Retiring…

So… time to retire this ol’ fella for a new home. Here.

… Bye for now.

Published? Sort of.

One of my life goals was to be get published. Preferably a creative writing piece, but something nonetheless. Last Friday, I was. A PR newsletter. Though edited and picked apart by the PR gurus themselves (a typo missed …), I feel like the world of opportunity has made itself known.

Here is the piece for Veritas Communications’ Touchdowns & Fumbles:

“Too Fat To Fly” rap turns Kevin Smith into not-so-silent Bob

From terminal to Twitter, film directorKevin Smith takes on Southwest Airlines. Smith is accusing Southwest for unfairly ejecting him from his seat, saying the airline deemed him “too fat to fly.” Smith was removed from his flight, despite being buckled into his seatbelt and fitting between the seat handles. Although apologies have been given, Smith is demanding that Southwest make clear that their “Customer of Size” policy does not pertain to him. Sharing the story with his nearly 1.7-million Twitter followers, his audio “SMODcast” listeners and a barrage of YouTube videos, Smith claims to want nothing more than decency and an accurate apology. Southwest continues to stand by its “Customer of Size” policy despite the obvious discrepancies in criteria/enforcement, and did go so far as to phone Smith personally and to post a blog item about the whole incident. But at the end of the day, whether online or off, the lesson is simple: inconsistency brings any company – especially one in the customer service business – nothing but bad news.

Said maybe.

I sometimes feel my ipod knows exactly how I feel. Every song is perfect. I used to always feel I need a muse – a source of inspiration – to be able to write. I think I’ve found one. Something that gets the words out. Something I didn’t have before.

If only I could be so bold. It’s how the story goes. Spiritual enlightenment at the gym? Maybe. Something about pride; strong and unified. Celebrate each minute before you press fast-forward.

Walks away under a silver moon, and I’m at ease. C’mon, take your place. 2kms. Juxtapose. An endless grey. A new kind of silence. A slip exposed beneath her dress. Silk. The way he liked it.

I want more.
Whatever he’s selling.
Whatever you want to hear.

The silver lining.

What is the point of waking up if you expect the day to be terrible – lack luster, uneventful, completely mundane? I wouldn’t wake up if I expected that. Lucky for me, I don’t expect that. Hours later, the conversation finally ended. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.

I woke up late today. I (sort of) did everything I wanted to do. I went to the gym tonight. It’s been packed the past few nights. I’m shocked I even felt motivated to go. I’ve had to read a few books over the past few days and what better way to do cardio? There are only so many Twitter updates I can read at one time.

Among the things I did, I had a long conversation today. Borderline arguing. I wanted to shake him. I admit that I’m naive about many things, but about enjoying life? I don’t think so. I recalled all the amazing things I’ve experienced and why I did them. I thought about the people that taught me the lessons that would change me. I tried to convey that work, when it becomes so, will be fun, exciting and maybe even amazing. Why would I spend years feeling a little too melancholy?

The silver lining. Tucked away under everything we do.

Why?

Dear Humber PR,

“Special interest groups: groups of individuals or organizations that share a common focus or goal, that have a single, common concern. They come together.” – Barrie Doyle

I always assumed we had a common goal – become successful PR practitioners. Alongside the nature of the program, making friends and having fun is assumed right? Not today.

In the last month, I’ve found myself in a hard place. I’m a strong person. I’m often a very professional person but recently, the lines between professional and personal have become very blurred. Emotions are in play. I recognize and embrace the fact that we all have different personalities, but today, I think I’ve just reached my end. I respect differences, truly I do. What I find difficult is trying to negotiate over a battlefield that was created over…? That’s the thing. What started it all? Why aren’t we talking about? Why can’t we work it out?

I’ve never been in a situation where a compromise couldn’t be met, especially when it came down to perceptions. That’s what it is. Misperceptions and misunderstandings have escalated to a point of seeming hatred and resentment. I didn’t ask for this. Because I didn’t know your name, I didn’t say hi. That doesn’t make me unfriendly. I feel like I have found myself in the middle of this conflict/misunderstanding/debacle and I don’t want to be there. I try, I always try, to level the playing field. Today, so much has made it clear that it just won’t work.

I don’t understand why those who have seen this happen don’t help. I feel like this misunderstanding is only growing with the help of our mentors, our teachers and our friends. Shouldn’t they help us? Don’t they want to see us all succeed – professionally and personally? I’ll take the blame and accept when others want to choose someone to target. That’s fine. But today, not anymore.

I just can’t wrap my head around why communicators cannot communicate. I think, for once, we just need to come together and realize that what’s happening is bigger than it is and was created over nothing. Maybe I’m just naive but I though this industry was about building relationships, not tearing them apart before they begin.

I’m just… disappointed and feeling let-down. Will anyone step up and turn the tide?

Snowy.

I was driving home yesterday with my window open, just a crack. I was listening to Common. It reminded me of last summer, when the snow melted. I remember being overjoyed that I could speed through the melting snow and not worry that my SUV would go flipping through the road. What a good feeling.

Well, the snow hasn’t come yet (please don’t come) so I have a few more days of being able to drive without scraping off my car or giving myself an extra 20 minutes because everyone else will be driving 40 km/h. I kind of like when the snow begins to disappear. Spring is always a happy time – even if it’s just institutionalized and the thought of happy bunnies and chickies is what I’m supposed to be thinking. It makes me happy, so what’s wrong with that?

Wordle.

The drawing board.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew the woman I wanted to be.” – Diane Von Furstenberg

Well, this sums it up. Developing a personal brand requires a lot of research and personal insight. I spent four hours reading blogs about how to captivate the online audience for x,y reasons but more importantly, I read about how to get lost in the crowd. It seems as though my strategy to express all areas of my mind is too broad. Maybe I’m just looking to meet a Chuck Klosterman or a Hal Niedzviecki of sorts. I assumed having something to say about anything (culture, society, the Olsen twins) could work, and it has for them so what now for me?

DVF says it well. I don’t know where I want to go, what markets to enter, what audiences to attract etc. There are a lot of unanswered questions and the reality is, I’m just starting. Speaking of questions. I was watching America’s Next Top Model while on a treadmill at the gym (walking, not running) and Tyra reflected on one of the models and her inability to let her personality shine in her photoshoot. She didn’t ask questions. “Sometimes asking questions says more about your personality than just being yourself.” It clicked. I felt that was the reason I was hired for my latest volunteer opportunity. As a student with just an ounce of PR experience and little knowledge about the hard basics, why me? “Asking the right questions can prove your intelligence” – showing your mental clock is turning and clicking is a positive.

This is what I know:
-My personal brand should emphasize my strengths and successes: if someone from the industry of interest were to read my blog, would they hire me? why or why not?
-I must centralize my online personality to one hub that highlights my social networks and my online presence.
-I need to find a niche so that I can penetrate it, participate in it and attract others to me.
-Reflect on my uniqueness/differences and highlight those: why would someone look at me and not someone else? what would keep their attention?

Back to the drawing board.