Titles & all of that ” ” … (introspection)

I’m often cut off mid-sentence and asked, “But..what do you wanna do?”.

Fair enough question.

(SPOILER: There are no images in this post)

I suppose operating from the gut can make sense to one’s self but not necessarily to others.

It isn’t as if I responsibly mapped out my professional trajectory like I was taught to do…Instead, I followed my heart (whatever that means) and learned important lessons along the way. But, that doesn’t help clarify things, does it?

Unfortunately, passion can lack the efficient jargon demanded by those who wish to make a quick assessment of another’s perceived added value.

How silly was I to add “passion” to the bulletpoints on my resume? The entire Dalek population would explode attempting to grasp this concept.

Passion is tough to quantify. Just ask any successful entrepreneur.

That said, using a wordcloud tool has failed to capture the essence of the value I can add to any organization – instinct, experience, heart, loyalty, intuition, perserverance, empathy, connection, et al…These terms are not trending on LinkedIn — Google alerts would’ve informed me, and I just checked.

So, since my unorthodox list of accomplishments are invisible to search engines (and, incomprehensible to Daleks), I decided to explicity define “success” for myself as a courtesy to my new friends and acquaintances.

Here is what my point B looks like:

*You’re having your A.M. coffee while reading about the biggest networking event of the year on a page in the WSJ.

(Blurb for one of many well-known international events)

The text reads:

Notable Speakers include:

Abby Joseph Cohen one of the most respected figures in investing circles and is the chief US investment strategist for Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue

Carrie Fisher, Actress best known as Princess Leia

Meg Gomez, Makes handmade stationery & sells them on Etsy

Sarah Blakely, CEO & Founder, Spanx

Genevieve Bos, Founding Publisher, Pink Magazine

Sheila Kahanek, former Accountant, Enron.

*end scene

I hope that helped clarify some things for you.

Have a great weekend!!!

Best,

Meg

*end scene

 ;P

(SPOILER: To be continued…)

How to improve your A-Game (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

You were known as a focused player who wasn’t very personable. Did that hurt your career?

Well, it had a negative effect on how I was portrayed. But I had no one to explain the value of public relations to me. When I was in college, there was such an intense demand from the press that John Wooden said they couldn’t talk to me at all. So that was what I took for normal going into the NBA. Being at the top of my game and working as hard as I could for the people who employed me—that was my primary focus, and everything else was secondary. So I didn’t always respond to social situations in a pleasant way. When it came to talking to people, I was kind of reserved. But shyness is something you have to overcome. Later in my career, I started doing a lot better relating to fans and talking to the media. I think that’s continued to improve in my retirement.

Excellent interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Harvard Business Review. This interview highlights elements of success and transcends industries beyond sports. We continue to explore lessons from athletes on tonight’s #3PChat with @RickardonSports. Please follow and ask questions using “#3PCwin”. Thank you.

This interview discusses:

• Why PR matters in addition to your team’s results.
• What role managers play in development.
• Being multi-dimensional
• How to play with Magic.
• How being described as “difficult” hurts your game.
• Improvement in general.
• Being accessible.
• How to market and sell yourself.
• Good-judgment.
• Et cetera…

We highly recommend this interview with Kareem as he reflects on his trajectory as he evolved from a great player to a winning player on and off court:

Life’s Work: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Harvard Business Review.

Who are your heroes? (img)

We asked our readers to identify and share images of ‘heroes’ on our board, and the results were diverse..

Some shared images of fictional characters, while others posted images of pets.

In the end, we can certainly see how the shared images can serve as visual inspiration.

I AM AN EMOTIONAL CREATURE (E. Ensler)

I love being a girl.

I can feel what you’re feeling as you’re feeling inside the feeling before

I am an emotional creature.

Things do not come to me as intellectual theories or hard-pressed ideas. They
post through my organs and legs and burn up my ears.

Oh, I know when your girlfriend’s really pissed off, even though she appears to
give you what you want.

I know when the storm is coming. I can feel the invisible stirrings in the air

I can tell that he won’t call back. It’s a vibe I share

I am an emotional creature

I love that I do not take things lightly.

Everything is intense to me:
The way I walk in the streets. The way my Mama wakes me up. The way it’s
unbearable when I lose. The way I hear bad news.

I am an emotional creature

I am connected to everything and everyone. I was born like that. Don’t you say
it’s all negative, that it’s only a teenage thing or it’s only because I’m a
girl.

These feelings make me better. They make me present. They make me ready.
They make me strong.

I am an emotional creature.

There is a particular way of knowing. It’s like the older women
somehow forgot.
I rejoice that it’s still in my body.

Oh, I know when the coconuts are about to fall. I know we have pushed the Earth
too far. I know my father isn’t coming back and that no one’s prepared for the
fire.

I know that lipstick means more than show and boys are super
insecure and so-called terrorists are made, not born

I know that one kiss could take away all my decision making ability. And you
know what? Sometimes it should.

This is not extreme. It’s a girl thing. What we would all be if the big
door inside us flew open.

Don’t tell me not to cry, to calm me down, not to be so extreme, to be
reasonable.

I am an emotional creature.

It’s how the Earth got made, how the wind continues to pollinate.

You don’t tell the Atlantic Ocean how to behave.

I am an emotional creature.

Why would you shut me down and turn me off? I am your remaining memory. I can
take you back. Nothing has been diluted, nothing’s leaked out.

I love, hear me, I love that I can feel the feelings inside you.

Even if they stop my life.

Even if they break my heart. Even if they take me off track.

They make me responsible.

I am an emotional, I am an emotional, unconditional, devotional creature.

And, I love, hear me,I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, being a girl

 by E. Ensler…

This piece touched me when I first saw her recite it on TED. How do you like it?

http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

What are YOUR thoughts?

Tweet to @prettypinkpro

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How Do You Visualize Your Success? (@Pinterest)

What does your dream home look like? How do YOU envision success?

One way I keep myself inspired  is with Pinterest’s visual pin boards.

I find that seeing images and images of possibilities that could result from my hard work helps get my motivation back. See for yourself!

More images of my Dream Homes:

Who, What, Where, When, How come…Pinterest?? What’s the point?