Website Report – SendARep.com

Website Name: SendARep.com
URL: sendarep.com
Designer: TJ Jessep (of Scratj.com)
Date Designed: 12/2009 – 1/2010

Description: SendARep sends people to do tasks people or companies can not, don’t want to, or can’t afford to do. These tasks include meetings, message deliveries, presentations, note-taking, speech deliveries, document retrievals, and other related services. To send a rep, all you have to do is Log-in to the control panel and fill out all the information in the provided fields. The website was designed to provide a public end and a members-only end that improves business tasks and relations by sending reps to do jobs for you, and on your behalf. You can also become a representative, and get paid to go on simple tasks in your area.

Website Report: DictionaryofMen.com

Website Screenshot

Website Name: Dictionary of Men
URL: dictionaryofmen.com
Designer: TJ Jessep (of Scratj.com)
Date Designed: 12/2009 – 1/2010

Description: The website was designed for a book called “Dictionary of Men.” The book (written by Leslie Yeransian and Michele Helies) contains a dictionary-style layout of each man-type in the world. The site features an interactive mansion (designed graphically by Scratj’s TJ Jessep) as the front page, and matching inner content. It was the third architecturally centered website designed by Scratj, and has already gained popularity with our fans. To read more articles about it check out Google search listings in the next few weeks and months, and start by reading a snippet from our article library. Snipped located here: http://scratj.com/articles/?p=140

A New Dictionary for the Worlds Most-used Language

"Dictionary of Men" Book Cover

English, that is.

It’s not a book filled with new words to hit Webster as famously as “mp3″ did…’nor is it a website packed full of common street terms with a fitting title like “Urban Dictionary.” Its a dictionary crafted by two leading ladies who think they’ve cracked the english terminology for each type of man out there. Go ahead, say it. “Another relationship advice book.” Surprisingly enough, it’s just a simple research and guide to the modern-day man, and it’s sure to please the public.

We’ve almost finished working with the authors for the minor launch of the website this week. The formal launching isn’t set until after this week but the buzz has started already. Come back soon for the formal launch, and get your copy of the “Dictionary of Men” this week to qualify for the great contests they are running!

College: That Thing That’s Not for Everyone

Why did I write this article?
I am writing this article because since starting my business, I have watched a select amount of people struggle motivating themselves through the path “decided for them” at such a young age: the path to a degree. Each of these people possessed a drive that didn’t quite fit the typical college agenda. They had a passion buried inside that had been calling to them since their junior year of high school, and ever since have been wondering what they would do after high school graduation to address their passion. In this article we will address questions such as “Should I listen to my gut?..”What will they say about me?”..”How do I tell my parents?”..and “Where should I start?”

For those who don’t want to fly, simply drive.
Fly from Maine to Florida. Now drive. Which got you to Florida faster? Which did you learn the most from? By flying, you can study the parts of the United States and read books about them. By driving, you are experiencing them hands on. Though flying is the usual choice for people, some choose to get a different experience, with the same end result.
Most of the young adults I interviewed for this article, share a common scrutiny of society around them. They feel everything is a pre-set system. That system is pre-school > kindergarden > elementary > middle school > high school > college > job. All believed that undergoing the process of kindergarden through high school is essential, but most would share the same opinion on pre-school and college. “My mom taught me everything my friends were learning in preschool, before I even got there, ” one young woman stated. “I believe that you can learn things, and sometimes even more beneficial things, not going through a preordained system, when you have found something you believe works better for you.” Most of those interviewed wanted to make clear the fact that they were not against the school system. Their belief is that just as the mother of a toddler can gauge the importance of pre-school to their child, a capable young adult can themselves gauge the importance of college and can personally weigh out the benefits of choosing a different route.

Some look at me like I set up a meeting to get a “Loser” tattoo on my forehead.
Most people look at a college dropout as a quitter, or ignorant, or lazy. I know your reaction may be to get mad at them, but before you do, lets look at the facts. No, I’m not going to give you the number of dropouts last year, or the percentage rate of dropout change since 1990, nor am I going to give you the constantly fluctuating number of successes and failures of college dropouts. If your reading this article, you most likely are considering dropping out or have thought about it in your past, and if you are trying to find your percent chance of success, go back to school, this isn’t for you. It’s not about success or money, its about you and your life. Those of you who believe in yourself and feel the calling to take a different route, keep reading. You’re not a loser, your just an eager self-motivator who is dying to prove the bashers wrong…and you will.

Consider every option or possibility before deciding it’s not for you.
Everyone has a touch of lazy in them, and you SHOULD NOT mistake a slum in grades, a drought of no “fun” or “interest”, or a “great idea” for reasons to drop out of college. Dropping out or not going at all is only for the person who knows it is worth the risk (or many risks), and knows they are better off (and happier) if they do so.

The College Drop-out Checklist: Pros and Cons of Dropping out of College
Everyone is getting to you, and their opinions seem way too biased. You once KNEW you should be taking a different route than staying in or going to college, but now you are unsure. Below is a list of important things to consider in your big life decision. Remember, college may not be for everyone, but dropping out certainly isn’t for everyone either.

Cons to Dropping out of college:
•  Education on the wide array of topics college has to offer is no longer available to you in an easily-accessible classmate and mentor presented way.
• A proven reliable plan is out the window.
•  No degree for those jobs that require it.
•  No Delay in responsibility. In college your living in a no-rent, no bills, free food style atmosphere and this gives you time to prepare for what’s ahead in the real world.
•  When competing for a non-required-degree job, the person with the degree may get it or may get paid more.
• If over 18, you could (depending on insurance provider) have to come off of your parent’s health insurance plan, causing you or your parents have to pay for a different insurance plan for you. Now, depending on if your parents back-up your leaving college, this could be ok for you…or put you out over 100$ a month. Insurance also pays for things such as contact lenses, eye appointments, dentist, doctor, gyno (birth control), and tripping over a rock and gouging your knee.
•  You have to get your own transportation and pay for insurance (if your parents are like mine were, you probably do this already).
•  No internship oportunity. A lot of people started their careers by the internships they received through college. Decide if college is the only way to get that “break” you need, or if you could do this on your own by starting as the “Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts run girl/boy” at 7 big one’$ an hour.
•  You have to prove yourself by another method. You can’t just go out and expect the world to listen to you. If you don’t have a degree, you’ll need something for people to judge you by. Whether it be a portfolio or a skill, make sure it is recordable and worthy of a masters degree or two.
•  A huge marketing possibility is now out of your reach. In college, you meet, and meet, and meet. Networking through people is the key to any success, and by leaving college or not going, your losing your chance to reach out and connect to hundreds or thousands of students and faculty.
•  You’ve lost a great support system. In college you can fall back on the school, classmates, friends, and family. In the real world school and classmates aren’t there, and friends and family only get you so far.
•  Until you succeed, you will get put-down. (Many will tell you that you should think about going back to school, up until the point the dough is rolling in.)
• You’ll have to work extra hard at your goals to achieve them.

Pros to Dropping out of College:
•  You won’t be wasting time. (You can get that jump start on real-life experiences and your passions.)
•  You won’t be wasting money. (Whether your parents, yours, or the governments money….college costs A LOT)
• You won’t be paying off loans until your $40+ (I know many people still unable to do things because they are burdened by their college loans).
•  You will be earning money. (Weigh out the difference between how much you will make without a degree and how much you will make with a degree).
•  You’ll be off of the grade-based system. (Bad grades? You mean bad test-taker. Plus, why would you want to take tests on subjects you’ve never been interested in?)
•  You’re happy, and perusing your dream.

How do I tell my parents I am dropping out?
This for most people, is the hardest part. You fear anger, ruined relationships, disappointment, and lots of scrutiny. The best thing to do is to make a plan, and write it down in a detailed fashion. Explain to whoever reads the document how you plan to succeed without going to college. The larger your plan, the more it shows your family that your decision is not just an on-a-whim but well thought out. Begin with an intro paragraph explaining you want to drop out or not go to college, and a brief summary of why. Give reference points and proof that your decision is also based on interviews with authority (school counselor, teacher, etc.) Lastly, break the news in person. State that you are willing to go to college in the future if things don’t work out. Next, call/talk to them and tell them you have been thinking about something and wanted to speak to them about it. Tell your parents you have been thinking a lot about something, hand them your plan, and ask them to read the whole thing before making comments on it. Depending on your parents – be prepared for yelling, quick reasons on why you should change your mind, and lots and lots of questions like “how will you support yourself?” You may sense that they don’t believe in your plan, but keep assuring them that you have thought about it for a long time and it is what you are going to do. Tell them you are excited to show them how fulfilling your life will be when you pursue and reach your goals. Tell them they can be involved in your out-of-college venture by backing you up, and trusting in you. It is your life, and although they gave birth to you and want to set you on a path with the least failure, tell them they gave birth to a special baby, who is going to do great things in a special way.

Keep the idea of college around.
The smartest and most skilled people can fail. Keep going to college as a fall-back plan. You’re never too old to learn, and if you need to go back to school at some point, don’t be ashamed things didn’t work out. Luck just wasn’t on your side despite the amazing efforts, and the new portfolio you developed while out of college will get you into a great school and possibly with credits.

There you have it - the good and the bad to taking college, the thing that’s not for everyone, out of the picture. Now it is time for you to sit back and weigh out your risks. Once you make your decision, follow it, and follow it with excitement and a great work ethic. If you work hard and are excited about whatever decision you made, you will succeed. Take it from someone who did.

- TJ Jessep
Scratj Articles
If this article inspired you, or if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below!

Snow – The Canvas to Paint on..Or the Paint Itself?

Snow. Floridans live without it, the Carolina’s get surprised by it, and New Englanders are used to it. Truth is, whether people like it or not, they all seem to agree on the fact that it’s beauty sometimes surpasses the frustration. So what is snow? Yes, frozen precipitation from the heavens, but no…what is the beauty of snow? Is it’s beauty in the never ending painted whiteness, or is it the canvas returning from underneath the nature that we’ve grown fond of? Whatever it may be, it catches our eye in it’s sparkling wonder – the way it manipulates the trees into a bowing formation, sprouting long ice crystals and bursts of powder. In originating on the East Coast, we at Scratj are very grateful for the seasons we’ve experienced – yes, even the endless snow in Boston! As modern or complex as our design gets, it still shares seasonal roots with the Eastern Coastal “Mother Nature.” Our most exciting ventures are that which can bring these seasons into our design and display them in unique ways. Snow, the beauty of New England, is to us both a canvas to work with and a beautiful white sparkling paint…in each way serving its purpose as an extra piece of beautiful design in our easel world.

Scratj Wishes You a Happy 2010!

Happy 2010!

We would like to thank all the people that made 2009 an awesome design and creativity-filled year! We welcome you to become an even bigger part of our company in this new year. There are many exciting things in store for our clients and fans, here is a bite of what is to come:

• Our new clothing (thread) line.
• Many more new websites.
• New exciting break-throughs in graphic design.
• Amazing new partnerships and collaborations.
• A location in South Eastern United States.
• New designers and photographers.

We always welcome our client and fan feedback! Please contact us whenever you feel the need or want to get involved. Happy New Year!

10 Helpful Website Tips for the New Year:

• Coupon codes for online shopping

NAME: Retail Me Not

URL: http://www.retailmenot.com/

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• View the best websites on a topic of your choice.

NAME: StumbleUpon

URL: http://www.stumbleupon.com/

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• Stay up to date with new technology news.

NAME: CNN – Science and Technology News

URL: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/

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• Watch the latest episodes of your favorite shows on television.

NAME: Hulu

URL: http://www.hulu.com

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• If you havn’t switched yet, make the change to the best browser.

NAME: Firefox

URL: http://www.firefox.com

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• If you hate Firefox, switch to these other great browsers.

NAME: Google Chrome

URL: http://www.google.com/chrome/

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NAME: Safari

URL: http://www.apple.com/safari/

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• A great website for How-to’s:

NAME: eHow

URL: http://www.ehow.com/

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• Sell, Buy, Job Post, Find Free Items, for no fees!

NAME: Craigslist

URL: http://www.craigslist.org

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• Call and Video Chat for Free

NAME: Skype

URL: http://www.skype.com

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• To get a nice desktop wallpaper for your computer,
type your resolution size into google with an “x” in between.

EXAMPLE: 1024×768

URL: http://images.google.com/images?q=1024×768&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Announcing Custom Threads

Custom Thread Line

Scratj is proud to announce it’s new custom thread line that will be accepting special orders beginning January first, of next year (2010). The line will be a more intricate version of the clothing set to be released later in the year. Because the articles of clothing are completely hand developed and cross/checked for “scratj perfection,” one will be able to order special insignias or initials to make their piece significant to them and their involvement with our company.

To order a piece, wait until after New Years and e-mail us with your request or more information!

Scratj of Reality – Entrepreneurism

The Way of the Entrepreneur

The free dictionary notes “entrepreneurism” as “A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.”

Most people recognize that very definition in their head, worded one way or another, when they hear the word entrepreneur. Many however, may not understand what real-life entrepreneurs think of when they hear the word. From a entrepreneur stand-point, there are many different types of people. There are the “risk all” business men, the “plan and launch,” the and the “Why Not? Seasoned”

Risk All
The risk all business person is one who takes his or her dream and puts everything out there for the taking/growing/profit-yielding. They “risk it all for the biscuit.” Instilled inside them is the thrill of their idea, and the deep desire for their idea to meet success. “Risk all” entrepreneurs may make the most elaborate moves with their capital. If they succeed, leaving things up to chance was well worth it. If they don’t succeed, goodbye house, car, cell-phone, friends. The “risk all” approach, taken by many, can prove to be a disaster, but can also deliver the sweetest versions of happyness and self-fulfillment.

Plan and Launch
Maybe they’ve learned from risking it, or maybe they have worked hard their whole life to earn enough capital to start their dream. These entrepreneurs, are planners, organizers, and steady developers. “Plan and launchers” are well aware that capital can come from places totally un-related to their business. Maybe five years as a local waitress and two as a bartender come before trademarking and starting their business, but they have accepted that. Maybe a little help from the family will make their business plan fall in place. Whatever the case, these entrepreneurs, have a safety net. If failure comes their way, they will live disappointed, but comfortably. If success comes their way, they can honestly say “It’s been a long time coming.”

Why Not? Seasoned
A “why not?” and “seasoned” entrepreneur is someone who has been there, done that. Whether they were once a “risk all” or a “plan and launch” type of person, they know what it takes to start a business venture and succeed. Since their hardest work is behind them, they can use their senior library of capitals and connections to make sure things are how they are supposed to be. This type of entrepreneur is the type most strive to be. Once a business man or woman has accomplished this typeset, they have nothing left to do but continue with their ventures, and look back smiling.

What type of entrepreneur are you?
Do you know someone that fits one of the above typesets?
If so, find an entrepreneurship story that relates to you, and learn from their mistakes. That way, whatever typeset you may be, the risk factor goes down, and the success factor comes to light.

TJMain is now Scratj

It happend! We switched over to the name you all know and love.

“Scratj Perfection,” is the combination of the coined nickname “Scratj”, and our message to our clients – new and old:

“Scratj Perfection stands for more than just the skill behind our company. We believe that in each and every blemish or scratch, perfection can be reached.”

Together, help us continue to bring this message to our home, the United States, and the world.

Here are some links to help you navigate through our website:

• Design Services
• Portfolio and Examples
• Technology and Tutoring
• Marketing and PR
• Clothing and Accessories
• Our Partners

For any questions and comments, or for more information, feel free to contact us!