I Look Fly, I Look Good

I have a weird love for random music.  One of my favorites a few years ago (and I still rock it in my car sometimes today) was "I Look Good" by Chalie Boy.  Now, you may be wondering how this coincides to Social Media or Online Reputation, well here goes it.

Perception is EVERYTHING in our world today.  The way you carry yourself, present yourself, and even view yourself is how people will see you.  The 1st impression is honestly the most important part of networking, interviewing, and in general....life.  While most people will tell you to have a good suit to give a good impression, I think it goes deeper.

Having confidence in yourself is something that can make anything you wear, stand out.  Believe me when I say that I don't own a suit.  I don't think it fits who I am as a person, it doesn't reflect my personality, nor give the impression that I want people to have about me.  HOWEVER, even though my outfits aren't suits, they are professional and give people a sense of who I am.  I can pair a bright colored blouse with a gray pencil skirt, add a belt and heels .... ta-da, my outfit!

Here you can see an example of what I would piece together ...   The bright color embraces personality while the structured skirt gives a touch of professionalism BUT the item that is rocked the best is her smile!  This conveys confidence in that "I Look Fly, I Look Good" sense (and yes, I do say this to myself on occasion as reassurance...especially when putting on an outfit for a business event).

You can create outfits that give a professional impression from the clothes you wear already, you just need to know how to put them together and have confidence that you look good.  Believe me, it took me a bit to master this, and I still question my choices at times...but then I just remind myself that "I look fly, I look good".  As a college student and freelancer, I know that budgeting for "professional" attire is hard, so I try to buy basics that I can incorporate into my daily personal/professional life and am comfortable wearing.  

Now, how does "looking good" matter w/social media and online reputation...well, PICTURES SAY A THOUSAND WORDS!  While you'll be meeting people in-person, the pictures taken at the networking event, school function, etc. will most likely always end up online.   Presenting an overall polished look that reflects you as a person will allow others online to see you, form an impression of you, want to get to know you more!

Believe that you look good and you will outshine that person next to you.  Perception is everything, but that doesn't have to include a $500 tailored suit.  You just need to let your personality shine thru with a smile.

And if you need more insight into how to pair clothing together, check out my Pinterest board as I regularly post professional outfits that I find for men/women that are simple.
http://pinterest.com/anasantellana/professional-wear/ 

Now....for your viewing pleasure (and for me as I get ready for a networking event tonight) ... "I Look Fly, I Look Good" by Chalie Boy.

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?  

Double Dipping: 2 Start-Ups Helping One Another

Question: Are you a start-up entrepreneur?  If so, how many businesses do you own?

If you've read some of my beginning posts, you know that I decided to go freelance with my Social Media/Networking consulting in late Spring 2012 after not having any luck finding a job in Social Media because of me lacking my degree (or being overqualified for an asst. position to a Mktg. dept….ironic, eh).  Well, did I ever mention that I also decided to start my own Mary Kay business too?  If not, oops, I'm an Independent Beauty Consultant, FYI, and about to be a Senior IBC since I have a team of 3!!

Now how does this correlate to the title of this post?  Simple.  As I was starting up with the consulting, I realized that I needed to network A LOT more if I wanted to make any $$.  Yes, I had some professional contacts that gave me great advice and I was able to hone my skills a bit because I have great friends who hired me to advise them and their businesses; yet, I was/am still unknown in a world FULL of Social Media Consultants.  This makes it hard to gain traction and make some money …and we all know money makes the world turn, at least for me it does at least.  So, I came to the conclusion that a part-time job had to be found; on top of staying in school and freelancing.

Looking for a job that would allow me to keep my school schedule (I was taking 12hrs in the Spring and am taking 12 hours this summer) and keep up with my own freelancing was impossible it seemed.  And then it happened.  I went to a Mary Kay Beauty Social on a Thursday night at the end of April and heard how the business was run by individual consultants.
Now, don't get me wrong.  I live in Dallas, Texas…my mom is a former Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, I have friends who are considered "Mary Kay babies", and I've seen the Pink Cadillacs all over town but I was always skeptical.  I remember swearing up and down that I'd NEVER use Mary Kay let alone be a consultant when my mom was running her business.  So, at the end of the night, I was asked if I wanted to join and I said, "I've got to do more research…let me think about it".  I honestly didn't have much intention on doing much research but I went home and did just that, for the next 2 weeks.

As I researched, I read all the negatives (and there are a lot apparently) and studied the way that Independent Beauty Consultants (IBC's) ran their business.  And then BAM! …it was like a lightbulb went off.
I could build a Mary Kay business using Social Networking and bring in money from sales; additionally, I could use my freelancing to help other Mary Kay IBC's to build their business online too!
Ta-Da!!!!  In that instant, I decided "yes" and I signed the agreement the very next day.

Here I am today, almost 3 months later and not only have I built a pretty good business using my Social Media skills but I'm also starting to do 1-on-1 consultations with IBC's and helping them build a business online too.  I'll be running one of our unit's weekly education classes, giving a brief overview on using Social Networking sites while adhering to the MK Guidelines (which I hope will also bring in more consultation appts.) and I'm also looking to expand this education training to other units in the DFW area.

Now who says that you can't have 2 businesses which build on one another?  I double dipped my businesses together and found something that worked for me, while having fun doing it, ironically.

So, I ask again….how many businesses do you own if you're a start-up entrepreneur?  And will you be  brainstorming now to find a 2nd business that you can work in conjunction with the one you already have?  Either way…GOOD LUCK!!



PS.  If you're interested in learning more about the Mary Kay opportunity, contact me at asantellana@marykay.com or if you're just interested in the products then you can check out my website at www.marykay.com/asantellana  ….. 15% off your first order, just type "Double Dipping" into the comments section at checkout and I'll send you an updated total.  


Find me on Facebook!!  www.facebook.com/ibcasantellana
Find me on Twitter!!      www.twitter.com/marykay_anas

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

Just Say NO!

Have you ever been inundated with requests from family, friends, co-workers, schoolmates, or random people you meet on the side of the road even?  I've had that issue lately.  Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE being able to help those around me; however, it's taken a toll lately.  I've realized that me doing everything for everyone else has led ME to slack off on my own responsibilities.  I've learned that I need to learn how to say that 2-letter word…what is it again…oh yeah, NO!

Now, most people may think that saying no to all those requests I get may be easy…BUT if you're like me (and think you can do it all) then you know saying no is just plain hard.  It makes me feel as though I've failed for some reason.  Yes, weird way to feel when it's not even your responsibility in the first place but its how I feel.  Some may say its the OCD need to be in control, which I don't deny, and others may just think I'm plain crazy.  Either way you put it, there's a reason I have an issue saying no and I'm trying to find what that is.

My question to you (whoever you may be, is anyone reading this?  HELLO…??) is….do you have issues saying no?  If so, how do you deal with the requests to help?  Do I need to learn how to prioritize better?  Do I need to say no to every other request?  What are your ideas??


Now let me leave you with these pictures to emphasize my crisis….

(http://zodiacchic.tumblr.com/tagged/capricorn/page/8)

(http://sumikomaser.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/too-much-of-yes/)

(http://vdoblog.net/)

"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/

Online Dating … Are you there Mr. Right?

Dating is just awful if you're in your late 20's.  There, I said it and I stand by my assessment.

You're no longer in school (or if you're like me and started school late, then all the guys are 8-10yrs younger than you), so no more fishing from that pond.  Bars are just not the place to "pick-up" or be "picked-up" unless you're just looking for that one-night stand.   And the blind-dates...oh just STOP!  No, I don't want to meet your friends brothers best friend ... I think we met before, he was a douche.

So now where do you turn?  Online dating?  Sure, why not.

I've been an avid online dater since it before it was "the thing" to do.  I can remember being in High School and getting chatted up in an AOL chat room….either I was naïve about the dangers or there really weren't any back then since it was a fairly new medium….and then me and my friends meeting up with the guys we chatted with at the movies or the mall.  It was always fun and a great way to meet guys from other schools, just to see what else was out there.  Even now, I'm on a few dating websites and it's just as fun to meet some guys at times to see what else is out there…lol.  BUT … is it actually going to help me find Mr. Right or even Mr. Right Now?

See, the thing with online dating that I've noticed is that it just seems to be a way for a person to inflate their personal resumé/bio and showcase pictures of themselves from years ago.  It's such a disappointment when you meet a person in real life and realize that the picture they had as their profile pic had to of been from at least 5 years ago.

I've been on several different sites over the past few years:

• Match
• PlentyofFish
• eHarmony
• ChristianSingle
• okCupid

…just to name a few, and I seem to encounter the same issue at every one….a profile that highlights all of their greatness and pictures that don't resemble them anymore.  Can we call this false advertising??  I think that there has to be a solution to this problem.  A simple one, too.

Enter in….Video bios.  Seriously.  No joke.  Why not make a 2 min video highlighting who you are, or even better…have it as a compilation of your friends assessments on you.  Who better to try to help you find that special someone then your closest friends and family.  They know you better than you know yourself even, most likely.  I don't know…I just think this would be something to look into.  Do they offer this anywhere already??

I'm just tired of it all….dating in general sucks sometimes.  Maybe I'm just being bitter but I just wish that there was a site that would stand out and revolutionize online dating.  Now, don't get me wrong….I'll continue using these sites but Mr. Right….are you there???

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 

It's Time to Find a Job...Part 2

Well, now that you've updated your resume...where do you go from here?  You CANNOT just rely on your resume to land you that job, sorry to burst that bubble.  While your resume is basically your "golden ticket" you still have to play the game in order to use it.  What do I mean by this you ask…good question!!  I mean that you have to actually be active in your job hunt.  Don't just think by posting your resume you'll land that dream job...won't happen, I tried.  YOU have to find the job, it's not going to find you.

So, where do you find that job?  Easy!  Do you have family and friends?  There's where you'll find your next job...most likely. :)

Step 2: Ask Your Family & Friends for Leads!!!!
Ever since my very first job, I've always asked family and friends where I should work.  This often leads to them telling you about a job that they know about or referring you to a friend of theirs that knows about a job.  It's not all about who you know but who do they know….

I think some people's biggest mistake is not reaching out to their inner circle for help. Seriously! Think about all the potential jobs you're passing on.  It's been drilled into our heads at school already that statistically 80% of new jobs are filled by referrals from current employees and that only 2% of jobs available are filled via job boards….so which basket are your eggs going in?
I've never been shy to ask friends for jobs they know about or if they could introduce me to someone they know.  If you think about it…the people that work within a company are going to be the first to know if there's a position open in a certain department.  You can get ahead of the game by having a personal referral from within (always a good thing!!!).

Now, I'm not one to go up to random strangers and ask them for job openings within their company but we're not talking about you approaching strangers…..we're talking about the people who know you the best!!  Don't let the best chance at your next dream job slip thru your fingers because you didn't ask for help.

Taking the Plunge…sort of.

I've taken the plunge, in a sense. Do you know someone who is the "go-to" person in your circle of friends for advice, the shoulder to lean on, or even gives you that slap in the face dose of reality? Well…that's me in a nutshell. I'm always dishing out stuff to my friends and family, whether they ask or not(sorry!!!). Yet, I hardly ever take my own advice or put my tips into practical use. Now it stops. I'm taking the plunge and will start living what I preach.

Okay…I know, I know. Crap. If I couldn't do this already, how am I supposed to start now. Well, I've thought it out and have a plan. (Come on now, if you know me, you know that I plan out everything just about. I'm a crazy organized freak.) The plan starts with me not making any changes to be honest. I've realized that every time I try to change something with my life, it always goes awry. I try to change everything instantly and it never works. So, this time around, I'm not changing. Instead, I'm going to think.

Yup. I said it. No changes but more thinking. Make sense?

By thinking about the changes I want to make, I'm slowly able to change without even realizing it. The entire process of how I do certain things just balances out. It's weird but it works for me. I've thought a lot out recently:

• losing weight
• starting up my own business/writing a blog
• being less of a procrastinator
• and of course…relationships

As for the results:

• I've lost over 40lbs in the past 9 months
• started my own business/blog
• and currently I've started to think over the procrastination/relationship aspects in my life.

By thinking over these items, I let myself reevaluate what's important, make smarter decisions, and have lasting results.  The change happens naturally.  Each of these are areas I've always want to change in myself.  I tried every which way to change too.  Ask my mom about my weight, my friends about my business/blog ramblings, coworkers/classmates about my procrastination, and all of my exes about me in a relationship (ouch!).  I've said it over and over again…I WILL CHANGE…and I did change, for a bit.  It just never stuck, until now…I hope.

Thinking.  Not changing.  Take the plunge and think more!!!

       July 2011                November 2011

April 2012

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.