We all spend so much time, money, and effort making these huge life decisions as a means to an end… but how are we certain that we’re doing it right?

The world’s forever unanswered questions will always make me wonder: what does it all truly mean? How do I know what I want to do for the rest of my life? How do I know I’m even doing it right? Is it too late to change if I am doing it wrong? Can I go back or get a “re-do”?

I constantly ask myself these questions in my career path. Because after college, there aren’t any classes or schedules to help keep you on the right track. Well, crap. Looking back, I’m realizing the essence of college and how different the expectations are from any other grade or school.

1. In high school, it wasn’t “cool” to be in clubs, groups or organizations. Sports > all other extracurricular activities. In college, it’s essential to join groups, take yourself OUT of your comfort zone, network, branch out of your inner clique, and learn what works and what doesn’t. This is something I wish I had learned earlier on in college.

2. Even though students make great relationships and strong bonds with people throughout college and beyond, once graduation hits, they all become your competition in survival of the fittest (academically fit, that is). How do you maintain relationships after college without sabotaging your career? I’m intrigued to figure this out.

So why am I constantly worried about the future and all of its components? Because that’s exactly the way our society has brought us up, carefully guiding the education process as a vital one with steps along the way. If a solid education is the “means”, what is the “end”? Career, family, money? What I’m trying to say is that we could all use a little reminder from the Dalai Lama to rejuvenate, assess our priorities, and be spontaneous.

As an advertising student, especially during my last year at University of Oregon School of Journalism & Communications (UOSOJC), I’ve found myself surrounded by guest speakers, professionals, and professionals-in-training, or fellow students who have successfully used their power for good…now, let me elaborate. This “power” can evoke many emotions in me; inspiration, discouragement, intimidation, fear, courage, honor, and pride. Seeing the work from other students I’ve never met before but seen around the halls of Agate, or have worked with on group projects during the Gateway sequence, reminds me of exactly what our class is capable. I never knew I could be scared into being inspired until #UOCreativeStrat speakers came in to share their knowledge. WOW. Just to name a few: Tracy Wong, Scott Bedbury, and skypers across the country. Their success and the way they speak about their professions is absolutely mind-blowing. Inspiring? Yes. Intimidating? Always. Discouraging? Definitely. 

These are the people with who, I’m competing to land a job/career/whatever you call them these days. While seeing their work come alive and having little-to-no-idea of HOW they got there is the coolest part. Each student/professional/guest speaker is out there doing what they’re passionate about. And although you might think that hearing these people, seeing what they’ve created, and knowing what they could potentially create seems like it would make me want to run out there and get my hands filthy, but instead it forces me to crawl back into my shell and watch from afar.

I know what you’re thinking, that isn’t the right mindset. And maybe, just maybe, you’re right. But hey, I’m just being honest and learning new things every day. Everyone has their own way of doing things. Which is why I decided to step out of my comfort zone and create a mind map during our guest speaker lecture from Charlie Robertson (@charlierob) last week. Here ya go!

Welp, I took advantage of my almost-two-week-long Spring Break and did absolutely nothing that required constant electronics or long hours hunched over my computer. Alas, it’s now Spring Term and I’m back in action. Not that I’ve been dreading getting back to writing on this blog, but I definitely enjoyed snowy/rainy days, good food, friends & family (not that I don’t love you, internet world!).

I didn’t think that I would ever be able to say this, but I’m actually excited for all my classes this term. Not only do we have an awesome tech start-up for our client, Revisu, in Campaigns with @stadler_cj, but the J408 Presentation Workshop blew my mind and there has only been one class. How you ask? Well, needless to say I showed up to a fourteen-person workshop class approximately ten minutes late. Now let me lay some background for you…I had already felt awkward being late, but also if I remembered correctly, Agate 105 was a tiny conference room in which I had my initial interview for PDXSX with Josh Netzer. Yes, that was correct. I was late to a conference room, yikes. Less than a second after I sat down in my cozy conference chair, Mark Lewis turned to me and said “I am telling a story”. If I had even a glimpse of what the hell he meant, it wouldn’t have been the amazement that it was. Accents, sound effects, emotion, passion, enthusiasm, character. The list goes on, but what Mark took on in his storytelling was more than you could ever imagine with me simply telling you about it. Which is why, #UOCreativeStrat, I recommend (highly, might I add) that you take J408 Presentation Workshop with Mark Lewis. It’s the best two credits that you will ever take… in your life.

After many weeks of anticipation, here is the premiere of my first portfolio site EVER…

Click here for the unveiling. 

I know I’m not alone when I say that taking the Gateway sequence for Journalism was a bit of an annoyance…it’s okay, you can admit it. At the time, I knew that I was being exposed to programs that I wouldn’t otherwise have a single clue about, but it just didn’t seem like useful information. Maybe I didn’t feel like it was very applicable or current to my schooling. Sometimes it takes time to realize the value in things, which I believe is the utter truth in this case. A year after Gateway, and as I look back, I’m proud of the projects (well, some) that I created in those six months. I made shit. I created shit. Sure, it was the first time I had used a lot of those programs (Illustrator, InDesign, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop), but sometimes your own person can be the best teacher. Looking at this project almost a year later and still feeling the effort and work I put into it is, to say the least, a feeling of accomplishment. I did this. And I’m proud of it. Here is a little bit about me in 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Enjoy!

“Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty.” (Source: HBR Blog Network)

Shortly after reading the article on “Nine Things Successful People Do Differently” from the HBR Blog, I noticed this article on Yahoo and connected the two. Juan Jose Padilla perfectly demonstrates true grit in his commitment and persistence in the face of difficulty. After studying and living in Spain for four months, I was constantly exposed to talk of bull fights. Although I wasn’t able to attend a bull fighting match, I was exposed to the emotions and aftermath of those who had attended. Let me tell you, it was quite an emotional conversation. If you’re looking for a tough-guy sport, don’t mess around with rugby or football— bull fighting is no joke. In October, “a bull’s horn ripped into Juan Jose Padilla’s lower jaw and caused his left eyeball to protrude as spectators screamed in horror.” As I said before, no joke.

After getting your eyeball ripped out and your jaw torn open, wouldn’t you be a bit scarred? And probably not have the urge to return or even be in the vicinity of a bull fighting ring again? I know I would. 5 months after the tragic incident, Padilla returned to the bullring. Now, if that’s not true grit, then I don’t know what is. In my eyes, Padilla is ambitious and persistent; he has persevered “in the face of difficulty” and sought after the goal to become successful.

If it can take 8 years to create a product, wouldn’t it be outdated by the time it’s finally ready to be put on the market? My main confusion with this is that if P&G began brainstorming about the Tide Pods eight years ago, then I wonder how many changes and adjustments they made from the original product to final. 

I would propose that Procter & Gamble make somewhat of a historic timeline to see the process of creating this seemingly simple product. Since liquid Tide in 1984, nothing much has changed in the laundry detergent department. In 2004, P&G decided to figure out why people hated doing laundry, finding out that the main reason was having to lug a heavy jug of laundry detergent up and down the stairs from the washing machine in the basement (really, America?). And thus, eight years later, an idea was born. An idea that reiterates the sedentary lifestyle of Americans. 

P&G’s goal was to create a product that made convenient and simplified the confusion of doing laundry; a product that had the flexibility to work in cold and hot water, any size laundry load, and thoroughly cleansed with just one wash.

Now I do love that this article goes step-by-step through the process of creating this mysteriously perfect “Tide Pod”. But being that visual learner that I am, I would much prefer a visual process that shows the water soluble film or the separation between cleansers, brighteners and fabric softeners. Maybe seeing one hundred of the 450 product sketches that were drawn to perfect the Pod would reveal too much? I would LOVE to see a clip of the inside of the Beckett Ridge Innovation Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, where P&G observes and analyzes how people do household chores using their products.

However, something seems a little artificial (ironically!) about this observation center. Researchers want to observe and analyze consumers in their natural environment, but if they’re clearly changing diapers or doing dishes in a home that isn’t theirs, then how flawed are the results? That’s something I’m curious about. Research to come.

Mashable shows us 20 Facebook Page Cover Photos where brands have begun revealing their Facebook Timelines with their history, stories and consumer influence. We’re approaching a time where the Facebook Timeline is becoming a part of our world, whether we like it or not. What I think these brands did the best was incorporating their culture and brand into their cover photos, which is something bad advertising forgets to do. In my paper on what advertising does wrong, I highlighted the importance of being transparent as a brand. A bad product or service is impossible to market well— being transparent and revealing to consumers history or current events will help implement that feeling of trust.

Red Bull has created a scavenger hunt to encourage consumer interaction with the brand, while AT&T has created a beautiful mosaic of its fans’ photos. 

These brands are rockin’ the timeline, making it work for the specific brand. This doesn’t always happen. In fact, I’ve been avoiding switching to the timeline myself. Here’s why I don’t like the Facebook Timeline for people:
-it makes people’s lives prior to Facebook visible for the entire population to see, which also makes it that much easier to find out anything and everything you need to know about a single person via the web. What ever happened to a little human interaction and the traditional way of getting to know someone? (This relates to my post on business cards [see #19] and the importance of meeting face-to-face, rather than relying on today’s technological advances to become sedentary in your social and professional life.)

Seems simple right? I have to say I agree with most of the following 9 tips on effectively managing and succeeding in life, but easier said than done, right?

Here are my favorites:

“4. Be a realistic optimist.” I especially relate to this one because throughout my college career, I have successfully conquered my fear of test taking and anxiety. Through trial and error, I changed my attitude from a “another test to fail” to “I’ve got this”. A slight change of attitude, with a dash of optimism and reality can change things for the better (as I’ve experienced for myself). As Heidi Grant Halvorson, of HBR Blog said, “most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence.”

“5. Focus on getting better, rather than being good.” This traces back to almost every Creative Strategist lecture where the speaker or Deb has told us “don’t be an asshole”. I’m reminded that going in (whether that be to an interview, job, meeting, etc.) with an empty mind, ready to listen, and have the conscious mentality that there are many things I don’t know, and I won’t get anywhere pretending I do. Amen, sista friend.

“6. Have grit.” WOAH! I had to be reminded of the definition, “grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty.” Well, alright. That’s definitely a good thing to have. Persistence and perseverance, both qualities that seem to encompass all that is successful in life.

“7. Build your willpower muscle.” Now, I like this one because it’s something that I actually plan on doing in 2012 and can say for a fact that it will be extremely difficult. Taking on a challenge that requires me to do something that I’d rather not to? Ha, yeah. That’s an easy one to push to the bottom of my to-do list. By taking on a challenge like this, willpower and a new skill are simultaneously developed, making the muscle stronger for future endeavors.

The challenge that I will attempt to take on is slouching. I have horrible posture when I’m sitting or standing, and I would like to blame it on the ridiculous weight of my backpack. However, I’ve seen plenty of college students with great posture who I’m sure have just as many books as I do. My plan is that after catching myself slouching, I will take a few minutes to do back stretches that help elongate my muscles and straighten up my back. Now, to put this to the test! Updates to come.

Between this Fast Company article and Inc’s article, we’re reminded that the (now considered) old-fashioned ways of communicating are now more valuable than ever due to technology’s take-over in the modern world of communication. What I liked about the business card article is that as a society, we seemed to have forgotten the experience tied in with exchanging business cards, shaking hands, and interpreting facial expressions. This personalized approach on the typical business card format puts a fun spin on the traditional idea, while letting each person’s creative side make a business card that becomes a conversation starter. Of the “5 Reasons You Need to Meet in Person” article, each reason further proves that with the overwhelming and evasive use of technological communication these days, the rarity of true face time is becoming more valuable than ever before.

From this, I decided that my business cards would show a variety of my artwork (mostly photography) and images that evoke questions and storytelling. What questions do these images and/or descriptions provoke? What would you want to know about them?

Here are some ideas: 

Small shot of the 135’ sail boat on which I’ve traveled through the San Juan Islands for the past couple of summers. Last year, there was a boat pet.

A cactus garden on Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Full of: interesting plants + active volcanoes = distinct views.

Camel rides in Morocco, Northern Africa. Just a few minutes after arriving in Africa, this was a surprise adventure. Culture shock? You betcha.