See Ya Next Year!

See Ya Next Year! I wanted to write about my favorite posts from this year. I wanted to write a post about the sad state of affairs we saw introduced this year, or what Im guessing will happen next year. I wanted to write about me and what Im doing in 2009, and why it will be different than 2008. I wanted to write a post to thank all of the people who have been my cheerleaders, evengelists and mentors, and people Ive learned from. I wanted to write and thank those who read this crazy blog, or those who leave comments. I wanted to write, encourage, remember but I dont know how to do all that in one post. So Ill do none of it and remember 12/31/2008 as the day that I wanted to do so much but did nothing. As Director Tom would say, ITS A WRAP! Next year will be ______________________________________________. (see you January 2nd :)) See Ya Next Year! I wanted to write about my favorite posts from this year. I wanted to write a post about the sad state of affairs we saw introduced this year, or what Im guessing will happen next year. I wanted to write about me and what Im doing in 2009, and why it will be different than 2008. I wanted to write a post to thank all of the people who have been my cheerleaders, evengelists and mentors, and people Ive learned from. I wanted to write and thank those who read this crazy blog, or those who leave comments. I wanted to write, encourage, remember but I dont know how to do all that in one post. So Ill do none of it and remember 12/31/2008 as the day that I wanted to do so much but did nothing. As Director Tom would say, ITS A WRAP! Next year will be ______________________________________________. (see you January 2nd :))

From Los Angeles to Atlanta a Culture Shock Indeed!

From Los Angeles to Atlanta a Culture Shock Indeed! The following is a guest post by Nicole Grays Owens.  Her bio follows. Los Angeles, otherwise known at the “City of Angels.” Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Alluring even. Angels! It doesn’t get any cooler than that. So who would want to leave such a cornucopia of ethereal beings, an abundance of sunshine, palm trees galore, luxury whips at every red light, ideal weather year-round, numerous beaches and the perfectly tanned bodies to go with, delightful bistros, shopping in Beverly Hills, perfectly capped Colgate smiles, and all the A-list celebrities you can pay the Paparazzi to photograph? Ummm… Me, that’s who. Atlanta? Desperately needing a change from my familiar routine (the Hollywood sign high in the hills on a clear day during my commute), the regular faces playing chess and smoking cigars (at the Starbucks and TGIF in LaDera Heights), and bumper-to-bumper traffic, not to mention just getting numb to all the trappings that lure others by the droves to L.A., I on the other hand was long overdue for a change of scenery and a different quality of life â€" a slightly slower pace, southern drawls, men with manners, different architectural structures, restaurants that proudly served fried foods and sweet tea, and actual seasons to boot. So without so much as a visit to check the joint out, I sold everything I owned, packed up what would fit in my car and moved to Atlanta in 2006, sight unseen. Friends and family alike thought I was half nutty and half courageous for making such a dramatic, life-changing decision without so much as a second thought. But I had thought about it. Weighed it out. Angels in one hand, peaches in the other. What the hell â€" I decided to take a bite out of life and see what all the fuzz was about. For years I’d heard that Atlanta was a Mecca of sorts for Black people. I was black and wanted to mecca, so off I went. Excited! What I experienced upon arrival was not at all what I expected. Culture shock set in immediately, and for the first year I got so lost and turned around so easily that the only places I dared to venture to were the offices of Turner Broadcasting where I worked, Publix where grocery shopping is a pleasure, and Macys once, because I didnt even own a winter coat. Arriving in November to temperatures in the teens threw me for a loop. Who knew it got cold and  windy enough to slap you into compliance immediately if you  werent  appropriately dressed? Eventually I had to leave for a few months to regroup â€" arm myself mentally before returning, this time ready to conquer The A! Atlanta:  Take Two. The four major freeways here are 285, which circles the perimeter of Atlanta, 75/85, which after ten years still confuses the hell out of me, and 20. Ive mastered 285 and 20. But the thought of 75/85 still scares the crap out of me, and I steer clear at any opportunity. It’s okay if you’re laughing. I invite â€" no, I double-dog dare you to visit, hop in a car, turn on your GPS, and see where it lands you. My guarantee is this: You’ll be lost long before youre found. And did I mention everything closes at 10pm? So whatever you’re seeking you better find it by 9:45 or you can consider yourself SOL until the next day. The Good, The Bad, And The Other My biggest disappointment thus far has been the lack of southern hospitality. One would be hard pressed to meet someone who resides in Atlanta who’s actually from Atlanta. It’s the ultimate melting pot. You’ll find New Yorkers, Californians, Chicagoans, and for some odd reason a slew of imports from Ohio (still can’t figure that one out). Haitians, Jamaicans, Nigerians, Latinos and Asians…all here. Remember those capped Colgate smiles I mentioned earlier?  Diamond grills” and gold teeth rule in the South. Not to insult, just describing the real. There are pockets of truly decent people, both male and female, who live in the Land of Peaches. And they date by county. Youre probably wondering what this means. Let me fill you in: Every vehicle has a rear license plate, right? Well, in Atlanta your county is listed, so if a potential suitor were to approach, they are quick to check your plate before asking your name. If the county is too far from  theirs, you can forget dating. Anything more than twenty minutes is a turn-off and a hassle due to the traffic here. Yes! Its as bad as anything you can imagine on the 405 in Los Angeles during rush hour, only with eighteen wheelers taking up two of the four-lane highways here. Atlanta is also a hot-bed of fake, phony, thieving, crafty and shady folks. They talk fast, drive even faster, and will try to get over on you so quickly itll make your head spin. Here you are thinking about that slower pace and down-home southern living; but before you know it, one wrong move and youll find yourself smack dab in the middle of Sodom and  Gomorrah before youve had a chance to blink. So if you visit or end up a resident, like I’ve been for the past ten years, be on guard. Atlanta has a swingers establishment and strip clubs that rival anything Las Vegas has to offer. And sadly, on a day-to-day basis most everyone wants something for nothing, and that mindset is as common as a seasonal cold. But dont count it out just yet. Atlanta offers some good stuff too. This city is thriving, and I’d be remiss to leave the peachy side unexposed. HBCUs and Emory play a major role in why so many  families either move here or send their offspring to further  their education. We have some of the most beautiful and exclusive residential communities: Gorgeous mansions on grounds with private golf clubs and water features, more bang for your buck as far as cost-of-living expenses, major household-name companies like Coca-Cola, Ernst Young and CNN are headquartered inside the Perimeter (that would be Midtown or Downtown Atlanta). The shopping here  doesnt quite rival that of Rodeo Drive, but Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza in  Buckhead  offer as much Gucci, Christian Louboutin and Audemars Piquet as your American Express can handle. Then there is the entertainment industry.  Atlanta has quickly become the Hollywood of the South. There are actors, artists, singers, musicians, poets, writers and the like, which gives you a low-key Cali vibe, if you’re into that scene. And if you’re an enterprising entrepreneur, Atlanta is certainly a city you should consider. It’s the land of “the come up” and I’ve managed to do quite well here. Admittedly, after ten years, all these peaches and their fuzz have grown on me; but as they say, there really is no place like home. Los Angeles. I still do miss the fog and the smog. The beaches and the beauty. The mountains and the movie stars. Home is Where You Make It Ultimately, opportunities are everywhere you look, and the elusive cool kids of Cali are actually accessible here too, with LA’s six degrees of separation being more like two in Atlanta. If you can adjust and keep your head on straight, it’s easy to make your way into the right circles and elevate your game. And although that southern hospitality is lacking, just about everyone here is about networking; in Atlanta it’s not what you know but who you know. So if The A is calling your name and it seems as if someone is shouting hey  Shawty, then gear up good people and put your reservations to the side.  The dreaded 75/85 await your arrival. Should you see me rolling along, toot your horn and wave. I promise to smile and point you in the right direction if  youre lost. But if you want the fuzz, that’ll cost you extra. I told you, the hustle is real! NICOLE GRAYS OWENS Nicole Grays Owens may not be a cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but she certainly qualifies as one. After a 25-year stint in corporate America working with such media giants as CNN and Paramount Pictures, it was a natural transition for Nicole to become a host her own podcasts, Catch the Convo and Pillow Talk: Live in the Living Room  with Niko Grey. The  charismatic and sexy  California transplant is a fixture on the Atlanta scene and  is frequently described as stylish, unapologetically transparent and most importantly DOPE. One of her proudest accomplishments was building BISON,  a multi-million dollar  Payroll and Staffing company with then-husband Wesley Owens. Currently perusing  her passions on a full-time basis, Nicole is a celebrity wardrobe stylist and aspiring novelist. When shes not working,  Nicole enjoys down  time with her 3 incredible step children.  Or sitting poolside sipping champagne and puffing on a hookah while contemplating her next move. For more information, please visit: nicolegraysowens.com. . Image credits. Main: Carson Nicely.    . Los Angeles.  Atlanta. LA Collage.

When Should Personal and Corporate Social Media Accounts Collide - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

When Should Personal and Corporate Social Media Accounts Collide - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Do you ask employees to represent your brand on their personal social media and if so, do you give them any guidance? The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons. 1. Ask Nothing Beyond LinkedIn We ask each of our employees to use the same company boilerplate description on LinkedIn, but we do not dictate any other social networks. We love it when our employees share posts from our companys social accounts, but we never request it. Because employees make their own decisions about sharing content, posts shared are authentic and come across that way to each employees network. Brittany Hodak, ZinePak 2. Trust Your Gut At RTC, we encourage sharing our clients and staffs stories and victories on social media. And our policy is simple: trust your gut. People know whats OK to post and whats not. When youve worked to create a loving culture powered by vulnerability and kindness, you dont need a social media policy. Corey Blake, Round Table Companies 3. Make Your Team Aware They Represent the Company We do not mandate that anyone post on social media. But all of our teammates are aware that they represent Modify at all times. Because of our high-touch service, customers know who we are, and our team knows that we need to always put forward a respectful attitude. The side benefit of a diverse team with diverse messages is that the Modify brand becomes that much more textured. Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches 4. Dont Force It We dont ask our employees to represent the brand on personal pages because we dont want to infringe on a space that may be personal and/or private to them. Our employees share content about the brand on their own things they find exciting. We prefer brand advocacy like that to be organic rather than for it to feel forced. Fabian Kaempfer, Chocomize 5. Encourage Active Participation As a real estate company, we realize that our agents ARE the brand. We encourage them to be extremely active on their personal social media and mention their affiliation with us as much as they would like. Kuba Jewgieniew, Realty ONE Group 6. Dont Share It If You Couldnt Say It in a Meeting Every employee is in sales and is an ambassador of your company. Social media is a natural extension of that and a powerful one. We coordinate tweets and LinkedIn posts as a company. But as a reminder, these are public channels. If you wouldnt like your manager to hear you say it in front of customers at a meeting, you wouldnt want them to read it online either. Trevor Sumner, LocalVox 7. Dont Try to Create Brand Ambassadors by Force Im proud to say that we have a strong company culture. Each of our workers truly care about the success of this company. I do let them know that their participation in social media is valued but never mandatory. You cant create brand ambassadors by force it just doesnt work that way. They have to be invested. Maren Hogan, Red Branch Media 8. Encourage LinkedIn Postings We believe in employee engagement on several levels, and social media is no exception. If we have a new job posting, we encourage our employees to post the new position on their LinkedIn pages. We guide them to this outlet because, in most cases, LinkedIn is a reputable source of legitimate work experience. Nicole Smartt, Star Staffing

The 5 Things You Need to Do to Sell Your Clothes Online - Classy Career Girl

The 5 Things You Need to Do to Sell Your Clothes Online You look into your wardrobe and youve got your clothes jammed tighter than a burrito’s fillings. You’re sure you haven’t seen what sort of clothes are at the back parts of your wardrobe for over a year, and the clothes that you do use are lying on The Chair. And you think to yourself “It’s definitely time to unload my closet!” What you probably arent realizing at this point is that you can make some money out of those clothes that have never seen the light of day (or have seen too much…)! Instead of throwing it out or pushing it in your basement/attic, why not sell them online? Here’s how you can do that â€" today! The 5 Things You Need to Do to Sell Your Clothes Online 1. Reorganize Your Closet The first step into making money out of your wardrobe is knowing what’s staying and going. For that, you’ll need to reorganize your closet and group your clothes, shoes, and other accessories into four categories: Clothes that you can neither sell nor wear, but you can convert into something else, e.g. rags, doll clothes, etc. Clothes that aren’t sellable but are still wearable Clothes that are both wearable and sellable (in great condition, which you may have only worn once or twice, or have never worn) Clothes that you’ll keep As a general rule, you shouldn’t keep more than half of your clothes, so you have more to give/sell and more room to store clothes in the future. You should also take in consideration other factors like what you need versus what you would barely use depending on your lifestyle/location/comfortability. Michael Kors of Times Online also has this to say: “70 percent of the clothes you own should be meat and potatoes. 30 percent should be icing and fluff â€" that’s color, pattern, shine, accessories. Too many women get the proportions the other way (a)round, then can’t figure out why they can’t get dressed.” 2. Take Lots of High-Quality Photos In order to convince people to take interest in your clothes, you’ll need to attract them with visuals â€" and high-quality photos taken with bright, consistent lighting and an uncluttered background is a huge step in the right direction. Potential customers get a nice preview of the clothes you are selling, especially if you took pictures from multiple angles. Below is an example of a bad preview photo, and a good preview photo. Patterned, confusing, and conflicting. (found on Etsy) Clean background and clear photo of t-shirt design. (found on Etsy) Read up on tips and steps for beautiful apparel photography. A good picture can be the difference between a flop and a sale nowadays, especially on digital marketing and online selling platforms. 3. Set Realistic Prices Some selling platforms are capable of giving prices for your items depending on how much you’ve declared them to be originally and their current condition now, but there’s also still the option of setting up and controlling your own prices. However, you’ll want to price realistically, especially if youre listing your clothes as “pre-loved” or youve worn them before. Consider the “one-third rule” when determining prices. If you’re selling, for example, a dress from J.CREW that was priced at $130 and has been worn a few times, you should set the price to around $40. If it’s new, hardly-worn, or has been in your closet for a while but has never been worn (it may even have its tag/s still), you can go higher â€" around $80-$100. [RELATED: The Right Way to Plan Your Wardrobe] 4. Provide Ample Labels and Descriptions Potential buyers want to know more about clothes they are buying before making a purchase, especially if it’s secondhand. They especially want to know the condition of the items they’re going to buy since its important for them to get their money’s worth and know in advance if they’ll need to schedule a repair or some tailoring with their trusted seamstress. This is the common idea behind providing labels and descriptions for your items, but it has another, almost more important function as well. By properly labeling the basic characteristics of your clothes such as brand, color, measurements/size, and condition, it’s easier for your items to come up as a result for keywords that match your labels. 5. Choose Your Selling Platform Because eCommerce has been booming in the past few years, a whole plethora of selling platforms have popped up, and even social media has joined the fray. You have a lot of options to choose from, such as signing up for an account in online consignment stores (eBay, Etsy), making your own online store if you plan on turning this into a business (and a lot of people do this!) or want the freedom of your own domain, or even go to social media and augment your efforts with their built-in marketing tools such as Facebook Advertising. Making money out of your wardrobe online nowadays is easy and helps you declutter your closet and having something in return for your effort. Why not try it out now?

What Skills Will You Use in the 2nd Half of Life - Career Pivot

What Skills Will You Use in the 2nd Half of Life - Career Pivot Skills in the 2nd Half of Life Have you thought about what kind of skills you want to carry with you into the 2nd half of your life? Have you thought about the skills you wish to leave behind? Notice, I said skills and not talents. Do you know the difference between your talents and skills? For an in-depth discussion, please check out my post, Talents versus Skills â€" Do you know the difference? A talent is a special ability that comes naturally. A skill comesfrom one’s knowledge, practice, or aptitude. A skill is learned. Do you see the difference? Typically, we learn skills to either make us employable or to do something we enjoy. We learn skills to make us employable based on market demands. We learn skills to do something we enjoy (think hobby) because wewantto learn them. There is a big difference. Skills that are not based on your innate talents can wear you out if youoveruse them. Overused or Abused Skills I am a remarkable public speaker. I spent over 10 years working for IBM, where my primary job was presenting. I have been speaking as part of my job for over 20 years. It was a skill that I honed and I have won multiple awards for best speaker at technology conferences. It is askill and not a talent. Burnout often occurs when you overuse a skill that is not based on your innate talents. Think about that! Listen to the most recent episode When I started my business, Career Pivot, I knew I would be presenting as a way to promote my business. I have to be very careful not to overuse that skill. When I walk off the stage after giving an energetic and motivational talk, I am exhausted. I do not get energy from being on stage since I am a closet introvert. For me, public speaking is a skill and not a talent. In your career, have you developed skills that leave you exhausted or bored after extended periods of use? Walking Away from Valuable Skills Have you reached a point where you simply do not want to do what you are doing anymore? Twice, I have walked away from the high technology sector. Each time people told me: Why would you want to stop? You are paid so well! Oh, you are so good at it! Why would you stop? I was seduced back into high tech because I listened to these messages, only to leave again three years later. You may have skills that you simply do not want to use in the 2nd half of life. Your close friends and family may question your sanity, but only you know what is right. Skills Carried Forward into the 2nd Half of Life What skills do you want to carry forward? You will probably carry forward skills that are not based on your talents. You just have to make sure you manage how often you use eachskill. Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it. I am very technical, but I did not develop my own website. I can do my own bookkeeping, but I decided to hire a bookkeeper. I can do these things, but I have chosen to find others to do them. Skills from our Hobbies When I was a young adult, I rebuilt cars with a friend who was much older than I. As he entered his 2nd half of life, he decided to rebuild cars for others. He hated it! He wanted to work on the cars that he wanted to work on. He wanted to work on his own schedule. He wanted to work on projects that others did not want. It was only fun when he got to do ithis way. Skills developed for our own enjoyment do not always translate into a natural fit for encore careers. Skills Inventory Build a list of all of your skills. You will probably need help from others. Ask friends, family, and colleagues: What am I good at? What are my strengths? I guarantee that you will be surprised. Are any of these skills based on your innate talents? Not sure what are your natural talents might be? Read my post, What are your natural talents? Create two lists of skills. One with skills based on your innate talents and one where they are not. Take your time working on these lists. Reflect back to when you used each skill. Did you really enjoy using the skill AND were you energized when you were done? You should now be able to determine which skills make sense tocarry forward into the 2nd half of life. This post first appeared on SixtyandMe.com Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements I was first introduced to The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz, by a dear collegue, Larry.    At that point in my life, I was not ready to listen to the message.   Fast forward 5 years and again, the  Four  Agreements were in front of me.   I credit this time, Rosa.   After listening to the audio version, I was captivated.   How can I do this?   How can I live my life this way?   Where do I start?   It takes discipline and as hard as I try, I cant do it all the time.   These 4 basic principles are wonderful, based on the Toltec traditions.    The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz 1.   Be Impeccable With Your Word Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. 2. Dont Take Anything Personally Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you wont be the victim of needless suffering. 3. Dont Make Assumptions Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life. 4. Always Do Your Best Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Resume Writing Services - What You Need to Know

Resume Writing Services - What You Need to KnowThere are many different kinds of resume writing services out there, but they all have one thing in common - they all utilize the same types of information and document in their writing. So, what is it that they all do? Let's take a look at what you need to know to avoid being mislead by the resume writing services out there.When you hire someone to do your resume, you will get a basic template. You'll get a layout and an outline of the information that will be included in your resume. This can be helpful, but some people are under the impression that once you fill out the basic outline, you have to take that information and fit it into the different sections. This is a huge misconception.A professional resume writer is going to have a lot of experience in creating and completing resumes, and therefore they already have a good understanding of what should go where and what information should be included. What you need to do is simply mak e sure that you take your time when filling out your resume.Your skills need to be captured in your resume. To get this down on paper, you're going to have to think about what you're good at, and what you don't like doing. Then, work that into your resume to make sure that you're able to emphasize what you're good at and downplay what you're not so great at.People who are seeking a career change often do not want to use a resume that is filled with all of their job-related experiences. Instead, they'd much rather look for a resume that focuses on their personal strengths and past jobs. It's easy to forget that the only reason why you got the job in the first place was because you were the best candidate for the job. Keeping this in mind when preparing your resume will make it easier to see how you can emphasize what you're good at and downplay what you're not so great at.Before you even begin writing your resume, find out how long the person who is hiring you worked in the past. Thi s is going to help you see how much experience you really need on your resume. The more experience you need, the shorter the time you should list on your resume. In addition, if you're working as a coordinator at your current job, it would be wise to list this on your resume because the companies that you're working for would prefer that you have this type of experience.You don't need to tell anyone where you've been for your resume writing services, but it may be in your best interest to list the address where you've lived before you moved to Monmouth County NJ. This will give people some idea of your lifestyle and where you live now. Make sure that you write something on your resume about where you've lived and where you plan to move once you finish your studies.Hiring a professional resume writing service for your resume will make your life easier, so make sure that you take the time to prepare a well-written resume. If you are able to get a college education while living in a di fferent state, make sure that you include this in your resume.