rachael seda

Reviving the Customer Experience – One Food Truck at a Time: Part 1

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:58:37 -0400

What do you get when you combine a U.S. Army Veteran, a Yale graduate, an investor, an entrepreneur and a gourmet food truck pioneer?

The answer: Jeff Kelley. No, he isn’t five different people, he is just one person, and one extremely interesting person at that.

I first met Jeff Kelley at UnCurbed DC, “a traveling restaurant that brings the enjoyment of the food truck experience off the curb and into various vacant spaces.”

My friends and I accidentally sat in the VIP seating area, whereupon Jeff kindly told us we were actually not that cool; but he made up for it by setting up our very own table right next to the VIPs (talk about creating a great customer experience).

Jeff and I started chatting about the event, the food and our experience so far and I asked him what his role was. His answer: a Food Truck Advisor. After running one of the first food trucks in DC, he’d recently sold his food truck and now advised others looking to get into the food truck business.

Umm, how cool is that?!

I had so many questions I wanted to ask him about his experience in the food truck industry from a public relations and social media perspective.

And what I love most about his answers is that he boils down business, marketing, social media and public relations into one simple concept: reviving the customer experience.

RS: When did you start your own food truck and what was it called?

JK: I started the Eat Wonky Truck in August 2010 and our menu staple was poutine and hot dogs.

Why did you first get involved in the food truck industry?

I wanted to do something purely entrepreneurial and it really didn’t matter what it was. I just wanted to start something that I conceived of and had the opportunity to see through to fruition.

It could’ve been a tech company, it could’ve been a product company; but the one thing I was looking for is something that had a meaningful connection to people.

When I learned about food trucks, I found that there were very few businesses you could start that would really enable you to create a customer experience that connected people in a very direct way.

How often do you see an owner of a company out there actually handing the product to that company’s customers? It’s very rare; and that’s why I got started in the food truck industry.

Lesson: As humans we yearn to have deeper and more personal connections with others. How can you bring a more personal “food truck” like experience to your customers?

How did you start promoting and spreading the word about your food truck?

A variety of different ways. The first thing we did was reach out to the foodies in the city to let them know we were coming; so food bloggers, the newsletters that wrote about food, the actual print media food writers to include outlets like the Washington Post, the Washingtonian, and others.

Image: Courtesy Jamie R. Liu

A lot of them picked up an article on us, but it was also something we really wanted to help promote from a grassroots level.

So we also started some soft openings and invited exclusive writers and bloggers and this helped us build a relationship with them and we took it from there.

Lesson: The focus should be on building relationships, not “pitching” your story or asking someone to write about you once.

How can you reach out or create the type of customer experience that inspiressomeone to write about you and helps build a meaningful relationship?

Did hosting these exclusive soft openings inspire people to write about your business without you having to actively ”pitch” them?

Actually yes, it was one of those things where they live off content. We were one of very few trucks in Washington DC when we started, so it was a perfect match between our story, which was unique and different, and the kind of content they were looking to write about.

But these days it’s also a little more difficult to get everyone to write about you unless you’re very distinct; so I always tell my clients who I’m helping start trucks to come out and find a way to make yourself different.

That’s what’s going to distinguish you and get you the opportunity for what essentially amounts to free advertising.

What made you decide to start a business as a Food Truck Advisor and what do you offer potential clients?

Basically when you own a food truck there are people every week (about 10 per week) who will shoot you an email that says, “Hey, let’s sit down for coffee or grab a drink and let me pick your brain about starting a truck.” And we do it because we’re by and large a very collaborative group.

The thing is, it takes time and you don’t have a lot of time when you’re running a truck and dealing with all the marketing and everything we’ve been talking about… it’s a lot.

After selling my truck I realized, ok I still want to do this, I want to still give back and contribute; but you have to charge something otherwise you’re going to have this constant stream of people coming in. I decided to charge a reasonable rate and then only meet with the people who were actually very serious about starting a truck. Then I’d work with those people because they were committed to it, and if I could help them in some way, I wanted to.

Lesson: In any industry, people are always going to want to “pick your brain” if you’re successful. Remember to be respectful of someone’s time if you’re reaching out for his or her advice.

As a young professional, there have been countless people that have graciously taken the time to help me out and I have learned something important from each of them. Unfortunately, I’ve also heard stories of people scheduling informational interviewsand showing up unprepared (gasp). If you’re not serious about yourself and your career, no one else will take you seriously either. And remember when the time comes to pay it forward.

As a Food Truck Advisor, what are some important elements you advise your clients to consider to help them create a unique business brand?

In terms of distinctiveness there are a few different ways.

One is certainly the menu, right? Try to do something that hasn’t been done before; or take something that has been done and try to do it in a very different way.

Second is the culture of the truck. How are you serving the food? Are you dancing? Is there a certain music you’re playing? What’s the culture?

I always point to the Fojol Brothers as a great example of a really well-built culture. They have this whole world they’ve created into which they bring their fans and followers, and it’s very distinctive. So I would say culture is definitely a big thing.

And lastly, it’s your truck and you have the opportunity to do something really cool with it. There’s usually some really interesting way that you can create your truck so it distinguishes you and inspires people to write about you.

Lesson: Whether you’re promoting a business or service, or you’re looking to stand out among the job searching crowd, the same elements can apply. For example, if you’re looking for a job, how can you repurpose your skills to make them seem more unique and desirable? What do you do to stand out from the rest?

Image: Courtesy of Jamie R. Liu

Your homework: How can you apply Jeff’s career advice to your own industry, clients or work? I’d love to hear your thoughts (and stay tuned for Part 2!). And if you don’t have any thoughts at least prove you’re not a bot by answering this very important question – what is your all-time favorite food truck?

This post originally appeared July 18, 2012 on the blog Waxing Unlyrical.

5 Things Small Businesses Need To Know To Avoid The Groupon Curse

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:43 -0400

Perhaps it was an episode of Extreme Couponers or the explosion of social commerce sites such as Groupon that sparked my addiction to a good deal, but either way, I’m hooked on them.

One night in February I was perusing Groupon and found deals galore capitalizing on the upcoming holiday. As any good female friend should do, I reminded my clueless friend Steve that Valentine’s Day was around the corner.

Steve had been dating his girlfriend for a couple months and neither of them struck me as the typical flower type; so I was thrilled to have found what I thought was the perfect Valentine’s Day deal for him – Fancy Fortune Cookies.

Image: Mash Potato via Flickr, CC 2.0

I had never seen anything like it. The company offered an assortment of fortune cookies of all sizes stuffed with your own custom fortune. I quickly convinced Steve that this was an awesome idea.

That is until I received an email on February 13 at 4:30pm stating the following:

Let’s back up.

I thoroughly read the Groupon terms to make sure this coupon was valid when I needed it. I even emailed customer service and was told my order would arrive on time. By the time I received this delivery notice,Valentine’s Day was less than eight hours away.

I was frustrated and concerned.

I promptly contacted Fancy Fortune Cookies via email and followed up with multiple unanswered phone calls. Desperate for answers, I did what any customer in 2012 would do and looked to Facebook and Twitter. Hopefully I could at least determine whether other customers were experiencing the same frustration.

To my dismay I found their Facebook wall was disabled.

Without saying a word, Fancy Fortune Cookies told myself, and every other customer that visited their page, that they didn’t care what any of us had to say.

As a digital communication professional, I resisted the urge to call them and ask why they even had a Facebook presence to begin with (mainly because I realized no one was going to answer anyway).

Two days later I finally received a call back from a nice, apologetic woman. She explained that they were a small family business and that Groupon had actually misunderstood their offer dates, posting them incorrectly.

The result? They were overwhelmed with calls and a flood of customers they weren’t prepared to handle.

To the small business owner, Groupon might seem like an easy solution to drive business and increase sales.

According to this New York Times article, most businesses make very little money off the deal (if any at all). “On average, a business only sees about 20 to 25 cents on the dollar of retail value,” says author and business owner Jay Goltz.

I hate to see small businesses suffer by blindly falling victim to the seemingly innocent Groupon curse. So what can they do?

1. What’s the point?

“I want to bring in more customers and make more money.” Seems simple, right? But in order to attain this goal you need to come up with a concrete business objective and work backwards to figure out your strategy.

Then ask yourself, is Groupon a cost effective and ample approach to reach my objective?

2. Know what you’re getting into

Before calling Groupon, do your research, know how they work, learn from the mistakes of others and make sure you agree to, and can handle, every contract stipulation. If not, it’s time to bargain.

Remember, social commerce sites are only as good as the product or services they sell.

3. Prepare for the worst

My mom used to always say, “when you least expect it, expect it.”

A small business should not only expect but be ready for an influx of inquiries. Have extra staff on hand or on call, especially customer service representatives (and I mean trained customer service staff, not just your neighbor down the street).

Make sure your staff is listening and responding efficiently via email, phone and online. A while back, Shonali said it best: “You need to prepare for a Groupon deal like it was a crisis.”

Your responsiveness will be the difference between losing a customer and gaining an evangelist. And for goodness’ sake, if you have a Facebook Page, your Wall better be enabled and you better be monitoring it!

4. Wow factor

Let’s face it, most people buying Groupons are just looking for a good deal. The likelihood these couponers will pay full price to return is low. At the same time, this is your opportunity to prove to these new customers that your product or service is worth it.

If you’re an upscale restaurant, you want these new customers to have such an exceptional experience; they decide to return for their next special occasion. If customers walk away recommending you to others, you’ve won.

5. Hook ‘em

How will you follow-up with your new customers after they’ve used their Groupon? This goes back to planning.

If you’re an online business you should track who used a Groupon and contact them to see if the product met their expectations. If you’re a service you could ask that the Groupon users fill out a comment card to capture their information before leaving. The idea here is people want to feel like you care about them individually, even if they used a coupon.

So reach out, learn from these new customers and make them feel special.

For Steve and his girlfriend this story actually has a happy ending.

On February 22, Steve’s girlfriend finally received her belated Valentine from Fancy Fortune Cookies.

He sent me a picture text message: “She got her cookies. Loves them. Said it’s bigger than her head! Thanks Rachael!”

While Fancy Fortune Cookies offers a unique and quality product, it’s unfortunate their customer service failure ended our relationship before it even started.

After all, if the cake is bad, what good is the frosting?

As for Groupon - in 2010 Gini Dietrich said, “I think Google launches their own local online coupon model, Groupon decreases in value, two or three competitors gain steam on them, and $6 billion is lost forever.”

At some point lying, arrogance and greed catches up to you. I think the time has come for Groupon; perhaps it’s karma?

What do you think small businesses need to know before participating in social commerce sites like Groupon? And is it a good idea from a public relations and marketing standpoint? Why or why not? Any thoughts on the once fastest growing company’s 15 minutes of fame?

This post originally appeared April 10, 2012 on the blog Waxing Unlyrical.

How Port City Brewery Got Me Buzzed

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:17:34 -0500

I’m drinking the Port City Brewery kool-aid (or beer, rather) and I wish other small businesses would give me the same buzz.

It all began on a Saturday afternoon. a friend had told me about a $5 beer tasting and tour at a relatively new brewery called Port City. Luckily for me it happens to be a hop, skip and jump from where I live, so a few friends and I decided to check it out.

The beer was awesome, the people were down to earth and the tour was fascinating. Needless to say by the time I left, I had a newfound appreciation for “hand-crafted” beer.

As a social media nerd, I immediately wanted to give them a shout out and share the experience with my friends and followers. I was also interested in seeing what type of social media business users they were (if any) because I categorize businesses into three types of social media users:

Business Type 1: The annoying person who only likes to talk about himself or herself at a networking event (yawn).

Business Type 2: The anti-social person who comes to the networking event, doesn’t say a single word and barely utters a response to anyone (can you say awkward?). It makes you wonder why this person even bothered coming at all.

Business Type 3: The outgoing person everyone wants to talk to at the networking event because he or she seem genuine, interesting and are easy to carry a conversation with.

I was really hoping that Port City Brewery wasn’t about to give me a buzz kill. As a communication professional I can’t help but lose respect for a small business (or any business, product, you name it) that decides to blindly join the social media bandwagon because everyone else is doing it (this gives me visions of the Twitter fail whale).

When I come across businesses that I categorize as the anti-social type 2 social media user, I can’t help but wonder… would you pay to have a telephone in your business and purposefully not answer the phone when customers call? NO.

What about the annoying type 1… could you imagine answering the phone only to shout about how awesome you are and then hang up without even asking why the person is calling? NO. That doesn’t make any sense, right?

So why are you on Twitter if you aren’t going to respond to your customers (cough, Netflix, cough)? Why would you even bother having a Facebook page if you are going to block people from commenting on your wall? There’s a reason it’s called social media.

So I put Port City Brewery through my social media type “test” by simply tweeting them.

The next day they responded.

Port City Brewery officially passed my test by proving they were the outgoing type 3 user. Needless to say I was beyond pumped.

All I wanted was a response, to be acknowledged, to feel like someone cared about me as a customer. After all, I made it easy, I tweeted at their account and I gave them a compliment.

Now I’m not saying that Port City Brewery is using social media flawlessly or that they are a particularly digitally savvy business; honestly, from a consumer perspective, I don’t really care if they have a communication plan or if they have a public relations professional on staff.

What I am saying, is that as a consumer I personally think Port City Brewery will be successful first and foremost because they have a good quality product (their beer is quite simply delicious), and second, they created an enjoyable experience by having friendly and knowledgeable staff.

But to me, they sealed the deal by caring enough to continue the conversation with me even after I stepped out of their building.

Shonali said it perfectly, “You have to go back to what makes us all tick. And that’s people meeting people, talking to people, working with people. People. That’s what social media is all about.”

Port City Brewery made me feel like they cared about me, about the person who was drinking their beer. They made it clear to me that they were focused on the long-term relationship and not just making a sale.

As a business, if you aren’t going to engage with your customers online please do not waste your time creating a Twitter account or Facebook page just because everyone else is doing it.

Do not use social media to broadcast to your customers; or as Jay Baer said, “Answer the social telephone first, and then worry about making cold calls.”

I’m interested to hear what you all think; have you had similar experiences? What social media tips or advice would you offer small businesses? And cheers to Port City Brewery for the great buzz; now who else wants to enjoy a fresh cold Port City beer with me?

Image: voteprime on Flickr, CC 2.0

This post originally appeared December 2, 2011 on Shonali Burke’s blog: Waxing Unlyrical .

shonaliburke: My blog’s blacked out today in protest of SOPA...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:05:00 -0500

shonaliburke:

My blog’s blacked out today in protest of SOPA & PIPA. If you have a WordPress site, you can use any of these plugins to join as well. And please write and call your elected leaders to remind them to vote against this heinous bill.

From Podcast Host to Podcast Guest

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:39:34 -0400

I love interviewing and learning from other people which is what motivated me to start my own podcast, twoJMUalum. But I have always been in the podcast host chair, that is until a couple weeks ago when Harrison Kratz, and then Joe Hackman, asked if I would like to be a guest on their podcast shows. I was completely and utterly honored and flattered that they asked me to be apart of their podcasts! I have to admit I was a bit nervous at first, but going from podcast host to podcast guest was actually quite fun!

If you haven’t already, I hope you will listen to both of the podcasts below. And don’t forget to connect with both Harrison and Joe (two really awesome social media friends that I am grateful to know).

1.Harrison Kratz’s #PRStudCast episode, “Discussing Social Good and Blue Key” featuring Shonali Burke and myself.

2. Joe Hackman’s Internet Radio Mashup episode #1, featuring Adriel Hampton from Nationbuilder, Melanie Burke from the SonRise Equestrian Foundation and myself. In this podcast episode we discussed everything from 9/11 memories to social media business solutions.

As always, I would love to hear what you think. Thank you all for your continued support!

The Young & The Determined Series - #4 Bryan Virgil Crist

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:30:06 -0400

Bryan Virgil Crist, a 2010 James Madison University graduate, joins us on the twoJMUalum podcast as our fourth guest on ‘The Young & The Determined Series’. Bryan knew he wanted to pursue a major in Public Relations, which is exactly why he chose to transfer to JMU after community college. But what he didn’t realize was how difficult the job market would be, even with a degree. Listen to see how Bryan’s steadfast determination to land a job in the public relations world finally paid off and hear the advice he has for recent graduates and job seekers.

To listen to this twoJMUalum podcast episode click here or to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or iTunes click here.

Can’t wait a minute longer to listen? Not to worry just press play now and enjoy!

And don’t forget to follow Bryan on Twitter and keep a look out for his new sports blog.

As always if you have any comments, suggestions or just want to say hi send us an email at twojmualum@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter @rachaelseda.

11 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:24:00 -0400

Last week I read a post by Arik Hanson titled, “8 Things I Wish More People Knew About Me”. I love learning new things about friends and bloggers I follow, so naturally I read it. It was Amber Naslund’s blog post, “What I Wish More People Knew About Me” that inspired Arik to write his post. In her post Amber actually encourages all of her readers to write a similar post and send it her way (which I hope you all will!). Here is my list of 11 things you probably don’t know about me. (I’ve also decided to share this embarassing picture of myself that my father posted on Facebook. This was taken in Kodiak, AK when I was about eight. That is the halibut my dad caught)

1. If you know the culture of Hawaii, you will totally “get” me. While most of you might know I spent most of my life growing up in Hawaii, what you may not know is that I am the person I am today because of Hawaii. If you have been there, or better yet lived there, you will understand a lot more about why I do/act/feel certain ways about things in life. I have also moved around a few times and I know what it’s like to be the new kid, which sucked but I also wouldn’t trade it for the world. If you’re wondering, I’ve lived in Florida, Alaska, Hawaii and Virginia.

2. I was obsessed with soccer growing up. I mean beyond obsessed. I knew every detail about every person on the Women’s USA team. I wrote them constantly and still have their autographs and letters in plastic cases. Beyond this, soccer and sports were always a big part of my life growing up. Sports have taught me teamwork and work ethic. They have taught me the value of practice and the importance of heart and determination over skill. Being an athlete is why I don’t let failures define me, I make them fuel me.

3. I’ve always wanted to live abroad and be bilingual. My father is Puerto Rican and never taught us to speak spanish because he was teased as a child. I’ve always felt cheated of this and one of my biggest goals since I was very young was to be fluent in spanish. If I lived in a spanish speaking country I know I could definitely master this.

4. I want a big family but I worry about juggling it all. I grew up with one sister but lived close to three of my cousins, who I consider to be my siblings. I think this is why I have always wanted four kids (yes gasp). Even though for me, having a family is years away, I still find myself worrying at times about how or if I will be able to have a successful career and a family.

5. I didn’t grow up with much and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My parents worked hard and sacrificed a lot for my sister and I. I clearly remember the day my mom decided to go to college (I was five). She tells me I used to lay on her books to get her attention while she studied. I don’t know how she ever slept.

I know my parents struggled at times, but it’s their work ethic and value in things like education that has shown me what is really important in life (and it’s not stuff). I cherish my relationships over anything and I always try to be grateful for the little things. While I don’t want to struggle while raising children, I hope to instill the same values and gratitude that my parents have in me.

6. I’ve always wanted to be a makeup artist. Every time I walk by the Mac counter in the department store I wish I could work there. Makeup has always been a guilty pleasure that I will actually spend some money on. Maybe one day I will work at Mac and get my makeup for free!

7. I am really passionate about child safety. Really I’m passionate about human rights in general but there is hands down nothing more that gets me reeling than child safety. Growing up my mom was always big on keep us safe and at times I was so mad that I was the only kid that couldn’t stay the night at a friend’s slumber party. Now I completely understand why and my mother has instilled this same sense of safety precautions in me. There’s nothing that pisses me off more than child abuse or people who don’t protect their children. I could write a post alone on this, or quite frankly a whole new blog all together.

8. I’m the queen of health facts. My mom and aunt were both nurses. For some reason the things I have learned from them and in my many sexual health classes in school have always stuck to me. I have always been the person my friends come to for health advice, but I will give them my two cents whether they ask for it or not.

9. I judge very little…except judgment itself. I am copying this from Amber’s but it’s only because it’s true. I too have a strong opinion about certain things and I will let you know if you ask. But I am a very accepting person and I enjoy surrounding myself with all types of people. I welcome anyone’s opinion and perspective as long as it’s respectful. Amber said it best, “More often than not I take issue with the *way* that people disagree, not THAT they do. I get bristly when I see people casting judgments, so I guess that’s judgment in its own way.”

10. I want thick hair. Yep, that is the one thing I would change about my appearance. I have thin hair and there’s not much I can do about it. Every time I see a picture of one of the Kardashian girls’ pretty thick, long hair I always think - when is someone going to come out with a pill for that?

11. I listen to my intuition. My mother always taught us to listen to our intuition, gut instinct, whatever you want to call it. Because of this, I can read people very well and it doesn’t take me long to decipher their character or motives. My gut instinct works the same in situations, it’s hard to explain I just have a keen sense (and I’m not trying to be pompous). I believe we are all born with a gut instinct for a reason and some of us aren’t taught to listen to it. Thankfully I was, and it’s something that has helped me time and time again in life.

There it is, a few things you probably don’t know about me. I am a pretty open book, so if you’re wondering anything else please ask away.

Now I want to know (because I’m innately curious!), what are a few things you wish people knew about you?

Five Vitamin Supplements That Prevent The Job Hunt Blues

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:39:00 -0400

“I wished that once you graduated, with ur masters, a job would automatically be waiting for you. Hate this job search thing, especially when there are no jobs to really search for. Need to keep thinking positive and pray that whatever is supposed to happen, will happen in time."

This is a Facebook post I recently came across from a dear friend I grew up with in Hawaii (for the sake of privacy lets just call her Callie). I immediately commented on Callie’s page to congratulate her on graduating and encourage her to keep her head up.

"Sometimes it’s all about timing,” I wrote, “but I promise that dream job is out there.”

I think each of us can relate to this feeling. I can recall it all too well. I was determined to find a job that would get me on the path to doing work I love and that used the skills I had learned and invested time and money in coveting. But as each month passed since graduation, my positive attitude and hope began to dwindle. I continued to brainstorm. “Perhaps I should pursue graduate school instead? Maybe I should just settle for the next customer service or sales job that comes my way, even though it’s not what I want to do,” these were just some of the thoughts that ran through my head.

The worst thing you can do in the job hunt process is to burn yourself out. Once you’re burned out you are at high risk for contracting a severe case of the job hunt blues. The symptoms of this condition include desperation, loss of clear thought, erratic decision making and feelings of hopelessness.

The good news is there are five preventative over the counter vitamins I recommend to help you stay strong and avoid contracting the job hunt blues.

(Note: These vitamins have not yet been reviewed by the FDA, please consult a physician if you start to experience loud outbursts of excitement or the uncontrollable desire to skip in the streets like a musical gone wrong)

Five Preventative Measures:

1. Stay busy. Do not sit on your computer all day looking for a job. I worked as a restaurant server and a substitute teacher while looking for my first job. Not only did this keep me in better spirits, it also helped me meet new people. As a substitute teacher I was also able to share stories of how I can work with all different people and that I was able to adapt well in an array of situations and environments. As a server I possessed impeccable customer service skills and knew exactly how to handle unhappy customers, this is a skill that is necessary in just about every job.

2. Stay connected. Reach out to your friend’s parents. Pick their brain, perhaps they have someone they can connect you with even if it’s just for an informational interview. Learning from people in different fields or jobs can help you figure out better what you should look for in a job and what other areas you can search in. Plus, you will stay at the forefront of this person’s mind and if they like you and they hear of a job you will stick out over any pile of resumes.

3. Find a mentor. No matter how old we are or how much experience we might have, being able to confide and learn from a mentor or coach is imperative in our career growth. This person might be an older alumni of your school that you connected with, someone you met through and informational interview that you stayed in touch with or maybe someone you look up to in your field. Find someone who can help guide you and challenge you.

4. Have a job search buddy. It’s helpful to share experiences with another person who is going through the same thing. Perhaps you set a date and time to meet at the coffee shop and look for jobs together. Or if you’re far apart you may email them and have them look at your resume or review your cover letter before you send it out (and of course return the favor). Whatever it is you do to help each other out, the point is that you have support from someone who can relate. I personally stayed in contact with some of my fellow classmates at JMU. Brent Levy is one friend in particular that stands out. I could vent to him when I needed to; and talking with him always rejuvenated me. A few weeks after he started his first position he referred me to a contract script writing position for his department. It was just what I needed to keep my head up and pay my student loans until I found a permanent position.

5. Be social. Join organizations related to your field or attend events in your area. Meet new people online using Twitter, LinkedIn or Brazen Careerist. Help out others and learn from them. Read and comment on industry blogs. Figure out who knows who. It’s times to put your CSI hat on and solve your job hunt mystery.

If you’ve already contracted a severe case of the job hunt blues I suggest you take one or all of these five over the counter prescriptions. Once cured, you can return to the preventative maintenance practices to avoid a relapse.

Five Over the Counter Prescriptions:

1. Exercise.

2. Keep learning.

3. Volunteer.

4. Take a break.

5. Find a new hobby.

What would you recommend to prevent the job hunt blues?

What Can A Foreign Exchange Student Teach You About America?

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:45:00 -0400

With the 4th of July right around the corner we are often consumed with figuring out where we are going to celebrate, what food we are going to bring, if there’s going to be enough fireworks and at the same time, fervently crossing our fingers that it won’t rain. Perhaps we don’t always think about what this holiday means or what makes the United States of America different from other countries.

My little cousin Caroline is currently hosting an exchange student from Russia named Anya. I was hanging out with them on my vacation home in Virginia Beach and I was pondering what I could take her to do that would help her experience America. Quite frankly, and unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to travel outside of the country (besides Canada which I don’t count). And as silly as it might sound, I truly wasn’t sure what experience we could offer that was unique to America.

I am an innately curious person and I love to learn about new people. Although I haven’t traveled outside of the United States I know there is so much I can learn from people who have and by meeting people from other countries. I wanted to share with all of you some questions I had for both Caroline and Anya about their experience and what they have learned from each other (and what I have learned from the both of them!).

After watching the video I would love to hear your answer to my burning question as we approach the 4th of July; what is American?

(By the way, I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July!)

Ending Nightmares One Blue Key At A Time

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:32:00 -0400

Nightmares. We’ve all had them at some point in time. As a child I remember one distinct nightmare of an ugly witch that I have never forgotten. After killing my family she was trying to abduct me from my home. I had no one to protect me and there was no where I could go to get away from her. I still remember the feeling of fear that consumed me. I truly thought this nightmare was real. At some point I woke up and quickly ran into my parent’s room with terrified tears streaming down my face. My mother held me and attempted to calm me, like only a mother can her child. “Rae Rae, Mama wouldn’t let anyone hurt you, ever! Don’t worry; you are safe in your house. It was just a bad dream.” I remember her words as if it were yesterday.

Sadly, for some people, nightmares are not just bad dreams; they are reality. I recently watched an episode of Super Nanny where a mother had adopted two children from Ghana. Bedtime was difficult for the children. You see, where they came from bad things happened at night. They heard real screams of innocent people being hurt. In the blink of an eye people would have their homes destroyed or taken over. This mother’s new adopted children lived the first few years of their lives continually reenacting the nightmares they experienced as refugees of war.

Think about that for a second. Think about being a child and knowing that bad people might rip you out of your home at night. Think about being the mother that cannot keep her children safe, let alone calm their nightmares. Can you really fathom having no idea where you’re going to sleep at night, whether you will be able to protect your family or if you will even survive to see the daylight?

I can’t. The only real fear I can compare it to is that of my childhood nightmare, which in my case was just a bad dream. I realize that I take for granted the roof over my head and my carefree childhood. We all do. Most, if not all, of you reading this were fortunate enough not to live in such a constant nightmare. According to the Blue Key website — now, more than at any time in history, the world is witnessing an increase in forcibly displaced people — those driven from their homes and their countries by civil war, ethnic strife, and political oppression. It’s shocking to me really. Quite frankly it’s not fair and I believe I have the moral responsibility to do something about it. This is the reason I became a Blue Key Champion.

The Blue Key campaign was launched by the USA for UNCHR (the UN Refugee Agency) to give refugees a voice and to open doors to a new life; the doors that unexpectedly, and through no fault of their own, were closed. The Blue Key itself is a $5 symbol representing the key to the home that refugees may never have again.

I am asking you, from the bottom of my heart, to please do one or all of these three simple things to help make a difference.

1. Purchase a $5 Blue Key today. This small amount doesn’t seem like much to ask of anyone but it really does make a difference. After all, a measly drink at Starbucks practically costs that much. Imagine, if just $6,000 people donated the price of one unnecessary $5 purchase today and used it to buy a Blue Key instead. In one single day we could each help surpass the entire campaign goal of $6,000 Blue Keys by World Refugee Day on June 20. Just the thought of that makes me all excited inside!

2. Tell everyone you know. Share the cause with your family, followers, friends, fans, co-workers and connections at your next lunch date, by email or through your social media profiles.

3. Show your support for the Blue Key Campaign by connecting with the UN Refugee Agency on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr (these pictures say it all).

That’s it. Seems like pretty simple requests compared to the huge impact we are all going to make. Together we can turn the living nightmares of innocent people into new beginnings. Who’s with me?

Free Food And Booze

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:59:00 -0400

Ok ok I admit it. I am one of those burrito and beer loving folks that showed up at Social Media Club DC (SMCDC) a couple weeks ago to hear what Stacey Kane, the Director of Marketing for California Tortilla, could possibly say that would be more entertaining than free food and booze. Thankfully she was loads of fun and her outlandish customer stories brought me back to my restaurant days, there was never a dull moment. One of my favorite highlights is the synonym she unknowingly gave me for one of my favorite terms I use often,“fun sponge,” she calls it “firefighter of fun.” You better bet I’ve already stolen it, but I digress.

Besides the obvious excitement of free food, booze and an entertaining speaker, California Tortilla’s experience and success using social media provided some great reminders and lessons to every social media brand ambassador or aspiring social media enthusiast.

Four Social Media Lessons From California Tortilla

1. Infuse passion. As humans we yearn to be apart of something, whether you’re a die hard sports fan or an animal lover, we all have a passion. Use social media to make people passionate about your brand.

2. Be yourself. People want someone they can relate to. It’s easy to tell when some isn’t being genuine (you know like the girl who broke up with you and her excuse was “it’s me not you” only to find out she was cheating…) and it’s a turn off. Stacy Kane told us that the personality at California Tortilla is very much the personality of the owner. She is humorous and funny and ironically she also owns part of the DC Improv clubs. This quote by Enid Bagnold sums it up, "one can lie, but truth is more interesting.“ Moral of the story: Keep it real and people will dig it.

3. Have fun. If you want to be a firefighter of fun go right ahead but that’s not going to help you create brand enthusiasts and loyal fans. Everyone wants to hang out with the fun guy. Take some risks, be creative, give out free chicken burritos just because it’s Wednesday. Even if you accidentally forget that it’s Ash Wednesday and you piss of a bunch of Catholic people, well now you can redeem yourself and give out free burritos on Passover (just kidding, sort of, because this is a true story, Stacy Kane told us herself). You can’t make everyone happy but you can definitely try, own up to your mistakes and have fun. People will notice.

4. Share. No, please do not share TMI (too much information). No one wants to know why your stomach hurts or when you brushed your teeth. Share important stuff with your audience, make them feel apart of your team. Stacy actually decided to unveil the rough draft of California Tortilla’s new logo to all of us at SMCDC. No one outside of the corporate office had even seen the logo yet. She opened herself up and was vulnerable but she also made us all feel apart of California Tortilla by sharing something exclusive with us. I immediately took a picture and tweeted it, started following @caltort on Twitter and now I always notice a California Tortilla when I pass one. She made me feel invested in her brand, apart of it, without even realizing it, and I bet I wasn’t the only one that night.

What I find funny about all these social media lessons and reminders, is they are the same in life. People want to be friends with or work for someone who is passionate, genuine, fun and a generous team player. There’s nothing different. So stop treating social media like it’s rocket science and go be you. (That is unless you’re a fire fighter of fun then don’t be you, be the opposite.)

What other lessons would you add? Are you a loyal customer of a certain brand? What made you become a brand ambassador?

Think Before You Major

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:53:00 -0400

Growing up in Hawaii I had always wanted to go to college in California. Even after I moved to Virginia my junior year of high school, I was still determined to go to college in California. That is until my Mother tried to talk me out of it. “It’s too expensive and there’s so many great in state schools in Virginia,” she would gripe. But I didn’t care, isn’t that what student loans were for anyways? That’s when my high school counselor suggested I check out James Madison University (JMU), his alma mater. He thought I would really enjoy it and fit in. The moment I went for a tour there I fell in love. Fine I would compromise, if I had to stay in state it would only be if I got into JMU.

Thankfully I did get into JMU and now that I am paying back my student loans and I see the reality of how much they really are (let alone adding in the interest) I am grateful I didn’t waste my money going out of state for my undergraduate degree. I know plenty of people that took out enormous amounts of loans, even using some of the money to help pay for spring break (which I never went on because I couldn’t afford it). I think we all thought we would graduate and make lots of money and it wouldn’t matter. Or maybe we didn’t truly comprehend that we would be paying all this money back and then some.

This is one reason I told my cousin she couldn’t major in anthropology. She looked at me like I had just stolen her dream. “Look, if you really want to study anthropology lets be realistic. This means you have one of two choices you can be a professor or you will have to chase around grant money to pay for you to live with a tribe and do research in remote areas of the world. And I assure you they won’t care that you’re a vegetarian. Either way, you’re not looking at making much money at all. If that’s what you want to do then awesome follow your dreams, but be realistic about it,” I said trying not lecture her.

The problem is I have seen too many people just pick a major, like marine biology for instance because they liked dolphins, and guess what, they can’t find a job. I promise you that when reality sets in and you have $40,000 plus in student loans to pay and you have no choice but to continue waiting tables while still living with mom and dad just to pay the minimum possible each month, you will be kicking yourself.

This week I was listening to NPR on the way to work and the story, “College Student Debt Grows. Is It Worth It?” was on. Student Financial Aid expert Mark Kantrowitz said that college debt is OK - if you’re careful. “It’s smart if it’s enabling you to invest in your future, but if you borrow more than your expected starting salary after you graduate, you’re going to struggle to pay your loans,” he said. I’ve never heard of this but it sounds like a good way to think about it.

My advice is think before you major. We have so many resources at our fingertips to help us figure out what it is we really want to do in life and determine if this career path will support the type of lifestyle you want to live. This is why I encourage people to do multiple internships and start thinking about your career path early on (preferably in high school not college). Set-up informational interviews and really do your research.

A professor once told me if you don’t make money doing it then it’s a hobby not a profession. If you want to make your interest a profession then I would suggest checking out websites like Glass Door to see what companies in your industry are paying for a starting salary. If the first year’s salary is significantly less than the amount you’ll have to borrow to attend college, you may want to reconsider the college you want to attend or your major. Don’t get me wrong it’s not all about money, but you do have to make a living.

What do you think, should you strictly major in what you love to do (or go to the college of your dreams, regardless of the cost) and hope it works out or should you think before you major?

I Already Have A Job, Now What?

Thu, 12 May 2011 08:52:00 -0400

Congratulations you’re past the initial find a job hurdle. The show The Office is now funnier than you ever remember it being (if that’s possible) and you have some “real world” experience under your belt. That’s all that matters, right? Ehh, I would beg to differ. Maybe that’s just because I was raised by a mother who not only decided to go to college when I was five years old while taking care of two kids, but she worked at the same time. Her determination and drive is something I have innately inherited. I always want to do better, to be better. Therefore, it’s not just about having a job, to me it’s important to continue to advance in your career, stand out (unlike the guy in this picture) and learn as much as you can.

In a recent episode of Inside PR that features hosts Gini Dietrich, Martin Waxman and Joe Thornley, a viewer asked what you can do to further your career. If you don’t already know, I LOVE Inside PR. As a young professional currently working in-house, I always learn something from the show and it never ceases to entertain. But I digress.

So what can you do to further your career? Here are five quick tips courtesy of Inside PR to help you do just that.

1. Be curious. This to me is important. If you’re not curious about what your doing then maybe you need to reevaluate your career choice.

2. Listen. I try to learn something new from everyone I meet. Each person has different experiences and perspectives that are invaluable. Plus, people can tell when you are really listening and can see that you care about what you’re doing.

3. Learn. This goes hand in hand with being curious and listening. Read blogs, books, attend workshops, take a class, learning doesn’t end with a college diploma.

4. Build Your Network. Once you have a job this doesn’t mean you should drop networking all together. Not only can you learn from different people but this is the best time to truly build relationships. You’re not looking for a job, there’s no pressure. When the day comes when you are ready to pursue something new you don’t have start from square one.

5. Use Social Media. Many friends and mentors I have started on Twitter. I can’t begin to explain how much I have learned from these relationships. Social media is a vital resource that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Use it to help inspire your curiosity, listen to what others are saying, learn from the endless talented people in the space and use it to build your network outside of your normal realm.

Disclaimer: If you want a job where your existence is politely ignored (refer to the picture above) then I am sorry to inform you that you just wasted your time reading this post.

Definitely listen to the full episode on Inside PR for more advice on advancing your career and if you haven’t already subscribed to the podcast, what are you waiting for?! I promise you won’t regret it. If you do regret it, well you can complain to them.

What other tips do you have for someone trying to make the next step up in his or her career?

Can You Appreciate the Unknown?

Thu, 05 May 2011 10:47:00 -0400

After ten hours we finally landed in the Norfolk,Virginia airport. We grabbed our luggage and stuffed it into my Uncle’s car. It was the beginning of a new chapter, but little did I realize it would be a pivotal moment in my life. As we were driving to Virginia Beach I immediately realized something was wrong. “Where are the mountains?” I asked my Uncle. “We don’t have mountains here,” he responded. “What?” I said. I just thought there were mountains everywhere

It was a couple days later after we had settled into my Aunt’s house (where we would be living for awhile) that I asked my Aunt if she would take me to the beach. The beach has always been apart of me. It’s the place I feel the most comfortable. My Aunt hesitated before she responded, “Umm I don’t know if you’re going to like it. It’s not the same as what you’re used to. But I will take you.” she said. I was confused but excited to go. This whole place was foreign to me and I needed to be somewhere that was familiar. As we pulled up to the beach I looked at the water, a brownish gray color. I stepped closer and realized this was no elusion. “That water is dirty. It’s brown,” I said confused. You see I was almost 17 years old and had spent most of my life living in Hawaii. It sounds crazy to say this but I truly thought that water everywhere was blue. My beach day was ruined.

When I returned to Hawaii to visit for the summer I felt like I was looking at a whole new place. I took pictures of the water and was in awe every time I saw it. Everything there seemed so beautiful. My friends thought it was funny. Most of them had lived in Hawaii there whole life and the things I was suddenly in awe of were the normal things they see everyday. I used to be them.

Suddenly moving across the United States at the vulnerable age of about 17 turned into one of the best learning experiences of my life. Most of all I realized the true essence of appreciation, not taking things for granted and enjoying each moment, each person, each place.

Lately I have been thinking a lot more about happiness and suffering, good versus evil, and the companionship of struggle and triumph. It was Rebecca Thorman’s post on her blog Kontrary that made me examine closer the ties between happiness and suffering.

A few days after reading her post tornadoes demolished homes a mile away from Tar Heel Guy’s parents house. Twelve people died and countless people lost their homes. I traveled to the small town in North Carolina for Easter. Never had I seen such destruction with my bare eyes. It was the topic of conversation at Easter as we drove past churches that were having funerals. I remember telling Tar Heel Guy’s Grandma, “It’s sad that it takes destruction like this to appreciate what you have.” But in the midst of the wreckage his Grandmother had many heart warming stories of their community coming together.

On the opposite spectrum, this week Americans celebrated the end of Osama bin Laden. Peace was brought to the many people who lost loved ones on September 11 and to those who have lost loved ones in the war. The many young adults that were just children when they witnessed the second plane hitting the tower, suddenly ripped of the child like safety they felt, rejoiced outside their dorm rooms as the news broke.

On a lighter note think of the high school jobs, internships and career experiences you’ve had. If you were to ask me what my worst job was I would immediately tell you, Food Lion. Enough said. But each job or internship I’ve had has taught me valuable lessons about what I want in life, what type of boss I do and don’t want to be one day and what I value in a workplace. Each experience, both good and bad, has helped me learn how to navigate my career path into a successful and happy journey. After all, a good deal of your life is spent working, why waste that time being unhappy?

I know each example I gave is very different but I wanted you to see no matter the extreme juxtaposition whether it be happiness and suffering, appreciation and taking things for granted or good and evil, each comparison is similar in that one affects the other. Or does it…

All of this makes me wonder, can you appreciate the blue water if that’s all you’ve ever known?

What Is Your Why?

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:52:00 -0400

“What’s that special spark that attracts business like crazy? OK. Here’s a clue. If the pulse of your brand is showing vital signs, creative juices are pumping. If not, we’ve got a Dead Brand Walking on our hands.” -Mary Van de Wiel

I love Twitter and here is one more reason why. A couple months ago I shared blog post I read on Twitter by Mary Van de Wiel (Van). She responded to me and told me she’d be in Washington, DC in a couple months and would love to meet up. I was thrilled and a couple months later she invited me to a workshop at her friends house nearby. It was one of the best workshops I have ever attended.

The house was beautiful and I am kicking myself for not taking pictures of it. If you have ever been to Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, this is exactly what the house reminded me of. It was a small group of us, about fifteen people. It was fascinating to hear everyone’s life stories, from the businesses they started or hope to embark on, their lives, how they ended up at Van’s workshop and what they hoped to get out of it. If you know me, you know I am enthralled in learning about a person’s story, how they got to where they are and everything about them. Actually getting to know the people in Van’s workshop is one of my highlights.

But let me tell you what really struck a chord with me. For some reason I have always struggled with my own summary, my own small bio paragraph. You know the one you are prompted to fill out in social networks such as Linkedin. Which is why to this day Linkedin likes to remind me that my profile is only 95% complete because I just can’t tackle my darn summary. I want it to be consistent, interesting and represent me. But I’m concerned with it also being professional enough and not too lengthy. Every time I try to write it I’m just at a loss. I am never happy with it.

Van asked all of us, “What is your why? What is your story? That’s what people want to know.”

Wow. It seems so simple doesn’t it? Especially coming from the girl who genuinely enjoys learning about the stories of others and the choices and decisions that have led them to where they are. Sometimes it just takes an outsider with a keen perspective to point you in the right direction.

I have been flushing out my bio summary ever since and I look forward to sharing it with all of you and seeing what you think. I want to make sure it truly represents me and who better to ask than those who know you? But more than that, this small piece of advice has already helped me in my everyday life. I finally realize that my why is so much more important than my what.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet Van and for her kindness. I was delighted by the candid openness of all those I met at her workshop. It truly was an enlightening experience and just the type of energy recharge I needed. What would I do without Twitter? It has given me the opportunity to connect, meet and learn from some amazing people from all over the world.

So readers what do you struggle with when it comes to branding, whether it be your personal brand or a business brand? If you could ask Van one question what would it be? Or perhaps you have a good story of people you have met on Twitter. I’d love to hear it!

By the way if you need brand help or want to learn more about “Dead Brand Walking” I definitely suggest that you connect with Mary Van de Wiehl (Van) on Twitter or check out her website “Zing Your Brand”.

These College Students May Be Your Boss One Day

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:15:00 -0400

Every year since graduation I have returned to my alma mater, James Madison University (JMU), to visit my old professors, reminisce on the good ole days, oh yes and speak to current students in the communication department. Why? Because I want to make sure I am super nice to these future professionals in case they are my boss one day. Ok so I am partially kidding but seriously they could be.

Many things have changed even in the couple years I have been out of college. I went to speak at my former professor, Corey Hickerson’s, Social Media class. This class did not exist when I was in college. I may have been using social media (aka Facebook) while I was in class but it definitely wasn’t apart of the curriculum.

The students’ project for the semester is to have a group blog on whatever topic they choose and with what ever blogging platform they prefer. At the end of the semester they must show their progress to include readership statistics, how they promoted it, changes they made to enhance statistics, etc. I am so jealous I didn’t get to take this class and I am also proud my alma mater has been quick to embrace social media as an important part of the communication major curriculum. What a fun experiment, but more than anything it’s an applicable and necessary skill for life after college.

I have really enjoyed reading these college blogs and I encourage you to check them out and support these young, up and coming, communication professionals!

Campus Crush 101 - A blog on college dating and how to handle your “dating hiccups and sexcapades.”

Hburg Hot Spots - A blog for college-aged students in and around Harrisonburg that is the source for finding the city’s best kept secrets.

Mad Apparel - A style blog dedicated to everything fashionable.

JMUsicology - A music blog focused on introducing student artists and bands to the JMU community. Get information on upcoming concerts and converse about everything music.

WellnessU - This blog focuses on health and quick tips ways to be healthy for a busy lifestyle.

JMUpg2sports - A sports blog that supports and covers all athletes not just those at the varsity level or those on the football team.

the college reel - A blog for college students who love movies and movies college students love.

U of Style - A fashion blog dedicated to sharing tips and tricks for style on a budget.

Don’t forget to let me know what you think of these college bloggers. If you have any recommendations to help them out let them know by commenting on this post or their posts, remember this is a grade after all! Plus they could be your boss one day.

(For all of you college students I connected with at JMU, please be sure to keep in touch. I’d love to help you out in anyway I can and even have you on a future episode of the twoJMUalum podcast!)

The Young & The Determined Series - #3 Ariel Sasso

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:53:00 -0400

In the third episode of ‘The Young & The Determined Series’ we are lucky to have a 2007 James Madison University graduate, Ariel Sasso join us on the twoJMUalum podcast. Ariel majored in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and knew right away that she wanted to dive into the PR agency world. Listen to see how Ariel went from a lost business major to discovering her perfect fit in the school of communication. Ariel shares what she has learned in her career at an agency and how she is using that experience to fuel her next career move. This podcast episode is full of laughter, good advice, experience and motivation for anyone in the communication field, someone still deciding what they want to do in life or those of you who want to try a different career avenue.

To listen to this twoJMUalum podcast episode click here or to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or iTunes click here.

Can’t wait a minute longer to listen? Not to worry just press play now and enjoy!

Check out Ariel’s blog 'Ariel in Motion’ at and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter @arielinmotion

As always if you have any comments, suggestions or just want to say hi send us an email at twojmualum@gmail.com or hit us up on Twitter, @smslilak or @rachaelseda.

I Gave Up Television For Lent

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:12:00 -0400

No I’m not kidding. I really did give up television for Lent. Well ok, everything but the The Biggest Loser on Tuesday and the news in the morning to check on the weather (which continues to serve as a grueling reminder that spring really isn’t here yet). But other than that I am leading a semi-television free Lent. Generally, I turn the television on when I get home from work just for background noise while I am cooking, cleaning or doing work. Inevitably I always get hooked into the show and I’m less productive then I sought out to be. What’s worse is I watch brain depleting ridiculous reality television. I admit it ok, I like that minimal concentration is required to listen to some rich lady complain about her problems, so I watch it. Please don’t judge me.

Doing something for Lent has become a tradition for me. I happened to attend Catholic school from kindergarten to my sophomore year in high school, not because my parents are really religious, but because the public schools in Hawaii are so bad you practically have to send your children to expensive private schools. Which is why every year since before I can remember I have adhered to Lent. This year, when I was thinking about what I should give up or do, it didn’t take long for me to determine that I needed to say goodbye to television.

Television is a time suck. I remember reading a ridiculous Nielsen statistic in my college multimedia class that said the about how the average American will watch about 16 years of television in their lifetime. That sounds like wasted time if you ask me. I want to volunteer more, write more regularly, publish more podcasts, read more blogs and have time to actually read books - not just listen to them on audio. Don’t we all want to be more productive with our day and life?

Even though I had the best intentions when I came home from work and even though I thought I could do work while having the television on in the background, inevitably the television distracted me. It trapped me. It sucked me in like a sneaky salesman before I even realized it was too late. Well not anymore it doesn’t.

Remarkably, in the first week of my new semi-television free life I had already felt like my creativity and brainstorming gears were in full force. I wasn’t even trying to think of ideas, they were just coming to me (I will share more soon so stay tuned). I was and still am so pumped and charged by the new ideas and projects I want to embark on that I have decided I might live a semi-television free life forever. Yep forever.

Little by little I am finishing my non-audio book and accomplishing more. Still like all of you I am busy and you have to make time for your priorities and get some rest at the end of the day. But we all have something in our life that we can do without, something that is keeping us from accomplishing more important thing. What is something in your life that’s distracting you from being more productive? What can you do without in order to move closer to your goals or accomplish more in your day? Perhaps you’ve already climbed and conquered the challenging mountain of productivity, so help us out - what’s your training secret(s)?

(By the way Sarah Robinson has a great series on her blog about productivity called ‘28 Days to Getting Your Sh*t Together’ and I definitely recommend you check it out.)

The Young & The Determined Series - #2 Ross Moulton

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:06:00 -0400

In the second episode of ‘The Young & The Determined Series’ on the twoJMUalum podcast show we talk to a 2007 JMU graduate, Ross Moulton. Ross majored in Sports Management & Marketing and like many college men in his major, he dreamed of working for a professional sports team. Listen to this episode and see where Ross is now, how he is transitioning his career and attaining his goals and most importantly learn from his experiences and advice. I assure yout there’s never a dull moment in this podcast so be prepared to literally laugh out loud. If you’re sitting on a quiet commuter bus you can consider yourself forewarned.

To listen to this twoJMUalum podcast episode click here or to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or iTunes click here.

Can’t wait a minute longer to listen? Not to worry just press play now and enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out Ross’ blog, 'My Supposition’ and follow him on Twitter, @rossmo84.

As always let me know what you think of the podcast episode. Also, if you or anyone you know wants to share their career advice/experience just starting out and be a guest on the podcast feel free to email us as well at twoJMUalum@gmail.com.

Why I Think 'The Bachelor' Is Dumb

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:16:00 -0400

Quite frankly, I have always thought the show ’The Bachelor’ was dumb. I never understood why people thought they could actually fall in love to some stranger that went out with a million other people at the same time as them. Plus it’s not reality it’s reality television. In the ‘real world’ you cannot go on constant lavish trips, dates and romantic getaways. How do you actually get to know someone, truly know them, when you have only seen them at their best?

Here is the problem. My best friend is absolutely obsessed with 'The Bachelor’. I am shocked when she answers her phone at all on Monday night. A few weeks ago I turned it on while I was doing work, because it was the only thing on television, but also because I wanted to text my best friend funny comments about the episode so she knew I was watching. She was shocked of course and we bantered back and forth. It took one episode before I was hooked into the dumb, yes dumb, drama.

But as I was watching the 'After the Rose’ show following the finale this week I was shocked. Former 'Bachelor’ and 'Bachelorettes’ that are currently still married or engaged came on to offer their advice to the new couple from this season. “What in the world?!” I thought. I had no idea any of these people even got married. One of the couples had been married for seven years! I’m not sure how many seasons there have been, but regardless I still can’t fathom that any of them are still going strong. How could this be?

That’s when it struck me. Timing. You know that saying, timing is everything, perhaps it’s not so far fetched. Sometimes it really is about being in the right place at the right time. But it’s also about the state and mindset you are in at any given point in your life and whether you want the same things at that moment. It’s also about seizing opportunities that come your way at a given time. But timing isn’t just about “finding love” it is an important factor in every aspect in our lives.

For those of you tirelessly looking for jobs or the next career opportunity remember that the time will come. Just make sure to put in the effort and get involved and eventually I do believe your hard work, networking and the relationships you have fostered along the way will work in your favor. Eventually we all get a few “roses” or opportunities to help us if we are trying.

The question is are you even trying? If you don’t take risks or do whatever it takes to work toward your goals then timing becomes meaningless. What do you think? Is your plan for the day going to get you one step closer to reaching your goal or are you holding yourself back?