Seize the Day Off

Merriest Christmas wishes!

2011-12-25T08:50:00.000-05:00

Wishing family and friends everywhere a very joyous Christmas celebration. May your stocking always be filled with little delights!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T19:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter and happy Spring!

With a glorious Easter day in beautiful suburban Maryland and Washington, DC, it was a day to relax and celebrate...starting with Easter bunny surprises at home. We awoke to find an adorable rabbit sitting on the back patio (I know they eat my flowers, but they're so cute).

Dying Easter eggs

Ready for Easter

Easter breakfast table

Rockin' at the Royal Wedding

2011-04-21T22:46:00.000-04:00

I saw this T-Mobile take on the upcoming Royal Wedding today and it just made me laugh out loud. Hope the actual wedding is this much fun! And congrats to T-Mobile for producing relevant content that people want to watch.

And L’eggs calls this “contemporizing” their brand?

2011-04-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

The familiar pantyhose brand L’eggs, once known for its plastic, egg-shaped containers, announced it’s launching a new television ad campaign this spring, its first television in more than 14 years. The company is targeting women 18-34 (has their research really indicated that women in this age bracket wear pantyhose?) with the new slogan: You’re in luck. You’re in L’eggs.

The product’s old tagline was: Nothing beats a great pair of L’eggs.

This will all be part of what the company is calling a “dynamic new campaign” with captivating animation highlighting a young woman imagining all the situations she will encounter as she goes about her day. The campaign will incorporate an updated website and social media. The new L’eggs campaign was created by agency Erwin-Penland in Greenville, SC.

You’re in luck. You’re in L’eggs. doesn’t seem to be a very bold or energetic statement for a long-standing grocery store brand that is seeking to update its image and bring in new, younger customers who, as the company believes, are “fashion-savvy “and “value the self-assurance that comes from a completely put-together look.” It seems like L’eggs is playing catch-up and “me, too” with Spanx, the brand known for its body shaping apparel and pantyhose that has been successful in reaching women young and old in department stores over the past ten years.

So much for HanesBrands making a “bold statement about L’eggs by launching this new campaign.” Yikes, it feels like a return to yesteryear.

One Day Without Shoes | www.onedaywithoutshoes.com

2011-04-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

You may remember that Toms Shoes sponsored One Day Without Shoes last year as a way to raise awareness that many children in developing countries around the world are unable to afford shoes. They grow up barefoot and are at risk of disease, infection and being unable to attend school.

A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school.

Toms Shoes is again sponsoring this event and will also donate one pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair of Toms shoes purchased.

One Day Without Shoes | www.onedaywithoutshoes.com

Make a difference on April Food Day 2011

2011-04-01T08:13:00.000-04:00

Happy April Food Day was established three years ago by Baltimore area bloggers Easy and Elegant Life and Pigtown Design to help raise awareness for the growing number of people in the U.S. who are unable to afford food for their families and depend on local food banks.

Hard to believe that so many people in this country need emergency food assistance and the number has been increasing.

In the Washington area, 600,000 people are at risk of going hungry; 200,000 of those are children.
Calls to the Capital Area Food Bank's Hunger Lifeline increased 71% in 2009 over 2008.
Nationally, in 2009, 50.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33 million adults and 17.2 million children.

Feeding America provides emergency food assistance to approximately 5.7 million people weekly by working through local food banks to provide food to people in need in their local communities. In Montgomery County and 10 other counties in the Washington metropolitan area, the Capital Area Food Bank provides food and services, including nutrition guidance, backpacks for kids, and food distribution through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and more, to more than 383,000 local residents.

You can donate to Feeding America by clicking here. Or directly to the Capital Area Food Bank.

William + Kate = Love and Great English Design

2011-03-28T21:12:00.000-04:00

With only a month to go until the big event, I thought it time to feature some of the fun, creative, whimsical, elegant, and kitschy things I’ve found in celebration of the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I follow many design and creative blogs and on Twitter, so it’s been entertaining to see what new and interesting things are being launched and are making people around the world pull out their wallets to spend that hard-earned cash.

I’m sure many buyers are thinking that today’s collectibles will become tomorrow’s keepsakes (or money in the bank). Hello, have you watched Antiques Roadshow, British version? There are occasionally collectible items that pop up from Queen Victoria times and they are worth quite a few pounds even today. It’s history. It’s fun. It’s a reminder of another period in time.

What I really like this time, though, are the more contemporary, often irreverent tea towels and plates. I like a sense of humor (or humour). Have you ever seen so many tea towels? It’s hard to imagine Americans creating special tea towels for any major event (I think we’re more likely to have goofy baseball caps). From Royal Worcester to Cath Kidston to contemporary poster designers like James Brown, designs range from very beautiful, traditional china to humorous plates with sayings like, "It should have been me."

I suspect that all of the Royal Wedding memorabilia will start a huge trend of British-inspired designs for the next couple of years since 2012 will be the summer Olympic Games in London. Lots of interest in London, along with people traveling to England, televised events, magazine articles, and many of us wishing we were there will create a huge market for all things English.

What will you order as your personal keepsake of this year’s royal wedding (because just as we all watched Prince Charles and Diana Spencer marry so many years ago, you know you’re going to watch)? What girl doesn’t dream of a happy ending.

Is it Spring yet?

2011-03-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like a vase filled with fresh daffodils on a cold March day. Today is a beautiful sunny day, and the blue sky and chirping birds are hinting at Spring to come in less than three weeks, but the daffodils always remind me that we're almost there.

It's much too early for daffodils in my Maryland neighborhood, but Trader Joe's has of course come to my rescue. This week I found bunches of daffodils, imported from England, for $1.49 per bunch. Now, how can you beat that. Certainly cheaper than my Starbucks latte and the blooms, not to mention the good feeling they give me, last much longer.

The house I grew up in had a long sidewalk from the front steps that was lined with hundreds of daffodils on both sides, along with a circular planting of daffodils where the sidewalk wrapped around to the side of the house. Every year we hoped that the daffodils would bloom to coincide with Easter. Of course, our parents loved taking pictures of my sister and me, sporting very proper, matching Easter dresses and bonnets (and often matching dusters) among the daffodils. Always a favorite flower!

What Do You Say When You Answer the Phone?

2011-02-21T10:42:00.001-05:00

I came across this wonderful NPR blog from last Friday, titled A (Shockingly) Short History of 'Hello'.

I was mulling over how much we take certain phrases like "hello" as a matter of cultural acceptance. The first published use of the word "hello" was in 1827 in The Oxford English Dictionary and the word was most commonly used to get attention (I imagine much as people now use "hey" or "hey you"). It was Thomas Edison who urged people to use the word "hello" when answering the telephone. According to the NPR article, we could just as easily be saying "Ahoy" (I kind of like this one) since that's what Alexander Graham Bell advocated.

I have often found it interesting to listen to the way people answer the telephone in workplaces, too. I have typically answered my phone at work by saying either, "Hello. This is Carla." or just saying my name "Carla Tevault" if it's a call from within the company. That then confirms that the caller has, I hope, reached who he or she intended to call.

But I have been intrigued by overhearing other people answer their telephones, too. For instance (the names have been changed to protect the innocent):

"Kate here"

"Yes?"

"Martin speaking"

"Hi"

"Hey"

Younger people are using the telephone less and less as they rely on text messaging for communication, so often they must learn telephone skills when they enter the workplace. Or maybe the phone will eventually become obsolete as we all rely on email, texting, Twitter, and Facebook?

How do you answer the phone?

It's All About the Bottom Line

2011-02-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

...and in this case, that's absolutely accurate.

I happened to catch this television spot recently for Luv's diapers. Granted I am not in the target audience for this product (my diaper-buying days are long past), and I don't consider myself a prude, but I found this spot offensive, disgusting and not funny. It was memorable only because it was so irritating and I couldn't believe it made the cut as a tv spot.

As a parody of American Idol, Luv's "Heavy Dooty Championship," rates the babies filling their diapers. It ends with the tagline, "What happens in diapers should stay in diapers."

The spot is from Saatchi & Saatchi, New York. Bet the creative team had a hoot with this one. Sure doesn't look like a portfolio piece.

According to Procter & Gamble, though, sales are up on the Luv's brand. And, in the end, it's all about delivering the goods.

Chrysler and Detroit: Beautiful

2011-02-07T09:44:00.004-05:00

I loved this spot from last night's Super Bowl. Talk about a way to re-position a product and make it beautiful. The spot tells a story about Detroit, pride, and a come-back of a traditional automobile town through its poetic copy and a great soundtrack. Eminem and a gospel choir...who would have thought?

I love the tagline at the end, "Imported from Detroit." It's a spot that has stayed with me, just like a great movie.

Great work Wieden & Kennedy!

Happy Data Privacy Day!

2011-01-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

Who knew? I was greeted this morning with a Tweet about Data Privacy Day and since it's a topic that is on a lot of minds as we do more and more personal business online, I had to investigate further.

According to The Privacy Projects:

Businesses develop software, build hardware and provide services designed to enhance individual productivity, communications and safety. We have come to depend on mobile communications, instant access to information, and intelligent services. We are empowered by these technologies in ways that those who have lived before us could never have imagined.

Despite all of the benefits of these technologies, doubts and worries persist about just how much personal information is collected, stored, used, and shared to provide these convenient and pervasive tools and services.

Data Privacy Day is an international celebration of the dignity of the individual expressed through personal information. In this networked world, in which we are thoroughly digitized, with our identities, locations, actions, purchases, associations, movements, and histories stored as so many bits and bytes, we have to ask – who is collecting all of this – what are they doing with it – with whom are they sharing it? Most of all, individuals are asking ‘How can I protect my information from being misused?’ These are reasonable questions to ask – we should all want to know the answers.

Their website provides lots of information and links to issues that business and consumers face as well as tips on what one can do to protect one's privacy.

I have heard many job seekers who are concerned about the kind of information that potential employers are requesting online just during the job application process...long before a job seeker is narrowed down as an actual candidate for a position. This includes the agreements that one agrees to online just during the application stage, such as a credit check, drug screening, providing one's social security number, and more. A job seeker wants to provide sufficient information to be winnowed down into the candidate pool and invited to interview, but may feel distrustful of an employer that requires so much information at this early stage.

I don't have the answers to this as it must be considered on a case by case basis, depending on the job that one is interested in and the potential employer. In other words, how much do you want this job and how badly do you want to work for this employer?

"We dare to dream"

2011-01-25T22:51:00.000-05:00

Word cloud of President Obama's prepared State of the Union speech this evening, courtesy of NPR's Andy Carvin. Brilliant, inspirational speech...now let's all work together in a cooperative spirit and move the country forward.

And of course, there was one concept that all job seekers are focused on: reinvention.

Goodnight Moon. Hello Audi.

2011-01-21T15:11:00.000-05:00

I love this new television ad for the new Audi A8. It's a visually stunning ad that tells a story, keeping you engaged through all of the mansion vignettes, along with the copy that's a knockoff from the children's story, Goodnight Moon. The message here is that luxury car buyers no longer have to confine their selections to the likes of the stuffy Mercedes Benz (or BMW or Cadillac).

The car itself is beautiful (and I'm not a huge car aficionado), but the ad drew me in as did the exquisite photography and design of the car. Love the headlights.

The ad was created by Venables Bell & Partners, a San Francisco based ad agency.

A Friday Smile

2011-01-14T19:15:00.000-05:00

License plate spotted today in Maryland:

YESMYLV

Is that romantic, or what? The car was being driven by an elderly gentlemen, and I couldn't help but smile as I drove past him.

A day of numerological significance?

2011-01-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

It’s 1/11/11 (okay I removed the 20 in the year, but you know what I mean). I like the symmetry and beauty of seeing all the same number when I write the date. It feels special, equal, a beginning, as though it should have some karmic significance.

If I were a dedicated numerologist, as my friend George is, I would surely know the significance of this date. He may even have discussed this at his seminar last weekend, which I unfortunately was unable to attend.

According to Numerology News, the number 11 relates to our intuition, instinct and faith in ourselves, and the repeating 1 may signify that we are missing something and need to dig deeper to find the information. Apparently, we need to tap into our intuition to help us uncover and learn the information we need to make well-informed decisions. In other words, we should heighten our sense of awareness. Easier said than done!

Also, Numerology News advises, “the key to harnessing the power of 1/11/11 is to know that that this is your time; your time to find the missing piece of your puzzle, to interlock it into your life and to start moving forward with the complete puzzle intact.”

Brilliant words of wisdom for a Job Acquisition Specialist. I’m ready, how about you? Time to meditate.

Nothing quite as refreshing...

2011-01-09T16:59:00.000-05:00

...as a lovely cup of tea.

And what is the perfect thing to do on a cold winter day, traces of snow outside, cozy warm inside? Brew a perfect pot of tea.

"The perfect temperature for tea is two degrees hotter

than just right."

- Terri Guillemets

After enjoying a brisk afternoon out and about, or taking care of chores in the house, it’s so comforting to relax and rejuvenate with a cup of tea.

I love this adorable teapot set that Erin brought me from England. It’s perfect for a 2 cup afternoon tea break, and the brewing tea warms up the cup nicely. The saying on the pot is, “ Nothing quite as refreshing as a lovely cup of Rosie Lea.” The Rosie Lea is actually Cockney rhyming slang for tea.

Today’s tea: Assam. It’s grown in the Brahmaputra Valley in northeast India and has an almost malty, strong taste.

Perfect.

"One sip of this will bathe the drooping spirits in delight beyond the bliss of dreams.”

- Milton

Art to Delight and Amuse

2011-01-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

Tongue in Cheek (or apple or flint or a piece of chicken in cheek)

The art of Arcimboldo, a current exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, is a show that will make you look long and hard at each painting to discern all of the elements that make up these amazing portraits. Arcimboldo depicts the four seasons in fanciful portraits composed of all manner of flora and fauna. The realism of each of the flowers, twigs, birds, fish, and vegetables is extraordinary. And he so perfectly melds each piece together to create these beautiful, and fun to explore, paintings.

Some portraits intricately incorporate professional tools to represent a particular occupation, such as The Librarian or the rather grotesque The Jurist.

From the Four Seasons to the Four Elements, each one made me smile. Study each painting and one discovers such amazing detail and often a wicked sense of humor.

Hurry: this must see exhibit is at the National Gallery of Art until January 9, 2011, or after that catch the show in Milan, Italy.

Buzzwords and Jargon continue...2011's hit list

2011-01-04T09:00:00.002-05:00

bandwidth chain circle diva dna

food fruit granular ladder

learnings low-hanging

monetize net-net page pocket

rockstar value

Last January, I wrote a post on buzzwords often used in business situations that I hope to never hear again. I’m relegating those terms to the past decade. However, there are still many phrases I hear in meetings, read in professional publications or online newsletters, see in the business pages, and see in job postings that make me cringe.

As we start a new decade, how about we relegate some of these terms to the junk pile and come up with phrases and sentences that really mean what we intend to say. Some of these words are over-used, they just don’t really mean what they imply or they don't feel honest…and they are much too easy to slip into everyday language. It often makes me wonder if the writer or speaker really understands the subject matter he/she is talking about or is he just trying to convince me that he does.

Learnings
Value add
Monetize
It’s in our (company’s) DNA
Bandwidth
Same page (Are we all on the same page?)
Low-hanging fruit (oh please…this may the most over-used phrase of the past decade).
Circle back
Run it up the food chain
Granular
Out of pocket
Rock star (as used to praise someone’s work)
Ladder up
Diva
Net-net
It is what it is

Mean what you say and say what you mean. Don’t use jargon just to sound “in the know," otherwise you may leave people guessing what you really intend to convey.

Paddling upstream (or going with the flow?)

2011-01-03T17:10:00.008-05:00

Potomac River, Great Falls

The first Monday of a new year holds such promise. It’s opening the calendar to a new work week, the holiday revelry is behind us, and the to-do lists start over. I get excited about a new year the same way I was excited about starting a new school year when I was a child. Now the decision looms…what will you make of this year?

While others return to work after their holiday breaks, I will return to the job search committed to:

Another chance to do it right
Focusing on myself and what I want my life to be
Areas to cultivate
Learning: Expand knowledge of and practical uses for business of additional social networking and online marketing sites
Developing multiple revenue streams

Sometimes life as job seeker feels like you’re paddling upstream and not making much progress. But I’m hoping for smoother sailing in 2011.

C&O Canal, Great Falls, Maryland

What will your life mean?

2011-01-02T09:14:00.005-05:00

What will be your life’s proudest achievements?

It’s something to consider when one visits Monticello. One not only sees this beautiful setting and familiar architecture, but learns much about Thomas Jefferson, including what he held as his most important achievements.

A perfect day trip is a drive through the Virginia countryside to Monticello, the former home of Thomas Jefferson near Charlottesville, Virginia. This spectacular home, with a stunning view of the surrounding rolling hills and fields, has been beautifully preserved and offers a glimpse into the personality and life of Thomas Jefferson, a true renaissance man of his time and the architect for Monticello. Everything was built to his specifications.

What I especially enjoy about visits to historic sites, such as Monticello or anywhere in the world, is what they tell us about the actual people – often the facts and anecdotes that aren’t included in the history studied in school. For example:

Mr. Jefferson didn’t want a large ostentatious staircase into the foyer of his home so he would not make such a grand entrance when visitors came to call. Instead the very narrow staircase is tucked away discreetly and is entered from an interior hall.
Mr. Jefferson kept a Farm Book, meticulous records of every plant grown on the farm and person living at Monticello.
Because of his constant adding-on and renovating his home, when he died, he left his heirs in debt.
After returning from France and his term as ambassador to France, the influences of architecture he saw in Europe caused him to change his vision for Monticello and tear down much of the completed construction to start over.

One of the stunning things about the person is to learn the things he wanted on his tombstone. And what were the life accomplishments of which he felt proudest and asked to be remembered on his tombstone?

Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and father of the University of Virginia.

Few of us can achieve the things that Thomas Jefferson did in his lifetime. But what would you want on your tombstone; what do you want to be remembered for?

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T19:00:00.004-05:00

May your days be bright and your nights warm. May each day bring you the love of friends and family and the kindness of strangers. May your life be filled with blessings and good health. May you know the comfort of a home to provide serenity, food to nourish your body, and beautiful things that feed your soul. May you enjoy the wonders of nature. May you find work that challenges your mind, encourages your creativity, and allows you to live comfortably. May you find peace.

3 Months Until Christmas...and 91 Degrees in the Shade

2010-09-25T23:09:00.007-04:00

Another hot, humid Saturday in the DC area so this Job Acquisition Specialist is always on the lookout for low-cost, interesting things to do. For several years I have wanted to visit the Kreeger Museum in northwest Washington, an architectural gem, designed by Phillip Johnson, filled with 19th and 20th century art, including impressionist paintings, sculptures, African masks, and modern art.

I had read that Saturday, September 25 is Free Museum Day at designated museums around the country, so I registered for tickets to the Kreeger (it's normally only $10). Love saving money!

Our informative tour guide provided information on the design and construction of the house/museum as well as about certain paintings. From his insights, one could really glean a sense of the couple who collected these pieces of art and the passion they felt for their collection.

This was a great diversion on a hot Autumn day when I started feeling the year rushing by much too quickly. I'm looking forward to visiting the Kreeger again since the work on display is switched out periodically.

Opera in the Outfield

2010-09-24T21:27:00.004-04:00

Thanks Washington National Opera and Washington Nationals for opening up Nationals Park last Sunday for a wonderful event featuring the opera Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) by Giuseppe Verdi. This story of royal love, murder and betrayal, set in Sweden, offered fabulous music and singing from a live presentation simulcast from the Kennedy Center.

My photos, taken with my iPhone from the stadium seats, certainly do not do justice to the spectacle on the screen.

This was the third annual Opera in the Outfield event that Washington National Opera has sponsored. A not-to-be-missed event next year!

Art=tranquility=refreshing the mind

2010-09-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

House Boat by Claude Monet

How does art stimulate your thinking?

I adore visiting museums, art galleries, historical sites, gardens, and old homes. I almost always learn something and am entranced by the beauty of the surroundings. I also find that the art calms my soul and stimulates the brain cells. It fuels my thinking.

Recently, I finally visited the magnificent Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, home of one of the largest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. The artwork is spectacular, from the Renoirs and Matisses to the Van Goghs, Rousseaus, Modiglianas, to African masks and more. The artwork is hung in striking visual arrangements to draw attention to different aspects of the art or lines, shapes and color. The paintings are interspersed with beautiful, old iron fragments such as hinges, doorknobs, and more to further illustrate aspects of the art.

I could barely force myself to move on to the next room since there is so much art in each gallery. The Barnes Foundation is an easy day trip from the Washington area and is a must-see for any art lover.

It was the perfect creative re-energizer for this Job Acquisition Specialist.

Summer's End

2010-09-11T12:37:00.014-04:00

I love summer but this year was unusually hot in the mid-Atlantic region, so an end of summer trip to New England was the absolutely perfect way to get re-energized for Autumn. Yes, I know the official end of summer is still 10 days away, however with Labor Day weekend and the neighborhood kids back in school, it feels like the seasons are a-changing. I love these blue skies, cooler mornings, open windows and fresh air. Just like I saw in New England.

The tranquility and beauty of New England...aaaahhhh.

Covered bridge at Shelburne Museum, Vermont

Relaxing spot on Orr's Island, Maine

Boats on Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont

Vermont countryside

Beautiful goats at Fat Toad Farm, Vermont

White Mountains, New Hampshire

Presidential Range of the White Mountains, New Hampshire

Cog Railway chugging up Mount Washington, NH

Church in Bennington, Vermont

How to Use Twitter to Find a Job

2010-08-18T12:44:00.002-04:00

I love Twitter and think it's a great source of information, access to articles, and opening my thinking to new people, ideas, technology, jobs, and opportunities. I'm able to stay on top of what's happening in advertising, marketing, social media, and business. I'm alerted to discounted flights and specials at Whole Foods and Starbucks.

I found this article for job seekers particularly relevant and concise (both for Twitter newbies and those who have been Tweeting for a while) : How to Use Twitter to Find a Job | Digital Pivot

Enjoy and happy job search!

Do Employers Really Know What They’re Looking For?

2010-08-16T10:29:00.003-04:00

I have seen scores of job postings for positions that seem to encompass multiple functions, skills, and backgrounds into one role within a company. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, corporate America and nonprofits, but you are highly unlikely to find anyone who has the skill sets to do everything from media relations to graphic design to copywriting to design of websites to strategic planning to media planning to social media well. The key word here is well.

I think it’s a great attribute for people to be generalists and to know a little about a wide range of topics. I may be familiar with how to use a drill and a hammer, but I don’t think anyone would want to hire me to design and build a house. Knowing how to use the tools in business isn’t quite the same as being knowledgeable about processes, communicating to your audience effectively, quality work, expertise based on years of experience, training, and understanding the rationale behind decisions.

Here are examples of some of the “Qualifications Needed” from recent job postings (these have been edited for brevity):

Director of External Affairs:

Minimum Bachelor’s degree in communication, business, marketing or other relevant field; supplemented by 3+ years of accomplishment in a multi-faceted external relations position.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite & Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat). Graphic design skills required.
Web and Social Media experience required.
Knowledge of media sources.
Capacity to create consistent messaging and to manage events for cultivation, awareness building, and celebration.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Preparation and periodic submittal of columns, letters to the editor, blogs, news releases and other public relations communications to ensure enhanced public visibility.
Ability to comprehend and correctly use informational documents including budget reports, surveys and trends, and other reports and records.
Ability to write for publication, conduct research on individuals and organizations, prepare statistics, and other job related documents using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style.

If you’re not looking for a job, it’s almost humorous. I envision one person with about 12 arms and a head that is constantly spinning. It’s one thing to oversee and manage others responsible for a tremendous variety of skills; it’s stupidity to imagine that one must be skilled in it personally in order to get the job done. Here’s another example:

Marketing Communications Specialist

Primary Responsibilities:

Develop, create, implement and manage communication and demand generation programs.
Negotiate with, brief and manage external agencies
Manage multiple campaigns across diverse channels, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
Collect, analyze and report metrics, including program effectiveness, lead generation and ROI

Requirements:

3+ years of experience of designing and implementing successful B2B campaigns
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
Experience in communicating benefits of technical products to internal and external audiences.
Knowledge and experience of multimedia development and editing capability (Adobe Suite, InDesign, etc)
Excellent project management skills
Creative experience: In-Design, video editing/production
Excellent English writing skills
B2C writing experience is preferred but not required

And one more:

Marketing Manager

Marketing Manager will:

Juggle dozens of projects, head off issues and put out fires at the drop of a dime
Translate needs and ideas into workable solutions and effective programs; act with diplomacy and manage expectations
Be comfortable managing relationships with all employees from entry-level staff to executive stakeholders
Think out of the box and know how to make a big impact without blowing a budget; personally like to research and stay up to date on the latest marketing trends
Possess excellent copywriting and creative skills, web 2.0 expertise, ability to navigate the Adobe suite and have print production experience

You Must:

Possess at least five years of experience working within a corporate marketing department
Demonstrate a track record of performance managing multiple marketing programs; bring your writing or design portfolio
Be highly collaborative, you understand creative services and work well on team initiatives
Have experience in strategic planning and execution
Play in the interactive space; you Facebook and Tweet, of course you’re Linkedin and you’re always on the lookout for the next great web 2.0 experience
Possess a Bachelor’s Degree

I'd be interested in hearing the comprehensive or unusual job postings you're seeing in your fields, too. Maybe that's a business opportunity...helping companies to write job descriptions and job postings.

Mission Impossible?

2010-08-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel as though I’m on a mission. Seriously.

Some days, my mission seems to be to catch all the grammatical errors and typos in the newspaper (and sadly there have been many in the past year or so). That usually leads me to a rant about the decline of newspapers and decent writing in this country, which then leads to the decline of a good, comprehensive basic education in the U.S.

Other days my mission is evil drivers; mostly, those people who don’t stop at stop signs. In my neighborhood, walkers, children on scooters or bicycles, people pushing baby strollers, and joggers have to watch out for the “slow down and go” drivers (most of whom seem to be on their mobile phones). Maybe this relates back to poor driver education?

But now my mission is bad advertising. I wrote an email a few months ago to the “We Want to Hear from You” contact for a particular organization in Washington, DC after seeing a particularly egregious, hard to read, and even harder to comprehend print ad. They must not have appreciated my feedback (or offer to help them) because I didn’t receive a response.

But today I was stopped by an ad in the August issue of Washingtonian Magazine (believe me, there are many ineffective, hard to read ads in this publication). Advertisers, you may as well not even waste your money advertising if:

Consumers can’t read the copy because the type is too small and fine to reverse out of the background photo.
A potential customer can’t easily distinguish the name of the restaurant (or any business) in the logo…again, because it’s too small and insignificant in the ad to be noticed.
I may already be familiar with your business, but you’ve hidden the reasons I might want to go there again (in other words, the benefits to your customers, your key selling message, your unique offering) by listing four hard to read bullet points, none of which are compelling when selecting a restaurant. For example, “ A hot spot among the city’s elite.” Please.
You select a photo that shows part of an empty restaurant and stairs leading…where, to the kitchen, the restrooms, the bar? I adore great architecture, well-designed spaces and serene environments, however all I’m getting from this photo is “dull.”

People, sometimes understated does not serve your business well. Think before spending your precious money. You’re advertising for a reason… does your advertising effectively communicate for you?

I fear I may be getting a bit curmudgeonly but I am a girl on a mission...and I love it.

Ford Fiesta or Siesta?

2010-08-08T20:24:00.006-04:00

Anyone else get this commercial for the new Ford Fiesta? I first saw it this evening and was confused by the "Hands Free" sign at the end. What?

I know I am not the target audience for this particular car and I surmise that they are trying to reach a younger, hip audience, but I have lots of issues with how they are trying to do this:

It's a complicated presentation of the benefits of the car (did you catch the 40MPH message and the full tank signage?). Come on, who doesn't want a car that gets 40MPH; that's a pretty big message that should be shouted from the rooftops.
It appears less urban and more old fashioned (resembling a scene from "Singing in the Rain" or another old, classic movie). Does anyone want anything less than the most up-to-date, most effective technology when buying a new car?
And what is the deal with people dropping from the roofs?
We aren't really seeing the car or any features that make it look like it would be sweet to drive.

The car ads have been hitting the airwaves over the past few months, as car manufacturers are trying to boost sales. I am very happy that Ford (which did not request nor take any government economic bailout money) is doing well, increasing sales and market share this year. They are all battling for your dollars and hoping to lure you into a new car purchase.

But as Leo Burnett said about advertising:

Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.

What car ads have you seen that are right on target or captured your attention and admiration?

Health Insurance Options

2010-08-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

Check out the government's new site to provide information for people seeking health insurance: healthcare.gov.

The site launched last month and explains very simply what is happening as a result of the landmark healthcare reform law that went into effect earlier this year.

You can find out which private health insurance plans (or public options) are available to you state by state. Once you see the health plans available to individuals (or families), you can go to each insurance provider to review individual plans, coverage and costs. I found this a great resource. It still means sifting through a lot of information from each insurance provider, but it allows you to compare the give and take of deductibles, co-pays, coverage, and monthly cost in order to make the best decision for you.

Happy, healthy shopping.

Separated at Birth?

2010-07-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

Anyone else notice the resemblance between Tony Hayward, CEO of BP, and Michael Sheen,actor, who played the roles of Prime Minister Tony Blair in the movie “The Queen,” David Frost in “Frost/Nixon,” as well as Liz Lemon’s very short term romantic interest in “30 Rock."

Every time I see a photo of Tony Hayward, I immediately think of the movie "The Queen." I have to imagine a movie about the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster is in the works (if not, someone needs to get started on a screenplay), and who else could better play Tony than Michael Sheen? After all, it's a story rampant with greed, bribes, people out of jobs, sexual liaisons, endangered animals, children worried about their parents, a terrible fire, death and destruction, a threatening storm...wow, it's a lot of drama for one film.

USPS: What About Advertising on Stamps?

2010-07-25T12:49:00.000-04:00

We're all familiar with the financial constraints of the US Postal Service. Postage prices rise, jobs are cut, post offices are eliminated, and there is talk that in all probability one day of home delivery will be eliminated each week.

Anyone can see that email, electronic banking, online shopping, and the economy have taken a toll on the number of pieces of mail that get sent. I know in my home, I receive fewer catalogs (thankfully), fewer credit card solicitations (although Capital One and American Express remain relentless in their efforts to get me to spend money), smaller magazines (less advertising = fewer pages), and less mail each day.

So I have just two questions:
1. USPS, why the heck did you spend millions of dollars to sponsor the US Pro Cycling Team (in other words, Lance Armstrong's bike team) in the late 1990s and early years of this decade?

2. What about selling advertising on stamps? Many of the stamps now feature beautiful artwork, famous Americans, or places of historical significance. At one time, the USPS introduced a program in which customers could create their own personalized stamps featuring a photo of your choosing...your face or someone else's.

But what about offering that space up to businesses with deep pockets...or even smaller local businesses? I'd like a book of 44 cent stamps sponsored by Starbucks or Bloomingdales or Hallmark. They could still be visually attractive, a good fit with the sponsoring brand, and the USPS reaps a double whammy...revenue from the advertiser and from the stamp purchaser.

Don't laugh. I am getting ready to mail two birthday cards today and will be adhering the very boring Liberty Bell "forever" stamp to the upper right corner. But I would love if I had Mad Men stamps, sponsored by AMC to correspond with the launch of the show's new season, to lend a little pizzazz to each envelope.

Running the numbers:
In fiscal year 2008, 37 billion U.S. stamps were printed.
If one advertiser sponsored one million stamps at 10 cents/stamp, the USPS reaps $100,000. If they can get ten sponsors at the same rate, then the USPS earns $1 million.
Small potatoes, but a start...

Top 10 Things Learned This Week

2010-07-22T23:17:00.000-04:00

When one isn't working, one can still learn something new every day. Things may not be as intellectually stimulating, but inspiration is all around us. Here are the Top 10 Things I’ve Learned This Hot Summer Week:

I learned that stores will always post banners boasting their 75% off Clearance Sale, but when one gets inside, most things are only 25% off the regular price. That one thing that’s 75% off must be left from 2 years ago. Don’t fall for something that appears to be too good to believe.
I learned that storm clouds rolling across the sky, with the promise of a huge rainstorm to come, are energizing on hazy, hot summer days. Summer in the mid-Atlantic = wilted me. The clouds in a dark sky help rev me up to actually get work done.
I’ve learned (actually I already knew this one but it was reinforced this week) that patience is a virtue. When heading home after an art show Tuesday evening, traffic was completely stopped due to a fallen tree across the parkway. My first inclination was to wish I had listened to the traffic reports so I could have chosen an alternate route, but it was too late. However, dear friend, cool car, quiet evening and good conversation meant waiting for the road to be cleared was enjoyable.
Peaches are the best food ever. I always thought I was a strawberry girl, but the beautiful, juicy, perfect peaches from Kingsbury Orchard are pure summer heaven (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time).
I am fortunate to have an abundance of friends – new friends and old (okay not old but long-time friends) – who go out of their way to share ideas and information, provide a sense of humor, plan outings, share meals, recommend books, commiserate, open a bottle of wine, and give welcome advice and encouragement. I learned we must be grateful for these friends in our lives and tell them so.
I learned that to be a job seeker, one must be a risk-taker, too. It’s no time to be shy, modest, or quiet about looking for a job.
I learned that if there is someone I really don’t enjoy spending time with, then life is too short to spend more time than is absolutely necessary beyond being cordial.
I learned that I actually do like tomatoes (those growing in pots on my patio). As a child I loathed tomatoes but somehow I now think they’re pretty swell and a terrific lunch with fresh basil leaves, cottage cheese, and lots of ground pepper.
I’ve learned that it’s beneficial to print out a cover letter and resume to proof before submitting online for a job application (trust me). Reading these things in print makes it much easier to catch errors than reading on my laptop screen.
I’ve learned that the best time of day is the very early morning, when no one is out and about in the neighborhood, the air conditioner sounds are silent, the sun is up but only just, the birds are not quite stirring, and I can sit outside, read my paper and sip hot, hot coffee while it’s still slightly cool on a July morning. I sense a hint of the light changing, not so bright at 6am, summer ending and Fall on its way.

Easy to Watch, Easy to Read

2010-07-08T08:40:00.018-04:00

I was entranced by this TV commercial for the Amazon Kindle.

The first time I saw the spot a few weeks ago, I was drawn in by the slow beach reveal and the low-key, non-intrusive song…I was curious to discover what was being advertised. Who doesn’t want to be at a quiet beach, looking at the turquoise water, feet in the soft sand, reading a good book in the summer?

Then Kindle hit the hot button benefit, since (not being a Kindle owner) I would have wondered if it’s even readable at the beach; the words on the screen reinforced that it’s readable even in bright sunlight. Great advertising and memorable!

Lyrics/sung by: Annie Little

Dollar Wise and Pound Foolish?

2010-07-06T08:45:00.001-04:00

I am not an economist. I am simply a Job Acquisition Specialist who is (who has been) looking for a job, following layoffs at my previous employer. And based on the tepid results of my job search and that of many, many other friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who are in the same boat, I believe that many of the nation’s unemployed will not be able to be employed again. There is a shortage of jobs as companies and governments have eliminated jobs and scaled back hiring.

I have also been concerned with some of the political rhetoric in this country that seems to be based on self-centered, emotional preservation of personal principle (and one’s own job) rather than on sound, educated research and considered analysis.

Paul Krugman, a Nobel-prize winning economist, wrote recently in the New York Times:

"So I don’t think this is really about Greece, or indeed about any realistic appreciation of the tradeoffs between deficits and jobs. It is, instead, the victory of an orthodoxy that has little to do with rational analysis, whose main tenet is that imposing suffering on other people is how you show leadership in tough times.

And who will pay the price for this triumph of orthodoxy? The answer is, tens of millions of unemployed workers, many of whom will go jobless for years, and some of whom will never work again."

Mr. Krugman also wrote that cutting back on unemployment benefits for millions of Americans will only worsen the economy as spending, which stimulates manufacturing, business, and growth, will be cut back even further. No spending = less money being spent at groceries, local businesses, and Target = further cutbacks on hiring = more people being unemployed = fewer charitable donations = more people and organizations in need. So extending unemployment benefits for the reported 15 million unemployed Americans (and most economists believe the number is even higher since so many people have simply dropped out of the job market after a long period of being unemployed OR they are under-employed, having taken part time jobs while waiting for the economy to improve) may seem counter-intuitive, but history indicates that is not the case.

From Mr. Krugman’s July 4 op-ed in the New York Times:

"One main reason there aren’t enough jobs right now is weak consumer demand. Helping the unemployed, by putting money in the pockets of people who badly need it, helps support consumer spending. That’s why the Congressional Budget Office rates aid to the unemployed as a highly cost-effective form of economic stimulus. And unlike, say, large infrastructure projects, aid to the unemployed creates jobs quickly — while allowing that aid to lapse, which is what is happening right now, is a recipe for even weaker job growth, not in the distant future but over the next few months."

I fear that America has sunk to such a partisan, tit-for-tat mentality that there is little hope of coming up with a recovery plan that is in the best interest of the country as a whole. Anyone else have more confidence than I do?

It’s hard to imagine that the economy could worsen, but it seems a very real possibility. And what is the first thing people do when there is fear of a depression: cut spending even more (even the employed will cut spending and find ways to save money). And, of course, this then leads to cuts in manufacturing, sales, and jobs.

Is it too late to go to medical school? I think there is going to be a need for physicians in this country in the next few years.

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T09:43:00.000-04:00

Happy Independence Day, America.

In case you’ve forgotten:

The Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, declaring the 13 colonies’ independence from Great Britain.
An original of the Declaration of Independence may be seen at the National Archives (free entry). It’s on view along with the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carta.
Congress officially declared the Fourth of July a national holiday in 1870 for federal workers (without pay) and the District of Columbia. Americans celebrated the occasion but it wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1941.
Bristol, Rhode Island has the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the country. In 1777, thirteen guns were fired in the morning and the evening to mark the thirteen colonies’ declaration of freedom.

The National Archives is one of the most interesting and historic places to visit in Washington, DC. One realizes what a young country the U.S. is as well as the extraordinary significance of the brave founders of the country who took a stand on basic human rights.

Enjoy your celebration!

Mid-Week Escapes

2010-07-03T20:10:00.001-04:00

Believe it or not, even unemployed Job Acquisition Specialists need a break from reality...especially when the late June thermometer indicates a 72-degree day and there is no humidity in the air. This is the kind of day that tells me I must be outside. No air conditioning needed. Lunch outside, preferably by the water. A change of scenery. Time away from the computer.     

I'm ready for a proper vacation but with time on my hands, no great discount fares found this weekend, and no vaca planned, a couple of perfect days outside playing tourist was the ideal plan. Wednesday meant a beautiful day trip to the Chesapeake Bay and Friday was spent meandering through the activities at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in D.C.     

A day at the Chesapeake Bay was the perfect mini holiday. A walk through Annapolis then lunch al fresco at Bridges on Kent Narrows: beautiful view of the water, delicious crabcake sandwich, perfect deck for outside dining. I could have sat there all day soaking up the sun.

It was a great day to check out the Chesapeake Exploration Center while at Kent Narrows to learn more about Maryland's long and fascinating history and the things that have been so important to its culture and economic growth: farming, tobacco, fishing, crabbing, and more. There is a nice observation deck and a path along the area being developed to prevent more erosion along the banks of the Bay.

And late June/Early July in Washington always means the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, with opportunities to check out the musicians, dancers, storytellers, craftsmen and artisans, food, and culture of different countries each year. This year featured Mexico, Asian Pacific Americans and the Smithsonian...unfortunately the weakest lineup I can ever remember (perhaps a result of budget constraints?).

Nothing memorable in the Asian Pacific American area (except for the very beautiful Sri Lankan dancers).

But Mexico had a variety of musicians, artisans and people making tequila (sorry, no samples) -- now that was a fiesta for the senses, too. A mini vacation in Washington, DC.

Mi hermosa hija:

The Government's Got an App for That

2010-07-02T09:39:00.001-04:00

I adore my iPhone. It's a mini-computer, telephone, information-provider, music carrying, and family photo sharing, pocket-size, fabulous invention. I love being out with friends and able to look up a movie time, a definition of a word, a street address (along with directions) for a restaurant, or the opening hours for a museum. It also provides me access to news when I'm waiting in long lines and easy connection with family and friends.

So I was pleased to read today that the U.S. government has launched several apps to make useful info easily available when one needs it. From nutritional information to products that have been recalled to wait times at TSA checkpoints at airports (now that's info I can use!) to information for veterans...and more. The apps are easy to find, no wading through bureaucratic gobbledygook to get to the right page, and a great way to get information to me when I need it (like when I need a zip code after leaving the card store). And of course who doesn't need a mobile BMI calculator...

I think one of the most useful apps they might come up would be for USA Jobs, so applicants can search new job postings, get an alert if a job is posted that matches a submitted resume, or track their applications.

These apps are not just for iPhones but are also downloadable for other mobile devices. Thanks,fed gov,for trying to be more consumer-friendly!

Inspiration and Onion Sandwiches

2010-06-30T09:14:00.000-04:00

You may not think these two things go together, but check out this article from this morning's Washington Post about the oldest person to retire from the U.S. Postal Service. Is this a great guy and dedicated worker, or what?

I love hearing stories about someone who keeps on living, who doesn't stop with advancing age and think that life is behind him. Instead Mr. Reed is looking forward to traveling with his son and discovering new countries he's never seen.

I'm guessing Mr. Reed has also been one of those people who just performed a job as well as he could for the sake of a job well done. Not for the accolades, recognition, bonuses, or sense of entitlement, but because wanted to work each day. We can all learn something from his work ethic.

If onion sandwiches helped him to hang-glide in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 93, then I think I'd better switch my diet.

Thank you, POAC!

2010-06-25T11:04:00.002-04:00

If you are a job seeker (or as I prefer to be known now…a Job Acquisition Specialist) and you live in the state of Maryland, there is a wonderful resource (and did I mention it’s free) to help people prepare for the job search.

The Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (or POAC) provides Job Acquisition Specialists with the tools needed to be competitive and get noticed in this extremely competitive job market: seminars, networking groups, one-on-one consultations with staff, computers, books, and more. It’s not a placement firm but a terrific, helpful place for people looking for a job, looking to change careers, or trying to determine what the step should be to get valuable information. Just check out some of these online resources, as well.

I just attended a two-day JumpStart seminar, which is usually how one becomes acquainted with POAC and which delivers the nuts and bolts of marketing oneself and searching for a job. It’s direct, specific, entertaining, and addresses the concerns most job seekers have:

Who is reviewing my resume?
Why am I not getting any responses?
How much information should I include?
How can I better navigate the online job boards?
But I was a perfect match for that job...
…and lots more.

The trainers are top-notch professionals, experienced, credible, smart and ready to address every question. I would put them on a level above anyone I came into contact with at the outplacement firm (no names, please) I worked with for a while.

Thank you to my networking group friends for telling me about POAC. Now I’m passing the word along, too.

First Day of Summer is Sublime

2010-06-21T12:11:00.000-04:00

“There will never be any more perfection than there is now.”

- Walt Whitman

Beautiful summer, long days and sunshine.

Hydrangeas in bloom providing cuttings for every room.

Golden day lilies.

Cheeriness of red geraniums beside the front door.

People on bicycles.

Fewer cars on the streets and a slower pace.

Bees and butterflies buzzing the flowers.

Tomatoes ripening on the vine, with basil, cilantro, and thyme growing in a pot nearby.

Time to read and escape vicariously to places I dream of visiting.

People don’t seem to be rushing to get places (except across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Friday afternoons).

Wearing sandals every day.

And I love the thought of pagan rituals to celebrate the summer solstice, from the Druids and the ancient Celts, to the festive Midsummer celebrations throughout Scandinavia. We all celebrate the sun in our own way.

Happy summer.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

2010-06-20T20:36:00.000-04:00

It has been almost exactly 5 years since my father died, and holidays, birthdays, and special occasions have never been quite the same. I don't know if one really ever gets over the loss of a parent; it's as though a part of your body has been stripped away and you make do in order to get by day to day, but it's never the same again.

My dad was kind, fun-loving, honest, protective, curious, and the rock of the family.
He enjoyed gadgets, new technology, great clothes, but most of all he enjoyed time with his family.
He loved the black walnut cakes and blackberry jelly my mother made for him; he thought she was the best cook ever.
He never missed a family reunion or get-together and had more fun laughing (and eating and teasing) with his brothers and sisters than doing just about anything else.
He was always the first to have a computer, digital camera, video camera, or any new home item. He is the one who urged me to buy a new computer way back in 1996 so I could get online at home and he could call me via the Internet.
He enjoyed buying his 2 daughters all the great toys he could also play with when we were little, from an enormous race car set (when I was about 8 years old) to basketballs, a toboggan (since we lived at the top of a hill, but it was years before we had a big snow again), bicycles, skateboards, badminton, and more.
He loved our friends and enjoyed the times when kids were at our house, or taking a carload of us to football and basketball games, visiting at college, and going out to huge Mexican or seafood feasts when visiting my sister or me in Texas.
He eagerly took his 2 granddaughters on expeditions to get ice cream, to play at the park, to show off to his friends, to ride his four-wheeler, as well as carving pumpkins and sledding in the back yard.
My father was very protective of his daughters, and throughout my life, anytime we parted he always advised me to "Be good" and Be careful." I laughed when I was 40 years old and a mother, and my father still advised me to "be careful."

So, today on Father's Day, I especially miss my dad more than words can say. Life just isn't the same. Love you lots and miss you still.

BP: Beyond Petroleum Turns Out to be Right

2010-06-04T10:34:00.001-04:00

Does Crisis Advertising Ever Work?

Seeing the BP ad in Thursday’s Washington Post reminded me of the Toyota ad from months ago. This most recent full page BP ad in major U.S. newspapers attempted to pacify the public with an assurance of what BP is doing to take responsibility for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

We will get it done.

We will make this right.

BP, it’s too late. 45 days after the oil spill they are still out to convince the public of their commitment to fixing the leak and cleaning up the spill by quantifying their efforts. This is not the first ad that BP has run since the spill, but it continues to boggle the mind that they are spending money on ineffective and insincere advertising. People don’t trust anything the company says at this point, and the ads are an insult.

I continue to be amazed that companies like BP don’t seem to have a credible, professional crisis communication plan. In the case of BP, not only did they not have an effective communication plan but they also didn’t seem to have a workable PLAN B (or Plan C, D or E) in case of an oil leak.

The latest BP television spot also began airing yesterday.

I wish instead of spending tens of millions of dollars on uninspired and unconvincing advertising that will likely not change anyone's mind about the company or what has occurred, they would instead invest that money in stopping the leak and cleaning up the Gulf. I fear we have only begun to see the effects of the environmental and economic impact to the U.S.

What Are You Reading this Summer?

2010-06-03T17:40:00.001-04:00

I always have a book or two going and am finally about to finish “Freakonomics” (I know I must be the last person in the U.S. to read it but I actually started it 4 years ago…what can I say. Other books kept sneaking in.).

After that, I’ll read “SuperFreakonomics.” Entertaining reading and books that make one think.

I always associate summer with prime reading time. That probably dates from the summers of my childhood when I loved riding my aqua and silver bicycle to the library in my hometown to load up the basket with Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, and other escapist novels. And of course starting in elementary school, we were always enrolled in the summer reading club where readers were awarded a star for each book read and, I think, a prize at the end of the summer along with your photo in the local newspaper. I was competitive from a very early age!

I have an ongoing stack of books, some new and some classics that I plan to get to. Sometimes I can’t believe the classics that I haven’t read (“A Moveable Feast,” “Brave New World,” “To Kill a Mockingbird”) but there are so many books and too little time.

Occasionally I just want a mindless but well-written novel that offers a good story.

I love hearing authors being interviewed on the radio program “Fresh Air,” learning about the inspiration behind a book and whetting my appetite enough that I keep adding many of these books to my reading list. Today I heard book reviewer Maureen Corrigan discussing summer reading in Summer Reading that Will Transport You to the Past, and I was ready to check out my local library for all of them.

If I can’t go somewhere, then the next best thing for now is to read about it. For now, I’m at home, but I’ll keep reading and dreaming of new places, opportunities, goals, and books I’m longing to get to.

Any recommendations?

Words to live by whether you're employed...or not

2010-06-01T17:02:00.000-04:00

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
— attributed to Mark Twain (its actual source has not been verified)

I'm a radio geek

2010-05-11T14:28:00.000-04:00

I have heard people say that nobody listens to the radio any more. According to Bridge Ratings (radio research provider), the listening audience in all age groups declined from 22 hours of AM/FM radio per week in 2005 to 18 hours of AM/FM radio today. I would imagine that continues to decline every year, which explains the horrible similarities across radio stations within a market and across the country: cookie cutter radio. Where once we listened to the radio in our cars, through earphones (the days of transistor radios), in our homes, and even at work, there are now so many more options, with the iPods, smart phones, internet radio, HD radio, and satellite radio leading the way.

I automatically turn on the radio in the car…sometimes to catch the traffic report or a weather recap, to check out the music and banter on one of my old commuting days stations, to calm my mind with the local classical station, or to keep me awake on long drives, But in truth, I’m addicted to NPR (National Public Radio). My name is Carla and I’m an NPR junkie.

I gain exposure to so much more that’s going on in the world because of the news reports on Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Even on Saturdays, when I’m at home or in my car, I enjoy listening to Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, This American Life, and The Splendid Table as well as the Saturday evening staple, Prairie Home Companion. I have my thinking expanded and often challenged by listening to Market Place, Fresh Air, On the Media, On Point or Speaking of Faith. And if I miss an episode, I can always download the podcast free from iTunes.

Where else can I hear an intelligent, in-depth interview with an author, a scientist, an artist, or a musician? Where else could I learn about the Scottish group Frightened Rabbit or have learned 2 years ago that even before the Haiti earthquake, people ate mud cakes or cookies just to suppress the hunger.

I’m not sure if it’s an age thing or just wanting to be tuned in to new ideas, information, and culture, but I would feel completely lost without my NPR. And during a time when I’m not in a workplace everyday, meeting and chatting with people of all age ranges, NPR helps me to feel more in-touch, keeps my mind stimulated, and broadens my perspective on so many things.

I love all kinds of media, I even worked at an all-news radio station early in my career, but NPR is the best news source in this country!

Interviewing: It's complicated

2010-04-27T10:15:00.000-04:00

Interviewing for a new job is almost always stressful, anticipating the difficult questions to be thrown your way and trying to ascertain if you’re a good fit for the job you’re interviewing for.

Is there any interview question that has really thrown you for a loop? In an interview today, the third person I talked with asked me about my weaknesses. I know this has always been a pretty standard interview question but I’ve typically avoided asking it when I interview people since everyone knows to expect it and has a prepared, acceptable, pat answer. After all, is anyone going to say anything really negative?

However, even after thinking about this question prior to the interview, I couldn’t think of a weakness (without making up something that sounded trite…). So, I told him I couldn’t think of a weakness but a former supervisor once mentioned I sided too much with my clients (which I vehemently disagreed with) but I was able to turn that into how I saw the role and what I could have done better to address that perception. There are plenty of things that aren’t necessarily my favorite things to do, and I know I have weaknesses (doesn’t everyone?), but in an interview I want to emphasize my positive, desirable qualities in hopes that I’m a good match for the requirements of the job.

I find interviews are often like conversations in any business situation. They become a give and take of questions and answers, sharing information yet allowing the interviewee an opportunity to probe about the position and the company while seeking the appropriate opening to share ideas or one’s own successes.

If it helps you who are, or may soon be, interviewing for a new job, here are some recent interview questions I've encountered:

Would you be bored in this job?
Tell me about a time you’ve had to negotiate something with a client.
How do you handle giving bad news?
Have you ever had to fire someone?
What kind of role/job do you see for yourself in 4 or 5 years?
Is the commute a factor for you?
What have you been doing since you left your last job?
Why did you leave your last job?
What classes have you taken?
What are you looking for in a job?
Why did this position interest you?
Describe a time that something went wrong and how you handled it.

What is the most unexpected, most challenging interview question you’ve been asked?

10 things to divert your attention while looking for a job

2010-04-21T21:48:00.000-04:00

Perhaps your day is more productive than mine, but now that I'm at home every day, I can think of scores of things I "must" do every day that are ever so much more interesting and immediately rewarding than the job search. My top 10 diversions, in no particular order:

Checking email. Again and again and again…always thinking there will be one important one, perhaps a response to a submitted resume, or a contest I’ve won. And if nothing important appears in my in-box, I can always spend time emailing friends and family and forwarding important articles to my daughter working in the next room.
Reading newsletters clogging my email box: professional newsletters, job search newsletters, travel newsletters. I want to keep up to speed in my profession, so I try to read everything, and consequently spend far too much time on this than I should.
Checking the old bank balance, looking to see what checks have cleared, ascertaining how much is left in the account, calculating how I’m budgeting, determining if money needs to be transferred. It’s always good for a diversion and feels very important.
Making plans for the weekend, this evening, or lunch next week…all done on email, of course. It’s much more fun, time consuming, and rewarding to schedule time with friends and to plan social engagements than it is to figure out the next tactic in the job search arsenal.
Doing laundry. Because of course one needs clean clothes for the job search and it’s such a rewarding task. You put in dirty, smelly clothes and you finish with new additions to your wardrobe (or linen closet).
Exercise (an important diversion, to be sure). After all, if I can get outside during the day to walk in the sunshine and see the flowers in bloom, or visit the gym when hardly anyone is there, it helps to eliminate stress and makes me feel better. I’d rank this as a highly worthwhile diversion.
Planning for dinner. When working I would typically arrive home at 7 or 7:15, cook dinner, clean up, then collapse exhausted to chill out for the evening. Now, with both daughters at home and being a temporarily at-home Mom, I feel compelled to cook dinner every evening (ok, most evenings), so of course I must use part of the day to plan the meal, go to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or Giant to get all the ingredients, then start cooking so dinner is ready not long after daughter #2 arrives home from her rough day of being a teacher’s aide. Early dinner=nice.
Reading my horoscope. If it’s a good one, it brightens my whole day and I feel positive about the future. If it’s a ho-hum horoscope, then I’m sure it’s all just bunk anyway.
Check the mail (as in snail mail), and if there anything interesting like a new Washingtonian magazine or possible checks in unidentified envelopes, then read the mail, too. Plus, getting the mail, promotes activity in the day and allows me to check on the front lawn, the neighborhood, and the weather.
Eating (couldn’t forget this one). After all the kitchen is mere steps away, and by 11 am I’m starved and must break from hours at my laptop writing cover letters and updating resumes. Consequently, I’m spending a fortune on groceries these days, but it’s nice to eat scrumptious, fresh food at home.

I actually think there are many more diversions than this, especially since I didn't include blogging and Twittering, two more of my favorite things to do each day. Counselors always advise job seekers to stick to a schedule. It may be time for me to heed the advice.

Rites of Spring

2010-04-16T15:04:00.000-04:00

Washington in Spring: the joy of the unemployed

One of the true joys of not being in an office or cubicle at this time of year is the opportunity to get outside and explore the many gardens and beautiful scenery of our historic area. Yes, there are often tourists everywhere at this time of year, but wander off the Mall and into the neighborhoods and there are quiet, lovely places in bloom throughout the area.

I recently took a couple of afternoons to wander downtown for the annual walk of the Cherry Blossoms (call me crazy for doing this on a Friday afternoon at the peak of the tourist season) and to see the Spring blooms at the lovely Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. Sometimes just being immersed in the beauty of nature can calm one's soul and sense of anxiety about what lies ahead in life. Just wanted to share these beautiful places with you. And for my unemployed friends, these gardens are free...

Beautiful Brookside Gardens

Quiet and beautiful, tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Wheaton, Maryland. The trees, flowers and shrubs change throughout the year, so there is always something interesting in bloom.

Wandering the Tidal Basin to experience the Cherry Blossoms

Yes, just like every tourist to Washington..

Our doubts are traitors

2010-04-13T10:05:00.002-04:00

I ran across this quote from William Shakespeare recently and thought it was so relevant, particularly to job seekers.

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.

The longer one is out of work the more doubts one has about finding the right job, or in this economy, finding a job at all. We begin to doubt ourselves, our skills, our years of professional knowledge, and our ability to find the challenging, satisfying work we’re seeking. Believe me, I know.

Fear is a troubling – often debilitating -- feeling that holds us back from learning new things, going in another career direction, starting a new business, reaching out to others for help and guidance.

How do you overcome your doubts? Have you attempted something that has given you a tremendous sense of satisfaction?

The key to conquering, or at least facing, your self doubt is to take on something outside your comfort zone. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a career step…it can be anything that builds a sense of, “I CAN do it.”

1. Take a class – any class -- in something that is new and interesting to you to help you acquire new skills: cooking, white water kayaking, Zumba, Spanish, or anything else you might not normally do.
2. Attend networking meetings to introduce yourself and your career interests. This can help re-focus your thinking to a workplace mindset and expand your contact list.
3. Set a goal: what about running a half marathon, starting that novel, publish your poetry online, create your own family website, paint your home, take an improv class.
4. Take advantage of free webinars; they’re available on lots of topics, such as Twitter, starting a small business, financial planning and more. Just do a Google search for topics you're interested in.

Sometimes it's the little steps we take that give us an enormous sense of accomplishment and willingness to tackle something else new and slightly uncomfortable. I have a fear of heights -- not a paralyzing fear but a sense of foreboding and "what if." On a trip to Bandelier National Park, New Mexico, to see the ancient cliff dwellings, one must climb a series of 12 foot "ladders" made of rough trees and branches in order to access the caves on the cliffs. The ladders go straight up. It was scary, but I did it (I made myself!). I told myself then and have reminded myself many times since when I've been apprehensive to do something:

If not now, when?

Gotta love Toms Shoes

2010-04-08T11:19:00.000-04:00

This is a company that walks the walk -- literally. It's a company founded on the principle of doing good for others. For every pair of shoes you buy, Toms donates a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Check out today's One Day Without Shoes event!

From the Toms website:

It’s Hard Without Shoes

Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, AND shoes facilitate life’s fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.

The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.

How many pairs of shoes have you bought this year? Were they need to have or nice to have? If you haven't checked out Toms Shoes yet, what are you waiting for?

Life in the Advertising World

2010-03-26T10:00:00.003-04:00

Having experienced the ups and downs of the advertising world during much of my career, I was recently intrigued by the book Adland, by James Othmer. Anyone who has lived through the fun, fast-paced, never-dull, stressful, late night and weekend advertising roller-coaster can likely identify with Othmer's description of his career in New York advertising agencies. If anything, you know you're not alone in the craziness and quirkiness of this business.

It certainly reminded me of some of the lowlights of my ad career:

The time the head of the Sales Promotion department became ill the night before a big presentation to a Philadelphia agency that our agency was buying and I was asked to give the presentation in his stead...never mind that I knew nothing about Sales Promotion nor what he really did.
When dining with my new boss in a major hotel client's fine dining restaurant in Boston (and hoping to make a good impression), they were doing everything to impress us. However, I had THE WORST migraine of my life, became physically ill, and left her to be wined and dined alone. My cab driver to Logan Airport the next day soon learned how ill I still was...
Presenting a new corporate identity and branding campaign to a regional bank client's VP of Marketing...and working through options for every conceivable touchpoint from logos to ATMS to the president's business card...and getting positive feedback and direction from our day to day client, only to have the President of the bank decide to mostly stick with their existing look (with a slight adaptation of our recommended logo). Of course, typically, we were unable to present our options to the ultimate decision maker to explain the thinking and rationale.

But that's the ad game...

Crazy things happen to you in your line of work?

I discovered Othmer's Adland at my local library but it's currently available on Amazon, Borders, and Barnes & Noble.

Recharging the Batteries

2010-03-25T13:54:00.002-04:00

Yes, even the unemployed need to take a break to recharge the old batteries, soak up some sunshine, and re-connect with nature. Working is stressful, but not working -- or at least not having a regular, full time place of employment with responsibilities, benefits, friends, and a paycheck -- can be torturous.

After a winter of snow, ice, snow, and endless cold, cloudy days, a long weekend in Florida seemed just the ticket to easing into Spring.

And can't you just hear a sigh of relaxation...

Madeira Beath, Florida on a cloudy day

Huge jellyfish marooned on the beach

Resident peacock at Wild Cat Rescue

Beautiful tiger, Wild Cat Rescue (a wonderful organization)

Rescued leopard, Wild Cat Rescue

Rescued black leopard (look closely to see his spots)

All scenes below from Ybor City, a historic district of Tampa

Henry B. Plant Museum in the historic, former Tampa Bay Hotel, now a National Historic Landmark.

Pelicans enjoy sunning in Florida, too

Tea time at the DonCeSar Hotel, St. Petersburg

Sandhill cranes (see the baby?)

Sandhill crane family

Sunset over Madeira Beach

Advertising the Freecycle Way: Round 2

2010-02-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t yet seen the true grassroots “advertising” called Freecycle, then you’re in for a treat. The website allows anyone to get rid of their unwanted belongings, fosters exchanges of items one no longer wants or needs, and allows others to get miscellaneous things they DO want. And no money changes hands; it's all free. It often cracks me up at what’s being given away and what is wanted.

This is not in any way meant to poke fun at people who “recycle” or “freecycle.” I am as concerned as the next person about keeping things out of our landfills and putting still useful items to good use. But come on, people. Do you really want some things that have been used by other people??? Maybe it’s just me and my super-sensitive cleanliness, avoiding germs phobia…but someone else’s used makeup samples make me cringe. And taxidermied animals?

Granted some of these do have a story. The person who posted the ad for the heels of bread indicated her family wouldn’t eat the heels so they save them for a future use…that simply never occurred.

Enjoy…things I never thought I would see advertised:

WANTED: Baby Items (especially diapers) for 2 diaper cake

(editorial comment: this is a party I don’t want to be invited to!)

WANTED: MAKEUP SAMPLES (CLINIQUE, LANCOME, ESTEE LAUDER FOR BUSY MOM

TAKEN: Just Opened Quart of Low Fat Buttermilk

OFFER: Gerber Rice Cereal (Going to expire Feb 19, 2010)

Offer : crutches sz 5'2" to 5'10"

OFFER: bag of whole wheat bread heels

OFFER: Misc. items

1. Array of greeting cards

2. X-mas craft booklets (8)

3. 16X20 mirror without frame

4. Small box of Styrofoam packing material

Medical:

1. Pre-filled syringes with 0.9% of sodium chloride 10ml (4)

2. Pre-filled syringes with 10 units/ml of heparin 5ml (18)

3. "Wing Guard" PICC line securing device

Offer - Heavy Duty Cardboard Tubes

Offer: Miscellaneous bag of odd socks

WANTED: Small taxidermied animals

WANTED: broken dresser drawers

Wanted: "The No-Cry Sleep Solution”

Wanted: Toliet (sic)

TAKEN: Band-aids

TAKEN: older people diapers size s/m for both Male and Female

If you’re interested in any of these items, just sign up at Freecycle.org.

Signs I Love

2010-02-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

One of the most entertaining things about travel, at home or abroad, is noticing interesting signs. Many times the signs are attempting to communicate in the most simplistic way so the message can cut across multiple languages. Sometimes there are words and sometimes not...yet, they usually manage to get the point across, however humorously the effect may be.

Here are some signs I've seen and enjoyed in my travels...

From a dock outside Juneau, Alaska

From Ketchikan, Alaska, a former church that is now the local mortuary

A pub in Tallinn, Estonia

I got a chuckle from the sign "Medieval Food and Drinks" from a refreshment shack outside the cruise ship docks in Tallinn, Estonia.

Copenhagen, Denmark...a sign from the top observation platform of the Round Tower

Handicap parking outside a library in Copenhagen...

Beautiful shop window for Very Important Clothes in Stockholm, Sweden

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T18:38:00.001-05:00

Happy heart day to friends and family, near and far. Enjoy a warm, comfy day surrounded by those you love.

The 10 worst management practices of all time?

2010-02-12T19:13:00.002-05:00

I ran across an article this morning in Business Week on the 10 worst management theories of all time and was intrigued: Ten Management Practices to Axe

If you don't read this article and think to yourself, "Oh my God. These are oh-too-familiar to me," I'd be surprised. I have seen many of these practices implemented in places where I’ve worked, have questioned the effectiveness and rationale of them, and yet, as a loyal employee, was compelled to embrace management’s new philosophies on running the organization.

I’m also certain there are many management practices that weren’t captured in this article and I’ve come up with a few that I’ve seen in action. Most of these are implemented with the best intentions: to help the company to be more productive, to make more money, to raise its public profile, to aid in new employee recruitment…but sometimes the results are not as intended.

When in doubt about what to do or if you don’t want to make changes yourself, bring in a consultant. I have witnessed the money spent, changes made, and the ensuing failures because of recommendations made by McKinsey, Accenture, management consultants, organizational consultants, and HR consultants. Often, I think it’s the people within an organization who have the best (and most cost effective) ideas for how to make a company more efficient. Someone just has to be empowered to make the changes happen.
Writing job descriptions: I have seen people hired into positions for which there was no job description…then the manager asked the employee to write her job description. Does the job description then capture what the employee wants to do or what the organization needs to support meeting its goals? If I’m hiring someone for a job, I must be very clear about what I’m hiring someone to do, the core responsibilities, required tasks, and scope of the job…otherwise how can I assure of making a good hire and getting someone with the right skills.
Change compensation structures regularly; some companies don’t want employees to become complacent, expect raises or bonuses, or think they have opportunities to be promoted. By changing the compensation structure, method of evaluating employees, and rating system every few years (usually as a result of a consultant’s recommendation or new management) then companies know that disgruntled employees may leave, content company-loyalists will stay and others will know that their pay scale is more limited but what can they do. The practice demoralizes employees and creates mistrust of the employer.
Implementing employee recognition programs…then ditching them, usually by never mentioning it again. This leaves people scratching their heads and wondering if they just were never recognized, if others were, or if the company simply doesn’t care about retaining valuable, contributing employees. Again, it’s a practice that builds mistrust in the workplace and it doesn’t have to happen. A good employee recognition program should be a way to motivate employees, to provide incentive to go above and beyond what is expected, to come up with innovative ideas, and to reward employees who think, care and want to make a difference.
Group interviews of job candidates: companies sometimes do this as a way to test the group interaction, to determine possible “fit” of a candidate, to maximize schedules and get every interested person in the room at the same time (the “come and get ‘em” approach), or to demonstrate that “we all work as a team and this is the team you’d be working with so we’d all better like you.” This type of interview can devolve into the employees making inside jokes, wondering why you’re interviewing here, and chitchatting so no one gets to know a candidate very well. It’s harder for a candidate to shine and highlight his or her strengths.
Implementing layoffs (yes, layoffs, not firings as a result of poor performance) without letting other staff know. Typically word gets around a company faster than HR could imagine when there are layoffs occurring; everyone knows the conference room schedule changes, manager schedule changes, and closed doors to watch out for. So it’s well known that layoffs are happening within a department but no one advises after the fact as to how many or who was affected. If you’re working with someone on a project, it’s inconvenient, not to mention disturbing, to find out days later that she’s no longer with the company and no notification or contingent planning has gone out. This lack of internal communication shows a lack of respect for remaining employees, who are affected by the loss of colleagues…often because they have to pick up the pieces and take on even more responsibility.
Implementing a “Coffee (or lunch or breakfast or chat) with [name executive]” presented to employees as an opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with the CEO or President or CMO of the company and to allow the Executive to chat more informally with employees…only to have the “chat” filled with pre-selected, softball questions from the corporate communications person or a “plant.” The Executive stays on script (this often sounds like a press release or trade pub interview) talking about how well the company is doing, she’ll be implementing exciting plans in the months ahead, there are no plans for personnel changes, I’m so excited to be here…then opening the floor for questions, but she/he has only a few minutes left.
Employees understand cost cutting during an economic downturn and are happy to have a job, but when an employer begins to strip away little perks one by one, they’re setting the stage for a less motivated workforce. Usually the first to go is the holiday parties, followed by the company picnic, then travel to conferences, and finally training classes and seminars. The part that’s hard for employees to swallow, though, is when the company is still enormously profitable but they are implementing employee potluck luncheons or cookie exchanges or blood drives in lieu of a year-end or thank you celebration – or a simple thank you for your hard work. Workers everywhere love blood drives, buying gifts for needy families, donating toiletries to the troops, mentoring underprivileged children, donating prom dresses, volunteering at food banks…but employers should call it what it is – employees doing good things for others not the company holiday celebration. When people are working long hours, taking on additional responsibilities (often after co-workers have been laid off), doing more with less, and forgoing raises they deserve a “thank you, well done” from the company whose stock price is rising.

I could go on…but I’ll re-visit the topic at another time.

What senseless or bizarre management practices or philosophies have you experienced?

Snow, Smiles, Snowdrifts, Sunday Sunshine

2010-02-09T21:53:00.000-05:00

We've all been abuzz this week about the tremendous snowstorm that hit our area Friday night and Saturday dumping over two feet of snow, stranding vehicles and leaving many without power.

However, the beauty of the snow and the cold, crisp air is undeniable, particularly if one doesn't have to actually go anywhere...which we didn't. We spent the weekend watching weather updates, monitoring the snow accumulation, and shoveling, shoveling, shoveling. The best thing Sunday? The beautiful sunshine and clear, blue skies which made us want to explore and enjoy the beauty of the neighborhood.

Kate's disappointment? Starbucks in our neighborhood was still closed. My pleasant surprise? Our newspaper carrier managed to deliver our Washington Post every day of the storm.

Greetings from snowy Maryland...

Happy anniversary

2010-02-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

Today is officially one year since I was laid off from the job I loved at a company I much admired. But management changes, a new mission is implemented, and the old guard is ushered out to make way for new sycophants. That's the way of the world and I understand that.

At the time I was laid off, 4 of my closest colleagues and department managers were laid off as well. We were (despite disagreements, occasional turf wars, and department managerial changes) and have continued to be, a tight team. We had each other and could commiserate and boost each other's spirits, whine (and wine), and miss those we left behind.

However, in many ways, I also look at February 6 as the beginning of a new life.

It's been the opportunity to re-evaluate what I enjoy doing and the type of job I want to throw myself into again. When we're working, it's easy to just keep going down a path and to not take the time to analyze what we would rather be doing.

I have had the time to spend with friends and family. Believe me, when you lose a job and your "work family," being able to have long lunches, visit museums, talk on the phone, or see the occasional movie (during the day) with dear friends reaffirms what is important in life.

I have been able to get outside to walk just about every day. To see the sunshine, feel the fresh air, watch the changing flora and fauna, and relax...this is my idea of heaven.

I have new appreciation for heating healthfully. I spend the time cooking better meals, using fresh, quality ingredients, and knowing what is in the food we're eating. When working and getting home late, it was often easier and more relaxing to go out for dinner.... it’s not my first choice any more and, in fact, prefer to eat at home.

Scratch the travel itch: with a long list of places I want to visit, I have spent this time off to visit new places: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Poland, Estonia, and Finland, as well as to visit friends and family in the U.S. and to make local day trips and adventures. Exploration and learning keep the spirit alive!

Polish skills and stay in touch with my profession. I have been exploring the effective uses of social media, launched my blog and Twitter.

And most importantly, I had the time to be with my mother during the last days of her life.

I am blessed.

Toyota...you disappoint me so

2010-02-05T08:30:00.003-05:00

Who is giving Toyota Motor Company such horrible advice in dealing with this major public relations and revenue-reducing catastrophe?

After seeing Toyota's first major print ad this past Sunday acknowledging problems with some Toyota models, then wave 2 of the campaign on Monday -- an ad with a serious letter (of apology?) from the President of Toyota U.S.A., I thought they were WAY off base. A temporary pause? To put customers first? Please, that really demeans the intelligence of Toyota customers everywhere. The first rule of handling a crisis such as this is to accept responsibility and to sincerely apologize...not to be glib (as the first ad was).

Sunday, January 31 ad in major newspapers

Monday, February 1 ad

Americans are usually willing to accept coverups, hidden facts, and less-than-forthcoming executives, IF they are willing to own up to their mistakes. Now, since millions of us (including myself) drive Toyotas and, for the most part, probably bought them for the combination of quality, price, reliability, and features offered, we are left wondering if we should drive our cars and if we mis-judged the Toyota reputation.

Each day this week, we have learned something new....a new problem, a different model. From possible electronic concerns in some models to newly-admitted brake problems in the Prius and in some Lexus models.

According to the KelleyBlueBook.com, more than 20% of automobile shoppers who were considering Toyota when car shopping have now eliminated it from consideration.

In Toyota's favor, they have finally updated their corporate website with easy to find information and the latest on the recall. I also received an informative email from my dealership this week advising they would be contacting customers to fix the accelerator problem as soon as their technicians had received the proper training. I had previously received an email from Toyota advising what to do in case my accelerator stuck (thanks for the emergency training).

Toyota executives should be out there assuring customers:

that they will do everything possible to find the underlying problems in all Toyota models,
that they will quickly, and at no charge to customers, make all necessary safety repairs
that they will make every effort to eliminate possible design flaws, communicate immediately to the public on possible safety concerns, and to implement the necessary procedures to insure this never happens again.

They blew it this time. Customers will likely give them a second chance but it's up to Toyota to win people back.

Would you still purchase a Toyota? Do you believe their crisis advertising/communication have been effective?

Tim Tebow ad during Super Bowl – why all the controversy

2010-02-04T16:03:00.002-05:00

The ad trade publications have been abuzz the past few weeks with news about the Tim Tebow (superstar University of Florida football player AND Heisman Trophy winner) pro-life ad scheduled to run during the Super Bowl extravaganza this Sunday. As almost everyone in the U.S. knows, the Super Bowl is perhaps the biggest (and most expensive) ad exposure event each year. People gather to watch the game, but advertising and creative people gather to watch the advertising. This has been been happening since 1984 with the launch of the first Apple television spot during the Super Bowl.

Tim Tebow and his mother are featured in an ad sponsored by the pro-life group Focus on the Family. According to Nielsen, this ad is garnering more pre-event “buzz” than any other Super Bowl advertiser. In fact, we're not hearing much else early speculation or previews about the other creative commercials that are scheduled (other than the banned gay dating site ManCrunch spot).

Yesterday, I received an email from Emily’s List encouraging people to sign a petition to CBS banning the commercial.

While I may not agree with Tim and his mother’s views on abortion or on the beliefs and mission of Focus on the Family, I do agree that they have a right to be heard. Clearly, banning the commercial from the Super Bowl because it’s an issues ad borders on censorship…something I am opposed to. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this very sensitive, and often all too-political subject. Mrs. Tebow has a right to believe the way she does and her child Tim is living proof that she made the made the right decision for her.

I don’t agree with the philosophies that Focus on the Family espouses, but I DO agree with their right to spend money to buy the time to air their views. We cannot get into the habit of censoring views we don’t like in this country…goodness knows we are already horribly intolerant of people unlike ourselves with views different from our own. It’s time we engage in civil discourse in this country.

Social Issues Lead Super Bowl Advertising Online Buzz | Nielsen Wire

Is Toyota Asleep at the Wheel?

2010-01-29T07:43:00.001-05:00

I can’t understand why I’m still seeing Toyota ads for Camrys and other recalled vehicles if the company has advised dealers to STOP selling the cars. As a result of the massive accelerator problem affecting Toyota’s biggest sellers, including some models of Camry, Corolla, Highlander, RAV4, Avalon, Tundra, Sequoia, and Matrix, the company is risking losing the confidence of car owners and car buyers.

On January 21, Toyota issued a safety recall for 2.3 million vehicles that could be affected by sticking accelerator pedals, which was in addition to the earlier (2009) recall of some Toyota and Lexus models for possible floor mat and accelerator “entrapment” problems which could cause accelerators to become stuck. This week, on January 26, Toyota actually suspended sales of all vehicles that could have accelerator-sticking problems. In addition to suspending sales, Toyota has stopped production of the affected vehicles. The enormity of stopping sales and production (along with the potential loss of revenue) of this many models is unprecedented in the automobile industry.

I understand that media commitments are made WAY in advance; however, Toyota and its dealers around the country should have a disaster or emergency plan in place. They need to pull the spots. Continuing to run spots advertising cars that dealers can’t sell makes them look out of touch, insensitive, and slow to respond.

Toyota has not yet offered either dealers or car-owners a resolution for the problem – we’ll wait for a letter in the mail – but I am confident that this huge public relations catastrophe means that Toyota was not prepared to deal with the problem and probably hoped it would blow over.

As the owner of a 2007 Camry Hybrid, one of the affected vehicles, I am continuing to drive it, I’ve been pleased with my car, and I have confidence that Toyota will offer a solution to solve this accelerator safety problem. However, Toyota, please stop advertising. Your agency and local agencies need to get on the phone and pull the spots. Yes, it will mean a loss of money, but it’s better than promoting cars you can’t sell.

When I worked in radio, we all knew that if or when there was an airline crash, that any scheduled advertising for airlines would be immediately pulled from the schedule. Toyota may not have this kind of policy in place but they need to get some sort of emergency media plan now. Change the existing ads to apology ads or a letter to loyal Toyota customers. Apologizing and taking responsibility for your failures goes a long way to creating good will.

Toyota, wake up and smell the mess of miso soup. You’re paying big bucks for advertising and it’s currently being wasted.

Ode to IT Friends

2010-01-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

There are so many benefits to working from home, including avoiding rush hour traffic, putting on sweats at 7am and staying in them all day, going to the grocery store in the middle of the day, and walking around neighborhood lakes on a beautiful afternoon.

However, I miss my IT support. I miss being able to call Mike, Ken, or Steve to rescue me when a program isn’t responding, or my computer freezes, or I can’t network to the right printer. These are the true heroes of any office. You may have an important presentation or report or proposal to write and print out, but you won’t do it successfully unless you and your computer are in perfect harmony. Whether you are in creative, finance, marketing, production, or human resources, your computer is your lifeline, your link to the outside world and within your company.

We are so accustomed to sending a meeting reminder, checking for updates on a project, sending a weekly status report or submitting expense reports online, on our computers, at the comfort of our desks. But when things aren’t working properly (or working at all) it feels frustrating and I feel helpless.

I am not a tech geek (I mean that in the most loving and respectful sense), so I try my best to muddle through. I read the online help FAQs. I call the customer service number when necessary. I search Google for similar situations and solutions. And very occasionally, and many hours later, I’m successful.

More often, though, I feel like a complete moron.

I have been reminded of my admiration for all those IT and tech support gurus I’ve worked with over the years as I’ve switched my phone and Internet service from Verizon to Comcast recently. It’s time to save money and look at bundled packages…plus the fact that any time it rained, the Verizon phone service decided not to work. People couldn’t call us and we couldn’t call out. (I have been completely flummoxed at how telephones in the year 2010 – 133 years after the telephone was invented – would not work properly day to day. After all, I live in the suburbs of Washington, not in a remote, mountainous region of the world.)

So, out with Verizon and in with Comcast (well, not completely, so far). The Internet stopped working after a few days, my wireless router has yet to arrive (11 days after ordering it from Comcast), the telephone has an odd beep (as though the line is bugged), and the tech person at Comcast, although trying to be very helpful, didn’t know anything about Macs. So 11 days after all my communication problems should have been solved (according to my perhaps too high expectations), I am still not technically in the 21^st century. At least Verizon had dedicated Mac specialists to walk me through DSL and connectivity issues – they get an A for tech support!

I currently have one little Ethernet cord in my unfinished basement, where the Comcast internet connection lives, through which I can connect with the outside world while sitting in a too-small child’s chair at a makeshift desktop. It’s not comfortable and it’s not what I expect but at least the Comcast Internet works (currently). Perhaps the wireless router is on the way; I remain hopeful. Yes, I bought one anyway but Comcast won’t provide tech support for anything except their own equipment.

And don’t even get me started on my new printer issues and its inability to print when I hit the print key nor to have any help topic related to the error message I receive.

I have longed for my own IT Mac guy to wander up to my door and know exactly what to do…I have dreams that once again we’ll be able to network all of the laptops and printers in my home and that the wireless will work with blazing speed from any room. To all the tech support people I know and have been fortunate to work with over the years, I salute you. You are my heroes.

Buzzwords in Business

2010-01-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

Buzzwords I hope to never hear again.

There are a zillion terms used in business that are words or phrases that have become popular beyond their original intended use. People adapt them when they wish to emulate someone they admire or appear as intelligent as the company CEO. Or they simply become easy terms to use when one can’t put together an intelligent, well thought-through sentence. An example, “at the end of the day.” It simply means in conclusion or when it’s all over and completed, what is relevant. But it’s these phrases that start to drive me crazy. When I hear meaningless jargon bandied about in conversation, presentations, reports, meetings, or when someone is trying to make a point, I tend to take the speaker less seriously.

Many of these words seem to have become the “you know” phrase of the 2000s: filler words when someone can’t think of the specific word they wish to say. Or a colleague wants to sound “in the know” or contemporary. Or they are words that get thrown out at professional conferences or in advertising so they are latched onto by large groups of people. They are the words that make me cringe to hear.

Now, I’m seeing some of these words appearing in job postings. It makes me wonder if the HR person or hiring manager who wrote the particular job announcement even understands what he or she is saying (often I certainly don’t).

Can we perhaps consider these some of the worst words or phrases of the past decade, never to be brought up again? I loathe these sayings. And I hope you never catch me saying them.

Jargon of the past decade:

Heavy lifting
My plate is full
Multitasking
Verticals
No brainer
Synergy
Facetime
Leverage
In the weeds
Under the bus
Thinking outside the box
Stand up meeting
Baked into
It’s on my radar (or often, it’s on my radar screen)
At the end of the day
Tee it up

This is by no means a comprehensive list. These are simply the words that I find most annoying. What are your pet peeve expressions from the 2000s?

Multitasking: you've got to be kidding

2010-01-08T23:23:00.000-05:00

Multitasking – what?

I concluded sometime in the last decade, oh so long ago, that I was not a multi-tasker. That seemed to be the catchphrase of the decade. If you were a multi-talented, efficient, and productive employee, then you were certainly a multitasker. The ideal employee was a multitasker. The person you wanted to hire could certainly multitask. Your boss was likely a multitasker and included that skill in your goals. You were held to the standard that “everyone” who is getting a good performance review, or is a likely candidate for promotion, or takes credit for the project’s success is a multitasker

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, multitasker is defined as: 1) the concurrent performance of several jobs by a computer, or 2) the performance of multiple tasks at one time.

I tried doing multiple things at the same time: writing a presentation, reading emails, taking a phone call, and setting up a meeting all at the same time. Would I forget what I was doing? Of course. Would I get frustrated that I would forget the point of the phone call and what I needed to accomplish? You bet. Would it take me longer to do everything because I would have to repeat what I should have been doing? Yes, yes, yes. So, of course, I would have to get up, get coffee, chat with a peer, then re-focus to resume my priority project.

Today at home, I was again checking email, working on a cover letter, newspaper nearby, chatting with a friend on the phone, scooting to get closer to the fireplace…and ignoring the large mug of coffee on the ottoman. Crash and splash. What was I thinking?

This is how we function these days. Read the newspaper, watch/listen to Good Morning America or NPR, write the grocery shopping list, throw the laundry into the dryer, pour more coffee, ask daughter for the third time about plans for the evening, check bank balance online, and re-read the newspaper article that didn’t quite register the first time.

But does anyone really do multiple things simultaneously and well? Too many choices, too much information, and an expectation that everything should happen now. It’s our culture to expect that if someone sends me an email, I should respond immediately (even if I’m also on the phone). Or if someone calls needing a piece of information, I should drop everything to find the document or phone number.

I must admit that I need more focus and am incorporating this into my 2010 goals. I will keep my mind on the task at hand and NOT on what I’m not doing. It’s easier said than done. I’m interested in a lot of things: reading, the latest news, travel podcasts, catching up on industry e-newsletters, chatting with friends, flipping through a design magazine, my children, and finding a job.

According to researchers at Stanford University, “people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time.” [http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html].

So, I will work on my focus, find the techniques that work for me, and will share how effective I’m able to be. I’m admitting now that I may not be available when you call or email…I may be working on something else.

Goodbye 2009

2009-12-31T05:58:00.004-05:00

It’s been a year of fond memories and a year I would just as soon forget. It caps off a decade of turmoil in the world, a changed economy,

Our apprehension and preparation for Y2K 10 years ago now seem almost quaint. In a much more innocent time, the worst we could anticipate involved possible computer glitches and crashes and how long it might take to sort out the problems. It didn’t happen. We slid effortlessly into the new millennium, with excitement and go, go, go fervor

Now we are ready to plunge into 2010. What might this new decade hold and how has the past decade affected our outlook?

An interesting article in the Los Angeles Times this week Kava 'anti-energy' drink takes root in the Southland - latimes.com made me think about the 2010s being the antithesis to the 2000s. The latest popular drink is Mary Jane’s Relaxing Soda, part of the latest trend in anti-energy drinks. Is this the new Red Bull or Rock Star replacement? I was intrigued by this drink to soothe our frazzled minds and souls. I think it’s the start of a whole new way of life for Americans.

Recent years have brought us the slow food movement, with more emphasis and availability of locally grown, fresh food. One of the most popular products among all age groups has been the Snuggie, a blanket with sleeves, suggesting a need for comfort and cocooning in this recession. The popularity of yoga, often billed as the antidote to life in the fast lane, has soared.

I'm convinced that these new products and trends are indicators of not only what people want but what people need to deal with these challenging times. So goodbye to 2009. I’m ready for the new decade to begin.

When Irish eyes are smiling

2009-12-16T03:30:00.004-05:00

It's time to get back. It's hard to believe it's been two months since I've posted anything, but life has a way of taking a course that's different from anything one might have expected. I've learned this year to manage my expectations better and to realize that many things that occur in our lives are out of our control.

This is wisdom gained from being laid off from work as well as from maturing, mellowing, and entering a new period of life. I've often described this year as a time "in transition," between jobs, searching for the next satisfying career step, and creating a more fulfilling and worthwhile personal life. But really isn't all of life "in transition" from one phase to the next...one can plan and set goals, but there are the curve balls that test us, our resilience, and our ability to rebound and keep going with the hope that things will get better.

This latest life "curve ball" has been one of the worst things a person can endure in life...the loss of a parent. I am unbearably sad that my dear mother passed away on November 2 after a very short illness and 11 days in the hospital. She was far more ill that she -- or we -- had realized so it happened quite suddenly. My sister and I had been there with her during her time in the hospital so were able to keep her company, to chat, and to let her know that she was surrounded by people who loved her. She was so happy that we were there with her.

During that time and the time we spent in Indiana after the funeral to take care of my mother's home and her estate, I was immensely grateful that I wasn't working, that I had the time to devote solely to my mother. I wasn't encumbered by thoughts of work going undone or responsibilities I'd neglected. I could be at peace with taking care of my mother's needs and give her my undivided attention (as my sister was also able to do -- we were very fortunate to both be there together).

In this case, my lack of a job was a blessing at such a dreadful and sad time. It takes time to recover (if one ever really does) particularly at this time of year, when we would have celebrated my mother's birthday on December 1 (also my birthday) and with Christmas approaching. These were always very special days in our family; we took celebrating and gift-giving seriously. But I'm slowly, slowly creeping back to reality, with the love and support of my dear daughters, my sister, my friends, and my wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins. Life goes on and so will I.

My mother was known, when she was young, for her beautiful blue eyes and dark hair; she had both the Egan and Mann families in her beauty. My sister and I recalled my mother singing "Danny Boy" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" to us when we were children and I thought this was most appropriate in describing my mom:

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, sure 'tis like a morn in spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter you can hear the angels sing,

When Irish hearts are happy all the world seems bright and gay,

And When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, sure, they steal your heart away

Free speech or necessary rules?

2009-10-16T18:48:00.002-04:00

One of the announcements from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently was to advise bloggers on new blogger ethics guidelines...that bloggers will now be required to advise readers when a product they are blogging about was provided gratis or that he/she was paid for the review or posting. It doesn't matter if it's a positive review or not. The rules state that a blogger who has received money or "in-kind payment" tied to a product review must disclose the deal to readers.

Now, radio stations must also adhere to these same rules; they have long had the rule but it hasn't been enforced. On radio, is is clearly paid advertising, typically a live read by the onair talent.

But here is my question, is a blogger considered advertising?

It seems to me if the blogger is a paid arm of a corporation or product, then it's advertising. If the blogger's sole reason to exist is to tout the benefits of the product or is an employee or contractor of the blogged-about brand, then that's another form of "paid" advertising (funded by the brand).

But what about free speech for individuals? We all know that conferences and trade shows load people up with swag in hopes it will lead to more business; newspapers and magazines are sent free products as PR in hopes to get them written into a story; businesses commonly give away samples to induce trial and word of mouth marketing.

The FTC has said it has no plans to pursue enforcement of the rules on bloggers or social media users who blog about products.

But what do you think -- free speech or a necessary regulation of often-blurry advertising tactics?

The first Twitter?

2009-10-14T13:34:00.000-04:00

Email, Instant messaging, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, blogging...all have changed our lives in making communication with each other so quick as well as allowing us to share our innermost thoughts and feelings with family, friends, and the world.

In reality, this is nothing new. It's only the method, the technology, that's different.

Tower of London from the outside, looking over the moat.

I was struck by this almost 2 years ago when visiting the Tower of London. Many prisoners held there over the centuries used elaborate graffiti etched into the stone walls to communicate their presence, their love for their families, proclaim their religious faith, note their time in prison, or convey their philosophies on life. These prisoners were not necessarily wrong-doers or hardened criminals, but instead included kings, queens, traitors, saints, and sinners. Many of the carvings in the walls date from the 1500 and 1600s.

Prisoner graffiti from the Tower of London.

Check out the wall carvings in the Beauchamp Tower and the Salt Tower at the Tower of London. This is history and it is fascinating.

The vast array of British history that is on display at the Tower is dazzling. From the Royal Crown Jewels, to the armour belonging to Henry VIII, elements of torture, and an 11th century chapel. The Tower, begun in the early 1080s by William the Conqueror, is a fortress of buildings and exhibits. It's well worth visiting again and again.

Sidenote: The day we visited the Crown Jewels at the Tower, a few pieces had been removed and were noted as "In use." The next day, as we gathered to watch the queen's processional from Buckingham Palace to the ceremonial Opening of Parliament, we were able to see these very pieces, each conveyed to Parliament in its own exquisite, regal, horse-drawn carriage, including the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and Sceptre.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on the Opening Day of Parliament

A don't miss site in London. I can't wait to go back!

If you go: check out the sites, times, and prices ahead of time at http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon. It's worth spending the day at the Tower.

A jobless recovery?

2009-10-11T07:48:00.001-04:00

According to a U.S. Department of Labor report released on Friday, the number of job seekers competing for each job opening has reached its highest point since the recession began. There are 6.3 unemployed workers competing, on average, for each job opening. When the recession "officially" began in December 2007, there were 1.7 unemployed workers for each job opening.

Now, some economists predict a "jobless recovery," according to an article in Saturday's Washington Post. (Business Digest)

Huh? So what constitutes a recovery? A drastic cut in the number of jobs lost each month? A more favorable Gross Domestic Product? A more favorable trade balance with foreign countries? Increased retail spending? But what happens to the jobs -- and the people seeking jobs -- in a "jobless recovery?"

Does the lower economic group in this country grow in number, creating an even larger group with limited resources to pay for housing, health care, taxes, insurance, food....not to mention all the "nice to have" things like travel, entertainment, and charitable giving?

And what happens to the people? After all,to put a face on unemployment and job seekers is the real story. They are people like me... and the many people I know who have recently lost their jobs and are worried about the future.

Companies are reluctant to hire; that's been well-documented. But there are jobs out there as a result of re-organizations, contracts that have been awarded, attrition, and some new positions being created. In my view, it seems that people with experience are finding it tougher and tougher in this economy. I believe hiring managers have a preconceived, biased view of more experienced professionals: they are set in their ways; they may not know new technologies and the online world; they expect too much salary; they are not as adaptable to change as younger people; they don't have the energy; I need new ideas, not old ways of thinking; this is a young person's business. We must assure hiring managers that this is NOT the case -- and it can be challenging to do in a resume and cover letter.

I worry. I worry about the future of this country as well as my own future. A "jobless recovery" has other implications somewhere...and I just wonder what those are and how it will affect me.

Engaging one's mind

2009-10-08T19:33:00.004-04:00

There are so many low cost and free cultural and educational opportunities in the Washington area, and I sometimes feel there is much I don't want to miss out on.

Last night was one of those times. The Washington National Cathedral sponsors many different events throughout the year: musical, inspirational, environmental, as well as discussions on world events. Wednesday evening at the Cathedral, I attended the Ignatius Program which involved a discussion of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The panel discussion was moderated by Adi Ignatius, editor-in-chief of Harvard Business Review (the program series is in honor of his parents and their support of the National Cathedral). Speakers included Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rory Stewart, author of The Places in Between about his walk across Afghanistan, and Husain Haqqani, Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S.

I don't know about you but I have been thoroughly confused about the U.S. goals in Afghanistan -- what exactly are we trying to achieve? It has seemed for years like a hopeless situation that only puts U.S., and other country's, service people in dire places and extreme danger. And with General McChrystal asking for more troups in order to achieve success in Afghanistan, I've wondered exactly what that success is.

If you've read anything about Afghanistan, you are aware of the warring factions, the tribalism, the remote protected compounds, the poverty, the lack of education, and the often-treacherous terrain in which tribes and remote villages are separated from each other.

It was educational, intellectually-stimulating and enlightening to hear the perspectives of the three speakers. There is no conclusion on what should happen there. It depends of course on one's perspective and whether the U.S. should operate in the best interest of the Afghani people, of the United States, of a military situation that we're now 9 years into, or in consideration of how the U.S. is viewed by other countries around the world.

I am currently reading Rory Stewart's book about his walk across Afghanistan, and I have great admiration for the work he and the nonprofit organization he established are currently doing in that country to help where the government isn't or can't. His position is that the country needs to be left in the hands of the Afghanis and the U.S. should not commit more troops. It only prolongs the Afghanistan government NOT taking responsibility for their own country. His description made me think of the U.S. acting as a "helicopter parent," rather than the child taking responsibility for his own actions.

An intriguing question from the Pakistani ambassador: Why do Americans (the U.S. government) feel they have to fix things in all parts of the world? Why do Americans feel they have to fix radical Islam?

Senator Kerry's major question of the decision-makers -- and he's going on a fact-finding mission to Afghanistan next week -- is, "What is possible in Afghanistan? and Why is it important for the U.S. to be in Afghanistan?"

Sidenote: Chris Cuomo of ABC News has provided excellent daily reports this week on Good Morning America from Afghanistan about the people and the U.S. servicemen and women.

Another recommended must read: Three Cups of Tea by John Mortenson This gives an amazing perspective on the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan and Mr. Mortenson's efforts to educate children who are not being served by the countries in which they live.

Reminder to self (and others): take advantage of the lectures and seminars that are available all over the Washington area. You might learn something and open your own thinking about the world.

Does Levi Johnston make you want to buy pistachios?

2009-10-06T23:30:00.001-04:00

From Monday's USA Today comes this gem about the new campaign from the Pistachio industry... with their first-ever television campaign:

Pistachio industry bets on 'sex sells' mentality with ads - USATODAY.com*

This series of tv and online spots features double entendres with the goal to create a buzz and viral marketing effort around pistachios. But Levi Johnston? Really? Certainly he's cute. But couldn't the ad agency for pistachios have come up with something more interesting and compelling to make me want to buy pistachios?

Pistachios were recalled from stores earlier this year after a salmonella contamination scare, causing a 20% decline in pistachio sales. Their goal now is to encourage regular purchase of pistachios rather than thinking of them as a special occasion purchase.

And I'm sure this slightly risque campaign, that features a series of spots with various "celebrities" and "not quite celebrities" will draw lots of publicity (particularly around Levi Johnston), but I find the campaign offensive and not funny.

I won't be buying pistachios. How about you?

Whoever said finding a job would be easy?

2009-10-05T11:05:00.001-04:00

What's the oddest thing you have had to do to land a new job? Sometimes the interview process can be grueling, meeting with one person after another, not hearing back whether they think you are a good fit for the job or not, being tested on the work you would be doing, coming up with solutions for your potential employer during the interview.

Here are some of the things I'm familiar with. Of all of them, I believe the federal job application may be the most trying and time consuming. Try figuring out how to best answer the questions and write concise but informative essays, when you can tell from the job description that you could do the job in a snap. Or you can tell from the job posting that whoever wrote it hadn't a clue what they are talking about.

I once had to take a personality test when applying for a job at an ad agency. I apparently passed the test because I was hired and worked there for 5 years. A friend later told me that she was not hired after taking the same test.
It's not uncommon to have to submit writing samples as part of a job application process. Employers want to see if you can communicate effectively and professionally and it often tells something about how an applicant thinks through a challenging issue. But submitting a writing sample for a freelance gig to review grant proposals? I submitted a couple of blog postings...I haven't heard from them.
A friend has recently been asked to submit written recommendations to a potential employer as part of her interviewing process. This is a job she's really interested in so of course she wants to be strategic and smart and demonstrate her talents and thinking, and she should do the best job she can. But it seems to me that the employer is also getting some free ideas...
Another friend has had multiple meetings with a nonprofit organization that was interested in working with her on a contract basis. She's interviewed, been to meetings, had conference calls, and has submitted at least 3 proposals, outlining how she would handle their work, including objectives, a plan of action, and a timeline. They decided not to move forward at this time. Did they get a free plan in the process?
Aptitude and skills testing is common among professions in which mastery of particular talents, creative skills, software, language is critical to finding the best fit for the job. This often involves a test project to determine if the applicant can actually do what her resume says she can.
Many employers want to run a credit check on a potential employee to determine if he/she is in financial trouble already (that person is identified as a potential risk); this is an even more relative issue now. Quite recently, in completing applications, I have had to consent to the employer running a credit check on me.
Each job is different, but the process to apply for Federal government jobs requires one to complete a questionnaire relevant to the qualifications necessary for the job, along with essays. This is part of the KSAs, in which a"screener" is evaluating the application before sending only the highest scoring applications along to the hiring manager. It's a time-consuming process; I can only hope they can streamline the process if indeed Federal hiring is expected to increase.

What are some of the unusual job tests you've had to endure? What unusual interview questions have you encountered?

Good luck to all who are patiently sending resumes, networking, interviewing, and hoping for that next perfect job.

The effect of unemployment on Metro

2009-10-05T00:41:00.000-04:00

I just heard a report this evening that Metro ridership has dropped since the fatal Metro accident earlier this year, causing the Metro board to be very concerned with the loss of revenue.

I wonder, though, about how the loss of jobs and thousands of people who are no longer commuting on Metro is affecting Metro revenues. While economists and the media seem particularly interested in the number of people filing for unemployment each month and the fact that the number is falling, judging the end of the recession and the promise of an economic recovery by that same number, it seems very inadequate to me.

Are they also analyzing how the people who have been laid off are no longer spending money to travel on Metro daily nor spending money parking cars in the Metro parking lots? Metro may be suffering a severe lack of confidence in the public's opinion due to accidents, continuing delays, inefficient service, and inadequate or unqualified staff that are resulting in fewer travelers on Metro, but that certainly isn't the whole story.

For those of us who have been laid off in the past couple of years, we are cutting back on spending and determing what is a "need to have" and what is a "nice to have." This affects restaurants, clothing stores, gas stations, coffee shops, theaters, and more.

In September 2008 the reported unemployment rate (from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for the Washington DC area was 4%. As of the end of August the reported unemployment rate for the area: Washington 11.1% (this is above the national average of 9.8%), Maryland 7.2% and Virginia 6.5%. Of course the unemployment rates would be even higher if the people who are discouraged and no longer seeking a job were also included in these numbers.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 64,000. The good news may be that the firings are decreasing but the hiring is not yet happening on a wide scale basis. As of the end of June, 199,800 people in the Washington metro area were looking for work. That's a lot of people no longer contributing to the tax base, Metro revenues, local subscriptions, contributions to charities, support of performing arts organizations, as well as to a variety of local businesses.

The media may be reporting on supposed good news in the economic recovery, but a vast number of people who are out of work and want to work aren't seeing it yet.