Have you laughed today?

Life is serious, but it doesn't always have to be. I think it is in our human nature to let loose every once in awhile. Have you laughed today?

"Google Generation"

With Google adding real-time results in their search pages, many have been discussing the implications of this new feature. What about Twitter? Will tweets influence page rank? We have yet to find out. Some speak of Generation Y and call us the "Google Generation." With the uproar about real-time results (which I have been discussing and thinking about don't get me wrong) I have to agree with that statement. I can't go a day without Google, as much as I hate to admit that. New Year's Resolution: start using Bing and register for a Hotmail account! I don't think so....

Here is a cartoon that sums up the social media landscape and "Generation Google."

What do you think about the "Google Generation?" Do you agree?

I'm a Vlogger Now!

At Vivid Ascent, we are working on a vlog series for the holiday season entitled "The 12 Days of SEO Mistakes." It has been a blast and I even made my debut as a vlogger. Check it out!

12 Days of SEO Mistakes by Vivid Ascent

The Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? You know, that exciting yet possibly daunting list of things one wants to accomplish before he or she "kicks the bucket." While some consider it slightly morbid to think about "kickin' the bucket" (my mom), I think it is important to set goals for yourself: professional goals, life goals, personal goals, etc.

Here are some tips from LifeHack about creating and managing you bucket list:

1. Make sure you get satisfaction and joy from your day to day stuff. Don’t suffer the 99% to get to the 1% you enjoy. Make the whole experience an enjoyable one.

2. Don’t buy into your ideas and turn them into goals right away. Mull them over. If you weigh them carefully, you’ll probably find you can improve, replace or cancel them while enhancing your overall life experience.

3. Make a plan and enjoy the process. Planning is not optional. It is a generally accepted as being a requirement by most of the experts in the field of setting and achieving goals.

4. Review list items often to make sure you still want to do it. The bucket list should be open ended. Maintain enough flexibility that you don’t become a slave to your own list. Make sure you keep working on adding new items while completing others.

5. Find ways to make each goal more meaningful. Include dimensions of quality within the items on your list. If you involve like minded people in group activities, you’ll likely get much more from the experience than if you don’t. For solitary pursuits, take steps to ensure you get the most from the experience.

6. Document and share your goals for added enjoyment. If life is worth living, it ought to be worth writing about so commit some of these planning steps to writing. Writing the stuff down is a proven technique for turning goals into reality. Sharing them with others helps to cement your commitment to the goals and to bring others into the process. Don’t involve pessimists or nay-sayers in the process.

7. Don’t get obsessed with big “retail” goals. You are not required to share your secret fetish goals, or any goals for that matter, with others if you don’t want to. One strategy is to identify public and private goals and only share the public ones. Keep quiet about the private ones. Financial goals are often ones that are wise to keep private. But do celebrate your private accomplishments as you would your public ones. Don’t worry about it if they aren’t big or flashy.

8. Ensure your goals are consistent with who you are. Or reshape them to suit your style and preferences. For example, introverts and extroverts alike can enjoy a certain travel destination like say the Eiffel Tower, yet experience it quite differently.

I believe that goals are necessary pieces in the puzzle of happiness. They keep our lives moving forward. I often ask myself what my next step in life is, where do I go from here? Prioritizing your life is the key to keeping yourself sane!









Next personal goal: write a bucket list.


What are your goals?











(This is a pretty accurate description of me (minus the brunette hair). Got to love Post Its!)

The Quarterlife Crisis

My dad is a sweetheart. Nothing better than a retired cop with a big heart! He is an amazing father and I strongly believe that I inherited his determination and writing skills. The lovely man had quite the surprise for me when I got home yesterday.

Dad: Hey Tegan! I found a book at the library for you today!

Tegan: Score! a.) I need a new book b.) I don't have time to go to the library.

I bounced out of my room to see what he picked up for me. No, it was not the Twilight Series.

The book is called, Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis: Advice from Twentysomethings Who Have Been There and Survived.

At first I was a little offended, "Dad. Are you saying I'm having a quarterlife crisis?!?!" He laughed and told me he just thought the book would be interesting and insightful. After a brief spat, I came around and realized that he was simply trying to provide advice and I decided to at least leaf through it on my morning commute.

The book is written by the same author as Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities so I don't know how I feel about her as a writer, but this book seems half alright. I could relate to a few sections and it was nice to read stories about people my age who have made it!

If you have never heard of the quarterlife crisis, here is more information about it:

The quarterlife crisis is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the early twenties to the early thirties. The term is named by analogy with mid-life crisis.

Characteristics of quarterlife crisis may include:

• feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
• frustration with the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
• confusion of identity
• insecurity regarding the near future
• insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals
• insecurity regarding present accomplishments
• re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
• lack of friendships or romantic relationships, sexual frustration, and involuntary celibacy
• disappointment with one's job
• nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
• tendency to hold stronger opinions
• boredom with social interactions
• loss of closeness to high school and college friends
• financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)
• loneliness, depression and suicide
• desire to have children
• a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you
• frustration with societal ills

These emotions and insecurities are not uncommon at this age, nor at any age in adult life. In the context of the quarterlife crisis, however, they occur shortly after a young person – usually an educated professional, in this context – enters the "real world". Entering adult life and coming to terms with its responsibilities, some individuals find themselves experiencing career stagnation or extreme insecurity. The individual often realizes the real world is tougher, more competitive and less forgiving than they imagined. Furthermore, the qualifications they have spent so much time and money earning are not likely to prepare them for this disillusionment.

This is pretty serious stuff people. I did a little more research and ABC recently covered this issue. Personally, I can relate to a few of the symptoms. I don't feel like I'm in a full out quarterlife crisis, but it isn't hard to see why some recent graduates might find themselves slipping into this experience.

Hey twentysomethings! What do you think? Do you feel like you're experiencing a quarterlife crisis?

Wordless Wednesday

It is Friday not Wednesday, but one can't describe these pictures using words. They are simply beautiful.

This guy continues to amaze me with his talent and creativity. Sidewalk 3D chalk drawings on a flat surface...

Enjoy!

Motivation and Inspiration

Because sometimes we all need a little...


Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Harold R. McAlindon

The history of the world is but the
biography of great men.
Thomas Carlyle

What chance gathers she easily scatters. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don't take too much advice — keep at the helm and steer your own ship, and remember that the great art of commanding is to take a fair share of the work. Fire above the mark you intend to hit. Energy, invincible determination with the right motive, are the levers that move the world.
Noah Porter

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.
Horace Bushnell




The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
George S. Patton

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit.
Aristotle

Fortune favors the brave.
Publius Terence

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Theodore Roosevelt

Kanye West and the VMA's

As I'm sure you have head, Kanye West caused quite the stir last night at the 2009 MTV VMA awards in New York City. A crazy Kanye grabbed the mic from mid-acceptance speech Taylor Swift protesting the award and claiming that Beyonce "had one of the best videos of all time." (Cringing as I remember Kanye's saying it!)

I must say I do like his music but that is pretty much it. As the VMA's continued, Twitter was heating up over the outburst. It wasn't long before #Kanye became a trending topic soon followed by #TeamTaylor. Taylor eventually thanked her fans on Twitter after Beyonce called her up to finish her speech.



Needless to say, this whole drama made me think about two things:

1. Twitter. Twitter is so cool! It was really great to see the audience engaging with the show and I loved Taylor's shoutout to her fans on Twitter that supported #TeamTaylor. Once again, behold the power of Twitter.

2. The saying "Any publicity is good publicity." Does this ring true for Kanye West? Yes, he is the talk of Twitterville and has caused quite the commotion but not for anything good. This will obviously add to his already bad image but does it matter?

What do you think about all of this?

Of Course I had to quote Mad Men- What I've Learned Along the Way

I was recently asked to be a guest blogger for my PRSSA chapter's (James F. Fox, the University of Iowa) blog. As the past President, I was honored and excited to post my thoughts and provide chapter members with lessons I have learned thus far.

Here is my post:

What I’ve Learned Along the Way: Do’s and Dont’s

The road to success in any career is always difficult and filled with twists and turns. Here is what I’ve learned along the way.

1. Do love PRSSA
PRSSA is the window to the public relations world. Especially at Iowa where a public relations degree isn’t possible, PRSSA can help you learn more about the field and achieve the skills necessary to succeed. Run for exec, attend the National and Regional conference, participate in the various committees and attend the socials. Embrace PRSSA, the University of Iowa chapter is full of amazing leadership and I could not be where I am today without the lesson learned at meetings in AJB!

2. Do be ready to bring it
It is going to be hard so be ready to work hard. The public relations industry is competitive and times are tough. If you want to succeed you have to be willing to work for it. You will probably find yourself doing something outside of your comfort zone. It may be networking at the National Conference or speaking in front of a class. Mine was moving to New York City to intern at a public relations agency. It was scary at first but I took the leap and forced myself out of my comfort zone. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Don’t be afraid to try something new, strike up a conversation with a stranger and put yourself out of your comfort zone. These small tests will help you learn more about yourself and foster a spirit of success.

3. Don’t limit your reading to Perezhilton.com
Stay up to date on news and happenings. As a public relations professional, it is important to know what is going on around the country and the world. Invest in knowledge. Read.

4. Do dive headfirst and immerse yourself in social media
Twitter is a great tool for young professionals. Embrace tweeting! Conversations and connections made on Twitter are worthwhile. I have learned so much about the field through interacting on Twitter. Create an online portfolio and start your own blog. Weebly is a great service for hosting web sites. Networking is key. Make yourself stand out in the social media world. It is worth it.

5. Do learn everything you can about the field.
Subscribe to the following: Bulldog Reporter, PR Week, ADAge, and SmartBrief. A forever changing industry, you can never know too much.

6. Don’t limit your internships to summertime
Internships are not reserved for summer anymore. Look for opportunities during the school year to enhance you skill set and your resume. Head to the Pomerantz Career Center and search Jobnet for opportunities on campus. You will need more than one internship so plan ahead and strive to hold multiple internships over the course of your college career.

7. Do start early and set goals.
When I was a junior, I asked the past PRSSA president, Jen Ferm, when I should start applying for jobs. Her advice stuck with me. Start early and give yourself time to pull your portfolio together. Seniors, Thanksgiving break is your cue. Get your resume looking beautiful and start applying for jobs during December. Plan to head to the Pomerantz Career Center by Thanksgiving break and have your resume reviewed. Meet with a Career Advisor. The Pomerantz Career Center is full of wonderful people who want to help you succeed. Call in and make an appointment, they can’t place you in a job but they can help you along the way. Set goals for yourself and don’t shy away from them. If you want to send out five resumes by December do it. If your goal is to run for PRSSA exec board, do it.

8. Do find a mentor
Everyone needs someone to look up to. Find that person who is willing to take you under his or her wing. I have had many throughout my time at Iowa and the relationships I have developed with my mentors have made a lasting impression on my growth and attitude as a young professional. My mentors have included past bosses, older PRSSA members and professionals I have met along the way.

9. Do enjoy college while it lasts
Trust me, you will miss Hawkeye game days. Cherish your time a the University of Iowa. It is truly an amazing place to learn and live.

10. Don’t give up
It is a tough time and the public relations field is extremely competitive. I’ve had my share of setbacks but it is important to keep your goals in mind. Hard work always pay off in the end. If you find yourself feeling down, get inspired by this quote from the wonderful Don Draper (Mad Men) “I have a life. And it only goes in one direction. Forward.” Ask yourself what you can do to keep your career moving forward. Don’t let setbacks get you down and leave you at a standstill.

What would you add?

What I'm Reading

What a great Saturday!

Today I biked to the Palatine Public Library with one mission in mind, getting a bunch of great new reads. I have been reading the Twilight Saga (yes, I am admitting it) for too long. My co-worker Kate (@katefrankenberg) helped me see that. It was getting to be pretty embarrassing.

Hence my 5 mile bike ride. Minus sweating and my i-Pod dying, I came home with a backpack full of wonderful books. I'm sure some sound familiar, here is what I'm reading:

1. The Fall of Advertising & the Rise of PR (Al and Laura Ries)- Very excited about this one.. "Today's brands are born with publicity, not advertising. A closer look at this history of the most successful brands shows this to be true."

2. Making It In Public Relations- An Insider's Guide to Career Opportunities (Leonard Mogel)- "How to break in, What the insiders say, and advice on finding a job during a tough time." Right up my alley..


3. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)- An amazing classic, pretty self-explanatory. Oh Heathcliff...

4. The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging (By the Editors of the Huffington Post)- "Getting started, getting noticed, building a community, finding your voice, and best practices" Sounds like a good read to me, one can never know too much about blogging.


5. Word of Mouth Marketing- How Smart Companies Get People Talking (Andy Sernovitz, foreword by Seth Godin, afterword by Guy Kawasaki)- Do I even need to explain why I'm reading this one? Didn't think so...

6. Rules for the Unruly (Marion Winik)- "Shows us how taking risks, living creatively, and cherishing our inner weirdness can become the secret of our happiness and success, not our downfall" Written by National Public Radio commentator Marion Winik. For some inspiration.


7. Love is a Mix Tape- Life and Loss, One Song at a Time (Rob Sheffield)- Reccommended by my fabulous co-worker Lauren (@laurensvoboda).


Thank goodness for my three hour commute everyday. All my books are due September 12th.. wish me luck.

Joe's, McDonald's and Positive Client Relationships

Food for thought-

Tonight I had the privilege of going out to dinner with my boyfriend's parents in Chicago. They took me to Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab on Grand Avenue and it was absolutely fabulous. Let's just say I am as full as can be. I'm staying in on a Friday night, laying on my couch, and writing this blog post because I can't move much. Hey, that works for me!

We started off with an appetizer of stone crab followed by the main course. I picked lemon broiled chicken and we shared fried artichokes, potatoes, and broccoli. We had a few drinks and split three slices of pie. It was to die for.

Thinking back, it wasn't only the food that made the experience fantastic.

Our waiter was polite and catered to our every need. My water was always filled and the table was never crowded with empty plates. A crumb didn't have any chance of survival as it was swept away by our server onto his crisp white glove. The atmosphere was calming and classy, who doesn't love Sinatra in the background and a wine cellar to your left?

We were never rushed and our waiter always had a smile on his face. The entire staff was extremely polite and seemed to generally care about our experience. Even if the food was horrible, the way the servers danced around the restaurant could satisfy anyone.

Then I got to thinking about public relations. As professionals, how can we ensure the same service for our clients? How can we make them feel the warm fuzzies and leave a meeting as satisfied with us as possible? After all, they count on us.

I believe that it all comes down to attitude. It may sound generic, but I never underestimate the power of being positive. I hate to admit it, but when I entered Joe's I wasn't in the best of moods. I had a headache and it was raining on a Friday, but after my first conversation with our waiter my bad mood was gone with the wind.

This is something small that I will bring to the table for my clients. No matter what their mood, I will try my best to make sure they enjoy working with me and trust me with their brand, business, etc.

At my internship, I have learned so much about the importance of a positive client relationship. Only good things can come when you like and respect who you are working with.

Take GolinHarris and McDonald's for example. The agency has been working on the account for 50 years. Talk about a positive client relationship. Al Golin is such an inspiration. He took on McDonald's at an early stage and ultimately helped define the brand. One can only strive to make such an impact and experience the happiness I'm sure he has felt through his work with the McDonald's brand.

As I enter the world of public relations, I have set a goal to create meaningful relationships with the clients and the people I work with. I look forward to the ups and downs of working with clients and I hope to establish the same success Al Golin and GolinHarris has demonstrated to us all.

Snap, Crackle, and Pop- this one's for you Al. You rock.

Tweet with care....

I wrote this post a few months ago on the Iowa PRSSA blog and I think it still rings true.

Twitter is a great tool for connecting with friends and others about topics of interest. Needless to say, Twitter is becoming more and more integrated into our lives and the media.

While Twitter is terrific, it is important to remember that what you post is public- don’t tweet inappropriate things, especially about your employers. It is one thing to be yourself on Twitter but posting comments about how much you hate your boss isn't something you want to vent about. Get ice cream with a friend, don't rag on your boss on Twitter.

We are told over and over again to "clean up our Facebooks" but Twitter can come back to haunt you. Check out this article from MSNBC.com- "Twitter gets you fired in 140 characters or less"

A former Cisco employee was a little too truthful on Twitter stating:

""Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.”

It wasn’t long before Tim Levad, a "channel partner advocate" for Cisco Alert, shared this open response:

"Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web."

Ouch.

While it is awesome living a more digital lifestyle than our parents, don’t let it come back to haunt you.

I don't want to discourage anyone from tweeting, Twitter is a great way to connect with others and learn. Trust me, I have a newly admitted love affair with the site, but be smart. You know if something is inappropriate.

Happy smart tweeting!

Here we go...

Hello!

First off, thank you for taking the time to read my first post! There are many blogs dedicated to public relations so I sincerely appreciate your interest in mine.

I have created "PR Crunch" in hopes of providing insights and a few laughs. Although I have partly just begun my journey into public relations and the professional world, I love the opportunity that blogs provide. I will give my opinions, share my experiences, and host a forum online where the young and old can come together and partake in the oldest pastime- conversation.

I look forward to conversing with you and seeing where this blog can go.