North Texas Giving Day…A Project Turns Personal.

As most of you know, I'm a Senior Marketing student at The University of Texas-Dallas.  In one of the classes I'm taking this semester, a project was assigned to work with a non-profit in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex for North Texas Giving Day.  I would be working with Volunteers of America - Texas on building their Social Media presence to promote the event.

Knowing nothing about the organization, I dove right in on researching them.  I Googled, I Facebooked, I did a Twitter search, I even went to LinkedIn and sent a connection request to the CEO/President as I had her business card.  Realizing early on that they lacked a presence on social networking platforms, I knew my work would be cut out for me.  So,  I spent a few days reading and researching.  

One of the programs that stuck with me was their commitment to programs that offer substance abuse counseling for people after they leave prison.  For most, this wouldn't be a program that they'd relate to but for me, this struck a chord.  My dad, who passed away 6 years ago this month, was a substance abuse counselor with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and he gave a lot of his time outside of work as a Spanish-speaking counselor. 

What started as a class project now was something more.  I had a connection.  September is always a hard month for me, I was definitely a daddy's girl and this project couldn't have come at a better time.  I feel as though it was meant to be….that maybe my dad had a hand in this somehow.  Giving my time/knowledge of Social Media to VOA-TX let me have a connection with my dad.

So what started as just a normal, everyday individual class project became personal.  It's times like these where I realize that I can make a difference with my skills and actually help in ways I never thought would actually matter.  In that moment, I was giving to something I knew my dad supported himself.

Oh…and by the way, we had a great turnout for North Texas Giving Day…42 donations with over $5000 raised and did I mention that this gets matched!  Go check them out, they have branches across the US and support a variety of programs.

Texas: www.voatx.org
National: www.voa.org

A Fresh Start - Back to School again…

Welcome, welcome, welcome!  If you're like me (a very sad student going back to school) then you're more than likely either back in school already or getting ready to start.  Well, to you, I say "Chin up, a new semester means a new beginning.  A Fresh Start!"

Every new semester I tell myself "this year is going to be better" but we all know how that goes.  My intentions start off great but begin to dwindle around the 9th week.  It happens, we've all been there.  There can be many reasons as to why I slip around this time but I think I've pinpointed the main issue.  Time commitments.

I'm notorious for over-scheduling myself on certain days and then having nothing on others.  My calendar already looks like a hot mess around mid-terms in October, ahem…9th week!  It's only the first week of school and I can feel myself slipping!  So, now its time to take a step-back and re-evaluate.  To do this, I've decided to do the following:

1. Write down all my responsibilities.
• School = Priority
• Work (Social Media Consulting)
• Work (Mary Kay Indep. Beauty Consultant)
• Friends/Life = Low man on this totem-pole….womp womp, adios mi amigos.  
2. Figure out how much free-time (not in school/sleeping/eating/driving/etc.) that I have
• Oye…not much time here but since my earliest class starts at 1pm, it looks like I'll have to become a morning person.  5am starts here I come! 
• Apparently waking up early is how the most successful, stay successful!  http://bit.ly/TEuRfo
3. Find/Rearrange study and work space
• Apparently my "bed-desk" set-up is not ideal.  I guess the extra room for all my "overflow" will be packed/stored in the garage soon …weekend fun, yay!   
• Hopefully this article will help me figure out the best set-up. http://on.mash.to/OylLk9 
4. Set my GOALS and write them down
• I'm pretty good at setting goals, but I rarely write them down…on paper.  I'll type them up because I'm at my computer always, so it's just easy; or, just remember them in my jam-packed mind.  
• It will also help me figure out the path that I need to take to get myself to the ultimate goal.
• Need more convincing?  Check out this article.  http://bit.ly/S5w5Fr
5. Take it day by day
• Realizing that each day I have a new chance at a fresh start is something I will have to remember.  Not getting overwhelmed with everything and enjoying the accomplishments I make as the day goes by, will be a goal I write down now.  

So, now that I have my plan set forth…what are you waiting for?  Have you started your re-evaluation?  

Does It Ever End?!?!?!?!?

I've come to the realization that education is not something that you just do in school…unfortunately.

When I decided to go freelance with Social Media strategizing/consulting, I figured that I knew quite a few things and I could easily pick up on anything that I needed to use along the way.  Man, was I wrong.  Not only am I constantly having to scout out information online but I'm also one of those crazies you see asking millions of questions at any networking/meet-up that I can attend.  There's just so much freaking information out there, that I don't know if my brain can hold it all in!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I actually love learning all the new platforms that come out, testing out all the new concepts/ideas on the clients that are close friends & family (you know, because they're usually a bit more forgiving when I say "oops" and the site we've been working on for hours just disappears), and just being ahead of the masses when it comes to business marketing.  BUT…I never realized I'd be putting in this much work and these types of hours!!

I'm a full-time college student (I feel as though my Sr. year is never-ending itself), a full-time social media consultant, and now a full-time business owner.  So, not only am I having to learn a ton of stuff for my classes (4 classes = 12 hours/wk) but I'm also having to learn new social media skills and how to run a successful Mary Kay business on top of it all.  I've come to the conclusion that my idea of fun must be self-torture.

So here I am, just a lil after 12am on a Thursday night/Friday morning and I'm blogging away about my lack of love for education after spending the past 2 hours doing research/reading articles/finding new people to connect with for my social media part of life; brainstorming marketing ideas, organizing customer orders, and making my goal lists for Mary Kay success; and trying to not think about all the midterms I just finished up over the past 2 weeks with another round of tests coming up in 2 weeks for school…oh and did I mention that I have a weekend full of homework that I'm staring at?

So, yup.  The thought that once you're out of school you'll never have to do homework again….out the window.  I honestly think being an entrepreneur in 2 business ventures is definitely harder than trying to graduate from business school at this point.  What have I gotten myself into and when will I ever have time for a life???  At least I may end up with a successful career though….at least I better with all this crazy hard work and time I'm putting in.  I refuse to fail if I'm having to constantly educate myself like this because I won't let my time be wasted (and I figure with all this knowledge I'm cramming in, I have no reason to fail), right?

And so it continues.  I may be tired, I may be stretching myself thin at times, but at least I'm doing something I love.  I love helping others with social media, I love my Mary Kay business, and I love the fact that I'll be graduating soon with my BS in Marketing from UTD …and if my mom has her way, I'll be working towards my MS right after.  Oh Asian moms and the goals for their children.

PS…if anyone has any tips of tricks they can share for dealing with the overwhelming sense of WTF …it'd be definitely greatly appreciated.  I'm at a loss at how some of you do it!

Image Source: informationoverloadcartoon.jpg

"Summer days driftin' away…."

Earlier in the year I told myself that this summer would be one that I actually do something.  I would better myself by working out and being outdoors as much as possible, I would date more, and I would definitely further my knowledge in social networking/online reputation.  Well….I think this summer will definitely be one for the books.

I'm taking 12 hours of summer classes at UTD:  

• Business Finance
• International Business
• Managerial Methods
• Operations Management

I've decided to take on some new outdoor activities:

• Rowing.  Yeah, on the water and in a boat rowing out at Bachman Lake through the Dallas Row Club.  Sculling to be exact actually.  I've been wanting to do this for a while now (I use the stationary row machines weekly and LOVE the workout) but didn't want to go alone…so, with my best friends birthday in early June, I figured its the best gift I can give!!!!  Don't worry, she knows and agreed to the gift bc she's AWESOME like that.
• Pole Dancing.  Yup, another workout class at Poleiticians…not really outdoors but its a new physical activity.  A great Groupon purchase with the bestie again.  She's my partner in crime when it comes to testing out new outings.
• Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and SUP Yoga out at DFW Surf in Grapevine... if I have time and energy.  It sounds really serene to be honest and come on…how many people do you know that do this?  It'll be a great conversation starter!!!  

AND on top of all of that…READING!  Okay, this really isn't that big of a problem.  I'm a HUGE book nerd and LOVE LOVE LOVE to read.  I don't stick to any one genre or author.  I like to keep my brain working and change it up.  Here's a snapshot as to what I've purchased over the past few days to start my reading marathon for the month.  

• http://instagr.am/p/KvBV2FuAPX/ 

I'll be giving my reviews on each book as I finish them on Amazon (as I do everything basically) and will probably blog about certain ones that I find outstanding.  If you're interested in a full reading list…let me know, I'll get it to you.  Warning though…the list runs about 45 deep at the moment.  

I'm just hoping that some some my summer days will lead to some summer love now….lol.

Dallas Row Club: http://www.dallasrowingclub.org/cms/

Poleiticians: http://poleiticians.com/

DFW Surf: http://www.dfwsurf.com/index.html

Float On Yoga: http://www.floatonyoga.com/

Student Loan Hell

If you're an older college student like me (I'm 28 and a Senior at UTD) and have student loans, then you've probably been keeping track of the news on the student loan interest rate.  If you have no clue what I'm talking about, I've linked a few articles at the bottom for you to catch up with the rest of the nation.

Summary though … interest rates are due to double on July 1st from 3.4% to 6.8% unless Congress takes action.  This increase was set back in 2007 when the interest rate was lowered.  Now that the expiration is coming up, everyone is scrambling to figure out what action to take.  Obama and Romney are both using this issue as a HUGE topic on their campaign trail because it effects so many people (and come on, everyone knows that the young peoples [18-29] vote is where its at right now).

So how does this effect you…??  Well, it's up in the air right now.  I've been trying to do some research on student loans and how it effects students once graduated.  Being one who loves visuals, I came across a pretty nifty infographic that gives a generalization of the student loan bubble.  It doesn't take into account the projected interest increase but it does give you a sense of what's already happening.  I know there are many sides to this debate, interest rates should have never been lowered, students shouldn't be allowed to get a loan on their own until a certain age, etc.; but, that's besides the point at the moment.  It's been ingrained in our head that you go to college, get a degree, get a good job, pay off the student loans…but apparently that's not what's happening.  So…what do we do now?  I suppose we just wait and see what happens.

I'll post some more infographics in this post if I find other good ones, or shoot me a message if you know of any good links to add in here!!

Links for more info on Student Loan Interest Increase:
Student Loan Rate Hike, What You Need To Know - CNN Money
Student Loans: A Long Journey of Confusion - Forbes
Strategies for Repaying Student Loans - Nasdaq

Infographic from: http://dailyinfographic.com/the-higher-education-bubble-infographic 

Why Hello There….

Hi there!  I suppose you're probably thinking, "oh goodness, not another person who's writing about randomness," well, you're sort of right.  Social Networking, Social Media, Resumé tips, ways to simplify your life, organizing tricks, and just life advice/experiences in general are the usual topics that I spend most of my time on…but I don't make any promises.  Just saying.

Anyhow…since you'll probably be spending the majority of your day sitting here, waiting for me to write a new post about something, you should probably know a little more about me.  I'm 28 and live in Dallas, Texas (no, we don't go around on horses and not everyone wears cowboys hats/boots).  I'm currently a Senior at the University of Texas at Dallas majoring in Marketing and at the same time consult on social networking/media to recent graduates and new small businesses.  For fun, traveling the world is it.  I live to travel and experience the world.  One of my bucket list items is to visit all seven continents, I have 4 to go.

Now for the reason of the blog.  Well, I've gotten to the point where I read other blogs and while they give great GREAT GREEEAAAAT advice, it's not advice that a lot of people would understand easily or relate to.  It gets boring and frustrating at times when you're searching for something that grasps you, I know…I've been there.  Everyone wants something that is relatable.  That embodies the "everyman/woman".  Well, I'm here to do that, I hope.  I do think you'll enjoy the blog.  I have a lot to say and do urge you to comment and send me messages.  Let me know what you're thinking.


I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading!!!
Ana.