Black Tie Lounge

The new Ryan Leslie, a.k.a R. Lez, album entitled Transition was released in stores yesterday. To make a long story short, R.Lez is one artist that embodies ambition combined with faith and a relentless belief in a dream. I see myself in this guy because I am at a point in my life where I have nothing but my dreams to fall back on, and my ambition to drive me. The name of the album speaks to me because that is where I am. I'm no longer in school. I'm no longer supposed to be dependent on my family to help me succeed. I have me, my faith and my dreams. Here I come.



I came back to New York yesterday and went in to complete a writing test for an agency that I really dig. Too bad I spent 5 hours on the test and didn't finish. I do what I always do when it comes to writing under pressure: I spend more time thinking and framing things than I do actually writing. Still, I walked away with a confidence that I can't really explain. I believe this is my opportunity, and I'm going to stick to my gunz unless I'm told other wise.

My homebody hit me up asking me why he wanted to be an art director again. After so many months of looking for work it gets frustrating. You try so hard to get in the door just to find that door you worked hard to knock down doesn't have any opportunity for you. Or, the opportunity that they do offer is such a stretch from your originial intention that you're better off not wasting your time. Still you would like a pay check or something. So he hit me up asking me to remind him why he was pushing so hard. I mustered up enough encouraging words to help him snap back into it.

All of this to say is that I'm holding on to my dream and encouraging everyone else to hold onto theirs. Ya feel me?

Hey family! I'm only writing because I know some of you follow the blog and I want to stay faithful to you. October is over. Let's see I turned 25 and I went back to the city for 3 interviews and tommorrow I go back for a second interview with one of the companies I interviewed with the week prior.

Turning 25: All I can say is that I thought I'd be farther but I can't believe I've done all I have. I didn't see myself with a Masters a few years ago. I never knew God would bring me to The Bahamas--twice at that. I didn't think I'd meet the people I have. I never thought I'd grow close to the people I'm close to. I didn't think I'd be able to do a lot of the things I have done. I'm proud of myself. Now it's time to get hungrier and more driven by the zeal of the Lord and not my workaholism lol. Looking onward, I don't want my full-time job to be my only source--if you know what I'm saying. I want to pursue opportunities to build others' business and invest in the community around me. I want to travel, learn a new language fluently and just grow as a man.

Back to New York: The highlight of my life so far is that I had 3 interviews with companies that I really wanted to connect with. They all went wonderful. My challenge right now is understanding what salary I should shoot for. I'm in the largest market in the U.S., in an industry that is 150% driven by hungry people that would kill for an opportunity to get their foot in the door. The competition is younger, smarter, creative and resourceful. Whereas a college graduate will settle for under $28,000 in NYC, I'm a Masters student that wants a deeper investment to match the investment I made. What do I choose?

Love: Ladies do you expect a man to be perfect in order for him to be with you? Now really does anyone really want someone PERFECT? Absolutely not! I don't want to be a good man. I've settled on striving to being THE man. (How ya luv that!) Hang ups and all I'm learning to love in a way that looks beyond a person's faults. Let's love people for who they are and not only the parts we like. I'm preaching to myself. Even still I can't deny that the new Mario track was bumping loud in my head one night for a particular reason. WHY?? It's personal.

Jay-Z: I'm really feeling the album especially Empire State of mind minus the apparent blasphemous references. "If Jesus pays Lebron then I pay D.Wade" references to the irrelevance of the church. I can't really get with that but HOV your track "So Ambitious" is telling my story right now. "The motivation for me was them telling me what I wouldn't be"
I'm also definitely a fan of "Young Forever" and "A Star Is Born." I'd say check it out on Imeem and read the lyrics on OHHLA.com before you cop it; that is if you are like me.

Literally. I seriously feel like I looked up and two months went by since I left the city. Lucky for me, I've been called back for three interviews. I like the feeling. Since my last blog, I've eased up on the job search and decided to go with what works and what I love to do. As far as what works, I applied for a part-time gig as a youth counselor. Given my background in working with teenagers I thought I'd get that easily. No calls yet.

I even interviewed at H&M. I figured that I could build my wardrobe up while I search for opportunities that fit my level of experience. The manager told me that I was everything they were looking for but that she could tell my heart wasn't in it. She told me that I was the type that could do the job excellently but it would be a matter of time before I jump ship for a better opportunity. I believe she hit the hammer on the nail with that one!

So, I said screw it and decided that since the right job wasn't opening any faster I was going to do what years of college, extra cirricular activities, and job-related responsibilites have kept me from: finishing some of the songs I started. Music is a hidden talent of mine and it is crazy how for so long I've put work and play before my creative expression. For the past month I've been spening time here an there connecting with musicians in my area and putting music to lyrics that I've written years ago.

For me this transition has been beneficial because I haven't rested. I haven't allowed myself the opportunity to just be creative because I like to. Now that the deadlines are gone, the papers are over, the conference calls have ceased it is just me. My friend told me that I'm the jolliest unemployed person she's ever seen. I laugh. I've been using this time to wisen up about the communications field. I've met quite a bit of people. None of their companies are hiring but I've had good conversations without the pressure of impressing them. I can say I'm good for now. We'll see what happens.

Before I start my daily job search and before I devour this vegetable platter because it's lunch time, even before I write the long over due thank you cards to my mentor and his staff for letting me use their office space to conduct my job hunt I must blog. After about three weeks away from the city, I have returned for an interview--an informational interview to be more specific. I just got off the bus from D.C. and luckily it was right around the corner from where the office was.

It feels good to be back in New York, even if it is for a brief amount of time. As the bus drove down Fashion Ave (7th Ave) toward Penn Station, I couldn't help but say to myself "I'm home!" New York has the ability to make every other city look like a town. New York's public transporation system makes every other cities' look slower, clearner, and less crowded--but I can't help but love it because New York's is more reliable. Shopping in New York makes every other place seem outdated. Malls anywhere else just don't do it for me anymore. While shoe shopping in a mall in South Carolina, I became upset the Chuck Taylors they had in stock lacked the variety of the ones I saw in New York. I was so upset that I didn't care to buy anything else at that mall. I miss New York, but I have a plan A -D.

Wish me luck on the interview though!

I say I'm an aspiring sponge because there is so much more I can learn to soak up. I have been out of New York for about three weeks and if anything I am more knowledgeable about what is out there in terms of opportunities in the marketing communications field. My first choice is to get aboard with an agency but if I find an opportunity elsewhere I will do that.

I have an interview back in New York on Thursday that I am preparing for. In preparation for it I read a chapter out of the Nature of Marketing by Chuck Brymer. I totally agree with his point that marketing now is about engaging communities. I think PR pros always knew that people create communities around issues rather than brands so to all my advertising buddies out there we need to take a deeper look at individual and community relationships in our strategies. Until I get to meet Chuck Brymer and have a conversation with him, I'll settle for reading his book. Since I'm on a budget, I was hoping to drop by the local Borders and read it there but it seems as though it is not in stock.

Looking for a job is hard work but it is encouraging to meet so many people that are settled in their careers that are willing to give me advice. Maybe I'm stupid but my first question isn't if they are hiring. Instead it is geared more toward how I think I'll fit in. Taking an advertising internship has only fueled my ambition to be in a position to understand career paths for both advertising and PR. For each company I switch the way I position myself. I feel a bit shifty but I my dream is to be in a position to leverage my experiences as strengths.

In other news, I have more time to focus on my freelance client. I've been offering writing support for a church planting organization in PA that focuses on rescuing displaced refugees in Congo as a result of the mass killings taking place. It is pretty deep stuff but it is helping me become aware of things beyond the employment crisis in the U.S.

Last night I got together with some high school friends, one of which is DJ 2 much of Fredericksburg's 99.3 The Vibe, and we talked about starting a series of events geared toward young professionals. I'm really burning to start an open mic forum in the area as well as monthly poetry slam series. I really miss NYC but I figure I can use my time to do creative things in the area while I'm here.

Good news, I have two conference calls tommorrow with HR reps. I better get back to my research.

So, I left New York! I thought I was walking in the unexpected when I came to the city with the hopes that my hustler's drive would land me an immediate opportunity. The opportunity came but it wasn't for me. I think I was a little too honest about myself in the interview. Either way, the lease ran up, no money was coming in and I decided to leave town to visit my ailing grandfather, of which passed away while I was on my way. My intent in blogging is not to vent about all of that though--I've got other ways to handle that one. Suprisingly, I'm not frustrated about my circumstance. I'm a bit anxious, but that nervousness will pass away as I get time to deeply evaluate what I want in this next phase of life. Truth be told, I was confident something would pop up for me even before I got the opportunity to work in New York.

This summer, I learned more than I can write in one blogpost. My former media writing professor encouraged me to blog about it and I will as soon as I can name it.

For the next week, I'm going to catch up with family that I haven't seen and spend time to do me. I'm going to appreciate it now because the industry I'm going into does all it can to suck you dry. Call it preparation, call it rest, call it me deciding to be lazy, either way I'm going to enjoy the time that I have and not complain. Economy schonomy I'm gonna make things work for me. For now it's good bye New York. We'll be reunited sonner than you think.