Tag Archives: professionalism

Creating an “About” page worth reading!


Posted by Jessie Spielvogel

As I try to come up with my own “About” page for this blog, I’ve been looking into other bloggers’ pages to see how they are doing it. I’ve come across a lot of terrible ones, several mediocre ones, and a few that really stand out and make me wish that I had written them. These few are what I’d like to use as guides for building my own page, but creating it with my own personal Jessie Spielvogel flair, of course!

Take a look at what these awesome bloggers are doing right! 

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Lamiki: Laura Kimball

“Who is Lamiki?”

First of all, with a site name like Lamiki, of course my first thought is “WTF is Lamiki, and how do I pronounce it?” My second thought is, “Hmm, I’ll read the “About” page and find out…”

Sure enough, first things first, there is both a pronunciation and a description of what “Lamiki” means, readily available at the top of her page. She gives a Webster-like phonetic spelling, followed by an in-depth explanation of what Lamiki means (…a combination of her first, middle, and last name – in case you’re curious). Additionally, she has created a definition for the word “Lamiki” and describes how she wants it to resonate with her readers.

Takeaway: think about what your audience will ask as soon as they come to your site for the first time, and answer it right away at the top of your page. What do readers want to know? What do you want them to know? Who are you, and how can reading your blog help your potential audience?

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Girl Walks Into a Barbell: Jessica Camacho

“The Girl”

Jess explains right up front that she has never been a fitness pro until 2010.  She tells her true and honest story of how she got to where she is now with a voice that matches the brand she’s created on her witty and hilarious blog! Catering to the females who have never lifted anything heavier than a twirling baton, Jess shows her reader that it’s possible to commit to getting stronger and learning something new – and she conveys this message all in her “About” page.

Takeaway: use a voice that’s honest and yours. People relate to people, and when I read her blog, I felt like she was talking directly to me. It’s personable, encouraging, and to the point!

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Answering Oliver: Devon Mills

“My Story”

Devon mastered the art of relating to her reader! She is 24, has been working at a desk job, realized it wasn’t for her, and so she quit to begin an exciting adventure across the world. Like many recent college grads looking for direction, Devon realized that there was more to the life she was living, and 20-somethings can definitely relate to this realization!

“In January 2010, at the age of 23, I was well on my way to becoming a boxed-wine alcoholic. I ate like crap, never exercised, felt tired all the time and absolutely hated the hour-long bus commute to my 8-to-5 desk job.”

Takeaway: Find your niche, and run with it! Devon chose to go the route of turning her desk job into a worldwide adventure… and there’s plenty of young free spirits out there who want to read a story like hers. Her “About” page tells her story, from decision to execution (not the murdering kind of execution… the carrying-out-the-task kind of execution…).

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 Life Without Pants: Matt Cheuvront

“About”

For Matt’s page, I immediately questioned what Life Without Pants was… and I was definitely nervous about opening a link that read “Life Without Pants” for fear that it was NSFW (Not Safe For Work). Luckily, it was safe for work. Matt does a great job about mixing in professional voice with a more personable voice.

“Away from work, I’m a husband, a father (to a dog, children terrify me), a son, a craft-beer lover, a less-than-stellar golfer, a Seinfeld-quoter, a runner, an arm-chair quarterback, a tech nerd, and a music snob (except my not-so-hidden love for Lady Gaga)…”

In the middle of explaining what he does for a living and how he gained his entrepreneurial lifestyle, he throws in a bit of personal (and comical) information about his home life!

Takeaway: don’t be afraid to let your home-self shine through! It’s much more comforting to work with someone who you see as a human, not as a business.

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The Middle Finger Project: Ashley Ambirge

“About”

I am SO thankful I came across this blog a few months ago. With a name like The Middle Finger Project, what’s not to be intrigued by? Ashley’s “About” page is definitely not lacking in the personality or voice department. Throw in a few four-letter words to inspire, motivate, and educate her reader, and that pretty much sums up her strategy! Her “About” page has a no-BS, straight-to-the-point, how-can-she-help-you spin to it, and to simply say “it works” would be an understatement!

Takeaway: Go big, or go home. Ashley doesn’t half ass anything. She commits to her brand, her voice, and her direction…and that’s something everyone should do a little more of!

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Paige Worthy: Paige Worthy

“About”

What I like most about Paige’s “About” page, aside from the humor and witty side comments, is that it is straight to the point. She discusses a little bit about her background, and then immediately makes it known that she is ready for people to hire her!

“I’ve been living the flashy, high-roller lifestyle of the full-time freelance writer and renaissance woman since June 2011 — so I’m currently seeking contract work and a sugar daddy (to be shared with my boyfriend, so you need to be…down with that). Serious about the first part. Kidding about the second part, unless you know someone.”

Immediately after telling her reader that she’s for hire, she goes into the 1,089,973 different ways in which people can contact her.

Takeaway: Get straight to the point, be concise, and be a little funny if ya have it in ya!

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To sum up my findings, to make an awesome “About” page, it takes:

  • Thinking like your audience and predicting what they’ll ask
  • Finding honesty and truth in your personal story
  • Finding and embracing your niche
  • Being personable and conversational
  • Going big or going home… (no half-assing here)!
  • Getting straight to the point and being concise

What do you look for in an awesome “About” page? I would love to know your thoughts as I try to create my own. And if you’ve come across any other bloggers doing it right, please send me a link! 


Four ways to make the most out of your daily commute


Posted by Jessie Spielvogel

Washington MetroWhile I was catching up with a friend a few days ago, we began discussing the DC commuter life, and how much of a pain in the butt it can be on occasion. I explained that I had a fairly quick commute on one Metro line, and that it usually took me about 35 minutes to and from work each way. She then asked me one simple conversational question, and it kind of caught me off guard… all she asked was, “so what do you DO on the Metro?”

I thought about it for a second, and I responded with, “Eeehhh, I’ll usually read the newspaper, sometimes I listen to music, and sometimes I’ll just pretend to listen to music so that no one will talk to me.” (Don’t judge me for that…I’m pretty cranky in the mornings, and really I’m just doing the world a favor by ignoring my surroundings until I’ve been properly caffeinated. You’re welcome).

But then I did the math. Being generous, and for the sake of easy calculations, I’ll say that my commute is 30 minutes each way. That’s 60 minutes per day, for five days per week. That equates to five hours per week, or 260 hours per year. TWO HUNDRED SIXTY HOURS PER YEAR of my life doing one of the following:

1. Reading the Express commuter paper (aka skimming headlines, Sudoku and Crosswords)

2. Listening to my song of the week on repeat

3. Pretending to listen to my song of the week on repeat

4. Twiddling my thumbs

Those are generally the four options that I alternate between on my commute to and from work. So what’s wrong with this picture? That’s an easy answer – it’s a giant waste of 260 hours of my year, and I could CERTAINLY be doing something in that time to make my mind/life/career better.

*If you’re a driver, I’m sorry that two of these suggestions won’t pertain to you (unless you’re one heck of a multi-tasker).*

Mostly (but not completely) for the train riders/passengers, try to toss these suggestions into your daily commute:

1. Bring a notebook, and brainstorm. [Mind] My mom always told me that the most money is made before 9 and after 5. Do your thinking ahead of time, and execute your plan during the day! It’s always more beneficial to be one step ahead of the game than to be the unprepared procrastinator. And hey, we’re young! We’ve got reputations to build and dominate!

2. Actually READ the newspaper (not just the headlines). [Mind] While Sudoku and crosswords are excellent warm-ups for you brain, (and I’m sure that there is a study somewhere that scientifically proves that completing these puzzles daily improves brain functionality), being well-versed in what’s going on in the world around you will be far more beneficial to you in both your day-to-day, and in the long run. That being said, skipping to the back and reading the pop culture section will only benefit you if you’re trying to suck up to someone at work who happens to be obsessed with E!, or if you work in a pop culture industry. By all means, read it! Just remember not to skip over the other stuff.

3. Plan your exercise for the week. (It’s not ALL about business, ya know)! [Body] Instead of spending the first few minutes in the gym/outside trying to figure out what you want to do that day to start looking and feeling like Popeye, use the time on the Metro to decide what you will do later to make the most out of your workout time!

4. Think about what you can do to improve someone ELSE’s day. [Soul] Making a habit to commit random acts of kindness will make you feel better inside and out! I like to think that this counts as productivity, since a fulfilled life encompasses the mind, the body AND the soul.

Newspapers

*For the walkers/bikers: Good for you. You’re already burning calories, and that’s enough productivity for one morning and afternoon. We can high five this one out later.*

You may not have wi-fi in your car or on the train, but find a way to make it productive.

How do you make the most out of your commute? Share your tips and ideas!

-Jessie


Emotions, meet Professionalism


Posted by Jessie Spielvogel

Are you…crying? Are you CRYING? ARE YOU CRYING?! There’s no crying. There’s no crying at work.

If your game face isn’t on, it should be.

Wearing your emotions on your sleeve can be one of the most detrimental flaws in any professional – all the way from intern to CEO. It’s easy to show your feelings on your face, but it’s never professional, productive, pleasant…or any other p word I can come up with.

Sure, we all have days when we want to scream, punch a wall, punch a person, or just cry from 9-5, but these emotions only cloud your judgment and prevent you from being productive and letting your best work shine. This may seem like common sense, but it can be surprising how many awkward moments can be created from emotional outbursts at work!

When I was 17 years old, I was a junior in high school, I was dancing 15 hours per week, working 25 hours per week, and attempting to manage a social life all at once for the first time. Like any teenager first experiencing all of these stresses of life, I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and highly emotional. One late night at work, I was so desperate to get out of there that I ended up breaking down and bawling my eyes out right then and there in the middle of the store. Why? I don’t know, maybe I had an English assignment to finish? Whatever it was, I’m sure it was valid, right?

Why I did not get fired, I have no idea. But, nonetheless, I learned a valuable lesson that evening.

You are getting paid to do a job, and a business is a business. While it may seem heartless, many (okay… probably most) managers do not care about the stresses in your personal life; they just want you to get your work done, and they want it done right.

Having emotions is obviously a good thing – they mean you’re human! But, whenever you’re feeling sad or angry on the job, hold it in until 5 pm. At 5:01, walk out that door and get as emotional as you want! Til then, keep your chin up, keep smiling, and never let ‘em see ya sweat!


The Gambling Trilogy [Where's part 3]?


Posted by Jessie Spielvogel

A few weeks ago, after developing my gambling-with-fake-money addiction, I decided to begin a 3-part series on comparing various gambling games to job searching and professional development techniques. In The Gambling Trilogy [Part 1], I discussed how the game of blackjack relates to your job search. In The Gambling Trilogy [Part 2], I discussed how you can learn to be a “doer” vs. a “watcher” through the game of craps.

Well, the reason you see no [Part 3] is because, frankly, the series was crap. (<< I crack myself up). When I decided that I was not going to finish out the trilogy to complete the whole, I looked at it from two perspectives:

1. Quitting half way through a project can just make you look bad. It comes off as a character flaw, and no one wants to be known as a quitter.

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2. Realizing where your strengths and weaknesses are is important, and correcting what isn’t working sooner than later is just one more key to success (and will ultimately prevent you from wasting time on a project destined to fail).

I chose option number two because it makes more sense to me. Think about it like this: Why would a cable network pull a TV show off the air before the series concluded? Because the TV series in all likelihood sucks, and there is no reason to throw more time and money into a series that no one is watching. Plain and simple – they see their flaw, they listen to their audience, and they do better next time. Hopefully.

Going back to square one isn’t always a bad thing. It’s a chance for a fresh start, a new perspective, and endless opportunities. If you see that something isn’t working, change it.

  • If you’re not getting any bites on your cover letters and resume, change up your job searching techniques.
  • If you’re not closing sales at your job with an important company, talk to someone to help change up your strategies.
  • If you’re working on an artistic project and it’s just not turning out like you’d hoped, start over!

The beauty of starting over is that you already know enough to realize what works and what doesn’t, now all you have to do is switch up the approach to your project. Throw your energy into something worthwhile, and let’s see if something comes of it!


Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. – Albert Einstein 

Jessie


The Gambling Trilogy [Part 2] – What you can learn from Craps


Posted by Jessie Spielvogel

I’ve always been a blackjack and roulette kinda girl.

Up until two weeks ago, I had never learned how to play craps. Every time I would go to a casino, the craps table always looked like it had the most exciting crowd of people surrounding it, and I always envied them as I sat on my barstool and took another card from the blackjack dealer.

Why didn’t I join in on those hot tables? What kept me from participating in all of the fun and excitement?

Well, to be perfectly honest with you, it’s because I was being a little wimp…

I had no idea how to play craps. I didn’t even know where to begin. The people at the table clearly knew what they were doing already, and I felt like I would just be in the way. I had so many questions… and didn’t want to ask anyone for fear of outing myself as the rookie. Seeing as the game moved so quickly, the questions in my head were racing at a mile a minute:

Why are people yelling?

Why are there so many chips randomly thrown across the table?

Why does the guy in the suit keep asking the hot girl next to him to blow on the dice before he rolls them?

Why do people love 7s and then hate 7s?

Why did everyone just bust out the high fives and pound its?

Why did everyone just unanimously say “awwwwww maaaannn….”?

… It was simply safer and easier to sit back and watch.

But what’s wrong with this picture? When did I become a “watcher” instead of a “doer”? WHAT’S THE FUN IN THAT?

Then it hit me – nothing good can come from watching. Not only does the act of watching cause extreme Lame Syndrome (I’m pretty sure that’s the scientific name for it), but it will also leave you with a world of regret for never taking a chance. The action happens when you roll the dice, when you’re part of the play, when you’re mentally AND physically on track to becoming a high roller.

This week, do something you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t had the courage to make happen.

Are you bad at meeting people, but need a job? Go to an event, and talk to a stranger.

Do you think you’re more valuable than what you’re being used for at work? Talk to your manager about other opportunities within the company! Show them how important you are.

*I recently learned how to play craps by way of an awesome iPad app…and I will be putting my newfound love for the game to use in a few weeks while sailing through the Caribbean. I may come back penniless, but I’ll be proud of myself for trying!

What gamble are you going to take this week? Roll the dice, and start winning!

-Jessie


The impact of a handwritten letter


Posted by Jessie Spielvogel

Think about how many emails, Facebook messages, or tweets you scan through on a daily basis. Every single day, we interact with people on a digital platform in some way or another…and after a while, it all starts to blend together into a giant mass of digital communication overload. But how often do you receive a handwritten postcard or letter?

I don’t THINK it’s because I’m a huge loser, (although I could have a very misinterpreted opinion of myself), but I become over-the-top, embarrassingly giddy when I receive any sort of holiday card, post card or handwritten letter via snail mail. I know that this form of correspondence is quickly becoming (or has already become) obsolete, but that’s what makes it even more powerful, now, in 2012.

Now is the time to utilize this resource to your advantage – to send those thank you notes after an interview, to send a “just because I’m thinking of you” card to an old friend or co-worker – before we don’t have it at our disposal anymore, and we lose just one more chance to stand out from the crowd.

Here are some tips for who to consider, and how to approach it when thinking about sending handwritten notes:

Interviewer/Potential Employer

If you are interviewing for a job, in all likelihood, you’re not the only candidate going through the process with the same awesome company. Most candidates will send a follow up email after meeting with potential employers, which is fine… if you want to be LAME. Try sending a handwritten thank you card. Write it the day after your interview so that it arrives 2-3 days later (ish). This gesture stands out, it shows effort, and will most likely give you an extra leg up on your email-sending competition.

Networking Contact

Send a random “just-checking-in” or a thank you letter to a contact you’ve come across during your job search (you still have their business card, right?) Not only is this good networking and professional sense, it’s also a chance to show people that you’re not just completely exploiting them for professional reasons! These cards should be very personalized, as no one likes a generic card (or else you may as well have just sent the email). Maybe this person helped to originally connect you with some job interviews… let them know that you still appreciated their help, no matter how much time has gone by!

Previous Co-interns/Classmates

This is a group that often gets overlooked, and it might be one of the most important ones to include. In college, what people don’t realize is that your classmates are your future colleagues…not just your hungover drinking buddies. These people are going to be most likely to have your back when it comes time to starting a career. They have grown with you throughout your academic and pre-professional development, and generally have a stronger bond with you and other alumni than people you meet outside of these groups. Send a card to stay in touch. Sure, they may think, “what a dork,” after opening it… but they will definitely remember it, smile, and think you’ve got even more charisma for taking the time to send it! These cards can be funny, twisted, sick and/or lighthearted (depending on who it’s for)… no need to be professional and classy ALL the time!

Family/Friends

I include this group because when I receive holiday cards from my friends or family, it puts the biggest smile on my face. Like I said before, I may be a huge weirdo for getting excited about random just-because cards from a parent/aunt/uncle/friend/whatever, but I don’t think I’m the only one! Send a letter and put a smile on someone’s face. (Thank you, Linn, for my postcard from Barcelona)!

Happy letter writing! Hope it works out as I’ve described, or else it makes me look like a huuugeeee *%&$)#*…

-Jessie

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