The Art of: Putting the PR in Professional

I’ve got this cute green T-Shirt that says: “We put the PR in professional.” Provided by the Florida Public Relations Association Tallahassee student chapter, the shirt’s message is succinct. Clever. Oh so PR.

I wear it often. Why not? I’m proud to be an FPRA member. An aspiring PR pro. A professional student. But what does it mean for students to be “professional”? To listen more than we speak? To ask questions more than we answer them?

I feel as though I’m in an odd limbo state. In class, I’m strictly a student, expected to study for and complete assignments that will prepare me for the professional world. But then other days at work, it’s the real deal. I’m responsible for the successful implementation of client projects; an “A” is not the ultimate goal.

So how can students demonstrate professionalism to future employers? How can we be professional before we’re even professionals?

I think Buzz Lightyear hit it on the nail…yes I’m referring to the eccentric space character from Toy Story. Think about it – can’t we all benefit from going to infinity and beyond?

Singers need the “it” factor. But PR students need the Above and Beyond Factor. We need to prove that we see past a semester. That we’re dedicated to learning outside the classroom. That we won’t just stop at the bare minimum.

Does the world of PR end at 5 p.m. everyday? Absolutely not. And while it’s important to find “you” time to maintain a healthy work/life balance, it’s equally important for students and young professionals to get the job done right. Even if it requires a little extra effort or time.

Students are jumping into the industry for the first time. We should be more eager than anyone else. We haven’t had time to burn out yet. So if you’re already sick of the minimum, what are employers and clients going to think?

Bitterness and entitlement are easy. SO EASY. But they are also completely unproductive and damaging. Last week, @ValerieSimon provided 8 tips on climbing the corporate ladder. Do you think she made it to a senior vice president position by slacking? Nope. She worked for it.

Find out what makes you passionate and pursue it with all you’ve got. I’m not going to preach about having clean Facebook profiles and appropriate work attire (although you should) in order to be professional. Simply pick up a copy of Toy Story and watch what can happen as the result of true dedication.

Are you prepared to go to infinity and beyond in your career?

 

The Art of: Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Valerie Merahn Simon serves as a Senior Vice President at BurrellesLuce media monitoring and measurement, and writes a national public relations column for examiner.com. She is also co-founder and host of #PRStudChat, a monthly twitter chat between PR professionals and students moderated by Deirdre Breakenridge. She can be found on Twitter or LinkedIn.

As a collegiate the rules of the game are fairly straightforward. You start as a freshman and move ahead one semester at a time. You are graded in every class, and while you may not agree with every evaluation, you know where you stand. Then you graduate and suddenly face the prospect of a semester which may end at any time… or linger on indefinitely. The climb “up the corporate ladder” can be rather intimidating when you are just starting out. Here are 8 tenets that have helped my career progress from an entry level administrative assistant, to a Senior Vice President.

1. Work hard. Intelligence, creativity and experience are all important, but they are not enough. If you want new opportunities, you’ll need to demonstrate your dedication to your organization and your commitment to your colleagues and clients or customers through your daily efforts.
2. Respect the importance of your current role within the organization and understand why this is of value. You probably won’t be given the most glamorous tasks the first day. Find the glamour in the tasks you are given. I recall some of my early responsibilities included answering phones when our receptionist was at lunch. I focused on the fact that I had the opportunity to make a first impression with clients. I was the hostess to our party and every call was an opportunity to demonstrate a world class service experience. Pride, as well as confidence, are important traits in an emerging leader!
3. Respect others and their role within the organization. I have hired a former boss and had former reports become clients. I know an assistant who went on to become a producer and colleagues who have moved on to be clients. Look for the value in each individual and recognize their contributions.
4. Recognize the impact of all of your communications, both internal and external. Frustrations come with every job and how you manage them is an important indicator of your potential to lead. Each action has the ability to impact your reputation. As the low person on the totem pole in an industry that is known for high pressure and tight deadlines, you may not always be treated as you “deserve.” Don’t take it out on someone else. Act with intention; be the leader you hope others perceive you to be.
5. Observe. Take every opportunity to learn. Make sure that you leave the office a more valuable employee than when you were when you arrived. Every day I make a conscious effort to learn from my colleagues, my clients and our partner companies. Social media has expanded the network of people I learn from each day. Some have more experience, some have less. I learn from those I respect, and I take care to note those behaviors I do intend to mimic.
6. Exercise your passion. But always be cognizant of the difference between passion and drama. Enthusiasm, devotion, commitment and focus are tremendous traits. Hysteria and theatrics are not. My career has been driven by a passion for the media, the PR industry and the opportunity to provide world class service (I loved In Search of Excellence).
7. “No” is usually the wrong answer. While I hear it is important to learn to say “No,” the fact is, ”No” it is a word most bosses and clients simply do not want to hear. And while I fully subscribe to the importance of not over promising, “No’ is s a word I try desperately to avoid. I have found that oftentimes, the real problem is not with getting an answer, but in identifying the real question. Make sure that you understand your client or bosses underlying need, not just the question they have asked.
8. If you are stagnating, move on. My first job after graduating college was at a nonprofit. Though I was passionate about the mission of working to build the capacity of individuals and organizations in education and related fields to work together – across policies, programs and sectors, I found myself struggling in  an administrative role that consisted of a great deal of filing and faxing, and offered little opportunity for growth. I was determined to stay there for a year; however a mentor offered me some wise advice, “Why do you need to stay for a year?  If you are stagnating, it is time to move on.”

When contemplating new opportunities however (and if you have followed these eight tips, I promise you will have plenty of opportunities), be sure you don’t forget to look at the opportunities within your own organization. My next job did last well beyond that one year milestone; in fact more than 14 years and numerous promotions later my role as an account services representative in a regional office has evolved into a senior executive role in our corporate offices.

Professionals, what other principles do you believe are critical for success in “the real world?” Students, what concerns do you have about the road ahead? Leave a comment- I look forward to discussing!

 

The Art of: “Hobbying” Up Your Life

There’s a distinct possibility I have too many fears. Heights. Airplanes. Tight Spaces. Creepy Crawlers. German Shepherds (don’t ask). Failure. Rejection…but perhaps the most irrational one of all is my fear of getting old. I’m not talking about literally aging; I mean missing out on the fun things in life because I’m too “busy” for them.

I’ve been contemplating the importance of “staying young” for a couple weeks now and even blogged about it last week. I suggested that by living out our childhood dreams, in one way or another, we can retain those feelings of youth. My post generated a lot of feedback and readers seemed to contend that they had specific interests or rituals to keep their lives balanced.

And that’s the key, isn’t it? A balanced life? I’ve come to realize that one thing everyone has in common–regardless of our age–is hobbies. We might enjoy different things, but we all cling to something to supplement school/professional life. Up until recently, blogging was my only consistent hobby. As much as I love it, I wanted to explore additional activities as well.

But what? Some of you may have noticed several of my recent tweets asking about favorite hobbies. I wanted to know what you all enjoyed and why. What makes a hobby worthy of your time?

Many of you prefer hobbies that are nice, relaxing breaks from the “norm” because they make you feel inspired.

@bkuite: photography and painting – Art is the only thing I really do for myself. When I’m focusing on an angle or painting a line it really helps me relax after a long day/week

@TerrenceWing: Hobby – Big time movie buff. It helps me forget everything (unless it is a bad movie)

@JasMollica: I enjoy listening to music because it either inspires or relaxes me. Certain songs can take me to another level. Playing my PS3 is also fun!

@davidreich: Jazz. I like all types of jazz, but especially Latin Jazz. Live or recorded, I listen to it all. I did a jazz radio show while in college. It makes me feel good. It can relax me, energize me, get my spirits up. I love almost all kinds of music, but jazz really speaks to me.

Some of you enjoy hobbies that keep you intellectually stimulated.

@SJOgborn: anything at all? I’d say my biggest hobby, or passion you could say, is reading – lots…serious crazy amounts…I only read nonfiction – I like that it’s real and not a bunch of fluff. Used to read a TON of fiction though. And it’s worth my time because I feel like I gain something from every book I read- a new perspective, etc.

@Kamallard: Reading anything & everything. I learn so much!

And then there are those of you who take refuge in active lifestyles.

@micahvandergritt: exercising, motorcycle riding, drums/guitar, movies, soccer. I consider my hobbies my real life. Work is just a daily, necessary interruption. I like being active to stay healthy.

@samemac: New found interest: running 5ks! It’s been very relaxing and motivational.

@bitty_boop: Playing sports (in general) because it helps to release stress and is enjoyable=)

@RLBriones: singing, dancing, overall performing – because I love collaborating with people and it brings me great joy.

I’ll admit this post is mostly for me. With college graduation rapidly approaching, I’m doing a lot of self-evaluation and realizing just how much life is about to change. I’ve been a student for 16 years. It’s all I know. But as I adapt to the professional world of public relations, I want to make sure to take my personal hobbies and interests with me. Blogging is one passion, and I’m doing my best to add others into the mix.

In fact, my friends (@JoleneGurtis and @KristenMarie09) and I have started taking weekly tennis lessons. I can assure you I’m not the next Venus Williams, but hey, who ever said you had to be GOOD at your hobbies?

I believe creativity outside of the workplace transcends to creativity inside. What are your thoughts?

 

The Art of: Balancing Family and Career

The following post is contributed by Niki Pocock, a PR professional and fellow FPRA Capital Chapter Member. To learn more about her, follow her on Twitter (@NikiPocock) or read her blog.

Throughout my career, I have struggled with what kind of family life I want to have. In school, I pictured myself being a high-powered PR executive and, although I figured I would be married someday, wasn’t even thinking about kids.

I got married at the beginning of my career and thought, maybe I should go ahead and have kids now and then tackle my career hard after they start school. Well, then I got my first job and loved working, so the thought of kids was put on the back burner.

Five years later my husband and I decided the timing was right, and we now have a beautiful baby girl. How will I now balance my new life (and responsibilities) with my old life? For me, the solution comes down to priorities.

I have decided to keep most of my work activities during work hours, so even though I have professional lunches of some sort almost every day, I do not have a strong presence at the happy hour scene. Has this hurt my career? Maybe, as there have been many networking opportunities I have missed, but I try to make the daylight hours count that much more. I also strive to have a strong virtual presence if I can’t be there personally. As I am putting my daughter to bed, I am checking my Twitter feed and responding to a few comments here and there so my name stays visible, even if I am not.

To counter my actions (a decision we made together), my husband works later than me and also on the weekends. However, he tries to be home when our daughter and I are home and puts in his extra work hours when we are out with friends, visiting family, on play dates, etc.

We both try not to travel too much, but make it work when we have to. I will say that it is very difficult to travel for business while breastfeeding, so I especially tried to limit my travel during that time, but it is doable.

In the same way that we try to balance work and family, we have to balance family and personal time. My husband likes to work out right after work, so I watch our daughter for an extra hour during the day. I enjoy ballet classes, so he skips the gym the days I have dance. After our daughter goes to sleep, I like to work on the computer, lift weights and watch TV – alone. He likes to work on the computer – alone. It is this respect of “alone time” that lets us re-energize for the next day and reduces fatigue – both mentally and physically.

The work-life balance is just that – a balance. It is a give and take, but also an understanding that nothing is set in stone. There are times that I will work late.  There are times my husband will travel for a week. And its ok. In the same respect, just because we do things this way doesn’t mean this is the way everyone should do it. And it doesn’t mean it is the way we will be doing it six months from now. But it is working, for us, at this moment. That is what is important in our balance.

 

The Art of: Staying Young

Young is a relative term. At times, I feel I stopped being young when trick-or-treating and jumping inside bounce houses became unacceptable. Yet, some people view me as a kid. So what’s the deal? Am I young if I still enjoy Disney World (which I do)? Am I young as long as I’m still in school? Or did I really “grow up” the moment I turned 18?

Many say age has nothing to do with it. It’s all about attitude. Others equate youth with naivete. When we’re young (define it as you will), we can’t wait to grow up. We long for self-made privileges and no restrictions. But then we get older, and we miss those care-free days of childhood.

I won’t lie. My heart broke the first Christmas season I wasn’t allowed to ride the train at the mall…

But doesn’t every stage of life offer opportunities to feel young? Throughout college, I’ve experienced incredible moments of both youth and maturity. Amidst the spontaneous road trips and late night adventures, I have also maintained a stellar GPA and gathered PR experience through professional internships. In a few months, I will have my degree and be fully immersed in my career, but I don’t ever want to completely “grow up.”

And I’m willing to bet others, of all ages, feel the same way. So how do we “stay young” forever? Disagree if you will, but I think it all boils down to living out our childhood dreams.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a dancer on Broadway. I started Tapping at three years old and didn’t quit until I turned 14. Maybe it was the transition into high school or just a basic rut, but for whatever reason, I grew out of it. I loved Tap, but I had developed another dream…becoming a big-time magazine or newspaper columnist. Not a reporter, but a highly sought after opinion columnist with quirky writing and fresh insight.

Now, my dream is to be a public relations professional, and I’m pretty sure this one will stick. But still, I can’t help smiling when I remember my childhood ambitions. And to this day, I think it is important to live out those passions in some way or another.

I started this blog because it’s my very own column. Except without the deadlines and editors. It is my special place where I can share information, offer opinions and contribute to larger conversations. And call me crazy, but I refuse to spend my last semester at Florida State University only taking communication classes and internships. I’m seizing the opportunity to also take a Tap AND Contemporary dance class. The way I see it, I have my whole life to be a “grown-up,” but there should always be time for fun as well.

What are you doing to stay young?

 

The Art of: getting a career unrelated to your college degree

Ryan Knapp is a soccer entrepreneur, passionate for using soccer as a vehicle to promote social change. He is founder of Futbolist LLC, a full service soccer company dedicated to the promotion and expansion of soccer in the United States.  Aside from soccer he is currently training for an Ironman Triathlon in 2011 and taking part in Project 365.  Follow his journey at RyanJKnapp.com (http://www.ryanjknapp.com).

College was a foreign concept to many in our parents’ generation, but now it is largely considered a right of passage for a majority of high school students around the country.

With this need of the 18 year-old high school graduate to head off to college, it is only inevitable that many of us will have no clue what we want to study when we get there.  Who could fault a barely legal 18 year-old for not knowing all of life’s secrets in and out, let alone how to do their own laundry or cook a simple box of mac ‘n cheese (hey, that’s why they made Easy Mac, right?)

I’ve promised a post on The Art of Getting a degree in something you’ll never actually use and frankly, the secret is my title sucks.  You will always use what you learned in college, but it might not be what you learned in the classroom, or in seminars, or in any class at all (though I highly doubt that).  You will certainly learn when you are most effective, what you hate doing, what you really enjoy, how to make friends, how to piss people off, how to influence people, and how to make a giant pyramid out of Natty Ice boxes.  Booyah.

Now, my background in a nutshell.  Graduated BA in Spanish/Honors Language Structure and Theory, went for PhD in Lingustics, left after MA.  Jobs that I could actually do? Translator, teacher (after getting Masters in Teaching) and that’s about it.

What do I do in real life? I own my own company, Futbolist LLC, a full service soccer firm, and am co-owner of FC Buffalo, a National Premier Soccer League club. Also I´m Director of Public Relations for the National Premier SoccerLeague and General Manager for Keith Burtis Consulting.

Enough for you?

You might ask, what is the relation between Linguistics and Soccer?  Well, minus the fact that I speak Spanish, pretty much nothing.  I’m more qualified to talk to you about the structure of Polish Phonetics, or Differences in Gender in Rosch’s Prototype Theory instead of talking about Marketing Plans and how to increase our profits.  However, soccer does have a lot to do with culture, and I studied plenty of culture related deals in Sociolinguistics classes through my degree, so those always help immensely.

So, NOW you have a degree in something you fear you will never use, and you need to make it in the real world.   How do you go from Psychology to Marketing Mogul, or History to Director at a Non-Profit?   These were some of the steps I took during that quest and I hope they help you in your search.

Realize Your Degree Isn’t Everything. So you graduated with a degree in Paleontology and you really want to be a marketing exec.  Big deal.  Chances are you took the same 20 classes that are required in most majors in the US, and a smattering of some ‘major’ courses that qualified for your diploma.  Hopefully you went the smart route and took some basic courses that can transfer over into the real world.  Sure a Marketing major would have a one-up on you, but if you do things smart and go after other opportunities that are out there, you can trade that lack of experience for enthusiasm and opportunities once you realize that a large majority of people graduate with a degree in a subject and have a career in something completely different!  You can go out and find an internship and read up on the textbooks (if you want) or blogs, other readings that have the core content necessary for a solid background.  This may take a few months or a few years, but it’s all about the experience at this point.

Learn Another Language. This will always set you apart no matter where you go, and especially in the US where we are all monolingual.  Even if you minor in another language, you are already one step ahead of anyone else who has the same qualifications.  I recommend a major, especially if you only have one major declared.  If out of college already, apply to take classes at your local language center or Continued Learning programs.  It will pay off in the long run.

Head Abroad. Studying abroad is not just available for language majors, it is available for everyone.  Even if you are not fluent or have no clue, most foreign universities tailor classes to the level of your language abilities, even offering classes in English for you at a foreign school.  If not it can be your introduction to whatever language you choose.  Many of my friends took advantage of this and their lives are all the better. You learn to live in another culture, fend for yourself, and open your eyes and ears to another part of the world, only making you more marketable in whatever position you end up applying for.  You might even be able to find a teaching position abroad through Peace Corps, Teach for America or the country’s education ministry, for example in Spain.

Check the Competition. So you want that elusive job that you think you have no experience for.  Well, maybe it turns out that what you think you need and what you actually need are two different things.  I was a bit shocked when I learned that my degree in Linguistics was okay with some PR folks because of the insane amount of writing and research that went into it.  Same goes for applying for jobs.  What does the ideal candidate have in your desired field, and what can you do to go about getting those credentials?

Find Internship/Volunteer Opportunities. How did I get my start into soccer?  I volunteered as Director of Media Relations for Queen City Football Club after I had already graduated with my undergrad degree. Within 8 months I became owner of the club as the executive board dissolved.  I learned all I knew through my volunteer opportunity and it is the only reason I’m in the business today. If you don’t have any experience, don’t fret; most companies realize that and will help you through the ins and outs as you learn.  Even if it is as simple as working a small event or volunteering a few hours a week.  Doing this can open the door for you and help you network like no other.

Keep In Touch With Your Hobbies. Just because you have a degree in x doesn’t mean you can’t be active in pursuing a job in y.  In fact, if you already have the background in what you want to do (say you loved taking pictures  growing up) you can easily turn your degree in x into a diverse qualification that helps you stand out.  Nowadays people are turning their passions into their work and that is always a viable option.

Do Your Research ~ Start a Blog/Website. Writing about a topic and building a community helps to cement your status as a resource on a specific topic.  If you can blog about your love for animals and create a following, you will be researching a topic you enjoy and also gaining valuable experience in that field as you gain a reputation.  Use that to network and see where you can get your foot in the door.  Use this as a time you do your basic research on your new career goal.  If you make a mistake don’t worry, it’s how we all learn.

What other tips do you have for people who want to make a career switch but don’t have the education to back them up?

 

The Art of: Making an Impact

I’m the first to admit I’m a nerd. I love school. I typically prepare my class schedule months in advance and actually enjoy outlining assignments in my planner.

But this semester, I skipped the entire first full week of class.

Before you judge,  let me explain. The PR firm where I intern invited me to attend and help facilitate a huge client conference, FETC 2010, which is an annual event that attracts educational technology brands, teachers and media from all over the country.

The opportunity to see the result of all our press releases, advisories and social media efforts was simply too great to miss. So off to Orlando, Fla. I went!

When I arrived at the conference, I was in awe. There were hundreds of exhibitor booths, several sessions and bright colors everywhere. So needless to say, as I checked in the 60-or-so attending media in the press room, I wondered, which exhibitors/sponsors/products would win their attention? The ones with big booths? Free giveaways? Enticing info?

While some of the booths were undoubtedly more luring than others, I quickly realized that the exhibitors who really made an impact were the ones who offered a personal touch. It was about making a genuine connection.

I attended a conference session on blogging (big surprise) and learned a lot about how much Scholastic contributes to education. The corporation has a dynamic website that seeks to engage teachers with interactive features and useful resources.

What really attracted me though, was Scholastic’s conference presence. Call me easy, but when a company rep handed me a free post-it note booklet just for stopping by (remember, I’m a nerd), I was sold. The token brought me back to my childhood. Who else remembers those awesome Scholastic book fairs in elementary school libraries? I loved them and I loved Scholastic.

FETC 2010 gave exhibitors a unique opportunity to connect with their target markets and reconnect with past brand enthusiasts. I believe Scholastic achieved this and so I decided to thank them for their small, but thoughtful gesture by tweeting about my experience:

Dear @Scholastic – I loved your products as an elem. student & today at #FETC I was reminded why! You rock

Within minutes, I received a response:

@Lmnovo Aww, that totally made our day! YOU rock! *blushing* #fetc

The response was not only prompt but it had a true human touch. I didn’t get a generic message saying thanks for the @reply. Scholastic is huge and successful without my help, but it made me feel valued and I appreciated that.

Thank you, once again, Scholastic, for contributing to FETC 2010, my educational upbringing, and the future of students everywhere! Keep making an impact!

Anyone else have fond memories of Scholastic? Of any other big brands?

 

The Art of: Writing a Bad-Ass Cover Letter

This post is part of the Guest Blog Grand Tour over at Life Without Pants – an epic journey of over 75 guest posts. Want to learn more about Matt Cheuvront & see how far the rabbit hole goes? Subscribe to the Life Without Pants RSS feed & follow him on Twitter to keep in touch!

Ah the art of getting a job – or should I say the grueling process of getting a job. It really is some of the hardest “work” you’ll ever do. You scour job boards and job fairs, put your name out there, blast out resumes, carefully articulate cover letters, showcase your articulate and professional presence as you interview with companies left and right – all for a paycheck and (hopefully) a career that won’t feel too much like “work”.

So let’s lay out a scenario – you’re young, recently out of school, and looking for work. You’ve spent a lot of time on your resume – doing a good job of highlighting our work experience as well as relevant experiences and coursework from college. The resume is a knock out – but what about your cover letter?

Step One: Companies only care about what you can do for them

One common mistake people make is focusing too heavily on themselves. I know, getting a job may seem like it’s all about selling yourself – but really, you’re selling what you can do for the company – what you can add to the bottom line, and why you would do it better than anyone else. A company wants to know what your past experience means for them – this requires a bit of research on your part. If you’re applying for a PR job, talk about what you did at your corporate internship and how that learning experience will benefit a specific job requirement.

Step Two: Be one in a million

You have to remember that companies are seeing TONS of resumes – talking about yourself in an extremely professional way is great, but everyone else is doing that too – you want to, no, you HAVE TO stand out. You have to think about the specific qualities that make you a knock-out; you need to carry yourself as someone any company would be CRAZY to pass up.

Step Three: It’s OK to be personal – and humor sells

My approach with the cover letter is a little different – Instead of focusing so much on the professionalism that we’re taught in school – I was much more personal – I always threw  in a joke about myself, or some random hobby (like that I was an Expert at Rock Band) – something totally off the cuff. You would be surprised at how many people would mention that random “fact” during an interview. It’s little (sometimes ridiculous) things that really stick with people. The people reading your cover letter are humans too – they go out to bars for happy hour, they love sports, they dominate in Wii Bowling – if you can make that “personal” connection with them – show a little bit of the human side of yourself – it can really go a long way.

Step 4: Keep it simple (stupid)

We hear this phrase all the time but it rings true. Keep your cover letter short and sweet – you’re not writing your Thesis here – this needs to be a page or less about you and what benefits you would add to the company’s bottom line. Be specific and stick to the point. The minute you start adding in “fluff” is exactly when the HR rep will throw your resume in the trash.

Step 5: Invest time

Writing an effective cover letter takes time – you can try to template it out but a company will see right through it if it looks like a “standard” cover letter that you copied in a new company name just to repurpose. You have to be specific to the job you are applying for – which means research is a must. Head to a coffee shop, put on your headphones, unplug from the Internet – and work on CRAFTING the perfect cover letter without distractions.

Getting your foot in the door is the hardest part – in times like these, it’s those who take things seriously, but aren’t afraid to be themselves, who really stand out from the crowd.

 

The Art of: Prioritizing

I make multiple lists each day. There’s always another pending assignment in school; both of my PR jobs have different clients and objectives; and of course, I have my own errands and around-the-house chores to tackle.

It can get a little overwhelming at times, but I consider myself lucky to be good at managing  time. I don’t forget to do things or miss deadlines. And as far as I can tell, I don’t have trouble prioritizing my (sometimes) daunting task lists. A little critical thinking is usually enough to help determine what needs to be done first, second, and so on.

However, last Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010,  at approximately 8:45 p.m., I was faced with an uncomfortable question: is the to-do list of my life in the proper order?

For those of you who don’t know, my boyfriend and I were in a car accident that night. We hit a possum on the highway, spun out of control and landed upside down in a ditch on the side of the road. It was the absolute scariest three or four seconds of our lives.

But we are lucky, because we survived.

Now, this blog post really isn’t supposed to be about me. It’s about all of us and our ability to master the art of prioritizing in what truly matters.

So I ask you, what is most important to you in your life and are you allocating your time appropriately?

I won’t pretend to be an expert because I’m not. But I can confidently say that if you don’t even have in mind what is significant, how can you keep your priorities straight?

What have you been putting off? Maybe it’s an overdue phone call to your parents or grandparents. Perhaps you have been meaning to write an “I’m thinking of you” card to an old friend. And then there’s always that grudge that has yet to be released.

The way I see it, the reading assignments and laundry can wait. Make your next to-do list really count!

*Note: This is the first post of  “The Art of…” Series. If you’d like to contribute an art of your own, email me at lauren.novo@gmail.com or Tweet me @Lmnovo.

 

What’s Your “Art”?

About a month ago, I offered my perspective on  “The Art of Networking.” The post was fun to write and seemed to be a crowd pleaser, so I’ve decided to extend the concept into a more comprehensive series.

For the next few weeks (or for as long as I have material) I will discuss “The Art of…” various Gen-Y and PR related topics. But this time around, I’m not doing it alone.

I want YOUR help!

Whether you are at the pinnacle of your career or a first-day intern, you have a unique point of view. Maybe you excel in decision making, salary negotiation or budgeting. Perhaps you have some insight on staying productive or making a great first impression.

My question is simply this: what’s your “Art”? And are you willing to share it?

Matt Cheuvront (@mattChevy), author of Life Without Pants, will be making a pit stop on his Guest Blog Grand Tour to contribute to the series. If you’d like to write something as well, email me at lauren.novo@gmail.com to claim one of the above-mentioned topics or to propose an idea of your own.