What I'm Listening To

Why Social Media is Making Me Sick

In my personal life I love social media. It's a great way to say in touch with friends and connect with interesting people you wouldn't have had the opportunity to if you weren't connected through this medium. However, social media is making me sick!

There are two reasons in particular why I'm not the advocate I once was for social media.

1) After joining "discussion" groups or blogger websites (Brazen excluded) I've found that people are shameless when it comes to pimping themselves out. More than half of the time when they comment on a blog they have nothing of value to say or share, but instead are directing you to their own site/blog/twitter page. I only follow people on twitter, subscribe to blogs of people and visit others sites if they have something of value to add to my life. I only want to see what's on your mind if you're interesting. I do not like being told to check out your site. Leave a comment and if I like what you have to say I'll want to find out more about you.

2) Work mandated social media updates. Social media has changed. It's now used as a vehicle to disperse info to a mass audience for free. For some things I think this works, but for others I do not. It's no longer just a way to connect with old friends or share ideas with other like-minded people, it's become it's own monster. A monster that people are feeding with crap. I guess my grievances lie with businesses bombarding me with useless info and intruding on what I once perceived as mine.

If everyone had a theme song, this would be mine...

Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet


for today anyway. I'm loving how well the crisp Autum air and Michael Buble songs go together! When I hear him I automatically feel the need for apple cider.

Holiday Cards vs Christmas Cards

For the past couple of years I have sent out Holiday Cards that aren't specific to any one religious holiday or belief. This year, I've decided things are going to be different.

I am Christian and I celebrate Christmas, therefore I will be sending out Christmas cards this year.

In years past I have opted for the more general, generic holiday cards because the list of friends I send cards to is varied and many of the people on my list are not Christian. In thinking about everyone else's holiday beliefs before my own, I feel that I've lost a part of that Christmas magic and I want it back!

I love sending out Christmas cards and think I will enjoy doing so this year and not feel as though I'm obligated to, as I did last year. I've already planned out my Christmas card this year and am beginning to work on them. They're going to be pretty darn cute and I'll surly post a sample when they're complete.

Learning to say No

Saying "NO" isn't something I do very well. My sister says it's because I feel like I have to be nice to everyone. I'm not sure I agree. I think I want to be viewed as the go-to-gal, the co-worker with all the answers and the friend who never lets you down. Maybe my sister's right.

However, today was a big step for me in that I said "No". And it was to a request at work. It was tough, but I felt it was something that simply needed to be done. Now, before you think I'm a horrible employee, know that I only said no to someones request for me to do their work. It felt good, but now I feel guilty. Maybe it's just first-timer's remorse and saying no will eventually get easier with time?

I'm not sure where my need to be everything to everyone comes from, but some days I must take a step back and say "NO!" I'm learning...

What will be my generation's legacy?

I was watching a movie the other night where Edgar Allan Poe & Mark Twain were quoted and I began asking myself who the great writers of today are and if their work will stand the test of time. That thought then manifested itself into the topic of today's blog, What will be the Gen Y legacy?

Are there Gen Yers out there creating masterpieces that will undoubtedly shape the minds of future generations? I don't know. Or will Gen Y be remembered more for not speaking in complete sentences, texting acronyms instead of writing love letters and founding the social networking scene that leaves its dedicated followers actually more anti-social and socially awkward than before? Perhaps.

Following the 40 year anniversary of the Woodstock ('69) festival, the question again surfaces the forefront of my thoughts, what will my generation leave behind, what will my kids think? Will our legacy, whatever it will be, be the source of documentaries and define what Gen Y is/was?

For the LOVE of deadlines

I love deadlines. I adore having things due at a certain time and relish in the accomplishment I feel once I can finally scratch it off my To-Do list!



One may ask, where does this love of deadlines come from? Has she always enjoyed timeliness? Is she a very organized person? Is she the type of person who's items all have their own place and notices when they're moved slightly to the right or left?



NO!



This is not me at all. I can't be certain where my love of deadlines developed but I can be certain where I honed this trait I love oh, so much. News. I am a former broadcast journalist who's life, for three years, depended on the very second of the day.



I grew up as a procrastinator and remember fondly my parents growing increasingly frustrated with me and my lack of understanding deadlines. I figured I'll get it done, who cares...right?! WRONG! I always got things done, but never done well.



This is where the news business stepped in and took over my life. I developed the skill of getting things done and getting them done well. My name was going on these stories that maybe a handful of people were watching (it was a small market) and if I was lucky, my face was fronting the story. So, I couldn't make it a complete mistake, it had to look good. This taught me how to prioritize and work quickly. I am grateful for my days in news. The humiliation that came with not getting something done (this only happened once) and what I learned from that. Most days I wish I only ever worked with people who were ex-newsies too.



If you've never had a hard deadline to meet, you don't know what a deadline is. Most people think of deadlines as flexible. No, no way, no how.



I did not make up a magical date and decide that's when a project is due. It in fact is due on the date of the deadline. Not two days later, not two months later and certainly not never. You should not have to send out "friendly reminders" to people you are expecting things from.



I have a planner, (it's a paper planner that looks like it was used in 1982 but it records information and deadlines the same as electronic planners) where I write things down and remind myself to do things. I wish others did the same.



Why is it that no one appreciates deadlines in business? Is this attitude just in nonprofit where the work atmosphere is lax to begin with? How can you make others appreciate your deadline?