PBEO Business of Baseball Workshop Part 2

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve enjoyed the Business of Baseball Workshop notes so far! Here are some more 🙂

Sam Bernabe, GM, Iowa Cubs
Mike Tamburro, President, Pawtucket Red Sox
Ken Young, President, Norfolk Tides

-Sam: Take the job as it’s offered to you. Don’t wait around.
-Mike: Sales is a perfect way to learn and get in the industry. Don’t be afraid of sales.
-Ken: Learn to accept rejection.
-Sam: Sales experience makes you more marketable. We don’t care how big a baseball fan you are, we want to know you’ll work hard.
-Ken: You’ve gotta do every job that’s there.
-Mike: As young people in the industry we want to see your creativity!

North Johnson, GM, Myrtle Beach Pelicans
“How to get a baseball job.”

–A is for attitude.
–B is for business.
–C is for crying: There’s no crying in baseball!; Also, Creative.
–D is for diginity: Leave it at the door!
–E is for effort: Show up ready to work!
–F is for focus.
–G is for grounds crew.
–H is for hours: Be prepared to work A LOT of hours!
–I is for intense.
–J is for just do what you’re told!
–K is for Kool-Aid: Just drink it!
–L is for loyalty.
–M is for mascot.
–N is for never comment on the weather or the length of the game.
–O is for overtime.
–P is for pocket schedules; Promotions; Passion.
–Q is for quitters.
–R is for rain.
–S is for slump buster.
–T is for taxi.
–U is for utility.
–V is for vacation.
–W is for wallet.
–X is for x-cellence.
–Y is for YouTube.
–Z is for zoo keeper.

Pat O’Conner, President & CEO, Minor League Baseball
“Positioning yourself for success.”

-“Luck is the residue of design.”
Prospects vs. Projects (You want to be a prospect!)
-Prospects understand the game; What it takes.
-Works hard.
-No job is too big or small.
-Projects take time to develop; Lack of get-up and go.
-“If you’re going to eat at the table, make sure you’re going to bring something to the table.”
-Within every problem there an opportunity.

-You have to be willing to work hard.
-Never take shortcuts.
-Peserverance, persistance & hard work.
-Create reputation as go-to person.
-Be honest; Size up abilities in terms of job requirements.
-Fully invest time & energy to organization & baseball.
-“The will to win is importance, the will to prepare is vital.”
-Ethics: Even the great are prone to fall. Ethics matter, listen to that little voice in your head when a decision needs to be made.
-Is it fair to all concerned? Is it the right thing to do? –> Ask yourself when making decisions.
-Listening is an art & acquired skill. “You have two ears & one mouth for a reason.”

Develop a Network
-Single most effective tool for career growth.
-Do not abuse network.
-Work with your network & cultivate the relationships.
-Be honest with yourself & those in your network.
-Respect profession.
-Invest in development of network.
-Keep quality people & be a quality person.
-If you are not known to listen to your network, then your network will stop talking to you.
-Develop listening skills.

Pat O’Conner’s Pearls of Wisdom
-Don’t dance on tables.
-Know who your friends are.
-It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
-Act like you know what you’re doing & they won’t know the difference.

Manny Colon, Assistant, Player Development, Florida Marlins
“Player Development & Minor League Baseball.”

-Be willing to do whatever it takes to finish all tasks set forth your way.
-Realize the patience & dedication needed to advance in this industry.
-Be able to communicate.
-Have passion.
-Network, network!
-Have fun 🙂

Katie Dannemiller, VP Baseball Operations, Greensboro Grasshoppers
“Baseball as a Career: Become a Front Office Five-Tool Player.”

What you need to succeed:
-Understanding
-Passion
-Teamwork
-Be humble
-Hoppin fun

Steps to help make baseball your career:
-Don’t let technology get in your way.
-Don’t forget the beauty of a handwritten note.
-Proofread.

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.” -Erich Fromm

PBEO Business of Baseball Workshop

Hello….I know, I know, I haven’t written in awhile. Was waiting for inspiration to strike as always 🙂 Anyway, here I am. As many of you know one of my interests is sports. Well this week I am lucky to be attending the MLB Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, IN. As part of the Winter Meetings I am attending the Professional Business Employment Opportunities (PBEO) Job Fair.

Today was the first day of the PBEO Job Fair. The Business of Baseball Workshop gave us a wonderful look into the real life experiences of Minor League Baseball. While it was a long day, I left filled with information about Minor League Baseball and hope to share it with you here.

This won’t be a normal blog post, but I think many of you, particularly those searching for jobs in sports, will find this information very valuable. I apologize for the length, but they shared plenty of information with us. Later in the week I will add some links and contact information for your reference. Also, some of the information may not make sense as it only pertains to the PBEO Job Fair. Enjoy 🙂

Business of Baseball Workshop

Dr. Susan Foster, Professor Saint Leo University & President of Sport Business Consulting, Inc.
“So you want to work in the sports industry?”

-It’s not who you know, but who knows you!
-Sell your SPORT experience vs. just your work experience.
-Even if you don’t have sport experience, SELL IT! i.e. If you work at a bank you probably have good customer service skills, deal with clients, sales, etc.
Networking & Using Connections
-Invite someone to lunch for informational interview
-Socials and dinners –>Introduce yourself!
The Interview
-Treat each one as THE most important position. Even if it’s not your dream position.
-Answer questions fully, but don’t ramble.
-Always have at least 2 good questions.
-Study their website.
Phone Interviews
-Treat as if interviewer is in the room with you.
-Some say still dress the part.
-Prepare, prepare, prepare.
All Interviews
-Send an e-mail & drop a personalized note to interviewer(s).
The Cover Letter
-Tell them the exact position you are applying for.
-You are APPLYING, not inquiring or other words.
-Eliminate the flowery stuff.
-Don’t tell them you’re a fan. Teams want you to work hard, not get distracted by your favorite ball player.
-Skills, sell yourself.
4 P’s of Marketing
-Product
-Promote
-Price: Unpaid, minimum wage,housing, parking??
-Place: Where are you willing to go? What price are you willing to pay?

Martie Cordaro, General Manager, Omaha Royals
“It’s about passion and effort.”

-“I don’t have a job, I don’t have a career, I have a passion!”
-You should be willing to do anything.
-Ask the direct question: Will I be learning while I’m working or will I be just another body?
-It’s about effort! Believing in what your organization is doing. Put yourself out there!

Rob Crain, Assistant GM, Marketing, Omaha Royals
“Expect the unexpected!”

-Find a mentor!
Monday:
-Get to love the Job Postings Room.
-Don’t get caught up in your “fan-hood.” For example, if you’re a die-hard Cubs fan, don’t be opposed to applying with the White Sox.
-Come with an openmind. Apply for jobs outside your home town.
-Apply for a lot of jobs.
-You must be willing to sell.
-Relax. Don’t stress. Hard decisions come later.
-Go out tonight.
Tuesday:
-Get to love the Interview Posting Room.
-Keep an eye on Interview Posting Room.
-Not your normal interview.
-This is a “get to know you” discussion.
-Get to know people, both other job seekers & the employers.
-Go out again!
Wednesday: “Today is the Day”
-Second interviews & second guesses.
-Go to the Gala!
-Go to the bar after the gala, you never know who you’re going to meet!
Thursday:
-Don’t be afraid to take a risk.
-Make the best decision for YOU.
-Take a look back & reflect.

Rob Zerjav, General Manager, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
“Working in sports: How can I make that happen?

L.E.A.D.
Long range planning
-Decide what you want to be
-Research careers
-Map out your path
-Degree
Experience
-Internship is of utmost importance
-Be familiar with team, venue, product
-Start as a game day employee
Attitude
-Positive, positive, positive
-Outgoing
-Go above and beyond
-Strong work ethic
Desire
-Don’t give up on your dream
-Continuous learning
-Be passionate
-Dedication

So that’s a lot so far and I still have 5 pages of notes to type up! I’ll post the rest tomorrow or throughout the week 🙂

Parents Meet GenY

Last night I got home after a night out with friends. My mom was still awake and decided that 11pm was the best time to talk about my future.

During our late night conversation, besides the fact that my parents want me out of the house (ha), I learned that parents may not necessarily understand what makes up GenY.

At this point in my job search I’m being pushed to accept any job offer that comes my way. And while my wallet is more easily persuaded to do so, something in me just can’t do it.

You see, I’ve never seen GenY as entitled. We don’t expect things to be handed to us. We don’t think we deserve more than others. On the contrary, it’s that we have high expectations of ourselves.

The thing I’ve learned about GenY is that we refuse to settle. We’ve been taught to set goals, to reach those goals, and to follow our dreams. Its engraved in us to be the absolute best we can be. So the idea of settling leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.

So where do I go from here? How do we explain to our parents who GenY is?

Lessons Learned From Cheering On MLBs Most Lovable Losers

This is the 3rd and final guest post in my series for Chandlee Bryan’s Emerging Professional site. Here I discuss some finals lessons I’ve learned from sports and how I relate them to the job search. Best of thank to everyone!

I was born bleeding Cubbie blue. Cheering on the Yankees or Dodgers was never an option. It was embedded in me like DNA. I had brown hair, green eyes and I was a Cubs fan. At a young age the charm and personality of the Cubs got me and I watched more Cubs games than I did cartoons. The first time I entered Wrigley Field, my fate was sealed. The atmosphere, the sounds, the tastes and smells, the ivy covered walls and the old-school scoreboard. It was enchanting and my heart still skips a beat every time I return. The Chicago Cubs have a power over me that words can’t describe. It’s a love, a passion, a union that only Cubs fans can understand. They can give me the ultimate high, but have the power to bring me to indescribable lows.Cubs

I was sitting in section 205 on October 14, 2003 as the Cubs were 5 outs away from making it to the World Series for the first time since 1945. In my face paint, handmade Cubs shirt and Cubs print pants; I hid behind my hands too nervous to watch. Hiding was a good idea. With 5 outs to go, Moises Alou lost a foul ball to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Alex Gonzalez let a ball go through his legs, Mark Prior imploded, and the Florida Marlins went on to score 8 runs. All with 5 outs to go! This wasn’t the only time the Cubs were the reason I cried for hours. Being a Cubs fan means enjoying the highs, but expecting the lows. People ask me constantly, “Why are you a Cubs fan?” Why? Why do I cheer on a team that hasn’t won a World Series since 1908? Why do I support an effort that is 101 years in the making? Why do I constantly set myself up for disappointment? I had no choice. I was destined to be a Cubs fan. And while my mom constantly reminds me “Why do you love them so much? They don’t give anything back to you!” I know that’s not true. The Cubs have taught me the importance of loyalty, dedication and persistence. Being a Cubs fan has prepared me for anything and given me invaluable skills I use daily. Sure I’d like a World Series ring, but a few, good life lessons will do for now.

“If at first you don’t succeed..”

We’ve all heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” The great thing about this saying is that it can be applied to anything we do in life from playing sports to landing that perfect job. Practice is the key to success and is something that even the most talented athlete does daily. After an 8-game winning streak the Cubs won’t cancel drills just because they’re doing well and a player won’t just hang out in the clubhouse during practice if he’s batting .380 in June. The best keep going. They keep practicing. They keep honing their skills. They try each and every day to better the athlete they were yesterday. Texas Ranger pitcher CJ Wilson said, “We practice every day despite having played the same basic game for over 20 years…Think about how weird that is!”

The same applies to the job search. It is rare to find someone who wakes up one morning and is just naturally good at interviewing. It’s a skill and something we need to practice. Rehearse answering important questions in the mirror, set up mock interviews with family or educators, research keys to successful interviews and go on actual interviews as often as you can. My friend Sarah recently went on an interview with a company that she didn’t know much about. While she was apprehensive at first she saw it as an opportunity for practice. The interview only lasted two minutes, but the point was that she gained more experience and knowledge through it. No harm there, right? You can’t win every game, nor can you knock every interview out of the park, it takes practice, dedication, and persistence. Someday I will have the home run of all interviews and land that perfect job, but until then practice makes perfect.

Perseverance “Yet we still believe it’s gonna happen. Maybe this year, maybe next year, maybe in 50 years. We’ll wait.”- No Love Lost, ESPN

Sports have taught me some important life lessons including, dedication, preparation, practice, experience, and persistence. However, I feel this last lesson is truly the most important; perseverance. It was Wednesday, October 14, 1908 the last time the Chicago Cubs won a World Series. 101 years ago. Chicago fans are constantly reminded of it and the players are too. Yet at every Chicago Cubs home game you’ll be pressed to find an empty seat, the crowd will be cheering louder than even the day before and the players will sprint out there with one goal in mind; win. The Chicago Cubs understand the definition of perseverance. They eat, sleep and breathe it. Regardless of any obstacles, the cynics or their history, the Cubs know that one day they will win the World Series and until then the only thing they can do is put everything they have into every game they play.

The truth is, the job search can be exhausting. Constantly being told “no” by companies can take its toll. And being turned down for positions you’ve dreamed about can be heart breaking. I know, because the Cubs still haven’t offered me an interview. Regardless, the important thing is to keep going. Never take no for an answer and never accept failure. My dream is to work in sports and I won’t stop until that dream becomes a reality. A baseball player doesn’t quit after going 0-for-4 in an important game and neither will I. Now, let’s play ball!

But The Media Made Me Do it!

If you’re a Cubs fan, live in Chicago, or simply watch ESPN, then you know today is quickly becoming “Controversial Thursday.” Michael Vick is appearing in court regarding bankruptcy before joining the Eagles today-Brett Favre’s arrival is creating a “schism” in the Vikings locker room-More allegations are being made in the Rick Pitino sexual assault case-Oh, and Milton Bradley is accusing Chicago Cubs fans of being racist.

If you’re listening to Chicago sports radio, I’m sure you’ve heard your fill of Bradley’s recent lash-out. In a post-game interview on Tuesday, Bradley mentioned that he looks forward to time with his family where he can avoid the hatred. The hatred? When asked about it Bradley said the hatred is everywhere, even when he’s eating at a restaurant. He then went on to accuse Cubs fans of being rascist, but was unable to provide specific examples. But it was this line that really got me, “All I’m saying is I pray the game is nine innings, so I can go out there the least amount of time possible and go home.” (Carrie Muskat, Cubs.com) That’s it Milton. That’s how you’ll gain the respect of Chicago. That’s how you’ll stop the so-called “hatred.” Make the least possible effort, and complain while you’re doing it.

As a life-long Cubs fan, I take offense to players being disrespectful, not making an effort, complaining, or talking trash about the team or fans. If you want respect, you have to GIVE respect. I’m tired of punks putting on the uniform and making a spectacle of it. With that being said, these personal opinions were exactly what started an interesting discussion with @MikeProper during last night’s Cubs-Nationals game. Below are the comments from both of us..

@MOgulnick: I don’t care how often he gets on base. He’s disrespectful and he doesn’t deserve to wear that jersey. Ugh.
@MikeProper: Disrespectful? When, since the day he was signed, did ANYONE in Chicago show him any respect? Why should he show any in return?
@MikeProper: As someone who’s interested in sports PR, I thought you’d understand that Bradley’s “persona” is a creation of the media.
@MikeProper: He was a scapegoat from Day 1.
@MOgulnick: Ok, has that been the case everywhere he’s gone? Is that why he’s been on 7 teams? Has the “Them against me” theme ever changed?
@MikeProper: Has any media market let it change or have they constantly pushed for it happen?
@MikeProper: As SOON as he arrived there were dozens of articles about how he’s a cancer.
@MOgulnick: And I won’t deny that, but bc that’s his history! They’re just reporting the truth. It was up to HIM to dispel it, not them.
@MikeProper:You can’t dispel something when you are never given a chance. He’s in an endless cycle.
@MOgulnick: Well then we’ll agree to disagree. Milton created this. Not the media. He can dispel it whenever he wants.
@MOgulnick: He’s only reinforced everything the media has ever said about him.
@MikeProper: Is he mature? Of course not. Does that mean he deserves all the negativity? Definitely not.
@MikeProper: I’m sorry but I can’t accept the notion that “the ends justify the means” when it comes to this kind of irresponsible journalism
@MikeProper: The media is a powerful tool, and it was used to bring a man down from his first day in Chicago, and I think that’s sick.
@MOgulnick: And in Montreal? And Cleveland? And Los Angeles? And Oakland? And San Diego? And Texas?
@MikeProper: So he got a bad reputation early in his career (and that didn’t even come out until L.A.) ….
@MikeProper: and then he was given zero chance to live it down…. yeah very fair

So, where do we stand on this? Was he given a chance to live it down? I will agree with Mike’s points that the media is a powerful tool and often focuses on the negative. But as a friend of mine said, in this case I believe it was Milton who created his “persona,” the media only magnified it. And this isn’t only the case in Chicago. Milton has had issues with the media and fans before. Yes, Chicago media is magnifying his reputation and has been since day 1. However, just because the papers say he’s a “cancer” doesn’t mean he HAS to be one. By making disrespectful comments, rude hand gestures to the fans, and generally not caring, he’s only perpetuating everything the media has ever said about him.

Yes, I agree that it’s disrespectful of the fans to boo Bradley even when he gets a base hit, but I also know that Cubs fans are unwavering in their devotion to their team. We want nothing more than to embrace our players, but at the same time will take it personally if a player doesn’t show respect. If you’re playing well, we’ll support you. If you’re not, then you might get booed. But that’s baseball. That’s how it is for professional athletes. You can’t take it personally. Personally, I think his behavior over the past few days has all but written his ticket out of here, but I look forward to seeing his reactions in the future.

————————
So what do you think? Does a player create his persona, or does the media? Can an athlete change his reputation, or is he stuck in an endless cycle? How do you feel about Bradley? How do you feel about the conversation above? Does respect have to be earned? Is an athlete with weak character worth having on a team? Would love your thoughts!

Thank you to BleacherNation.com for the above image.

Preparation, Pitching, and the Perfect Interview

This is the second installment in my series for Chandlee Bryan’s, The Emerging Professional. In this post I discuss the similarities between baseball and interviewing.

Baseball is one of the most superstitious games in the world. Players may say you make your own luck, but watch that same player as he makes an effort not to step on the foul line. Between eating fried chicken before every game, taking batting practice in multiples of 3 or wearing the same warm-up jacket before each start, baseball players have numerous ways they get ready for a game. Of course, not all of them have to do with superstitions. I met Ryan Dempster, starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, in Texas during a 3-game series against the Texas Rangers. Since my uncle works for the team I got to be in the park before everyone else. Regardless of the scorching heat, Dempster ran bleachers around the entire stadium before each game. Just one of the ways he prepares. Whether it’s taking batting practice or watching film, baseball players do whatever they can to fully prepare for each and every game.

This same attitude can be applied to the job search. Sure you won’t find me eating fried chicken before every interview, but I do have my set ways of preparing. Here are some steps I take in preparing for an interview:

1. Research: As soon as I have an interview set up, I make it my goal to find out as much as possible about the company. Look on the web, ask friends, ask family or anyone you may know in the industry. It is important to know the company’s reputation, objectives, values and goals. Know their brands, products and important clients. The more you know about the company, the better equipped you’ll be to customize your answers. Interviewers will be impressed with your knowledge of the organization and it will show your dedication to the position.

2. Review Your Qualifications: You know how great you are, but it’s important to be able to articulate that. Before going into an interview think about the skills necessary to succeed in this position. Do you need to be organized, have good time management, have good writing skills or be good with people? Now, customize your own skill set to the position you are applying for. In addition, be able to articulate how you have put those skills in action recently. Use examples to prove your point and demonstrate your skill set.

3. Prepare Questions: The job seeker isn’t necessarily the only one being interviewed. It is important for the interviewee to ask questions as well to see if the company is a good match. Before heading to an interview prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Examples of these are, “What are the responsibilities of the position?”, “What qualifications or skills are you looking for this person to hold?” and “What are the goals for this position?”. Interviewers will evaluate you not only on your answers to their questions, but also the questions you ask them. I try to prepare at least 5 questions prior to each interview.

4. Be Prepared!: I know this seems obvious, but this is key. Besides what I discussed above, also make sure to have extra copies of your resume, have your portfolio prepared (or multiple copies if you’d like to leave a few behind) and have your outfit ironed and ready the day before. Know exactly where you are going and allow enough time to purchase train tickets, get gas or take the bus to wherever the interview is. Don’t wait until the last minute to get everything organized. You want to have a clear head going into the interview and being prepared ahead of time will help you with that.

I recently spoke with CJ Wilson, a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, about preparing for games. “The key is to focus on the process of what makes you successful. We make a routine where we do stuff in the same order so that our minds and bodies have all the tools needed to go out and do the job.” If you’re a real sports fan you know what you need to do to succeed. We see and hear about it everyday. Players taking batting practice, pitchers having a catch on their off-days, teams watching film before an upcoming game. Whether in sports or in your job search, if you prepare properly you’ll have all the tools necessary to succeed. I’ve always been complimented on my interviews and that’s because I follow the steps I laid out above. I research, I prepare and I set myself up for success.

Whether you’re a baseball player or recent college graduate, preparation is key.

Have you used preparation tactics similar to these? What do you do to prepare for interviews? What do you find successful? And what has baseball, or any sport, taught you about the job search? Would love to hear your thoughts!

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Megan, meet Megan.

Tonight I once again made the commute into the city from Naperville like I’ve done many times before. Depending on the time of day the BNSF is either a quick 40 minute ride or the dreaded hour and 15 minutes. Most people, including myself, despise a 75 minute train ride, however, from time to time there are nights where maybe that extra time provides you with a much needed break. That extra time gives you the opportunity to disconnect from the world, enjoy the silence, and for once, hear your own voice. For me, tonight, that extra time was exactly what I needed.

A couple of weeks ago a good friend of mine, @SarahKettler, suggested I read Just Who Will You Be? by Maria Shriver. I love a new book and I needed something to take my mind off of the adventure that is my current job hunt. So I said, “Why not?” and swiped my library card one more time. I didn’t know what exactly to expect from the book. It was small, both in size and length. Sarah had raved about it, but I wondered how life-changing a book could be in 91 pages. I sit here eating my words. Just Who Will You Be? is a beautiful, heartfelt story of Maria’s personal journey in finding out just who she is. An invitation to speak at a high school graduation ignited Maria’s own quest to find out who she was, who she had been, and who she wanted to be. The book details her difficulties in deciding on a topic to speak about. After all, even a Kennedy needs to be persuaded that their story is worth telling. In the end, Maria gives a moving and genuine speech concluding with her own poem entitled, “Just Who Will You Be?”

Tonight I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the launch of Sevans Strategy founded by the incredible @PRSarahEvans. As I stepped out from behind the laptop and phone for awhile I made sure to look and listen as people of all types came together. I mingled, caught up with folks I’d previously met and introduced myself to some new faces. However, regardless of when I’d met them, one common question kept being asked; “what do you do?” What do I do? Well, right now I sit at home applying for jobs, writing blog posts and networking like I should get paid for it. But that’s not really what they wanted to know. So maybe, “What do you want to do?” But even that question leaves for so many possible answers. As the night wore on, I felt so limited by the questions being asked. Okay, well, I’m Megan, I graduated in 2008 from EIU, I interned with the Chicago Blackhawks and Weber Shandwick. Those are basically the answers to every question I was asked. But what does that say? What does that tell you about me? At times I longed to delve deeper into conversations, to really learn about the person, but it always went back to their career or social media or something of the sorts. Don’t get me wrong, the night was a great success and I met some incredible people, but the experience had me questioning a lot. A lot about myself. A lot about “what I do.” And a lot about what I want to do.

Before leaving the house this evening, as I threw my business cards and lip gloss into my purse, Maria Shrivers little book of answers caught my eye. “It’s going to be a long train ride,” I thought, “Might as well have something to read.” And while many people despise that 75 minute train ride, sometimes life means for you to miss an earlier train so you’re forced to take time to just…breathe. As I sat alone on the train, tired and hungry, I began to read and began to see things much clearer. My whole life I’ve been asked, “What do you want to be?” Well, a ballerina, obviously 😉 What do I want to be? Throughout high school and college that answer changed constantly. And since then I’ve been many things, I’ve worn many hats, and I’ve had many dreams. But the truth is, what I am now or what I was then is only a small part of what I will be in the future. Of who I will be in the future. Because tonight after reading Maria’s book in its entirety, I realized that the important thing isn’t what I do, or what I want to be..It’s who will I be. What kind of human being will I be? Will I help others or serve only myself? Will I cherish money and belongings or family, friends, and relationships? As I met new friends tonight I wish they had asked these questions. Because what I do in no way defines who I am.

I am grateful that I had that extra time on the train to read all of Just Who Will You Be?, because I’ve realized a few things. I’ve realized that the expectations others have of me, aren’t nearly as important as the expectations I have of myself. I’ve realized that in order to truly be happy, I need to follow my heart and my passions. And I’ve realized that above all things, the most important question to ask myself is “Who will I be?” So as I continue this journey in finding my rightful place in this world, I look forward to meeting the who I will become.

Megan, meet Megan.

There will definitely be more to come regarding this post! However, since it’s 1:20am I should probably be getting to sleep 🙂

Preview..

Here’s a preview of the current post I’m working on. It’s about how my love for sports has influenced my job search 🙂 Can’t wait for everyone to read it! Stay tuned!

“I believe everything happens for a reason. I was born a sports fan for a reason; to learn the lessons that sports provide. As a college graduate I am taking some of those important lessons and applying them to my job search. Afterall, over the years I’ve realized that major league batters aren’t the only ones who see fastballs, NFL quarterbacks aren’t the only ones who get blitzed and a strong forward isn’t only necessary in basketball. The lessons that sports teach can be applied to anything and they’ve personally played a large role in my life…”

A Little Blue Bird Told Me

Twitter For Newbies

It has taken me days to finally sit down and start drafting this blog. Not because I didn’t know what to write about, but because there is so much to write about! So let me first apologize if this post ends up being pages long. I think Twitter is incredible and I’m writing this post in hopes that other people come to the same realization.

I’ve wanted to write about Twitter for some time now I just needed the motivation. Well a couple days ago that motivation came to me in the form of a Facebook comment. In a constant effort to find more Tweeters that I know I mentioned in my Facebook status how great Twitter was and encouraged friends to join. Within 30 minutes I had a comment from a friend that said, “So pointless. Just another website to sign up for. We all already have twitter with our Facebook status.” What?? Pointless?? Just another website to sign up for?? And so my post was born…

What Is Twitter?

Good guestion. And one I get all the time. According to the front page of the Twitter website “Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?” Seems simple, right? Well, to some, that assumed simplicity makes Twitter not worth looking at. Similar to my above mentioned friend many people view Twitter as just another way to stalk people and update your status. However, if one takes the time to research and really get to know Twitter, they’ll realize it’s more than that. Much more.

Recently I’ve gotten a lot of friends to join Twitter and since the blog post wasn’ finished yet I sent them mini Twitter emails from time to time. For this first Twitter post I’ll simply go through what I talked about in the emails to my friends and just touch on the basics of Twitter. Here we go 🙂

How to Get Started

Getting started is pretty simple, just like any other social networking website. First, go to http://www.twitter.com and click on the green square that says “Get Started-Join!” From there they’ll walk you through choosing your username, or in Twitter terms, your “handle.” For best results I suggest using your real name when signing up. If you are using the handle for networking or professional purposes using your real name will help other industry leaders and potential employers find you. For instance, my Twitter handle is MOgulnick, which makes it easy for people to find me. If you are using it for purely personal reasons, then it is up to you! Once you have your handle chosen you can have Twitter search through your Yahoo! account, Gmail account, AOL account, etc. to see how many of your friends are on Twitter! Besides friends you may have on Twitter, you’ll also be shown Twitter members that might be worth following. Again, it’s up to you if you’d like to accept! (Later I’ll go over following & followers)

Now that you have your handle all set up you’re ready to personalize your Twitter page! In the right hand corner you’ll see “Settings.” Click on that and go through each tab. The first tab, “Account”, is some of the main information that will appear on your Twitter page. Name, location, website, bio. Your website can be anything. It can be your company, your Twitter page, your Facebook, your blog, anything. Up to you! Your bio is a short introduction to you! All bios are different and there is no correct way to do it, so take a look at others and then personalize your own! Here are some examples of different bios:

“Young PR professional in Chicago looking for an entry-level PR or Sports Communication job!” –@MOgulnick

“A little too damn happy. Licks frosting off cupcakes. Editor of Polichicks: The It Girl’s Guide to Politics (just enough to get by at a cocktail party).” –@Polichicks

“A positive thinking goal setter that actually likes public speaking and making people laugh” –@TracyBrinkman

“Father of 2 girls. Husband. Chief Buzz Officer @theKbuzz, social media/word of mouth marketing firm. Mets fan. Want 2 make world better. Here 2 learn and grow. ” –@davekerpen

As you can see, you can make your bio whatever you want it to be! For those using Twitter as a networking tool I’d suggest putting keywords in your bio that have to do with your profession or industry. It helps potential employers find you easier! From there you’re welcome to explore the other tabs. You can set up your cell phone to get Tweets, you can add a photo and change the design of your page. Lots to do, just explore! Now that your page is looking good you’re ready to start Tweeting!

The next two steps can be done in whichever order you choose. You can find people to follow first or start Tweeting. Personally, I think you should start Tweeting before you get followers. If someone follows me I won’t follow them back until I see some Tweets I think are worthwhile. So that’s where this post will go first. Tweeting 🙂

Tweeting

Technically there are 3 different ways you can send out messages on Twitter. First, is the normal way..Or typing in the box! When I first joined Twitter I thought of what I typed in that box as my status..Just like Facebook..But really, you type a lot more into it than just your status. One of the comparisons I’ve found that I really like is a post-it note. Or an index card. It’s small. You only have 140 characters so brevity is key. You can write anything on there. Reminders, appts, quotes, links, notes, anything. If you stick a post-it note on your refrigerator everyone in the house can see it..Same with Twitter. Whatever you write in that box everyone can see. Unless you put it on private which can be found in settings. Personally, I don’t like private because no one can see your Tweets without you approving it and it will be harder to gain any followers. Another reason I don’t like viewing it as a status is because you also reply to people and re-tweet in that box. Which leads me to the second way of messaging.

Responding to someone is pretty simple. If you are on the regular Twitter page you just go to someones tweet and if you scroll over the bottom right corner of their tweet a little arrow will appear. Click on that arrow and their name will pop up in your box (post-it note! Haha) and you can write back to them. To respond to someone you have to make sure your message starts with the @ sign followed by their username. Now, this message is directed towards the person, but everyone can still see it! If you forget the @ sign your message will just be posted on your profile and it won’t be sent directly to that person.

Third, is direct messages. DMs are messages you obviously send to someone directly and can only be seen by that person. Just like messaging on Facebook. You and the person are the only ones who can see it, which is nice! To DM someone go to their profile and on the right side under “Actions” you’ll see Message. And there you go! Easy enough 🙂

Following & Being Followed

Now that you’re Tweeting like a pro it’s time to get some viewers! Earlier Twitter searched through your email accounts to see if any of your friends are on Twitter. If you did this part successfully then you should be following people on Twitter already. If you are following someone that means that you will see every Tweet they post. To find people to follow simply go to “Find People” in the upper right hand corner and type in names, keywords, restaurants, cities, industries, etc. For example, if you type in Chicago you’ll get Chicago newspapers, media, restaurants, companies and people. This part of Twitter can be used as a great way to network as well. If you are interested in Public Relations simply type in Public Relations and you’ll find plenty of industry leaders, companies and other people interested in PR!

Now just because you are following someone doesn’t mean they’re following you back. You can Tweet about them or to them, but unless they are following you they will not see your Tweets. In your profile you will see the number of people following you and the number of people you are following. Generally I try to keep the number pretty even, but it’s up to you!

I know this seems like a lot, but I also have confidence in all of you! I’m going to end this post here just because it’s getting long, but there will be more to come! More advanced Twitter information will be next! Thanks everyone!

Best,

Megan