I thought about it for a second, and I responded with, “Eeehhh, I’ll usually read the newspaper, sometimes I listen to music, and sometimes I’ll just pretend to listen to music so that no one will talk to me.” (Don’t judge me for that…I’m pretty cranky in the mornings, and really I’m just doing the world a favor by ignoring my surroundings until I’ve been properly caffeinated. You’re welcome).

But then I did the math. Being generous, and for the sake of easy calculations, I’ll say that my commute is 30 minutes each way. That’s 60 minutes per day, for five days per week. That equates to five hours per week, or 260 hours per year. TWO HUNDRED SIXTY HOURS PER YEAR of my life doing one of the following:

1. Reading the Express commuter paper (aka skimming headlines, Sudoku and Crosswords)

2. Listening to my song of the week on repeat

3. Pretending to listen to my song of the week on repeat

4. Twiddling my thumbs

Those are generally the four options that I alternate between on my commute to and from work. So what’s wrong with this picture? That’s an easy answer – it’s a giant waste of 260 hours of my year, and I could CERTAINLY be doing something in that time to make my mind/life/career better.

*If you’re a driver, I’m sorry that two of these suggestions won’t pertain to you (unless you’re one heck of a multi-tasker).*

Mostly (but not completely) for the train riders/passengers, try to toss these suggestions into your daily commute:

1. Bring a notebook, and brainstorm. [Mind] My mom always told me that the most money is made before 9 and after 5. Do your thinking ahead of time, and execute your plan during the day! It’s always more beneficial to be one step ahead of the game than to be the unprepared procrastinator. And hey, we’re young! We’ve got reputations to build and dominate!

2. Actually READ the newspaper (not just the headlines). [Mind] While Sudoku and crosswords are excellent warm-ups for you brain, (and I’m sure that there is a study somewhere that scientifically proves that completing these puzzles daily improves brain functionality), being well-versed in what’s going on in the world around you will be far more beneficial to you in both your day-to-day, and in the long run. That being said, skipping to the back and reading the pop culture section will only benefit you if you’re trying to suck up to someone at work who happens to be obsessed with E!, or if you work in a pop culture industry. By all means, read it! Just remember not to skip over the other stuff.

3. Plan your exercise for the week. (It’s not ALL about business, ya know)! [Body] Instead of spending the first few minutes in the gym/outside trying to figure out what you want to do that day to start looking and feeling like Popeye, use the time on the Metro to decide what you will do later to make the most out of your workout time!

4. Think about what you can do to improve someone ELSE’s day. [Soul] Making a habit to commit random acts of kindness will make you feel better inside and out! I like to think that this counts as productivity, since a fulfilled life encompasses the mind, the body AND the soul.

*For the walkers/bikers: Good for you. You’re already burning calories, and that’s enough productivity for one morning and afternoon. We can high five this one out later.*

You may not have wi-fi in your car or on the train, but find a way to make it productive.

How do you make the most out of your commute? Share your tips and ideas!

-Jessie

If your game face isn’t on, it should be.

Wearing your emotions on your sleeve can be one of the most detrimental flaws in any professional – all the way from intern to CEO. It’s easy to show your feelings on your face, but it’s never professional, productive, pleasant…or any other p word I can come up with.

Sure, we all have days when we want to scream, punch a wall, punch a person, or just cry from 9-5, but these emotions only cloud your judgment and prevent you from being productive and letting your best work shine. This may seem like common sense, but it can be surprising how many awkward moments can be created from emotional outbursts at work!

When I was 17 years old, I was a junior in high school, I was dancing 15 hours per week, working 25 hours per week, and attempting to manage a social life all at once for the first time. Like any teenager first experiencing all of these stresses of life, I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and highly emotional. One late night at work, I was so desperate to get out of there that I ended up breaking down and bawling my eyes out right then and there in the middle of the store. Why? I don’t know, maybe I had an English assignment to finish? Whatever it was, I’m sure it was valid, right?

Why I did not get fired, I have no idea. But, nonetheless, I learned a valuable lesson that evening.

You are getting paid to do a job, and a business is a business. While it may seem heartless, many (okay… probably most) managers do not care about the stresses in your personal life; they just want you to get your work done, and they want it done right.

Having emotions is obviously a good thing – they mean you’re human! But, whenever you’re feeling sad or angry on the job, hold it in until 5 pm. At 5:01, walk out that door and get as emotional as you want! Til then, keep your chin up, keep smiling, and never let ‘em see ya sweat!

Well, the reason you see no [Part 3] is because, frankly, the series was crap. (<< I crack myself up). When I decided that I was not going to finish out the trilogy to complete the whole, I looked at it from two perspectives:

1. Quitting half way through a project can just make you look bad. It comes off as a character flaw, and no one wants to be known as a quitter.

-or-

2. Realizing where your strengths and weaknesses are is important, and correcting what isn’t working sooner than later is just one more key to success (and will ultimately prevent you from wasting time on a project destined to fail).

I chose option number two because it makes more sense to me. Think about it like this: Why would a cable network pull a TV show off the air before the series concluded? Because the TV series in all likelihood sucks, and there is no reason to throw more time and money into a series that no one is watching. Plain and simple – they see their flaw, they listen to their audience, and they do better next time. Hopefully.

Going back to square one isn’t always a bad thing. It’s a chance for a fresh start, a new perspective, and endless opportunities. If you see that something isn’t working, change it.

• If you’re not getting any bites on your cover letters and resume, change up your job searching techniques.
• If you’re not closing sales at your job with an important company, talk to someone to help change up your strategies.
• If you’re working on an artistic project and it’s just not turning out like you’d hoped, start over!

The beauty of starting over is that you already know enough to realize what works and what doesn’t, now all you have to do is switch up the approach to your project. Throw your energy into something worthwhile, and let’s see if something comes of it!

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. – Albert Einstein 

Jessie

Our job was to help this organization spread the word of their event though the use of Facebook and Twitter platforms, as well as providing them with some direction and education to continue this strategy without help from an outside source.

My team collectively came up with a beautiful presentation for the organization. We gave them tips, a potential editorial calendar for postings, links and sources to grab content from based on their topic and needs, basic knowledge and information about the platforms, and even created their first few posts on their behalf. We laid out an entire strategy for their team with a specific purpose based on the intended audience. Perfect. We nailed it!

Then, after the presentation, we heard a sentence that sounded like nails on a chalkboard to us: “This is all great – but my team simply doesn’t have time.”

Defeat.

We had worked for a full day to create a plan that had high potential for success, and it was shot down because of the fact that this organization had a small team. Here’s where I disagree (blatantly): Your company DOES have the time to create a presence on social media. And so do you personally.

Seeing as you probably got to this post by way of a social site, I realize that I am preaching to the choir. But, hopefully you can find a way to take this information and share it with the social media naysayers.

These tips can be used to build both a small business brand as well as your equally important personal brand. In the next few weeks, I will go into more details on some of these ideas, so stay tuned! OH! And if you want to add to this list of social media greatness, send me an email and I’ll begin compiling your ideas for a future post.

1.     Familiarize yourself with the platforms. If you’re unfamiliar with a social site or are wondering why you should be using it, ask someone to help you (ahem… like me…. *Cough, Cough*). 

2.     Decide on your social goals. What do you want to gain from having a social presence? How can your audience benefit from this online community? If you’re trying to build a personal brand to land a job, decide how you want to be represented online. You claim your reputation, and then build on it through your social presence.

3.     Create content (for those with time), or find already-created content relevant to your message to share with your audience (i.e. news pieces and other helpful resources).

4.     Utilize scheduling tools to take away the stress of day-to-day social management. (I use HootSuite for Twitter).

5.     Create a voice for your pages, and stick with it. Want to be funny? Weird? Serious? Professional? Pick one!

6.     Engage when you can… ask your audience what they would like to know, and how you can help them. When they give you their thoughts, listen, learn, and respond.

7.     Keep it current. 3-4 posts per week on Facebook will keep you relevant enough to grow your audience. Find or create the content ahead of time so that you’re not constantly searching and digging for new posts on a daily basis (this is where the time suck comes in).

8.     Share, share, and share some more. The beauty of social media is that it’s instantaneous… share it! Cell phones make this quick and painless.

Again, I will go into more detail on some of these tips in the next few weeks, but if you have any questions now as to how you or someone you know can get started, let me know!

Cheers,

Jessie

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Up until two weeks ago, I had never learned how to play craps. Every time I would go to a casino, the craps table always looked like it had the most exciting crowd of people surrounding it, and I always envied them as I sat on my barstool and took another card from the blackjack dealer.

Why didn’t I join in on those hot tables? What kept me from participating in all of the fun and excitement?

Well, to be perfectly honest with you, it’s because I was being a little wimp…

I had no idea how to play craps. I didn’t even know where to begin. The people at the table clearly knew what they were doing already, and I felt like I would just be in the way. I had so many questions… and didn’t want to ask anyone for fear of outing myself as the rookie. Seeing as the game moved so quickly, the questions in my head were racing at a mile a minute:

Why are people yelling?

Why are there so many chips randomly thrown across the table?

Why does the guy in the suit keep asking the hot girl next to him to blow on the dice before he rolls them?

Why do people love 7s and then hate 7s?

Why did everyone just bust out the high fives and pound its?

Why did everyone just unanimously say “awwwwww maaaannn….”?

… It was simply safer and easier to sit back and watch.

But what’s wrong with this picture? When did I become a “watcher” instead of a “doer”? WHAT’S THE FUN IN THAT?

Then it hit me – nothing good can come from watching. Not only does the act of watching cause extreme Lame Syndrome (I’m pretty sure that’s the scientific name for it), but it will also leave you with a world of regret for never taking a chance. The action happens when you roll the dice, when you’re part of the play, when you’re mentally AND physically on track to becoming a high roller.

This week, do something you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t had the courage to make happen.

Are you bad at meeting people, but need a job? Go to an event, and talk to a stranger.

Do you think you’re more valuable than what you’re being used for at work? Talk to your manager about other opportunities within the company! Show them how important you are.

*I recently learned how to play craps by way of an awesome iPad app…and I will be putting my newfound love for the game to use in a few weeks while sailing through the Caribbean. I may come back penniless, but I’ll be proud of myself for trying!

What gamble are you going to take this week? Roll the dice, and start winning!

-Jessie

What’s the draw to this crap (pun intended) called “gambling”? 

This is the first of three posts to help you look at your professional and personal life from the perspective of the inner workings of a casino.

This week, I bring you blackjack: my gambling gateway drug, and previous addiction (until I discovered craps).

In blackjack, while on your mission to have the sum of your cards equate to 21, your only competition is the dealer – not the other players at the table – just you, the cards you’re dealt, and the man or women across the table anxiously waiting and hoping to take your dignity. You have tunnel vision and are aiming for 21… you’re aiming to hit a blackjack – to be dealt the perfect hand and feel the sweet satisfaction of immediate success.

Well, here comes a bubble burster: the odds of getting dealt said blackjack are 4.8%. That’s it. 95.2% of the time, you’re going to have to put in a little bit more effort if you expect to truly find success!

So, for your life, what’s the deal? (Pun intended…again)

If you’re only up against the dealer, then who are those people sitting next to you at the table?

Those people are in the same metaphorical situation as you. They are playing with the dealer and only the dealer. They have their own knowledge of the game, their own experiences, and their own views about gambling, just like you do. These tablemates may make a stupid decision like taking a hit with a 13 against an upright four on the dealer’s side (essentially causing you and the rest of the table to epically fail and want to punch him or her in the left eye), but you can’t really do anything about that.

All you can do is play your cards as they were dealt, and play strategically by what your dealer has presented you with.

To quit with the cryptic messaging in this scene, the dealer is your interviewer and potential employer, and your tablemates are your fellow interviewing candidates. Don’t worry about them! Yes, they are technically your competition, but in the end, all you can do is the best that YOU have to offer, and your competition can’t change that.

Now that the players have been identified, and we’ve got the dealer, the tablemates, and yourself, what am I proposing?

The more money on the table, the more you can pocket or lose, right? (Right). I propose that you put yourself out there and take a professional gamble! Don’t be meek or shy about your goals and job search. If you want a particular position, GO FOR IT. If you want 21, take that hit (unless you’re already above 17…then you may want to call it quits). Take big risks, and the rewards may surprise you.

Maybe there is a job you feel you’d be perfect for, but it says that you need 3+ years of experience. Maybe you’re looking to change your career, and you’ve got ample amount of professional years under your belt, but not in this direct field.

Well, amigo… you have to start somewhere.

Apply for the friggin’ job. You can’t get hired without the application, even if it does attempt to deter you by way of listed qualifications.

As Joel Runyon states on his Blog of Impossible Things:

Rules matter far less than you think, and oftentimes, they don’t matter at all. Qualifications are supposed to level the playing field. They make things “fair”. People with the same qualifications are supposed to be rewarded the same, get the same things and act similarly. Those are the rules. That’s how we know it’s fair. One problem. Life is not fair. Read that again. Accept it. Then screw qualifications and break the rules.

Odds:

What are the odds of the dealer winning? What are the odds of “failure?” That depends on how you choose to look at it.

Your hand as the potential candidate needs to wow the dealer (potential employer) in order for you to take home the dough (or for sake of the blackjack metaphor, just be closer to 21 without busting…and get the job you’re applying for).

Here’s the up side: your internships and college experience can be considered. If you impress the company with an outstanding resume, great references, and a SPAHKLING personality, who’s to say you’re not qualified?

I’m not suggesting that you apply for the Vice President of Communications at a Fortune 500 straight out of college; I’m just saying to take a chance on that “three to five years of experience” position, even if you’ve only been out of college for two years.

Potential outcome:

You could bust. You could get a 20 and you could be thinking you’ve got this one in the bag… but then the dealer could take hit after hit, statistically destined to bust, and then pull a 21, completely destroying your hopes and dreams (or just taking your money). Basically, the company could take a look at your resume, see the year you graduated, laugh, and toss that sucker in the trash. Fine. That company was weak sauce anyways.

ORRRRRRR, they could call you in for an interview, you can wow them with your charisma, guts, and ambition, and you could pull that sweet 21. Whatever happens, take the chance. You won’t get anywhere by sitting stagnant, and you’ll at least have the satisfaction of knowing you played the game and did it to the best of your abilities.

What gamble are you going to take this week?

-Jessie

We’ve all been there – that slightly darker place in our lives where we can’t seem to find any hint of motivation, enthusiasm, creativity, or inspiration.

Maybe you’ve been in a funk for a few days and can’t find the way back to your normal self. You HAVE a goal in mind (to write your resume, finish that article, turn in your highly procrastinated work assignment), but you just don’t know how to get on the right track with a positive mindset.

These are the techniques I put into play when I find myself in this abysmal corner of writer’s block torture. Hopefully one will work for you to help you get back to your hardworking, mentally healthy, inspired, positive, creative self!

Find a change of scenery
My go-to places for getting things done lately have been my room in my apartment, or a coffee shop down the street. Generally, switching it up between those two places has been sufficient enough for me to be at least semi-productive. However, that hasn’t been the case lately…

I was feeling in need of a change, and as soon as I found one, I was immediately transitioned into a more positive mindset. If you always work from the same place, try changing it up a bit! It could be as simple as switching chairs to a new spot across the room, to something more effort intense, like packing up your things and relocating to a free Wi-Fi friendly public place. Find something that works for you, and remember to spice it up every now and again to keep the creative juices flowing!

Listen to this

I won’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this clip, because I will be judged for it. But this has not stopped inspiring me since I discovered it a few years ago, and I still occasionally turn to it for a little guidance.

Turn off EVERYTHING
Turn off every electronic you own, and sit in silence for 10 minutes to let your mind wander (yes, it sounds a little bit hippie-ish, but trust me, it works). Distractions are the worst, unless you just need a mental break, then they can be the best. But in this case, do yourself a favor and get rid of them! 10 minutes to unplug will rejuvenate you, and it will feel like a fresh start.

Refocus your goal
Take a step back, and focus on the original task…maybe you’re stumped because you’re losing track of the finish line. If you’ve been working to come up with a creative idea, and you have been bouncing back and forth between one thought to another without taking a minute to organize your head, it’s easy to lose site of the mission. I’m constantly coming up with article ideas, tweaking them little-by-little, and then tweaking them some more.  Before I realize it, my original goal has been completely lost, leaving me with a terrible failure for my intended direction  … The best thing to do when you get off track is to go back to square one, simplify your task, and take off from there with a refocused state of mind.

Eat these foods 
Livestrong posted a list of mental power foods, and it’s definitely true that your diet can affect your brain functionality! My personal favorites are blueberries, almond anything, and, jackpot… dark chocolate made the list, as well!

What methods do you use to get out of your mental funk and back on the track toward success?

-Jessie

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I don’t THINK it’s because I’m a huge loser, (although I could have a very misinterpreted opinion of myself), but I become over-the-top, embarrassingly giddy when I receive any sort of holiday card, post card or handwritten letter via snail mail. I know that this form of correspondence is quickly becoming (or has already become) obsolete, but that’s what makes it even more powerful, now, in 2012.

Now is the time to utilize this resource to your advantage – to send those thank you notes after an interview, to send a “just because I’m thinking of you” card to an old friend or co-worker – before we don’t have it at our disposal anymore, and we lose just one more chance to stand out from the crowd.

Here are some tips for who to consider, and how to approach it when thinking about sending handwritten notes:

Interviewer/Potential Employer

If you are interviewing for a job, in all likelihood, you’re not the only candidate going through the process with the same awesome company. Most candidates will send a follow up email after meeting with potential employers, which is fine… if you want to be LAME. Try sending a handwritten thank you card. Write it the day after your interview so that it arrives 2-3 days later (ish). This gesture stands out, it shows effort, and will most likely give you an extra leg up on your email-sending competition.

Networking Contact

Send a random “just-checking-in” or a thank you letter to a contact you’ve come across during your job search (you still have their business card, right?) Not only is this good networking and professional sense, it’s also a chance to show people that you’re not just completely exploiting them for professional reasons! These cards should be very personalized, as no one likes a generic card (or else you may as well have just sent the email). Maybe this person helped to originally connect you with some job interviews… let them know that you still appreciated their help, no matter how much time has gone by!

Previous Co-interns/Classmates

This is a group that often gets overlooked, and it might be one of the most important ones to include. In college, what people don’t realize is that your classmates are your future colleagues…not just your hungover drinking buddies. These people are going to be most likely to have your back when it comes time to starting a career. They have grown with you throughout your academic and pre-professional development, and generally have a stronger bond with you and other alumni than people you meet outside of these groups. Send a card to stay in touch. Sure, they may think, “what a dork,” after opening it… but they will definitely remember it, smile, and think you’ve got even more charisma for taking the time to send it! These cards can be funny, twisted, sick and/or lighthearted (depending on who it’s for)… no need to be professional and classy ALL the time!

Family/Friends

I include this group because when I receive holiday cards from my friends or family, it puts the biggest smile on my face. Like I said before, I may be a huge weirdo for getting excited about random just-because cards from a parent/aunt/uncle/friend/whatever, but I don’t think I’m the only one! Send a letter and put a smile on someone’s face. (Thank you, Linn, for my postcard from Barcelona)!

Happy letter writing! Hope it works out as I’ve described, or else it makes me look like a huuugeeee *%&$)#*…

-Jessie

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While I was on the plane to Chicago to visit my relatives for the holidays, I was reading It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be, the best-selling book by Paul Arden, and I came across this quote:

Talent helps, but it won’t take you as far as ambition. Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.

I can think of a handful of people in my life who are disgustingly talented.  Most people in my life are talented in some way or another, (because I roll with awesome people), but some are just flat out disgustingly talented. When I say disgustingly talented, I mean that their artistic abilities make me feel like a 4-year-old who can’t stay in the lines. Except that I’m a 22-year-old who can’t stay in the lines… The point is, a few of these people definitely have talent, but they are lacking the drive.

Two of the freshest examples I can think of are, “I want to write, but I can’t find a job as a writer.” “I love to paint, but I don’t know how to make money doing it.” Well, my advice is that you’re not going to get paid to write by talking about not getting paid to write.

If you want to write, write. If you want to paint, paint. It may not pay off monetarily right away, but it’s a stepping-stone to get where you want to be.

In honor of the upcoming New Year, inevitably on its way, I propose that you take whatever talent you may have and put it to good use. Especially if you are actively looking for a job, it’s important to not neurotically check your email waiting for a message from that company you applied for three weeks ago. (This practice will drive you nuts… I was one of those neurotic email checkers). Instead, think about what you’re good at, and work toward perfecting it.

Don’t sit on your skills any longer… do yourself a favor and harness them, embrace them, and share them! Who knows – you may even find yourself a job (or create a job) that you never knew existed in the first place.

I hope you have a wonderful time welcoming the New Year, and I’ll see you in 2012!

[In 2012, I am doing things a little backwards. For my big “New Years resolution," I have the ambition, but definitely do NOT have the talent. I am going to attempt to train for a ½ marathon. At this point, I can barely run a mile. Wish me luck!]