January 2010

On May 21st of last year, I posted, This Is My Story.  Now, seven months later, I think it is time for an update.  This update will focus on how this new blog is going, some future ideas for the blog, as well as what’s been going on in my life for the past seven months.

The Blog

If you were a part of this blog back in August of ’09, then you know that I made a big announcement back then.  I decided to make my paid membership site, Enriching Your Life Now, free to all those who subscribe to this blog.

Previously it was a $19 a month membership site.  I made the decision to give total access to anyone who subscribes for free to this blog.  The “Enriching” site is loaded with tons of great content: articles, audio and video Pep Talks, Pepcasts, Bible teachings, videos, and a whole lot more.

Even though I am not adding content to the “Enriching” site on a regular basis, I do add some things there from time to time.  Now, anyone who subscribes to this blog, which is free of course, gets a free lifetime membership to Enriching Your Life Now. In other words, you get total access to everything on that site!

By the way, as a side bar here, another great benefit of being a subscriber to this blog is that you don’t have to bookmark this site, because as a subscriber you receive notification every time I post something new. I think that’s pretty cool.  You receive each new posting either by RSS or email.  It looks like most of our current subscribers prefer email.  Personally, that’s what I prefer too.

Statistics For This Blog

The statistics for this blog have been encouraging to me.  Last January and February, in preparation for launching “Confidence And Joy,” I posted over a dozen articles.  I then began to add a few things in March, but really began posting on a regular basis in April.

As of January 1 of this year, this site has received nearly a half a million “hits.”  The number of subscribers is now starting to grow, especially after I offered the total access to the “Enriching” site. The feed back I am getting is very positive.

My purpose in doing this blog is to reach people with some great information that will be helpful and beneficial for those who don’t want to live their lives in fear.  I wanted to make available some really practical content that would be helpful in having more confidence in God.

By the way, I like reading the comments that our readers leave when they have something to say about a specific posting.  However, it seems like a lot of people who come to this site are still a little bit shy about leaving their comments.  Now, don’t be shy.  Tell us what’s on your mind.

So, as of today, I am going to continue and see how things go. Plus, I have some ideas of some other things I might do on this blog.

In my mind, for those who come to this site on a regular basis, whether from a bookmark or as a subscriber, I like to think of all of us as a family.  This is a place for our “Confidence and Joy” family to hang out.  Perhaps in the future we may have a forum.  I’ve also thought about a special place on the blog for you to put your prayer requests, so the rest of us can join with you in prayer.

I am considering putting the podcasts on iTunes, and, I have a few other ideas.  Maybe you have some ideas of what you’d like to see on the blog so that we can interact more?  For now, you do have a voice in the comment section of each and every post.

Employment

2009 was a very interesting year for me.  It’s the first time since I was sixteen that I began a “New Year” being unemployed. (If you have read This is My Story, then you know that I was laid off in December of ’08 from CBS radio in Phoenix after 16 and half years.)

My wife and I have looked at each on many occasions during this past year and said, “How have we made it?”  It really doesn’t make sense.  Unless of course, you factor God into the equation, in Whom we have trusted and relied upon.  Kathy and I both know how we’ve made it; it has been by God’s great grace and mercy.

The radio industry has radically changed over the past three years. (Maybe I should do a podcast about that and explain some of what’s going on in that industry.  What do you think?  Do you want to know about it?)

Add to that the current economic situation our nation is facing.  Across the country, literally thousands, both “on air” and other personnel have lost their jobs in the last two years in the radio business.  For that reason, I chose not to pursue an all out nationwide radio employment search.  I just felt things were too volatile.

However, I have applied for and considered radio employment possibilities, both locally and in other parts of the country, but nothing solid has panned out.  I have not yet seen an open door in that arena.  That may happen in the future, and if it does, then I will certainly ask God for His help, guidance, and direction.

In the meantime, I am continuing to pursue freelance voice work.  As with so many things in our present economy, those one-time jobs have been pretty few and far between.  In addition to seeking out public speaking engagements, I am also continuing to pursue TV commercials, both on camera and off.

Bookkeeping?

Of all things!  Are you kidding me?  For years I have told people that many times when a person loses their job, they end up doing something that they never dreamed they would be doing.  Well, hello – here I am!

A very dear friend of mine started a company this past summer and asked me to be the bookkeeper.  I said, “Billy, I’m not a bookkeeper.”  And he said, “I know that.  But I think you’ll do a good job.”

We’ve been close friends for nearly twenty years.  I was very grateful to acquire employment, but I certainly had my work cut out for me.  I began to study and learn the software program, Quick Books.

When I started working, there were really only two employees, in addition to myself. Over the past six months, God has blessed this company.  We are now up to fifteen employees.  Yes, in this economy, God still has solutions.  The economic mess is still a mess, but God is not out of business.  His bank isn’t busted!

So since this past summer, my bookkeeping has taken a good portion of my time.  It is a blessing to work out of my house.  But if you ever have worked out of your home, then you know you have to be disciplined.  I mean the kitchen is just right around the corner!

Personal Projects

I have also had the pleasure of doing some speaking engagements.  Of course I will always speak “pro bono” at any veteran’s meeting, if I have the time.  I love doing that; it’s a small way to show my deep gratitude and appreciation for all of those who have served our country.

I am still speaking on the fifth Saturday of the month at the Phoenix Rescue Mission, as well as on Sundays at our Glendale Fellowship.  And, from time to time, I am invited to other events.  This month in fact, I am going to Spokane for a winter conference for a whole bunch of young people.  Right on!

As December came to an end, I made arrangements for my book, Healing from God is Available, to be listed in paperback on Amazon.  Previously, it was self published back in 2004.  It is still available in paperback, as an eBook, and in audio form on my web site.  Details are found in Mikes Stuff.

I have some other projects on the burner that I hope to get moving on sometime soon.  Life, for me, is exciting. Oh, of course it has its ups and downs, but I am truly excited about living life and staying busy.

I wake up every morning and I thank God for three things.  First, I thank Him for eternal life.  If there was no eternal life then what would be the point of anything?  Life would really be pointless.

Secondly, I thank Him for forgiveness.  If there was no forgiveness that would just be awful!  Would you like to spend eternity feeling guilty, ashamed and condemned?  Me neither!

Thirdly, I thank Him for a new day; thank Him that I am alive; thank Him that I have another day to live!

A New Year

Kathy and I are very grateful to all those who have shown us such love and kindness during what was one of the most challenging of our 38 years together.  I can’t put into words our gratitude and appreciation and what the love extended to us has meant to us.  We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has, and continues to work in people to help and bless us.

And even though we are still, like a lot of people, taking things one day at a time, trusting God each day, we continue to look forward to bigger and greater days ahead.  God continues to work in us to help and bless people, and we look forward to having more to give.

So, here we are at the start of a brand new year; 2010 has arrived.  But really, each day is a brand new day.  If you haven’t watched the short video that I put up a few days ago on New Year’s Eve called Happy New Year, please check it out.

Of course I am expecting a great year.  Why not?  Aren’t you?  What about a great month?  What about a great week?  And, what about expecting to have a great day, today?

Why not expect today to be the greatest day of your life so far?  Why not?

Mike Verdicchio
January 2010

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This Is My Story
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