Just Getting Started

The terrible truth — why I haven’t been blogging

May 13, 2013 in My Trends | Tags: blogging, entry level, graduation, lazy, time flies, work, work life | 1 comment

1. Lazy: That’s right I will admit it. When I get home from work I have been in a battle with myself over the past few months to work out, blog or do something constructive. Instead, I find myself curled up with my puggle and my Apple TV.

But who can resist this face?

2. New Job: As most of you who care know I started on as a PR Assistant for 360 Media in January. This whirlwind amazing experience has taught me more than any internship I have had (I know a duhh is implied here). And what I have learned: You don’t have to stop busting your butt once you have the job you were hoping for. You have to work even harder! So don’t hold your breathe until you finally get your shot. Prepare for it!

3. Time Flies After Graduation: I used to think months went by so slowly leading up to vacation days or summer. Then when a year went by I felt like the year flew. Now I have realized time is more like a roller coaster. When I am climbing a hill it drudges on but eventually I will hit an awesome burst of fun and speed. Either way it no longer revolves around how many days until Spring Break.

4. You Have to Do: It seems like the dreaming stages of life, now, need to be accompanied by the execution stages. I can no longer just dream of a career, a car, a vacation, etc. Now I have to excel in entry-level, save every penny and earn my vacation time.

5. Life Doesn’t Come Easy for Procrastinators: I think I mentioned this before. But I fight tooth and nail to seem organized and on top of things. Well the truth is that fight will never be over. Because no matter how often I try to act like I can live without a schedule the truth will always come and find me. Calendaring out appointments, bills, work events and even blog posts help keep my world turning.

What He Thinks of Your Pins! Valentine’s Day Part 2

February 14, 2013 in My Trends, Social Media | Tags: DIY, glamping, love, pinning, Pinterest, relationships, valentine's day, wedding board, wedding planning, weddings | Leave a comment

If you read my post yesterday then you know, I have been wondering how some of my male followers feel about my pins. In celebration of today being Valentine’s Day, I decided to interview two of my close guy friends who also happen to be following their Valentine’s on Pinterest.

Danny is dating my friend, Heather, and I have known him since I was around 10-years-old. He started using Pinterest when he looked at Heather’s boards and found some interesting pins. As a marine, most of his pins are weapon related, but he also has a lot of cooking recipes, Backpacking/camping and a DIY.

Mike is dating my twin sister, Chelsea. He also started his Pinterest after browsing his girlfriend’s pins, and he pins “the best stuff on the internet!” including sail boats, places he wants to visit and future house pins.

Now the fun begins. Here are some questions they weren’t shy to answer:

1. Do your male friends use Pinterest?

M: None of them, in fact, they make fun of me for using it.

D: I literally do not (personally) know any men who have Pinterest, nor do any of my guy friends want one.

2. What do you think of boards that may come across as very feminine? ie: My Style, Fashion, Adorable

M: It is pretty understandable. I have one too. Plus, it makes it a bit easier to buy clothes for Chelsea. I know her style pretty well, but it solidifies the questions I have.

D: With feminine boards like “my style” and “fashion” that most girls put up I just choose not to follow them. I understand that women are into that and have a passion for things like that, which I just don’t share.

3. What do you think of boards dedicated to celebrity crushes and/or do you have one? ie: Celebs I love, My Celeb Husbands

M: Celebs I love makes complete sense. Women always have celeb crushes. Celeb Husbands…. Thats pretty wierd. Not sure how I feel about that.

D: I again choose not to follow those type of boards and neither do I have one. But if someone did have a serious attraction to a particular celebrity, then I could see why they would have that board. I just don’t see the practicality of it.

4. What do you think of future wedding boards? Is that ever intimidating in your relationship? Have you ever discussed the content/pins within a future wedding board?

M: This on the other hand, is a bit weird to me. Never really understood the concept of planning a dream wedding. Chelsea doesn’t have a future wedding board. If she had one, and did talk about it with me, it would be kinda odd. If we had discussed marriage, then it is a perfect planning tool. It may seem a bit hypocritical, but I think they are kinda childish. It seems like something a 5 year old does. I guess that its the same as me planning a house; I’m not sure why its different.

D: Future wedding boards I think are just for girls to fantasize about. I guess you could use it for a few ideas for your own wedding. I try to avoid the subject of a future wedding. My girlfriend has a similar board, and I actually just realized that. I do not follow hers and steer clear of the whole topic.

5. Do you have any Pinterest pet-peeves?

M: Not really, it is a collection of images from around the web. I many times see items that are taken from other places, but I don’t mind as I do that too.

D: I do have a few Pinterest pet peeves, “Glamping” [Glamorous Camping] drives me up the wall because its so impractical and gaudy that it drives me nuts.

Interesting answers guys! But now it’s your turn: Do you agree with their answers? Why or why not?

And lastly I challenge you: Show your significant other your board and ask what they think about it. My boyfriend couldn’t care less. He said, “that looks stupid, and I don’t have time for it.” Exactly how I feel about his deer in my living room!

Happy Valentine’s Day Blogershpere!

Love, Brianna

Has Your Boyfriend Seen Your Wedding Board? Valentine’s Day Part 1

February 13, 2013 in Community, Social Media | Tags: love, men on pinterest, pinning, pins, Pinterest, valentine's day, wedding boards | 3 comments

I had an epiphany the other day while I was down a spiral of pins. I had hit a jackpot, “Celebrities I love,” board and went a little crazy. Next thing I know I received a text from one of my closest guy friends, Danny. He was at his wits-end with my pins. He told me I had to stop posting “dudes” because they were taking over his feed.

Danny’s comment about my pins got me thinking. How many guy followers do I have, and what do they think of my pins (especially the girly ones)? Well out of 266 followers a little over 20 0f them are men. To look more widespread: Jeremy Cabalona did a Mashable article in April discussing how Pinterest demographics have changed.

In honor of Thursday being Valentine’s Day, I decided to interview two of my love stricken male Pinterest followers. I wanted to learn how/if Pinterest affects their relationships, who they follow and what they think of boards such as Future Wedding, etc.

Sound interesting?

Tune in Thursday to see their answers.

My Real World Adventure People Call Work

January 29, 2013 in Adventure | 1 comment

Since I graduated in May, I have had people ask me what I think of working in PR. And while this is often my answer . . .

A special thank you to 99 Problems But a Pitch Aint One for inspiration and the gif!

The truth is adjusting to the demands of a full-time PR position is not easy. But instead of reminiscing every night about how much fun college used to be make it an adventure!

I have been to Phoenix and Orlando. I have ridden on a race track in a corvette. I have met people from around the world with years of fun stories to tell. I have interviewed a famous Spanish photographer — all because of my experiences in PR. And that is just the beginning.

So instead of considering everyday work and wishing you were back on your college couch watching reruns of How I Met Your Mother, give this new chapter in your life everything you’ve got. College was not the best times of your life. College was four (maybe five or six) years of crazy decisions and a co-dependent lifestyle. Enjoy being out on your own and approach everyday like This Advertising Life so eloquently laid out in gifs:

A special thank you to This Advertising Life for inspiration and the gif!

And accept the adventure (new job, project, assignment, vacation, conference, seminar, etc.) with this enthusiasm!

A special thank you to This Advertising Life
for inspiration and the gif!

This is your life. Don’t envy those people who say they enjoy waking up every morning for work. Be one of those people!

**Did anyone cringe with my Harry Potter (Dumbledore) Hobbit (Gandalf) combo?

What adventures have you been on lately?

I recently went to Nashville (I wish Atlanta had Honky Tonks!) and my first two broadcast shoots!

Develop Your PLUS Skills

January 17, 2013 in Continue to Learn | Tags: developing skills, entry level, illustrator, job skills, paint, photoshop | 2 comments

You know that section near the bottom of the skill requirements for a job application — the PLUS section? For example advanced Microsoft Excel skills a plus.

Well I strongly believe you should continue developing PLUS skills within your current job; not just when you need to be unique in an interview. Since one of my three New Year’s resolution words was develop, I am going to focus on opportunities to develop those skills.

One of my PLUS skills is photo editing To really develop this skill I need a new computer and Photoshop/Illustrator. In the meantime, I am also pretty crafty with any free photo editing software out there.

Just yesterday, I was able to do quick edits on a Save the Date graphic with old PowerPoint and new Paint to create an impromptu event flyer for a client. I was ecstatic when my boss liked the turn out.

What kind of PLUS skills do you have that help you stand out from the crowd?

Below are a few that are easy to learn and use to impress:

Stay on top of Microsoft Office updates. Especially learn how to do mailings and Excel functions. The capabilities will blow your mind and improve efficiency.
Be a part-time spontaneous photographer. Learn how to take the best shots with you iphone, ipad or mobile device. Especially with event work you never know when that skill will be needed.
Learn basic coding. We live in a digital world, so why should you be taken off guard by a simple anchor (hyperlink) code. Here is a good resource.
Don’t be naive about social media. We are the generation who first used Facebook, but that is no excuse to have a knowledge base that starts and ends with uploading selfies. In the very least know your social media guidelines at work and how you can contribute to the strategy.

First Day Etiquette

January 13, 2013 in Continue to Learn | Tags: entry level, first day, gen y, new job | 3 comments

I am very excited to announce that I just completed my first week as a PR Assistant at 360 Media! I will be working on lifestyle, entertainment and some non-profit clients.

During my first week, I stumbled across a blog post by Ritika Trikha. She pulled advice from herself and other experts about how to make a good impression in your first 90 days. She mentioned your first 90 days being an extension of your interview. You have a chance to truly prove your worth and value.

To me that sounds like an internship. Luckily, an experience I am very familiar with. So I decided to make my 90 days just that — a chance to prove myself. But since I only have three of the 90 completed I thought I would start with a couple of first day tips.

1. Don’t show up empty handed. Make sure you bring all the paperwork you were required to fill out even if you all ready emailed it over. Also bring two forms of identification and a blank check for your tax forms and direct deposit. Finally bring a pen, legal pad and post its. Use the notepad and post its to help you absorb the mass quantities of new information.

2. Come prepared. Do your homework. Look up projects, clients or accounts your company is working on. Do some research, so you can contribute educated questions.

3. Meet people. Remember that elevator pitch you had prepared for networking events? Well bring it out to meet co-workers. You will be meeting tons of people. So fight your bad habit of forgetting names and faces. Take an interest in what they have to say. Hopefully, you will be working with these people for a long time.

4. Use down time wisely. The article I mentioned earlier reminded me of this. When you are alone at your desk, be productive. Organize your things, research a potential assignment or think of questions you might have. Don’t check your personal email or social media networks.

5. Set the communication standard. Set a precedent for open communication between your manager and co-workers the first day. Thank them for assisting you, for a great first day and most importantly ask for feedback when appropriate. You don’t want to be blind sided at your 90 day review. The more feedback you receive, the more prepared you will be.

Do you have any additional first day advice?

One last thing, when you get home celebrate a little. Keep up your excitement and your passion!

Saying Goodbye to Your Internship

January 7, 2013 in Continue to Learn | Tags: entry level, internship, job transition, last day at work, new job, promotion | 4 comments

Leaving an internship or temporary position can be just as much of an art as landing the internship in the first place. You may have been an amazing intern, but you can easily tarnish that reputation based on how you leave.

As I wrap-up my internship with CARE, I created a goodbye to-do list. My to-do list is complete with things I wish I did differently at past internship goodbyes and new tips I want to test out. You never know; maybe this list can help you transition to a new position as well.

1. Have the talk. When you get to the last month of your internship make sure you sit down with your manager and talk about your plans. Are you hoping to get hired on full-time? Can your manager help you with recommendations? Or do you need to tell your manager about a job offer you have received?

2. Check on your final task list with your manager. In order to make sure you complete all your tasks, make sure you are on the same page with your manager.

3. Schedule an evaluation. Ask your manager and/or additional co-workers to give you feedback on your performance as an intern.

4. Pass on responsibilities. If you had ongoing tasks, make sure you sit down with the appropriate people to pass on what you have been working on. i.e. Updating the calendars and task lists.

5. Move documents to the share drive. I know the share drive is very slow, so you probably save documents to your own folders. Well make sure you save all the reports and research you worked on to the share folder.

6. Review your time sheet.

consequences-not-doing-timesheets-workplace-ecard-someecards

Trust me skipping this step is not worth missing a paycheck. Make sure you have completed all your necessary time sheets before your last day.

7. Make copies of portfolio pieces. Remember you will no longer have access to any documents you saved, so send yourself any necessary copies for your portfolio.

8. Share your contact information. When the mass email goes out announcing your last week, reply to everyone with your contact information. Let them know you would love to keep in touch.

9. Say thank you. Your co-workers and manager worked hard to bring you into the team and teach you. Don’t let their hard work go unnoticed. Give them personalized thank you’s.

10. Celebrate your goodbye. Invite your co-workers to a goodbye lunch. Having some fun is a great way to leave on a positive note.

11. Connect. Make sure you connect with co-workers on LinkedIn. Also, ask for recommendations from people you worked with directly. (Tip: If you did the evaluation part, then you should have no surprises.)

12. Follow-up. Once you have left, check back in to see how everyone is doing. Internships are great ways to expand your professional network. But you need to continue the relationship by following-up. A Happy Holidays email or recognition for the company’s success can go a long way. And you never know; you might end up working there again.

Did I miss anything? Do you have any additional advice?

2013: A Year for Superstitions

January 2, 2013 in Community | Tags: 2013, apostles, friday the 13th, Loki, new year, superstition, unlucky 13 | 4 comments

After almost two days of saying “I can’t believe it is 2013,” I have decided the year sounds weird. Something is off about 2013. I think it stems from an ancient superstition.

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. According to articles I found on the Wall Street Journal and Newser, the number 13 became unlucky when people started crashing parties of 12. A 13th guy tried to crash the last supper, and Norse god Loki crashed a dinner part of 12.

Then a lot of other bad stuff happened in years ending in 13, and this all morphed into a fear of Friday the 13th and 13 in general. This fear has become so extensive tall buildings often don’t include a 13th floor, and some airlines don’t include a 13th row.

(Yes, I know what you are thinking. Just because it isn’t labelled 13, doesn’t mean it isn’t the 13th row or floor. But still it comforts people.)

Maybe the Mayans were just trying to be as prepared as the architects and engineers who prevent us from going to floor 13.

Apocalypse = No Year 2013. Well played Mayans — nice try.

Well only the next 363 days can tell what this year actually has in store. In the meantime I am sticking to my resolution. Who knows? Soon 2013 might roll off the tongue more easily.

What are your plans for 2013 superstitious or otherwise?

A New Years Resolution for an Unknown New Year

January 1, 2013 in Community, Continue to Learn | Tags: 2013, goals, new year's resolution, new years, resolution | 2 comments

For the past 22 years of my life I have had short-term attainable goals and long-term dreams. When I was junior in college I had a short-term goal of getting as far away from Roswell as I could. I had long-term dream of working in communications. Well with HOPE scholarship in hand I traveled to Statesboro, GA to earn a degree in liberal arts. During my junior year of college I wanted to be president of PRSSA, I wanted to travel and I wanted my own car. With help and hard work, I landed an amazing job, traveled to cities across the country, became president of PRSSA and bought my first car.

The second semester of my senior year, I wanted to work in public relations more than anything. I spent every night networking or applying for amazing internships in Atlanta. I had a fantastic senior year that ended with an internship at Porter Novelli and the perfect apartment in Buckhead.

After that internship ended, 2012 became the first year I haven’t been able to articulate exactly what I want. Being a driven person, finding my passion became my short-term goal and long-term dream. I don’t think I am quite there yet. But I take comfort in being 22. I take comfort in the fact that I have plenty of years to figure out.

So my New Years resolution is not a short-term tangible goal. It is simple. I want to enjoy the last month I have of being 22. I want to shatter expectations. I want to strive for a career I am passionate and proud of. But most of all I want remember that this, what I wake up doing everyday is my life. And I don’t want to take a single moment of it for granted.

A photo-ode to 2012 . . .

: Stone Mountain for the Big-To-Do

: Feeding Fish on Isla Morada

: St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah

: Career Services Internship

: Savannah Sweets Shop

: Volleyball!

: Savannah Memorial pose

: Best friends to walk with at Graduation!

: Throw what you know

: Vortex

: Let’s Go Braves!

: West VA Mountains

: West VA River

: South GA Peach Stand

: The Capitol, D.C.

: GA Islands

: Sailing in Annapolis

: End Child Marriage, CARE

: Country Fair

: Ohio

: Pumpkin Patch

: Halloween

: First Christmas Tree

: SEC Championship, Olympic Park

: Beauty and the Beast at the FOX

: Christmas

: Tacky Christmas

Gloves for the iPhone Obsessed

December 28, 2012 in My Trends | Tags: amazon, francesca's, gloves, texting gloves, winter in the south | Leave a comment

The year was 2011. I was attending my little brother’s soccer game. Much to my dismay, my mother forgot her camera, and I was forced to step in using my iPhone. The month was February, and the wind cut through my jacket chilling me to my core.

I shivered as I joined the moms. Dodging elbows I took my hands out of my pockets to prepare my phone for the perfect shot as my little brother dribbled to the goal. Being that it was a soccer game, I waited there for 10 minutes; no one had scored. My hands had turned to ice, and my phone hardly responded to a touch.

When it came time to take a picture, all I could produce was a blurry landscape. I swore never again!

On a more serious note, using an iPhone out in the cold is a problem! I am a Georgia Girl. I have trouble handling our month to two months of cold. My hands uncontrollably shiver, and I NEED gloves. But more than gloves I need my phone.

So while doing some post-Christmas shopping I was ecstatic to find Texting Gloves.

I found the gloves at Francesca’s for half off. Apparently they are starting to get spring clothes. (See maximum two month of cold clothes in the South.)

The thumb and index fingers of the gloves some how transfer the heat of my hand, so I can use my iPhone. These might have been out for a while, but if you are a little behind in fashion like me, enjoy!

You can check out more texting gloves on Amazon.

Do you know of any other helpful iPhone gadgets?

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Just Getting Started

The terrible truth — why I haven’t been blogging

My Real World Adventure People Call Work

Develop Your PLUS Skills

First Day Etiquette

Saying Goodbye to Your Internship

2013: A Year for Superstitions

A New Years Resolution for an Unknown New Year

Gloves for the iPhone Obsessed

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