Drinking in poor taste. Bacardi pulls ads.
Art of Giving and Asking
As I blog and research my way to a job, I have come across various aspects of job hunting or more specifically job networking. On one end of the handle is giving. “If you give of yourself, you will get something in return.” “You reap what you sow.” I am sure that you have heard some type of saying that fits into this category for giving. Therefore, before you become down and out or jobless. You should be helpful to your network or at least show your network that you care. Send a greeting card or a gift card—an item that states “you” and that “you care.” Call and ask: “How are you?” Mostly, be honest when you do it so you do not sound like a pitch person from a cheesy commercial.
I admit that I have not done a great job in this area being in contact with the numerous people I have met over the years from filmmaking, to customer service, to writing, to the newspaper, and to education. I have to expand and do more.
And sometimes, it is difficult to stay connected to that network even with new technology. Your job or life may not allow you the time to stay connected to your network and keep your skills current. Different fields have different standards.
When I was a teacher, I was communicating mainly with teachers and I had the chance to network with other teachers during workshops, curriculum reviews, and grading days. However, I was not communicating with my colleagues in my past fields. I was immersed. I was immersed in teaching from lecturing, designing curriculum, grading, inclusion meetings, mentoring—learning how to become a teacher.
Asking is the other side of networking. “Ask and you shall receive, right?” Just about. From a tweet, I learned about an article by Jack Canfield, a “success guru” who wrote an article called “Good Things Come to Those Who Ask.”
He outlines five points about “asking.”
• Ask and expect to get it.
• Assume you that you will get it.
• Ask someone who can give it to you.
• Your “ask” should be exact and clear.
• Ask and ask and ask and ask again—“rejection is just a concept.”
I started thinking about these points and I thought wow, it sounds like seduction. The best commercials seduce its audience. Famous stars and athletes have this seduction. Granted it is visual, but stars or very talented people or driven people are able to exude this energy that equals these points on asking. There’s an expectation and will, it’s targeted, they know what they want, and they don’t fear rejection.
Above all, the last point of asking that should be added is confidence. You must have strong self belief and self love to ask for help and to ask for what you need. And you might not be a confident person, yet in the smallest of moments, if you think “I believe,” there will be a sudden release; you will be on the other side.
So, before you become jobless or if you are jobless like yours truly, think about how you can give and ask of your network.
Music Friday
Laura Izibor in concert on Friday, June 12 in Atlanta.
Make a film in Atlanta in 48 hours!
Have you ever wanted to make a film? It is much easier today with digital technology. Digi-Cams and HD cameras can be used for shooting and then the footage can be transferred to film—about $350 per minute. Okay, that might be little expensive right?
Well, you don’t have to go that far but if you want to get your film feet wet and experience the synergy of filmmaking in a short period, try the 48 hour film project. Teams of filmmakers with strange and creative names join together to write, shoot, edit, and score a film in 48 hours. But it is not a film of your choice, the 48 film project has requirements (usually drawn from a hat), giving each team a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre of various particularities. For instance, the “ever present” snowglobe has been a popular and required prop for many 48 hour films.
I was part of a team about 4 or 5 years ago in Atlanta as a writer and it was a great experience, since then the 48 hour film project has expanded worldwide to 70 cities.
Atlanta’s 48 hour film project for 2009 is set to start at the end of June. Click over to http://www.48hourfilm.com/atlanta/
When technology sucks! The Ups and Downs of Backing Up.
It’s been a bad technology week for me. First, after attempting to update my blog, I could not make the new version work. I could not resolve the line errors.
Frustrated, I decided to erase the my entire blog and start from scratch. Of course, I wanted to keep my archives because was up to a 1000 posts; however, my backup databases are not working. Another roadblock. So, I said to myself, “let’s go to the old computer Mike to get your older db backups.”
Alas, secondly, a crisp blue Windows screen greeted me this morning saying that my hard disc had been corrupted. Lovely!
Luckily, had backed up my old computer with a One Touch Maxtor drive a few times. One of my best friends who is a tech salesperson in LA (Boo Lakers!) lost his information because he was not backing up.
“Aren’t you in tech?”
“I know, I know,” he replied.
And he knows better because he is a former Network Administrator. So, after that situation, I went and purchased an inexpensive back-up drive.
So, it looks like I will have to start from scratch with the old computer. I should have known something was happening when I saw that gray line across my screen. Arrgh!
Even though I am paying for it, I am so happy that I purchased a new computer in February for school so I am not completely out for the count.
Maybe I’ll make my old computer into a Linux machine, especially if there is a crazy virus on it or if it further melts down. I don’t know. I hate it but at least I am prepared. Make sure to backup!
Abuse from Facebook Activity, what will be the new vocab?
As people further weave the Internet into their daily lives, new terms will be created, some will be needed.
Texting has birthed the word “sexting,” which is defined as sending sexually explicit text messages by cellphones. Unfortunately, the new term has been popularized by teenagers, some who were exploring their bodies and sharing their expressions with others. Not the smartest thing to do in the digital age because images and text are nearly inerasable and traceable.
Another dumb and disgusting thing to do is to throw your wife down a flight of stairs and out of the house because she complained about your Facebook activity. Quinn Ojinnaka, a football player of the Atlanta Falcons committed this stupid act.
Is there something in the water with the Atlanta Falcons? I am sure Mr. Blank is not happy. Michael Vick was just in the news a few months ago because he was approved for house arrest from his 23 month sentence for dog fighting and killing.
I am pondering….what will be the new term for Ojinnaka’s attack? There is road rage and other terms like “driving while your black.” So, what will this attack be called—Facebook Rage, FBB (facebook beater), MFBA (mad about Facebook activity) or “abuse from Facebook Activity,” i.e. AFBA?
Of course, some can call it “spousal abuse” because a husband attacked his wife; however, it was caused by Facebook activity or making “Friends” on one’s page, an action that has become a standard on social media sites. One might call “friending”— part networking, part curiosity, and part flirtation—of course you want that pretty girl or guy on your friend’s list!
But one must ask, is this person truly a friend? It was a question discussed in my graduate class: Has the social media redefined the meaning of friendship or even on a lessor extent, “acquaintance?” I’ll blog about this later.
A Time to Refocus…
One of my umpteenth crashes…I contemplating of starting over again and refocusing this blog. And while I have some great posts since 2005—a restart is not a bad idea. I ask for your upmost patience.
FraserNet Power Networking
On Saturday, I ran late. When I woke up, I was determined to stick to my exercise regimen. Summer classes had started this past week and I had spent most of my time, running around and buying supplies for my Drawing class. So after my 3 miles, I picked up some water from Walgreens, went to McDonalds for breakfast, and shot back to the spot to shower and change clothes. I was happy when I put on my suit because I noticed that I had lost some weight. My jacket was much looser and I am now realizing that I must get my suit altered if I continue my good progress.
I stayed at the house too long. My workout was too long.
When I arrived at the conference, it was 11:30 AM. I missed the first bus from my college—a bad thing on the weekend because of MARTA is SO slow.
The Marriott Marquis has an exquisite feel, yet on the outside, the building was weathered.
After entering the hotel, I went to the wrong area. The Urban League had their own luncheon and presentation happening—everyone was trying to get into it. I did not know what the big deal was about until one of the attendants told me that Tyler Perry was giving out awards. Alas, this was the real reason for the craziness.
The Urban League had a job fair but it was just about jobless. On the most part, the fair was geared to community service, education, and job training rather than actual jobs. This was disappointing but I visited a few booths and met two people, ironically both were involved in film.
Done.
I moseyed over to the Frasernet Power Networking Conference and registered for the day. The luncheon had begun, so I was happy that I was eating. It was quite an experience. I sat next to a pretty woman named after a famous basketball player, as I listened to Mr. Fraser plug the Platinum membership to FraserNet and announce the female and male Entrepreneurs of the Year for his organization.
Though, the highlight of the luncheon was the auction. Gerry Foster had the crowd in stitches with his rapid, in your face, get-the-money out of your pocket style as he floated in and around the crowd shouting bids on various celebrities and businessmen.
“Brother, you got money.” “I know you got money.”
Les Brown, Ed Gordon, Susan L. Taylor, and Boris Kudjoe were a few of the stars available for the auction. Basically the auction is a great way to connect to a celebrity or business person who could provide you with contacts and advice. It is a great idea. I think I am going to suggest this idea to RFF as a fundraiser. I wish had known about Boris Kudjoe because we had tried to get him before as a special guest for the festival.
Later, I went to workshop that was okay and the closing speech by Dr. Otis Moss. It was quite inspirational. It made me think about the importance of having a business or a non-profit that is successful but also an organization that serves the community.