Stop Being a People-Pleaser

Today I received this article from a colleague in a gchat.  At first I was caught off guard as I was in deep thought in an email I was currently writing but I was also surprised by the title. "Stop Being a People-Pleaser."   When I finally read the gchat message from the colleague, which said "this is SO you," I was immediately curious to read this article and figure out why this particular article made them think this was SO me.

After reading it, I realized, this is me.  100 and 10%.  The advise in this article is exactly what I needed.   I have been battling with myself on time management, quality of work, and always being accessible to others, regardless of what priorities are on my plate at the current time.

This part of the article, struck a chord with me the most.  (I am guilty of this, more than I even realized, so thank you Elizabeth Saunders for giving me this wake up call)

"The "Yes!" Man or Woman Scenario:  
If you're an energetic, service-oriented person, your tendency is to always respond to any request by saying, "Sure, I can do that." Or when you're sitting in a meeting and someone asks for volunteers to help, you always raise your hand. Or even when no one asks for help — but you know they need it — you offer to assist. In and of itself, a strong desire to take action isn't bad. But if this attitude means that you're completely overloaded with work and unfocused on your top priorities, you are failing to keep the commitments that truly should fall under your ownership.  In many instances, there are other people who can step up. If you can't resist the urge to jump in, disconnect yourself when you're off hours so that you're not even aware of every crisis.  Even if it seems like a can't-miss opportunity, remember that there will always be other chances. There will always be more events, more conferences, more articles, even more crises to solve — more of everything. If you don't make time for what's an enduring priority for you, such as sleep, rest, or time with important people, you'll miss out on what truly matters."

Yup. That is me.  To the T.  Now all I need to do is take Elizabeth's advise to heart and to use. ASAP.

My role at work requires individuals to be contacting me via email, gchat or by the phone throughout the day, everyday.  Sometimes I have 15 gchat conversations going on at work with folks who need answers from me or have a question, while emails pile up in my inbox and my phone may have a few voicemails.  At meetings when people ask for volunteers or help, I always offer to participate.  When someone refers to me as being someone that would "know" or be good to help (I almost always say yes, without fully considering my band with first)

May be this is how a people-pleaser thinks.  Try to answer everyone and anyone's immediate needs as fast and graciously as you can and trying to fulfill every request thrown my way.  Even with my emails, I answer emails for people I know need my answers/responses the fastest, but I also don't like writing terse emails, because the last thing I want to do is come off wrong or that I am "too busy"to care.  However, spending too much time on an email is not proper use of time so can you see how this can be a little overwhelming for a "people-pleaser?"

According to this article, I need to start slotting time on my calendar where I am "not" available so I can do top priority work undisturbed.  I need to learn when to say "I am sorry I cannot help at this time" and how to protect my time and energy.  This sounds like a much better plan than me doing work after normal work hours for high priority tasks.  These tasks should be done during normal work hours.  Right?

I don't know about you, but my weekends and evenings typically consist of me working for some amount of time with my laptop on my lap, some nights more than others, because let's face it, it is my quiet time and undisturbed focus time.   Weekends are usually my time to catch up on work and unanswered emails.  I should be able to find this sort of time during regular work hours, but for the past few months, that has been almost impossible.  Now I know why.  I've been a Yes Woman for way too many requests lately and it's finally caught up and bite me in the butt.

I also recently read this article by Fast Company called "What Successful Night Owls Get Done Before Bed" and this article made me realize that may be I am just wired to be a late night worker.   My mind is focused at night and I get a second wind usually around 8/9pm and it lasts until 11:00pm/Midnight (hence why this blog post was posted so late in the evening).   Is this normal? (sure).  Is it healthy? (may be, may be not).   Does this schedule have a negative impact on the people in my life and my job? (a little).   So what do I do about it?  I can't be an "all-the-time" worker because that is definitely not healthy, but I need to make some changes so I can be a great manager and worker.

All in all, I want to have as much of a balanced workload and life as I possibly can.  I do not want email overload or work anxiety.  I want to leave work at the end of each day feeling like I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish instead of feeling like I am chasing after a car that is rolling down a hill with no hope of me ever catching up to it.

Hopefully these two articles can help me find my balance and new best practices so I can achieve my goals and surpass them.  If I can make even a few small changes, then I know I will be on the right path to continue taking myself and my career forward.

Have you ever struggled finding ways to balance your workload all the while be a people-pleaser at work?

Can you relate to either one of these articles? If so how?

A Daily Reminder

I received an email from a past community partner the other day.  I did a campaign with the Arthritis Foundation in Pittsburgh to raise money for heat therapy bears for children with juvenile arthritis.   The campaign was intended to raise awareness that children are being diagnosed with arthritis and that isn't just an "old person" disease.   In the email I received from my community partner, was a link to a blog post from a mother whose child recently received one of the SAK packages. 

The email from the community partner and the blog post are a great reminder for why my job is important.   Sometimes it can be hard to have a tangible connection to the campaign projects I am running, but this blog post is a great reminder to why me and my team continue to do what we do and that we are helping organizations receive funding for items, projects, and initiatives that don't really have a way to otherwise.  Our platform enables organizations to offer individuals a chance to make a meaningful and tangible contribution to them. 

This Mom's story is a daily reminder that I am making an impact and in the lives of others; even if it is as small as providing a heat therapy teddy bear to a little boy. 

How do you remind yourself that you are making a difference?  What keeps you motivated to keep working hard?

Vision Boards and Taking Risks

To kick off the new year, I went to my first Vision Board Party.   My boss is big on vision boards and wanted to host a party so people could create a vision board for the new year.   I loved her idea and thought what a cool way to start off a new year.   Before we got crafting, my boss amongst many of the other attendees who have made vision boards in the past, all vouched on Monday that things on their past vision boards have ended up coming true!   I was blown away and loved hearing each of their stories.

Since the party, many have asked me what is a vision board and why did I make one?  A vision board is simply a visual representation or collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life.  It can be anything like: finding love, losing weight, travel, discover your spirituality, etc.

The real purpose of a vision board is to activate the law of attraction so you can begin to pull things from your external environment that will enable you to realize your dream (deep right?)  By selecting/gathering pictures and words that charges your emotions with feelings of passion, you will begin to manifest those things into your life.

What exactly is the law of attraction? The law of attraction states that we attract into our lives anything that we give attention to, regardless whether it be positive or negative.  (The Law of Attraction. Webring, Inc. 2007. Law of Attraction Info. http://law-of-attraction-info.com)   So by creating a vision board, you are opening a gateway for you to realize what dreams you may subconsciously have deep inside!

With 2012 being a Leap Year.  My boss thought her vision board party would be a great chance for us to all meet Victor Saad of the Leap Year Project.  He is not only an inspiring person but has created the idea of challenging people throughout the country to take a leap in 2012.   A leap being a risk.  A risk of some sort whether it is making something happen in your life (finally asking that guy out, sky-diving, learning how to cook).  Doing something to better your community or the world.   No matter what risk(s) you have been wanting to do or thought about doing, now is the time to do it (and why not now?)  To learn more about #LYProject, watch this video.  I promise you it will inspire you! 

Currently I am still trying to figure out what my Leap Year Project will be for 2012.   There are a lot of things I want to do but are more resolutions than risks.  Once I confirm what my risk will be, I will definitely share it with you.   For now I am looking for motivators and inspiration to help me figure out what my leap should be.

So how do you create a vision board?

Step One: Gather magazines, newspapers, booklets and cut out pictures, words, phrases of things you love.  Don't think about the things you pull out of magazines, newspapers, etc.  Choose images, words that make you catch your eye or attention.  


Step Two: Arrange and paste the images, words, phrases onto paper.  Start arranging your pictures creatively on your board. Don’t worry about being artistic (that’s not the point and I am definitely not artistic). 


Step Three: Put your vision board in a strategic place.  You want your vision board in a place that will allow you to see if everyday and as much as possible. 


Step Four: Update your vision board.  Your vision board should inspire you and if you come across new photos, words or phrases throughout the year, add them to your board.

So here are my challenges for you fellow followers.  Take out magazines, newspapers you have lying around your house and spend a few hours one day and create a vision board for yourself.   Take pictures of your vision board, post them on my blog, share them with me on Twitter and let's see if any of your visions come true within the year.   I will be finishing mine this weekend and will be adding a photo of it to this post.

My other challenge for you is to think of a risk or risks you want to do this Leap Year.  If you think of one, I challenge you to share it on Victor's site and spend this year chasing your idea(s).   What do you have to lose?  Nothing.

Happy collaging and may your visions come true!

Have you ever made a vision board before?   What risk(s) have you ever wanted to take but never driven yourself to actually take them?  I would love to hear from you.

A Tribute to Steve Jobs

Macintosh, iPod, iTouch, iPhone, and the iPad.   Technological devises our world has grown to love and depend on.   The man behind these revolutionary devises, is Steve Jobs (Steven Paul Jobs).   To many, he is an icon and an idol.   His curiosity lead him to take technology to a whole new level.    His products have changed the way we engage, interact, discover and learn on the go and at all times.  Here is a great story about Steve and his life by LA Times. 

Aside from his Apple products, he is the creator of Pixar, which revolutionized computer animation.   Pixar films make you feel like you can touch the characters, capture you by their special effects, and connect you more the story.    Some of my favorite movies are Pixar, like Monsters, Inc.,  Up, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Wall-E , and Ratatouille.   Steve made animation movies fun for not only children but adults and families.  I make my children watch these films so they can experience the magic each story shares.    Steve Jobs gave animation a way to connect with their viewers in a whole different way.    

Tribute page on Apple's Website- http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/

I found out about on Twitter about Steve Jobs passing.   I was on my iPhone when I saw a tweet come into my Twitter feed.    Suddenly tweet after tweet in my feed was about Steve Jobs. (I currently follow 1,326 people.)   The tweets I was reading were inspiring, touching, and at times heart-wrenching.    Steve Jobs was a mogul, an icon, a hero, and inspiration to SO many people.    Twitter was full of people sharing their thoughts, prayers and appreciation to a man who has given so much to our world.

The world lost an incredible man, before his time should have been finished.    For a man who was battling such a horrible/painful disease, he continued to put his energy, passion, and heart into his work, despite his health complications.    The man never wanted to slow down and it is remarkable how much he accomplished in his life.    He has changed our world and the way we function, and that is a rare thing for someone to claim.  

I encourage you to watch Steve Jobs commencement speech from 2005 at Stanford University.   In his speech he talks about getting fired from Apple in 1985, talks about life and death.  His message in this speech is relatable to everyone and anyone.  

 RIP Steve Jobs.  You inspire us all and has changed our lives.  Thank you for all you did and what you have given to us.  May your passion and curiosity live on forever.  

How will you remember Steve Jobs??  Has your life changed because of his inventions/products?   How do you think our world has changed because of him?   I would love to hear from you...

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."   Steve Jobs

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  Steve Jobs

Making History- Bueller? Bueller?

Last night I became a part of history.    My participation in a event will go into the Guinness Book of World Records.  

Groupon Presents: Ferris Bueller at Wrigley Field.   The movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was released on June 11, 1986 and this year marks it's 25th anniversary.   

According to the Associated Press, via NBCSports, around 10,000 Chicagoans showed up to a screening of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” Saturday night at Wrigley Field.    History was broken last night when all guests (including myself and my man) at Wrigley Field when we all sang the film's memorable anthem, "Danke Scheon."   Danke Schoen was first recorded by..... anyone? anyone?   Bert Kaempfert but became famous when Wayne Newton recorded his version. 

You know the song right?  How can you not?  This might help you remember.

I have always wanted to be a part of a Guinness Book of World Records.    Throughout my life I would hear about people breaking world records, like longest tongue (female), longest breath held voluntarily by a woman, most Big Macs consumed by one person, etc.   Now I can say I am.

Aside from breaking a world record last night,  the Wrigley Field movie screening was the kickoff of a larger event series by Groupon, called "Groupon Presents."   "Groupon Presents" which entails showcasing the coolest stuff in local culture and entertainment.   From concerts with up-and-coming bands to fashion shows by emerging designers, "Groupon Presents" gives subscribers exclusive access to new talent and treasured hometown gems in unforgettable ways.  

These experiences can pop up anytime, which will keep subscriber's on their toes so they can be ready  to jump on unbelievable opportunities when they least expect them.  Much like the exposure Groupon provides local merchants, the "Groupon Presents" event series provides artists with a platform to garner valuable attention and gives audiences a new avenue to support rising talent in their city.   The Wrigley Field event is only the beginning, and I cannot wait to see what is next. 

Last night's event was the unveiling of this new and fun concept.  Seeing people wearing Groupon sweatbands, shirts, green glow sticks with Groupon's logo on it- I couldn't help but feel pride.   Even four months after joining the Groupon family, I still find myself taken aback that I work for such an innovative, fun, creative, and driven corporation.    Every day I learn something new, get to work with individuals who are doing some incredible things at their organizations, and I help give Groupon subscriber's the chance to connect to their city in a philanthropic way.

Groupon is breaking records.  Groupon is creating new ways to make exploring your city or any city that much more enjoyable.  Groupon is giving businesses the chance to constantly engage and create relationships with their consumers.  "Groupon Presents" is just one more way we are creating unforgettable experiences.   Even though I am apart of the Groupon family, I attended last night's event as a fan of the movie and a excited Chicagoan to be able to participate in such a historical/unique event.

Like the quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, life goes by fast, too fast, and it is important to enjoy and try new experiences.   That is what I love about Groupon and why others do too.   They allow people like myself the chance to explore, try, and experience things.   I know people will be talking about last night's event for a long time, and I can say I was THERE. 

Are you in a Guinness Book of World Records?  Would you ever want to be apart of history?  What do you think about Groupon Presents? 

"Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop to look around once in a while you could miss it."  ~ Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

Groupon's G-Team

So here it is.  My official announcement of why I have been so MIA these days.   I started a new job at Groupon as a G-Team Coordinator.    You may be thinking... what is G-Team?    I have never heard of this team before.  

That is because we are fairly new and have only be "live" since September of last year.    In 2008, Groupon was born out of a group action and fundraising platform called The Point. As the Groupon community grew, our collective consumer power helped people get great deals and discover fun ways to experience their cities.

Groupon began as a group-action and fundraising platform called The Point. As The Point grew in popularity, its collective consumer power surged and it began to drive people by the thousands to discover fun things to do in their cities. G-Team, Groupon’s social-impact program, is taking Groupon back to its social-impact roots.    G-Team’s goal is to get Groupon followers involved with their communities in several ways, such as through fundraisers or civic-engagement activities.

G-Team campaigns range from ridiculous flashmobs to fundraisers that benefit local community organizations. Every G-Team campaign connects you with enough people to achieve something awesome that you couldn’t have done alone.

Here is a video that helps to explain what a G-Team campaign is and how it works! 

 

G-Team provides a platform for organizations and causes to garner the support of their local community and even solicit money for campaigns or project-based initiatives. Through the G-Team page, nonprofits, cause organizations and individuals can apply to have their campaign featured. 

Since its launch last year in September of 2010, G-Team has run 217 campaigns, ranging from funding a local after-school program, to building a community garden and collecting supplies for a local food bank.  

My biggest responsibility is to manage all of my cities that G-Team will be LIVE in.    I am really excited to have the Midwest as my region since I am a Midwest gal myself.    One city in particular that I am most excited about is Detroit, Michigan.    This city has been through so much and is still barely treading water to stay afloat during this economic depression.    Detroit is a city that has so many things being done and I can't wait to share them with the Groupon subscriber's of Detroit and Ann Arbor.     This is just one of my eight cities that I will be managing and I hope you will keep a look out G-Team campaigns in your local community.  

It is incredibly exciting that I am a part of a team who is helping local organizations make a difference in their local communities.    Finally I have a career that includes both the corporate world and the nonprofit sector.    I never thought it would be possible for me to find a job that had both worlds combined.    Every day is an exciting, challenging, and rewarding day revolved around creating fundraising campaigns for worthy causes.    I cannot wait to see where the G-Team will be by next year.    All I know is that there is a team of people who are as ambitious, determined and eager to make a difference in this world just like me and I can't wait to see what impact G-Team has in Groupon cities.

My Devil Wears Prada Moment

Last Wednesday (April 13th) was an exciting day for my organization as well for early childhood education.   U.S. Secretary, Arne Duncan drew a crowd on behalf of Ounce of Prevention Fund to talk about the need for more funding and attention to early-childhood education, the focus of the Ounce of Prevention Fund.

After months and months of long grueling/stressful days at the office, a venue change, and 800+ RSVPs and donations, the long anticipated event had finally arrived.   This is my favorite part about planning events.   The anticipation, the heightened stress and final touches, that in the end all play a role in the day-of aspect of an event.   This was my third luncheon, which one would think would be easy breezy, but to the contrary it was nothing but.   Instead it was new, exciting, nerve-racking, and so much more.   This was our largest annual luncheon to date and was at a brand new venue, in addition to having the worry that attendees could go to the original venue and miss the event!    

International Ballroom at the Hilton

My day-of role at the luncheon was to take last minute RSVP changes in the early morning, assist volunteers, and any other last minute needs until the strike of 10:30am when the photographer would arrive.   From the moment the photographer arrived, I was on babysitter duty.   One of the biggest stressors of an event of this caliber is to of course give attendees the best experience but to capture photos of the people that are there.   Photos are key because they are displayed in publications, event recap webpages, new articles, and so much more.    My job was to get photos of the "key/ top priority" people.   No big deal right?   What can be so hard about that?   Let me tell you- it is EXTREMELY stressful and exhausting.    

Think Devil Wears Prada.  You know the scene where Andrea and Emily have to tell Miranda Priestly who is who before they come up to shake her hand.  This scene.    Well in a nutshell, that was me but with a nonprofit twist.   Into the late hours the night before the luncheon, I was rushing to make my quick version of my "Look Book."   Photos of the key people I did not know what they looked like so I could be ready the next day.   I wouldn't have a moment to lose because from the second guests start arriving to the end of the event program, I would be on photo duty.  

This was my third year working with this photographer at this event, so overtime my strategy has improved but this particular event rose the photo stakes to a WHOLE new level.  More people, new venue, and one photographer.   So picture me running through crowds upon crowds, looking for the key people (based on memory), carrying a $1,000 camera lens on one shoulder, clipboard with a notepad and pen in the other hand, wearing an ear-piece like I am from the CIA in one ear all the while smiling in between camera flashes.   In addition to capturing the names from guests after each photo while trying to direct the photographer to the next photo.    

After an hour of intense photography, I wanted to keep getting photos before the program was about to start (and my ambitious self wanted to get just ONE MORE PHOTO).   I decided to pull my photographer over to a group of people talking near a table.  I quickly asked them for a photo, putting the tall slender man in the middle.    I knew one of the woman right away (thanks to my look book, the other woman I did not know, and the tall slender man in the middle looked familiar.)    After the shot I wanted to make sure I received everyone's names (even though I definitely knew one of the women, so I asked anyway, even the gentleman).     To my surprise, it was our President's husband.    My one slip-up.    My Emily moment without an Andrea at my side to be there to help me before I dared to ask.    The one woman I recognized said a comment which immediately made me embarrassed!    How could I have not known that?    I have met him countless times!!   I didn't have a response to the woman's comment.   I simply smiled and eventually joked saying "Of course I know who you are Mr. Spouse (name to be kept private)."   I put on my best smile and pointed in the direction of his table.    

I wish I had a mirror so I could have seen my face when the woman called me out.   All I recall is me freezing in place, with I am sure, a look of sheer horror.    The moment you know you have been busted/caught in the act of doing something bad.    That is a moment I will never forget........ a reminder to myself that I always need to be prepared!    Prepared for anything.

The funny thing is, I LOVE it (despite my hiccup).   I love the intensity, the stress, the race against time and having the opportunity to meet the people who are there because of my organization and the work we do.   I get to hear what people think, meet the main speakers (which meant meeting Honorable Duncan).   What is there not to love?   Aside from The Devil Wears Prada being one of my all-time favorite movies, I enjoy and relish in having my own Devil Wears Prada moments from time to time.   They come with the territory and somebody has to do the risky jobs right?   

Now back to the event.   U.S. Secretary, Arne Duncan drew a crowd of 800 to the annual Ounce of Prevention Fund luncheon — an event planned for the Hyatt but moved to the Hilton on Michigan Avenue, because there were so many attendees.  

Honorable Duncan, dressed in a dark blue suit and speaking in his quick but casual style, gave a shout-out to his mom, brother and sister and numerous friends from his hometown.   He spoke personally about what education has meant to him and returned repeatedly to the goals of the administration "not to be satisfied with the status quo."   Before Honorable Duncan spoke, my organization showed a video we produced on teacher quality.   Teacher quality was one of our key talking points for this years luncheon and it was a huge success.  

The room was beautiful and the decor was perfect.  Here are some photos from the decor of the event.

Centerpieces

Wall Banners

Reception Drink Station

Reception Room

What do you like about planning an event?   Do you appreciate the little aspects more of an event after helping put one together?   Have you ever had a Devil Wears Prada moment?  I would love to hear a story/stories from you.  Email me, post a comment, tweet me- I'd love to hear!

"A million girls would kill for this job." ~ Emily Charlton, Devil Wears Prada

The Mask

Last night I had a moment of weakness.    I had an intervention with myself on why I have been so "grumpy."   My parents are concerned because my voice seems to be sounding stressed a lot lately and no matter how hard I try to mask it, they see right through it.    I am a victim of cheating.     Not the kind of cheating one thinks of when you hear that word.   I am guilty of a different type of cheating.  I am cheating on my job.

You know when you have something missing in a relationship, you will do anything and everything before turning to the answer of terminating the relationship.    You instead try to find a replacement or distraction from really facing the problem to see if that will help alleviate the pain.   Well, that is sort of what I have been doing for the past few months.    Finding ways to fulfill where my job makes me feel empty.

So you may be thinking.... how does one cheat on their job?    I will tell you how.   I am cheating on my job by taking on more than I can handle through my  boards and side jobs.   I am masking the lacking I am feeling from my real job and finding other ways I can do the things I am interested in.    In other words, I am seeking fulfillment through other means rather than addressing the REAL issue.    The issue being that I am unhappy at work, and completely BURNT OUT.

The excitement, the enjoyment, the eagerness has started to phase.   No more surprises, no more eager to jump out of bed and get to work!    The honeymoon phase has come and GONE, and has been long gone for quite some time.

So now what?    I cannot pretend any longer.    I cannot put on a happy face and continue to ignore what my heart is trying to tell me.    Jessica, three years is a long time to be at a company.   You have accomplished all of your goals here, you have mastered all of your tasks, you unfortunately you have reached a plateau.   There is nothing new for you to do in this job.   You know you love to challenge yourself, learn new things and you aren't getting this anymore.    Your time has come to leave and that is MORE THAN OKAY.    People change jobs, change careers, you have proven everything you can here and unfortunately there is no where for you move up.    It is going to be time consuming, difficult, and a little scary to find a new job, and it may take a long time, but it is time.   No more ignoring it.    

Even as I read the words my heart and mind have been trying to tell me, I still get nervous.    I love my team here, they are the hardest working people I know and everyday they are busting their butts.    I love the mission of our work too and enjoy helping raise money.   However, I cannot ignore how I feel any longer.   There is SO MUCH I am interested in.   So many things I want to be doing and obtaining.     

To start facing my feelings, I need to do some serious soul searching.  Figure out what do I want to do?   Where do I see my career going next?    These are questions I need to answer before I really start diving into the search.

Have you changed careers recently?    Do you have any recommendations on how to figure out what you want to do?    Are you going through something similar?   I would love to hear your tips, advise, thoughts.

Snow Blizzard 2011

The blizzard hit Chicago hard and caused my office to close for two days.    The blizzard took over our city causing most businesses to be closed.     Of course that meant the workload would pile up but I didn't care, I knew I needed this time off for a mental break.     It was so nice being home having two extra days to do some long awaited chores and do some much needed relaxing.   With my crazy schedule I rarely get the opportunity to watch multiple movies, cook some fun meals, and just do whatever I feel like doing.    Thankfully I had my roommate to keep me company on Wednesday and we turned our Snow Day into a roommate hangout day.     It was so much fun.    We ventured outside for my first day off to see how much snow had accumulated.    It felt like being a kid again.   Treading through piles of snow and crossing over oceans of white.    It was a sight I will never forget.    The blizzard had painted the city white and it was beautiful, but of course an inconvenience since it was impossible to get anywhere.    Being stuck indoors for two days straight can drive one to go a little stir crazy.    Thankfully it was for only two days because I was ready to go back to work.

My alley

My backyard patio

View from inside my garage

Snowed In Car

The Roommate

My snow days taught me a lesson.    A lesson that I needed to be re-taught.     The second day really made me realize how lucky I am to have my job.    Five days a week I get to stimulate my brain, work with a team of intelligent people, and at an organization that is all working to help make the lives of others better. 

Of course there are days when  I wish I had more challenges at work, or an opportunity to really work on the things I am interested in (i.e. social media, pitching to media, or design materials), but all in all, I love having a reason to get up in the morning.   I love how I feel after I have accomplished a task.    I enjoy creating to do list's at work and crossing off tasks when completed.    I enjoy seeing my friends at work and my coworkers.    I really am lucky and my snow days really helped me regain my appreciation for where I am in my career.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of how lucky we are.   It is easy to get lost or down and I am thankful I have my spark back.    I hope my spark stays ignited for a while so that I can continue to push myself and tackle my workload in the office.     As much as I wish I had more days during the week to relax, get chores done,  I would not trade giving up my job for more of them.

How did you spend your Snow Day/s?    Have you ever experienced a moment that helped you re-energize about what you are doing with your life?    I would love to hear about it.

"Success:  To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.  This is to have succeeded!"  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Social Media Favorites

Ever since the explosion of the Facebook,  social media has become one of the fastest growing industries in the country.    More and more applications and tools are being developed and created to enhance user-generated content.    For most people, social media is a favorite past-time.   Who hasn't felt guilty after realizing you have been on Facebook for over an hour instead of doing homework/work?    Or have zoned out on google reader and lost track of time because you just COULD NOT stop reading all of the blog post's you have missed....... I am guilty as charged.

But really,  isn't it amazing to think how far social media has come?   I feel like I am an "elder" when I say to my sister sometimes, "I remember the day I found out about the Facebook.   It was the coolest thing to be on in college!"

Now, people from all age groups, baby boomers to Gen Y are on this social network.    Did you know that if Facebook was a country it would be the 3rd largest country in the WORLD??   How is that for a factoid (read more here).   Facebook is just one communication channel people are using on a daily basis.   There are so many applications you can use nowadays and I am constantly trying to keep up with the trends.    Do you know what each icon stands for in this image?     These are just a few of the applications that are available.

So as a way to keep up with the trends and how to use social media professionally and individually, I have started attending events hosted by the Social Media Club Chicago.   Tonight I will be attending my third event that is being hosted by Morningstar, Inc.    The event is about Community Outlook in 2011.   Basically what predictions, trends, and things we can expect this year.   I can't wait to find out.

As a social media guru/junky,  I participate in and use a variety of applications, such as Foursquare, Groupon, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Delicious just to name a few.   I just cannot get enough!!    Each social media application has it own unique perks and benefits.    If you are interested in becoming more social media savvy I recommend you try these applications to see what you like and don't like.


Foursquare  
You may be thinking, what is Foursquare and why is it such a big deal?    Foursquare is a location-based mobile platform that makes cities easier to use and more interesting to explore.   By “checking in” via a smartphone app or SMS, users share their location with friends while collecting points and virtual badges.   This new application is quickly becoming one of the most popular and highly used sites.     People love the "game" aspect and that you can benefit by "checking" into places.    I love it and am somewhat addicted.    Locations have started offering special deals to Foursquare users and sometimes offer only special deals to "The Mayor" which makes you want to rank in the "visits" to obtain Mayorship.   How can that not influence you to check in to places?

Stumbleupon.     StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great websites.    Stumbleupon uses / ratings to form collaborative opinions on website quality.    When you stumble, you will only see pages that friends and like-minded stumblers have recommended.    I really enjoy using this because it helps me "save" a webpage that I like, find recipes, websites, etc. that I normally would have never found just surfing the web.    The best part of using this application is that you get to choose your interests so that you stumble upon places on the web that fit within your criteria.   The list is endless.    Some of my interests for this application include, cooking, health, working out,  weddings/events, reading, and travel.





Twitter.    Twitter, tweeting, tweet, followers?   What are these crazy weird terms?   In short, twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about what you find interesting.    Simply find the public streams you find most compelling and follow the conversations.    It is sort of like the status feed on Facebook but it has it is it's own application.   You have a profile, followers, people who are following you and you can recently upload a picture.    A tweet consists of a message that is 160 characters or less long.   A character includes a space and emoticons.   You can even follow me.

Did I overwhelm you?    I promise it gets easier with use and reading up on the applications.    One of the best resources I use to find our information about social media is Mashable.    I highly recommend this site for all technology and social media information.

Social Media is going to be around forever at this point and no signs of ever slowing down.    Social  Media is like the worldwide web when it first came out.   People were hesitant, unsure how it works but if you don't join in on the online conversations now, down the road you will be even more behind.    Social Media is becoming a huge part of the work model for corporations, organizations and foundations.   

What social media applications do you use?    What is your favorite or one you are currently "addicted" too?   I would love to hear what you use and/or applications you recommend I try.  

“Social media is like a snowball rolling down the hill. It’s picking up speed. Five years from now, it’s going to be the standard.” – Jeff Antaya, chief marketing officer of Plante Moran

My Dream Job

Since I can remember I have dreamed of being a wedding planner.  The women directing and prepping the bridal party, the guests and the vendors all the while wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard.  In short, I wanted to be Mary Fiore (played by Jennifer Lopez) in the movie "The Wedding Planner."

A guilty pleasure of mine that many people do not know is that I LOVE to read wedding blogs.  The blogs inspire me and give me ideas for event details.  How can you not be motivated?  One blog in particular that I absolutely love is by Charlene Liang, owner of Sweetchic Events, Inc.

Charlene recently posted a blog post about finding an assistant wedding coordinator.  My girlfriend Betsy who is also an avid reader of her blog, saw the post and suggested I apply.   Charlene invited me to interview for the position and by last Friday, she offered me the job, and I was thrilled!!  I could not be more excited and honored to have this opportunity and cannot wait to get started.

My first wedding that I will be assisting Sweetchic Events with is on New Years Day: 1-1-11.  Such a unique date for someone to get married and I can't wait to be apart of the bride and groom's special day.  Weddings are one of the most memorable days of our lives.  The joining of two families and two lives becoming one in front of loved ones is simply amazing.  Of course the wedding day can be unpredictable with no foreseen occurrences but that is the beauty of event planning.  No matter how organized and prepared you are, you must always be ready for the unexpected and able to resolve a problem.  Event planning to me is the biggest rush and has always been a passion of mine.  Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful events to plan and I am 100% ready for the challenge. 

With January 1st quickly approaching,   I find myself becoming more eager and excited to experience wedding planning first hand.   I know I am going to learn so much from Charlene all the while helping brides have their dreams come true.   Finally my dream is coming true and I am determined to take in every moment of my experiences to come.   Charlene is giving me an amazing opportunity so look out!  This assistant wedding coordinator is ready to get to work!

"There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved." ~ George Sands

The Promotion

For the past few months I could tell my morale was down.  I was experiencing the "case of the Monday's" where you just are feeling blue and dreading what is to come.  Weeks were going by and I was worried this feeling was never going to go away.  It was the feeling of your work life being in a rut where every day seems to be the same, with little excitement or daily challenges.  This work rut usually stems from doing an activity/job for a long time; I had heard of this happening to others but I never thought it would happen to me. I was at a plateau at a job I love and that "pzazz" feeling was completely zapped out of me.

My work/life rut was beginning to feel like an ocean.  Some days were calm with no sign of wind, other days felt like I was caught in an undertow with the current trying to pull me down under water.  Other days I felt like a storm was hanging over me causing me to be negative and almost angry.  No matter what my day had in store for me, my ambitious, smiling, energetic personality was missing.  It sort of felt like my soul was lost at sea and I was unsure on how I was going to get it back.  I knew that this was temporary and I needed to get my motivation back.

For me, not trying is never an option.  Even when I attempt to slack off on anything, my guilty self chimes in and pushes me to give it more effort.  I like to think of this as one of my strengths and knowing how down I was feeling was motivation in itself to push me to start making moves.  No more sitting on the sidelines waiting for something to happen, I had to do something, so I did.

If work was not challenging or self-fulfilling then I needed to figure out what would help make it be fulfilling. For months, I would tell my colleagues about the work I was interested in and how I wanted to contribute more and more.  Talking with my boss about additional work I was taking on and where I was interested in contributing more helped me be an advocate for myself.  More responsibility came my way and it would only be a matter of time for me to be compensated for my additional work, or so I thought. 

After a year of being my biggest advocate, the work rut was still in full force and I was beginning to worry.  I felt like I was at my end point where I'd have to decide whether to "sink" or "swim."  I was not going to give up, not when I had worked so hard and invested so much. So I kept swimming because I knew my waiting would pay off...... and it did.  Last week Thursday I was granted my wish- I received a promotion to Development Coordinator.  My team had been working for months on my promotion because they recognized how much of an asset I am to the team and wanted to show their appreciation.

What an amazing feeling to know that all my hard work and efforts were noticed all along.  I was so focused on getting that promotion that I was dismissing the positive feedback my coworkers were giving me and their willingness to allow me to pursue the areas of work I am interested in.  I know my new role comes with more responsibilities and I am more than ready to take on this new opportunity.  I finally have my "pzazz" back in my step and it feels great.  Moving forward though, I am not going to forget how hard work, ambition and a lot of patience really makes a difference.  I am my only advocate and I hold the key to my future. I chose to keep swimming rather than sinking to the bottom of the ocean.  Even though it was a long and hard fight to stay afloat, it was completely worth it.

Sometimes we need to be thrown into situations to see how much we really want something.  How else would we know what is worth fighting for and what is not?  As much as we want something, we need to realize that sometimes it takes patience, hard work, and persistence.  When you are starting to be unhappy at your job, it is up to you to make your voice heard and to be proactive if you want to stay afloat in your career. What do you have to lose? Plus you never know if your colleagues are waiting to hear from you. I know now that you cannot be afraid to stand up for yourself because in the end you are the only one who is going fight for you. 

How do you prevent yourself from hitting a job plateau?  How do you advocate for yourself at work?  When was the last time you had to chose between sink or swim?  I'd love to hear about it.....

"I learned the value of hard work by working hard." ~ Margaret M. Fitzpatrick

Stronger

Do you ever get the feeling like you are climbing towards something that you can’t see?  Or feel like you are fighting a fight you know you can never win?  Having this feeling can be heart wrenching and lately I have felt this feeling more than ever.  For the majority of my life I have always been ambitious and motivated in everything I set my mind to do.  I love working hard, putting in extra effort, and going above and beyond. Choosing to do so made me miss out on certain things, but knowing my work would benefit me in the long run made it worth the while.

As time goes by, I find myself re-evaluating my career and aspirations.  As the months continue to pass, I become closer to turning 25 and my age starting to sink in.  Not only does 25 mean you are a quarter of a century in age, but is a year that marks an important stepping stone.  In my psychology class senior year of high school, my teacher asked us to write a letter to ourselves saying where we think our lives will be when we are 25 and 40.  I must admit I am terrified for the day I get my letter and see what I wrote.  25 seemed decades away from 18 at the time and I know I thought I would be engaged/married, have a golden retriever, and living in a big city with my dream job.  Now being wiser and with a more realistic point of view, I am finding myself to be behind in my so-called "goals" and that's okay.

How do you make your dreams come true?  Why have things been harder for me than for others?  These are two questions I often ask myself.  When you work above and beyond for something, you would think the results would follow.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case.  When this happens, the first thing that can come to mind is revenge.  The cruel satisfying thoughts of giving in return what is deserved.  Does revenge make things right or better?  More often than not, it only makes things worse.  Revenge is out of the question, so then what?

Continue to fight.  Fight to stand up and prove myself to those who have knocked me down.  If being knocked down is the worst thing to happen, than I need to grow much stronger.  I need to turn to God for support and let him guide me through this hard time.  There is a reason for everything and I need to have faith. If life never knocked us down and things never went wrong, we would never learn or change anything.  When things go great we tend to take our own credit rather than give it to God or to those who have helped us along the way.  And yet, when things are rough and hard, we immediately look for someone to blame- and usually the finger is not pointing at ourselves.

As I prepare to fight this ultimate fight, I need to build my strength and faith.  Believe that someone truly knows what is best for me and guide me along the way.  There is a reason and a lesson to be learned from this and eventually the answer will come.  I have been humbled, stressed, jabbed and worn-down to point of exhaustion.  However, there have been many exciting and proud moments that I would have never experienced.

Sometimes wounds leave a permanent mark.  A mark that reminds us of what happened and how we felt. If it wasn’t for the wounds I have obtained over the years, I would not be as strong as I am today.  Life will knock us down and it is up to us to take the hit and fight back, no matter how much we want to quit.  I will fight, fight for what I deserve and what I know I can do.  I hold the key to my own success and failures and taking the hits without a fight back is never an option.  What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger Jessica, and I will be stronger.

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Tick Tock- Racing Against the Clock

 Do you ever have that feeling like your chasing something you know you will never catch?  Or no matter how hard you train or work, you know you are still going to lose?   Unfortunately, I know exactly how that feels. You may be thinking; who is this enemy or what is she chasing?    This nemesis of mine is not a person. It is not real.   My antagonist is simply time.

For as long as I can remember, my life has revolved around the clock and my planner.  Learning how to manage my time, schedule and plans was a skill I had to learn at a pretty young age.  Learning how to manage my life on a daily basis, weekly basis and at times a monthly basis, helps me stay organized and prevent me from overbooking myself.  The downside is that it forces me to think about what is ahead, rather than right now.

Every day I walk into my office with the mindset of anything could happen.  For some people, their jobs are predictable and typically leave work on time and at a normal hour.  For me, my work day begins and ends in what feels like a blink of an eye, always wondering where time went. Sometimes my life feels like I am on a race track, always racing against my number one competitor- time and no matter how fast or how long I am working or moving, I am always behind.  Time stresses me out, makes me anxious, and is the one thing that really gets me fired up.  Rushing from one thing to the next is exhausting and some days I wish it would stop.

Never knowing when I will be leaving work, causes making plans and having a life outside of the office difficult.  I constantly feel like I am racing against the clock in hopes that I will win. At what point will I say ENOUGH!  Or this is too much for me.  Will all my hard work and dedication pay off?   I truly hope so.

It has taken me a while now to realize that may be I am taking on too much and I am trying to cut back on filling my every minute.  I am slowly learning that it is okay to have down time and am rediscovering things I like to do for me.   I deserve to do something for me everyday, not matter how busy I am.   My heart loves to make others happy and I know that I was brought into this world on purpose.   I was given life to live for a reason, a reason I am still seeking to figure out.  I may not understand why I am where I am today, but God has a plan for me and I need to trust him.

I know a life is not meant to be spent at work nor racing from one thing to the next.  A life is supposed to be fun, relaxing, enjoyable, and fulfilling- not frantic, stressful or draining.  I know the work I am doing is making a difference.  My organization helps give children in poverty the best chance for success in school and in life; a chance for a better life.

I am passionate about what my organization does and it helps me stay focused and motivated, even during the most stressful moments.   At times I forget how lucky I am to be working for an amazing cause and how much I have wanted to do something that is bigger than myself.  Sometimes we seek ways in which we can make a difference and I am constantly looking for more and more ways that I can.

Unless for me to truly enjoy the philanthropic boards that I am on and the job I have, I need to really try to leave work at work and not let it get the best of me. I am going to accept my work lifestyle and continue to fill my time outside of the office with the things I enjoy most in life, because life can be fulfilling both in and outside of the office.  I need to cherish this time in my life where I can fill my time how I want to and not be responsible for anyone other than myself.    I may be racing against time, but I control what I do with my time and that is a fact.


How do you slow yourself down?   Do you ever feel like you are racing against time?    Do you have a job that can feel like too much at times?

“The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.” Francoise de Motteville

There is more to life than increasing its speed.  ~Mohandas K. Gandhi