You Snooze, You Lose in 2014

This time of year brings a significant amount of wrap up posts, sentimental articles for the year past, and hopeful write-ups for the year to come strewn about the internet. There’s something fun in it all though, don’t you think? The satisfying closure the end of a year brings and the refreshed, renewed vigor that comes with a brand new year is intoxicating. A fresh start, a clean slate, a world of possibilities – all just around the corner if you’re motivated enough to go after it.

If we’re talking about the closure of a year, I’ll come out and say it: for me, 2013 was not my favorite year.  On the good side there was some minor travel, I got a place of my own, and I taught my first full year as an adjunct professor, but on the whole it did not live up to my expectations or end on the highest of notes personally, professionally, financially, or physically. But what is it that they say? When you’re at the bottom you’ve got nowhere to go but up, which from my perspective is pure motivation.  This year I learned so much about how to do things better that I have never been more hopeful to put it all into action in a new year. I am excited about the future, of which I have no idea what it could hold for me.

When it comes to a new year, making resolutions was never my thing.  “Travel more,” “Lose Weight,” “Work less,” are all so generic and hollow that in and of themselves they set people up for failure. For example, a better suggestion would be to make a plan like “I want to eat a good breakfast everyday,” which will probably set you up better to lose weight and is an actionable goal.

I have a long-standing “resolution” of “Pay No ATM Fees” which went so well I keep it going. I’ve gone from spending $100 a year three years ago to only $6 in 2013. It was so simple and came down to decision-making.  I no longer wanted to throw away money on something so trivial when I can plan ahead or maybe go out of my way a block or two to find an in-network ATM.  

In the same vain of making a choice, for 2014 I my plan is simple.  No more snooze button. 

I am the world’s worst morning person and loathe the morning process.  It doesn’t matter how great the day ahead will be, I am a totally different person when the alarm goes off.  If offered 10 extra minutes to sleep in in exchange for murdering someone, I would strongly consider taking the deal, and it’s been this way for 30 years. That ends now. It’s a waste of time, it’s not quality sleep, and it’s hindering success.

I believe that not hitting the snooze at all will have a domino effect on my life. It will most likely change my habits on areas like breakfast, the gym, daily planning, writing, and spending. Of course this is only a theory, but I’m excited to put this plan into action.

So - what about you - how was your 2013?  What’s your 2014 plan?

  

Just Plain Excited

When was the last time you were really excited about something you were working on? Whether you've been working for 20 years, 10 years, 2 years, or 3 months - can you remember what it was like to truly work on something you felt over-the-moon about? This feeling can come from anywhere and usually does. Maybe your company has created a new product you're jazzed about because it'll challenge you in some way. Maybe you get to take a business trip to sell something you normally don't get to sell. Or it could even be the small things, like you received 50 hits on your most recent blog post on the first day. How often do you wake up in the morning energized about the things you get to do that day?

This feeling doesn't necessarily have to be something you do for your job. It could be a project you do at home in your spare time, or a lifelong dream you've always had on the side like learning to play a certain piece of music, or writing a book. The reason people have hobbies is because they're interested in something that has nothing to do with your professional day to day life.

I subscribe to the thought that life should always be exciting and that I should be constantly improving, so having my hands in a dozen projects usually makes me feel pretty good. Whenever I'm working at a full time job I'm 100% committed and focused especially when others around me are great to work with and it feels like we're accomplishing something. But when quitting time hits, it's important to take your personal time and do the things you want to do to create a good balance between work and life.

Recently I have become a part of a team that's going to bring something unique to the interwebs** very soon. In the fall of 2009 a good friend of mine had a BRILLIANT idea to create a website that will showcase up-and-coming authors on a weekly basis through serialized fiction. Writers will now have the chance to publish their books chapter by chapter, week by week, until finished. At the end, the writers will have a completed book with an audience, that they can shop around to big publishing houses. The site design looks amazing, the stories being submitted are quality, and putting this all together with friends has been a great experience so far. It's an exciting project that I'm thrilled to be a part of and work on daily.

People have brilliant ideas everyday that go by the wayside, and then they just go on with their lives by going to work and coming home day after day after day. But imagine how thrilling life could be if you followed through with those ideas and woke up everyday eager to be doing something you really loved. Try it. Turn dreams into reality. Take the road less traveled. Don't wake up at 40 and say you wish you had achieved more of your random dreams.


**If you're interested in the project I mentioned above, we are currently looking for writers & editors & advertisers. Send me an email - jenn@eatyourserial.com, or leave a comment here to discuss. Our website is www.eatyourserial.com and you can follow @eatyourserial on twitter for more information as well!

A Gen-Y Poster Child?

I just read this on Brazencareerist.com: http://www.brazencareerist.com/2010/01/29/why-don-t-gen-y-bloggers-talk-about-deadmau5 and had an interesting reaction to it.

For those of you that don't know, Joel Zimmerman, a world renowned grammy winning DJ and Producer, is also know as Deadmau5 (pronounced 'Dead Mouse'). While the article talks about how he was able to create an incredible brand and utilize social media to build a following for his craft, it also talks about how he lived at home until he was 27. Which leads me to think the following: ".... why?"

After living abroad for 3 years in a country where it is almost unheard of to leave your house before the age of 30, and seeing how much it stunted personal growth, I would have to say that this is NOT an inspiration, but a detriment. Gen Y sometimes gets a negative connotation for being kids who are overly coddled and rewarded for trivial things. To quite the contrary, an enormous part of Gen Y are actually incredibly hard working, driven, multi-tasking individuals with values.

While working in entertainment, I was constantly surrounded by Gen Y-ers who made the same salary I did, but didn't care because mommy and daddy picked up the tab for EVERYTHING. In my mind we were all on the same level playing field coming in, and then something like having their rent payed for in elaborate apartments, definitely gave them a leg up. Were these fortunate people hard working/responsible? Yea, mostly. Was there much diversity in the office? Eh, it wasn't terrible. Were they the best employees? Almost never. Did they stick around longer than 6 months to move up? Not really.

When you live at home until you're in your late 20s, and don't value a dollar or actual hard work, you're almost at a disadvantage to your colleagues who know the difference. You're also at a disadvantage for yourself. If someone isn't giving you exactly what you want when you want it, you move on hoping to find it. Sometimes you'll get lucky and find it, but more often than not, whatever you're hoping to achieve will only be good because it was worth the wait knowing you did it on your own.

Coming home after college is understandable. Gen Y-ers are under an incredible amount of student loan weight, it's a very tough job market right now, and after all, it is home. But do yourself a favor - get out there and appreciate that you're making it on your own. Don't rely on your parents when you're 27 and successful like Joel Zimmerman is being applauded for.

Agree or Disagree?

Take Time for Yourself

Alright, well, I may be new to the job searching game since I have only officially started on December 31st, but two solid weeks of emailing, and interneting, and networking is enough. Everyone needs breaks. I took this entire 3 day weekend off from my job searching and took a bus down to New York City to visit with some friends. Was my mind *completely* off of the search? No. Did I casually slip in that I was job searching and looking for leads to any friends I hadn't discussed it with before? Most definitely. Was it all worth it? Of course. Now I'm reinvigorated to wake up and get right back to it all tomorrow morning.

When I first started I was feeling guilty about waking up too late, so I started an hour earlier each day with my search. A positive result from the guilt, I'd say. Then I was feeling guilty about taking an hour break for the gym in the middle of the day. I quickly snapped out of that negative way of thinking because when I do get interviews, no one is gonna wanna see a girl who hasn't been taking care of herself.

Unemployment does not mean laziness and time off of gym routines. If anything the gym is a PERFECT distraction even if you're not used to going. First, it gets you out of your house on those days you're just glued to the computer. Second, it gives your eyes a MUCH needed break. Third, it can clear your mind. For me, it's almost like a mid-day reset button that's better than coffee. I'll go, and run on the treadmill for awhile, and glance over at the tvs across the way. I'll see something on there that will spark an idea of a company I could work for, or someone I could contact. In other words, I get creative because I'm not agonizing over the unemployed predicament I find myself in. And finally, it's just good for you. You're not as active when you don't have to get up and go to work everyday. You tend to snack more while you're working on those resumes and cover letters. Your metabolism slows down.

I was lucky - my gym at home isn't the most comprehensive, BUT it gets the job done and is only $10 a month. I would prefer the OTHER gym across town, but being unemployed means also being frugal so spending $75 a month isn't the best way. I can't speak for other cities, but I know for New York, if you can't afford one of those snazzy trendy gyms like Bally's or New York Sports Club, there is an incredible alternative that the city offers. The New York City Parks and Recreation Department offers use of their fitness facilities in the 5 burroughs for $75 a year. My gym was on 53rd and 1st, had an indoor track, basketball courts, free weights, treadmills, nautilus machines, and a pool. For $75 one time you really can't go wrong. The downside - they're closed on Sundays. Big deal. Go for a walk.

If you really are scraping the bottom of the barrel for money - go walk outside. Bad weather? Go walk in the mall after hours with some friends. The point is - get out. Take a break. Get active. There are NO negatives to taking a little bit of time each day for yourself. If anything - it'll only help your job searching.