen is a clipfrom a 60 Minutes interview with Elon Musk after he is told that his heroes, like Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, don’t believe in SpaceX’s mission. Musk becomes emotional, admitting his disappointment, and verges on the edge of tears. Nonetheless, he quickly recovers, and reveals that in spite of the doubts cast by his heroes, he has never considered giving up his vision. If business is alchemy, then innovators are the alchemists, the ones trying to transmute existing elements and create something better. When someone tells them it cannot be done, they are not dissuaded from their goal.

Today, Bezos and Musk are lauded as two of the most successful and influential people in the modern world, and they are inspirational examples of what it means to take risks and be a true innovator. Despite the criticism they receive at times, it’s hard to argue with their results. Perhaps one of the reasons they so often court controversy is because they challenge the status quo, constantly looking for ways we can make our lives better. Whether you agree with them or not, this is how true innovators operate and succeed: on their own terms.

Before I embarked on the journey of Shopin, I had the decision to pursue another blockchain-related opportunity that would have made me wildly financially wealthy. I looked at what Shopin’s predecessor was trying to achieve and realized how rare an opportunity we had in front of us to shift the status quo for so many people, and have since pursued the evolution of that vision relentlessly. During times of struggle, many told me to walk away from the opportunity, but I could not let go of the mission and vision.

I remember when one of my closest friends and advisors told me: “I have no idea how you do it: When everyone else is running out of a burning building, you’re the only one running in.” I spent thousands of hours and went down to my last dollars to save the company and cover the employees’ salaries.

There were days where I had to negotiate with investors, employees, vendors and retailers all on the same day… and the only thing I had to sell was a vision and a belief that we could execute to bring it to life. The stress was overwhelming. Most nights I worked till 3AM or was on calls with mentors in Europe till the morning light creeped through the window panes, reminding me a new day had dawned.

Now, Shopin has remarkable opportunities in its future, leading the charge in improving the retail experience while making a positive impact on data rights and security. The feeling of overcoming risk to innovate and succeed is incomparable. Make no mistake: Every day is a psychological, emotional, mental and creative challenge… each one faced with a boat-load of gratitude and grit.

To court innovation is often to glimpse into the void of insanity. If you don’t get used to teetering at the edge, you will never know what’s on the other side.

This article was originally published on ScoreNYC.com

About the Author

Eran Eyal is an investor, advisor, and award-winning entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the crowdsourcing, e-commerce and retail markets. Currently, Eyal is the founder and co-CEO of Shopin, where he looks to revolutionize the customer shopping experience by putting individuals in control of their own data.

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