The Power of Connection

I came across this fabulous video from BYU's alumni services today, and it's too great not to share!


Some gems from Ron Clark, Director of BYU Public Affairs and Guest Relations:

"A bunch of our communication now, we're cheating ourselves a little bit because we're addressing a multitude of people all at once. We claim to have 1,000 friends on Facebook, and we're saying the same message to each and every one of them with no individuality. Gone is the feeling of one-on-one communication and feeling—actually being there to rejoice at someone's news or to commiserate with them for just a little while, and say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm here for you. I'm your friend. I'm your buddy. I believe in you.' It's all done through space, and we're losing so much of the identity—the individual identity in relationships. It's electronic emotion."

"Emotion does not dwell in a computer. It doesn't dwell in an iPhone. Sincerity cannot be felt that way. Honesty cannot be felt. Even an awkward use of words and phrases one on one that brings out the true nature of who we are and what we are is lost... You build friendships through networking, and a lot of those friendships you keep enjoying for years and years."

"There's nothing to be uptight about. They're people. They have the same basic apprehension that you do and the same awkwardness, and as long as you're the one that's willing to break that ice and walk in, and make a comment, make an observation, and then go to—even if it's a principle—you stick your hand out, you bring them in. It's a gesture of warmth and sincerity and friendship. I love it when people do that to me."

"It totally does away with the ability to be warm and kind and actually loving—natural, relaxed around somebody else. It makes them very, very awkward if you're uncomfortable. Then they spend time trying to make you comfortable and have you feel at ease because they know that they are certainly comfortable in your presence. You want to disarm them from having to worry about that, and if you can speak in a nice, comfortable, lower tone of voice without a lot of aggression—just a couple of warm shakes of the hand and a pat on the back of that elbow—it does wonders to open so many doors."

"Every one of us has a wit, and if we can find what taps that wit and how we can have an exchange of just a little bit of craziness... You find that common denominator that can make you both laugh. It's things like that that build that confidence, and the very first time you spend in their presence, you can have that. You can own that. You can own that friendship for the rest of your life. By the end of the day, we're hugging each other and we're looking in each other's eyes as real friends, and that's not an art. It's something that I want. It's something that I need. It replenishes my cup."

"We're better at communicating when we're natural, when we're being ourselves and being absolutely sincere and honest about why we want to ask a question. Loving people is one of the greatest gifts we have on this earth, and so many of us are so busy, we don't take time to actually love. I have come to find out the important things of existing and co-existing, and people is the common denominator. I cherish every relationship I have."

Love of My {Professional} Life

It is a wonderful feeling to realize just how in love you are with the one to whom you're married.

Or, in my case, the one by whom I am employed. 

This week is Founders Week here at my company, which is a weeklong celebration of our company's history, culture, values, and all those special things that make us who we are. Between that and working on some company-centric projects (including our new-and-improving careers page, in which I've tried to put our unique culture into words and write a top-10 list of why someone would want to join our team), I've been filled with absolute adoration for my job all over again. What a huge blessing it is! I get to spend my workweek with hundreds of amazing, talented, fun people, and I love expending my energy for a company that truly values its employees. From past experience, I know just how rare and quality that is.

I've said it before, but there really are a plethora of parallels between dating and career. Maybe I see them so much because that's where I place probably 90% of my energy and focus, but the list goes on and on -- interviewing for a job is like a first date, some jobs end because of dealbreakers (like all of my jobs in California -- they all had draws that led me to get involved, but each had major drawbacks that I couldn't handle long term), and it gets easy to look back longingly at the good times of the past while glossing over the frustrations (or vice versa, in the case of one straight-up abusive job that still makes me shudder to this day!).

But a marriage? Well, I don't have first-hand experience with that one in the relationship sense... but I do love finally having found my match in my career. It's funny -- at first glance, I wouldn't have expected my company to be such a perfect fit. I mean, a property insurance software company? In Utah Valley, of all places? Truth be told, I applied as a back up, just in case I didn't get the glamorous social media PR job in Salt Lake that I truly wanted. Of course, as time has gone passed, I've been SO glad I didn't get that PR job -- agency life is a grind, and I really prefer working in a collaborative, in-house environment. And how often do I hear that advice in dating?! "Say yes to dates even if you aren't sure you'll be a match because you never know what you'll find upon getting to know someone better." "I never would've thought my husband would be The One until we started dating -- he wasn't at all what I imagined I'd want, but he's everything I need." "Don't worry if it doesn't work out -- you'll end up with the right one eventually." (Reminds me of the time I was thrilled to finally have plans with a crush -- only to go on a blind date the weekend before, get totally smitten, and end up going from the crush's house to a second date with Mr. Weekend. The crush is a great guy, but he's not the perfect fit like the date was - and I don't know that I would've picked the date out of a lineup as a great match if we'd just met in a social setting instead of being set up.)

But I digress.

Careers are so much like long-term relationships, too, in that you really have to work for them. I mean, duh, you'll work at work -- but I'm talking more about honoring the commitment you've made. Life is not all rainbows and sunshine. There are tradeoffs and deficiencies at any job, just like how you'll inevitably marry someone imperfect because no one is perfect. But how wonderful it is to be able to work through those slumps and frustrations, to watch things improve (which can only happen when there's longevity to create perspective), and to develop a bond of trust that comes with patient perseverance. There are so many more lessons to be learned in working through the ups and downs than there are by hopping around, and the payoff is so rich. It's rewarding to feel security, to know that your efforts are appreciated, to have reciprocity. It fosters an environment in which you can really let your guard down and give your all instead of worrying about layoffs, backstabbers, condescending bosses, and a number of things I've dealt with at other jobs. Here I feel safe. My coworkers are my friends; I enjoy spending time with them on and off the clock. Some of them are among my closest friends and confidantes these days. I love our campus here so much that I didn't leave until dark last night -- after a mediocre date, I opted to lay out on our lawn and read a book in the beauty of twilight instead of driving home. It feels like home.

I enjoy my job thoroughly and love coming to work -- and that joy and security permeate the rest of my life. I am constantly amazed and humbled by how many doors have opened in my life, thanks to this job, and how many ways it's made me a better person. (And the same can be said for my career overall. Hard to believe I resented it for so many years!!! Even the worst experiences have made for some of the best lessons.) Had you told me three years ago that this is how things would pan out, I wouldn't have believed it -- or at least I wouldn't have believed I'd be as blissfully happy as I am. But here I am, grateful as can be for a wonderful match.

I only hope that someday I can find a guy who's as constant, appreciative, and inspirational as my company is. I can't imagine settling for anything less!

Tweet-le Dee

Hey, party people! Greetings from The Grand America Hotel in beautiful Salt Lake City, where my company is hosting a conference for 300+ customers and industry partners from across the US, Canada, and even Europe.

And I am blogging on my phone. Pretty much the best thing ever!

Being our in-house social media pro, I'm a busy bee, live-tweeting our conference (including two sessions at a time!). It's such a blast! Pretty much my favorite two workdays of the year. Fascinating presentations, quality time with quality colleagues (including our fabulous Canadian reps! Love visiting with them!), and a gorgeous locale. So fun!

Wish you were here. (Although you'd probably be bored, unless insurance software is your thang. I'm a fan!)

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Funny how history repeats itself -- even in a personal scale. Like so:

• Go back and read this.
• Remember that my entire life changed within 10 days.
• Understand that I've been feeling like this again.
• And then I came across this a couple days ago (which is within my company).
• And applied. (With my boss's blessing, of course.)
• And told the sole person I know in that office -- who is higher in the ranks than I realized -- who immediately put in a good word with the right folks.

And here I sit... on pins and needles... waiting to see what and when and if my entire life is going to uproot and shift again. Knowing that this might be absolutely nothing (and preparing for being let down), but also knowing it could be something. Desperately hoping it will, but also being incredibly intimidated by all that will mean.

Oh, and having a blast considering the possibilities of living places like here and here and here. Swoon!!! Lifelong dream within my grasp, folks. I've dreamed of living in the Big Apple for as long as I can remember. Blame it on admiring Stacey from The Baby-Sitter's Club and listening to a lot of Billy Joel as a child.

I can hardly stand the anticipation!

But back to work I go, seeing as this craziness starts in less than a week, and there is SO much to do for it - I'm in charge of writing room host scripts, compiling room host binders, and editing all PowerPoints and handouts, in addition to writing just about every word on that website. Whew!

2011: A Year in Review

Ringing in 2011 with the Davis clan in Provo - can't believe that was a year ago!

Hey, friends! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all of you! 2011 has been quite an incredible year. In many ways it's been "the best of times and the worst of times," filled with amazing adventures and the realization of long-held dreams as well as some heartbreaking disappointments. I've also been a sidelines observer to some amazing triumphs and hard times friends have experienced, and the resilience of the human spirit never ceases to amaze. I'm no doubt a better, stronger, and more authentic woman than I was when the year kicked off in January, and I can't wait to see what further growth 2012 will bring.

Anyways. On to the fun stuff. Here are some highlights from the past year:

• 16,250 miles traveled on 10 trips to/through 9 states and 1 Canadian province - and that doesn't include many trips along the Wasatch Front to Layton, Logan, and the like (which, on days like today, tack on 200 miles!). This year I journeyed to San Francisco, Capitol Reef, Glacier/Waterton/Banff/Calgary, Yellowstone/Island Park, Denver, Savannah/Atlanta, and Southern California times four (but at least to varying parts - L.A., Orange County, and San Diego). For the record, I miss Savannah and/or Banff on a near-daily basis. And I LOVE that I can say that I miss places like Savannah and Banff. Jet-setting has been a blast!



• 18 plays, 20 concerts, and 4 Sundance Film Festival flicks thoroughly enjoyed. There's such a vibrant scene of local performing arts talent around here, it's awesome!!! Those concerts range from local bands in block parties, clubs, and even their parents' homes to choirs like OCMCO or the Mormon Tabernacle in concert halls to the Pacific Symphony playing the 1812 Overture in the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater while visiting Orange County; the plays range from Broadway tours and professional companies to very, very amateur local productions. Professional or amateur, I've loved them all!



Rosie and I got to meet Kevin Clash, the man behind Elmo!


Photo snagged from Justin Hackworth


Photo snagged from Hue & Hum - see my shoulder in the tan jacket on the left?
• Oh, and let's not forget taking the stage for 1 amazing, technicolor production and 2 performances at Temple Square during the Christmas season with the Lehi Chorale. Wish I had bandwidth to do more! Can't wait to start voice lessons next week and dive into next summer's show in the spring.


• 21 dates with 12 amazing men, ranging in age from 25 to 43, with 1 more date (with possibly 1 more guy) slated for the weekend... but still 0 relationships to show for it (despite getting the label of "wifeypoo" from this summer's stage hubster). All this dating's exhausting! But I'd rather be dating than not, so... it's worth it. I've really enjoyed getting to know these guys, but I'm still definitely not used to interacting with guys I know strictly in the dating sense (as opposed to my former normal of going on dates with guys who were friends first). It's a learning process, that's for sure. Better late than never!
• 3 roommates and 2 wards, despite not moving an inch (which was LOVELY, considering I moved three times from Nov. 2009 to Sept. 2010!)
• 1 royal wedding viewed with 2 lovely friends at 3:30 a.m. via streaming internet - and yes, many happy tears were shed. Love Wills and Kate!


• 3 speeding tickets - I know, I know, slooooooow doooooooown...
• 5 temples visited, including many a trip to the temples in Newport Beach and Draper, lest this list seem all vapid and ridiculous. I wish I could've actually gone in and spent time at the Cardston Temple, but it didn't work with the travel schedule. Ah, well - maybe next time. I can't wait to add the Brigham City temple to the list next year, and the Fort Collins, Colorado, temple soon as well!

• 30 lbs. lost... but let's not talk about how many came back from 7 boxes of Candy Cane Joe-Joe's, mmmmmkay? ;) Hitting the gym again tomorrow... *sigh*

• 1 promotion at work and a 2-year work-iversary celebrated - hooray for finally finding a job into which I can settle and stay put! 
  
• 3 sections of the GRE passed with flying colors, and 1 Utah State University class toward my masters completed with an A! Just 10 more classes to go...

WHEW!!! What a year! 

Just flipping through my planner to recap makes me exhausted. It's been an intense year, but wow, it's been such a blast. Being too busy has been great in some ways because it's made me evaluate how I'm spending my energy, and there are certain things that just plain aren't worth it. If it means dropping some relationships, sadly, so be it - much like Elphaba sings in"Defying Gravity,"

I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try, I'll never know.

Too long I've been afraid of losing love I guess I've lost - 

Well, if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost! 

I'd sooner buy defying gravity.

Amen and amen! My theme and goal for 2012 is to truly defy gravity - to stop imposing silly limits on myself, being hemmed in and held back by insecurities lacking in any real basis other than falsehoods that got drilled into me over the years by people who should've complimented instead of criticized, myself included. Why I let such negativity seep in over the years, I'll never know - but now that I see it, I can make the future better, and that's what really matters, right?

Anyways... that's my adventure from this year. I can't wait to see the exciting things 2012 will bring!!! 

How about you, friends? Any fun journeys taken or lessons learned in 2011?

Social Media Studiousness

That I am a social media geek should come as no surprise - after all, I spearheaded our company's exploration into that space while at Maples, and I'm an avid (okay, addicted) Twitter and Facebook user.

Well, my superawesome employer has its employees set annual goals for bettering ourselves through education, training, etc. In other words, it's not project-related but rather has everything to do with becoming a more valuable team member by learning and growth. Pretty awesome.

Today I launched into one of my goals, which is to complete a training at either Lynda.com or via our parent company's eLearning library each quarter. Well... it's quite interesting to sit through a four-hour tutorial on how to use something I've been using pretty much every day for a few years.

So far I've only gone through the intro stuff, so... nothing new yet. But if I learn anything awesome, I'll pass it along, I promise.

Meanwhile - survey time! What's your favorite social media outlet? Vote in the poll on the blog!

In other news, lots of fun stuff to recap, from Singin' in the Rain to tulips galore to Seattle. Can you believe it's almost May already?! This year has just flown by!!! It's been pretty packed, too. Our Internet's been wonky at home, hence my being so danged behind on posting (because, really, I'm not hugely a fan of posting from the office... even if that's, ummmm, what I'm doing at the moment). Hopefully I can hop on this weekend for some serious updates.

Okay, back to Twitter Tutorial-Land...

The Game of LIFE

As a child, one of my favorite pasttimes while vacationing at the cabin in Idaho was to play the Game of Life up in the loft with my cousins.

There was something so fun about imagining all of the possibilities - getting a degree (or not), choosing a career, spinning for a spouse, hoping your little plastic car was filled with blue and pink pegs by the time you retired to Lazy Acres. So much of your success (or failure) was at the fate of the spinner and the luck of the draw. "Come on, big 10!" "I hope I get the mansion instead of the trailer this time."

Well, thankfully, we have a little more control over the path we take in Real Life and the events that unfold therein - but, mind you, only a little more. The older I get, the more and more I'm realizing that while our agency and actions largely influence the outcomes we reap, sometimes there are situations and circumstances, chemistries and complications that are just beyond our power to control.

Yesterday my life took a twist akin to a bad move on the Life board: I joined the ranks of the unemployed.

If you want to hear the specifics as to what happened, I'll gladly fill you in - via email, Facebook or the phone. This is really not the forum to get into it. As much of an open book as I am, I do have a filter. ;)

Meanwhile, I have learned that no matter what happens to us, we have all the power in the world over how we proceed in dealing with what comes our way. So I'm choosing to not think of it as unemployment so much as funemployment. I mean, let's face it. I've been incredibly and constantly busy for the majority of the last decade. And while I know that that's just real life, and much of my overscheduling is my own fault, still - I'm going to savor this breather. I'd already applied for several jobs. I was on my way out - The Man just beat me to the punch by a matter of weeks. I found some additional great leads just yesterday. My bills are paid through this month at least. The wheels were already in motion for me to move back in with the parentals for a month or two while I figure out what comes next, so I'm not on the hook for rent - a gal in the ward is taking over my lease as of Oct. 1. 

That gives me a few weeks to really organize all the stuff I've accumulated during the last 3 1/2 years in my room (which, believe you me, is a huge project!) and to finish some other projects that need doing. I'm a capable, qualified, talented professional. It will all work out, I have no doubt about it. God has never failed me yet, and I just pray that He'll mercifully overlook my shortcomings and bless me in spite of my failings, as unworthy as I feel of His help sometimes.

Anyways, without further adieu, here's how I plan to spend my funemployment:

• Disneyland, of course! My season pass is good through November, and I fully plan to put it to work.
  
• Spend some time attending the temple, since I've got the availability. If anyone wants to come with, I'd love the company!
  
• Finishing my friendship quilt that we started as a Relief Society a couple of summers ago.
  
• Creating a brilliant marketing plan for OCMCO's upcoming CD, That Easter Morn. I had been wondering how I could carve out the time to get that done before we have a copy of the CD done in November. Now I know! :) It'll be a great resume-building, skill-learning project, to boot.
  
• Speaking of OCMCO, now I can treat my PR volunteerism with them like a part-time job. The directors just started a sister choir in Arizona, the East Valley Mormon Choral Organization, so now I can really get the ball rolling with getting the word out about their awesomeness.
  
• Get a jump on PR for The Sound of Music, too. I'm in our stake production that'll be happening in mid-October, and there's a lot of publicity we need to do for it.
  
• Organizing, organizing, organizing. Although you would never know it by looking, I'm actually an organizational nut. I LOVE when everything has a place and when I know right where stuff is. I'm just usually too busy to dig deeply into it, so a lot of things are just stuffed in boxes. Same with my photo files on the computer. Now I can put everything together methodically, labeled and everything. Plus my roommate in the next bedroom over just moved out, and her replacement won't move in until mid-October. All the more space for me to spread into to organize...
  
• Getting artsy! I have a TON of scrapbooking papers that I never put to use for lack of time, and now I have no excuse. I really want to get some stuff out of boxes and onto paper - beginning with my AMAZING New York trip, of course! (Details to come - I need to grab my photo uploader from the parentals' home.) I also have a corkboard that's been begging for some fabric and ribbons...
  
• Reading through the massive stack of books I've been wanting to get to. Which may or may not include some Sweet Valley High books now, after last night's rousing rounds of playing the board game with a couple of friends. It was pretty hilarious how the books' plotlines flooded back to me while we reentered the world of Jessica and Elizabeth.
• Cataloguing and eating through everything in my cupboards. My food-hoarding tendencies will finally pay off. I really don't need to grocery shop extensively when I've got enough food to get me through the end of the month at least.
  
• Rip through my Netflix queue and finish watching the last three seasons of Alias, of course. And if anyone has Season 5 of The Office, I'd loooooove to borrow it - I totally missed the whole season, so now I can catch up! (Or I guess I could Hulu it - yay for my lovely iMac!)
  
• Drum up some freelance work, either for The O.C. Register or for some other opportunity.
  
• Help friends with communications for their businesses, like writing the history for a friend's family's company Web site - yes, Heidi, I mean you! ;)
  
• Send letters and postcards and cards and stuff to people across the country. I mean, I have lots of stamps and lots of cute cards. Now I have the time to be thoughtful, too.
  
• Blogging, blogging, blogging. I recently started a politics blog, and now I can spend lots of time spreading the word and studying out issues. Plus I'll keep this one updated (and do some back-blogging) - so I hope you don't mind me popping up in your RSS reader. :)
• Oh, yeah. And find a new job. Of course. Obviously.
  

Amazing, isn't it? I woke up this morning thinking of everything I want to do and was a little overwhelmed. It's going to be a BUSY few weeks of nothingness, lol. Being a housewife is a lot of work, and I don't even have a hubby or kids! I don't know how working mothers do it. Anyways, I'm ridiculously excited for the opportunities ahead!

Overwhelmed.

Last week my digital media strategy partner at work quit out of the blue - which, of course, means that in the short term, I'm doing all of "our" work, which adds up to managing two accounts, leading all the work on redesigning our Web site, etc. while still doing my why-I-was-hired duties of copyediting press releases and newsletters, writing case studies and whitepapers, etc.

In a word, I'm overwhelmed.

What frustrates me is that, although I can understand why she left (big offer in San Diego), we've been pushing our firm's image as a digital media group - but she was our piece de resistance, the team member with a master's degree in social media from Johns Hopkins.

I blog in my spare time.

Yep. That's about it for my qualifications on the digital media front.

Granted, I'm a sharp girl, and so I've come up to speed pretty quickly, but still - I'm trying to cram to catch up on everything Chels left behind in terms of digital media brilliance while also balancing the typical account management stuff of pitching stories, sending news releases, scheduling conference calls, etc.

Like clockwork, every day around noon, I pretty much feel like I'm going to scream! That's about when I take my lunch break - and I love to get away from the office, which makes brown-bagging a bit of a challenge. I might start picnicing at a nearby park, just to GET AWAY.

It's so daunting. Everything should shake out shortly - and thank goodness I've got an amazing account coordinator on my team (the best in the office, if I do say so myself!), but, wow. I've been loooooving my job because it's been just enough of a challenge without being too much.

And then the sky caved in.

*deep breath* Thanks for letting me vent. I needed that.

Now I'm off to the party store to see if I can find any rockin' Star Wars cupcake decor for Simon's birthday party tomorrow. That's right - I'm spending my Friday night at a five-year-old's Star Wars Party.

And I couldn't be any more excited about it, either!

Home Run!

I had my first client meeting today where I'm in a management position on the account. In fact, after introductions and such, I more or less ran the meeting, touting our digital media plan to the client, to amp up their online newsroom.

And...

They went from wanting to postpone the project a month to being really enthusiastic about it. In fact, our main contact there emailed this afternoon and said they can't wait to get started! Man, watching that 180 because of my sales job just made my day. Wow.

What a great feeling!!! Being blessed with the gift of enthusiasm comes in handy sometimes - I can get really, genuinely excited about just about anything out there, but I never thought about how that translates into $ for business! :)

P.S.: Lest I take all the credit, the plan I was pitching was the result of a collaboration with Chelsea, my digital media teammate. Unfortunately, she was out sick today, so I had to lead this one alone.

Did I Just Email Arianna Huffington? Really?!

For my maaaahvelous job at Maples, I'm on the Toshiba America "green" account. It's pretty awesome, because we're basically starting from scratch, promoting Toshiba's (phenomenal, if I do say so myself) eco-friendly efforts.

Among my current tasks is to set up a media tour for TAI's director of environmental affairs, the corporate comms VP and some other execs in NYC and DC next month. Today I sent out the meeting requests to a list of reporters and editors for all of the major national media outlets.

One e-mail address I didn't notice in the list: Arianna Huffington.

Until I got an out-of-office reply - and went, "Holy crap, SERIOUSLY?! I e-mailed Arianna Huffington?!"

For those of you unaware of Arianna, she's a nationally syndicated political columnist, author and the founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, a leading left-wing online news and commentary website/blog. She's the ex-wife of a former oilman billionaire/congressman -- and she ran as an independent against Schwarzenegger in the recall election. She was on TIME's 2006 list of the 100 most influential people - speaking of, here's a Q&A she did with TIME.

So, overall, generally a household name. Or at least on the radar screen.

And not someone you get an e-mail from every day. Even if it's just an automated response.

Digging the new gig

Okay, back to the "Christa's life" blog posts.

So, when I returned from my vacation, I began my new job at Maples Communications. Although my title is that of "account executive," my job has evolved into being more of a digital communications specialist and copy editor. Instead of having a product-specific focus like the other AEs, I'm one of two digital media go-to girls tasked with developing and executing Web 2.0 media campaigns (i.e. blogs, RSS feeds, podcasts and vodcasts, etc.)

My digital media partner-in-crime has a master's in digital media from Johns Hopkins, so, uh, she really knows her stuff! Although I was quite intimidated at first, she and I work well together and bring really different strengths to the table, so it's a good thing - and it's fun to be part of a team. That's something I really value about Maples, actually - there's definitely an emphasis on teamwork. I love it!

The switch was definitely the right move. There are things I miss about journalism and the Register, but overall, I dig the gig. And I still write my business column for a bunch of the Register's community papers, so I get to dabble in journalism at least once a week. And that's, uh, plenty! ;)

Plus I'm actually quite a fan of dressing up for work every day, contrary to what some would have thought about my former jeans-and-Rainbows uniform. Of course, it also gives me an excuse to indulge in new clothes... but balance in all things, right?

Here's my cute little cubicle - before...

and after!

While working on a project with the boss today, it hit me just how great of a company Maples is! I appreciate how talent and creativity are so encouraged. They like employees who stick around for the long haul, and as much as I desperately want to move to Seattle, well, I can see myself working at Maples for some time to come. It's great!

And - gotta love this! - I mentioned how I'd always wanted to go to New York but hadn't been yet. The boss said we'd have to change that... :)

What if marketers invented the stop sign?

I found this video on a marketing blog - it hits a little close to home for any communications professional, I think. Brilliant - enjoy!!!


http://view.break.com/542649 - Watch more free videos

PS: Sorry I've been such a blog slacker the last month or two - I promise to do a marathon catching up blogging session one of these days! Veronica Mars and Breaking Dawn have been sucking up my free time lately (and in the most delightful way, too... more on that later...)

Parting Is Sorrow... and Not in a Sweet Way!

Today is my last as the Laguna Beach reporter.

I feel like a little part of me is dying!

Leaving this job would be tough, this I knew - but I don't think I realized just how killer it is!!! Last night was my last City Council meeting, and this morning I sent out a farewell email to all my contacts in town. The mayor wrote back right away: "Miss you already!"

I even got a really complimentary email from a source who hasn't been one of my favorites: "You are the hardest working, most enthusiastic and best reporter. It sounds like you are heading in a different direction for now, but I hope that you will return to journalism some day soon."

And then the tears began to fall...

The only way to get through this is to remember that it's more money, better hours, great opportunities... and my job here has plenty of things I can't stand. Focusing on those is the only way I'll get through this, because otherwise, this is my dream job! It fit like a glove from the moment I walked back into the newsroom to fill in temporarily.

As much as I know I'm doing the right move... I'm going to miss this. A lot.

The Long Goodbye

I hate farewells and endings!!!

Today is my last full day as a reporter for The Orange County Register, and I can hardly believe it!

The last two weeks have been filled with goodbyes, and it still feels surreal. I can't imagine my job really being over, not having my life revolve around Laguna Beach like it has for the past year. I still love it so dearly! There's a lot of peripheral stuff that I'll gladly not have to deal with anymore, though, and for more pay, so I'm still excited. It's bittersweet, to say the least. There are so many amazing people I've met, and quite a few good friends I've made along the way, too. I'll miss it!

More to come soon, since after Wednesday I'll once again be stuck with only my six-year-old iBook for a computer. It's slooooooow... and I'll be on vacation for a week-plus anyways, so I won't be around the computer too much for a while, anyways. Hope you don't miss me too much! ;)

Big News!

Sooo... I've had big news since Wednesday, but no time to post anything, so finally, here it is: I quit my job at The Orange County Register!

As of June 16, I will once again be a PR superstar, this time working for Maples Communications, a Mission Viejo-based high-tech public relations firm whose main account is Toshiba.


Truth be told, I'm thrilled and relieved. I know, I loved my job - I still do, in that I love journalism, and Laguna Beach has been a great community to track. Journalism comes so naturally to me, more than anything else I've ever done.

But the Register's heading in a direction I don't want to go, and the job I'm tasked with now isn't quite what I signed up for a year ago. I'd like to think I have greater value as a writer than the number of page views I generate, and I'm so excited to work somewhere that values (and actually rewards) my writing ability and hard work.

Not that I'm bitter. It's sad to become so disillusioned with something you love, though.

But that's part of growing up, right?

Meanwhile, my new gig is as an account executive, a step up the corporate ladder. A job where travel is REQUIRED! *girlish squeal of delight!* I've always dreamed of being the have-suit, will-travel type, among the many possible lives I've dreamed up. And it's a career with a future! A friend of mine's been working there for a while, and I've seen him rise through the ranks. I'm hoping to do the same and see where hard work and talent can take me. I've been curbing my career ambitions in the hopes of marriage and motherhood too long, and I'm thrilled to see where this path will lead.

Off the Record...

As a journalist, two of my favorite things are breaking news and going "off the record" - and I had some fun with both today!

Breaking news is seriously such an adrenaline rush. Whether it be some sort of an immediate crisis (like today's sewage spill that closed a huge chunk of South Coast Highway - thanks, Heather, for the tip!) or getting a big scoop that I know the competition doesn't have, it's so exhilarating. And, in a way, it's kind of fun to know that I know something before most people do, and it's my job to fill them in.

Even more than that, though, I enjoy going "off the record." In J-school, we were taught that this should only when necessary, but I really enjoy picking the brains of people on my beat. They are the ones in the trenches, so to speak, and hearing their perspectives on issues helps me write a better story, regardless of whether it's something I can print or not.

And, besides, "off the record" is when you get the juiciest stuff, because that's when people talk most freely. Thankfully I've built a good reputation in town, so people know I'm trustworthy, and it's amazing to me how people will open up. Today, for instance, I was talking with a source about something totally different, but we got chatting about a bigger business trend piece I'm working on, and Mr. X, we'll call him, went off on some of the politicians in town and the different factions, and how their decisions are hurting the city (sorry I can't get more specific, but hey, it's off the record, remember!). Anyways, it was awesome to get the "real scoop" on his opinion, even if I can't print it.

The tricky thing will be to get people on the record for this story... but I'm up for the challenge!

Family Ties to South Coast Medical Center

Last week I broke a story about South Coast Medical Center closing its ocean-view maternity ward (sad day, huh?). The hospital CEO's reasoning is that Laguna Beach and Dana Point have aging populations, since the cost of living is so high - it makes more sense to channel resources toward cancer care, cardiologists, etc.

Anyways, each week I have to cull together the comments left by readers on my stories into a print-only feature, "From the Web Files." It's to encourage our readers to become part of an active dialogue (and go to the Web site, so we get more page views). Lo and behold, guess who commented on my story?

Tina Yothers!

I know, hardly anyone else would know that name off the bat - I'm such a pop culture encyclopedia, it's ridiculous. Tina played Jennifer, the youngest daughter on the 80s classic, Family Ties. How appropriate that she was commenting on her experience as a mother at SCMC - gives the words "family ties" a whole new meaning, huh?

To read Tina's comment (along with my *brilliant* story, haha), click here.

(Haha, now I have the Growing Pains theme song in my head - the two go together somehow, you know?)

You're Gonna Make it After All!

Hello (again), friends and fam!

For a while now, several friends have told me that I should start a blog. I've demurred each time (I'm so busy, all I do is write all day already, I don't have ridiculously adorable children to show off, etc.), but I caved finally - a few girls in my ward blog, and what can I say? They inspired me.

So, here's my blog. Funny story: as I went to set it up, the URL christajeanne.blogspot.com was already taken. Another Christa Jeanne in the world? I don't think so! Yep, lo and behold it was my blog to which I made all of one entry, back in 2005. Successful, no? I'll try to do better this time around, I promise. ;)


Do any of you remember "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"? As a Nick at Nite fan growing up, I tuned into the adventures of single working girl Mary Richards every so often.

The whole working-girl-makes-good plotline kind of reflects my life these days - hence why MTM's theme song of "You're gonna make it after all" seems so fitting. I am seriously loooooving my life right now - but it's so different from what I always expected it would be.

I love my job. It's pretty awesome. As the Laguna Beach reporter for The Orange County Register and its community paper, Laguna News-Post, I've interviewed everyone from some major power players to the homeless man on the street. It's kind of heady when I think about it - I'm writing history every day, because newspapers are what people turn to when looking to get the facts of past events, or to set the record straight. Honestly, I look at it as almost a sacred responsibility to do well by the people about whom I write, because I'm taking their reputations and their lives into my hands with my pen (well, keyboard... but pen sounds cooler). Writing is something I've always enjoyed, plus Laguna Beach is spectacular - one of the most scenic places along the California coastline, it's often called the American Riviera.

Having a career wasn't what I'd planned on when I was younger, but I'm so glad it's what I got. I feel like I've learned infinitely more by getting out there and meeting people, telling their stories, figuring out how they think, etc. than I could have in any other way. My life will forever be better for it, and I hope others' lives have been blessed through my work. Sometimes it feels silly to realize that I'm devoting my life to journalism in Laguna Beach - in the grand scheme of things, the issues that are so huuuuge there really don't make a big difference on the world - but I like it. I've been in Laguna for a year now, and it seems like that's where I'll stay for a while.

My career - and my life - has taken plenty of unexpected twists and turns since graduating from BYU three years ago, but I love how things always end up just right. I'm gonna make it after all!

Starting the Blog...

Aloha, party people!

Well, I figured, what the heck, I might as well re-enter the blogosphere. I started a blog last summer for my journalism capstone class, but I didn't keep it up too well. Although I don't plan to post too often on here, I figured this might be an opportune way to keep in touch with the friends and family I cherish dearly but see rarely. So, here you go!

It's Monday morning, and I'm the only one in my corner of the newsroom so far. And it's 10:30 a.m. already. Journalism is definitely a different world than most occupations! Our place doesn't get hopping 'til 11:30 a.m. or so. But we have fun. I loooove my job!

And I love my life. Things are going really well. If it weren't for my unrealistic need to know what the future holds and to be amazing instead of average, I'd say life is pretty dang near perfect. There are some amazing people down here who I'm honored to call friends, and I enjoy seeing my family on a daily basis (although I don't really interact with them much, except for the puppy, 'cause I'm always running around at full speed). Life is great!

So, that's it from me for now. I hope life finds you well. Take care, and much love!

Christa Jeanne =)

PS: I'm trying to figure out how to post photos... When I do, check them out!