Job Hunting Hell

pushing me to get creative

The job I’ve been waiting for has essentially fallen through, at least for now. It’s not happening soon enough and I also discovered it won’t pay enough considering the travel costs involved.

So I’ve been back on the job sites looking for work again.

Can’t go back to working in a non-vegan kitchen, which rules out chef work anywhere near me.

Good time of year to be a delivery driver but most require your own van. One company that allows any vehicle seemed very flexible and the process of joining very straight forward, but turned bad when I realised special insurance would be needed, which makes the job untenable if you want to be legal (apparently most of their drivers are not).

Online jobs would be more screen time and I have too much already due to editing videos and writing this newsletter.

Already emailed local pubs for bar work and heard nothing back.

My conclusion is that I need to figure out how to start selling my course properly. Have to get the image ads I’ve already made out there collecting data and I have to script, film and edit a video ad too. All things I would be doing soon anyway but I’ve decided to stop editing videos for the moment and get these tasks done first.

Have previously tried to come up with video ideas but nothing ever really stuck and I always put it off, assuming I’d have inspiration at some point. This situation has forced me to come up with an idea, which will involve either some acting on my part and clever editing, or perhaps I can rope my lovely sister Kim into this and get her to play the other person I need.

Cooking Course

Finished and uploaded Module 6: Video 1, Video 2 and made some headway on Video 3.

Took a photo of some garnish options I had at home so I could add to the video about garnish.

And had to make a fancy looking dinner with several garnishes for the b-roll but think I’ll also use this for the thumbnail for the video on plating up, which is coming soon.

Also scripted a possible video ad, storyboarded and created a shot list.

Bus Conversion

Mechanics came this week and took measurements and metal to fabricate a thing to attach the new mechanical suspension arm thing. Don’t understand anything they do and they don’t seem very keen to explain so I’m just leaving them to it and hoping they know what they’re doing.

Finished off another 10m of insulation. Now the supplier is out of stock until mid December and I’ll need another 30m. Have only been buying in 10m amounts to spread the cost. Will get other jobs done until it’s back in stock, so bought new drill bits and a rivet gun, so I can start riveting the left side panels and also start laying a floor.

Jiu Jitsu

Class on Monday night was too busy and given the time of year I suspected a few people in there were probably not 100% well and as I live with my vulnerable Dad who always develops pneumonia, even from a common cold, I decided to leave and go to the less busy Tuesday night fundamentals class instead.

Forgot that class is Gi now it’s Winter 😖

Made up for it by driving to Pickle Factory in Bristol on Wednesday for their Nogi class, which was fantastic training as always and so nice to see them all as it’s been a few months since I was last there.

On Friday one of Leigh’s black belts who runs his own place several hours away came to teach us the fireman lift throw, which I was dreading because I was worried I’d put my back out but actually he taught a very easy progression and it was fun. Though I can’t see myself ever using it live 😏

Next Week…

Need to write a bunch of emails for the email funnels for new students and also prospects who sign up for a newsletter but don’t buy the course. Should have these in place before I set up ads, I realised the other day.

I also need to learn how to actually do that but I think once I have them written, if I get stuck I can get the platform’s tech support to help.

Once that is done I should go back and try to get the image ads to run again, hoping I don’t get the same error message as before.

Maybe I’ll also get around to filming for the video ad.

Teaching class on Friday but will just test out the games I’ll be doing at the workshop the following week, so no extra prep needed.

Hope you’re not in the position I’m in where you have no income and fast dwindling savings but I guess there’s every chance you are these days. If you have regular income I hope you’re being sensible with it. You never know when you’ll need a safety net and for how long. Have a great week!

Subscriptions are a lot to ask of you (eternally grateful to the few I have) but if you fancy making a one time donation, however small, you can do that here 😊🙏

Main Website with links to everything

PLANT BASED STUFF
Cooking Course - will take you to the sales page for Restaurant Quality Plant Based Meals at Home (currently 80% off, so only £7), not the course itself. If you’re already on the course follow the link in your welcome email for access.
Instagram - post some food pics when I remember, every week or so

JIU JITSU STUFF
Grappling Nolej - website with articles on note making and other aspects of training and learning, plus a shop selling notebooks and stickers
YouTube - home of The Grapple Travel Show and other grappling and travelling content
Instagram - a lot of post training team shots but also some useful short form videos I make with my coach and teammates
TikTok - any shorts I make for YouTube also end up here eventually
Patreon - you can currently watch episodes of the The Grapple Travel Show here for free and with no ads (YouTube puts ads on my channel even though I’m not yet monetised)