Here I am! An "all about me" section!

Hello all folks,

Let me introduce myself.

Actually, before that, let me say "Thank You" for first, having this forum, and secondly, making it open for "want to be great" like myself. I think this will be an excellent way to self-improve.

OK, back to me.

I am 29 years ago, live in Southern Alabama, and am originally from a town in West Central Alabama, where I lived until I was 19. In 1998, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where I attended our denomination's main Bible College, and pretty much stayed put until December, 2006. At that time, my wife and I moved back to her hometown, where she accepted an internship for her Master's in Counseling. We moved here with the understanding that we'd be back in Nashville by August of 2007, but, we wound up staying. She now counsels in the prison system. We have plugged in here, but, I don't feel as "plugged in" as I was in Nashville, and sometimes, like tonight, I get very homesick. If only I could live in both places. Maybe as a result of this forum, I can increase my earnings to make that happen, right?

I started my work career bi-vocationally. I worked as a telemarketer/office manager for an advertising publication by day, and a in-store worker for Papa John's Pizza at night. In the Papa John's Job, after I had been there 9 months, I was awarded a promotion to "assistant manager." It was in the publication job that I started learning about sales, and my pizza job that I started learning about customer service and managing people.

When I moved to Nashville, I essentially transferred to another Papa John's, that did almost three times the volume that I was accustomed to. In this position, I started to learn more about managing people, I REALLY learned about stress, and it's effects, but, more importantly, I started to grasp the concept of the "real world." Although I learned much at Bible College, and am glad that I went there, being an assistant manager for this busy restaurant was probably the most formative thing that started to develop my current personality.

In August of 2000, bored and burnt out, I went to work for RadioShack, after a 1/2 joke landed me a job. I learned quickly about commissioned sales, and struggled, but started succeeding, on a limited basis. I quickly realized that I enjoyed large paychecks, but, didn't really like smaller ones. In the world of Radioshack, I was promoted, and started what for me, was a long, arduous journey of managing my own store. During this time, I grew a bit more in sales and management skills, although, not by much. There were times that I would be the "leader" of the store in sales, and while not aware of it at the time, found it to be addictingly fun.

In June of 2002, I rose to the rank of store manager, where, I succeeded, and failed, in many ways. The store rose to new levels of sales and profits, but, also sunk to new levels of organization and cleanliness(which was, and still is, but not as bad, a personal weakness.) I had 3 employees, into whom I poured into. I am glad to say that due to leadership and friendship, I became a positive influence in their lives, and they have went on to success(as they would mark it.)

In May of 2003, I stepped down to a sales associate, due to 1.)pressure of running a store/hours required/salary insufficiency, 2.) recently became married, and wanted to spend more time with the wife, and 3.) the fact that I wanted to spend more time working with the homeless ministry out of my church.

In this "stepping down," I went to one of the largest volume stores, where, for the first time, my sales skills really being to flourish. I say they were flourishing, not because I became better, but, there were many other opportunities there, much more than my previous locations. I started learning how to really maximize not only my sales, but also the sales of my co-workers. I started learning how to negotiate by making the customer/vendor laugh and get on my side. I started to get a bit more bolder , not so much in my presentations, but in my working with vendors to sell their products. In fact, I became known as "The Swindler," because I started getting deals negotiated with one particular wireless vendor, and because of that, I substantially increased my earnings.

In May of 2005, I again reached burnout, and coupled with the fact of diminishing pay plans, I started to look for ways out. I managed a window cleaning company for a few months, but, found out that was not for me.

In August of 2005-May of 2006, I worked 4 jobs. I work 6 10-hour days per week, and for those several months, loved it. It was my perfect schedule. I was not at any job for longer than 25 hours, and I often said "I was being paid to play." I was a production supervisor for HoneyBaked Ham, a prayer counselor for a Nationwide television ministry, a sales associate for Radioshack, and a delivery driver for a local restaurant(which was, and still is, an ideal position for me.) I left the ministry if may of 2006, and focused on the other 3 jobs.

Before we moved here, I came here twice to apply for jobs. I focused on two of the largest wireless vendors here, but, for whatever reasons(probably an inadequate resume and poor interviewing skills,) I did not get that. I wound up accepting a position as a General Manager for a Chick-fil-A, where, for the most part, I was content. For some portions of it, I was even happy. Anyway, a new owner took over the store on March 1, of this year, and she replaced me with her husband. Because there was no need for 2 General Managers, I was offered a severance, and a trip to the door.

Since then, I have begun to deliver for a local restaurant again, and do that about 30 hours a week. While I love it, it does not provide the income, or the schedule, that I'd like to have.

Right now, I am working on a plan to market, and sell, a dessert that I make. I have a pretty solid marketing plan, but, getting the legal and logistical elements taken care of is a pretty arduous process. My goal is to hopefully do well with it, with a combination of local and online marketing and sales, and maybe, one day, either sell it, or let someone else run it, while I collect the profits from it.

I am a born again Christian, and while my faith has always been strong, I have been increasingly growing, and exponentially so within the last 1.5 years. The Lord has shown me so much. He has gifted me with certain gifts that make ministry and counseling really easy for me. Additionally, He has been regularly giving me "fresh insight" not only into Scripture, but, also truths for daily life. I'll be more than happy to discuss my learnings at some point. However, one of my most basic, but most advanced, and recent discoveries, is a Christian version of the Law of Attraction. I believe, and this is my opinion, and this is from what limited information that I have, that The Secret and studies based upon the Law of Attraction, are extremely dangerous studies, with extremely heavy New Age elements, and have their source from Satan himself. However, the reason that they're so popular is that there is a strong element of truth in them, but, anything that the Devil shows or uses, is just a poor imitation of the "real thing." In other words, I believe that God's "Law of Attraction" is much more powerful, and has much better short term, and long term, results.

I have been "off and on addicted" to self-help since I attended a Brian Tracy seminar in October of 2004. There, I learned about the "endorphine rush" that comes from sales. Since then, I have loved the study of self help, and psychology associated with it.

Anyway, my reason for joining this forum:

1. I want to grow/improve myself, and figure that this is a good way. However, to be honest, I am not sure the ways that I can improve myself. I know from a cursory examination, that I could potentially improve my memory, and my reading skills, by A LOT, and I am very interested in that.

I also need to improve:
Time Management
Goal Setting
Sales Skills
Counseling Techniques(as I regularly provide counsel to others, in fact, I am counseling a few "regulars" now(I am not a counselor, just a guy with the Holy Spirit, the Bible, some wisdom, some experience, and a mouth, but, more importantly, 2 ears.)

Goals that I have that I want to potentially accomplish:

1. Develop multiple streams of legitimate income
a. Become debt free(as of now, about $56K)
b. Build a home, debt free
c. Increase giving to charitable organizations
d. do occasional mission work
e. Possibly go back to school and get BA in Psychology, and MA in Counseling (need money and memorizing techniques, and other things too, as me and school does not get along too well.)

Anyway, that's a basic Jeremy introduction. I warmly welcome input and direction.

Thank you so much.

Jeremy