Steve McKenzie

@noahkagan Here is a TED talk that illustrates your tweet perfectly: Jia Jiang: What I learned from 100 days of rejection | TED Talk

If you want a raise, ASK for it. If you want a new job, ASK for it. If you want a customer, ASK for it. Success is a game of asking.

Smell that? That’s the aroma of the first episode of the “Bless My Bacon!” podcast, including @MonroeSausage buzzsprout.com/2037187/111667…

Just launched a YouTube channel, "Dadspiration", featuring advice, yammering, encouragement, and (hopefully) humor! bit.ly/Dadspiration-13 #dadadvice #motivation #encouragement

#SomeGoodNews Hi @johnkrasinski I've been sharing the stories and portraits of Chicago's homeless population here: instagram.com/people_beautif… Thanks for SGN--I love it!

kickstarter.com/projects/theho… @ Chicago, Illinois instagram.com/p/B9IaMI_hLOD/…

John was sitting on the southeast corner of Wacker and Jackson.  He was quiet and subdued, but willing to chat for awhile.  He's been out here for three years.  Currently he's in a shelter.  What he wants people to know about him is that, "I'm dependable".

Just Launched my Kickstarter campaign to benefit the homeless! Link in Bio!! @ Chicago, Illinois instagram.com/p/B9CRa58hcWG/…

Kim was on the Jackson Blvd exit ramp of 90/94.  She's been homeless for a year.  I asked where she was staying and she pointed across the expressway and said, "over there".  What she needs most is a sleeping bag.  "No one wants to be out here".

Will was standing on the Monroe Street exit ramp, on the Kennedy Expressway.  He and his wife Alicia (mentioned in a previous post) have been out here two months. What keeps him going is the belief that things will get better.

Michael was standing by the McDonalds at 313 South LaSalle Street.  "My names Michael...they call me 'Happy Jack', he said.  "I'm a good person. No one knows what I'm going through--they don't know that I have cataracts and can't see them very well!".

Sakhan was on the northeast corner of Van Buren and Dearborn.  He's been out here a couple of years.  He stays in the shelter usually or the Blue Line Train.  He spoke with a quiet voice, but said how he stays motivated is, "you gotta persevere--you gotta keep going.

Gus was walking down the west side of Michigan Avenue, near Grand Avenue.  "I've been out here a week", he said.  He stays at the shelter and was happy to be there.  "They give us food and clothes and shoes...I like when we sing there too", he said.

John’s been homeless for awhile. hoping to go back to school.  He likes history and archaeology so that’s kind of what’s motivating him right now.  His favorite books to read are sci-fi and fantasy books, but he also enjoys non-fiction archaeology books.

David was near the northwest corner of Dearborn and Randolph.  I asked him how he was doing and he said "I'm blessed. You just take one day at a time....sometimes one hour or one minute at a time...you gotta crawl before you can walk."

"Everybody thinks we're drug addicts, but we're not." He said it's hard to get off the street once you get there. "But I know God's up there..."

Jimmy was on the west side of Michigan Avenue, near Grand Avenue. He's been homeless for quite awhile. He lives in a tent city near California and Harrison. What he needs right now is propane for his stove/heater. It gets cold at night and the heater helps keep him warm.

Rob has been homeless for eight years. "It's depressing", he said. Fortunately he has a friend's house where he's able to take a shower and clean up for interviews. He just got a new ID and is working with a temp agency. "I want to be a security guard", he smiled.

Ron and Kelly were sitting on the northwest corner of Clark and Madison. They've been out here since April 2019. Ron was in a wheelchair, due to cellulitis in his legs. "I'm a tall guy, so I'm used to standing and… instagram.com/p/B8WSmCIhLwD/…

"Just because we're homeless doesn't mean we're bad people", Kelly said.  Right now, we're working with Heartland Alliance to find jobs.