Adventures

So as I have mentioned earlier, and probably numerous times happiness is a big part of success in my eyes. And happiness can be derived from having lots of fun. So I have decided to compile a list of the many things I would like to try, get involved in, or return to over the next couple of years that I think will help enrich my life, help me have fun, and ultimately make me happy.

Archery
Trapeze
Hip-Hop Dance Classes
Teaching Gymnastics
Pole Fitness -- Perhaps Teaching
Skiing and/or Snowboard
Tubing
Jet Skiing
Snowmobiling
Swimming/Diving
Ski Diving
Trampoline Gym
Disc Golf
Camping
Sewing
My Religion and belief system
Feng Shui
Accessorizing my outfits (shocker for some I know haha)
Slacklining
Rollerblading
Wine and Food Tastings
Motorcycles -- riding and/or fixing -- same goes for old cars
Billiards -- pool and darts (maybe join a league) and bowling too
Live sporting events -- especially Pro Teams
Live music -- for both bands I do and do not know
Comedy Shows
Kayaking and White Water Rafting
Hiking
Exploring
Visiting Museums and historical sites -- most interest lies in art and science
Finish my tattoos
Yoga
Beer Making
Card and Board Games
Books -- broaden my reading interests
TRAVEL! Fill up my passport! and see all of the US
Create things...

I do not think this list is nearly complete, but I think it might be a good start.

What do you think? Any good suggestions for additions

I've Returned

First, I must say that I am a little disappointed with myself for having forgotten about this blog once I started on the next path to come into my life. If I hadn't made it clear I am definitely a person that does not think success is immediate or even finite. I feel like that is always something we can do to further better ourselves and work towards being a better, happier person and therefore, in my eyes, a more successful person.

Well a lot has obviously happened since my last post so a brief update...

I started the job at Taft as their leasing and service coordinator. It was a great job and there were a lot of challenges. When I got there, they did not have a mission statement set up, or any of the other basic marketing identity items that should have been in place. I quickly took over many items and pushed for even more. After just over a year I was promoted to the Assistant Property Manager Position, with three staff members under me and responsibilities over the Maintenance Team. I ran the 100+ unit on-site Mini Storage facility and had made great changes there too. Over my time there, I got the company on track with the marketing basics, helped create a website for the Community, played a major role in our consecutive Best Of Awards, got the ball running us into social media networks, and established great events for the residents to appreciate.

However, once I accomplished all of the things I set out to accomplish for the company I grew bored and started to seek out new opportunities. I shadowed my uncle in his position with a Food Service Management Company and was intrigued. He helped set me up with a couple interviews, but nothing panned out.

One day he called me and asked me if I wanted a job in Boston as the Front of House Manager -- basically the #2 in the account. After carefully weighing out my options and some back and forth on their part, I accepted the job and was in Boston starting to work within two weeks of my accepting.

It has not been easy! And it sure has been an eye opener. There have been a lot of changes, being short handed and just all around struggles, but I have prospered through each challenge. I am not coming up on my 18 months with the Company and am slowly trying to move into a Marketing Manager Role. This is slow coming as giving up my old duties, is not a quick process. I really hope to be able to get into this role and grow in it. I have a lot of ideas of what I want to be doing and hope I can get the support and time to accomplish those things.

In addition to the many hours I put in with the FSM company each week (full time managers are supposed to put in 50 hours a week... which somehow tends to be a minimum...) I also have gone back to the Taft as a marketing consultant for them. Which is an interesting aspect working from so far away, especially having been a large part of the team... to only be able to help to an extent can sometimes be frustrating because I know if I were there doing it, it would be bigger, better, more involved... but that is no longer my position there and I must learn to separate a little.

Well since you are all caught up for now, (and I have a bunch of other work I need to be doing) I will let you ponder that and hopefully you will come back to see what else is on my mind, where it is taking me, and how I feel about it.

Cheers!
Jess

LFE UPDATE!

I finally got a job offer and took it. And I know some might be wondering after reading previous posts if it is a job I want, and that I can grow in or if it is just something I took because it was there.

Well I believe that it is something that I really want to do and can be good at.

I accepted a leasing/service coordinator position with an apartment community in downtown New Haven.

The job is very multi-faceted which is what I truly need. I get to create, build, and strengthen relationships with a variety of people. The company is also excited to have my background in guerrilla marketing to help add a different edge to our business.

I start the first week of November, after a lovely tonsil surgery. I am very excited, to have a something new to look forward to. I cannot wait to jump head first into this great opportunity and make myself a place in this world.

However, I still want to sit down and establish a laundry list of sorts of the skill sets I need and already possess to eventually one day open my own restaurant and music venue. (If anyone has any advice or input on this, I would greatly appreciate it.) When I last spoke with one of my most influential college professors a couple weeks ago this was her suggestion. This new position is definitely something that I think I will enjoy for awhile, and will give me plenty of experience. However, I also want to keep my future goals in mind. I want to make sure I am keeping my eyes open for opportunities to gain, improve, and renew skill sets that will be essential to my success later down the road.

So here is to the future - and the present

8 Rules of Innovation

http://lateralaction.com/articles/tyler-durden-innovation/ <<<< GO READ THIS NOW!!

This post is quite eye opening, if you let it be. Yes, funny that they are using Fight Club to tell us how to get more out of your life, but if you know the story if makes perfect sense.

We all need to take life by the reins and stop worrying about all the little things... which brings me to something else I read today... Perspective...

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some articles before him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large empty glass jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

Then said the professor, as the laughter subsided:
"Now, I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things: your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are the other things that matter: like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another round of golf. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first. Those are the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

There was a pause, and then a truculent student voice from the back muttered "What about the beer?" The professor smiled.
"I'm glad you asked! It just goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with your friends!"


I do not very often take the time to read these things, until late, and am very happy I have. I want nothing more than to get ahold of my life once again, and here is where I start.

Have a great day and stay tuned...

Progress

So I am officially getting some where. Interviews and emails are involved, and I am happy just to have some progress.

I have an interview on Friday with a consulting firm for a glorified admin position, but there is room for growth, marketing related tasks, and high involvement with a variety of different people. Big bonus its a smaller up and coming company.

Next week I have an interview with a corporate restaurant for an entry level management position, which would not be bad because I really do love the restaurant business... minus not having weekends off...

And I had a couple initial email requests for my information with a few companies.

Also, I took the time today to get in contact with the career services at Bryant. I am now on the Job Source weekly email list. And a part of a Alumni Career Link, which is a basic networking forum to speak with different alumni in a variety of fields for information interviews, info about their companies and experiences, job shadowing possibilities, and other such things. I also sent my resume in to be critiqued by some professionals.

My Uncle is sending me to a Seth Godin seminar in October, which should be ... eye opening if nothing else.

Typing it all out I felt like I had been much more productive, but I am not discouraged. Here's to the fight!

What I Want In A Career

After some careful analysis of my personality, and reading through an assessment of myself (thanks to JobFox) I had really come to a better conclusion of what I am looking for in my new career.

- Change: I am not the kind of girl that can sit behind a desk all day and be happy, especially if you are doing the same very thing day in and say out

- Interaction: I need to be able to speak with and have the opportunity to exchange ideas with a variety of different people. I am ok to not constantly be surrounded by people (as I am happy with working individually), however, inevitably I would like the opportunity to be a part of a team in some way, shape or form.

- Challenges: I am the type of person that likes to excel (at pretty much everything I attempt). I need that source of challenge in my life to keep me motivated and push me toward success. I do not want to feel bored in my position on a regular basis. I thrive in fast-paced, multi-tasking environments, and hope for such.

- Responsibility: I truly enjoy knowing that the outcome of success lies majorly in my hands. Or at least knowing that I have a part in it. As much as I know when to take the back seat when working in teams, I am more often than not the one to set-up and make things happen. I would like the chance to prove myself. To even have other teammates and peers rely on my.

- Acknowledgment: I do not need a pat on the back for everything I am doing well. However, when something big comes along that is done efficiently and effectively it is important that I know so. Not only does it boost my esteem and confidence, it heightens my desires to continue doing things to the best of my ability.

- Feedback: While very similar to acknowledgment, this includes the positives and negatives. If I am not working up to par, or could be doing something a little bit differently to make things better, I want to know. It is very important to me to be working to the best of my abilities, and to learn how to go above and beyond those abilities. So regular feedback, formal and informal are very important.

- Casual Work Environment: This is not so much in the sense of dress, but more the attitude. I am a very open-minded person and hope to work with others like me. Although, I also do feel it is very important to all have varying views and personalities. Very few new and exciting ideas will consistently come from a group of people who are all too similar. Plus where does friendly debate and broadening horizons come into play.

- Ability to Learn: This is potentially my biggest concern and the only real attribute that I have been looking for thus far. At this point in my life I do not feel like I am learning enough. Being practically fresh out of college, I feel as if my brain was just let to sit. This is sincerely bothersome. Whether through constant training, tuition reimbursement, or any other means I hope to be learning something new on a consistent basis. Whether it be about the job it self, a new product or customer, or about some other random happen stance in the world. I want to be fed information until I explode.

- Opportunity for Advancement: This is also one that I had previously thought about, especially being that I am simply serving and bartending at the moment, I of course would like to move up in the world. I mostly started thinking about this need in a new career when I was offered a position as an Activities Director with a Housing Community. There was no where to go from that position, except from working the night shift to taking the day shift director's position. Now to some it might be great to come in at the top. However, I know that there is a chain, and I have NO problem working my way up that chain, learning all the ins and outs as I make my way. Granted I would like the movement (even if it is sometimes on the same level versus moving directly up) to be at a reasonable pace; I do not want to wait five years for my first promotion.


No those are nine solid things to hope to find in a career (in my opinion). The next part is to start looking for them. Or at least in my position to figure out how to go about looking for such attributes.

Signing out.

Job Fox

My Uncle Peter - is my saving grace when it comes to my job hunt... constantly sending me information and websites and blogs and and the newest thing - JobFox...
http://www.jobfox.com/people/JESSICANOWELL

That is my new profile. Please check it out and let me know what you think. As said before I can use all of the help I can get.

Here is to hoping. And I know I have to get much better at the keeping up with my posts.