WEDNESDAY, 20TH MAY, 2009
Well this week has been quite the wake up call, considering in class yesterday I looked at our course outline and realised the final report is due the week after next…eeeek!.Though for some reason, when ever I feel stressed and have little time to complete something I always get real sleepy and nap all the time. It’s some physiological form of procrastination or avoidance which I have no control over which is annoying.
We also had our poster critique session yesterday which I found really nerve racking. Getting up in front of everyone and showing your work so that people can cut it to shreds is so scary. As the class went on everyone’s posters were so impressive and professional that I got so nervous. I was hoping I could just sink into my chair and they would skip over me. My poster was pretty and colourful with bright blues and pinks so I was expecting Sharon to tell me it wasn’t serious enough and looked too fun. Fortunately it went ok which was a relief. I absolutely love doing creative stuff like making that poster. I only spent a few hours on it but had so much fun. It made me value having experience in design and using Photoshop because otherwise it would be pretty hard. Every ones work was great though, I think that because everyone does such a high standard of work that we all motivate each other to do better. Katie’s work is particularly good, she’s one person that I think will go a long way.
I also applied for a job this week. An agency in Brisbane called ‘XCOM Media’ is after a social media marketing coordinator, which is pretty much exactly what I am researching. They are after someone with a years experience so I’m not expecting an interview or anything, but I thought it’s worth a shot. My supervisor Tim recommended I go for it. I was thinking about how much I have learnt from him and realised a little thankyou letter really won’t cut it. He has taught me so incredibly much ranging from tips on working more efficiently and organising things better, to getting me contract work, recommending me for jobs, being a referee, helping me with my project, throwing me in the deep end with jobs, emailing me journal articles and links to good websites. Every day I go in there we always have lunch together and I just drill him with thousands of questions about the industry and my project and he answers all of them so well. I just feel so fortunate to have such a great mentor, its changed my entire career direction because I had never really experienced the digital side of marketing through uni subjects. I was actually considering doing an IT degree because I am interested in digital technology, so digital marketing combines both my need for a creative outlet, as well as the more technical side of things.
Well busy weeks ahead considering I have done ‘sfa’ in terms of my research findings and results section. It’ll be fine as long as I stop napping, implement a “No Napping” rule!!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Journal - Week 10
TUESDAY, MAY 12TH, 2009
I am feeling particularly spirited about everything today which is cool. I think it is because I have finished all my mid semester exams, so between now and my final exams I can fully concentrate on this subject. Maybe I will actually do all the things I would like to put into this project rather than just think about it and stress because I have no time.
Today is my internship day at Gold coast Tourism which is good because it’s the day before my internship tutorial, so I can spend the day getting up to date. I’m really nervous about tomorrow’s class because we have to do a 30-second grab, and I am not good at that kind of stuff. Whenever I try to explain things to people I get my words muddled and make a big mess of it, or I speak too quietly and no one can hear a word I am saying so they just smile and nod politely. I’ve been trying to think of what to say but still have no idea, it always sounds boring because my project is all about nerdy computer stuff. I am thinking of throwing in some statistics about social media to keep it engaging because some of the figures regarding social media are pretty amazing.
We also get our interim reports back tomorrow which is exciting but scary at the same time. I am expecting to see a lot of red pen on my report!
I am feeling particularly spirited about everything today which is cool. I think it is because I have finished all my mid semester exams, so between now and my final exams I can fully concentrate on this subject. Maybe I will actually do all the things I would like to put into this project rather than just think about it and stress because I have no time.
Today is my internship day at Gold coast Tourism which is good because it’s the day before my internship tutorial, so I can spend the day getting up to date. I’m really nervous about tomorrow’s class because we have to do a 30-second grab, and I am not good at that kind of stuff. Whenever I try to explain things to people I get my words muddled and make a big mess of it, or I speak too quietly and no one can hear a word I am saying so they just smile and nod politely. I’ve been trying to think of what to say but still have no idea, it always sounds boring because my project is all about nerdy computer stuff. I am thinking of throwing in some statistics about social media to keep it engaging because some of the figures regarding social media are pretty amazing.
We also get our interim reports back tomorrow which is exciting but scary at the same time. I am expecting to see a lot of red pen on my report!
Journal - Week 9
Thursday May 7th, 2009
This week has been what I call “a stressful patch”. I’m starting to stress that its week 9 already and I haven’t even done the bulk of my research! I feel as though I’ve spent all this time doing my interim report; however that’s just the basic part. I’m praying to have a week off work soon because otherwise it will all just be terrible and the end of the world!! I’m feeling a tad dramatic, I think its because I’m listening to my housemates soppy R&B music. All I can do is my best I suppose. At least I am really happy with the project I am doing. I have started realising that social media marketing is becoming more and more a part of firms marketing budgets. ‘Versace’ for example hire a guy full time just to manage their ‘Facebook’ page and other social media channels. Imagine being paid to sit on ‘Facebook’ all day! Personally I would probably die of boredom but still. Maybe I could get a job with ‘Google’s’ marketing department; I heard it is one of the best places to work. A bit of a far fetched dream though, I feel as though I wont be able to get a really good job because number one: we’re in the middle of a recession, and number two: I don’t really have the vibrant outspoken personality. I commonly get mistaken for a 16year old when I am at work, and on the phone telemarketers just ask me to put mum or dad on having assumed I must be 5 or something!
Anyways it’s not the end of the world. I’m just going to try and be optimistic about my career, I figure worrying never achieves much. I feel doing a research project on something so current will be a good advantage over other marketing graduates.
This week has been what I call “a stressful patch”. I’m starting to stress that its week 9 already and I haven’t even done the bulk of my research! I feel as though I’ve spent all this time doing my interim report; however that’s just the basic part. I’m praying to have a week off work soon because otherwise it will all just be terrible and the end of the world!! I’m feeling a tad dramatic, I think its because I’m listening to my housemates soppy R&B music. All I can do is my best I suppose. At least I am really happy with the project I am doing. I have started realising that social media marketing is becoming more and more a part of firms marketing budgets. ‘Versace’ for example hire a guy full time just to manage their ‘Facebook’ page and other social media channels. Imagine being paid to sit on ‘Facebook’ all day! Personally I would probably die of boredom but still. Maybe I could get a job with ‘Google’s’ marketing department; I heard it is one of the best places to work. A bit of a far fetched dream though, I feel as though I wont be able to get a really good job because number one: we’re in the middle of a recession, and number two: I don’t really have the vibrant outspoken personality. I commonly get mistaken for a 16year old when I am at work, and on the phone telemarketers just ask me to put mum or dad on having assumed I must be 5 or something!
Anyways it’s not the end of the world. I’m just going to try and be optimistic about my career, I figure worrying never achieves much. I feel doing a research project on something so current will be a good advantage over other marketing graduates.
Journal - Week 6
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
Well I’m feeling a bit confused about this whole reflective journal thing because we got our first journal submission back and I got the feeling I wasn’t doing it right. From the examples read out of other people’s journals, I think I’m not reflecting on myself enough. When I reflect on things I don’t get all emotional like “…well today I was really sad, and then I felt happy, but by the end of the day I was tired and feeling scared and alone...” (Over exaggerated example of course). I just don’t think like that! In fact I just feel pretty happy all the time because I like my project that I am working on a lot. I am finding it hard to reflect on how I feel because I don’t even think about it. I spend my time thinking about what I have learnt and ponder on what direction marketing is heading and what things will be like in the future. Tim, my internship supervisor really inspires me to think in a more forward manner which is great. We have lunch together every time I am in there and discuss the marketing industry and new trends and technologies which I find really cool to talk about. It does make me feel pretty clueless, but I guess I am in a way as this is the first real work experience I have had the opportunity to undertake.
As for my project, I just wish I had time freezing abilities because there is so much I would like to do but I just don’t have any time. I have concluded that I have turned into a girl version of Jim Carrey in that movie ‘Yes Man’. I keep saying yes to everything and as a result I am working seven days a week in three different jobs and going to uni at night. As for study time, it either is nonexistent or I have to forfeit sleeping. Coffee is now my very best friend!
My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy, but I like to think of everything as a challenge, and I’m quite competitive so I like to succeed. Each semester I seem to take on more and more and keep surprising myself on how much I can push myself to get done. The draw back however is that I feel I could hand in a way better project at the end of semester if I spent as much time working on it as I should. Although on the other hand, knowing that I have done this internship whilst working and doing uni and everything else, builds my confidence in what I can achieve (not to mention forcefully turning me into a time management connoisseur).
Well I’m feeling a bit confused about this whole reflective journal thing because we got our first journal submission back and I got the feeling I wasn’t doing it right. From the examples read out of other people’s journals, I think I’m not reflecting on myself enough. When I reflect on things I don’t get all emotional like “…well today I was really sad, and then I felt happy, but by the end of the day I was tired and feeling scared and alone...” (Over exaggerated example of course). I just don’t think like that! In fact I just feel pretty happy all the time because I like my project that I am working on a lot. I am finding it hard to reflect on how I feel because I don’t even think about it. I spend my time thinking about what I have learnt and ponder on what direction marketing is heading and what things will be like in the future. Tim, my internship supervisor really inspires me to think in a more forward manner which is great. We have lunch together every time I am in there and discuss the marketing industry and new trends and technologies which I find really cool to talk about. It does make me feel pretty clueless, but I guess I am in a way as this is the first real work experience I have had the opportunity to undertake.
As for my project, I just wish I had time freezing abilities because there is so much I would like to do but I just don’t have any time. I have concluded that I have turned into a girl version of Jim Carrey in that movie ‘Yes Man’. I keep saying yes to everything and as a result I am working seven days a week in three different jobs and going to uni at night. As for study time, it either is nonexistent or I have to forfeit sleeping. Coffee is now my very best friend!
My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy, but I like to think of everything as a challenge, and I’m quite competitive so I like to succeed. Each semester I seem to take on more and more and keep surprising myself on how much I can push myself to get done. The draw back however is that I feel I could hand in a way better project at the end of semester if I spent as much time working on it as I should. Although on the other hand, knowing that I have done this internship whilst working and doing uni and everything else, builds my confidence in what I can achieve (not to mention forcefully turning me into a time management connoisseur).
Monday, April 6, 2009
Journal - Week 5
This week has been relatively unproductive in terms of my interim report. I did however have a great day at my internship organisation on Monday as I had the opportunity to meet a lady in the eCommerce and online marketing industry, a consultant from Brisbane named Jen Storey.
Sitting in on the meeting between her and my internship supervisor Tim Lovitt was a great experience. I will confess the majority of what they spoke about was a bit foreign to me so I had to write down everything then look it up afterwards;
Sitting in on the meeting between her and my internship supervisor Tim Lovitt was a great experience. I will confess the majority of what they spoke about was a bit foreign to me so I had to write down everything then look it up afterwards;
- VC: Short for venture capital. Venture capitalists follow angel capitalists, and reflects the financial stage that Facebook is currently facing.
- Indexing: Data structuring in order to improve the speed of operations.
- Rogue AI's: The bad apples of artificial intelligence. Science fiction related.
- Incubators: More specifically technology incubators are facilities which offer a nurturing environment for individuals and businesses to develop commercially.
- The '.com' boom: A period marked by the emergence of new internet based companies referred to as 'dot-coms'. The novelty of the dotcom concept saw shares in 'dot-coms' boom.
Apart from the meeting, I spent the majority of my research time learning about Twitter and how people are using it in different ways. One small village in the US uses Twitter to 'Tweet' messages to residents of the community including roadworks and weather warnings etc. It keeps everyone connected and well informed. Although there are many stories of businesses using it successfully, its challenging to think of an innnovative way to use this application, as everyone that uses it tends to be more concerned with what they are 'Tweeting' than other peoples 'Tweets'.
If that is the case, then how do you get people to listen?? I think an important thing to remember with social media and specifically social networks is that you must add value to the network before it starts adding value to you. If you offer an honest and engaging connection, the connection will grow.
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