By Cheval John

As I turned the television channel to a show on a respected national network, I saw that someone had filled in for the host, who was probably on assignment.

As the show was going on, I was feeling a moment of disgust because the fill-in host was being disrespectful to the guests and the correspondents.

As the show was about to finish, I turned the channel.

If you are aspiring to be a television journalist, a sports reporter, radio show host or podcaster, you should avoid doing these two things that the “host” did during the interview.

1. Interrupt The Guest/s

As they were discussing major events and the guests were sharing their opinion, the host was interrupting the guest/s.

Not only is that unprofessional, but downright rude.

2. Speaking Over The Correspondent/s

As the correspondent/s was sharing “breaking news,” the host was cutting off both of the correspondents almost every second.

I could have imagined they were thinking, “This person does not have any courtesy or respect.”

When someone is sharing information with their audience, you should have the courtesy to listen to what they have to say.

The reason is because they might share some nuggets of wisdom that could allow you to follow up with another question.

If you go out and do what the “host” did, you might not last long in your career.

As the saying goes, “You Are Not The Life Of The Party.”

By Cheval John

Society says that in order to be successful, you must go to college, get a degree and land a full time job.

Then if you’re lucky, find the right one, get married and go on a honeymoon before you settle in your new home and start a family.

Though Josh and Jill Stanton got married, their “honeymoon” is still going on.

They have built their affiliate websites that has generated revenue which allows them to live the lifestyle they have dreamed off.

In the process, they have started a blog called, “ScrewTheNineToFive,” which helps people who are looking to strike out on their own and live the life they have always wanted.

Recently, I caught up with the Stantons, who are currently in Thailand to get their insight on running a business and the motivation to strike out on their own.

You can visit at www.screwtheninetofive.com

Cheval John: How did you get into affiliate marketing

Jill Stanton: Josh actually got started with affiliate marketing about 6 years ago or so, but it was always just a side hustle he had going on…until we teamed up together 2 years ago.

These days affiliate marketing is our main income earner. We manage a network of over 20 affiliate sites, ranging from small sites of 4 pages to sites of over 250 pages.

We love affiliate marketing because it is essentially the lowest barrier to making money online one could ever get involved with. You don’t have to deal with order fulfillment, shipping, returns, customer service, branding, or payment processing—it’s the most hands-off model there is online.

Cheval: How did the “Screw The Nine to Five Blog” came about

Jill: We actually came up with the idea for Screw the Nine to Five on our wedding week in Costa Rica while sitting on our balcony—a time when we shouldn’t have been thinking of work! Ha ha

But the minute we had the idea we registered the domain and started planning what we would do with the site.

Cheval: Did y’all face any adversity in achieving your goals

Jill: Of course! It’s never easy when you run your own business because everything relies on you. We also have to contend with Google when trying to reach our goals, as a big part of our business is at the mercy of Google and their constant updates.

However we’re big believers in setting goals for ourselves…and so far we’ve reached all our big goals, but we’ve stepped it up for 2014 so fingers crossed we make those happen too! Ha ha

Cheval: You both achieved success in your home country, Canada, why did y’all moved to Thailand?

Jill: Well Josh is actually Australian and both of us pretty much hate any and all cold weather, so moving to Thailand was an easy sell.

We also wanted to make it a point to live in a cheaper country where our money could go further and we could use our savings from our day-to-day life to re-invest back into our business and hire more people to help scale our efforts.

On top of that, South East Asia is a HUGE hotspot for online entrepreneurs and we really wanted to surround ourselves with likeminded people. After all, there really isn’t an online marketing scene in Toronto and we never really met anyone who was doing what we were doing.

We’ve now been here for a year and it is hands down the best thing we’ve ever done for ourselves personally and professionally.

Cheval: What are the ins and out of running a business

Jill: I guess it varies for each and every person, depending on what kind of business you are running.

For us, our biggest struggle is to take ourselves out of our business, allow our team run the day-to-day side of things so we can focus ON our business and not work IN it.

I think the biggest thing to remember for anyone wanting to run a business online is that you have to comfortable with the uncomfortable, because online business is ALWAYS changing. Nothing is ever the same.

And the minute you get too comfortable with it, you’re doomed.

Cheval: Can you share an example how you helped someone be successful

Jill: I think in 2013 we were helping people through our one-on-one coaching services. We had quite a few happy clients that put our strategies to use and saw great improvements in their businesses, which was so exciting to see!

This year we have gotten rid of those in an effort to help more people on a bigger level.

We recently kicked off our public case study where we are being fully transparent and building and monetizing a site publicly so our readers can copy exactly what we’re doing.

So far the feedback has been amazing and we have quite a few people joining the challenge of building their own site over the next 3 months.

Cheval: Why is networking important

Jill: I think relationship building is absolutely crucial to your business’ success. After all, it’s those relationships that you can then lean on when things get tough, bounce ideas off each other, or help each other out with different ventures.

It’s really the key to getting your business out there and taking it to the next level.

I do think there is a way to do it though. I personally cringe when someone asks to pick someone’s brain. I mean think about it, who wants to give away all the tips and strategies that they had to figure out for themselves, just to give them away to someone who wants to fast-track their progress?

No one, that’s who.

However, if you frame it in a give-and-take situation then it’s much easier to connect with entrepreneurs you look up to and gain insights. Just don’t be a selfish networker and you should be golden.

Cheval: What are the quote/s y’all live by

Jill: We truly live by the quote “Get comfortable with the uncomfortable”, although I couldn’t tell you who said it first. It’s just something that resonates with us.

I also love the quote “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.

I just think that it is essential to your success to stay slightly uncomfortable in your business at all times because that means you will always try new things, test new strategies and put yourself out there in a way you wouldn’t if you just kept everything copacetic.

All our biggest successes have come out of intense periods of fear and self-doubt, but the key was we kept pushing through those periods. I think that is what separates successful entrepreneurs from the “wantrepreneurs”.

Cheval: Any parting words?

Jill: Stop thinking about it and just start taking action. That’s the key. That’s all you have to do: Start with step 1….and stop stressing out about step 20. You’ll figure it out. Just start.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Torrance Williams is a first team selection and Bookie Sneed a third team honoree for the Sam Houston football team on the Sports Network FCS All-America list, the first major post-season honor squad announced for the 2013 football season.

Williams, a senior from Waco Connally, is the Sport Network’s first team All-America punt return specialist.

Williams led the Southland Conference and ranked No. 2 nationally in punt returns this season.

He broke the Sam Houston single season punt return yardage school record with 29 returns for 464 yards.

He also set a single game school mark with five returns for 138 yards in SHSU’s victory over Lamar.

Williams completed his Bearkat career ranked No. 5 in Sam Houston career punt return yardage with 31 returns for 487 yards.

The senior led Sam Houston with 1,546 all-purpose yards this year.

Sneed, a senior cornerback from Conroe, was a third team All-America defensive back in the Sports Network listing.

He totaled 66 tackles in the secondary for the Bearkats and led the team with 13 pass break-ups. Sneed was a first team All-Southland Conference selection, his third year in a row to earn All-Southland honors.

Sam Houston is one of only three teams in FCS football to earn berths in the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs each of the past three seasons.

2013 The Sports Network All-America Team

First Team – Offense
QB – Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 222
RB – Terrance West, Towson, Jr., 5-11, 223; Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-0, 220
FB – Andrew Grothmann, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 232
WR – Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington, Fr., 6-2, 195; Lee Kurfis, Lehigh, Sr., 6-2, 190; Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 5-11, 190
TE – MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois, Jr., 6-3, 260
OL – Dakota Dozier, Furman, Sr., 6-4, 291; Eric Pike, Towson, Sr., 6-5, 298; Collin Seibert, Eastern Illinois, Jr., 6-4, 277; Billy Turner, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-6, 314; Bryan Witzmann, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-7, 305
AP – Fabian Truss, Samford, Sr., 5-9, 185
PK – Tyler Sievertsen, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-2, 185
KR – Xavier Roberson, Southeastern Louisiana, So., 5-9, 170

First Team – Defense
DE – Brad Daly, Montana State, Sr., 6-1, 240; Terrence Fede, Marist, Sr., 6-5, 270
DT – Sullivan Grosz, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-4, 295; Caraun Reid, Princeton, Sr., 6-2, 305
LB – Stephon Robertson, James Madison, Sr., 5-11, 230; Justin Shade, Samford, Sr., 5-10, 229; Joe Thomas, South Carolina State, Sr., 6-0, 230; Lynden Trail, Norfolk State, Jr., 6-7, 260
CB – Kendall James, Maine, Sr., 6-0, 214; Marcus Williams, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-11, 194
S – Jerome Couplin III, William & Mary, Sr., 6-2, 215; Caleb Schaffitzel, Missouri State, Jr., 6-0, 214
P – Chad Zinchini, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-3, 220
LS – Richard Wright, Liberty, Sr., 6-1, 260
PR – Torrance Williams, Sam Houston State – Sr., 5-8, 170

Second Team – Offense
QB – Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington, So., 6-0, 190
RB – Kyle Harbridge, St. Francis (Pa.), Sr., 5-10, 195; DaMarcus James, Jacksonville State, Jr., 5-10, 220; Lorenzo Taliaferro, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-2, 230
FB – Emmanuel Holder, Towson, So., 5-11, 255; Darien Robinson, The Citadel, Sr., 6-0, 220
WR – Sam Ajala, Fordham, Jr., 6-0, 194; Jeremy Butler, UT Martin, Sr., 6-3, 205; Lee Doss, Southern, Sr., 6-2, 180
TE – Justin Perillo, Maine, Sr., 6-4, 240
OL – Arinze Agada, McNeese State, Sr., 6-1, 286; Tristan Bellamy, South Carolina State, Sr., 6-3, 290; Matt Crisaki, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 302; A.J. Dalton, Robert Morris, Sr., 6-4, 280; Mason Halter, Fordham, Jr., 6-6, 282
AP – Rob Hollomon, Central Connecticut State, Jr., 5-8, 170
PK – Griffin Thomas, Jacksonville State, Sr., 6-0, 198
KR – Adrian Wilkins, North Carolina Central, So., 5-8, 170

Second Team – Defense
DE – Zach Hodges, Harvard, Jr., 6-3, 235; Shaquille Riddick, Gardner-Webb, Jr., 6-7, 240; Davis Tull, UT-Chattanooga, Jr., 6-3, 240
DT – Zach Kerr, Delaware, Sr., 6-2, 310; Troy Moore, Sacred Heart, Jr., 6-3, 285
LB – Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 5-10, 215; Todd Davis, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-1, 250; Tyler Starr, South Dakota, Sr., 6-4, 235; Jordan Tripp, Montana, Sr., 6-4, 237
CB – T.J. Lee III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-9, 190; Jordan Love, Towson, Sr., 6-1, 180
S – Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tennessee State, Jr., 6-2, 210; Jaquiski Tartt, Samford, Jr., 6-1, 218
P – Kyle Loomis, Portland State, Jr., 6-2, 210
LS – Chris Highland, Illinois State, Jr., 6-2, 215
PR – Tavoris Doss, Alcorn State, Sr., 5-8, 165

Third Team – Offense
QB – Michael Nebrich, Fordham, Jr., 6-1, 205
RB – D.J. Adams, Portland State, Sr., 5-10, 210; Keshaudas Spence, Sacred Heart, Jr., 5-10, 230; Marcus Wiltz, McNeese State, Sr., 5-9, 192
FB – Kurt Odom, Campbell, Sr., 6-1, 215
WR – Kenny Cook, Gardner-Webb, Jr., 6-4, 210; Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois, Jr., 6-2, 199; Roman Wilson, Princeton, Sr., 5-11, 190
TE – Jeff LePak, Eastern Illinois, Jr., 6-6, 222
OL – Dorian Byrd, Georgia Southern, Sr., 6-1, 265; Phede Celestin, Marist, Sr., 6-4, 318; Jamey Cheatwood, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-5, 330; Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee State, Sr., 6-4, 290; Chris Elkins, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-4, 290; Danny Kistler, Montana, Sr., 6-8, 315; Mitchell Van Dyk, Portland State, Sr., 6-9, 290
AP – Greg Hardin, North Dakota, Sr., 5-11, 177
PK – Colton Cook, Southern Utah, Sr., 5-8, 185
KR – Shawn Johnson, Montana State, Jr., 5-9, 175

Third Team – Defense
DE – Anthony Bass, Tennessee State, Jr., 6-2, 230; Jesse Dickson, Lamar, Sr., 6-3, 265; Colton Underwood, Illinois State, Sr., 6-4, 255
DT – Robert Simpson, Mississippi Valley State, Sr., 6-3, 267; Tracey Smith, Bucknell, Sr., 6-1, 265
LB – Telvion Clark, Towson, Sr., 6-1, 230; Jarkevis Fields, Bethune-Cookman, Sr., 6-0, 230; Stephen Hodge, Jr., 6-0, 202; Cqulin Hubert, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-1, 250; Christian Kuntz, Duquesne, So., 6-2, 210
DB – Guy Morgan, McNeese State, Sr., 6-0, 188; Winston Wright, South Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 190 , Colten Heagle, North Dakota State, Jr., 5-11, 202; Bookie Snead, Sam Houston State, Sr., 6-0, 180
P – Bentlee Critcher, Appalachian State, Fr., 6-1, 175; Bobby Wenzig, Alabama State, Sr., 6-2, 180
LS – Phil Faccone, Wagner, Jr., 5-9, 195; Chris Maikranz, Lamar, Sr., 6-6, 255
PR – Antwan Eddie, Robert Morris, Jr., 5-10, 180

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

The defending Southland Conference champion Bearkat women’s basketball team opens its 2013-14 home schedule Friday at 11 a.m. when Sam Houston play host to Louisiana-Lafayette at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkat women opened their non-conference schedule last week with a tough road trip to Arkansas.

Sam Houston lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks 81-45 Friday then just missed knocking off a fellow 2013 WNIT participant Arkansas-Little Rock Sunday.

UALR edged the Kats 69-65 after Sam Houston had rallied from 12 points down to cut the margin to three in the final minute.

Two starters and five other lettermen return from last year’s squad that earned SHSU its first Southland women’s basketball regular season championship in 26 years in the league.

The Bearkats made their first Southland tournament finals appearance and earned a berth in the WNIT.

Five veterans comprise the Kats’ starting lineup this season with 6-3 Angela Beadle at the post, 5-10 Nyha Carter at forward and 5-11 Jazmin Wiley, 5-7 Jasmine Johnson and 5-5 Amanda Barnes on the perimeter.

Beadle became the fourth player from Sam Houston to earn all-tournament honors last March in Katy.

Through two games the junior from Austin leads the Kats in both scoring (15.0) and rebounding (6.5).

Johnson is a three-year starter from Missouri City who is averaging 11.5 points per game.

Louisiana-Lafayette brings a 2-0 record into Friday’s contest with wins of 80-68 over Nebraska-Omaha and 72-62 against Southern.

Jasmin Mills, a 6-1 forward, leads the Ragin’ Cajuns with 18.0 points a game.

Friday’s contest is the first of three consecutive home games for the women at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats play host to Houston Baptist Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. and then meet A&M-Commerce in the annual “Pack the House” elementary school game at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22.

Tickets for Sam Houston women’s basketball games are available now online at www.gobearkats.com or at the SHSU athletic ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium.

The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Torrance Williams has been named the Southland Conference football special teams player of the week following an outstanding performance in Sam Houston’s 14-3 victory over Lamar in the Bearkats’ 2013 league opener.

The senior receiver/kick return specialist helped Sam Houston win the field possession battle with five punt returns for 138 yards in a 14-3 victory over Lamar last Saturday.

The Waco, Texas (Connally H.S.) product averaged 27.4 yards per return, including a long of 53 yards.

After his fifth long return, the Cardinals booted their final three punts out-of-bounds.

He also caught two passes for 17 yards and rushed for 18 more to total 173 all-purpose yards.

Williams leads the Southland in punt returns this year (16 for 358) and his 22.4 return average ranks second nationally in the FCS.

During his four-year career, Williams has totaled 1,114 yards in pass receiving and 2,053 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving and returns).

Williams award marks the fifth time this season for a Bearkat to earn a Southland weekly award.

Sam Houston State travels to Lake Charles, La., to take on McNeese State Saturday at 7 p.m.

The showdown pairs the Southland’s top two FCS nationally ranked teams.