Friday was a great day!
At work, I was pretty busy all day and then ended the day with a few one-on-ones to gain insight on a few concepts. I was excited about it because I was doing it all on my own so decided on things like how to approach capturing ideas and what activities to do to get people involved. It made the rest of the afternoon fly by so I could move on to my evening activities...
Went to see two awesome bands at the Granada tonight - Mount Righteous and Oso Closo. I felt kinda special because I knew someone in both bands. My coworker plays the xylophone and sings in Mount Righteous and a guy I went to high school with plays the guitar in Oso Closo.
Both bands are really awesome. Check them out:
http://www.myspace.com/osocloso - The singer has a wonderful voice and my friend's guitar playing definitely does melt your face off.
And this band just has so much fun performing - it's truly an experience.
Hung out with a few coworkers after the concert and just had a really fun time. Looking forward to more in the future. :)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Grrr
I wish life would stop kicking my ass so much!
It's challenging - learning how to live life, figuring out how to deal with things you've never experienced before, sometimes failing, but still getting up the next day to do it all over again...and with a positive attitude and a smile on your face (it doesn't always happen).
I wish I knew how to do some of this better but I think that's the point.
It's challenging - learning how to live life, figuring out how to deal with things you've never experienced before, sometimes failing, but still getting up the next day to do it all over again...and with a positive attitude and a smile on your face (it doesn't always happen).
I wish I knew how to do some of this better but I think that's the point.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
How To Have Fun At Your Job
Well obviously I just wrote a post about some fun things at my job...but it really made me think of more. I mean, I continue to be amazed by this industry!
First I thought about how a lot of Account Planning is telling stories. It's about listening to people, looking into the wide universe of information out there, and boiling it all down into something that is manageable but also interesting. I think that's why blogging fits so well with Account Planning - or at least one of the reasons.
Another reason is to just share information. New ideas and ways of thinking are essential - you can't know what other people are doing and feeling unless you try to experience some of the same things. And no one life is going to expose you to everything that everyone else experiences so you need to go out and try different things. That's why when students and advertising hopefuls come in to talk to us, we talk about picking up magazines that you would never personally read, watching movies that are somewhat out of your realm, doing anything culturally that can give you a different perspective.
But really, this all benefits you as a person as well. I mean, you are looking at a wide range of movies, music, cultures, ways of thinking, ideas - this expands your horizons and even makes you strive for more. You will be limitless, you'll never go stale, and that will help you in your career as well as just make you a very interesting person.
I also like that I will get to travel with my job. Some of it - the long hours, worrying about screwed up flight schedules, and bad food options - is not as desirable but think of the opportunities. You will visit places that you otherwise may never have had the chance. This continues to expand your mind but it's also just fun! Swanky hotels, cool destinations, good food in new places, and all to talk to new people. How exciting does that life sound?
I've tried to show a little of both sides of the industry and then throw in the human element - my life. You don't just do your job, you live your life. It has its ups and downs but again that's real (coming around to the end of the last post, keeping with the theme). I just see how this job will benefit me as a person as well as being pretty darn interesting. What fun!!
First I thought about how a lot of Account Planning is telling stories. It's about listening to people, looking into the wide universe of information out there, and boiling it all down into something that is manageable but also interesting. I think that's why blogging fits so well with Account Planning - or at least one of the reasons.
Another reason is to just share information. New ideas and ways of thinking are essential - you can't know what other people are doing and feeling unless you try to experience some of the same things. And no one life is going to expose you to everything that everyone else experiences so you need to go out and try different things. That's why when students and advertising hopefuls come in to talk to us, we talk about picking up magazines that you would never personally read, watching movies that are somewhat out of your realm, doing anything culturally that can give you a different perspective.
But really, this all benefits you as a person as well. I mean, you are looking at a wide range of movies, music, cultures, ways of thinking, ideas - this expands your horizons and even makes you strive for more. You will be limitless, you'll never go stale, and that will help you in your career as well as just make you a very interesting person.
I also like that I will get to travel with my job. Some of it - the long hours, worrying about screwed up flight schedules, and bad food options - is not as desirable but think of the opportunities. You will visit places that you otherwise may never have had the chance. This continues to expand your mind but it's also just fun! Swanky hotels, cool destinations, good food in new places, and all to talk to new people. How exciting does that life sound?
I've tried to show a little of both sides of the industry and then throw in the human element - my life. You don't just do your job, you live your life. It has its ups and downs but again that's real (coming around to the end of the last post, keeping with the theme). I just see how this job will benefit me as a person as well as being pretty darn interesting. What fun!!
Scrappy Research
Oh, I'm so glad that there is something exciting and non-apartment related to blog about! I hope to get around to some of those other things I promised as well, but I'll tell you about this bit of "scrappy" research first.
So I work with this one planner who is the best at coming up with new ideas for research - just off the top of her head, according to the client and the task at hand, and she can do it easily because she just has so much experience with all of this planning stuff. Discussion guide? Who needs it! The organization exists but perhaps only in her head. One thing she really shows me is how to be laid back and have fun with it.
Her word, and soon my word to describe everything she does, is scrappy. She does scrappy research, she has a different way to approach problems, she is scrappy...and I LOVE it!
Tonight is a perfect example of this. Not totally revolutionary - focus groups - but we had them in a bar, we had them later in the evening, we served beer and bar food, and we had a discussion that related to all of that with themes of going out and late night eating. The atmosphere is what made the research what it was - and far more valid than the very clinical research facilities, in my mind.
I think what struck me as cool about the whole situation is that the client came too, in this uncontrolled situation, and took it very well. In fact, I think the client was even a bit more relaxed too because of the environment we were in.
Hey if you're gonna have to work late, might as well have fun doing it. A lot of my job tonight was to greet the people coming for the groups and put them at ease - it helped that the first thing they encountered was a "research" person buying them a round of drinks! ;) And everyone working tonight benefited from it too as we relaxed with beers (this was all at The Flying Saucer) and discussed what we learned from the groups.
At the end of the day, though, it is about the learning that comes from the groups and they said some incredibly smart and funny things. Their comments still helped us with the concepts we were presenting but it just wasn't so miserably clinical.
This scrappy coworker is exactly who I want to learn from in creating research that is innovative and relaxed, cultivating relationships with respondents that are trusting and amusing these people to no end until they are just too curious not to ask, and wowing the clients with an approach that they wouldn't have thought would work at first but it did - a lot like some of the "crazy" ideas that are presented to them as creative work.
It all sets up the idea that agencies provide a service that clients cannot provide on their own (or probably can't) and that an agency's offerings are going to be worth it - we really do know how to break through to people. It also enforces that all parts of advertising truly are creative.
So it might not seem like anything too special - they were still focus groups, after all - but this kind of down and dirty, "scrappy" research is real and that's what our consumers are.
So I work with this one planner who is the best at coming up with new ideas for research - just off the top of her head, according to the client and the task at hand, and she can do it easily because she just has so much experience with all of this planning stuff. Discussion guide? Who needs it! The organization exists but perhaps only in her head. One thing she really shows me is how to be laid back and have fun with it.
Her word, and soon my word to describe everything she does, is scrappy. She does scrappy research, she has a different way to approach problems, she is scrappy...and I LOVE it!
Tonight is a perfect example of this. Not totally revolutionary - focus groups - but we had them in a bar, we had them later in the evening, we served beer and bar food, and we had a discussion that related to all of that with themes of going out and late night eating. The atmosphere is what made the research what it was - and far more valid than the very clinical research facilities, in my mind.
I think what struck me as cool about the whole situation is that the client came too, in this uncontrolled situation, and took it very well. In fact, I think the client was even a bit more relaxed too because of the environment we were in.
Hey if you're gonna have to work late, might as well have fun doing it. A lot of my job tonight was to greet the people coming for the groups and put them at ease - it helped that the first thing they encountered was a "research" person buying them a round of drinks! ;) And everyone working tonight benefited from it too as we relaxed with beers (this was all at The Flying Saucer) and discussed what we learned from the groups.
At the end of the day, though, it is about the learning that comes from the groups and they said some incredibly smart and funny things. Their comments still helped us with the concepts we were presenting but it just wasn't so miserably clinical.
This scrappy coworker is exactly who I want to learn from in creating research that is innovative and relaxed, cultivating relationships with respondents that are trusting and amusing these people to no end until they are just too curious not to ask, and wowing the clients with an approach that they wouldn't have thought would work at first but it did - a lot like some of the "crazy" ideas that are presented to them as creative work.
It all sets up the idea that agencies provide a service that clients cannot provide on their own (or probably can't) and that an agency's offerings are going to be worth it - we really do know how to break through to people. It also enforces that all parts of advertising truly are creative.
So it might not seem like anything too special - they were still focus groups, after all - but this kind of down and dirty, "scrappy" research is real and that's what our consumers are.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Fuck It
Excuse my language but it is just necessary.
I had a lovely holiday, took Friday and Monday off to make it a little vacation, saw a huge group of my family for our first family reunion in 7 years, and I'm looking forward to spending time with family in the Dallas area soon, but I'm just done with my apartment that continues to be a place of pure and utter crap that interferes with all these nice things.
I will blog about all of that later but in rears the ugly little head of my crappy place first - I cannot leave this place for a weekend and come back to serenity because there's always something to deal with! It was fairly small this time - the chain for the fan broke off so I can't turn it on - but it's just the sheer volume of crap I have had to deal with since I got here.
I had just been in the office to get the new security code for the workout room, walked around to the workout facility to test it out, went back to my apartment to start unloading from my trip, and pulled the chain to turn on the fan. Since I had just walked to the office and saw about 4 people in there, I decided I should be able to call and get someone - nope. Walked back over there to put in my request and saw the head maintenance guy. You know, he actually has been very helpful but it's just not worth it anymore.
After I told him about this problem he of course asked about other things in the apartment. I told him how I had tried to get word to him by putting a note clearly labeled with his name in with my rent check (knowing they would absolutely get it) and it still didn't get to him - they just handed it off to someone who didn't know anything about my apartment. At that point I knew I would no longer go into the office unless it was absolutely necessary and that I will be moving elsewhere when my lease is up. I am resolved to this but of course him asking me how things are made me tell him this whole story and he kept telling me what all he could do. I said, "honestly, after that last time trying to get through to you I am just done," and I went on to explain how it has just been too much. He continued to offer his help, etc., but I just laid it out that I will no longer be here after my lease is up. "Things like this," I said holding up the broken chain to my fan, "have just happened so much and I can't deal with it anymore. I have other things to spend time on and this just isn't it."
He was very nice and I told him it was no fault of his and he had been very helpful, but getting to him is nearly impossible and the time and effort I put in and have put in to this place is so much that it has soured me to the whole place. I just will not deal with it anymore. Instead of letting it stress me out and taking time during my evenings and weekends to call, call again, go in the office, etc, so forth and so on, I just let it all go.
Now hopefully I can just enjoy this place until I leave. Little things like this chain breaking just tell me again and again that this is not the place for me. I'm done.
I had a lovely holiday, took Friday and Monday off to make it a little vacation, saw a huge group of my family for our first family reunion in 7 years, and I'm looking forward to spending time with family in the Dallas area soon, but I'm just done with my apartment that continues to be a place of pure and utter crap that interferes with all these nice things.
I will blog about all of that later but in rears the ugly little head of my crappy place first - I cannot leave this place for a weekend and come back to serenity because there's always something to deal with! It was fairly small this time - the chain for the fan broke off so I can't turn it on - but it's just the sheer volume of crap I have had to deal with since I got here.
I had just been in the office to get the new security code for the workout room, walked around to the workout facility to test it out, went back to my apartment to start unloading from my trip, and pulled the chain to turn on the fan. Since I had just walked to the office and saw about 4 people in there, I decided I should be able to call and get someone - nope. Walked back over there to put in my request and saw the head maintenance guy. You know, he actually has been very helpful but it's just not worth it anymore.
After I told him about this problem he of course asked about other things in the apartment. I told him how I had tried to get word to him by putting a note clearly labeled with his name in with my rent check (knowing they would absolutely get it) and it still didn't get to him - they just handed it off to someone who didn't know anything about my apartment. At that point I knew I would no longer go into the office unless it was absolutely necessary and that I will be moving elsewhere when my lease is up. I am resolved to this but of course him asking me how things are made me tell him this whole story and he kept telling me what all he could do. I said, "honestly, after that last time trying to get through to you I am just done," and I went on to explain how it has just been too much. He continued to offer his help, etc., but I just laid it out that I will no longer be here after my lease is up. "Things like this," I said holding up the broken chain to my fan, "have just happened so much and I can't deal with it anymore. I have other things to spend time on and this just isn't it."
He was very nice and I told him it was no fault of his and he had been very helpful, but getting to him is nearly impossible and the time and effort I put in and have put in to this place is so much that it has soured me to the whole place. I just will not deal with it anymore. Instead of letting it stress me out and taking time during my evenings and weekends to call, call again, go in the office, etc, so forth and so on, I just let it all go.
Now hopefully I can just enjoy this place until I leave. Little things like this chain breaking just tell me again and again that this is not the place for me. I'm done.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Gentle is Giant
I feel compelled to bring something up as it is an issue of my character...
People would describe me as a nice person and one person recently used the word "gentle". In the context that it was used, it was seen as a bit of a weakness because it was assumed that if I'm gentle then I can't be strong. I beg to differ.
The last few weeks have been a bit of a strain and my overall learning about being compassionate pops up yet again. I believe the only kind of person that would see being gentle as a huge weakness to overcome is one who knows nothing about being gentle.
To me, being kind, keeping others in mind when actions will affect them, and respecting people is of the utmost importance. No matter how tight the schedule is, how much a deadline is looming, or how much you may be at odds with someone, I refuse to abuse people to the point of alienating them - if anything, I'm gonna be down in the trenches with them trying to work it all out.
At the end of the day you have to ask yourself whether you would rather get the job done at any cost or build a group of people who are willing to work hard in these tough situations out of respect and a sense of being part of a team - I choose people. And who do you think produces the better work?
I am gentle but I don't see it as a weakness. Now, more than ever, I see it as not only a strength but a necessity. But you know what, I would rather someone underestimate me and think I'm weak rather than being weak. And if you think I'm not strong, challenge me and I will show you otherwise. I'll be honest - some people have tried to push me around a little because I'm nice. I don't retaliate but try to work with the situation first (the opposite of what these people do), so they may try to push a little more. Push enough and I will take action - no one deserves poor treatment and I will be nice to myself by letting you know what's what.
This industry will test your limits. Can you be opinionated yet tactful, cultivate ideas yet allow them to be molded by others, work hard yet keep a positive attitude...
I've just had so many experiences in one week that have shown me what I want to continue to be, and that's myself. I refuse to stop being nice.
People would describe me as a nice person and one person recently used the word "gentle". In the context that it was used, it was seen as a bit of a weakness because it was assumed that if I'm gentle then I can't be strong. I beg to differ.
The last few weeks have been a bit of a strain and my overall learning about being compassionate pops up yet again. I believe the only kind of person that would see being gentle as a huge weakness to overcome is one who knows nothing about being gentle.
To me, being kind, keeping others in mind when actions will affect them, and respecting people is of the utmost importance. No matter how tight the schedule is, how much a deadline is looming, or how much you may be at odds with someone, I refuse to abuse people to the point of alienating them - if anything, I'm gonna be down in the trenches with them trying to work it all out.
At the end of the day you have to ask yourself whether you would rather get the job done at any cost or build a group of people who are willing to work hard in these tough situations out of respect and a sense of being part of a team - I choose people. And who do you think produces the better work?
I am gentle but I don't see it as a weakness. Now, more than ever, I see it as not only a strength but a necessity. But you know what, I would rather someone underestimate me and think I'm weak rather than being weak. And if you think I'm not strong, challenge me and I will show you otherwise. I'll be honest - some people have tried to push me around a little because I'm nice. I don't retaliate but try to work with the situation first (the opposite of what these people do), so they may try to push a little more. Push enough and I will take action - no one deserves poor treatment and I will be nice to myself by letting you know what's what.
This industry will test your limits. Can you be opinionated yet tactful, cultivate ideas yet allow them to be molded by others, work hard yet keep a positive attitude...
I've just had so many experiences in one week that have shown me what I want to continue to be, and that's myself. I refuse to stop being nice.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Attention Planning Community
I'm proud to be a part of the Planning community, and I have heard about this survey for a couple of years - I'm just excited that this year I actually get to take it!
Here are the directions:
The 4th Annual Planning Survey is officially open and ready for you. Like always, the first link takes you to the survey and the second link captures your email so that your answers remain anonymous.
The survey is open to planners all over the world. If you are a student or just interested in the results, please don't take the survey, but put your email into the second link and the results will come to you directly.
Link to the survey:http://thinktank.groupsystems.com/opinio/s?s=1464
Link to leave your email for the results:http://thinktank.groupsystems.com/opinio/s?s=1925
For any Planner hopefuls out there, enter your e-mail through the second link to learn more about the planning profession.
Here are the directions:
The 4th Annual Planning Survey is officially open and ready for you. Like always, the first link takes you to the survey and the second link captures your email so that your answers remain anonymous.
The survey is open to planners all over the world. If you are a student or just interested in the results, please don't take the survey, but put your email into the second link and the results will come to you directly.
Link to the survey:http://thinktank.groupsystems.com/opinio/s?s=1464
Link to leave your email for the results:http://thinktank.groupsystems.com/opinio/s?s=1925
For any Planner hopefuls out there, enter your e-mail through the second link to learn more about the planning profession.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Get Comfortable With Change
You know, I felt a lot better today than I thought I would.
We had a department meeting today (these don't happen often and are supposed to be happening more) and a lot of my questions got answered. I was also able to understand clearly my role as I transition from a Junior Planner to Planner. Mm, I like the simplicity of that - not all that angsty energy of a junior but a better understanding and a more secure place, in my mind. I don't think there's ever a point where a planner stops learning, but working towards getting over that hump of almost everything being new is good.
With the layoffs is what they like to call "restructuring" - I'm sure I will experience this over and over, but I kind of see it as a thing that needs to be done. Advertising, by its very nature, needs to continue to evolve and innovate. Making sure that actions match the words will be the next step, on both the employee and the management side.
So my position is evolving right now, the dynamics of our department are evolving, and the overall agency is being reformulated...I just need to let these changes whirl around me and develop with them. Seems like we may be moving closer to the creatives too (as far as where we sit) so I'm looking forward to these changes putting a little spice back into things, especially after the sad feeling of yesterday.
Tis the time of my life for change too so it seems only natural, oddly. I'm not sure that I'm the best with change but I'm trying. Let's hope for more days like these that cast some light on positive change.
We had a department meeting today (these don't happen often and are supposed to be happening more) and a lot of my questions got answered. I was also able to understand clearly my role as I transition from a Junior Planner to Planner. Mm, I like the simplicity of that - not all that angsty energy of a junior but a better understanding and a more secure place, in my mind. I don't think there's ever a point where a planner stops learning, but working towards getting over that hump of almost everything being new is good.
With the layoffs is what they like to call "restructuring" - I'm sure I will experience this over and over, but I kind of see it as a thing that needs to be done. Advertising, by its very nature, needs to continue to evolve and innovate. Making sure that actions match the words will be the next step, on both the employee and the management side.
So my position is evolving right now, the dynamics of our department are evolving, and the overall agency is being reformulated...I just need to let these changes whirl around me and develop with them. Seems like we may be moving closer to the creatives too (as far as where we sit) so I'm looking forward to these changes putting a little spice back into things, especially after the sad feeling of yesterday.
Tis the time of my life for change too so it seems only natural, oddly. I'm not sure that I'm the best with change but I'm trying. Let's hope for more days like these that cast some light on positive change.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Gloomy Day At The Office
Finally, I can let it out. It's no secret now and you will all be able to see what has been weighing on me so heavily.
Here is the less glamorous side of advertising - or really any job these days - layoffs.
I know of about 10 people so far but I know there are more. And unfortunately, one of the layoffs was a great coworker, one of my mentors, and a good friend. I am more than upset about this turn of events.
Fortunately for her, she had been preparing and I'm so glad to know that she will be fine. Enjoying her time of transition is the name of the game as she has decided to give herself a grown-up Spring Break. I will, unfortunately, miss her direct guidance and her bubbly personality in the office. She is still there for me which is absolutely great, but things around the office will definitely be different without her.
I'm just trying to adjust to it all right now and I will be learning what this will mean for our department in the coming days.
There was just a sad air all around the office today. :(
Here is the less glamorous side of advertising - or really any job these days - layoffs.
I know of about 10 people so far but I know there are more. And unfortunately, one of the layoffs was a great coworker, one of my mentors, and a good friend. I am more than upset about this turn of events.
Fortunately for her, she had been preparing and I'm so glad to know that she will be fine. Enjoying her time of transition is the name of the game as she has decided to give herself a grown-up Spring Break. I will, unfortunately, miss her direct guidance and her bubbly personality in the office. She is still there for me which is absolutely great, but things around the office will definitely be different without her.
I'm just trying to adjust to it all right now and I will be learning what this will mean for our department in the coming days.
There was just a sad air all around the office today. :(
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Compassion
Alright, friends.
Perhaps you have read a few cryptic blog posts and you're wondering what is going on. There are long stories behind everything and of course some details are too personal to share. Let's just say that I have been challenged, especially in the past month, in both my personal and professional life and I have just been taking the time to bring it all in, digest it, and try to learn something from it.
There are some life-changing things going on as well as smaller but equally important challenges that have certainly kept me on my toes. But through it all, I have been circling back around to one conclusion: compassion.
I am moving forward trying to keep this thought in mind: Treat those around you, yourself, and everyone with compassion. If you can do this one thing it will make all the difference in the world.
Anyone can use the excuse of being too busy or stressed out these days so don't fall back on that. Treat people that you interact with with respect, remember that everyone you come across is a person with a whole complicated life of their own, be open to people you have never even met, and finally be good to yourself.
A lot of exciting things have happened in the past week that I will blog about soon: Canada trip, Cirque du Soleil, some self-discovery findings. I'll be happy to share those in the coming days...
For now I will meditate on compassion.
Perhaps you have read a few cryptic blog posts and you're wondering what is going on. There are long stories behind everything and of course some details are too personal to share. Let's just say that I have been challenged, especially in the past month, in both my personal and professional life and I have just been taking the time to bring it all in, digest it, and try to learn something from it.
There are some life-changing things going on as well as smaller but equally important challenges that have certainly kept me on my toes. But through it all, I have been circling back around to one conclusion: compassion.
I am moving forward trying to keep this thought in mind: Treat those around you, yourself, and everyone with compassion. If you can do this one thing it will make all the difference in the world.
Anyone can use the excuse of being too busy or stressed out these days so don't fall back on that. Treat people that you interact with with respect, remember that everyone you come across is a person with a whole complicated life of their own, be open to people you have never even met, and finally be good to yourself.
A lot of exciting things have happened in the past week that I will blog about soon: Canada trip, Cirque du Soleil, some self-discovery findings. I'll be happy to share those in the coming days...
For now I will meditate on compassion.
Friday, March 7, 2008
When You Need A Smile
When you need to just step back from the craziness and have a giggle about this zany world of advertising, go here:
http://tomfishburne.typepad.com/
Thanks, Christie!
His cartoons are titled "Brand Camp". :o)
http://tomfishburne.typepad.com/
Thanks, Christie!
His cartoons are titled "Brand Camp". :o)
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Crisis Of Confidence
Things have been happening around me, and to me, and to others...and it's all giving a beating to my feelings of confidence. My cryptic post the other night was just a taste of what has been going on.
I feel like I went through enormous life changes about 7 months ago and now I'm going through enormous life changes again - a little too soon for my taste. 7 months ago everything seemed too good to be true, now things are showing a bit of their true colors.
I am not down and out yet, but I have certainly been struggling with a few things.
Apartment/Moving
You know, my apartment looks great. And after 7 months, I know that that is all it has to offer. A long list of maintenance problems, mainly with major appliances, has plagued my existence here. As an update, the hot water situation has been fixed to the point of being tolerable so I can finish out my lease and move on. Tolerable is not a good way to be describing your home, but actually I feel more at peace now because I am not trying to attack the same problem day after day.
As far as missing family, I'm doing pretty well with that one. I think more as a result of it being a pain in the butt to spend my whole weekend driving only to spend about 24 full hours in Austin, I feel that I don't need to go too often. But really thinking about it, I'm glad to have this time of independence from my family because I want to focus on a relationship - me and the world. Hello, world.
Work
I have had the most wonderful experience I could have imagined at my job so far. I feel lucky that I found this opportunity at just the right time, the stars aligned, and I'm in my dream job. Any stress thus far has been about learning the ropes, time pressures, and handling new experiences.
However, my first experience with writing a brief has thus far not gone as well as I would have hoped. The big picture, I think, is that brief writing is seen as all-important when you're in school but it is just a small portion of what you actually do in your job. I think that it is a very tangible thing that planners can point to so people equate planners with briefs. My foundation in Planning wanted me to have a really stellar first experience with writing a brief.
Though the process is not done yet and so my first experience with a brief (at my job) is not over and could still change, I have thus far conflicted with my account service team and the client. Whew, that's kind of a big deal to me. It's part me not being very familiar with this new brand, part me not knowing how to work with this team yet, and part me not being confident to the point that I can defend my brief. That really exposes a wound here, but I realized that this is something that is really not taught to you (and can it be?). Reaching out for answers, I have come back to a very rational and factual place: planners are lucky because they have the research to fall back on for defense. When I have the power of knowledge behind me, my instinct, gut, and confidence will be stronger. And time and experience will definitely help too.
This one has really been affecting me this week but I am taking measures to work on it.
A side note: I worked and worked and worked in school towards a goal. Now that I have achieved that initial goal, it's about setting new ones, learning and growing, and molding my career/shaping my future into what I want it to be. I'm not sure that I know what I want it to be yet - time will tell.
Life
Gotta hit all the major areas, doesn't it?
I just want to keep something in mind for myself. While secretly I wish everyone could do this too (or keep it in mind too), I know that it is up to the individual to carry out. I think you can provide guidance and opinions, but people want to do things their own way. Flip that around on yourself and ask if you really take what other people say to you into consideration - do they have a point? Maybe you think everyone should just stay out of other people's business...but we're human, aren't we?
Here's the general idea: "Sometimes when you open up to people, you let the bad in with the good."
This is all growth, this is all about becoming the very best person I can be.
I'm still faltering a little...that's the crisis.
I feel like I went through enormous life changes about 7 months ago and now I'm going through enormous life changes again - a little too soon for my taste. 7 months ago everything seemed too good to be true, now things are showing a bit of their true colors.
I am not down and out yet, but I have certainly been struggling with a few things.
Apartment/Moving
You know, my apartment looks great. And after 7 months, I know that that is all it has to offer. A long list of maintenance problems, mainly with major appliances, has plagued my existence here. As an update, the hot water situation has been fixed to the point of being tolerable so I can finish out my lease and move on. Tolerable is not a good way to be describing your home, but actually I feel more at peace now because I am not trying to attack the same problem day after day.
As far as missing family, I'm doing pretty well with that one. I think more as a result of it being a pain in the butt to spend my whole weekend driving only to spend about 24 full hours in Austin, I feel that I don't need to go too often. But really thinking about it, I'm glad to have this time of independence from my family because I want to focus on a relationship - me and the world. Hello, world.
Work
I have had the most wonderful experience I could have imagined at my job so far. I feel lucky that I found this opportunity at just the right time, the stars aligned, and I'm in my dream job. Any stress thus far has been about learning the ropes, time pressures, and handling new experiences.
However, my first experience with writing a brief has thus far not gone as well as I would have hoped. The big picture, I think, is that brief writing is seen as all-important when you're in school but it is just a small portion of what you actually do in your job. I think that it is a very tangible thing that planners can point to so people equate planners with briefs. My foundation in Planning wanted me to have a really stellar first experience with writing a brief.
Though the process is not done yet and so my first experience with a brief (at my job) is not over and could still change, I have thus far conflicted with my account service team and the client. Whew, that's kind of a big deal to me. It's part me not being very familiar with this new brand, part me not knowing how to work with this team yet, and part me not being confident to the point that I can defend my brief. That really exposes a wound here, but I realized that this is something that is really not taught to you (and can it be?). Reaching out for answers, I have come back to a very rational and factual place: planners are lucky because they have the research to fall back on for defense. When I have the power of knowledge behind me, my instinct, gut, and confidence will be stronger. And time and experience will definitely help too.
This one has really been affecting me this week but I am taking measures to work on it.
A side note: I worked and worked and worked in school towards a goal. Now that I have achieved that initial goal, it's about setting new ones, learning and growing, and molding my career/shaping my future into what I want it to be. I'm not sure that I know what I want it to be yet - time will tell.
Life
Gotta hit all the major areas, doesn't it?
I just want to keep something in mind for myself. While secretly I wish everyone could do this too (or keep it in mind too), I know that it is up to the individual to carry out. I think you can provide guidance and opinions, but people want to do things their own way. Flip that around on yourself and ask if you really take what other people say to you into consideration - do they have a point? Maybe you think everyone should just stay out of other people's business...but we're human, aren't we?
Here's the general idea: "Sometimes when you open up to people, you let the bad in with the good."
This is all growth, this is all about becoming the very best person I can be.
I'm still faltering a little...that's the crisis.
Twice In One Week?!
It snowed/sleeted on me again...I thought I lived in Texas! ;)
Alright, but this time we need to get a snow day out of it.
Alright, but this time we need to get a snow day out of it.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
I Still Do Act Like A Kid
I was kinda bummed this evening because I had to drive in some snowy conditions. I have no experience in it and I just don't like seeing cars using roads as Slip 'n Slides on the news. I just wanted to get home safely and bundle up.
I needed to do a few things around the apartment and soon it was getting late. I was talking to my mom on the phone and just glanced outside. I was actually pretty surprised to see a layer of white snow on everything - I mean, I drove home in some pretty heavy sleet/snow but I guess I didn't expect for it to accumulate on the ground. Cool!
Then I started to feel kinda bad that I didn't want to go play in it...cuz I'm cold and tired. Always, always, always I will go out and play in the snow because we just don't get it that often. But I was thinking about work and getting to bed and all that jazz...
I hopped downstairs for just a moment and decided to open my front door to look out into the winter wonderland. It took seeing just a few big snowflakes for me to whip around, race up the stairs, throw on my gloves and tennis shoes, grab my camera, and go back out to witness the snow.
It really was snowing out there y'all - I'm used to some ice build-up and that's about it. This was big fluffy snowflakes and it put a huge smile on my face. I'm still a kid and I like it that way. ;)
I needed to do a few things around the apartment and soon it was getting late. I was talking to my mom on the phone and just glanced outside. I was actually pretty surprised to see a layer of white snow on everything - I mean, I drove home in some pretty heavy sleet/snow but I guess I didn't expect for it to accumulate on the ground. Cool!
Then I started to feel kinda bad that I didn't want to go play in it...cuz I'm cold and tired. Always, always, always I will go out and play in the snow because we just don't get it that often. But I was thinking about work and getting to bed and all that jazz...
I hopped downstairs for just a moment and decided to open my front door to look out into the winter wonderland. It took seeing just a few big snowflakes for me to whip around, race up the stairs, throw on my gloves and tennis shoes, grab my camera, and go back out to witness the snow.
It really was snowing out there y'all - I'm used to some ice build-up and that's about it. This was big fluffy snowflakes and it put a huge smile on my face. I'm still a kid and I like it that way. ;)
Ready To Travel The World!
Well things have taken an interesting turn.
Several months ago I started to look into getting a passport but was discouraged when I read there was a backlog in the system that was causing 6 month waits...I suppose I could have tried to apply for one then but it seemed like adding a headache to an already busy schedule.
Last week I get a one-liner email from a colleague and just had to shake my head - no, I don't have a passport. Dangit!
But either way, it was a wake up call to go ahead and get that done now because who knows what possibilities to travel the world will come up. I had kept my passport at home for safe-keeping because I thought it was expired.
Lo and behold, I had just turned 16 when I got my passport and so it was set to expire after 10 years...I thought it must have expired after 5 years.
I can travel the world, people!
So I'm super excited because they're working out whether or not I can come - I may be going to Canada next week!!
Wow, I'm super excited about it. :D
Several months ago I started to look into getting a passport but was discouraged when I read there was a backlog in the system that was causing 6 month waits...I suppose I could have tried to apply for one then but it seemed like adding a headache to an already busy schedule.
Last week I get a one-liner email from a colleague and just had to shake my head - no, I don't have a passport. Dangit!
But either way, it was a wake up call to go ahead and get that done now because who knows what possibilities to travel the world will come up. I had kept my passport at home for safe-keeping because I thought it was expired.
Lo and behold, I had just turned 16 when I got my passport and so it was set to expire after 10 years...I thought it must have expired after 5 years.
I can travel the world, people!
So I'm super excited because they're working out whether or not I can come - I may be going to Canada next week!!
Wow, I'm super excited about it. :D
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