June 21st, 2009 | Author:
Susan
My favorite perk of my current gig as a digital communications consultant is that I am not strapped to my home office desk to do work. Usually this means that I am working and taking meetings from coffee shops, restaurants and parks in town.
These next three or so weeks, however, I am taking my favorite perk to the extreme. Yes, my friends, I will be heading south, first to Nashville to see college friends and an aging aunt, and then on to Florida where I will be hanging out with some of the coolest little cousins I have. Clients can rest easy; a change in scenery does not change Susan’s semi-neurotic, always-punctual working style. And remember: I will be wearing a suit the entire time I’m away from my real office - it’s a swim suit, but a suit’s a suit, right?
While I always believe that face-to-face meetings are best; a girl deserves a vacation, even if it’s a vacation where I’ll be keeping an eye on little kids, putting together project proposals and utilizing Skype more than usual. The BlackBerry may make a few appearances … but if it shows up one too many times, the ocean is only the distance of a tossed phone away.
Happy Summer!
June 20th, 2009 | Author:
Susan
Sent from BlackBerry. Will provide an easy way to post while traveling!
May 30th, 2009 | Author:
Susan
What a blast from the past: in the mail today, I received a letter I had written to myself 3 years ago as a CBS News intern. I suppose CBS decided to send it now, exactly 3 years later, since another batch of interns will start on Monday.
The letter captures me as a doe-eyed college undergrad; both naive and hopeful. It reads:
“06/21/06
Dear Me,
As I write, I am interning at CBS in Newspath. I spent 2 weeks in the live news center (with 2 Joes, 2 Mikes, Dave, Dan and Al). Now I am in the newsroom (with Dennis, Morgan and Poppy). We send tapes to affiliates across the country. It’s a lot of work and not much fun. My goals include graduating from Kenyon in May 2007 (honors would be nice but I’m not expecting it), followed directly by either graduate school (USC, UCLA, Chapman, or Boston) or a job that pays more than 50k/year/ Ideally, I’d like to be working in entertainment television (on a TV show). In NYC, I’m living at 30 W. 63rd. I just lost my car - a red 1993 Lexus ES and I hope I can survive a year without a car (until I graduate). Additionally, I hope to get an Audi A3 when I finish school. I work hard here at CBS and they are already telling me with 8 weeks to go that I’m hard to replace. <3 Susan”
Let’s see where I stand:
- I graduated from college
- I “survived” without a car
- I was able to buy the Audi A3
- I make good money
- I found a job immediately upon graduation AND I was accepted into graduate school (although not one of the schools I mentioned)
- I’m not working in television (although I can advice clients on media relations topics)
Thinking back to the time when that letter was written, things were simpler, and it was easier for me to see my future (I also think I was a bit more materialistic back then). Things haven’t turned out exactly as planned, but I’d say that they follow the same vein. I’m proud to have set goals and have met them.
What this letter inspires me to do is to set goals and attempt to follow them. This summer, I plan to revamp my five year plan; partially based on the inspiration this silly little letter gave me, and based partially because I realize how much time has passed me by since I set forth my original career goals. No matter what I do, or where I go, I’m confident that I will be working with people in a public way - just as I did at CBS, and just as I’m doing now as a consultant.
May 17th, 2009 | Author:
Susan
In the two months since I begun consulting, I have had the opportunity to work with small businesses and public relations and marketing agencies in helping them strategize and implement the digital component of strategic communications plans. In addition, I have started speaking with groups on topics that are of interest to me. There’s nothing better than being able to do, every day, what comes naturally to me … in my early-mid-twenties, nonetheless.
Another person I know who’s able to succeed by doing what comes naturally is David Garland who advises entrepreneurs on how to “rise to the top.” I’ll forego the baby stories my grandma told me about when she and David’s grandma would get all of us together and I was the outgoing one and David was the shy one, because evidently, people change in a big way. This “kid,” David, now has an entrepreneurial spirit that can’t be rivaled by someone twice his age.
Recently David compiled The Rise To The Top’s 25 Forward-Thinking Online Destinations That Are Well Worth Your Time, and I’m pleased that my blog made his list (not only did it make the list, but I share a category with social media virtuosos Chris Brogan and Lewis Howes).
So, thanks David; I’m pleased to share the entrepreneurial spirit with you and it’s just proof that twentysomethings are on their way to ruling the world!
May 13th, 2009 | Author:
Susan
While I adore consulting and I don’t think there’s a better way for a twentysomething to enjoy life while working, I can’t wait to one day represent a brand I adore. Recently, I wrote a blog post about brands I’d love to work for. One of those brands is Naked Juice. I love their product, their earth-healthy approach and they brand image.
I’ve become pals with their Twitter representative and because of my enthusiasm over their brand, Naked Juice sent me some swag (way too much for one person) in the mail. Naked put no conditions on sending me these awesome shirts, lip moisturizers and messenger bag, but I would like to give them away to other brand enthusiasts.
So, if you’d like one of the awesome green or white t-shirts and some juice-flavored lip moisturizer, reply to this post with your own explanation on what a brand must do in order to make you loyal to them OR what company you’d love to work for and why.
Several of my favorite answers will win stuff. I’m not alone, everyone deserves to have dreams.
