TED Community » Megan DaGata

About Me

I dream of changing the world. I have challenged myself to live both fearlessly and deliberately in 2012, and I hope that I can realize my dreams as I aid others in finding theirs. For 24 hours now I have have a cut and paste copy of my CV on here, but that tells you nothing of who I am. Thus it is now deleted and if you wish a copy just ask I'm not shy. A CV only shows you names, dates, and generic information. It doesn't show you why I changed my path. It doesn't show you why I am changing it again. In 2009, I was working for a large EOM company and they were awarded a giant government contract. They basically became war profiteers before my very eyes. So, I left. My lifestyle hasn't been the same since, but my life has been fulfilling. Not only that but I decided to move 2000 miles away! I wanted to experience life outside of the south. The drive was an amazing adventure that I would like to repeat again. It ambled on for three weeks during the peak of fall foliage. It was lovely. I ended up with a grant based medical group in upstate New York that still wasn't a great fit as the economy began to tank. NYS in their ever present wisdom cancelled grants and payments and I got laid off. Yay! Two jobs in under a year...I look like a winner! Not. So...I fell prey to a weak economy. I looked around at the prospects in New York; and unless I could afford to live in Brooklyn or Manhatten there was no chance of actually working a full-time job. The job related news spoke of excellent opportunities in Austin and Houston. I thought...hmmm...I could move back home. So I did! Alas...I have been looking for a job for a year and a month. I am working, but it is not what I would like to do and no one wants to touch me because of the job longevity. What's a girl to do? I am going to continue to show up to my little job, while submitting my resume to every job out there...if you are looking for a person with experience in accounts payable, procurement, logistics...I am your girl. That will still only be a job to pay the bills. I am not sure how to get the job that I would like. I love people. I love organizing events. I love writing. I am only self published on my little blog, but people read my little blog. I have Klout. :) I smile because I have no idea what that means or what sort of algorithm they use. I love ideas. I am an idea person. Give me a problem and I will do the research to find the solution. I loved that about logistics. The challenge of someone telling me WHERE they would like to export a product to and me FINDING a way to get it there. Not just that but the cost comparisons and the interpersonal relationships that form between all parties. So much is accomplished simply by treating others well. There is much to be said for a client lunch or a taking the time to stay on a phone call and hear them out. I would like to speak and write and help change the world. I am great at everything. I am intelligent, but don't have a degree. I would like a chance to succeed at my passion. I would like to see if someone out there is willing to give me the chance to see what I can do and where I can go.

Location:
United States, Dickinson, TX
Current organization:
Oil States Energy Services
Current role:
Purchasing
Gender:
Female
Member Picture Member Picture


More About Me

I'm passionate about

sustainability, education, peace between all nations, clean water, pollution, population growth and the consequences, future of the planet for my children, happiness, enlightenment, self-realization

An idea worth spreading

Upon realizing that we are each responsible for one another, begin to improve the circumstance of anyone you can. Share information, resources, and open yourself up to the possibility that you can do more than you realize. We have all heard the Ghandi quote, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Do it, be it, change not only your stars, but maybe someone elses. Start small in your own family or neighborhood, feed a friend that is hungry. If you see a bigger need start a food bank. If you recognize a space that needs change don't wait for someone else to do it, find the tools to do it yourself. Amazing things happen when we simply respond to need. Often we send people to government agencies and social services when if we tried just a little harder we could give them a hand up in life. I do not believe in hand outs, but I do believe that sometimes people just need the help. We are such a small dot on in the sands of time, we should use that time to make the world better for all.

Talk to me about

Anything you want. I am open to the sharing of all ideas.

People don't know that I'm good at

anything I put my mind to from creating the idea to the realization of it.

My TED Story

I don't have one yet, but I am hoping that this will change in 2012.

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +3.40 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: Touching practices should be implemented into schools' daily regimen.

    Feb 12 2013: There needs to be an inherent level of trust in others to have a program like this implemented. We don't have that kind of trust and faith in others anymore. Too many people know that the boogie man could be anyone, anywhere. Yes it is sad, but it's also realistic.

    We actually did an adult training in Scouts, as an adult leader, that cautions against placing your hand on a child's shoulder who isn't your own, because you could be conditioning them to trust you and then leading to something perverse. I found it disturbing that the discussion was required and part of their formal training.

    I know it may help with positive hormone levels, but I know that I wouldn't be comfortable with it.
  • A comment on Conversation: Is there any way to prevent religious debates from turning into a big fight?

    Feb 12 2013: Most things, especially religion and politics, are theories and theologies that people have to perceive for themselves. They may believe fully and completely and by debating them it brings out their lesser qualities. A discussion between a Christian Zealot and a Jihadist Muslim for instance would probably degenerate into a fight faster that you can say their names. Their likely not to agree on any topics...at least not admit to agreeing.

    In order to keep a discussion or debate from becoming an arguement all parties have to be warned that although their ideals may be polarizing they aren't allowed to disolve into squabbling. They need to keep and open mind and actually listen to what the other person has to say without judgement.

    Basically all I'm saying is that there must be a base maturity agreed upon before you even open up the discussion.
  • A comment on Conversation: Do you think that immorality is more supported by people?

    Dec 19 2012: Every society glorifies immorality. Think back through history and there are few times if any that morality is commended. There is always that thought in my head that says, when you are doing everything right no one notices, but mess up once and you'll pay for it for the rest of your life. One bad choice, one immoral act, one life choice that doesn't agree with what is commonly good or bad. People often believe the reputation before they believe the truth.

    The media that gets the attention is negative, that's what sells. That is what makes the game players more money.
  • +1

    A reply on Conversation: Do you think that immorality is more supported by people?

    Dec 19 2012: The victim is the person performing the act. Even if you commit the crime you are just as much of a victim as the actual person who was hurt. You have to live with it, you have to look yourself in the mirror everyday, unless you have a mental disorder you are just as much the victim as "the victim."

    I think the old addage "harm none" is important here, because none includes yourself.
  • A comment on Conversation: Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder or there are women who are born beautiful?

    Oct 9 2012: I suppose it would depend on whether a man was looking with his eyes or with his heart. Is he looking for substance or is he looking for a trophy? I think it would have more to do with the quality of the man, what the quality of the woman he chooses and how he chooses her. That said, there are some gorgeous women that are women of substance, there is more there than face value.
  • A comment on Conversation: Is love a rational process?

    Oct 9 2012: Love is perhaps the most logical response to lust. People often get love and lust confused. Lust is the physical need, love is the emotional need. Some people are skilled at making the physical feel like the emotional. They take the rush you feel with lust and forfeit the reality of what they need from their partner.

    Neither though are rational decisions entirely.

    The only rational decision you can make is who to marry whether you love them or not. You can rationalize what your life will be like with the different people in your life. Will you be able to pay your bills or will they spend all the money you make and never keep a job? Never make a life long decision when you haven't rationalized it, which is why a spontaneous Vegas wedding usually ends in divorce.
  • A reply on Conversation: Why is it all about the college degree?

    Feb 14 2012: For millenia England has worked to maintain the status quo and it is unfortunate. I am sure that those with money and influence wish you still lived under the serf system. However to be fair, it is really that way everywhere. This is a big part of the occupy movement. That the rich want to stay or become richer and they want everyone else to fall into the pit of debt from requiring more and more education and the average citizen falling for it. While I do enjoy the idea of attending college for free, I know that will never happen here. I think that what should be done is to decrease the tuition costs of state sponsored universities so that more people are able to try in life and pass through the glass ceiling as someone said earlier.
  • +1

    A reply on Conversation: Why is it all about the college degree?

    Feb 14 2012: That's what I'm talking about! Why do you care if your childs babysitter has a college education if they are engaging the child in age appropriate activities. Not that I am looking for a babysitting job, but I do have a sitter. I personally like the lady who is watching my children now. She has the education and degrees to be a teacher, but no desire to be part of the educational system right now and my kids plus two others are enough to pay her more than she would make as a teacher with minimal outflow. We provide facilities, food, and entertainment. All she has to do is interact, make sure homework is done, and ensure their safety while I'm at work.

    I am a "fixer upper" as you put it. To be honest I am going to start my own business while here in the land of the underemployed. With the right mentorship I should have an excellent freelance/writing career by the end of the year. At least enough to supplement my current income to be able to provide for my family.

    I like what you say about the medical degree. As I worked in a community health center in the finance department creating the budget for the following year I learned something. Anyone with the goal of becoming a doctor right now should aim to be a family practice doc with an OB cert. There are fewer and fewer graduates with this specialty and they are in high demand. Just in case anyone that is reading is in med school and is looking for their focus.

    I still can't believe that employers would choose someone who has no experience in the real professional world over someone fresh out of the box with no ability to hit the ground running because they still need to be taught how to work. This isn't just for me, there are many in my area with degrees that are going unhired because they have real world experience and expect real world paychecks. (But that's another debate entirely.)
  • A reply on Conversation: If you could open-source one piece of technology, what would you choose and why?

    Jan 18 2012: I have this very unorganized idea (based off the movie IRobot) energizing the planet with the energy created by moving cars. We are all taught kinetic/potential energy in grade school. We ran a car down a track and watched lights light up. Why not harness that and create a new roadway/energy system based off a non-polluting water powered cars that run over a road that captures the energy created and turns it into useable energy to power our homes and businesses.

    Our cars aren't going anywhere, we should find a secondary use for them other than hauling us and our things around.
  • +1

    A reply on Conversation: If you could open-source one piece of technology, what would you choose and why?

    Jan 18 2012: So many of the laws concerning the water supply predate existing ecological conditions. So many of these laws combined with excessive consumption of natural resources CREATED the problems we have now.

    We need to revisit the flow of major rivers, examine the validity of some of the dams and adjust our perceptions of what we as humans want to change on the planet. The ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico and the survival of the wetlands of the Mississippi delta depend on an examination of these things. My college geology professor explained that the wetlands are disappearing at a dramatic rate. Yes we are protecting populated areas by daming and releasing only as needed, but we are damaging the ecology of the entire delta system.

    This is just one river and one gulf...translate that to the entire planet.

    Our need to control nature and her resources should be studied and changes enacted to slowly adjust and allow the planet to thrive.
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