From my rough period in New York City to my time in San Francisco, I was constantly surprised at how many other people I knew, middle-aged and older, had been in a similar situation. People who, like myself, were not rich but were getting by. Getting by and had tried to do the right thing by helping loved ones. Then they wound up not being able to help themselves. Some of your co-workers, friends, neighbors -- maybe even some of your relatives -- know the soul-numbing experiences of bankruptcy, eviction, housing courts and needing food stamps. I talked to people about this. I think they opened up to me because they recognized me from TV. They felt comfortable with me. We were on common ground trying to find a road to recovery from the Recession.
Helping others find recovery from the Recession -- that's what I've pitched for a regular TV show segment. I pitched to news stations in San Francisco, to a network morning news show in New York (via email), and to a famous daytime TV talk show host/producer. In the segments, I could briefly share my story, share what I learned and hear stories from others. Most of my previous work came about through auditions. Now, like millions of others, I was applying for work online. But I wasn't content to just click and send a resumé for, say, a customer service job. I wanted the people to see me and meet me. I had to get beyond technology and make a human contact. The news execs in San Francisco didn't greenlight my idea but I did to pitch them in person.
I met professional women who were now out of work and struggling. Some of them didn't know about organizations that supply clothing for unemployed women to wear to job interviews. One woman, once a white collar worker, was unemployed for two years. She told me that a neighborhood friend made her feel extremely rejuvenated and significant with a simple act. The friend work at a neighborhood beauty parlor. She gave the unemployed 50-something woman a free shampoo and haircut for her job interviews. The woman told me that made her feel "like gold."
Across the board, all the folks I talked to felt shame because of their economic hardship and tended to draw in, keep it a secret. I learned it's better to let folks now. Let folks now you need work. Let them know specifically what kind of work you can do. Ask for ideas on how your skills can be applied to other areas. That's how I tried to market my on-camera skills into the customer service sector.
Here's a main thing: When I listened to those folks and acknowledged what they'd gone through, I could feel them spiritually lighten a bit. They'd been noticed. A connection had been made. That can often give someone that extra will to get up, not give up and put one foot in front of the other. They need to know they're not alone and they are still significant. I think you get the idea for the kind of TV segment I'm pitching. From job applications, wardrobe, getting over the shame of getting public assistance, dealing with eviction and housing court, dealing with friends and family -- information on stuff like that is still needed by many, I feel. What do you think?
I'm now temporarily living with relatives outside of Sacramento. We watched Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life together in December. We remarked that, now more than ever, many Americans had a deeper emotional attachment to George Bailey, the broke and middle-aged family man who spent years trying to do the right thing.
