At Work & Play

Why do we (professionals) do what we do?

First, I don't know many people who don't have to work--and most of them still think it's wise. So I guess the rest of us work to eat. Or in my case, to keep teenage girls in Abercrombie and little boys in Legos.

Still, if we're lucky, we've launched or landed in a business that we enjoy.

Following college I had no clue what I wanted to do. As a a result, I stumbled through a series of relatively miserable jobs and made my parents rethink my college tuition. One of the 'dangers' of a liberal arts education is that you do not graduate with a 'trade'. Instead you have a noggin full of knowledge and nowhere to take it--except graduate school. Well, I opted to get married and start a family rather than spend another 3 or 4 years in school.

Like most, I started my family with little real preparation for parenthood. I approached this challenge as a good student would any other assignment--and read everything I could get my hands on. One look at the family pictures and you can tell Birth Control was not a subject I mastered.

Juggling the needs of these guys and work outside the home is a real challenge--and something for which no school could ever equip me; thus, I have learned an awful lot the hard way.

If I were to open a school for working moms, I would have all the standards such as "Saving the Deal (and Dinner)", and advanced courses like "Calling in Humiliation: How to Keep Your Kids in Line without Looking like the Bad Guy".

The truth is, I enjoy my family like crazy and my job has really grown on me, however, I am frustrated by my inability to be myself in business. In life, I have a "take no prisoners" attitude when it comes to incompetence, deception, malicious conduct and irresponsibility. At work it is virtually impossible to operate in the same manner. Moreover, many professionals are precluded from telling others in their communitites which companies and professionals are less-than-likely to perform at or above acceptable standards.

I'm not talking about mistakes, because everyone makes them....I am talking about transparency and accountability--about being a "stand up" person, professional or organization. As a result, I hope this blog will become a forum for community-based discussion of companies that do business here so that we can share the good, the bad and the truly disgusting.

I will begin by posting the following link: http://www.hasselmeierfraud.com/. If your company has done business with Ryan Hasselmeier, you may or may not be listed on the Unsecured Creditors schedule in his recent bankruptcy filing--the 3rd in less than 7 years. Please visit the site above to learn more about Hasselmeier and his record. Remarkably, he is already back in business in a company in his mother's name. See: http://www.advisorsgroupintl.com/.

My business is listed as an unsecured creditor. Ironically, I had forgiven this debt, until I received the bankruptcy filing citing $1 as the amount owed. I have spoken with the Bankruptcy Trustee, and his office is interested in learning everything they possibly can from those harmed by Hasselmeier, or familiar with his operations. Please feel free to email me for the Trustee's phone number if you have valuable information or insight to share.