I'm a Blogger.

Good morning, loves. Well, I've been holding out on you and I guess it's about time I spill... I got a job! Not a career. Not a full-time, big girl, grown-up, wearing-pencil-skirts-to-the-office, 9-5 job, but a job, nonetheless. And it's in my field. Using my degree!  


This month I signed a contract to work as a blogger for a social media firm in Fort Lauderdale. Wait what? Yeah, I'm a blogger. Totally weird, huh? 

[my bio from the company website... Wait what?!]

I started this blog thinking it would improve my communication skills and make me a stronger writer. I hoped it would help cultivate a sense of self-discipline and a self-starter mentality. And it did. And, oddly enough, this little blog has opened doors I never imagined it could.


I didn't ever expect to "pursue a career in blogging," mainly because I felt like it was one of those novel ideas (ha, novel, gotta love a literary pun) that are too far beyond reach. Kind of like an 8 year old boy who wants to be a professional baseball player. Or every girl who saw How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days wants to work for a magazine. But, here I am, 22 years old and I'm going to get paid to do something I've been doing for fun for over 2 years. 

It's a dream. It's hard work. Sometimes it's frustrating, but the payoff is incredible (and I'm not talking money.) I tried to explain it to my mom recently and it's difficult to articulate, but there comes this point when I'm ready to pull my hair out. Things don't sound right, the piece isn't coming together. My eye starts twitching and I think, "I hate blogging, I hate writing, I hate words." And then something just clicks. Sometimes it's the perfect word. Sometimes it's the first sentence. Sometimes it's the realization that I need to scrap the whole thing and start over. Whatever it may be, things just come together all of the sudden. It's an epiphany. It's an adrenaline rush, kind of like falling in love or finding the perfect pair of heels in your size. It's the first bite of a warm cookie. It's the winning basket in overtime and the crowd goes wild. 


I'm a blogger. And I love it. 


It's funny though, and I'll be completely honest, I was not looking for jobs in social media. I was dead set, hell-bent on working in the nonprofit sector. But this opportunity presented itself and, oddly enough, about 25% of my work so far has dealt directly with nonprofits. God's funny like that. 

So, the nitty gritty: I'm still in Coastal Carolina. I'm still working at the restaurant. I work remotely from home or the office. I may relocate to Florida, just like I may end up in Timbuktu. It has been a lesson in juggling, sometimes I get it right and sometimes everything ends up on the floor. But I'm learning to manage. I know I'm doing things a little differently than most "young professionals" my age, and I'm ok with that. If I can give you any advice (if you're the type of person who takes advice from someone who clearly has a lot left to figure out) I'd say don't get locked into a certain idea of what your future should look like. Sometimes life surprises you in ways far more interesting than you could ever dream. Just be open to it. 


Thanks for reading, today & always, and for allowing me to share my craft with you. It truly means the world to me. 

Things I will accomplish today...

I've always been a lister... I love making lists. To do lists. Grocery lists. Packing lists. This week, on a whim and perhaps under the influence of a deliriously gorgeous "spring" day, I titled one "Things I will accomplish today" instead of "To Do." It may sound silly, but making this minor change really put things in perspective. 

The truth is, it's not just a list of things I need "to do." Obligations. Chores. It is a list of things that I will accomplish in order to become the person I want to be. This new understanding had an empowering, transformational effect. Rather than looking at the list of things I "had to do" begrudgingly, I had small goals and measurable benchmarks of success. When I was tempted to whine about small obstacles throughout the day, I held my tongue. In the big picture, I know I want to be a positive person, and complaining is not a characteristic of someone who is positive. Having a clear vision of where you are and where you want to be is essential. The list isn’t about chores, but rather priorities. As you can see, “unpacking” was carried over from Thursday to Friday… a task which was eventually completed Saturday night. But I did go on that bike ride with my little brother. And sometimes, the little things (like bike rides) are the most important. 


What will you accomplish today?

Mission-Driven

Last night I found myself feeling deeply saddened by the scandal going on with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood. A brief synopsis, in case you're unfamiliar: Last week Komen announced that they would no longer provide grants for Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screening program. Public outrage ensued, and several days later Komen reversed the decision. The argument was deeply polarized and politicized. Pro-choice supporters of Komen jumped ship quickly, offering contributions to Planned Parenthood totaling $3 million in just four days. Pro-lifers felt they had been duped by Komen, who made a quick change in the face of opposition. Planned Parenthood was quick to cast blame, pointing fingers at conservatives for "bullying" Komen into the initial decision. This morning, Komen's Vice President of Public Policy, Karen Handel, resigned.  

Mom & Pop

I love Google. How can you not? Google Chrome is my browser of choice. Google is my number 1 most visited page. It's not a search engine, it's a way of life. I fell in love with their clever commercials when I first saw "Parisian Love." Then, a few months ago, I saw this commercial while I was running on the treadmill at the gym.

I can only hope people assumed I was shedding tears over my 5 miler, but in reality Google had blown me away yet again. I know the story resonated with me partly because my parents are restaurateurs, but I still think the message is so great. That last line, "the web is what you make of it." Absolute perfection. Lately the internet has been getting a bad rep: cyber bullying, online predators, etc. Don't get me wrong, these things are real threats, but there is also a lot of good that can come out of the internet too. 


It's what you make of it. 

Eat Fresh

Do you know what the largest restaurant chain in the world is?

If you guessed McDonald’s (like I did) you’re wrong.

This past year Subway climbed to the top of the fast-food-chain, knocking out the reigning heavyweight champion (McDonald’s) who has held the title since the 1970s.

How did they do it? According to this article by Kim Peterson, they beat McDonald’s at their own game, spending heavily on advertising and using the same franchisee model. Entrepreneur magazine identified 6 key strategies that catapulted Subway to the top. 

 1. Tell a great story.

We have been talking about the role of narrative in my IMC class and Subway’s Jared Fogle is a prime example.  People can identify with his story and are inspired by his significant weight loss (while on "the Subway diet") and continued achievement with the completion of a marathon.

2.      2. In touch with trends.

At the time of the economic downturn, America wanted value. In response, Subway launched their “$5 footlong” campaign and prospered at a time when most businesses struggled.

3. Use a flexible brand.

Originally Subway was known for quick sandwiches, but over time the demand for healthy food increased. In response, Subway reemerged as a wholesome alternative to greasy, fried food (hence “Eat fresh”). 

4. Creative locations.

From courthouses to college campuses, (oddly enough, one opened up just yesterday in UNCW's student union), airports, and even the Pentagon, franchises are popping up everywhere. Also, Subway had an advantage over their competitors because they could get into places like hospitals where their unhealthy counterparts were denied prime real estate.

5. Customer engagement.

One word: Customization. Subway pioneered the concept of fast food that is made to order right in front of the customer, thus raising the bar for the industry. They took Burger King’s slogan, “Have it your way,” to a whole new level.

6. Great franchisor-franchisee relations.

No matter how successful your advertising strategies may be, a fragmented internal structure will lead to failure. If you do not maintain strong relationships within your corporation and with your stakeholders your company will not grow. 


Sorry for nerding out, but it is just incredible to me that communication is such a powerful tool. And did I mention how much I love my major?