Currently Browsing: Career
Jun 7, 2013
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Jun 7, 2013 in Career, Family & Friends | 0 comments
We were at the bridal shop, watching my sister-in-law-to-be try on dresses. Arianna and David were seated next to me, which is how I got to hear the whole conversation.
My sister was saying that she always wanted to have a vow renewal ceremony, get married again, and asked David (teasingly) if he’d like to be in that wedding. David said he wanted to be the flower girl.
Of course, my sister replied (aghast) that he couldn’t be the flower girl since he’s not a girl. David was not impressed by this argument and insisted that that’s what he wanted to be. (Very few arguments ever convince David that he’s wrong about something. He’s so completely his mother’s child that way.)
My sister tried to coax him in another role by asking if he wouldn’t rather be the ring bearer. And he responded with a “No way!” that was rather more forceful than the conversation deserved.
After some discussion about this, with a back and forth between the two of them, he says “I don’t want to have to dress up in a bear costume.” Ring bearer. And nothing we told him would convince him that he’d heard wrong.
I love that kid.
Photo by epSos .de at http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/8077027930/.
May 21, 2013
Posted by Paloma Cruz on May 21, 2013 in Career, General | 0 comments
I’d just finished telling a new acquaintance about a project I’d launched recently. It’s an English-language website with event and news for the Hispanic market in a very multicultural city. I explained how the target was chosen, the content strategy, and the goal of the site. I’m very pleased with the project. And I’m very emotionally invested in it.
This man I’d known for less than 15 minutes proceeded to tell me how dumb the name of the site was, that our plan to exclude political information was ridiculous, and that he believed that having the site in English-only was going to be too limiting. He grilled me on whether this topic or that topic was going to be added; I answered “no” to all his questions. And he scoffed at my explanations on how the decisions were made. In short, he told me that the site was doomed for failure.
It’s so nice to get expert opinions from non-experts.
I was polite. I told him that there were, in fact, many sites that already covered the topics that he was mentioning. I explained that the focus of the site I’d launched was “good news” that was often overlooked by other sites. I explained and I explained and I explained.
And then I lost my patience.
“You know,” I told him with a smile, “there’s plenty of room out room. You should feel free to build your own site.”
This is my sandbox. Build your own.
* * *
NOTES:
Feb 7, 2013
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Feb 7, 2013 in Career, Health | 0 comments
It’s become painfully obvious to me (and anyone and everyone in my life) that I need to do a better job of managing my stress. A read an article at Lifehacker that suggests some strategies to overcome stress. The one I wanted to share, and take to heart:
Think About the Progress That You’ve Already Made. “It can be enormously helpful to take a moment and reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far before turning your attention to the challenges that remain ahead.”
I spend my days focusing on my to do list, specifically focusing on the items that don’t get done. There’s an argument to be made that my to do list is too long to be effective. But I know that I’m looking at the wrong part of the list. Instead of celebrating the many strikethroughs, I obsess over the many many items that don’t get touched.
And I turn to chocolate and caffeine and fried foods.
I need to do better. I am doing better… slowly.
* * *
Suggested Reading:
Feb 6, 2013
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Feb 6, 2013 in Career, Health | 0 comments
I had a bad day.
I joke quite a big that I am too exuberant. It’s true.
I know that I can be a drama queen. I’m good at it. I practice.
I make my presence known, in good ways and bad.
But I am very good at what I do.
My little tantrums don’t affect my job. I’d venture to say that the same personality traits that make the tantrums happen also fuel my creativity. They are spurts of noise that help me jump the blocks in my way.
And my numbers increase. My effectiveness continues, while resources decrease and pressures get worse.
Today I am not feeling grateful. Tomorrow I will do better.
Feb 6, 2013
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Feb 6, 2013 in Career, Health | 0 comments
To the person who spent the day screeching, yelling, overreacting, swearing loudly, irritating coworkers, worrying my assistant, disrupting others, acting like a lunatic, making herself sick with anxiety and worry over things that were completely out of her control and that ultimately mattered to very few people…
Stop pretending to be me, using my name and my clothes and my face and my life, making others believe that I am the crazy person who needs some sort of medication or meditation or whatever, destroying the little bit of professional decorum I had left, and making it so it’s going to take me years before I live down today’s activities…
I am not that person. I am calm and collected, always. I promise.
Really.
Feb 5, 2013
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Feb 5, 2013 in Career, Finances | 0 comments
Yes, I think I’d have fun at your workplace.
Yes, what my job would entail is essentially getting paid to do things I’m already doing for fun.
Yes, I know that I could accomplish quite a bit working for you.
Yes, I know that there’s room for advancement and to learn in this job.
Yes, I think I’d be a really good fit for your organizational culture.
Yes, I already have a few friends who work there.
Yes, you have nice toys I can play with while working there.
Yes, I really want to say yes.
No, I will not be taking that job.
I cannot take a job making almost half what I make now.
I cannot take a job that doesn’t even offer benefits.
I like paying my bills, and my rent, and buying groceries and stuff.
I cannot live off job satisfaction alone.
Good luck finding someone else. I’m sure there’s someone out there, with less experience and expertise, who won’t wince at the salary.
Jun 11, 2011
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Jun 11, 2011 in Career, Finances, General | 0 comments
I have come to the decision that I’m not doing any reduced-fee or free projects from now on.
I have the very bad habit of taking on projects (either public relations or social media/web) on a volunteer basis or for which I charge considerably less than normal fees. What ends up happening is that I feel taken advantage of and it all goes to hell in a handbasket from there.
I need to always quote for what my time is actually worth.
The trap I fall into is that I know that I don’t need the money to pay my bills; that’s what I have my full-time job for. But I do want to be paid for my time and expertise.
So that’s one of my new goals: charge what I’m worth instead of what I think they can pay.
Feb 8, 2011
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Feb 8, 2011 in Career, General | 2 comments
It’s that time of year again, when the old year is behind us and we’re well into the new year, when I take a moment to panic and decide that my life isn’t where I’d like it to be and consider how to make it into that elusive ideal. And then I start looking at graduate programs.
I graduated from college nearly 15 years ago. I knew, even when I was an undegrad, that I was going to pursue a graduate degree. But it had taken me 7 years to get my bachelor’s degree (taking semesters off, going part time, working two jobs) and the last thing I wanted to do was go straight into another degree.
So I waited.
And I waited.
And I waited.
At least once or twice a year I take a good look at graduate programs and try to convince myself that it’s time to go back. I research websites. I ask for information packets. I attend information sessions.
Then I take a good look at the price tag.
And I start to make notes about the schedule.
And I take another look at the price tag.
And I remind myself that I don’t really need the degree.
And I wait another year.
I turn forty this year. I think it’s time to make up my mind on whether this is going to happen… or not.
I don’t have to try to go this year. In fact, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t pull off getting into a program for this fall. But I do think that I need to make a decision on when I’d like to go, which program is my preference, and start the paperwork.
So I’ve spent a few days looking at my options:
If I could go full-time, and it money wasn’t an issue, I’d also look at:
Know of any part-time graduate programs you’d recommend for a public relations professional?
Anyway, my research jag has just started. Now I’m going to start asking for packets and attending info sessions.
Wish me luck.
UPDATED:
Dec 2, 2010
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Dec 2, 2010 in Career, General | 0 comments
Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Looking for a job? Just updating your resume? BNET has a post you might find interesting, entitled “Eight Phrases to Avoid in Resumes.”
Which are they?
- Highly qualified
- Results focused
- Effectual leader
- Has talent for
- Energetic
- Confident
- Professional
- Successfully
Have some phrases to add? Leave a comment!
Oct 17, 2010
Posted by Paloma Cruz on Oct 17, 2010 in Career, General | 0 comments
Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
One of the branding tips I hear often is to distinguish yourself as an industry expert. How do you achieve that? Well, not all of us can claim a friendship with Oprah (a professional friendship with her is credited with aiding Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Dr. Drew with making them renowned as experts in their respective fields). The same article, on American Express Open Forum, lists “9 Steps to Becoming a Go-To Industry Expert“:
- Stand out in your field.
- Make your own niche.
- Come armed with the top training and education in your industry.
- Be a character with a tough skin.
- Get exposure to build credibility.
- Keep up the momentum to build a following.
- Connect with the right people.
- Remember why you went into your industry in the first place.
- Focus less on fame-seeking and more on sharing your knowledge.
