Mothers deal with the challenges of their children. Mothers endure long, sleepless nights. Mothers experience anxiety over their children’s health, dreams and fears. Mother’s give of themselves emotionally, physically, financially, relationally and without a doubt: constantly.
Moms are leaders. They have the compassion to kiss away the falls of life; the strength to fight the wrongs their children are faced with; the resilience to stay up and comfort, soothe and rock back to sleep; the humor to laugh at themselves, their children and their challenges; the vision to realize opportunity when others see limitations; the empathy to listen without judgment; the wisdom to share life-changing encouragement; and the faith to know that regardless of today’s challenges, the best is yet to come.

So what do you say to the people who most profoundly impact your life?  How do you thank someone who pours into you everything they have, every day of their lifetime? This weekend is your chance. Reach out to your mom, grandmother, godmother, mother of your children or any other mother figure you are blessed to have and simply say thank you and I love you.

Ben Teller: Generation Why Not Me

Cancer sucks. It hits you like a curve ball from left field. It leaves you lonely with no regard or remorse for the life you were trying to obtain. When you get hit with that curve ball, the question becomes, “So now what?” All I know is what I did: I scrambled to find a doctor, jumped into chemotherapy and did what most cancer patients do, I fought. I won the first battle when I was 18, in 2008. I was re-diagnosed in 2010 and won another battle after an autologous transplant, until 2012 when I relapsed again. So far I have prevailed a third time after a MUD bone marrow transplant last October. But all I could think about through all this was, “Why me!?”

I hate when people say, “Ben, if anybody can do this, it’s you. You are the strongest person I know.” I’m sorry. That’s “bullshit”! First of all, I don’t want to do this, and second of all, I don’t have a choice. I usually just nod my head in agreement, appreciating their efforts of trying to console me. This type of “encouragement” has me asking myself “Why me?” When people think they understand what I am going through, it puts me into “why me?” thinking. The truth is I don’t think anybody can understand what a cancer survivor is going through because everybody’s experience is different. If someone tells me “they understand” I feel self-pity because I know they don’t. As a survivor, I may have more perspective, but I definitely do not know what someone else’s experience is like.

When I was first diagnosed, the only thought that ran through my mind was how unfair this whole situation was. But, I soon realized that it wasn’t helpful to think this way. My mind was going in circles. I was stressed and emotionally upset. I started to get depressed. My family and loved ones were feeling as bad for me as I was feeling for myself, which made me feel even worse. The negativity that I felt I was causing was not going to help me battle cancer, it was only going to make it harder. I decided that there was a better question for me to ask myself and that is, “Why not me?” This mindset of “why not me?”, helped my spirit as well as the conversations I would have with my loved ones. The question focused me and helped me to decide to face what was happening to me rather than feel sorry for myself. It made me feel better because there was less negativity in and around me and I felt that I was creating a more positive atmosphere for something that was scary for a lot of people, myself included. It made it easier for me try and deal with all of the crap that cancer was throwing my way.

No doubt about it, cancer is boring. I couldn’t go to school, couldn’t play sports, and I slept a lot. When I was first diagnosed, I started a non-profit organization, which was another way for me to get out of the mindset of “Why me?” I needed to just do something. I thought if I can inspire other people I won’t feel so bad for myself. This distraction was a helpful tool for me and overall made me feel better about fighting this disease.

In no way am I accepting cancer as something that “just happens,” so “go with it” as if it doesn’t matter. Of course it’s unfair and I totally understand why people say “Why me?” — in fact, it is much easier to do that than say “Why not me?” I have “Why me?” thoughts often, but the difference now is that I choose not to blow on those embers. I’m suggesting that if people in their fight with cancer choose not to go there, that area of feeling bad for yourself, it might be possible to feel better. For me, that was the solution; relationally, for my community and for my spirits.

Let’s decide to name “why not me?” as another possibility to fighting this crappy disease. Ask a different question if the one you’re asking is not helpful. Whatever gives us more hope? That, in my opinion, is a better question to ask.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-teller/generation-why-not-me_b_2641164.html

This blog is part of Generation Why, HuffPost’s new spotlight on young adult cancer. Please email generationwhy@huffingtonpost.com if you’re interested in contributing a blog.

If you would like to mail sympathy cards, postcards or letters of support , even teddy bears for the children and solidarity to the school, the school address :
Sandy Hook Elementary School
12 Dickenson Drive
Sandy Hook, CT 06482

 EXACT STAFF Recruiters know about “hidden” jobs.
Many companies and organizations don’t go the job board route nor do they advertise their openings AT ALL because it’s just too time consuming. They know that the best talent have partnered with a professional recruiter and they rely on EXACT STAFF to present them the best candidates.

EXACT STAFF can give you the inside scoop.
At EXACT STAFF our recruiters can provide you valuable insight on company environment and culture to ensure a successful hire. We can give you an up close feel for the company/firm and for the interviewer before you meet them. We provide interview feedback and moderate salary negotiations.

Safeguard your privacy.
Many employers have set up automatic search agents on the big job boards to find out if their employees are looking to make a move. Beware!  Your job search with EXACT STAFF is confidential.

Stand out as an exclusive candidate.
You’re just one of the masses of resumes hiring managers receive from the job boards. Hiring managers like “exclusive” candidates and when they see a resume through a job board, or on several boards their impression is that the candidate may not be very valuable.  Show your worth and stand out from the masses by aligning yourself with EXACT STAFF – your odds of being noticed will increase greatly!

Maintain control over your resume.
Unfortunately, there are many unethical staffing agencies that will find your resume on a job board, then submit it to companies without your approval!  If you don’t know where your resume is going, it’s difficult to manage your job search. EXACT STAFF will inform you of exactly which organizations or companies your resume is going to.

Take the anxiety out of your job search.
EXACT STAFF recruiters are experts when it comes to interviewing techniques and resume preparation. We will look out for your best interest, something web sites and job boards will never do!

AND BEST OF ALL EXACT STAFF services are 100% free to job seekers.
Employers pay us to find them the ideal candidates. Yes, most job boards are free as well. But EXACT STAFF provides personal and business touches a job board just can’t provide!

We hope you’ll partner with an EXACT STAFF recruiter and allow us to join your team and land the job of your dreams.

“We have worked with Exact Staff for the past five months and they have been our primary source for temporary staff for four of those five months. Our company works on political campaigns and in an election year we typically need anywhere from 50 to 80 people per day, seven days a week. We originally hired Exact Staff as the back up agency to a much larger agency, as we needed to ensure we were fully staffed during our busy season. It quickly became apparent that the competence and service level from the Exact Staff team was far superior to the larger agency we were using and we now use Exact as our primary agency.

Our account can be difficult to manage as we often need to add staff at the last minute, change shift times and work on holidays. The flexibility and  responsiveness to our needs as well as any issues that have arisen, has been outstanding. We have worked with both large and small temp agencies in the past, but Exact stands out as the best experience we have had. They have been proactive in strategies to attract staff for difficult shifts, provided us with good onsite management, and made working with them a pleasure.

I am pleased to recommend Exact Staff to any company that requires a high volume of temporary staff. The service level they provide is top notch.”

- Director of Operations, Political Campaign Call Center

• Coverage for Doctors’ Office Visits and Inpatient Benefits
• Dental and Vision Plan Options
• No Pre-existing Condition Limitations, No Health Questions
• No Waiting Period on Medical
• Wellness Benefit

Enrollment is available until June 21, 2012. If you are not enrolled and wish to learn more, please contact your Branch Manager. For Associates who are already enrolled but wish to change their plan, please call 1-866-798-0803.

To learn more about Essential StaffCARE, please visit their website.

Exact Staff is proud to announce that The Women Presidents’ Organization and American Express OPEN have ranked ANSERTEAM #33 in the Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. ANSERTEAM is a national staffing company owned and operated by the country’s leading independent staffing firms. Exact Staff’s CEO, Karenjo Goodwin, is a founding member of ANSERTEAM and is a key contributor to the company’s success.

Please read The Women Presidents’ Organization and American Express OPEN’s press release to learn more about this incredible distinction. You can also read more from the following news sources:

• Yahoo Finance
• Wall Street Journal
• Huffington Post
• Business Wire

 Oddball questions:

Name five uses for a stapler, without the staples

What is 37 times 37?

Are you exhaling warm air?

Room, desk or car-which do you clean first?

How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator?

Would Gandhi have made a good software engineer?

What do you think of garden gnomes?

Please spell “diverticulitis”

How many planes are currently flying over Kansas?

Does life fascinate you?

Reason applicants made poor impressions:

Answered cellphone during interview

Dressed inappropriately

Appeared uninterested

Spoke negatively about a current or previous employer

Chewed gun

Didn’t provide specific answer

Didn’t ask good questions 

The GREAT news is that we are seeing getting busier and busier in ALL of our offices!  There are great jobs and excellent companies out there so now is the time to get serious about that career search.  We’ll be there every step of the way to guide you through the maze of questions and interviews and be your advocate to get that job!  And the most oddball question we hope to ask you is “when can you start??!!!” 

Be sure to refer your friends, family, neighbors and anyone who wants a terrific career.  Thank you for following us on Twitter, Facebook and LIKING us!

Karenjo Goodwin
Founder/CEO

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” -Dr. Seuss

“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” -Robert Heinlein 

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” -Judy Garland

“Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.” -John Lennon

“”Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever.” -Author Unknown

“Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.” -Author Unknown

“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.” -William Shakespeare

“Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.” -Author Unknown

“Love is the only gold.” -Lord Alfred Tennyson

“Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!” -Thomas Hood

Let us help you find a career that you love as well.  Please look at our available jobs or call your local branch office today so we can begin helping you or your friends/family find their next great career!

Karenjo Goodwin
Founder/CEO

DropBox– functions as an  online backup and file storage tool. You can use it to share large files and grant conference attendees access to powerpoint presentations.

Dragon Dictation – this app for your iPhone let’s you speak a memo and have it converted to text.  Sometimes it may miss a word but it’s a definite time saver.  You can then e-mail your text. 

Hello Fax – allows you to receive a document like an agreement or contract that needs edits or a signature.  You just download the document, upload to HelloFax, make your edits, add your stored signature and e-mail it back – done!

Text Expander – I use certain text often and Text Expander lets me write large copy once and then paste that copy whenever I need it with just a couple of key strokes.  A real time saver and mitigates errors in typing and re-typing.

Transmit – A file transfer tool that lets you move files around in your laptop as well as uploading and managing files via FTP to your website. 

With all the time you save, you can visit OUR website and let us help you find a great new career opportunity – or refer your friends.  We are busy and would WELCOME your call!!

Be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and visit our site frequently for the latest opportunities at the best companies in the United States!  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exact-Staff/262541260432046#!/pages/Exact-Staff/262541260432046?sk=wall

Karenjo Goodwin
Founder/CEO