Become a Better Version of You
This semester I have started a new blog about volunteering, health and trips in Harrisonburg, Va. I’ve been interviewing residents, researching activities in the area and learning to love the area I live in.
Back to School, Back to School
Well, I’m FINALLY back in Harrisonburg after the most amazing summer ever. I loved loved loved my internship at Northern Virginia Magazine and enjoyed spending time with my wonderful family too. Over the summer I turned 21, attended a Washington Nationals game and went to the beach a few times. One of the highlights was definitely going on my first cruise — the Carnival Imagination to Key West and Cozumel. They were absolutely gorgeous locations, perfect weather and I was with fun friends! While we were there we toured the two ports, went parasailing in Key West and snorkeling, rock climbing, repelling and zip-lining through Cozumel. I highly recommend going on a cruise – endless food and fun.. what more could you want?
I had my first day of classes yesterday and I’m looking forward to this semester. In my New Media Journalism course we’re going to use blogs, Twitter and LinkedIn so that should we fun to learn how to take advantage of everything the sites have to offer. I also went to a Shakespeare class (should be interesting performing one of his plays..) and a general English class too.
This semester JMU is focusing on a few projects. One of the major ones is sustainability (we even have flags that say sustainability on them!) Before checking out the CISAT’s website for sustainability, I was unaware of its entire scope. The site explains that sustainability “promotes human well-being and quality of life” through the environment, conservation and reasonable financial costs. The most empowering piece of information on the website I found on the website states that “sustainability is not a state that is ever finally achieved, but is always a goal to be worked toward.” I think that this plan is perfect for JMU — we are strong group of students and faculty who work hard, always strive to reach goals and want to make a positive impact on society.
Hootsuite
In an article I just read on Smartbrief, I learned about Hootsuite where companies can update their Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress and many other social media sites that could have… ALL AT ONCE! How convenient! And what a time saver 
Have a good rest of the weekend!
PS – I updated my social media resume if you want to check it out!
Just for fun!
I’ve been falling in love with a million songs recently and I just wanted to share my 3 favorites right now:
#1. Love Like Crazy — Lee Brice
I absolutely love the chorus:
Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you
Go to work, do your best, don’t outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin knees get lazy
And love like crazy
#2. Lady Antebellum’s American Honey
I cannot get this song out my head! I love love love it.
Get caught in the race
Of this crazy life
Trying to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time
To American honey, yea
There’s a wild, wild whisper
Blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing’s sweeter than summer time
And American honey
#3. Brooke Fraser’s Shadowfeet
And this song is so reassuring and calming for me. It’s perfect.
When the world has fallen out from under me
I’ll be found in You, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in You
Google-icious
Sweet Spot
My second weekend project is up on NoVA Mag’s website.
Food for thought: This week I’ve been reading about finding your “sweet spot” in life (Max Lucado’s Cure for the Common Life) and it’s so fun to read about. The chapter I’m reading now is about greed and it’s really interesting. One quote that I came across and love is “In the desire to be great, one might cease being any good.” I think that statement is so true because in today’s society everyone always wants more more more and wants to be better, faster, stronger etc. This quote is just saying if, for example, you DO get that promotion at work you may be taken out of your sweet spot (where you’re supposed to be!).
Happy Friday
Articles for NoVA Mag
Here are a few more articles that have been published this week:
I helped compile a July Fourth Guide for ‘Northern Virginia Magazine’
My first DIY weekend project for the magazine.
What I’ve Been Up To
I know it’s been forever since I’ve written on this blog but I’ve been keeping busy!
This past spring semester I was in a Feature Writing course at JMU. I wrote many articles, including a few excerpts that went onto Harrisonburg’s South Main website about the switch to the new Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
This summer I’m interning at Northern Virginia Magazine. I am LOVING it! I am writing a variety of articles… a health column, real estate page, multiple events newsletters, three “Weekend Projects” for Northern Virginians and even attended D.C.’s Fall Designer Preview at Nordstorm’s in Tysons Corner. Although the job doesn’t pay, the perks are endless — fashion shows, free passes, fun times with my co-interns and endless experience working at a respected publication.
Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Media Relations: Wal-Mart vs Comcast
The Case Study article I read today described the different ways that two major companies address their publics.
Wal-Mart for example, has no broad Twitter account. Specific employees, Kelly and Kevin, use Twitter to talk with consumers about their Wal-Mart experiences. The author of the article, Ari Herzog, explains that he likes “the naming convention” the two employees use: “Walmart Kelly” and “Walmart Kevin.” I agree with Hezog — the consumers on Twitter can tell right away that these two people work for Wal-Mart and are people themselves. It’s easy to think that all communication through a company is with automated voices, voicemails and no interaction with humans. These employees show that they are real people by using their names.
This summer, at the resort I worked at, there was a sign posted in the office that said “Are you so proud of your work that you would put your name on it?” I really like that quote because as a waitress, I was doing a lot of behind the scenes work. A lot of maids and hotel staff do behind-the-scenes work and many never even see the guests. The quote that was shown in the office really enforces that even if nobody sees you do the work, would you still sign your name to it? I think that is really powerful and everyone should do the best work they can — even if nobody is watching. Everyone will notice and you can start a chain reaction of good things!
These two employees from Wal-Mart weren’t forced to use their names; their names could have simply been “Wal-Mart Twitter.” They didn’t have to use their names to talk to guests but they WANTED to. They wanted to show the world that they, Kelly and Kevin, were working the hardest for their consumers. I believe that they wanted to show the consumers that their Wal-Mart experience could be a personal one, and the customers would not just be another face in the crowd.
When Herzog switches to talk about Comcast, they use the name “comcastcares.” Although Comcast says that their senior director, Frank Eliason, talks director the consumers, there is usually a team behind him that answers all of the questions.
I favor the Wal-Mart approach to consumers over the Comcast one because they are more personal and show the consumers that real people are the ones talking to the public. It’s easy to forget that both of the corporations are actually both ahead of times — many companies are still reluctant to try Twitter or other social media and these two companies are actually both making positive impacts on the media world!
Virtual Dress Code?
In Caroline McCarthy’s recent article “New Report Warns of Dangers of trashy Avatars,” she explains why virtual employees (such as bloggers) should also dress to impress.
Marketing firm Gartner believes “employees ought to know how to operate their avatars properly, use the same degrees of discretion and professionalism that they do on social-networking sites, and even keep separate avatars for personal and professional use.”
I have mixed feelings about requiring a dress code for the employees that are behind-the-scenes. Avatars spend most of their on individual projects – creating websites, blogs and behind-the-scenes projects — and I believe that can be done on their family room couch in their pajamas.
On the other hand, I definitely agree that when a person is interacting with employees, clients, management face-to-face (including Skype) they should be dressed appropriately and professionally.
I am involved in a sorority on JMU’s campus and we know that even if we are not wearing our Greek letters for everyone to see, many people still associate us with the group. We should always be classy and pleasant to all of those around us.
While the article’s view of the dress code was strict, I believe it can vary depending on the activities of the day . Always remember, if you are on or off the clock, you always are representing your employer!
