Author: faheemjackson44

I am from Racine, Wisconsin where I was raised until I graduated high school back in the year 2006. That entire time growing up in my mother's house, I was a student athlete. My goal was to embark on a general business career or athletics. But injuries through sports stopped a sports path, so I decided upon business with a focus in marketing. While attending undergraduate school at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, I began to write screenplays in my senior year. At first it was for fun, but I quickly learned writing allow me to transfer negative energy into characters I created. This led to a decrease in depressing mood swings, which in turn boosted my quality of life. After undergraduate school in May of 2011, I move to New York City for graduate school. While pursuing my MBA, I continued to write screenplays, but always wanted to write novels as well. I finished graduate school back in the year 2014, but wrote screenplays until I began thinking of my first short film, first First Day Fears. While finishing my fifth feature length screenplay, I started to write my first novel this year. So far, I have finished my first short film and working on my next one (Freedomless Speech), and recently self published my first novel (The Boy Who Could Talk To God) and short stories book (Faheem Jackson Short Story Collection Volume 1). My feature length screenplays have been put on temporary hold to finish my short films and books, but I am making good progress on my sixth feature length screenplay. With year 2017 ending, I am currently writing my novel Precinct 86 and Faheem Jackson Short Story Collection Vol. 2. I have started teaching myself photography since 2018, along with my videography, podcast later on, and more research for my filmmaking.

INDEPENDENT DOWNSIDES DURING HARD TIME

“Moving forward.”

WHEN ROUGH GETS ROUGHER

Ever been in a position where you have to choose between being totally independent or needing someone’s aid? How about being on your own and getting hit by hard times and being in a place where you can’t easily bounce back. And here is when you realize that you may have been better off in a relationship. This way you can split the cost of survival with someone. When you are independent you take on all the burden. It sounds good to be on your own but when you see the hit on your existence you start thinking. And no other time is this true than now. We are dealing with a pandemic that has shut down the system. So where do you turn?

QUARANTINE GIVES TIME TO THINK

When you are out of work especially now, you are forced to sit with your own thoughts. And if you are single with no kids then you have to sit at home with limited resources. Limitations you wouldn’t have with someone else. Because with someone else you split the difference.  It’s what makes a person at ease a little more when they are able to receive help from someone close. But for a person like me, my life is all too unpredictable. I could be with or without in an instant. So why do we pump up independence? Because you get further with more help. It’s because we think it makes us stronger by building alone.

BUILD A BASE

Learn to put people around you that are going in your direction. This will help you in your time of need.  Being alone especially in a quarantined like situation is not good. I live alone in a city but I get help in bad times. Yet so many don’t get anything.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe

NO WORK DURING QUARATINE

“Where do I turn?”

THE MELTDOWN

The recent outbreak of the Corona Virus stemming from a small local marketplace in Wuhan China has put the world on lockdown. And as a citizen of New York City, this city has been the hardest in America. And with that, has come a wave of unemployment. It has now left people from all over the country wondering what to do now. Because I know for me, I still have a job. But so so many that’s not the case. I have never been in this position so it’s kind of a no man’s land. And for most people this is a new reality. So, let’s go through the steps to being able to get yourself through this troubling time? The first step is to apply for unemployment.

UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER COVID-19

In order to apply for unemployment, there are a number of steps to go through when filing. The first step is to go to the Department of Labor and sign up for an account. You will have temporary password sent to your email account. Sign into your account and then you’ll be prompted to create a new password. Once into the account tou created, understand that you have a specific time period to call or file. That is based off of your last name which means you call corresponding to that date. For example, my last name is a J, that means I call on Tuesday. So when you call, be prepared to wait a while.

BE PRECISE WITH INCOME

You have to know before calling how much time you work and the amount of money you make in a two week span. This is important because then they’ll be able to calculate what your unemployment can be. Now, they will look into you, and if you’re off, the process takes longer. So be open and honest up front so the process goes a little smoother. And if you manage to go through the process and get unemployment, remember it’s only 55% at most of your income. This is not meant for you to be unemployed. This is why the percent gets cut in half. It’s to encourage working. Now, this situation is difficult because the government shut down the country. This forced people to lose jobs. So it’s no fault of the unemployed. Yet, the percentage still stands.

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Americans have not experienecd this much lost since 2008 when the economic recession forced out of work and out of their homes. Only this time it’s at no fault of the people. And the help which people will get is minimal and one time only. Now, the market go back to its original point, yes. It may take a year or more. The nation will return to success. But for now it’s going to be a struggle.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe

GIVING UP IS NOT A SOLUTION

Woman Sitting on Chair While Leaning on Laptop

“Keeping trekking along.”

WHEN IT HURTS MOST

Wanting to give up is something so many people pursuing their career feel like doing. But for some reason there is something that is holding you from doing this, and that is your drive. And it’s a good thing because quitting should be the absolute last resort. It should be the thing last on your list once you have tried everything and finally you have to give up. Especially if this is something you are good at and getting better. But the reality is most people do give in to the climb because it is so difficult.  It’s like the quote by Thomas Edison that, “many of life’s failures don’t realize how close they were to success when they finally gave up.” Such a strong and powerful quote that I live by in life.

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM

Somewhere in your head is this feeling of dejection. We don’t know where it comes from, but it is always there lingering. And the reason we have this in our heads is to give us the ability to back away from danger. It has helped keep us alive on this planet for so long. But the reality behind succeeding in society is you have to take risk and be fearless. Even if you fear which most people do, you have to trick yourself into getting out of that mind-frame. We all have it, even the most motivating people have fears. They just do a good job at shifting their attention on to keep pushing. Now, that thing that has kept us alive, there are always the ones that are fearless that have pushed the world forward.

STRAP IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

Success in life is a long long road to where it is you want to truly be. You have to be patient and know that it will take a very long time. And when I say long time, we are talking 10 years, 15 years, even 20 years more most. So if you are only a few years in and feel like falling off, then you are in trouble because everything will be painful and take a long time.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemjacksonphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe

GREAT CAREER – GREAT SALARY – STILL BROKE

Person Holding Pink Suede Long Waller

“How do I fix this?”

WASTED PAYCHECK

Are you someone who make money every two weeks but yet you still don’t have much. That means your life is out of wack. Something is going on that is in your best interest. And the person to blame is you. You have to treat your check like it is more than what you are doing. People get paid and next thing you know they spend their checks once they have their bills accounted for. But that is not the way you work for your living. You can’t just sit aside money for rent and bills, and personal needs, then go shopping. Then expect no to have anything as you grow older. You have to sacrifice the wants right now for the needs now and wants later.

RESPECT THE POSITION GIVEN

People get these different positions in their career. Then they get there and next thing you know they throw so much away. People have all these ideas about what they will do, but then they never do those things. Especially if you come from nothing and you are building to something. You forget about why you decided to build in the first place. But you know, most people forget where they come from and how far they have come. You get so caught up in the moment of enjoying and building you forget. It’s easy to detach yourself.

BUCKLING DOWN STINKS

So many people have a hard time building in their lives because they don’t want to deal with the idea of having to do the work and failing. If you fail we are scared about people making fun of us. So we live in this space of wanting but not building. Having the ability but not trying because we spend money on garbage that could be allocated into something more important.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemjacksonphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe

DREADING THE WORK WEEK

Woman Sitting in Front of Macbook

“And here we go.”

MONDAY THRU FRIDAY

On a Sunday night, do you ever get the feeling that you are not going anywhere in life because you hate your job? It’s this feeling that you just want to walk out of the job and do something else. Doing something, anything than what you are doing at the current moment. But if you don’t know how to do anything, then what are you to do. Because you can’t just walk off your job. You need to bring in an income. So you have to make moves to try to enter something else and make the best of your current situation. Because you can’t continue to live a life of misery.

SIDE HUSTLE

You have to ask yourself a question of do you want this long term. And the reality is moving yourself into a better head and financial space. But it is not that easy. Because first what will you do to bring in income. And that is when you should think about the side hustle. The hustle that is something you love to do. This will first start out as nothing then hopefully it flourishes into something more. Now, most people don’t like starting anything new because they have fear of failing. And they are concerned about what other people might think if they don’t do well.

PAINFUL EXISTENCE

When you live like this on a daily from Monday through Friday, then you are going to hate life. Your Saturdays will be spent sleeping and Sunday will be consisting of preparing for Monday. And this is how most people live their entire lives. They will be on this hamster wheel until the day they die.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemjacksonphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe

NO PAY, LOW PAY

Coins Inside Jar

“Experience first, money second.”

THE EARLY DAYS

When you first start out in your career, you are going to have to realize the pay is low. And some work you might get is going to be for no pay. This is where so many young people give up and quit. I mean think about it, who want to get up each and everyday to go to a job that pays no money. But the reality is that you need the experience early in your 20’s in order to move forward. For example I worked for a retail and the start out managers earn a small income, but the volume of running the store was a major task. So the pay was low, but the ability to manage a large team helps push you over the top.

BE HUMBLE

So many young people have this in mind thing about them. I deserve more but I don’t know much. Well guess what, you have to pay your dues. You have to get in and gain experience in order to keep moving along. But most have a hard time moving forward because they have this mind-frame early on. I have worked for internships that didn’t pay, and others where pay was so low, it should have been for free. But what you have to be is grateful for the opportunity and learn as much as you can. These are not the years to make the most money. The time will come if you set yourself up for the challenge.

MIND FIELD

As you navigate your early career life, you will have these feelings of doubt and hurt. You want to have and do what everyone else is doing. Their life sometimes look greater than it is, and you start to feel depressed. And this is the mind game that you start to play with yourself as you grow your career. And a lot of times you don’t see things moving in the paradigm of building. It does not formulate until the work has been done. But when you reach the level you want, more work goes into it to hold on to it.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemjacksonphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe

THEIR FEAR INSIDE OF YOU: HOW PARENTS PROJECT ONTO THEIR KIDS

Woman With Brown Baby Carrier And Little Kid In White Jacket

“I know what’s best for you.”

PLAY IT SAFE

Your parents love, and they want to protect you. But sometimes they overprotect you. They tend to look at your life and see something in it for them. They have built and put so much into you, they really want to know that the investment is worth it. But part of the problem is that you have to deal with them saying that you should play it safe. When it comes to pursuing a career, you are supposed to choose a job that is a little more of a guarantee. And this is something that will make your parents happy about the life you have chosen. But what happens once the kid decides to make a career decision that does not align with the parents decision?

NO  REAL OUTCOME

When you choose a career that is not a little more guaranteed like a doctor or lawyer, then your parents will be more appreciative of you. But then there are the jobs that we choose that are a lot more unguaranteed. Your kid wants to be an actor or musician. And here is where most parents will stand in the face of their child and push them in another direction. This is because we want them to be safe and other times parents project on to their children their own fears and insecurities. So, generally, the kid accepts the parent’s request and live their lives how they’re expected to live.

DREAM KILLERS

Parents build dreams, but also, parents kill the dreams of their children as well. And I am not only talking about kids being actors. What if your child want to be an archaeologist? A lot of parents would not support that because this is a profession that does not make much money. They are not concerned about what you love they are concerned about security. Supporting yourself is more important to them than your passion. So a lot of times you have to pursue yourself.

Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemjacksonphotography
Twitter Me: @2320howe