Am I right or am i write?

I can’t figure out the link between happiness and productivity. I really, really can’t. Maybe you could give me some insight. I am so on the fence about this that I have fully analyzed both sides of the argument, and I am still unable to arrive at a conclusion.

On one hand, a dearth of productivity could signify extreme happiness. You are extremely at ease with yourself, your relationships and your jobs. You interact well with coworkers, take long, conversation-filled lunches and take off from work not a minute too soon to hit the gym and release more euphoria-inducing endorphins. Sounds like a great day, huh? Cut to the blinking cursor on your still white Word document. Did that fantastic day leave any time for you to produce real work? Doubtful. And if you think this day doesn’t apply to you, then it may not. The social life isn’t for everyone. But for those who feed off of the energy of others, never ending laughter and office camaraderie could leave a gaping whole in other places.

But that’s just One theory. Is there, on the converse, a distinct link between being out of ideas and out of serotonin? You can’t pay your bills on time, you feel like you’re out of shape, and worse – your friends haven’t been returning your calls…for weeks. So do you ho hum in to the office everyday eagerly anticipating getting to work? It doesn’t seem likely. It’s hard to pull yourself out of a rut to be innovative, creative and productive. But that’s just my opinion. And of course, outliers do exist.

I personally can’t make a decision. There are times when I am so happy and produce nothing … and there are times when I’m in a funk and produce about the same. Thoughts?

Intern-al Dilemma

Sometimes, when I’m bored, I read Blogs and various news sites that detail the dos and don’ts of having an internship. For example, do: be bright and alert every morning, without fail. Don’t: wear last night’s eyeliner and guzzle a venti latte like you’ll never see caffeine again. Could send the wrong message. So you see, I’ve tastefully skimmed through the various rants and raves on the Internet while aggregating and mentally summing up how to be the perfect intern. Then it got me thinking. (As if I'm ever not thinking).
What exactly is a perfect intern? Or more importantly, who owns this title? Is it the someone who is dutiful, prompt and put together? Or is it the someone who may be a little less about outward appearances but off the charts in talent and skill? Almost a catch-22, no? What kind of person do you want out there touting a past internship with your company like a brand ambassador? Because that’s what we are, really. Google’s calling dibs on the back row geek who’s tuning out the teacher and tuning into this month’s Wired Mag. And you bet DKNY or fill-in-the-blank NYC PR firm wants those pretty faces and socialites. Hand me that application. I kid.
But what happens when Google needs to send out an intern to recruit future tech-savvy and Internet hungry minds? Social skills are a must. And what about that PR firm or fashion company who needs someone to chart their growth and interpret the metrics? They didn’t teach that on Project Runway. The world needs a blend of interns. Companies need a range of up and comers, the ones who forget to read the Do’s and Don’ts (okay read the don’ts) but rather someone who owns what they bring to the table. Someone who is confident in their abilities and isn’t afraid to exude it day in and day out. It’s not about “looking the part” I'm serious, it isn’t. It’s about being the part; it’s about being the person they hired you to be.
So you see. There is no perfect intern. No one can wear all the hats in the world (although the Royal Wedding could give you a run for your moolah) and I beg you to find me someone who is fluent in C++, HTML, Vuitton and America’s Next Top Model. Good luck. And if you need some extra help, hit up the Starbucks Venti Latte: it’ll have you buzzing for days.

Boxed Out

You know when someone tells you not to think of something, but then you find that all you can do is think of that one thing? Quick…thing of anything else besides what you ate for breakfast today. Get real…all of our minds just turned to cereal, bananas and for the excessive health nuts out there I’ll throw in some donuts or last night’s cold pizza.

But really. That’s the struggle I’m having with current advertising efforts. Creative directors and clients alike all want us to think outside the box. Well then what does your brain go to? That stupid little box. That little, gnawing elusive box that you need to somehow find a way to claw yourself out of. We’re humans, so once we start down the path of thinking within a confined space all productivity suddenly goes out the window. Somehow, that found a way to escape.

While I was scouring the web for some innovative and boundary pushing ad campaigns, I came upon The Cool Hunter, a too-good-to-be-a-blog Blog that touts itself as the “world’s most-read culture and design site.” Two minutes in I see why, but more about that later.

The Cool Hunter operates a creative ideas agency called Access Agency. I was perusing their shtick when a certain line caught my attention. Or rather, engulfed me whole. Damn, they are good at what they do.

Here’s the first line of their Why. “Forget thinking outside the box. Forget the box. Where brands need to go today, there is no box.”

WHAT!?!??!!?

Did I just randomly stumble upon (Not to be confused with StumbleUpon, my social media junkies) my exact thoughts summed up in a sentence? Fireworks started going off in my head and from somewhere far away I think I heard the faint whistle from the beginning of the Commodores’ funk song “Brick House.”

So there you have it, I think I’m right in my assumptions, my friends. Nay, I am right. We are in a different age, a new age. There are no confined spaces, there are no square pegs and there are no round holes. And for god sakes, there is no box.

Here we go.

The Breaking Point

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? Would you talk less? Talk more? Quit biting your nails? Pay more attention in class? You understand. Without drumming up any deep-seeded insecurities, I would like you to think of your most annoying habit and ways you could kick it to the curb perhaps once and for all.
I’ve started to consciously make an effort to get rid of my own bad habit, and I wonder how long it will take for me to be a completely changed person. Okay so that was drastic, but seriously. How long is long enough? If you stay on a corrective path for a certain amount of time, does it start to become the norm? If you decide to make a life change starting today, will you still be consciously making that change in 5 years? 10 years? Assuming you don’t give up of course, we aren’t quitters here.
It’s just… before I begin my journey of self alteration, I would like to know that there is – in fact - a finish line waiting for me; a feeling of accomplishment and success. It would be nice, you know.
Bad habits tend to follow us around like an annoying younger sibling (not that I know!) but the only difference is that we have the power to change this minor annoyance and make ourselves better, stronger and more positive people. No one wants a nail biting, fast talking, procrastinating friend. Where’s the good influence in that? So see if you can make small steps to a better person…. see ya at the finish line (or approaching finish line, that’s most likely where I’ll be).

Newsweek can't catch a break

The New York Times ran an article recently about Howard Fineman, a former correspondant for Newsweek Magazine, leaving to pursue online journalism through the Huffington Post. This article is yet another example of the trend across the board for the careers of many journalists. The NYT did not specify this as an isolated incident either. They said that many prominent Newsweek employees are jumping ship to pursue everything from Yahoo finance to advanced education. When a major print publication has difficulty retaining even its editor in chief, the supposed most passionate member of a magazine’s staff, that cannot be a good sign for its future. It’s a bittersweet situation. We in the magazine field hope to see people in a dying publication stick around long enough to change its structure and synergize it with an online media strategy. If its top recruits are flat out leaving to pursue straight online media such as Yahoo and Huffington Post, it doesn’t give us a clear picture as to where the future is really headed. They must know something we do not.


http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/newsweeks-howard-fineman-to-join-the-huffington-post/

And then Dallas realized there was a recession

Have you ever waited for that one new website that changes the way things are right now? You don’t know exactly what it is, what it will do or how it will raise the bar yet again, but once it arrives you think to yourself “okay, I like you and I will be using you” in the utmost anti-that’s what he said way. Well I had that moment today.

In the past, I had a similar experience with Facebook (duh), Twitter (double duh, follow me!) and Gmail. AOL was on its way out anyways. The website to which I am referring may not apply to many of my readers, but take notice and you could be the next website superstar franchiser. Welcome to Dallasonabudget.com. Damn that packs a good punch. For the land of the pretty people who can’t really afford Botox but go without dinner, I’m surprised a legitimate website about Dallasite penny pinchers didn’t surface sooner. I think it’s because no one wants to admit that they actually watch their dollars like they watch their calories, and minutes on the treadmill…

         But anyways, I found this great website for anyone who is in Dallas and on a budget and I have to say – the blog looks promising. For a basic wordpress format, I was impressed by the organization, frequent updates and quality of posts. I hope people take notice of the one bold girl who decided to put Dallas on a budget. I always knew it could be done. If you would like to be the frugal traveler in your own city then check out the new-found website and see if you can do the unthinkable and gasp! Actually save some dinero in the process.

 

Underpaid, Overperplexed

If you so kindly would, fast forward to today and you will find me knee deep in a brand spankin new semester. The second half of college has begun, and the first half of the week is almost over. So I guess you can say I'm at the beginning of the end. But please, I'm nostalgic not morose.

Classes are alright, yawn...but one class in particular is the absolute highlight of my week. And if I were to choose a highlighter color for this one, it would have to be pink. Yellow is too generic and no one can really read under green highlighter anyways. So back to the pink. Magazine management by Dr. Hume is the first class I've ever been to where I just feel like what I'm learning will actually be of use in the future. I'm so sick of memorizing acute and obtuse angles, shapes of clouds and who led the confederate army .. while mathmaticians, meterologists and history buffs are most likely rolling around in their graves, I'm just done learning facts I'll never use again.

Which brings me to Mag Management. Having a dream to launch my own magazine one day, I can't help but feel the overwhelming sense of "ahh" that I do when I walk into that room every morning. I guess it's like a sorority girl who finds her perfect sorority after a long hellish week of rush, but I won't go there...really I won't.

As a budding magazine entrepeneur, I am posed with the challenge of creating my own magazine. I suppose I'll start a magazine highlighting my second greatest passion, travel and relate to current affairs (aka the economy) to end with a magazine designed for the american traveler on a budget...but that's about as far as I have gotten.

I can't come up with a name, people. Good names are like gold on the newsstands and by god I want to be there with my pan ready. "HELP!"