Advertising!! I definitely did not set out on a path to go into this field. Now that I'm here I want to get all I can. The agency is treating me well but today I reached my point of being challenged. Yes the working under the pressure of deadlines is rough, especially when you find out 30 minutes before the supervisor wants it. Doing research just to come up with two items isn't all that great too. What keeps me here? Well seeing as how it's only been dang one month, I have a lot to learn.
So today, I vented to a fellow intern about how you spend time doing things just to a recommendation to go into a different direction. I had to disappoint my supervisor when I could only find a few items online when I know there were more. Long story short I hit my few walls where I felt like I was screwing things up. I'm sure there will be more, a lot more. Most of all I went into this opportunity keeping in mind that I'd screw up. That I'd get yelled at. That I'd have to come up with solutions when I failed. So I believe that today, my test of internal resiliency came.
So rule # 2 in 7 habits of highly effective people is to begin with the end in mind. I feel that. I think I forgot about that. I'm in this field because I want to be a jack of all trades, I want to consult, and I want to meet people. I definitely lost sight of those so tommorrow its time to go back with a new attitude.
Good news!! I'm interviewing with another company on Friday. That is one down. I'm really believing that I'll get a full time offer somewhere at the end of this.
My blog looks a little different now. I wanted to use a new template but that template turned out to be bogus. I switched back to my old template but I deleted all my widgets. Now you are stuck with a blog that is just plain text on a black background. It will have to do for now until I feel like changing it.
After sitting around most of the day watching work out videos and not really working out to them, I headed out to 12 Ave to see the fire works. I'm still new to NYC but I guess the tradition is to watch fire works over the Hudson River. Going out there reminded me of how crowded things were in when I was in D.C. for the Inauguration. (I think I spelled that wrong, but hey!) I forgot all about the crowd so I was not mentally prepared to be there. Still, my friends and I were able to move our way to a decent spot to view the show. I'll upload the video shortly for your viewing pleasure. While I was out there watching the colorful explosion and plethora of shapes created by the minds that put this together, I began to think of how people love to be entertained. This is a common fact, but I began to think about how simple fire works are. Put some loud colorful shapes in the sky and people go crazy. The brighter and the louder, the better. Why is this?
As someone who works in an industry that strives to be the most creative and the most eye catching, it was very significant for me to think about how it doesn't take much for people to pay attention to something. In my thinking, maybe I'm making it out to be more simple than it really is. Even still, I think marketers make people out to be more complicated than they need to be. People latch onto the familiar. People love tradition. They like a show but they will only go to those shows that they know will fulfill their expectations. Why do we only give certain musical acts a chance. I could be completely talking out the side of my neck, but right now I'm inspired to stop coming up with new ideas and use what I know to reach people where they are.
Is our concept of out the box really that out the box. Look at fashion. How many styles that are popular now existed at another time in history. How much do they draw upon history to sell style. Observing people as I ride the subway and walk the streets I'd say we are in an era of fashion that is a return of the 80's. Then we come to sports. How excited do we get with that. We aren't looking for something new. We just want our team to do what they do that makes us love them the way we do. Yeah we want our players to perform better and be sharper but how many of us really want our players doing cartwheels as they run the ball. Naw clown! Run the ball make the touchdown then do a cartwheel.
Sometimes the wow factor is in the fact that our expectations were met in a brand or service.
After about 10 minutes of looking at other blogs and listening to Floetry's demo of Butterlies, made famous by the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. On that note, I'm blown by his death but I got a bit cynical because it was like people were idolizing him. He revolutionized the music industry and helped make it possible for so many artist, which I respect. I just got a lil uneasy because his death made me think of how people are so star focused. People fall out on the floor for celebrities but forget what really matters is eternity. We're quick to respect the gift of life when someone dies but not on a day to day basis. I had to fall back when I found out that he accepted Christ.
Moving forward, I've lived in NYC for a total of 3 weeks. A little less if you count the fact that my past two weekends were spent moving out of my apartment in VA. I'm still eating on a budget. Fruit stands on the corner are the best thing that has happened to me in this city. Strawberries for $2, blueberries for $1, and 3 peaches for $1. They keep me stacked for the week.
A cat I met on the bus to NYC gave me some advice. He said that there are 4 things that you can't go without in this city: a cellphone, a metro card, a roof over your head, and . . . . skeet maybe it was 3 but I'm sure it was 4. Pretty much his point to me was that all other things you can get worked out for you. Events: get to know people and they will get you in for free. Restaurants: you can dine at some pretty decent places at reasonable prices if you know where to go. Internet: you can get in any major park or library. We had a good conversation. I'm surprised at how people up here actually are willing to look out for you if you.
What else do I want to tell you about my time in the city. Nothing really. I'm making it work. There is so much I have to do. I don't want to do like I did before and always talk about what I'm going to do because the next thing I know, the time I need to do all the things I was talking about doing has come. Maybe that makes sense to you.
In the mean time I'm headed to Afro Punk Festival. This'll be the first 4th of July I'm not with family but I'll be fine. So yeah. Catch me when you can.
I'm catching up on my favorite show--The Office. I took a stroll today and realized how close my apartment is to a lot of parks. I'm near Union Square and Washington Square, which is NYU territory. I'm really digging this. Today I thought that it would be funny to run into someone from Tech on the subway. That didn't happen but I did run into someone from school while I was walking out.
If I haven't said it yet, I'm definitely loving where I am. Mind you I wish I knew more people and was a little bit more settled but that's ok. I'm at a good place. It's been a week and I have no complaints with the agency. Oh yeah, I'm not working full time. This whole internship things is really a gamble because I'm not sure exactly how things will pan out for me in about a month.
To be honest, I'm not worried. I'm not concerned. I have the same attitude I had about finding a job after college. I'm not concerned because I know something is going to work out for me. Call it faith. It's definitely faith and I'm confident that I deserve to be in the best place.
For some reason, after earning a Masters I have this unusual drive to hit the pavement and work my way up. I have yet to boast to the other interns that I have a Masters. I have yet to even bring it up to my supervisor. It's one of those things where I know what I can do but I play it off to people like I don't until they really see that I can. When all along I know what I could do I just want to show people rather than tell them. So its a show don't tell philosophy that I'm working under.
This job is pretty cool. There is always food around the office. Kinda like my old job in gradschool: there was always food around. Take the CAEE, which I used to work for at Tech, and multiply it by 1000 and you have the agency! Its awesome. Especially for someone who has no groceries for the purposes of saving money. I got to sit in on an exclusive performance by an up and coming artist during lunch hour. One of our account teams is sponsoring the Sneaker Pimps tour. I'm mad that I plan on moving out of my apartment in VA. I'm debating on how it would work if I stuck around for that. Now that I think about it, I could very well catch the show in Philly, or better yet Boston.
Skeet I'll talk more later!!
I survived my first week as an employee and resident of New York City. I was homeless all last week and have settled into an apartment in the East Village close to Alphabet City. I feel like a kid in a candy store with all of the shops, bars, restaurants, and parks to visit in this area. I'm such an explorer, but for these next couple of weeks I'll be exploring on a budget. I got through last week surviving on the free lunch that the ad agency provided for attending seminars and pizza stands where I could get a slice for under $2. This is definitely going to be rough. As much as I want to work out and stay healthy, my diet is out the window until I can come to a place where I have a decent amount coming in.
I'm definitely not here for the money. Yeah I could have stayed in SWVA or Nova and found a decent job but when I got the call to come up here and work for the summer, I knew I had to see if I could do it. Today's Father's Day and I told my uncle that I had to come up here to see if I could do it. I had to see if I could survive. I had to see if I had the hustle in me to make it work. I also told my dad the same thing and he understands where I am and is mad proud. I get my work ethic from my pops.
So from VA to NYC, I'm here to share my adventure. I still have to go back the the Burg and move everything out of my apartment there. Anyone want to help?? Holla at me dr.gmcurry@gmail.com!! Try me.
I'm definitely digging where I am. I need to holla at some folks to come enjoy all the FREE concerts that are happening in NYC this summer. I'd love to have visitors. Mind you you'll be sleeping on the floor. I don't have dishes yet nor do I have groceries. How long can I go surviving off of pizza at $1 a slice, fruit stands, hot dog stands, and free lunches at the ad agency. I'm excited to where I'll be creatively at the end of this.
So I'm about to take my first step into conquering this city. I'm not in the city but while I wait for my final interview, I need to look for a place to live. My plan is to find a summer sublease then by the end of July find a more permanent spot. This way I can save money my first couple of months living in the city. Time is ticking. Knowing that this in NYC, I expect prices to be high for next to nothing type space. Still people are making it work. This is my journey to see if I can make it work.
I visited one place while I was there last week but I was not impressed. I got off the phone with one offer out in the East Village and I don't like to be rushed into making a decision. So my search continues. Like I said, there are people making it work so why can't I.
In other news there really is no other news. Two teams I don't really care for have made it to the Finals and I hate being on the fence about what team I want to see win. I'll leave it at that. One of the producers that I want to meet is now following me on twitter and even answered my message. I'm not one to be geeked or star struck but it is cool to connect with celebrities through social networking. I remember watching the Conan O'Brian show (I possibly spelled that wrong but oh well) and they poked fun at the twitter craze. It seems that every person, every brand, and everything has latched onto twitter like leaches without any concept of strategy. O.K. so Ashton Kutcher and P.Diddy have over 10, 000 followers. I'm not one to follow nonsense.
Brands on the other hand, let's have a purpose. I think it is clever how some companies post job listings and things that people would be interested in following. Social networking is also useful for research purposes. The brand can find use the conversation as ways to improve the product before they launch it. They can solicit ideas from the public. All of this to say twitter has its perks but let's get back to strategy, objectives, and purpose when we employ these communication tools.
In other news, I'm going to bed and I'll finish packing later. I don't think I'm going to take the spot in the East Village. I'll keep it moving.
If you read my blogpost economy schmonomy, you know how I feel about this recession. Businesses are still making money. People are being even more creative. Good things are happening for those who work hard.
I'm doing a bit of back tracking since a lot has taken place with me since I graduated and even before I graduated. Since we are on the subject, two days before I crossed the stage, I got a call from an ad agency that I had made contact with through the American Advertising Federation's (AAF) MOSAIC Career Fair. One of the HR reps asked if I was interested in working with them this summer. Now I did not apply directly to this program. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I say this to reiterate that even in the midst of the economy some people are still making moves. Opportunity is available for those willing to get to know those that can make it happen.
In no way do I attribute this to my personal swagger or anything special that I have done. Still, it definitely feels good to know that I am a person others want on their team. What is even crazier is that for the few years, I limited my career options to just public relations. I did not get the a-ha moment until I did a job shadow with Arnold Worldwide last December. For some reason I could not get it out of my head how much I enjoyed the atmosphere. From there I was motivated to look at the American Association of Advertising Agencies and AAF to learn about how and where I would fit. From what I learned, I really saw that my ability to work with different types of people at once was compatible with account management. Since then, I kept advertising as a career option.
I didn't think things would move this fast for me, but here I am on my way to the big city. I'm ready to work even harder than I did in graduate school or any other job. I'm willing to push myself creatively and mentally to come up with solutions and not point the finger. I'm ready to handle conflict if it were to ever arise and be the best to do whatever it takes.
For one week my facebook status said something along the lines as "rejection is the greatest thing that ever happened to me." I think some people thought my feelings had been hurt, but I was really looking back on all the resumes filed and essays written that worked out to no avail. To learn about an opportunity two days before I graduate was awesome to me. My blog is going to take on a new face now that I will be on an even greater adventure in my professional, personal, spiritual, and relational life. Here goes. The world of advertising awaits and I'm open for the opportunity. I'm most certain that I'll shine.
