Getting It Done! How Do You Work Best?

A few months ago I quit my amazing job and moved with my husband to a new state and new city. With this new adventure I’m re-learning how I like to work. It’s been a while since I had to make my own schedule. I’m used to working at home, but I had a paid position requiring me to work some normal hours.

For the past month I’ve been creating my own schedule while establishing a work network and looking for a job in Portland. It’s not as easy as it sounds. So, how do I cope with a floating schedule?

I make goals, I use as many tools as I can, and I track it all. My methods are a strange conglomeration of technology and old school paper. So, here’s some tips … [Read more…]

Focus, Review and Reflect

Focus, Review and ReflectOne of the ways I focus my attention during a meeting is by taking notes. Over the past month or so, I have been in at least two meetings a week. During those meetings I have taken several Evernote’s worth of notes. The notes help me to pay attention to the ideas presented.  [Read more…]

Volunteering | Why do it? What’s the benefit?

Volunteerism. Yes!Indulge me just a moment. I come from a long line of volunteers. My Mom was the PTA mom during elementary, middle, and high school. Sometimes she was at school more than me. I was even called by her name in my sixth grade math class. Now, maybe that’s because we actually do look alike, and maybe that’s because my teacher saw her at lunch that day, who knows? All I know is that my Mom volunteered because her mother volunteered at school. [Read more…]

Positive is Easy, Negative is Difficult

Yes! We did it!Think about your day/week/month … Now consider the times when you felt the most tired, exhausted, defeated, etc.

What did those events have in common? [Read more…]

How to Move and Unpack Quickly

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Tonight I’m sitting in my house. Well, the latest place that I call my house. I moved last weekend. It’s the fourth move I’ve done in three years. I’ve become a bit of a professional packer. The actual moving I’ve left to the professionals.

So, what does it take to pack up my house ever year and move it? [Read more…]

Changing Your World

Change, it’s inevitable.

For me the last few months have been full of nothing but change. I moved, started a new job, began changing everything at work, and then the icing on the cake … My fiance cheated on me and we broke up after 4.5 years together.

Now, I’m single in a new place and reevaluating what is important to me.

What was the last change you made that totally and completely rocked your world?

Busier Than Ever

How is it possible to be busier than ever and not have a job? I recently – a little over one month ago – was let go from my job. Yes, it was the four month old one. Turns out it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I now am getting ready to embark on a new adventure, in a new city. It means a move to Northern California and the adventures begin next week.

So, what have I been up to since I was let go? Well, I hit up my network quickly and had several interviews schedule within days. There really wasn’t time to feel sorry for myself, which is a good thing in my opinion. It meant that I opened my mind up to more possibilities than ever before. Here’s my quick list of activities:

  1. IABC/OC Second Tuesday Luncheon attendance (2)
  2. IABC/OC Executive Board Meeting attendance (2)
  3. IABC/OC Education Liaison activities with the California State University, Fullerton IABC students (4)
  4. Guest lecturer at CSUF for my good friend Dr. Cindy King
  5. Interviews (4)
  6. Looking for a job (countless resumes sent out)

And that’s just to name a few, and doesn’t include all the errands and chores I was able to accomplish. My house has never been so clean, and my fiance has never eaten so many home cooked meals in a row. All the IABC/OC activities have definitely paid off over the years. Every job I have worked at was the direct result of the wonderful people I have met along the way in my extensive networking.

What have you been up to in the last month or so, and how has it lead to where you are now?

Best Advice You Ever Received

Another post inspired by the student chapter of IABC at Cal State Fullerton …

Tonight was the IABC CSUF kickoff meeting for the semester, and there were about 20 students in attendance. As the professional advisor to the chapter, they asked me to speak about what I do and answer some questions. Here are some of the questions I received:

  1. What’s your typical day like?
  2. What’s the difference between doing PR in house vs. an agency?
  3. What were your first internships like?
  4. How did you find your internships?
  5. Did your Cal State Fullerton education help you once you were out in the real world

I wasn’t asked about the best advice I’d ever received. If I had been asked, I would have said, “fake it til you make it!”

What is the best advice you have received? For work? Personal?

Cheers to Catching Up with Long Lost Friends/Colleagues

Tonight I went to the monthly Mix event for AIGA/OC. It’s been several months (let’s say six) since I attended. I was reminded of the third Thursday monthly event by a Facebook post from a friend. Social media works, people. It got one extra person to the event tonight.

While there, I ran into people I haven’t seen in person on probably two years or more. It reminded me that it’s important to keep in touch with folks. Don’t forget to work your connections, you never know where the next piece of business will come from.

My list of people to contact for lunch or coffee dates has increased by at least four based on one evening. I’m committed to working through my contact list and networking. And, out of that there are infinite possibilities.

What possibilities did you create today?

“Bloom Where You’re Planted” from Via My Viewfinder

A rare moment when she's NOT behind the camera.

One of my best friends, Crystal has a photo blog – Via My Viewfinder – where she not only shares one photo a day, but along with it she makes observations about life, places she’s visited, quotes from friends and more.

A post from earlier this week has a striking pink flower and is headlined, “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” The post caught my because it’s all about making the most of what you’re doing right now. Yes, the grass is greener over there, but in order to get there, you must do the best at what you have now.

Read her post, it’s much better than my summary. And, don’t forget to comment.