Finding My Way Just Fine

I shouldn't be writing this post right now mainly because of the 30 foot list of other top priority things I should be doing. But hey, can you really blame me? I've got a good two weeks left until graduation. Yes, you read that right. Good ole' Carl is moving into the real world, real soon. The initial question I get asked these days are "What are you planning on doing after graduation?"  I usually reply with "That's a good question."…just kidding (kind of). What do I have planned after graduation? To be honest, nothing is concrete for me yet. Coming into my senior year of college I told myself I would start my job search early, which I did, but finding a job that fit me well proved to be no minuscule task. I've still got lots of possibilities up in the air for which path i'll take come after graduation. Possible paths include grad school, hiking the AT, and a few job opportunities mixed in. Anyone who has applied to a job before knows how long and daunting the process it can be. It can take a few short days or a few long months to hear back from a company. It just depends. So my waiting game continues. Last night, around 10:00pm I got back from a 3-day interview event in Maryland which included a tour of the company headquarters, 3 interviews and a final sales pitch. I'm thankful that throughout this life altering process that I have options instead of no job leads.


I scribbled down this half-thought through paragraph last March and just stumbled upon it as I was rediscovering my cherished blog. Ruffling through an old blog is a bit bittersweet for me.  It reminds me of picking up forgotten about books that have grown a thin layer of dust on them. While sifting through my published list of stories I came across the short post above, which was just an unfinished thought that eventually turned into an unworthy draft, until today. Fast forward to February 28th 2016. Almost a year later. Who could have guessed that the interview process I spoke about above would become my first big-girl job. It's kind of eerie actually.

You want to know where I've been, what I'm doing, and where I'm going? That makes two of us. Each answer is hard to pinpoint but I think I'm right where I'm suppose to be for this moment.  I've grown leaps and bounds as a professional in the marketing field since graduation and even more as an individual.  My confidence in what I do is high, yet my hunger to excel and learn more everyday is anything but stagnant.  The questions above don't have a direct answer, they'll most likely continue to be drafts in my long list of published posts and that's okay.

Finding my way just fine,

Carl

Down in the Digital Dumps

What a whirlwind of a week!  I've mentioned before that I was taking part in UGA's Digital Marketing Competition, actually it's a requirement to graduate so I was kind of forced into it, BUT it was a really reeaalllly awesome experience overall. Here's the competition rules: They put it on like NBC's The Voice.  So, there's a total of four or five coaches.  These aren't just regular Joe Schmoes either, they are top executives in the field of digital. Each coach had 4 teams, and teams would get eliminated every round until each coach had one team left standing, then all of the coaches teams go head to head for the big prize.  I had a really good team too, we called ourselves Double-Tapped, which was suppose to be a reference to Instagram.  Come to find out though to be 'double tapped' is a shooting tactic of some kind so there's that. Below is a picture of all of the teams from the 'Knockout Rounds' AKA the night Double Tapped got eliminated (hence the title of this post).

The task was to create and execute a fully integrated marketing campaign for Intercontinental Hotels Group, better known as IHG.  More specifically, we were focusing our efforts on rebranding Crowne Plaza, which is owned by IHG.  My team was great.  We spent countless hours at good ole' Jittery Joes downtown brainstorming ideas on what our 'big idea' would be.  We had an interesting team dynamic that seemed to mesh rather well when thrown together.  It took watching a few solid hours of advertising campaigns,  add a sprinkle of daily inspirations, and probably several gallons of coffee until we captured our soon-to-be beloved 'big idea'.

Above is a picture from our pitch presentation. It's a slide I created to look like a landing page. Have you ever heard of a cinemagraph? Me either, until about 2 weeks ago.  Now, I'm constantly looking for new ones to awe at. Ann Street Studio is one of the best cinemagraph sites I've come across (the picture of the man holding onto the steering wheel is a cinemagraph that can be found in the link).  Cinemagraphs are like gifs but cleaner.  They're pictures (probably even ads in the near future) that are ever so suddle in movement (you can't see the cinemagraphs moving in these pictures, so go to the link above to get the idea).

So, our big pitch was on Thursday night. 2 out of the 3 teams left got eliminated, and like I said…we were one of them. Rewind to preparing for the big pitch, I took on the role of creating the graphics and powerpoint for the big night.  

Here's the display ad slide I created.  In presentation mode the picture of the glasses and the picture of the fire on the right would both move, helping to just grab the consumers attention without begging for it. 

One thing has been made crystal clear to me throughout this competition & also something that I think I've always known but never really acted on it, which is that I love to create things.  I have an itch for designing.  Whatever it is, may it be refinishing old furniture, creating graphics, or writing blog posts, I love creating content I guess you would call it.  This epiphany came to be when I got complimented by the coaches on the presentation I had created. I don't think I'll forget that feeling for awhile. It was rewarding to hear that after all of the time I had spent to make the presentation that someone had liked it enough to say so (very cool to hear from someone who has a career doing what you wish to do).  I loved being able to ask questions and gain feedback from my coach and my assistant coach throughout the duration of the competition.  I'm a little bummed we didn't move on to the next round, however I'm so thankful for the experience to be a part of a competition that revolves around a field that I can't get enough of.

Because of the advice I got during the knockout rounds,  I spent my entire Saturday creating and compiling an online portfolio.  I think it turned out nicely. Check it out here.  If you're looking into creating a portfolio, I'd recommend this site.  It's pretty user-friendly after you find your way around it.

Some might say we failed as a team.  We did get eliminated, but I wouldn't go as far to say that we failed.  I'm really proud of the work we did as a team and the work I did as an indivdual. I'll be able to use this experience for opportunities in the future both with my account of the competition and with the people I've met along the way. Thanks for reading, keep on keeping' on,

Carl

Friday the 13th

Today is Friday February, 13.  This morning I took the GRE, which I was really anxiously awaiting and stressing over since I signed up for it.  I'm so relieved it's over with.   Now, my application to grad school is complete and I will now anxiously await and stress over that until I find out the decision.  Even though it's Friday the 13th.. it's officially (almost) the weekend!
I've recently really gotten into day & thru hiking after reading the book Wild by Sheryl Strayed.  So, for Valentine's Day Sean and I are going to hike up Blood Mountain, which is a part of the infamous AT AKA The Appalachian Trail.  I've been obsessing over this new found hobby, I even got a really cool pair of hiking boots.  If you read Wild, you know how much Strayed loves REI.  I went to REI to get my boots and I'll back Strayed up by telling you it's a great place to shop with great, very helpful and friendly employees.  I could (and usually do) spend over an hour slowly maneuvering myself around the store so that I won't miss anything.  In the midst of my GRE preparation, I ordered the book A Walk in the Wild by Bill Bryson, this will be my next read now that I can burn my GRE prep book (just kidding, if you're planning on taking the GRE I've got a prep book with your name on it). I'm really excited about reading it because A Walk in the Woods is about the AT, while Wild was about the Pacific Crest Trail AKA the PCT.  My cousins and I have been talking about doing a hike somewhere soon.  I really hope we're able to work it out because it would be a great adventure!  Also, I got a GoPro this past Christmas, so i'll be putting it to use for my hiking trip tomorrow.  The hike up Blood Mountain and back is about 7 miles, so it will be a great walk! Whoo-hoo we made it to the weekend!

Building Your Empire, I Mean Brand

When you think of your favorite companies certain things come to mind, maybe what they are known for or specific characteristics that make them stand out in some way to you.  In short, their brand image.  As I was procrastinating on Pinterest today (yes, senioritis is kicking in) I found an interesting article that made me stop and think (check it out here).  What is your personal brand? Last semester, I had a guest speaker come and talk to my marketing research class.  His name is Adam Naide, and he is head of social media marketing at Cox Communications in Atlanta.  I remember Adam's presentation so well because of how intriguing his personal brand message was expressed.  Check out Adam on twitter here.  During his presentation Adam said something that has stuck with me which was,  people are becoming more like brands and brands are becoming more like people.  This is such an interesting concept to me because I can relate it to experiences in my life and my learning career.  It's commonplace nowadays to see a brand on Twitter or Facebook talking to and responding to their customers with a distinguished personality and specific character traits that we as consumers begin to think that the said brand is a living, breathing entity.  On the other side of the coin, we as people are acting more like brands by developing ourselves into someone that everyone can relate to in some way. So, why create a personal brand for yourself?  It's a talking point.  It's something unique that others can find interest in.  It makes you MEMORABLE.  Take Adam Naide for instance, if you visited his twitter page that was linked above you probably noticed that he is serious about his cereal.  I remember him so well because of this niche hobby of his: cereal collecting, which in turn makes me want to search for more information about him.  It keeps his name in the back of my mind.

What you need to construct your personal brand:

1. Something that sets you apart.  Do you have a unique or quirky hobby?  Find something that you genuinely enjoy and immerse yourself in it. Expand your knowledge of this field/hobby, become an expert in it.

2. Dive-Deep!  If you're going to do something you may as well give it your all or nothing at all.  If you find that niche hobby that defines you, you'll be surprised at what can come out of it.  You'll occasionally see big-name brands tweet to Adam.  They know that he is seen as somewhat of a middleman between them and the consumer's they're trying to reach. He has built his own following of others who share a love for all things cereal, which is really very cool.

Fast forward to January 2015:  It's actually kind of funny because as a digital marketing emphasis major I am required to compete in The Digital Marketing competition offered at The University of Georgia.  It's a competition set-up like the TV show The Voice.  In short, the coaches pick the teams, there are battle rounds, knockout rounds and then the big finale which includes presenting your teams final idea to a board of executives.  Long story short, Adam has become my team's coach for the competition! We're in the first stages of the competition so far, but I'll be sure to keep you all updated on how it goes.

Drunk on Digital

As my last semester at The University of Georgia is in full swing, my class requirement to blog has come and gone.  Luckily for you, I've really enjoyed writing about whatever I find interesting so I'm going to try to keep this up.  As a senior, I've found that in all of my classes this semester there is pressure from both teachers and peers to be on the constant hunt for a full-time job NOW, rather than starting your search after you graduate.  I can tell you first-hand (and I know you can probably attest to this) job searching is  stressful, pressure-filled, and almost a full-time job in itself.  There's something exciting about not knowing where you'll be this time next year, or even in a few short months.  With that excitement however, comes angst, nervousness and to be honest, a whole lot of fear. With one week officially under my belt in my Spring semester, the race is on to figure out a plan come summertime.  After a handful of interviews, and a LOT of application submissions to various opportunities, I've come to a blatant, transparent, and obvious conclusion: don't settle.  I've been at fault for getting so caught up in the whirlwind of finding a full-time job come May, that it has become relatively easy to forget exactly what I'm even looking for.  About fifteen minutes ago I decided that I'm not going to waste time on the 'I'll apply to that just in case' applications.  If I'm not excited about the job description now, will I ever be? Probably not, so why settle?

When I think about my personal career search, my mind keeps going back to my trip to New York City, and how I felt when I stepped into each of the agencies we visited.  An agency is where I want to be, that's what I get excited about, and that's the type of career I'm hungry for.  This semester, I'm taking Digital Marketing Analytics, which I'm reeeeaallllyy excited about for a few different reasons. 1- analytics is something that I find myself a bit foggy on still, so I'm excited to actually understand the inter workings of it. 2- I've heard that most companies feel that their analytics team isn't as strong as it should be, which is a great reason for me to  really capitalize on it.   I mentioned this little tidbit in my last post, and it fits pretty perfectly within the theme of this post, so here it is again: 

"Once you find that one thing that really interests you, IMMERSE yourself in it fearlessly." 

  Having a career in the digital field easily consumes fifty percent of my thoughts each day, its never not on my mind.  What's the point, you ask?  The point is, be fearless, be everything you want to be, don't settle, and don't take 'no' for an answer.  I hope this post has given you something, whether it be motivation or just peace of mind knowing that there's other people in the same boat as you.  Happy job hunting! 

My Weekend in The Wonder City: NYC Digital

While most of my fellow dawgs spent the weekend watching UGA stomp on Kentucky at a bar in downtown Athens, GA, I spent my weekend immersed in the magic of  New York City.  However, this wasn't a normal 'touristy' trip, I didn't spend it being awed by the bright lights of Times Square or eating the famous quisines of the city.  I spent it with a group of 20 total UGA Marketing students touring several digital and advertising agencies! I've always dreamed of moving and living in the big city, and it was always just that to me, a dream. It never seemed like something that was capable of being real until last weekend.

We toured several agencies, both big and small.  The weekend started early as I departed for the Big Apple on Thursday morning.  The touring began Thursday afternoon as the group toured Ignition, an experiential agency, and 5 Loom, a full-service advertising agency.  I remember walking into Ignition and feeling my jaw drop a little.  It was all open with a big staircase off to the side.  Bright colors of red and an industrial feel with varying sized conference rooms throughout.  After Ignition, we made the trek to 5Loom which was one of my favorite stops on the trip.  5Loom was on the smaller side, but it was a really laid-back and informational environment, everyone was really friendly and not as intimidating as I initially thought they would be.   After our tour, we raced off to a cocktail party at Bourbon Street Grille, where we gathered with UGA alumni who are currently living and working in NYC in the marketing field.  This was a really great opportunity to network and also get an idea of what it might be like to make the move from the peach state to the big apple.  Friday was the busiest day of the trip and included a trip to JWT, Nielson, Media Kitchen, and Macy's Merchandising Group.  After absorbing my quick weekend trip, I find myself really gravitating toward the smaller agencies.  I fell in love with Media Kitchen. I've found that company culture is a quality that weighs heavy in my mind when it comes to choosing a company to work for, and boy does The Media Kitchen have it.  During our tour and Q&A I felt like I was hanging out with my friends, some of the employees even met us for drinks afterwards.  These people were so smart, yet so relatable and FUN. Below is Media Kitchen's variation of E=mc2 (via their website http://www.mediakitchen.tv) which is tailored to creating the best 'Brand Experience.'

 Every company we visited had and employee that graduated from UGA.  It was so cool not only to see alumni working and living where I see myself after I graduate, but also to be able to get their opinions, advice and to hear their story about how they made it to New York.  Throughout the trip I took notes on each company and jotted down pertinant points that seemed vital in order to break into a career in digital in general.  So, I've compiled a list of 5 takeaways from my trip to the city that never sleeps.

Takeaways from The Wonder City 

1: How you Write:

 This point was a reoccurring theme throughout my trip. Derek Lu, a Senior Strategist from The Media Kitchen, emphasized how necessary it is to continuously improve your writing skills because let's face it, communication skills are imperative in any career, especially digital. Someone who possesses the ability to carry themselves well when they speak and write will ALWAYS be a relevant asset to any professional career setting no matter what trends may come and go.

2: Network, Network, Network: 

Underline, make a note, and put a star next to this one!  If I learned ANYTHING while picking these superstar analyst's, creative's, strategist's, and account manager's minds it would be to network.  Patrick Murphy, a UGA Alum put it best for me, he said (and this is loosely based) if an executive has two resume's in front of him/her (one of them being yours) and he has some relative idea of who you are, you have the upper-hand in being hired.  This is where it clicked for me.  I think I'm sometimes weary to reach out to people, but everyone I talked to genuinely WANTED to help, they were excited about connecting and hearing about my job search or welcomed me if I had questions about anything.  I also found it surprising that many of the people we talked to found their jobs through a friend of a friend of a friend, which really stresses the importance of networking and attempting to keep your name at the top or near the top of someone's mind.

3: Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions:

I've heard both sides of this coin.  One being that you should always ask questions, always try to expand on things that you haven't yet mastered, and the second being you should ask some questions, but don't ask too many questions because you should figure some things out by yourself. I agree with both, but I lean more towards the first scenario.  Bob Cavosi, Senior Vice President of Financial Services for 5Loom, highlighted this point really well.  He said don't be afraid to ask questions.  It shows initiative, passion, and the fact that you're constantly trying to learn, learn, and learn some more.

4: Be Passionate, Continue Learning Always, and BE HUNGRY:

 I feel like this should be an understood characteristic when searching for your first 'grown-up' job, but these qualities will set  you apart from the normal, basic applicant in my opinion.  Someone who is always willing to go the extra mile, whether it be stay late, take on an extra task, someone who has that fire within them for their said career path, is the person who will go the farthest.  After my trip to New York, I feel the need for my thoughts and opinions to be heard in this industry, I'm constantly thinking about it, and am motivated and inspired through it constantly.  Once you find that one thing that really interests you, IMMERSE yourself in it fearlessly.

5: "Put yourself out there, be fearless":

 This was my favorite quote that my ears had the pleasure of hearing this past weekend which was said by Kate Reaves, an Account Manager at JWT.  What great advice for someone who is just starting to break the surface when it comes to a career in digital. It's becoming more and more apparent to me that you HAVE to take the leap and truly be fearless when it comes to doing something that you're passionate about, and if you work hard enough you will be rewarded within your career path.

All of the agencies offered valuable insight to breaking into a career in an ad agency and into a career in general, and while some companies were both big and small it was awesome to get a glimpse into both options of an ad agency.  I had the best time while I was in the city, and most importantly I feel like I was able to learn so much about what it takes to make it in digital and possibly even living in the city that will swallow you whole all while making you feel like there's no place other than NYC that will suffice. So, I will leave you with this quote that I refer to often when my mind wander's off to what it would be like to live in the most beloved city in America, if not the world.

"Fat Girl Costumes" Available Only at Walmart!

For me, the week before Halloween is usually the time where I begin brainstorming what I should dress up as.  This years ideas consist either a witch or Dexter's victim. The decision has yet to be made, so I'll get back to you on that one.  On October 21, Walmart had a social media/website hiccup when they described their plus-size women's halloween costumes as "Fat Girl Costumes."

Once this was pointed out on Twitter by a customer, it went viral.  People took to social media, more specifically, Twitter in order to relive their thoughts on the sticky situation.  The insulting title was taken down by 10:30 am.  However, Walmart failed to completely take down and fix the issue on their website until about 1:30 pm.  The title was changed to "Women's Plus-Size Halloween Costumes" but the page was blank when customers went to visit it.

In the past, we've seen companies make mistakes on their websites or via social media.  Whether it was a disgruntled employee or an honest mistake (not sure how this would be an 'honest mistake') the most important step for Wal-mart to take would be resolve the problem as fast as possible and then apologize.  For example, I previously posted about Urban Outfitters 'blood-stained' sweatshirt, or Zara's striped 'holocaust' children's sweatshirt.  Time and time again we've learned that a companies best approach to damage control is to fix the situation immediately, and to RESPOND to consumers with an apology of some sort.  In this specific case, Wal-mart did just that by issuing an apology via twitter which can be seen below.

So, the issue was cleared up by Monday around 1:30, but Wal-mart was far from in the clear.  They spent the rest of the day, and probably the rest of the week replying to angry tweets from customers.  The moments after a company faces a conflict will define how successful they will be in the future, to an extent.  Keeping customers satisfied, loyal, and happy will keep your brand in the forefront of their mind at all times.  Customers are the root of the business, or they should be.  Social media is where consumers are, it is IMPERATIVE that companies recognize this, attempt to genuinely connect with their consumers on a one-to-one basis, and social media is the key to doing so.