Monday, June 30, 2008
It Has Been A While
Well, it has been quite some time since I've been able to stop, reflect, and write about my job...sharing something that I wanted to talk about, at least. I don't know if I've really been so busy (though I certainly have) or if I needed a break to get back to center.
So I started thinking back to some of the first assignments I was given as a junior and what was expected of me. I remember feeling frustrated sometimes because it wasn't always clear what was being asked of me, when I would know that I found what was needed, or even when to stop looking. Come to find out, that's all a part of the process.
Sometimes it's frustrating precisely because you are looking for answers that may not yet exist. But that actually makes you push the envelope, get to the new questions (if you can't find the answer, start asking questions), and perhaps to come up with a new way of doing the whole process.
What I'm thinking of is mainly secondary research, the staple of a Junior Account Planner's diet, but it certainly doesn't have to be boring. This ain't your grandma's research, that's for sure! It's all about getting interested in the topic, finding something new in a sea of all the same information that anyone can find, but beyond that it's interpreting what you find in an interesting way that really brings something more to the table. I don't think this is always what you are prepared to do after wading through a bunch of stuff that other people said. But it is certainly what needs to be done and those idea muscles are just as important to flex as your researchin' ones.
Bringing something new to the table usually has nothing to do with what you can find as a good Googler but how you explain what you found through the lens of your experience. Experience always trumps other things because it is the full sphere and context in which facts live. You will be surprised about what in your life will come up again either as just an interest or for your job so be interested and open to anything and everything that comes your way. Not just the fabulous trips to other countries but some of the seemingly mundane things, like talking to your coworkers about the person behind who you see for 8+ hours a day.
I had two very interesting conversations with coworkers today that were fairly short (2 minutes here, 10 minutes there), had nothing to do with work, and were pretty plain topics except they were extremely fascinating to me. I linked them to my own interests and imparted wisdom based on what I had experienced. It also just helped me connect to some coworkers on a deeper level.
I have said it and I will say it again and again - things you learn will not just affect your career but will serve you well in life also. Be open to things always and you will find new ways of thinking.
So I started thinking back to some of the first assignments I was given as a junior and what was expected of me. I remember feeling frustrated sometimes because it wasn't always clear what was being asked of me, when I would know that I found what was needed, or even when to stop looking. Come to find out, that's all a part of the process.
Sometimes it's frustrating precisely because you are looking for answers that may not yet exist. But that actually makes you push the envelope, get to the new questions (if you can't find the answer, start asking questions), and perhaps to come up with a new way of doing the whole process.
What I'm thinking of is mainly secondary research, the staple of a Junior Account Planner's diet, but it certainly doesn't have to be boring. This ain't your grandma's research, that's for sure! It's all about getting interested in the topic, finding something new in a sea of all the same information that anyone can find, but beyond that it's interpreting what you find in an interesting way that really brings something more to the table. I don't think this is always what you are prepared to do after wading through a bunch of stuff that other people said. But it is certainly what needs to be done and those idea muscles are just as important to flex as your researchin' ones.
Bringing something new to the table usually has nothing to do with what you can find as a good Googler but how you explain what you found through the lens of your experience. Experience always trumps other things because it is the full sphere and context in which facts live. You will be surprised about what in your life will come up again either as just an interest or for your job so be interested and open to anything and everything that comes your way. Not just the fabulous trips to other countries but some of the seemingly mundane things, like talking to your coworkers about the person behind who you see for 8+ hours a day.
I had two very interesting conversations with coworkers today that were fairly short (2 minutes here, 10 minutes there), had nothing to do with work, and were pretty plain topics except they were extremely fascinating to me. I linked them to my own interests and imparted wisdom based on what I had experienced. It also just helped me connect to some coworkers on a deeper level.
I have said it and I will say it again and again - things you learn will not just affect your career but will serve you well in life also. Be open to things always and you will find new ways of thinking.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Life Is Funny
When you're feeling a little down and you need some relief, look around and life may surprisingly just hand it to you...
"FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — Frederick County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man who attacked a convenience store clerk with a banana.
A man walked into a 7-Eleven store in Monrovia just after midnight Wednesday and demanded money. Investigators said that when the clerk refused, the man became so agitated that he started grabbing items off the counter.
He snatched up a banana and began hitting the clerk, the sheriff’s office said.
The clerk pulled out a knife, and the man with the banana split.
— WRC, Washington"
"FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — Frederick County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man who attacked a convenience store clerk with a banana.
A man walked into a 7-Eleven store in Monrovia just after midnight Wednesday and demanded money. Investigators said that when the clerk refused, the man became so agitated that he started grabbing items off the counter.
He snatched up a banana and began hitting the clerk, the sheriff’s office said.
The clerk pulled out a knife, and the man with the banana split.
— WRC, Washington"
Sunday, June 22, 2008
I'm Learning A Lot
I haven't been keeping up with my blog as much as I would like lately. I will attribute a lot of that to being busy, but there has also been a lot going on and it is sometimes hard for me to be completely honest. It's hard to be honest because I've never wanted this to be a bitch-fest but not everything in life is always so pretty. Upon reflection, I am able to say things that I would never be able to say in the moment.
A few people have given me some really great feedback on my blog which inspires me to keep at it. What they told me was that this time of your life (and I'm convinced many times of your life) is confusing and hard to navigate. Just knowing that someone else is going through a similar situation and what they're going through helps you in understanding your own situation.
I originally wanted to write about this transition but I had no idea what it would do for my life. I think I've learned more about myself in the past year than I have in my entire life about who I am, who I want to work toward being, some things I want out of my life, and how I want to get to those things.
My work experience has taught me a lot about people. Not just because I study people for a living but because of the dynamics at work that include people you spend almost all day with but really have to make an extra effort to get to know behind those 8+ hours a day. And that has of course made me think about what kind of person I portray at work versus who I am whenever you just hang out with me.
I don't know, it's really hard to explain. Not that I'm trying to be a different person or that I haven't gotten to know people, just that the very inner workings of your life are only shared with a few key people.
I'm not quite sure why I'm rambling on about this but I guess it's all part of the learning process. What's scary or exciting is that I know I have so much more to learn about myself and that I'm starting to get some ideas of how that may happen. I say scary and exciting because every time I think about these things I get this feeling of wonder inside of me...that promptly makes me want to throw up. But from what I've heard and observed of other people, this feeling can be a really good thing.
Some of my blog posts have become very cryptic and an explanation I can give for some of that is because I just have a general feeling and something I want to say, but I'm still figuring it all out so I don't quite know what it means yet. But maybe you're feeling this too or maybe you have felt it before...maybe you have yet to experience it. So, like I said before, perhaps you will know exactly what I am saying because you have experienced it yourself and you will feel comfort in knowing that someone else is just as confused as you are.
But I'll leave it with I am learning a lot and I'm generally liking where it's all taking me.
A few people have given me some really great feedback on my blog which inspires me to keep at it. What they told me was that this time of your life (and I'm convinced many times of your life) is confusing and hard to navigate. Just knowing that someone else is going through a similar situation and what they're going through helps you in understanding your own situation.
I originally wanted to write about this transition but I had no idea what it would do for my life. I think I've learned more about myself in the past year than I have in my entire life about who I am, who I want to work toward being, some things I want out of my life, and how I want to get to those things.
My work experience has taught me a lot about people. Not just because I study people for a living but because of the dynamics at work that include people you spend almost all day with but really have to make an extra effort to get to know behind those 8+ hours a day. And that has of course made me think about what kind of person I portray at work versus who I am whenever you just hang out with me.
I don't know, it's really hard to explain. Not that I'm trying to be a different person or that I haven't gotten to know people, just that the very inner workings of your life are only shared with a few key people.
I'm not quite sure why I'm rambling on about this but I guess it's all part of the learning process. What's scary or exciting is that I know I have so much more to learn about myself and that I'm starting to get some ideas of how that may happen. I say scary and exciting because every time I think about these things I get this feeling of wonder inside of me...that promptly makes me want to throw up. But from what I've heard and observed of other people, this feeling can be a really good thing.
Some of my blog posts have become very cryptic and an explanation I can give for some of that is because I just have a general feeling and something I want to say, but I'm still figuring it all out so I don't quite know what it means yet. But maybe you're feeling this too or maybe you have felt it before...maybe you have yet to experience it. So, like I said before, perhaps you will know exactly what I am saying because you have experienced it yourself and you will feel comfort in knowing that someone else is just as confused as you are.
But I'll leave it with I am learning a lot and I'm generally liking where it's all taking me.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Why I Plan
Have you ever seen someone light up when they talk about something they love?
-----
Yeah, that's why.
-----
Yeah, that's why.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Notes On The Quarter-Life Crisis
I've been feeling something very unsettling over the last year or so. I've looked into this before but wanted to share a few notes on the Quarter-Life Crisis that express what I have as of yet been unable to put into words myself:
After years of learning the system of how to succeed in school, college grads are thrown into the world of work with no real understanding of how to succeed in it.
You need to stop judging yourself by other people's standards and develop your own. [completely counter-intuitive to school]
Many drift aimlessly through these critical years because they know neither the questions to ask nor the answers they need.
It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. [ouch...but true]
You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.
You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not.
You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused.
The past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.
You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.
You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
But it is hard to realize that others are in the same boat as you. You feel very alone in this thing. I feel like I have it pretty well together at times, that I did all the right things in school to get where I am now, but I still have feelings of insecurity. It's tough.
I'm just trying to look into this whole crazy thing called life and figure it out.
After years of learning the system of how to succeed in school, college grads are thrown into the world of work with no real understanding of how to succeed in it.
You need to stop judging yourself by other people's standards and develop your own. [completely counter-intuitive to school]
Many drift aimlessly through these critical years because they know neither the questions to ask nor the answers they need.
It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. [ouch...but true]
You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.
You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not.
You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused.
The past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.
You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.
You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
But it is hard to realize that others are in the same boat as you. You feel very alone in this thing. I feel like I have it pretty well together at times, that I did all the right things in school to get where I am now, but I still have feelings of insecurity. It's tough.
I'm just trying to look into this whole crazy thing called life and figure it out.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
No More Excuses!
My blog post the other day was a bit harsh, but I needed a swift kick in the butt! I'm just trying to get away from so many excuses on my quest to better things.
So I implemented something pretty smart the other day and it's working pretty well so far. I have this small dry erase board that I usually put by my desk. I write short and long-term to dos on it and feel that accomplishment when checking off or erasing an item. Usually by my desk, this model wasn't working anymore. It worked when I was in school because I spent a good deal of time at my computer when I was home. Though I still spend a good amount of time at my computer, it's not every night and it's almost always for pleasure instead of work. Therefore, a list of items that take more effort near a source of fun just really didn't get any of the to dos on the list crossed off.
Plan B - move the dry erase board to a more visible location where I can be reminded daily of the things to do. Check. Now I try not to go overboard on that list. There are obviously a million things I want to get done but I decided to only put things I want to do tomorrow (with check boxes) and things I want to do at some point this week. It seems to have worked out pretty well for today.
I'm trying to exercise more and so I put something like "Workout - Mon" on there with a check box. Don't underestimate the awesome feeling of actually putting a little check mark by an item - definitely a "yay" moment. So I got most of my items done for tonight and I'll throw a few more on there for tomorrow.
Shaping it up!
So I implemented something pretty smart the other day and it's working pretty well so far. I have this small dry erase board that I usually put by my desk. I write short and long-term to dos on it and feel that accomplishment when checking off or erasing an item. Usually by my desk, this model wasn't working anymore. It worked when I was in school because I spent a good deal of time at my computer when I was home. Though I still spend a good amount of time at my computer, it's not every night and it's almost always for pleasure instead of work. Therefore, a list of items that take more effort near a source of fun just really didn't get any of the to dos on the list crossed off.
Plan B - move the dry erase board to a more visible location where I can be reminded daily of the things to do. Check. Now I try not to go overboard on that list. There are obviously a million things I want to get done but I decided to only put things I want to do tomorrow (with check boxes) and things I want to do at some point this week. It seems to have worked out pretty well for today.
I'm trying to exercise more and so I put something like "Workout - Mon" on there with a check box. Don't underestimate the awesome feeling of actually putting a little check mark by an item - definitely a "yay" moment. So I got most of my items done for tonight and I'll throw a few more on there for tomorrow.
Shaping it up!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Shambles
I have never felt so unorganized and confused in my life.
After a long month at work with so much going on, I am trying to return to some normalcy. Don't get me wrong, the shambles didn't happen over the past month. Ever since I moved here I have been unorganized, and it is so unlike me.
I have blamed it on moving and starting my new job first, being too busy (though I absolutely hate that as an excuse for things because it will never go away - you will always be busy), and not caring about my apartment. I finally decided that not caring about my apartment is no reason to not care about my life within it.
My organization skills for my papers, my e-mail inbox (hovering at 100 unopened e-mails and too many others to count that I need to just trash), my evening schedules, my sleeping habits, and my weekend slumps are just completely unlike me. I am starting to feel like I am a very lazy person and I know that's not what I want to be!
What's overwhelming is I think I need to fix everything all at once. This is why it's bad for me to become unorganized in the first place. There is such a hurdle to getting back to organization though, once there, it is a lot easier to maintain.
I don't want to be like this. What happened? Darn you, real world - I will blame you for this.
But the point now is to move towards organization so I don't just get stuck.
After a long month at work with so much going on, I am trying to return to some normalcy. Don't get me wrong, the shambles didn't happen over the past month. Ever since I moved here I have been unorganized, and it is so unlike me.
I have blamed it on moving and starting my new job first, being too busy (though I absolutely hate that as an excuse for things because it will never go away - you will always be busy), and not caring about my apartment. I finally decided that not caring about my apartment is no reason to not care about my life within it.
My organization skills for my papers, my e-mail inbox (hovering at 100 unopened e-mails and too many others to count that I need to just trash), my evening schedules, my sleeping habits, and my weekend slumps are just completely unlike me. I am starting to feel like I am a very lazy person and I know that's not what I want to be!
What's overwhelming is I think I need to fix everything all at once. This is why it's bad for me to become unorganized in the first place. There is such a hurdle to getting back to organization though, once there, it is a lot easier to maintain.
I don't want to be like this. What happened? Darn you, real world - I will blame you for this.
But the point now is to move towards organization so I don't just get stuck.
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