This week’s job has resulted in my first bit of traveling during the One-Week Job Program. i’ve now gone 2,162 miles by bus! Here’s a visual for you:
For all You travelers out there, i strongly suggest using Everlater as a journal for your adventures. It enables to you to blog, upload photos, embed videos, and do it by every stop you mark on the travel map. There’s also an iPhone app. Check it out!
This week, i’m working with a 9-person musical percussion variety group called Juice.
Brandon, one of the members of the group, contacted Sean twice: Once during his 52-week Project, and again before the Program started. When Sean released Brandon’s information to us, i responded to the email with one statement after doing my research:
i’ve said before that i’m completely moved by music. i can’t read a note of sheet music, but it drives me. It gets me up in the morning, it makes my existence more lively, and it keeps me up at night. A quote by one of my favorite bands, Fleet Foxes, sums up how i feel:
“I can listen to music and instantly be anywhere that song is trying to take me. Music activates a certain mental freedom in a way that nothing else can, and that is so empowering. You can call it escapism if you like, but I see it as connecting to a deeper human feeling than found in the day-to-day world…music is a weird and cosmic thing, its own strange religion for nonbelievers, and what a joy it is to make in any form.”
This is a feeling that i know many of us understand.
So i jumped at the the chance to come to Michigan. i thought it fitting for me to be a part of a true musician’s world, even better the world of a musical group. I wanted to see all the hard work that goes into writing and performing music – you know, all the stuff we listeners rarely think about. A musical group is a whole different beast in itself. The chance to see how a music act comes together, with the different personalities, stories, and skills, was intriguing to me.
i anticipated that it would be another heavy-shadowing opportunity, much like last week, so i prepared myself and have done my best to take note of every different situation i’ve been exposed to here. My bus arrived in Ann Arbor 4 hours behind schedule, after a tire blew out 15 minutes from my stop. This was on Sunday. i caught the group at the end of their weekly meeting, located in the building where Brandon and Erin, another member, work another job. In addition to being a musical act, Juice has its own musical productions company, Group Four Entertainment, Inc. Being crazy ambitious, they made the company as a way to legitimize and ease their tour-planning efforts. This is the “producer” part of the job title where I got to hear some talk about marketing, promotions, budgeting. etc. In a way, my job from last week was already helping me understand things!
Erin and I "flyeringgggggggg."
i had missed most of their activities for the day, but the group took me to their basement practice grounds, another space that is an employer hook-up. i then went grocery shopping with Julie and Phil – their suggestion. Even though i was exhausted from the long bus ride, it was nice to have my own food in a new place right away. One worry that never had to exist. i felt grateful. We then ate some good steak and crab, and watched fireworks in celebration of the holiday.
Later in the night, Mel, a fifth group member, talked to me about the different parts of Michigan, describing Ann Arbor as the more liberal, environmentally-conscious area. It was helpful to get a sociological breakdown. In terms of my accommodation, i’m being spoiled. i have my own room for the week! Most of the groupmates live in the same complex, with the girls living in one apartment and the boys living in another. The girls were kind enough to set up an empty room for me, and it’s so cute! Being the night owl i am, i stayed up late working on random projects while everyone went to bed the first night.
Monday was promotions day. i went out with Julie and Phil to run errands for different acts for a show that happens to be later today! We also ate some tasty doughnuts. Then, the team broke up into three groups to do what they call “flyering”, aka placing promotional flyers for the band’s show all around town. i got to go with Erin and Collin, a sixth member around Downtown Ann Arbor. During our time together, we walked through the original Borders bookstore, saw way too many coffee shops within a small distance, ended up on University of Michigan’s main campus and the “Law Quad”, and got to “spin the cube”:
It was “Cool!” After flyering, there was an intense practice that consisted of lots of skill, weird instruments, and sweat. It lasted about 6 hours or so, and was incredible to watch. It made me a little envious that i hadn’t received proper music training as a child. Oh! The “Rock Star” part of my job is that i have a few parts in the show! i got a chance to practice my parts as well. Two runs later, everyone went home. It was a tiring but productive Monday. Being a Rock Star isn’t as easy as You might think. i slept hard this night.
Tuesday was laid-back for me. The general schedule for Juice is that everyone does Juice stuff Sunday through Tuesday, and then they can do other things for the rest of the week. However, this week is a bit different with shows on Wednesday and Friday, so flexibility is at a high. Yesterday, everyone clocked in at their other, “normal” jobs, including me. From nanny to bartender to salon manager to farmer to environmental non-profit worker, Juice comprises of some serious variety. The group members are so passionate about their music that they take on other jobs to pay the bills so they can keep doing what they love to do. This is in hopes that one day music will be all that they do. Inspiring. At 6pm, equipment touch-ups, dress rehearsals, and equipment take-down (the “Roadie” aspect) took place. The night ended around midnight, after which there was some pizza, talking, and heavy sleep once again.
My cute and comfy living space! Sorry i didn't clean up for ya...
Today is the big show. We’ll be meeting early this afternoon, dressing in all black, to pack all the music equipment into a van, drive to the set, unpack and build, perform, take everything down, pack everything in the truck, drive back to the practice space…well, you get it.
So far, i’m really enjoying Ann Arbor. There are a lot of trees here, which fascinates the child in me. i’m fortunate enough to again be with good, passionate, (and TALENTED) persons who are caring and fun to be around. Most of the members in Juice recently graduated from college. The group has only been together a year, and that is important to note because they basically started a musical act AFTER college. Most people would be too fearful to do this, believing that it’s too late, that life after college is meant strictly for a 9-to-5. Juice had/has a different mentality. They figure that they could use the time that would be spent studying for making Juice even better, so they’re doing all that they can do make this happen. Last night, i was talking to a seventh member, Alli. She told me that she was impressed by me. She said that most people my age, especially me, having experienced very little thus far, would take the reliable road:
“MOST PEOPLE WOULD GIVE UP. THEY WOULDN’T TRY. THEY WOULD BE TOO AFRAID TO DO WHAT YOU’RE DOING, TRAVELING EACH WEEK FOR THIS PROJECT.”
- ALLISON KRIEG
While i was flattered by her statement, i found it surprising. After all, i’m simply doing what she and the others are doing. Putting all my energy (willingly, of course) into living with meaning, even if i’m not quite sure what that means.
So What about You?
Do You think that as humans we lose our “spark” as we get older? Do You think it’s a common belief? Why or Why not?
Man…I don’t know why I always get the urge to write these things so late at nite…but here I am…1am on a Monday…blogging.
Toronto’s going through a major heat wave at the moment, so it’s not like I’d be able to sleep anyway, and with the humidity it’s more like I’m going to “swim” to bed…
BUT! That’s not gonna stop me from talking about Day 1 of Week 2.
Helping a customer inside 'Pennylicks'
Today, I found myself at ‘Pennylicks Gourmet Cafe‘ – a cute little coffee shop in Kensington Market, Toronto. This is a totally bohemian area of the city, with plenty of graffitied walls, screen-printing shops, and hipsters riding bikes.
The shop owner, Steve, was interested in the OWJ program right off the bat – stating that it was something he wishes he’d had the opportunity to do 20 years ago!
I spent the morning with Steve’s brother (and shop co-owner), Chris – getting the shop ready for the day. We went over the basics of coffee making, brew strengths, taste, and some important points of small-business ownership. Steve came in for the afternoon, and very kindly sat down with me to chat.
WATCH Steve discuss his tips for finding a career that makes sense HERE: “Life Points with Steve”
The brothers have owned the shop just over 2 years. Steve has worked his other job as a Mechanical Engineer for years, but coffee has always meant a lot to him. During his teen years he often found himself working in cafes, and eventually the thought of being his own boss really started to appeal to him.
Steve and Chris found the cafe (formerly a furniture store), and snapped it up. After gutting everything and rebuilding it up to city codes and standards, they opened Pennylicks. Apparently the name comes from an old ice cream cup that was called a “penny lick” because of the price and what you had to do to the cup in order to get your money’s worth of ice cream…an interesting precursor to the ice cream cone.
My first soy latte - burnt milk and bitter espresso. Needs more work...
Now the cafe serves gelato, sandwiches, and COFFEE!!
Ever since I traveled overseas, coffee has become very dear to me. To me it means comfort, community, and inspiration. The feeling I get from sitting down with a great cup of coffee can’t really be paralleled. Whether my company is that of a good book or a good friend, a good coffee can lift my mood after only a few sips.
I even got to try my hand at making a few drinks, although I wouldn’t really recommend anyone actually drinking them…;)
And even though it’s almost 2am now, tomorrow I’ll be up bright and early to head to work…good thing I’ll be at a coffee shop!
I am no longer in Athens, GA since I wrapped up my week as a roaster on Friday. After driving 4 hours home to do a quick round of laundry, I packed once again for more adventures!
Right now I am sitting in Cody, Wyoming since I am taking this week as a vacation. I know it seems early in the One-Week Job Project to be on vacay, but here’s the scoop: I won an all-expenses paid trip from this cool company called Sierra Trading Post.
How? I simply took 20 seconds to fill out my name, address, and email about 2 months ago on their website for the contest. I must say it was worth the time! This week will be different as I will post updates about my vacation at a Dude Ranch. It’s not technically one of my jobs, but I still want to show what life on a ranch is like!
Before jumping into horse stuff and western adventures though, let me share the highlights of my week as a roaster for Jittery Joe’s Coffee:
I worked with Charlie Mustard and had a fantastic time!
Charlie Mustard, my coffee roasting teacher all week. Officially, he's the head roaster for Jittery Joe's Coffee
In 5 days, I…
-Learned what stages coffee beans go thru during roasting
I chose Ethopia Yirgacheffebeans since I have a new cousin from Ethiopia. The name, “Smiley Kieley” was an obvious choice since I’ve been told it’s impossible for me to not smile.
Overall, Jittery Joes set the bar very high in regards to being amazing people with sweet jobs and kind hearts. I was blessed to get lots of hands-on experience, meet many Athens locals, and even take home a case of my very own coffee!
Special thanks to Charlie Mustard, his wife Allison, Christian, Seth, Michael Ripps, and everyone else on the Jittery Joe’s Coffee team.
Before I launch into an Academy Awards-esque thanks speech, I will cap off this post. Tomorrow will be a full day that starts early with a cowgirl breakfast and horse lesson.
Follow the One-Week Job blog for more adventures all summer. I am still looking for jobs for August so email me or comment please if interested or if you have a connection.
i Hope You are having fun right now! It’s Sunday, so i’m getting this post to you much later than I prefer, but it couldn’t be helped. I’ve been traveling by bus (33.5 hours to be exact!) to my next job and unfortunately, buses don’t have wireless Internet connection. I’m sure Amanda, Kieley, and I may find blogging to be difficult depending on the job location, travel length, and the amount of Internet we have access to in general. Why have I never thought about this until now? Nevertheless, more challenges! I’m ready for them.
So, about my last two days as an account executive. They were pretty low-key. I’d characterize the entire week as low-key, but the last two were moreso because they didn’t bring any official shadowing opportunities.
On Thursday, we had a date with Chicken Express. Jeremy and I decided to have lunch with his friends Dennis and Josh, whom I mentioned in the previous post. We also had lunch with another one of their friends, Julie. Julie is the Editor for the paper that Josh and Dennis are Art Directors for. Everyone works so closely together! The meal was great because it was free. Okay okay, it wasn’t great for that reason alone. It was also great because I (here I go again) got the chance to “deeply discuss.” The following is an excerpt of what went down:
After the conversation ended, Josh said something I found interesting:
“YOU SHOULD LET US KNOW ON YOUR BLOG WHEN YOU GET TIRED OF HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.”
I laughed and thought about my response before giving it:
“I won’t ever get tired of talking like this, because for me, it truly is new every time. To hear a different person talk of what they love, or how to love, or how to live love, is new. Every time. These were the conversations that fueled me throughout school, and still do today. The ones that seek to examine our existence, how we choose to spend our time on Earth. The discussions that do get old quickly are the ones we choose to have instead, unconsciously and repeatedly. The ones that talk about how fat we’re getting, how broke we are, how “unhappy” we are, though we don’t make serious moves to change things. Those are the discussions I get tired of. I wish we never had them.”
Yep.
After lunch, we all went back to Dennis and Josh’s place and spent the rest of the day working on our respective assignments. I also took my shot at the weird chair from Wednesday’s post:
On Friday, my job as an account executive came to an end. Ryan, Jeremy, and I had lunch over laptops at the good ol’ church. If you didn’t notice, this was my first time to see Ryan since Tuesday. I had missed him! We took a few pictures, and discussed projects. Jeremy had to leave for a project, and Ryan and I left not too long after that , because there was a huge rainstorm. My last duties as an account executive were to update the websites, and to finish writing the articles. I finished those by the end of the day.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Question Time.
What did you dislike about the job? Why?
I didn’t dislike anything at all. I think it’s because I did a great job maximizing the learning potential for everything I encountered. I can’t think of one thing I disliked. Oh, actually, I disliked that it was only one week. I imagine I’ll be saying that again, but this is one reason that a virtual or work-from-home company would be bad. I don’t feel as if I got to know my co-workers and boss as much as I could have.
I enjoyed spending time with them when I got the chance, so by the week’s end, I felt a little sad to go. If I were to work for a virtual company, I’d probably work harder to have random hang-outs or something. Yes, I’d be that co-worker that wants to get together after work hours. Nothing beats a regular dose of face-to-face interaction.
What did you like about the job? Why?
I liked the people. I liked every person I met. There was not one time where I felt uncomfortable or out of place, and I thank Ryan and Jeremy for making things that way. People really make or break any work environment. Again, I also loved the flexibility of the work hours. I felt less pressured to just get the work done, and took time to do some background research to optimize my chances of creating a good finished product. I liked the different stories that came with the different accounts and marketing packages. As an account executive, you are constantly maintaining the image of a business, and while that can be stressful at times, it keeps things fresh. You’re never doing the same thing each day. Whatever I end up spending my future doing, I want each day to be unpredictable like those of the past week.
What lessons did you learn from being an account executive?
Be ready EARLY. Ryan lives 2 minutes away from my house, and he was my ride to the big client meeting on Tuesday. He ended up coming earlier (yeah only about 10 minutes earlier) than he said he would, and I was taking my sweet time to look pretty. It never occurred to me that he would arrive early, so I had to rush a little. I have this weird thing where I try to use every minute I can get, like Ross from Friends, when he’s checking out of a hotel room. It always messes me up. In short, your boss should never be waiting for you at your front door. You should be waiting for him.
Do SOMETHING. Those articles. That was my big assignment, and I took it seriously. However, I spent so much time enjoying the research that I didn’t start to write my articles until Friday afternoon. What I should have done was start to write something, and ask Ryan for feedback every step of the way. Instead, I wanted to do a thorough search before starting, which ended up with me doing my assignment at the very last minute. While I did learn a lot about SEO writing by reading about it, I could have learned more by researching a little, actually writing something quickly, rewriting, researching again, rewriting again, etc. In short, BALANCE is the key to efficiency and a job well done.
People are everything. If You don’t like the people you work with, you’ll be miserable. Know the difference between situations where you need to stick it out and just learn more about a person, and situations where you need to remove yourself immediately because things are too toxic.
Smile first. This is random, but it makes a difference in the work environment, for you and those around you. Those two outcomes probably work hand in hand. I’ll let You think on this one.
Would you do this again, as a more-than-one-week job?
Yes, but it would have to be one of many jobs, which would be my ideal “work” format, anyway. Ryan has another employee who used to be more part-time but now only acts as an account executive for a few accounts, getting paid by the hour. I think this situation would be more ideal for me, so I could get the chance to be a part of a flexible company and develop relationships with a few clients, but also get the freedom to be a part of other industries. If I worked more with Ryan for a few years, I think I could get to a place where I could manage a few small accounts on my own. I’d have to work hard of course, since I have had no formal training in writing, PR, marketing, journalism, etc.
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Finally got Ryan and Jeremy in a picture with me!
Overall, working with Ryan and REACH agency really worked out for three reasons. First, I got to see a side of my hometown that I never had before, so in leaving for my second job, I did so with a deeper appreciation for the place I grew up in. Second, I was ill before Week#1, so losing that first job turned out to be another blessing because I got time to work a job and recuperate at home. Third, I got to work in an industry I never would’ve considered, had Ryan not found me. As a result, I got more confidence to pursue another closely-related industry that I had been thinking about for some time.
To Ryan, Jeremy, Dennis, Josh, and Julie, thank You for making my first taste of the One-Week Job Program an enjoyable one. I’m very grateful to you all, and I plan to keep in touch. Watch out – I send random emails!
So What About You?
Assuming You watched the first installment of Deep Discourse, what are your thoughts on Dennis’ “deadline” theory? Do You think it’s a hindrance or a help?
For me, I think it’s something that needs to be assessed individually. You’ll probably hear me say that more than once. I’m a firm believer in the power of self-awareness. If You know yourself well enough, if you are in tune with how you operate, it’s very possible that you do have a deadline for different parts of your life journey. You may just not use the word “deadline” for it.
P.S. I see that there’s been an update on the website. To the Naked foundation, thank You from the bottom of my heart for helping this Program come to life. You’re not only helping me and others, but you are helping your own cause. Giving to others is giving to yourself, so kudos on that one!
Kieley here! I am having an amazing week here in Athens, GA and the past four days have been filled with fun, learning, and lots of free coffee!
I apologize for not posting yesterday as I had planned. To make up for it, I will recap the first few days and post a video tomorrow with various clips from the week and a summary of my week as a coffee roaster.
In case you are new to the blog:
My name is Kieley and I’m a young lady traveling around this summer in search of my passion. In 8 weeks, I will try working 8 different jobs and blog about the whole adventure here at Oneweekjob.com. The first week has already been so helpful in confirming that coffee is something that fires me up!
Charlie Mustard has been such a great teacher this week and allowed me to see many facets of his job. It’s wild to hear how he went from getting an undergraduate degree in Biology to veterinarian school to pursuing a master’s in nutrition. How in the world did he become a roaster? That’s a fair question and I wondered this myself. To make a long story short, Charlie spent time at the local Jittery Joes coffee shop while he worked on his Master’s thesis. After hearing the company express interest in roasting their own coffee, Charlie had a eureka moment and realized that his science background would be a great fit. After extensive reading and research, Charlie bought the equipment and began to roast. The great coffee he roasts today has been developed over time-it required logging his results, lots of experimentation, and even making some so-so batches in his early days as a roaster.
What’s the lesson to be learned here?
“Just because you have a degree in something or don’t have a degree in something does not mean you have to or can’t do a certain job.”
Charlie and his wife relaxing on the Jittery Joe's Roastery porch.
I loved hearing Charlie’s interesting path because it shows that
(1) a person is not bound to stick to a job that matches their degree & (2) it shows that a person should be open and ready to take risks because it often produces a great result! In Charlie’s case, he now has a super fulfilling job that’s fun, flexible, and allows him to hang out with his wonderful family.
I will share more about his daily life in the coffee business on Friday, but for now, let me bring you up to speed on the roasting process.
To get your coffee beans for your cup o’ joe, there are many steps:
1. The roaster orders green beans (raw coffee beans) from various farmers all over the world
2. Batching the coffee (scooping & weighing a certain amount of coffee to be roasted) *Charlie usually puts in 26 lbs. of raw beans for one batch. When the roasting is finished, the batch weighs less due to the beans losing their outer membrane.
Green (raw) coffee beans, weighed precisely and ready to be roasted
3. Roasting the coffee (The coffee is poured into the roaster and transforms as Charlie adjusts the heat, air flow, and controls the time. Charlie has certain markers to watch for:
-when the green beans turn “straw” color – goldenish color
-when the beans change to “cinnamon color” – medium brown color
The coffee beans being emptied into the cooling chamber after roasting
-1st Crack- when beans crack for the first time (obvious since you can hear the beans cracking!)
-2nd Crack- A few minutes later, the beans crack again and about this time, it’s time to release them from the heat into the cooling section. After cooling,it’s on to packaging!
So that is basically coffee roasting 101. After spending all of Monday helping Charlie and learning the basics, I spend the next day packaging with another Jittery Joe’s employee, Christian. He is the man behind the packaging and shipping for all of their coffee. After Charlie Mustard roasts the coffee and separates it into 5 pound bags, Christian pours the coffee beans into metal cans, seals them with a fancy gizmo, attaches a label by hand, and packs the cans into boxes. Jittery Joes not only roasts coffee for their own shops; they also ship their coffee all over the U.S.!
Working with Christian was fun and I enjoyed the challenge of keeping up with his speedy pace. It was interested to hear the route he took to end up in the coffee industry as well.
I have so much more to share so tomorrow I will blog yet again!
One added incentive to make the most of this project is hearing feedback from friends and people I meet. Hearing about this crazy program makes people think about what jobs they desire to try. I would love for this blog to be interactive so here’s the question of the day:
“What job(s) would you like to try for one week?”
If you’re really ambitious, work on this follow-up question:
“What can you do today to make your desire to try this job a reality?
So often it’s easy to get caught up in “What-ifs” and think of money, time, and other barriers, but if Charlie had been bound by these things, he would be missing out on his sweet job: roasting coffee!
Think about it friends and comment away!
Want to email me with a job proposal for a week or just say hi? I love emails!
So, Wednesday was the big day. The day of our photo shoot.
The studio was sweet, the models were hot, the crew was organized, the agency was happy, and and the photos were fantastic!
Setting up the studio, the night before the shoot
The day started at 8am when crew members started arriving. We had stayed late at the studio the night before, and set up the basics so that we didn’t have to worry about it the morning of. There was a role of white-seamless paper serving as the backdrop, which was then highlighted by 2 sets of strobes, and a huge strobe out in front to highlight the models. Watch Henrieta and her assistant Zach set it up here: Shoot Set-Up
The shoot flowed like this: A model would come in, get their hair and makeup done, Henrieta would talk with the Creative Agency about how they wanted the model to pose, and then tweak any lights based on the positioning of the models. Then there was about 45 minutes to an hour where the actual shooting would happen.
Henrieta was constantly chatting to the models, encouraging them, cracking jokes, and basically setting the tone of the shoot. That’s what amazed me the most, I think – how calm everyone was!! I’ve been on film and television sets where people seem almost frantic. In the end, that’s not going to prevent any heart attacks – and Henrieta knew her stuff, so why by worried?! One of my favorite quotes from her is referring to the set up as (ear muffs!) ”Dog Shit Simple.”
Models in place, and some last minute instruction from Henrietta
Even when the clients of the National Canadian chain store arrived to check everything out – Henrieta never wavered. That really impressed me. Even when my eyes were starting to bug out a bit from the constant flashing, and I was getting tired – Henrieta was in her element. When I asked her about this later – she admitted that she would definitely be bagged later, but that in the moment you just do what you have to do! And Henrieta obviously loves what she does.
I did what I could to help out – clearing dishes, making coffee (with the sweet studio espresso machine!), and learning from the camera assistants and watching the shoot go down. Everyone was incredibly kind to me – and really interested in the One Week Job program! I love the team atmosphere of shoots like this…I definitely enjoyed that about television production and can see myself continuing to work in this kind of environment. Everyone has a job, but they help out where they can.
Some other gems I’ve learned from Henrieta so far include:
- Pictures with people in them, are much more interesting than those without. When doing travel photography, Henrieta would often wait until her shot of the beach or garden was free of people. When she got back she says it looked like there wasn’t anyone living in that country…!
Henrieta behind her camera
- It’s all about connections. If you’re a photographer’s assistant just starting out, and you’re a hard worker and gain the trust of established photographers, you can often access their studio space or equipment – for FREE.
- As a photographer, you’re also often a psychologist. You’re dealing with emotion constantly, and have to be able to listen and read people just as well as you direct them.
- Be persistent! Find the people who can help you get work – and bug the crap out of them until they get you work!!
The day finished an hour or so EARLY! That’s how organized this crew was…insane. I helped Henrieta back to her house with the left over craft services, where we hung out on her patio and snacked on left over sandwiches and drank some delicious beverages…;)
BUT! I should make a move…I’m meeting her for afternoon tea!!
Tonight, we’re headed out to a show where Henrieta’s showing off some of her prints – sounds classy. I’ll be back with a full report!
Wow, it’s Wednesday. I can’t believe that we are halfway through the first week of the One-Week Job Program. Time is truly passing quickly. I’m having a splendid time learning all about how a marketing agency operates. I’ll tell you a bit of what I’m learning, but let me first say that there is a difference between marketing and advertising. You’d find it shocking to know how many people deem marketing and advertising to be the same thing. At the very least, many people unconsciously use the words interchangeably. To explain it simply, advertising equals marketing, but marketing does not equal advertising. Think about that for a second.
Generally, a marketing agency comprises of:
1) Account management – Account management has to do with meeting with a client, securing a client, maintaining a client’s account, and anything else that has to do with that. Examples may be meeting with a client to formulate and choose a marketing package for them, or maintaining their Facebook and Twitter pages. Because I am drawn to meeting new people, getting to know them and their needs, and subsequently creating a situation for them that suits them best, this would be the best role for me. Thus, the title of “Account Executive.”
2) Creative services – Creative services has more to do with the thought process and physical work that is behind a graphic that is needed. I’m not creative in terms of artwork or design. I don’t view things visually in that way, so this role would definitely not be for me. It’s fun to throw out ideas and have opinions, but if I can’t draw or use any design programs…there’s an issue. The product needs to look good.
The components vary from agency to agency, of course, but most companies have these two.
I mentioned in my previous post that there are two full-time employees that really keep REACH marketing alive. Ryan deals with most of the duties of an account executive, and Jeremy deals with the creative services, those of a Production Manager/Art Director/Creative Director. Despite the fact that there are specific duties for both roles, with Ryan and Jeremy, they may overlap at times.
I looked good for our big meeting, so I wanted to snap the moment.
Yesterday, I worked with Ryan on account management efforts. I went with him to a big client meeting at a fancy club. The client, FASTSIGNS, is a signage company whose main marketing goal is to let people know that they do more than banners (e.g. ones you might see in a high school basketball gymnasium), also known as what is called “vinyl signage.” FASTSIGNS leaders want the public to know that they do dimensional signs, directional signs, construction signs, and more.
The meeting saw several FASTSIGNS owners, all ready to hear Ryan explain different marketing techniques, and how much attention they have attracted for FASTSIGNS in past months. After hearing this, the store owners were to decide what combination of marketing methods, if any at all, to use for the upcoming year.
Methods discussed included an iPhone app, social media such as Facebook, and organic search engine optimization(SEO)vs. paid ads. Speaking of SEO, one of my tasks this week is to write several articles for a specific company in order to move them higher in search listings. This takes a certain amount of research and skill, so I’m doing all that I can with the knowledge I have. One major reason I enjoy working with REACH is because I have a personal interest in the world of Internet marketing. Despite the fact that I have little experience with what REACH does directly, a lot of what I’m learning on the job will help me become more proficient at making money online, should I choose to pursue the industry.
So. The meeting lasted nearly three hours.
I wasn’t bored though! There was great food, (I did get a little concerned with what eating utensils to use for what food – 7 of them? What happened to the good ol’ 3: fork, knife, and spoon?), and I was genuinely interested in witnessing several personalities try to come together and make a decision about their company’s future. In a way, I felt as if I was a part of this serious movement…to bring joy to people by making them amazing signs. It was a…fuzzy feeling.
“SURE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT CAREER AND PASSION LATER, BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS COD IS MY PASSION. IT TASTES SO GOOD!”
-RYAN SANDERS
Today, I worked with Jeremy on creative services efforts. We met up this morning at the same church from Monday morning. His goal was to show me a little bit of the process that goes into designing branding/marketing material, be it a logo, invitation, poster, etc. We worked on the beginnings of a logo for a group of doctors. He told me about a specific brainstorming exercise he learned in school: word association.
Much like the name, you start with one word or idea, and then you write down all the words or ideas that come to your mind when you think of that initial word. We discussed how important a graphic designer’s job is. With regard to the doctors’ logo, we came up with different fonts and items that would represent the image the company wanted. It wasn’t easy at all. The implications of one’s design choices are heavy.
Jeremy knows his fonts, and he takes them seriously.
Jeremy gave me a hypothetical situation of what he was talking about. Imagine this scenario:
You’re designing a logo for your church, and you buy a photo from iStockphoto.com. Everything’s wonderful, the church loves your design, and they end up keeping it as their brand. Word gets out, and at Sunday service, everyone keeps complimenting you on how great the logo is. They thank you repeatedly. Fast forward one month. It’s Sunday again, and someone comes up to you and points to the logo on the church magazine that’s released monthly:
Fellow church-goer: “This is your design, right?”
You: “Yeah!”
Fellow church-goer: “It’s really nice…though I’ve seen this image somewhere…can’t remember…”
You: “Oh, probably on iStockphoto. I got part of the [image name/type] from there.”
Fellow church-goer: “Oh. Oh! Now I remember, this is the same [image name/type] they use for the strip joint on 75!”
Uh-oh.
Funny story, I thought. Last time I checked, a strip club and a church didn’t have the same mission, and neither one of the businesses would want to convey that they do. That’s how much control a graphic designer has. He/she can completely ruin or better an organization’s reputation. Graphic designers can essentially, like any other media we are exposed to, think for us. If we let them do so.
Later in the day, Jeremy introduced me to two of his friends, Dennis Cheatham and Josh Wiese. Dennis and Josh are Art Directors as well. In line with my fascination with communication, it was nearly comical to watch the three designers talk seriously about fonts, printing companies, and again, the double-edged sword of a “superpower” that graphic designers have in relation to the public. On a side note, there was also this weird chair in the office we were in. Scary stuff, haha.
So What About You? ! !
Do you think about/question the legitimacy of the published media that you are exposed to? Why or why not?
If You don’t, try it. If You do, try it more often. In my opinion, while communication media as an umbrella gives us information, it is our responsibility to interpret it, and to find out answers for ourselves. Let me know what you think, friend.
Ah!! I just got home from Day #2 as a professional photographer.
Henrieta.is.so.cool! On day #1 I met her at her house, where she promptly started feeding me(!). We chatted for over an hour – everything from her immigration to Canada at 19yrs old, how she started shooting, and how she’s “bullied” herself into working for other photographers.
I sat in on a conference call from the creative agency and the client behind the shoot (hello Skype!), as they talked about licensing fees, wardrobe, the shot list, and the shoot schedule for Wednesday. In this case, Henrieta’s job isn’t just that of photographer – she’s been contracted to organize a huge portion of the shoot. This includes hiring the hair and makeup artists, the casting agent and ‘talent’ (models), as well as her own assistants. She’s also in charge of renting the studio space, renting the gear for the shoot, and picking up craft services (the food on-set). I had no idea photography consisted of such organization…
Henrieta in her livingroom, preparing for the shoot
For the entire afternoon, Henrieta was either on the phone or online, planning and organizing everything around the shoot. What kind of food should we bring to set? Was the talent available? In this case, a model had declined the shoot and another had to be found – 2 days before the shoot. A few phone calls (To the hair stylist: “The agency thinks she looks too young, can we grey her hair a little bit?”) and emails later, we had our models and were good to go.
I definitely get the sense that to be a freelance photographer, you have to be willing to hustle. No one’s going to come to you – you have to go to them. And even if you DO manage to get to them (“them,” being a photographer, a creative agency, or a client), and force-feed them your portfolio, there’s still no guarantee that they’ll remember you when the time comes for a shoot. You have to constantly fight for position in their mind, reminding the photographer/agency/client that you’re the best for the job.
This takes an insane amount of self-confidence and persistency – of which Henrieta has in droves. She told me a story of one photographer who was known throughout the city for not hiring women. She was a fan of his work, and would call his office every couple months to try and set up a face-to-face meeting. It got so his assistant would flat out tell her, “He doesn’t work with women, you know that!” Every year, this photographer held an “invitation-only” shooting event, and Henrieta was dead-set on shooting it. During the show for this event one year (which she forked over $45 just to attend), she tried to meet the man behind the lens – and succeeded to have a short conversation close to the end of the nite. The next Monday, she called him: “Hi! Remember me? We met Friday. I’m 10 minutes away from your studio, and I’m going to stop by.”
Henrieta with the cover of a Harlequin Romance novel she was a photo assistant on - which we found at the grocery store!
He agreed, and met with her for a couple minutes – just long enough to casually flip through her portfolio, and just as quickly – dismiss it. ”Why should I hire you?! I need someone who’s going to be able to pack gear! My studio’s on the second floor – and you need to be able to handle it. I never work with women.”
Maybe she was slightly discouraged – but I doubt it. Henrieta called the photographer back the NEXT DAY. ”Hi, this is Henrieta. We met yesterday? Well, I thought about what you said, and I get your point. When can I start working for you?”
Henrieta got a call from him 3 days later – and worked with him for the next 5 years! And as for the “invitation-only” event – she was invited to shoot it last year.
I love this!! This girl doesn’t take “NO” for an answer. And that’s what kind of attitude you HAVE to have, if you’re going to make it in the freelance world. There’s a lot of competition out there, and you have to make yourself stand out.
On Day #2, I met her for lunch, shopped for on-set food-stuffs, and then headed to the studio to start setting up. It is such a gorgeous space: huge windows take up one wall and the ceilings are about 15 feet high – a totally open-concept-loft-type space. As we set up (I helped a bit with the light stands), Henrieta talked about how she loved the technical side of all this, “It’s like Kindergarten – we’re building stuff!”
The famous 'TD Chair' in the studio!
The studio we’re using is also used for the TD bank ad campaign, so the famous ‘TD Chair’ was there – and I got to sit in it! (for those of you in the U.S – it’s just a big, comfy, green chair – that is in every ad you see for this bank!)
Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we’ll be at the studio to set up the food for the clients and the agency reps who will be there, as well as the 10 models coming in for their close-up. No doubt it will be a long day, but with Henrieta’s hard work, I have no doubt the shots will come out looking fab.
Week 1 of the One-Week Job Project is underway and I am beyond grateful for today. I am in heaven working alongside head roaster of Jittery Joe’s Coffee, Charlie Mustard. Jittery Joe’s is a unique coffee company for many reasons:
Roastmaster Charlie checks color of beans during roasting
When I initially found out I got the chance to be in the One Week Job Program, I knew one of my jobs had to center around Coffee! Ever since my freshman year of college in Chicago, I have been captivated by all things coffee. It was absolutely necessary to consume this hot delicacy to make it through my 7:15 AM classes. Not only this, but in working at the on-campus coffee shop, I learned what’s most important about coffee: it brings people together.
This may seem weird for my to wax on this topic of coffee but I love it because coffee is so much more than just a good beverage or trendy thing to carry around. Here are a few things to consider:
Coffee and Cafes provide a venue for community to happen-everyday people gathering to share life, eat, drink, and take a breather from the daily rush.
Roasters buy green beans from coffee farmers and this provides wages for people to live on! Also, the coffee industry employs many people from all over the world who thrive because of simple coffee beans and tried and true, brewing methods.
Coffee is both an art and science and inspires creativity. Despite roasting being highly subjective, there is a benefit to this: the roaster has free reign and freedom to experiment to create the best coffee.
To give you a quick recap of my day:
I arrived at the Jittery Joe’s at 8 AM sharp after walking 4 minutes from the apartment downtown where I am staying.
Side Note: It pays to let your needs be known friends! On Saturday night, I still did not have lodging for my week in Athens. When my brother returned from work, I whined about my predicament. He then realized his connection to a UGA student who has a sweet apartment that is not occupied for the summer. 1 hour later, I had a key, a free parking place, and the address!
Getting back to my day: After meeting Charlie Mustard, the roast master and my boss for the week, I was given a tour of the roasting facility. It is amazing to see the behind the scenes at a roastery. To see a 360 degree view of where I am working, click here.
Charlie wanted me to get a good overview on coffee and the whole process so most of my morning was spent reading “The Science of Espresso” at the Five Points Jittery Joes Location. I took copious notes to help me learn the most possible about roasting this week.
After a fabulous lunch at Mama’s Boy, a local Athens, GA restaurant, it was time to roast.
Charlie walked me through the whole process and taught me what color the beans should be at each stage of the roast. I enjoyed learning how to blend and even got to help bag the coffees in preparation for canning tomorrow!
3.5 Hours later…Charlie and I had roasted over 300 pounds of coffee!
To learn more about my adventures this week, stay tuned! Wednesday, I will post again. Feel free to leave Comments and questions below. Follow me on twitter & Email me: bestweekjob(at)gmail.com (Still setting up one-week jobs for August!)
As I sit here typing from my house, I’m a little hyperactive. I just came back from a good meeting with good people, and life doesn’t get better than that. Oh the simple things that invigorate me.
This week I am working with REACH marketing agency in my hometown of Irving, Texas! From the website:
“[REACH] handles communication, branding, PR, advertising and marketing services for small and mid-sized companies who have ongoing marketing needs but lack a full-time staff to meet them.”
In other words, if you have a business/group/organization, etc. that needs help getting its name out there, REACH agency is the perfect company to help you reach your potential to reach your customer market.
Pretty simple.
REACH is unique in three ways:
It is a virtual company. A virtual company is one that doesn’t have a physical office. These types of businesses have become more popular in recent years because of the flexibility they offer.
It is small and local. REACH consists of two full-time employees, Ryan Sanders (president), and Jeremy Segars (creative services head), along with a couple of part-time employees. All of REACH’s clients are in the Las Colinas-Irving area, which enables REACH to make a good name for itself in the community, and to ultimately forge stable, long-lasting personal relationships with clients.
It gives back. In addition to giving quality service to its clients, REACH makes it a priority to help others in need by supporting two organizations: Water Is Basic and New Friends/New Life.
One more thing.
REACH is also amazing because it took me on at the last minute. I was originally supposed to travel to another destination for my first week, and the day before I was to leave, the employer backed out. I had less than a week to find my first job! Ryan Sanders, president of REACH, had received word of OWJ through an email, after which he contacted Sean to be an OWJ-Friendly Employer. Although I already had all my jobs lined up at that point, I emailed Sean, telling him that I was so impressed with REACH’s mission that I was considering working with them after the Program was officially over. Shortly after I sent that email, I lost my original Week#1 job, called Ryan to ask if I could work with him, and he said “Yes.”
That was within 30 minutes. Everything worked out, and for the best. Stellar stuff.
It all began with a church. No, my first job wasn't as a priestess.
Today, I joined Ryan and Jeremy in their weekly Monday meeting, during which they discussed the projects they had going on for the week. While I didn’t know the specifics of each project, I didn’t feel invisible. Both Ryan and Jeremy took time to stop, inform me, and answer my questions about design technique/processes (for branding logos), different types of marketing, and other concepts. We spoke of randomthings as well. There was a moment where Jeremy suggested that I babysit Ryan’s children to get the full effect of the job. It turned out that he was joking. Pressure left my chest.
Ryan and Jeremy are very laid-back, straightforward guys. They each have specific strengths that balance and work well with each other. As I observed them communicating, I could tell they were an effective team. I really enjoyed spending time with them, and it was only for a few hours!
Overall, I felt very comfortable and confident during our get-together, which was at a local church. This is their normal meeting place, and it is a comfortable one. I arrived at the church an hour early so I could get some notes together, and I felt immediately at home. Free Wi-Fi, good coffee (though I don’t drink coffee, isn’t “good” ANYTHING exciting??), and meeting tables/couches. Tons of room. Church > Starbucks. Yep, I said it. I could get used to working for a virtual company.
After we talked about projects for REACH, we talked about the tasks that I would be doing throughout the week. As an account executive for the week, I’ll be helping with more than one project, partially managing Facebook pages and websites, and I’ll be writing a few articles to garner more attention for a specific business. Tomorrow, I’ll be sitting in on an important client meeting (free food!). Though I’m not fond of dressing up, I’m eager to observe the interaction between Ryan and his clients. It will be very interesting to witness the way a marketing relationship develops.
So what about You?
Would you prefer to work for a virtual company or for a company with a physical, reliable office space? Why?
For me, I would definitely choose the former situation. Being a part of a virtual company gives you more control of when, how, and where you get your work done. That’s empowering and is more likely to yield more productivity, efficiency, and work satisfaction. The Internet makes having a virtual company incredibly easy. As long as you are working with trustworthy people who work hard AND are making an effort to get to know them, there should be no issues. In my opinion, your business should work around your life, not the opposite.
Okay my friends, talk to you Wednesday or so. I must get back to work! Well, I’m going to eat some plantain first…because I can do that. Working from home is wonderful!
Alright! Pop Quiz! Remember when I mentioned that these jobs would morph and grow, and morph again?! Well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to OWJ Lesson 1!
Lesson #1: Communication
You’d think that a University Grad with a Degree in Communications (me.), would realize the importance of this action! I guess a little reminder is always a good thing…
As I plan (and keep planning) for these jobs and weeks coming up, I admit that I tend to get a little carried away. The second an idea enters my mind, I instantly start to assume/plan/tweak that idea – even when it’s still simply that. Nothing is concrete or confirmed, but in MY mind, it is.
This recently got me into a bit of a mix-up in regards to my first job. An employer had given me a positive response, and for some reason, in my mind, I took that to mean ‘MONDAY START DATE.’ Of course, when I went to reconfirm, it was definitely late notice, and a complete surprise to the employer! In the meantime, of course, I’d told all my friends and family that I was going to be working at this job, and was now unsure if I even had a job for Week 1, only three days before the start date!
Super.
To make a semi-long story short – if I had been more clear and precise in my words and actions – this mix-up wouldn’t have happened. Instead of getting all excited and then forgetting to communicate my desire to start the next week, I should have called the next day to officially set it up. It was my fault for assuming, and should have shown more respect for the time of the business involved – it’s not easy to take on a stranger for a week!
In the end, I apologized for putting the employer in a tight spot, and both of us expressed our desire to work together on this OWJ project sometime later this summer (with more notice, of course!).
Now I had to find another job! Haha! For starters, I am so lucky to have such an amazing support group of friends all over this country. I’ve only lived in Toronto for a short while, but have met some incredible people who I have become close with. I met Henrieta through one of these friends, and Henrieta is a photographer.
The first time (and come to think of it, the ONLY time) we met, was over a year ago to discuss a joint video and photography project. The project didn’t come to fruition, but we became Facebook friends and I kept tabs on her that way!
She grew up in Socialist Czechoslovakia, where she actually trained and worked as a nurse. Here’s a quote from her website biography:
“And then, unexpectedly, came the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Soon after, I packed a small suitcase and flew across the ocean, to Canada. My first job was as a Nanny, and with my very first paycheck, I bought myself an OM1 Olympus manual SLR.”
A few years down the road, Henrieta is a full-time photographer, and winning all sorts of awards for her work. Lucky me – she has agreed to let me spend my first week with her!! I’m excited to learn more about her journey, and help her do a job that I’ve so often dreamed of doing…
'Photographer Amanda'
I’ve always felt that photography is a big part of who I am. I’m definitely a visual person, always trying to find a new angle or way of looking at things. I actually looked into photography before committing to Television production, but decided that I would rather use a video as my medium, as opposed to still-shooting.
Photography is pivotal. Whereas in video you have hours of tape at your disposal, in still-photography you have one moment to capture an entire story. The best photographs make you feel something – disgust, anger, wonder, elation. A good photograph can make you cry. Those are the kinds of pictures I want to take – I want to make people FEEL.
“I found that while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can!” - Ansel Adams
This week Henrieta has invited me to help her with an advertising piece she’s doing for a national Canadian chain store. We’ll be meeting with clients, gathering props, setting up the studio, and then shooting!!
I want to learn what it takes to be a pro – how to get the clients, how to build a portfolio, what kind of cost is involved, film vs digital work, photo editing, and much, much more.
In 3 days, my life is going to change drastically. I am saying goodbye to my current job in TN
The View From my favorite hiking spot in TN
-working at a local bakery, and saying hello to 8 new jobs!
When I found out about the One-Week Job Program thru a tweet, I was struck with the thought: “This is what I’ve been dreaming about!”
To start off the adventure, I will be heading South to Athens, Georgia to work as a coffee roaster at Jittery Joes Coffee. I am ecstatic to work alongside roastmaster Charlie Mustard for a week. You might have always thought coffee just grew on a tree and the beans were picked and ready to go, but there is so much more to it!
So you’re probably wondering what my 8 jobs are for the summer…
I’m not going to share all, but here’s a sneak peak:
I will be traveling to Georgia, Wyoming, Washington, Tennessee, and possibly a few other states. You can look forward to reading about my week as a backpacking guide, a photographer, and as a marketer for a national retail company.
If any readers are located in these states and would be willing to host me or want to meet for coffee, or even invite me to dinner, email me: bestweekjob@gmail.com
How do I feel right now?
I’d like to say I’m confident, prepared, and fearless, but I am definitely the opposite! I feel good about this whole project though because it’s already challenged me in huge ways.
Here are some things I’m learning:
1. Don’t assume that the answer will be no.
Contacting different employers to set up jobs for this summer has been challenging since fear kicks in and makes me think I will be rejected. I have pushed through though, contacted companies that seem out of reach, and it has paid off!
2. Some people just don’t get it and that’s okay.
When someone initially hears I will be working 8 different jobs this summer, I am often met with an intense look of confusion. The idea is quite strange: I’m quitting my job to travel around the U.S. in search of my passion. Most of my friends and family “get it” and understand that this program has Kieley Best’s name all over it. Some other people I’ve talked to didn’t get the point of this summer adventure and repeatedly asked, “Why?”
Who cares if they don’t think this is the most innovative program and that this is a huge opportunity.
To close this post, let me share a quote that I used in my high school graduation post:
“Do not go where the path may lead. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s ironic that I used that quote 2 years ago and it very eloquently sums up my life right now.
Get ready to follow the most crazy quest for my passion this summer! 10 days and counting…
-Kieley
If you are an employer and interested in having me work for you for a week, email me: bestweekjob@gmail.com
My name is Michelle, and I’m a 22-year-old college graduate who majored in Psychology. If you watched my application video, you already know a few things about me – that I like dancing, music, green tea, showers, deep discussions, and people. I’m also an avid learner, which is why I have a serious habit of googling everything.
That’s how I came upon the One-Week Job Program.
Googling.
During the Christmas break before my last semester of college, I was having a personal struggle regarding how to move forward with my life. As a psychology major, you’re supposedly limited…a belief that many people remind me of daily. It seems to me that when you’re a Liberal Arts major, people worry/criticize heavily about your life after undergraduate studies. All arrows point only to postgraduate education.
I chose to study Psychology because aside from the fact that it just “felt right” in comparison to all my other options, I had always been concerned with the mind, behavior, how the two interacted, and how they manifested in different people. So Psychology it was. However, it didn’t stay that way all four years. Over the course of my undergraduate career, I constantly analyzed my academic concentration.
I vaguely remember changing my major once and my minor several times, eventually graduating with what I had started. So you see, I experienced much guilt…understandable, given societal standards, external pressure, and everything between. Back to Christmas break and my personal struggle. I was struggling because I felt guilty that I had not made one concrete decision about my future.
I’m the type of person that tries to do what I feel, and I felt that applying to graduate school or applying for just any job was a terrible idea. I didn’t know why. I just knew that I didn’t want to be lazy, but I didn’t want to settle. Still, another thing I knew was that just in case I decided somewhere down the road that I wanted to apply for a job, I needed to be prepared. So, I turned to Google for help.
I felt as if the best way to build the framework for a successful job search was to think as if I were an expert. Most of my expert-centered hunting led me to websites of recruitment technology. After bookmarking many helpful sites for later, I came across CareerWaymark.com, the blog of recruitment technology guru Scott Williamson. I found the posts to be so wonderful that I spent several hours reading each one, stopping to read the reference links as well.
One of the postsmade me look twice. It was about a man named Sean Aiken…trying 52 jobs for a year ? Sean sounded like a guy after my own heart. I clicked on through to read the article from which the post came. After that, I did more “Sean-focused” googling out of intense curiosity, but my fatigue won me over minutes later. I concluded that I had found enough resources to aid me in a top-notch job search; I closed my computer and felt at peace.
I had this strong feeling in me that even though I could not define how at the moment, my future was going to be just fine. I felt as if I was meant to be a part of something…something that would enable me to grow and help others…something that not everyone would understand or agree with…something that wouldn’t be orthodox, but that would be important to do. I wanted this “something” very badly, so…even though I didn’t really know what “it” meant, I went with it.
Come the new year, I went back to the university for my final semester of undergraduate schooling. On a random day, I remembered Sean and fell upon this site. I noticed a heading I hadn’t noticed before: “Program.” Per my thorough nature, I read everything I could’ve possibly read about the Program, and smiled. Everything about the Program resonated in me. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, and I was ready to do something about it-just not something that would lock me down in a situation I wasn’t indubitably happy with.
I wanted to live every day with fervency, nothing less. I had always been inclined to apply for opportunities for the sole reason that I really wanted to be a part of them, not for prestige or anything of the sort. Yet, my feelings about this Program were different from anything I had ever experienced. Wacky thoughts such as “this was made for me” actually came to my brain. I truly believed that my blind faith that something was out there for me brought me to this chance. Though I could not define what I was feeling at that moment, I wanted to be a One-Week Job Program participant very badly, so I went with it.
“Wanting my want to not leave me wanting. Yearning, needing, craving, thirsting, longing. Working. Proving. And perhaps, pleading.”
-CASEY BECK
As I mentioned before, this was the first time I had an overflowing heart for something. Applying felt so right that I was afraid to do it. Surely you know what I’m describing. I was afraid that my passion was so much so that, were I not to succeed, I’d be intensely disappointed. Disappointment ain’t painless, friends. Nevertheless, I knew that my old ways were just that, old. This was a possibility to put my passionate ways to work. I needed to jump in the water and be okay with the chance that I might run into a shark. I pressed on, only with my heart, leaving all “what if” thoughts behind.
“What if” is a phrase of fear, and of pride. If you don’t go for what you believe in, you can’t fail. Yes, life is less frightening that way, and you’re technically always right about what is to happen, but life that way is also…lifeless. Take action more often than not. While you will be risking failure, you’ll also be “risking” success.
Sounds like a great risk to me.
With regard to my application, I wanted it to be engaging, honest, universal, and totally representative of me. I had to have faith for that too, and wait until the right time to produce a video/written application that I thought satisfied all those criteria. This move of my mine turned out to be a great one. Now, two weeks later, I still have not found sufficient words to express how…how lucky I feel. Lucky to have such wonderful support from such wonderful people, some of whom I’ve never met. I have received several emails and messages from individuals who have expressed their joy and confidence in me.
Some people have thanked me for saying the words they felt they could not say, and doing the things they felt they could not do. I’m not quite sure I’m deserving of them, but due to the responses, I feel both encouraged and humbled. I feel encouraged because I know now that it is true: Whatever you think about, you bring about. If I believe, it will come. I’m humbled because I know that I need others to evolve. I cannot achieve what I want and live with passion without the grace of another. I fully trust in this truth now.
“…Your time is all you really own in life…extravagant possessions can’t match the satisfaction you get from finding new experiences, meeting new people, and learning new things about yourself…the best experiences in life can be had for the price of showing up.”
-ROLF POTTS
I appreciate the fact that Amanda, Kieley, and I have to find our own jobs. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been invigorating. I’ve spoken to so many employers (even employers who can’t take me on) who are eager to talk about how they love what they do, and how it’s important for everyone to find what they love to do and live it. I’ve learned so much already due to both the voting process and the job search. Self-promotion, optimal information search, and negotiation are valuable skills that we all need to learn. I won’t even talk about the ability to possess both confidence and humility. These are great traits to cultivate as well.
Phone in each hand...looking for votes at the last minute!
As for the “jobs” search, I wanted to be flexible and cater to some of my own skills and interests at the same time. I wanted to travel so I could really force creativity, independence, and awareness. I contacted friends, favorite companies, and sites whose visions aligned with that of the One-Week Job Project as a way to find employers. I also had a desire to do jobs that most people had never heard of, but that search hasn’t really been fruitful.
Now when I use the word “flexible,” I mean I searched for occupations that I would never EVER!!! do on a normal day. I won’t give it away – you’ll see. I always think that it is vital we become exposed to much, to learn and become much, so I must, as they say, “go out of my comfort zone.” Being a participant of the One-Week Job Program demands personal growth, so I’ll do all that I can to make that happen. The time is now, otherwise there will never be at time. I know you know what I am talking about!
I expect nothing from this adventure, but I have goals. During the course of each of my eight jobs, I aim to learn loads about myself, others, and what attracts different people to different occupations. I want to gain an appreciation and understanding for the words “work,” “job,” and “career.” People have different definitions for these words. Some people use these words readily, and some people do not. What differentiates these types of people ? I want to find out.
I won’t be afraid, but I’ll be aware, smart-minded. I won’t be too concerned with “finding what I want to do in life” or what I’m going to do after the Program is over. That really isn’t how I view the Program’s purpose, and I have a suspicion that life cannot be that simple. If it is, it’s not that simple for me. I don’t think the meaning of life can ever really be found, but the path to it can be. What is simple for me is that I’m in this for the new experiences and new people.
I’m in this to test all the things we’re raised to believe. I want to find out for myself what is true and what is not true, what is good and what is not good. I’m in this to come into my own more. If anything, the only thing I think about my future is that I want to continue being exposed to novelty, and keep making mistakes, keep becoming less perfect while doing so. I want to keep learning because it’s fun and fueling. I’m in this Program to stay alive, not just to exist. I’m in this. Wherever I am, there I am. Yes, yes, yes.
Okay, so what about You? Well, I consider you my friend, even if I have never met you. Whenever I do something, you are doing it with me. “i means You.” I’m writing for You really, not me. In subsequent blog posts, I hope to exhibit personal growth to you, and I hope to make you think about your own life (and maybe laugh?) through different methods – my personal musings, randomness, reference links, dancing, etc.
I’ll be talking about the jobs, of course, but the implications of my involvement in them will transcend the environment I’m in at the time. I want to hear what you have to say. Feel free to respond to/discuss with/question me and others through my blog, be your thoughts negative or positive. If you need it, I hope to give you hope. This journey is about me, but it is also about You. What You do, what You love, what You want. We need each other, so let us be there for each other.
So if you have time, follow me, share with me, help me. I need You. I don’t know what the heck I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway. I think this is more than fine…wonderful even…and I’m just going to assume you agree. Thank You so much for that.
I’ve been on my feet for the last 3 days. Standing in one place. For 12 hours a day. I’m pretty sure my legs are gonna start to bleed soon…but no worries, its not like I haven’t done this before…
I’m shooting a conference in Toronto, and by “shooting” I mean camera operating. I’ve been working in television production for the last 5 years, and have held positions such as art assistant, editor, reality TV production coordinator, videographer, and many others in between.
To be honest, it’s been amazing! I’ve made some of my best friends and had some great life experiences. I mean, how
First time in a chopper, with a camera attached to my hand!
many people can say that they’ve shot exotic sports cars while hanging out of a helicopter and flying through the rocky mountains (I have)! I’ve met celebrities, made decent money, and traveled (if you count going from southern Alberta to northern British Columbia traveling?).
As a female shooter, I have felt privileged. There are definitely women out there, but just the other day I had a camera guy from the Toronto Sun ask me how it felt to be one of only 5 camera girls in the city… Wow.
I definitely enjoy the team aspect of these jobs – working together with a crew to create a newscast, an episode, a story. At one point in my life I could legitimately say that I didn’t know anyone who wasn’t involved in television in some way. The bonds created on set are strong, and I would often find myself spending up to 12 hours a day with these people.
But, as much as I’ve learned and experienced, and as amazing as my “career” has been, I still get the sense that there’s something else out there for me. I have my Bachelor of Communication Studies degree, but have never used it…and I’m curious. Shouldn’t I get a “grown-up job?!” Ha!
Enter One Week Job.
I was reading the newspaper on the subway one day, and came across an article on Sean Aiken and his 52 jobs in 1 year. I kept it. Literally cut the piece out of the paper, and stored it away. The story mentioned a program (and if you’re reading this, you obviously know what I’m talking about!) where contestants would work through a mini-version of Sean’s 52-week extravaganza, and come out with a stronger idea as to what their passion is.
Why not? I’m young. I’m fearless (except for the occasional Toronto driver and bad smelling deli meat). I thought that this program could really change things…shake me up in a good way.
When I entered the One Week Job contest, I had NO idea how many people would lend their support! It was overwhelming and hilarious and humbling, to see so many of my friends and family get on board and spread the word! Complete strangers joined my cause on twitter, new friends added me to Facebook, and my Facebook newsfeed was literally taken OVER by posts, urging people to “Vote Amanda!” I even heard stories of family members in rural areas waiting an hour and a half on dial-up internet, just so they could cast their vote!
The last night of voting in particular was social networking at its finest! It seemed like everyone I knew was sitting at their computers, counting the votes and cheering me on! A huge thank you to everyone who voted – it’s only because of you that I’m here. The generosity and movement of the fans behind this program is incredible.
Also – a huge congrats to the other OWJ girls! Michelle and Kieley, I hope you guys have a great time, and get as much out of this program as possible. And thanks for making the voting that much more intense!
Since being voted into the program, these last few weeks have been filled with a massive amount of emails, phone calls and advice-giving. Trying to figure out some kind of schedule for my 8 weeks it’s a lot tougher than I thought it would be! It almost seems like too short a time to do everything I want to do! My list of jobs has morphed and grown, and morphed again.
As I write this, I have one week to go before I launch myself into this program. The jobs are arranging themselves and some great people have stepped up to the plate for me. This summer is going to morph and grow and morph again. And if there’s one lesson I need to learn, it’s the patience needed to just let that change happen.
I’m still on my feet, but no longer in the same place. These next 8 jobs, will be something I’ve never done before.
Like many others in his generation, Sean Aiken couldn't tell you what he wanted to do with his life. So he started the One Week Job project. He traveled anywhere in the world working 52 jobs in 52 weeks. All his wages were donated to charity. Learn more
Naked Foundation
The new One Week Job student program is sponsored by the Naked Foundation: loving people through science, art, education and the environment.
Learn more
Sean and Ian will spend a day at your workplace gathering clips with employees about their jobs and why they enjoy it, and Sean will try out a few tasks in different departments.
The finished product will be a fun, informative profile of your company that you can post to your website providing potential clients, employees, and the general public an insight into what you’re all about without it sounding like a cheesy infomercial.
i have my own room for the week! Most of the groupmates live in the same complex, with the girls living in one apartment and the boys living in another. The girls were kind enough to set up an empty room for me, and it’s so cute! Being the night owl i am, i stayed up late working on random projects while everyone went to bed the first night.
I can’t believe that we are halfway through the first week of the One-Week Job Program. Time is truly passing quickly. I’m having a splendid time learning all about how a marketing agency operates. I’ll tell you a bit of what I’m learning, but let me first say that 
