Ombre Chambray

So I may be late in the trend wagon, but I am totally obsessing with ombre chambray shirts. My favorite is when a dramatic color slowly turns to a complete white. It's orgasmic and I want it on my naked body.

I am thinking that DIY night is in order. I'll just need a bottle of bleach, gloves, a large bowl, and old chambray shirt. ...on second thought, I might be better of buying it from a store. 

So I graduated. Now what?

It's been a good two months since I graduated. A part me wish I was among the many buying back-to-school supplies, shopping for new clothes, and planning last minute hang outs before the new quarter starts. Although my wallet still suffers from multiple shopping sprees and my time is still open for unlimited hangout sessions, come September I will still be at home, on the computer, and searching for jobs that I am, or think I am, cut out for.

A part of me also wishes that the transition from be a student and a "real adult" is easier that it really is. But fortunately, word on the grapevine is, almost every one I know is suffering.

Le sigh...the life of a graduate.

3 Things to Help You Be Successful

1. Develop a Personal Brand. Regardless of the circumstance or situation, it is important to develop a strong personal brand. This brand is constituted by the way you dress, the way you act, and the way you think. It allows you strengthen your personal presence when among friends, family, co-workers, employers, potential employers and so much more. Definitely when it comes to any communication-type career field, it is important to develop this in order to "sell" who you are and the skills you can perform. 
2. Be Honest. It is important to always be honest with your actions, skills, and experiences. It is better to maintain a good reputation by being honest than having it ruined by lying. It only takes one tiny lie to ruin years of developing trust from people around you. 
3. Fight For What You Believe In. In this day and age, taking the backseat to issues will not get you anywhere. Having passion is key. 

Communication-based Industry in Laymen Terms.

Branding is the really passionate long-term relationship two individuals are in. A lot of thought, creativity, and care is put into it. 

Marketing is the love affair that you have on the side. It's a different pace compared the branding. 

Advertising is the sleazy, dirty quickie you have with someone you just met at the Jack in the Box restroom. It's fast and does the trick. 

Public Relations is the wingman that connects two individuals. He puts a lot of effort in hyping up the two individuals. If the relationship succeeds, great. If it fails, he is the complete dumb-ass that doesn't know how to his job. 

Information Interviews

For anyone trying to get an upper-hand in landing their dream job, information interviews are your best friend. There's a few different reasons to why:

• It's informal. You don't have to worry to make an absolute amazing first impression. Of course, for a successful informational interview, you still have to be professional (dress accordingly, be on time, be courteous, and etc), but there is not as much pressure compared to a formal interview. 
• INFO INFO INFO. It is the best way to get information about the industry or agency you want to be a part of. Aside from personal questions, you're free to ask any questions you want!
• It could lead into something else. Informational Interviews are never just strictly to get information. Essentially, you're being interviewed by the person. If you make a great impression, show passion and interest, then there would be a really good chance that the recruiter or professional would want to hire someone like you. 

I bring this up because I had a information interview today. Jeffery Hamilton Smith, principle of Smith Design Works and Director of American Branding Association, was kind enough to provide me some words of wisdom. [Side-note: Totally thinking about changing my career path from PR to branding. Wish me luck]. 

We met up at a very charming deli, Icebox Grocery Deli, in the Queen Anne area in Seattle. What I thought would just be a 15-30 minute meeting lead to an hour. We had a ton of fun and I definitely learned a lot about brand development. I don't know if it would land me job, since he is mostly contractual, but I definitely gained much insight and a better direction. 

In other words...learn to love informational interviews!

The power of an apology.

Never be too proud to apologize for something you've done. The biggest mistake anyone can make in their personal lives and business lives is not owning up to their faults. It goes back to the fundamentals of our childhood. If you've done something bad, apologize for it, learn from it, then move on. Somehow as we got older, this basic human rule got lost. We've become too proud and too sure of our own actions. Instead of acknowledging our mistakes, we turn the other cheek and ignore it. This then creates a strain in the relationships we have. Interactions become awkward. We begin to ignore each other because someone refuses to be the bigger person and apologize. Eventually, the strain in the relationship becomes so strong that it breaks the relationship. You become strangers with people that once were your co-workers, friends, and even family members. Only because you refuse to apologize. Such a loss for two words, right?

To be a successful member and leader in this dog-eat-dog world, you must  recognize not only positive accomplishments but also the negative actions. If you take the time to apologize to someone for something you've done, it provides a positive light to your character. They are more apt to trust you and follow you. Remember, it is better to gain allies than enemies. Choose your actions carefully.

Of course, there is a difference between a genuine apology and an apology that is shallow. If you commit the same mistakes, you're obviously not learning from it. A paramount aspect of apologizing and ownership is to learn from your mistakes the first time. It's better to be a fool for a moment of time, then to be a fool for the rest of your life.

Leano, James (JamesLeano). "Well, it's about time. I think? Wait. Yes, it is." 17 March 2012, 1:56 a.m. Tweet.

Leave it to the members of the Modern Language Association to keep up with the times. Recently, MLA released a standardized format on how to cite a tweet when using it for an literary work, ending the confusion met by students and young professionals worldwide. Read more from the LinkedIn article here.

Finally, something we have all been waiting for. I don't know about you, but I have definitely shared my long, sleepless nights pondering the proper etiquette of citing a tweet. Joking aside, good and rich information are being tweeted every minute--information that could be used by a student for a paper. I am so citing a tweet for my last quarter at my university. This opens up a whole new ball game. Bring it on!

PS. Follow me on twitter @JamesLeano ;)