Archive for incYourself Book
Jul
02
know your worth.
Posted by: | CommentsHappy effin Friday! And I’m even more delighted for this particular Friday because I’m taking a break and not returning to the office until next Wednesday.
It’s been quite a challenging week. I returned home from NY on Monday and decided to have a *big* conversation with my boss. I’m planning a big move and I need their support. I’m making this move on my own, but I’m doing it primarily for the job – to expand our client base. I’ve been to NY 5 times now, and each time I visit a new agency. These meetings have resulted in four requests for proposals (all new business.) I’m building relationships. That’s what it’s about, especially when it comes to advertising. I felt confident going into the meeting with my boss – especially when I was told that I doubled the former VP’s sales compared to this time last year. Numbers speak volumes.
There’s one thing I’ve learned over the past 18 years when it comes to careers: we must know our worth. It’s one thing to recognize our worth, but it’s an entirely different story when it comes to presenting it to the boss. The conversation started well, but then it took a turn for the worst. I detest confrontation. I grew up with the constant bickering. The back and forth. Conversations that go nowhere. My guard goes up. But not this time, I knew it was time to stand my ground and not back down. I get extremely sensitive when it comes to my career. I’ve spent the last 18 years building my brand and I won’t let anyone take that away from me. Yes, the economy is by no means healed, but we always have a choice. So, I gave them an option and should know their answer in a week. I am ready …. for whatever the future holds for me. I can’t let fear stop me from thriving in life.
So take these three words with you each time you walk through the office door: KNOW. YOUR. WORTH.
Mar
30
what defines your brand?
Posted by: | Comments… before I start this “xian moment”, I want it to be known how incredibly grateful I am for the blessings in my life: my health; a great career – which we know isn’t to be taken for granted these days; a beautiful home – that I bought myself; and a brilliant group of friends. But, yes … here’s the but … I’m feeling *stuck* at the moment. Brace yourself, I’m about to rant a little.
I come from very humble beginnings – my parents didn’t have much money lying around to truly support a child growing up, so I started working as a bag boy when I was sixteen. I made it my goal to create a name for myself – to go after what I wanted in life and never look back. I did it, I left home at eighteen and started the incYourself journey. I skipped the college part and dove right in. No one could break my focus. I spent years learning about the advertising and marketing industry. I made it my life. I was fascinated with Brands – and even more thrilled that you could create your very own. I found my in, I met a man that worked at a rock magazine here in Cleveland. It would be my college. I spent ten years there, starting as the data entry clerk in charge of entering their reader surveys. It was a part-time position but I knew right away I wanted to work there. I had to sell myself. I finished entering the surveys before the deadline and decided to inquire about a full-time position. They hired me on as merchandising manager; in charge of the mags merchandise (t-shirts and back issues) and managing subscriber orders. I was in the position for about two years and I started to grow restless. I really wanted to be in sales so I approached the publisher and asked him if I could run their classified section. It was my first taste of sales and I loved it. We were hitting our numbers and the classified section started to grow. I was promoted to ad exec- selling display ads to non-endemic advertisers (clients that aren’t “in” the same category/industry as your brand.) I also found my mentor - the advertising director. She taught me everything: what defines a brand, tailoring the brand’s message, writing strong proposals, developing a media kit, she gave me my confidence as a salesman. I landed some reputable clients for the mag – there are two I’m especially proud of: CK Jeans and Levi’s. I loved working with agencies – such creative energy. The ad director eventually left the magazine and the publisher asked me to step in. I remember the feeling when I got the promotion: ” I did it, and this is only the beginning!” I occupied the position for about four years and decided it was time to see what the corporate world had to offer. It will be eight years – this Thursday - since I made that decision and so much has changed in publishing since then. Actually, so much has changed over the past eighteen years since I’ve been in the industry. I’m particularly fascinated with its progression into the digital age. I never would have thought we’d ask the forbidden question: “will users pay for content?” So much ahead for the publishing world and I think it’s exciting!
I’ve also been looking at my own progression and there’s a thought that comes to mind: am I really starting to question my focus – what has always pushed me ahead? Perhaps this is what they call a crossroads moment? I loathe “questioning” myself, but right now I see the journey and can’t help but wonder if the things I worked so hard for are in reality what’s holding me back. I know, this is one loaded post and I apologize for laying out my CV … my career has been heavy on my mind these days. But do you know where I’m coming from? Have you ever stopped for a moment to look at your career and ask yourself how you really got there? Or, perhaps I just need a vacation?! 
In any case, thank you for listening … again. XOs …
Mar
09
business as (un)usual
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been thinking a lot about the business environment these days; particularly on the client side. I’ve been in the publishing industry for 18 years now, and I’ve seen some incredible shifts in the industry: printing & mailing costs going through the roof, the transition from print media to digital media, the economy bottoms out, cutting employees (which means your workload increases); it’s been one crazy ride. But something else has changed – attitudes of clients’, specifically with agencies. And there’s nothing I loathe more than using the economy as an excuse. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the “E” word. And you know what, it’s getting old. How are we going to change when we keep looking back? Yes, it’s our reality, but what ever happened to changing our perspective and working with what we DO have. Ever since I took over for the VP in Digital Network Sales (selling across our 130+ websites) I’ve experienced some thoughtless behavior. It makes me sad. A recent example: the former VP lost one of our biggest clients – Verizon Wireless. I made it my goal to win the business back, and after several phone calls and network updates, they contacted me to submit a proposal for Q2. I was so excited! I worked on it for a solid day and took it home to have it finished before their deadline. Unfortunately, my ambition went unnoticed. The next morning I received an email from the media planner on the account, saying: “thank you for submitting the proposal, we will send a formal RFP (request for proposal) tomorrow morning.” I know, that’s what I thought. Why did she have me submit a proposal – which included 38 sites - when she knew RFP’s were going out the very next morning? My scorpion tale came out a little with my reply to the RFP: “thank you for the RFP. It looks like we’re dealing with the same target audience as the first proposal I submitted, so I’ll just go ahead and copy that information to this new RFP template. Thank you.” DOH! Yes, I still believe the old adage: “the customer is always right,” but this has been going on for far too long, and across the board. It’s the mentality of; well, things are bad right now and they should be grateful for the business. Of course I’m grateful, but that doesn’t give us license to treat each other unfairly. Does it? And believe me, I know it’s “just business”, but perhaps if we change that perspective we’ll see a bigger change overall. We spend a majority of our lives working, why not do it with a little more awareness? It’s about respect. So, I ask you; When it comes to business, does respect really have to take a back seat?
Aug
11
Chicago
Posted by: | Comments
Now playing on Xianbox: Chicago: Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts. GREAT song. One of my favorite lines: “You’re my best friend. I need you until the end. No, you I will never betray.”
I’m finally doing it. My friends will testify, I’ve been talking about leaving Cleveland for quite some time now. I just need a bit more umph from a city. Inspiration. Don’t get me wrong, Cleveland has given me so much (my Occasional Beauty poem is my homage) but I just have to do this. I hit a dead end here. I’ve actually had a few opportunities in the past to leave the city: a job offer in NYC at Spin Magazine (twice) and about 5 years ago I had an offer in England. It just wasn’t time. I am a firm believer in trusting your gut feeling (our Light) and it was telling me to stay. But this time, it’s telling me to go. A big reason for me staying here, was to work on mending my family back together again. But it’s time I do something for me now. My family has grown, but leaving may just push us to the next level. I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of tears I will shed when I say goodbye to them. In fact, as I imagine their faces as I’m writing this, the tears start coming. And saying goodbye to my friends is going to be extremely hard. But hey, you have a place to visit now and it’s so close. OK, let’s not go down the goodbye road just yet. I’m not emotionally capable of handling that side of leaving right now. There are so many things I look forward to in a new city: new faces, places, inspiration, new opportunities, an opening to change. And hey, it’s Chicago for Oprah’s sake! It’s like a reasonable Manhattan: not as overpopulated, but it offers the same energy.
My first task is to find a tenant for my sweet little house. My date of departure is October 1. I will miss her. She is my fortress. But I know it will give the new resident so much joy. A bonus: all of my energy will still be present, now who would say no to that?! Actually, I can think of a few people that have. Focus xian… focus. I’m going to get the ad up on Craigs List over the next few days and I’ll be sure to post the link here on The Hub. But guess what, you can learn more about my house by visiting my Home blog category. 
More updates on the transition to follow….
House For Rent
