Wild Bille-Newkirk's Fishbowl Blog 'n' Grill

Christmas Memories

2011-12-07T12:43:00.001-08:00

I was reading a blog this week that struck a chord with me--it was "On Christmas Wishes" by chookooloonks. Like chookoolonks, it's that typical time of year that I trip down memory lane. As is tradition in my home, whether the fam likes it or not, I blare John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together and decorate the house and tree. I've done this since I was a kid after my godmother gave me the LP--I've sinced replaced it with a CD--and continue to torture and amuse my husband and kids with it and my rendition of Animal screaming "...run, run, reindeer!" One moment, I'm singing like a goof ball and they're looking at me like I'm nuts and the next, reduced to tears with John Denver telling the story of Alfie and how "Silent Night" came to be and they're rushing to console. Geez, I love my kids...the little buggers.

House and tree decorated, I set down to pull together my Christmas card list and enlist my kids to stuff, label, lick, and stamp all the cards. The list has grown more than it's shrunk and for that I'm thankful and grateful.

For those who shrank the list, perhaps one day our paths will cross again in this life or in another. If in this life, I hope for some that we pick up right where we left off, but I know it won't always be the case.

Looking through the list, there's family, I see people that I've never met, some that I met once, some that I knew well years ago, but haven't seen in forever, and those that I see or talk with regularly. I'm so blessed to have crossed paths with all of these people in some fashion.

From my family to yours, here's hoping this season keeps you rich with happiness, good health, and friends and family.

I'm on vacation, does "mandatory" apply to me?

2011-11-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

[Tap, tap, tap] Is this thing on? Yeah, I know. I said I'd blog and I didn't, but I'm back...again.

Back in summer 2010, I read this fabulous book titled REWORK by the founders of 37Signals. I had every intention of going chapter by chapter and writing life experiences that aligned with each chapter. Easy and interesting, or so I thought. Little did I know that later that summer, my career and life was about to be rattled.

Allow me to set the stage. Imagine this...you've just moved your family (finally!) and you're taking some much needed vacation time to unpack and nest and then you get an email that includes the words "mandatory meeting at 9am". Well, that's never good. As you're thinking "I'm on vacation, does 'mandatory' apply to me?", the short answer, is yes, it does and if you're ever been through a layoff or significant change in your job/company the word "mandatory" is extraordinarily scary.

Now, I've been through layoffs...about eight of them and survived all, but two. This was different. Long story, short, the company was shutting down, but good news (for some), you'll have a job at a new company tomorrow. Good news? Sure, the eternal optimist that I am, I embraced the fact that I would continue to be employed, keep up on the house payments for the house my family had just moved in to, and a laundry list of other things. Little did I know that my optimism wouldn't serve me well after a while and the next six months would be some of the most miserable of my career.

I had a tough time at the end of the first day at the new company (day 2 of my vacation, mind you) and went home in what I can only describe as a rage. What set me off? The password I'd been assigned didn't work and yet all those around me had working passwords or so it appeared to me. Instantly, I knew it was best to be where others are not. Who knew that a password would reduce me to a crumpled mess of tears and anger?

In those six months, the roller coaster of change and emotions continued and we rallied around, laughed at, and bemoaned at our situation. Eventually, colleagues/friends moved on and we've all bee happier for it. I knew I'd join them...soon.

Unbelievably, nearly nine months have gone by since that time. Back when I was looking for a new role, I emphasized how critical it is to pay attention and utilize your network and be a connector--it was and continues to be a saving grace. I paid attention to information that came my way and I reached out to my network and voila, change happened.

Since then, the list of positive things continues to grow:

I'm back at Microsoft in a marcom consultant role that I enjoy, on a team that I like, and with an awesome manager
I lost 20 pounds and am still going
I'm doing a lot of cooking and changing my eating habits a bit
I started played golf regularly and earned a "most improved" award from my club
I made a number of friends (whom I adore) in my neighborhood (which I love)
I'm involved with the ladies golf club, rec committee, and PTA
My family continues be healthy and flourish
and more...

I've learned that I'm okay and can keep my head above water. Change is good, but it takes a toll and most times the toll is worth it.

While cliche, it's true that when one door closes, another opens. What no one ever tells you is that the path to that other door isn't always clear or easy. Rest assured, you'll get there...and Sad Clown will be with you the whole way. :)

Long time, no blog.

2010-06-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

I've been neglectful in my blogging, but I'm back and I have fodder. Typically, I write when I cross paths with something that inspires me. I found something to inspire a series of posts, but time has peetered away and I have yet to start.

My inspiration comes from the book REWORK by 37signals founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier. It's a great, fast read and absolutely chock full of common sense for your professional and personal lives. As I read the book, I found myself harkening back to a variety of situations I've encountered in life and could apply this common sense to each and every one of them.

This, my friends, is my inspiration. It's common sense and storytelling. I will enjoy each and every moment of sharing my experiences with you. My first attempt will be to share a story based on the first chapter titled "First". Of course, it's been a few weeks since I finished reading the book, so I'll be re-reading it and recalling the stories.

Give me a few days...I'll get there.

Happy Holidays from The Newkirk Family!

2009-12-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and family, I didn't get around (again) to buying and mailing cards this year, so I put together a super brief "holiday card" video with a few snapshots of the kids with some cheerful music. I hope you had a memorable 2009 and hope your 2010 is equally, if not more memorable. Best wishes in 2010!

I'll get you Martha Stewart...and your little gingerbread house, too

2009-12-12T18:41:00.000-08:00

Every now and again, I let out my inner Martha Stewart. I keep her in a very, very tiny box and today, I let her out. A few weeks ago, my friend Lori talked about how she started a tradition of making gingerbread houses with her kids. I thought "oh, what a wonderful idea...my kids will LOVE that!" I looked up recipes and construction processes and found a good one on MarthaStewart.com and set out. I have two kids and knew they'd want their own house, so I reduced the template by 50% and voila, a house just the right size for them.

I love baking, so making the dough and cutting out the pieces was super simple. Then came making the caramel and house construction. I'll just say it now, it was a real goddammit*.

I've never made caramel before, so either I screwed up the simple "bring to a boil and reduce to simmer and let brown and thicken" instructions OR C&H Baker's Sugar just isn't intended for caramel making. I'm going with the latter, because I followed the instructions and it didn't brown and it barely thickened. Now I had this picture in my head that the construction would be simple. After all, the pictures on MarthaStewart.com made it look so easy. Silly me...I'd forgotten that Martha has a load of minions to do her dirty work...oh and great camera work to fudge the angles to make it all look effortless.

Well, I didn't have great camera work or a censor to bleep out the f-bombs I hissed as I tried to put these houses together, but I did have my mom and a G&T. My mom helped me hold the stupid little houses together and then sat outside in the cold with me to hold them together to let the cold harden the caramel. Geesh...these are the things the recipe (and Martha and her minions) don't tell you. Kinda forgot that in the instructions, didn't ya, Martha?

While the houses cemented, I made the royal icing. Now I halved the 5-cup recipe and yet the stuff just seemed to expand. If my math is correct, halving a 5-cup recipe should produce 2.5 cups of icing. Right? Noooo...I still have what has to be 2 cups in my refrigerator! I just kept piping that stuff all over the houses--I made gloppy trees, I sealed up the seams, I piped patterns on the roof, and more and yet...I still have enough royal icing to cover a couple more houses. I nearly squirted the stuff in the kids' mouths a la canned whipping cream.

The kids set out to decorate their houses with crushed candy canes, Christmas colored Junior Mint minis (a new discovery), spiced gum drops, and holiday candy corn. They did well and are very excited about their houses. Here is their handiwork:

Will I make gingerbread houses again? I can confidently say NO WAY. It's just not worth the aggrivation. I'll make gingerbread cookies and decorate those and skip the construction. Martha and her wannabes can have it. Martha is now safely stuffed away again and every time she asks to be let out, I'll remind myself of today's experience,

For all my complaining, the kids are happy and quite pleased with their masterpieces. Hopefully, the memory will stay with them...sans mom's quiet cursing, of course.

Merry Christmas to all and to all happy baking!

*A few nights ago, a waitress at 0/8 Seafood Grill in Bellevue shared a hilarious story about how her mom would describe people being a "goddammit". It was hysterical, so now when the situation calls for a colorful descriptor, I'm usin' it: these gingerbread houses are a real goddammit.

End of Week 8, or is it 9? I just need to stop counting...

2009-10-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since my last post and good news...I'm still alive. It’s always a good thing to get through challenges, and I think I'm starting to get my feet under me. Now I've done it...I said it. Murphy's Law will make me pay for making that statement. :) I’ve learned a few things while on this journey, so I’ll share them.

Do What You Can To Stay Ahead
I've been working diligently to stay ahead on the various projects I’m on. I've provided a variety of information to communicate that our team is on our best game. Sometimes there’s enthusiastic response and sometimes...crickets. Just keep going and follow up...and don't forget to pick up the phone, too.

Listen
Listening and hearing are extraordinarily important in this role. If you don’t listen, then something is going to be missed and the result won’t be pretty. In the various roles I’ve been in, I’ve always needed to listen and take deliberate action to deliver on what's been discussed. I know I’m a good listener, but it can be tough to change minds if for some reason what you deliver isn’t what is expected. That said, it’s also important to ask questions...ask a lot of them, if you need to. Better yet, when you ask questions, provide visuals and paint as accurate of a picture as you’re able.

I should also add that reading is just as important as listening. Read your communications in their entirety. You just never know what nugget is in there that might mistakenly be overlooked. In my days at Microsoft, some of the best—and yet most basic—advice I ever received was to READ your email thoroughly from start to finish. Sometimes you’d be amazed at what is actually contained in the email—information, insight, hidden messages, and more. These are all things that require you to read and ask questions to make sure you’re on the right path.

Document
I’ve developed a pretty good habit of documenting what I’m working on. It helps me stay informed and on top of things and provide the best level of service to the people I’m working with. Documentation has helped me time and time again, but sometimes you can’t win even with documentation. It’s not about winning per se, but being able to show and tell a clear story of what you’ve done and why you did what you did speaks volumes, in my opinion. Then again, that documentation may never change the way the project goes and how someone feels. Just know that you did everything you could do to make the project successful and keep going.

As I head into my third month, I'll continue to follow my own advice and the guidance of others. I'll make every effort to stay on top of things, I'll continue to listen and ask questions, and I will most definitely document. All together, everyone will shine.

To-do list: finish week 4...[check]

2009-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I wrapped up week four of the new gig and I'm still alive. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely not a meat grinder or anything--not even close--it's just different and it'll take some time to complete the mental shift from client to agency. A number of people have asked me how it is compared to Microsoft, to which my usual response is "it's just different." And it is.

Clients are a double-edge sword. On one hand, the work that you do with and for them keep you employed and your agency's heart beating...and they can be really great partners and friends, too. On the other hand, wow...get out the Bactine, Neosporin, and a Band-Aid and nurse the wounds and be sure to apply some ChapStick and have a G&T while you're cleaning yourself up.

Actually, I'm blowing it out of proportion a bit. Then again, maybe not...it's only been four weeks and I personally haven't experienced any major wounds or chapped lips in this short time or drunk myself under the table, but there have been some stressful moments. I'm learning as I go and know there will be absolutely fantastic moments with a few dark ones tossed in for variety. When it comes down to it, those same elements exist in every role.

I'm super thankful to the team of people I'm working with and who have extended me the courtesy and patience to bring me up to speed. You guys are absolute gems and I'm so very glad to be working with you.

Tomorrow is the start of another week...

She's heeeeeere...

2009-08-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Ah, Poltergeist...the one and only movie that continues to freak me out to this day and is solely responsible for my absolute dislike of clowns...and I mean ALL clowns. I don't care if you're a good clown or bad, I don't like you. Anyway, back to the story.

Back in July, I posted The Eagle Has Landed and like any good movie left you with a cliff hanger about where this eagle was landing. Sorry to keep you hanging on that cliff so long--I know you've been waiting (ha!). Here it is...

On August 3, I started as an Account Director at a creative agency called HL2. The offices are located in downtown Seattle and are a hop, skip, and a jump from Qwest Field. I'm working with a number of Microsoft clients and learning a lot. I started week 3 today and feeling pretty good about things. It is an adjustment being on the other side of the Microsoft wall, but it's a good thing. I'm still excited about it and encountering new things and new people every day.

To reiterate some past posts, this opportunity with HL2 came together thanks to great connections and changing things up, comfort zones, and being thankful. If it weren't for that invite from Greg to go to AdClub at HL2's offices in May and connecting that evening with Kat, I don't know that I'd be at HL2 today. Thanks for your vote of support by hiring me! Thanks to my extended team of supporters for your kinds words, glowing references, and unwavering support. I'm thankful and forever grateful to you all.

For those of you who are in the market, let me know how I can help...I'm paying it forward.

P.S. Social Media Club of Seattle is holding its August event at HL2's offices, so I get to combine two things I enjoy: my work and social media. If you're attending, let's connect and talk social media and how HL2 can help you.

The Eagle Has Landed...

2009-07-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

For months I wanted to start a blog, but didn't quite know when to start it or what to say. I ended up finding inspiration when I was laid off in early May and wrote my first post, When your best isn't enough. It wasn't long after that post that I was Back in the saddle and Not slowing down one iota. I did the usual things like Meetings, Twitter resume, and job postings... and had a bit of fun with a site called CardsofChange.com.

Then I started looking for ways to get my resume out in the public eye in a different way, so I posted bits and pieces of my resume here, here, here, and here. I didn't even post the entire resume before I wanted to tell you a bit about Changing things up, comfort zones, and being thankful, as well as how Inspiration comes from everywhere.

I've encouraged people to Have some fun during your job hunt and I did just that--I continued to have fun with the folks at CardsofChange.com. I never did hear back from the BBC reporter after my reply to him, but all the same, I had fun dreaming that I might be part of a short feature on the BBC. Maybe I was and didn't even know it--note to self...check with Cards of Change.

During this time, I've also written about how important it is to Pay attention and how I jokingly--yet seriously--say I'm a connector. You do need to pay attention to what's going on around you and you do need to do your part and connect people who need and ask for help. Please believe me when I say that paying it forward is a good thing. It just is.

I had a bit of fun saying My name is Tracy and I'm a Microsoft Graduate. Some say survivor, I chose graduate for a most positive and humorous spin. TomAYto, tomAHto...it's all the same--I'm a survivor, too.

So why am I recapping the writings of the last couple of months? In a nutshell, all this work of connecting, thanking, meeting, paying attention, having fun, and more has come together. In a couple of weeks, I'll be starting a new adventure and I'm super excited. I'll be working with a talented group of people and I can't wait to be a part of it. In fact, I just added my start date to the Days Until countdown clock app on my iPhone! 20 days...tick, tock, tick, tock.

I know, I know...quit with the cloak and dagger and just tell us where you're heading. It's not cloak and dagger; I'm like a good movie trailer that keeps you wanting more and makes you say "I have to see that!" So like a good trailer [roll on-the-edge-of-your-seat-nail-biting music, please]: Coming August 3, 2009

I'm also compelled to give my Oscar acceptance speech before the movie has even been released. LOL Seriously though, there have been so many people who have helped me along the way. To all of you, there aren't words enough to express my deepest and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all your kinds words and support. Thank you.

My name is Tracy and I'm a Microsoft Graduate...

2009-07-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to the Social Media Club of Seattle networking event and met a number of great people. I discovered four things throughout the evening:

I gave myself a new title: Microsoft Graduate.
I recognize people more by their Twitter handles than their name.
Don't misrepresent yourself. Duh, but it's shocking when someone suggests it.
I still adore my long-time friend Tim.

#1: My name is Tracy and I'm a Microsoft Graduate

I don't know where it came from...it just came out! And oh, did I have a good laugh...and so did Shannon, the person I was talking with. Like so many people, humor is one of the things I use to get through challenging times and to make the people I'm connecting with more comfortable with me and whatever my story is.

What I discovered in that brief moment is that humor and a snappy "title", if you will, differentiated me just a bit. Less than 24 hours later, Shannon and I are connected on Facebook and included in the friend request was "Microsoft Graduate". He remembered me and I'm still laughing at my new "title".

#2: Oh, I'm following you; you're [@insert handle].

I was chatting with Joshua Wong of Column Break and didn't recognize his name, but I did recognize his Twitter handle. I'd just started following him a few days prior when I was reading Seattle Social Media Profiles. Quite a few of them were there last night--I'll meet you next time. PROMISE! And by the way, Joshua, I'm really glad to know your real name and attach a face to it.

So what does the fact that I recognize Twitter handles more than names say about me? Am I spending too much time online? Too much networking? Too much focus on following the Twitterati, Facebook, and my daily RSS feed reads? It's all of the above. It's a direction I want to take, so I'm spending a ton of time online doing my homework and engaging with the community. I'm in the market for a new opportunity, so I am networking. And every day I'm expanding my knowledge of social media practices and tools, so there's LOTS of reading to be had. Join in...the water is nice!

#3: Don't misrepresent yourself...not even a little

I was talking with a guy about why we were attending, had we ever been to the event before, and what we do. During the brief chat, I mentioned that I was there for a number of reasons including job hunting, networking, but also hoping to pick up nuggets of goodness about social media. I'd indicated that I'm in marketing and looking for roles that included a heavy dose of social media, but that I wasn't an expert . His reply was to say the least shocking...he said that I had to call myself an expert. To use one of my all-time favorite sitcom quotes: "whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

No, no, no, no...don't misrepresent yourself. If you're a novice or just learning say so. Be honest about your knowledge base, what you've read, what you've planned, what tools you've used, etc. But good heavens, don't call yourself and expert, if you're not. Brian Solis of PR 2.0 had a great post about experts vs. authorities recently: Social Media is Rife with Experts, but Starved of Authorities. It's a really good read.

If you call yourself an expert now when you're not, you've just chipped away a bit at, if not utterly destroyed, the opportunity for one day calling yourself and expert.

#4: Tim! It's been years and we picked up right where we left off

It's been easily 15 years since I last crossed paths with my friend Tim Carter of Social Networking Lifestyle. We connected on Facebook and Twitter well over a year ago, but finally...in person! Our friendly banter was like a day hadn't gone by and it was awesome. He's been in the social media world a bit longer than me, so it was a welcome experience to be introduced to a few other local social media people. Thanks, Tim. I really appreciate it. I'll see you online and at the next SMC Seattle!

Have a fantastic and safe Fourth of July weekend!

"I'm a connector..."

2009-06-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

Last night, I met up with a few fabulous people that I've become acquainted with in the last month and we attended the Seattle Job Social--a well attended networking event at Twist Restaurant in Belltown. A number of companies were present, but what we didn't realize until part way through the evening is that those companies were focused on hiring for technical roles. Oh, well, live and learn--we had a good time getting to know one another and figuring how who knew who and how we could help each other make connections, as well as making connections with others.

Part way through the evening, one of the fabulous ladies that I'd met through another connection called me a "connector." I laughed and said "Just call me Jill [Zarin], 'I'm a connector'!" Thankfully, like me, she's a fan of the Real Housewives of New York City and knew exactly who I was talking about. In a season 1 episode Jill connected Alex (another NYC "real housewife") with a friend who owns a private school in Manhattan where Alex was interested in enrolling her children. Not unlike Jill, I have a number great (and gracious) contacts in a few key companies that are more than willing to help out a friend of a friend--see success story #3 in my last post "Pay Attention". It's thrilling for me to see my colleagues find success and it's rewarding to know that I may have been able to contribute to a little bit of that success. GO TEAM!

I came away from the evening with a few new contacts and stronger relationships with a great group of people. Next event that we'll conquer is the Social Media Club of Seattle on Tuesday, June 30 at Pyramid Ale House. Come on and join the fun! I'll be there looking to talk with you and figuring out how we can work together.

Pay Attention...

2009-06-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

After having watched the season final of "Real Housewives of New Jersey", I learned that telling someone from Jersey to "pay attention" could actually result in what is apparently known as a "New Jersey table flip". However, I'm not from Jersey and my "pay attention" has a wildly different tone and meaning than the show's.

So what do I mean by "pay attention"? I mean pay attention to your surroundings, friends, colleagues, networks (online and offline), etc. and listen and pay attention to what they share with you. Hopefully, they'll listen and pay attention to you, too. You never know when you'll hear something that will be beneficial to you and others and vice versa.

Now I can only bet you're wondering, what the heck is Tracy talking about? Well, allow me to tell you a story...or rather a number of stories of what I've experienced this week alone, all because people paid attention.

Story #1
This week I sat down and reconnected with a former co-worker and discussed what we've been up to the last few years and what we're doing now. It was a great hour of catching up and "I hope we can work together soons". One thing he mentioned was how he'd just helped someone find an executive communications role. The wheels start turning and I recalled a lady I'd met at a career workshop--she is an executive communications manager, so I mentioned that I knew someone who was in the market for just such a role, and later in the week I was able to connect them.

See how I did that? I paid attention to what she said weeks ago and hopefully, something will come of it. And if not, well, we gave it a go and she has a connection for the future.

Story #2
I decided to go to a job fair on Thursday and was exchanging email with another job seeker about it and she let me know about a role that she thought I'd find interesting. I did find it interesting, and then reached out to a friend who is connected to that company to see if they knew more about the position. As it turns out, my friend said it wasn't a good place to be, so I didn't pursue. I said thanks for thinking of me to my job seeker buddy and that was that. The next day two more job seeker buddies--one of them is the executive communications lady previously mentioned--pinged me about the very same job!

See what happened there? My network paid attention and listened to me, too. Even though it wasn't something I was going to pursue, it's really cool that they thought of me.

Story #3
One of the other job seekers noted in Story #2 was looking at roles at a company where I knew someone. I told her that if she found something of interest that I'd be happy to send her resume to my contact. Low and behold, she found a position, I sent her resume, and she got a call on Friday for a phone screen. I'm so thrilled for her--I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Did you see that? It was a quick one. Networking in action again. She remembered someone in her network could connect her and she saw results.

Story #4
I've been following a few networking events and am planning to attend a couple in the next two weeks. I reached to a few fellow job seekers and asked if they wanted to go, too. Just about everyone is going including a couple of others who were connected to my connections. It all works out nicely. This morning I received more detailed information about next week's event and shared it with them, too. There's a great list of companies expected to attend--they'll be ready and so will we.

It's so easy...a few emails here and there and I have a gaggle of people to go in the door with before we spread out and conquer the room. I've said it before and I'll say it again...it's not easy going to networking events especially on your own, so spread the word and invite some peeps and have some fun with it.

Story #5
This is my personal favorite. I was working from home late Friday afternoon when my husband sends me a tweet. He forwarded a tweet from the CEO of a company with an open position that I'm REALLY interested in. I've done the traditional send the resume to the recruiter, reached out for intros via LinkedIn, and am following him and his team on Twitter, but hadn't gained traction (or followers) yet. But here's this tweet...it was an invite from CEO encouraging people to come by that afternoon and have a beer and chat. Holy crow--what an opportunity! BUT, I couldn't make it at that late hour, so I tweeted him and said that I couldn't make it, but wanted to discuss the open position with him. A little while later, I get a direct message with an invite to email him and the VP of Marketing to figure out time to talk. Okay, that's deserving of another HOLY CROW! I'm so excited! I have a little bit of work to do this weekend in order to get some face time.

Again, I listened...or better yet, my husband paid attention and shared with me. Thanks, hon.

I just can't say it enough...pay attention. Listen to what other's people's needs and wants are and they'll do the same for you. So go on, reach out, connect people, and good Karma will come to you.

Tracy's CV, Part 4: I'm EMP Alumni...

2009-06-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to land a role at Experience Music Project during it's mostly wildly popular days. Somehow I KNEW I had the job thanks to the song I heard while sitting in the lobby waiting for the interview to begin. The Beatles "In My Life" was playing--it was a sign--I just knew I had the job. I nearly took myself out of the candidate pool, too--don't recall why though. Anyway, while some EMP alums wouldn't exactly consider their time there "lucky", most of my experience was good and I have a ton of great friends and colleagues to show for it.

There were a lot of changes over the years at EMP--some good, some bad, so I got to do a lot of cool things. My absolute FAVORITE project was the DISCO exhibit's display windows--think massive flattened disco ball using the same glitter/shimmer material that Sparkletts trucks use to give it dimension and movement. And The Beatles exhibit where I created flyers that were designed after my very own Beatles trading trading cards--too cool. Anyway, I learned a ton and met a lot of very cool people. Here's a bit of what I did during my tenure:

EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT – Seattle, Washington

Marketing Production/Traffic Manager – External Affairs/Marketing & Promotions Department – 2001 to 2004
· Managed creative brief development for exhibits, concerts, and educational programs to capture objectives, creative vision, messaging, collateral and advertising requirements resulting in improved collaboration and more effective integrated marketing plans
· Developed and executed strategic advertising and radio media plans to drive awareness for museum attendance, public and educational programming events, and exhibits
· Collaborated with graphic design manager, freelance graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers to conceptualize and produce all advertising, collateral, and signage for all exhibits and campaigns
· Managed collateral and signage plans including direct marketing campaigns, program collateral, and OOH advertising to drive museum traffic and support organizational attendance and revenue initiatives
· Managed editorial content development and design, production, and circulation of monthly and quarterly member communications
· Leveraged vendor relationships by developing collaborative marketing partnerships to significantly reduce the creative and print production expenses
· Created and managed $1M+ budget for all advertising, radio, collateral/signage, and design for all programs

Have Some Fun During Your Job Hunt

2009-06-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are hunting for your next job, like I am, I can't tell you how important it is to have fun with it. If you've tracked my previous posts, this is not an easy time, but I'm definitely trying to have some fun with it and inspire others who are in the same place.

In addition to meeting new people and networking with friends and colleagues, one of the first things I did was post my old business card on www.cardsofchange.com. I was the first Microsoft person out there--here's my card. I'd first read about Cards of Change in a WOMMA daily email, so I figured, why not? It was fun, it was a release, and I felt all the more part of a community of marketing and creative types who are in the market looking for their next opportunity.

Last week, I heard from the Cards of Change people requesting permission to use my card in book they were publishing. This week, an email saying that BBC Television is doing a short piece on Cards of Change and my card was selected to be featured (see the email below)! How fun is that?! We'll see if it happens, which brings me to my original point...have some fun with this time. Hugs your kids, spend time with your friends and family, engage with your colleagues, create new relationships, and find some kind of outlet to balance the serious stuff.

Subject: Your card on TV.

Dear Cardsofchange user,

We would like to inform you that BBC Television is doing a 2-4minute piece on Cardsofchange and that we have selected your card to be featured.

The words you chose (or the lack thereof), the design of your card, the company you were with, the industry you were in or the country you live in - these were all factors that helped us determine the long list of 10 cards that could make it on TV.

If all goes according to plan you will receive an email from the journalist in the next week or so.

Tracy's CV, Part 3: What did I do when I first started @ Microsoft...

2009-06-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted Tracy's CV, Part 1 and Part 2, so it's high time that I post the next chapter...what did I do when I first started at Microsoft. I was blessed to get a contract gig from 2004 to 2005 at Microsoft on the Corporate Marketing Group's Packaging Team--a fantastic group of people then and now. The person I reported to was and is a fabulous manager--she's my mentor and I'm honored to have had the privilege of working with her. I met so many people that year and really got a taste for Microsoft. I loved it--so much energy and so many great people. I worked on the Visual Studio 2005 and Microsoft Expression packaging systems. I knew nothing about the developer audience, and I learned a ton that year and not just about the audience, but branding, design, and experiential marketing and packaging. and how it's done at Microsoft. I've outlined some key elements below.

For more information about me and my history, please visit me on Linked In. I'm in the market for a new role and I'd love to be a part of your team.

Microsoft Corporation: Marketing Manager – Corporate Marketing Group/Packaging Group – 2004 to 2005

· Managed Developer Tools (Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Expression, Microsoft Visual FoxPro, and MSDN) product packaging and in-box components from out-of-box-experience and usability assessment, research, concept, design review, and production to RTM
· Prepared and presented packaging creative/input briefs for internal teams and creative agencies
· Gathered input and product information from product team to determine marketing objectives, establish communication objectives, messaging priorities, and creative focus
· Guided creative development and production process to ensure projects meet domestic and global marketing and communication objectives
· Collaborated with internal groups including other divisions within Corporate Marketing Group, Product Management, Product Launch Services, LCA, and International Product and Localization teams
· Managed creative agencies, production design firms, and packaging vendors to ensure projects are completed on strategy, on schedule, and on budget

Inspiration comes from everywhere

2009-06-05T15:27:00.001-07:00

It's funny, I've been wanting to post something all week, but I didn't have much time or a lot to say and today I found my inspiration courtesy of Baz Luhrmann.

Unbelievable as it is to me, Baz's songtalk "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" came out 10 years ago and it continues to be every graduating class's "song" for what you can and/or should do in life. As I was running an errand this morning, the song came on. It's been a while since I heard it and the words are as true for grads as they are for anyone at EVERY point in life. I couldn't help but well up and think just how applicable this is to me and so many others right now. I attempted to jot down the lines from the song that meant the most to me, but I found it was the nearly the entire song, so I narrowed them to a 11 and combined a couple of them. These include my experiences and my take on life's little lessons:

1. Don’t berate yourself: but we're so good at it! Seriously, just don't. In terms of what I'm experiencing right now, this is what it is and only I can change it, but I'm not going to beat myself up over shoulda, coulda, wouldas.

2. Remember compliments, forget the insults: definitely remember the compliments, but I totally get that it's not easy to forget the insults. I think BOTH inevitably make you stronger, but focus on the GOOD.

3. Read the directions even if you don’t follow them: in general, I read the directions AND follow them. It saves me a heck of a lot of pain and time.

4. Accept certain inalienable truths: if someone has their mind made up or has an opinion of you, accept that you might not be able to change it. As much as I wanted to change someone's mind in order for me and my family to be in a better place, there was no way I could have...their mind was made up a long time ago. It's their loss--see #1.

5. Don’t expect anyone else to support you: never have, never will. In terms of being laid off, I've never really felt entitled to something. Sure, I wanted my job and all the things that came with it, but in the end, I was going to make a change, they just beat me to it. Keep your independence, love and embrace it, and follow your own path.

6. Don’t worry about the future—worry, but understand that it’s as effective as it is to solve an algebra problem with bubble gum: good luck with that not worrying thing. Yes, I worry, but I'm such the optimist that I believe in my heart of hearts that everything will be okay. Keep things in perspective and when you think about all the things that could happen to you, this is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

7. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do in your life: I think the lucky ones are the people that don't know exactly what they want to do. I find happiness in what I'm doing right now--could be something different tomorrow. That's the secret.

8. Do one thing ever day that scares you: I haven't been doing this in recent times, but I am now. See last week's post, I did something different and ended up feeling pretty good about it.

9. Get to know your parents/be nice to your siblings and understand that friends come and go: I'm good friends with my parents and thankful for it. I'm so incredibly thankful for them and my friends, including the ones I haven't spoken to in eons and may never again. These people will support you through thick and thin. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

10. Dance and Sing: I have kids, so there comes the inevitable bouncing in the driver's seat and singing to the kids' songs to entertain and laugh with them. On a particularly beautiful Friday a couple of weeks ago, I was driving across the West Seattle Freeway and had the windows down, sunroof open, music blaring, and I looked at downtown Seattle and screamed "I love Seattle!" I do...I love it. It's home. So, in addition to dancing and singing--no matter where you do it, I recommend a good scream every now and again.

11. Wear sunscreen and Floss: do it...trust me. I've had one skin cancer scare--nuff said. As for flossing, I've experienced a week bit of pain with a receiding gumline, so definitely floss. Keep yourself healthy--your body is connected and taking care of one part affects everything else, so take care of it all.

I'm off to enjoy the weekend with friends. I hope you do, too.

P.S. I'm getting my business card published in a book thanks to Cards of Change. Go and post your card and have some fun!

On changing things up, comfort zones, and being thankful...

2009-05-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Last night I ventured out to AdClub's social at HL2's offices in Seattle (thanks for the invite, Greg! I'll go again.). It's been quite a few years since I attended a networking/industry function and I had a great time. While I felt a bit out of practice and recognized VERY few faces, I eventually got the hang of networking events again and met a few people--and as it turns out, we had shared interests AND common connections. This helps pave the way for more conversation and more introductions. A key takeaway and note to self)--don't just put your name on your nametag--shake it up and put your name, what you're up to, and what you want to do or what you're interested in. It draws eyes and STARTS THE CONVERSATION.

I hit it off with a person named Jen and we chatted for a good portion of the evening. She was a fount of information and post-event, we connected online and exchanged more information and leads. Today those leads have resulted in two phone calls for potential positions--one contract, one full time. I have a "meet and greet" set with one person and will set up another "meet and greet" with the other early next week.

Plus, as I was leaving I bumped into a friend/colleague from Microsoft which resulted in an extended stay, more conversations, and more connections. I'm still on a high from the evening!

Can I just tell you how thankful I am?! I'm thankful for people willing to help and provide support, provide feedback, reach out, introduce, make a phone, send an email, etc. I'm thankful for those I've known for years who help me and for those, like Jen, who I just met and are willing to make connections.

To those of you out there who DON'T do that...shame on you. Whatever your reason for not helping, get over it and help a colleague out. Take a moment to figure out their background, ask a few questions about what they're looking for, make connections, and pass opportunities their way. Don't just dismiss and ignore their calls and emails. Do you think it's easy for them to call you? Times are tough for everyone and one day you might find yourself in need of them. Positive light will come back to you in spades, so give, even if but a little.

I can't tell you how important it is to shake things up a bit and do something different--I KNOW it's not easy, especially if you don't have a natural ability for chit chat or just simply sucking it up and doing SOMETHING that you'd rather not do. As I sit here in the outplacement services office taking advantage of free wi-fi, free soda and coffee, and a quiet workspace, I'm thinking about how I finally sucked it up and came in here today--three weeks AFTER the layoff. I didn't really want to, but I am actually feeling better that I did. I have familiar surroundings, I don't feel like a loner in a coffee shop somewhere feeling obligated to buy coffee in exchange for wi-fi and freezing in their A/C (probably a means of getting you to buy more coffee in order to warm up), there are other like-minded people here who I can connect with (and help), and I decided to sign up for a career continuation workshop next week.

I figure even if I'm a little bit ahead of the pack in terms of already having a ready-to-rock resume, a 2-minute pitch, and know what I'm looking for, I might just get something out of it that I can share with someone else (you know who you are).

Anyway, long story short...I did something that I haven't done in years and it produced results and I'm thankful for it. Go forth all of you and do it. I'm rootin' for you all the way!

Have a great weekend!

Tracy's CV, Part 2: What have I done lately?

2009-05-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

To close out a memorably Memorial Day and to kick off the work week ahead, here's Tracy's CV, Part 2...what have I done lately? Last week's "blogisode" included a opening statement to my credentials, so this answers the question...so, "what have you done recently?" Allow me to elaborate:

MICROSOFT – Redmond, Washington

Marketing Manager – Startup Business Accelerator (SBA) – November 2005 to May 2009

· Transitioned from MSN Direct business to SBA Central Marketing team to support 12 startup businesses during formation of SBA.
· Collaborated with SBA business PUMs, program management, and business development leads to define product launch strategies and develop, execute, and measure integrated marketing launch campaign plans that include event presence, social media outreach, and PR
· Collaborated on launches of and sustaining marketing efforts for Microsoft Tag, Microsoft Recite, and Microsoft Vine including managing launch event presence and internal communications, and providing support for PR, messaging, and social media marketing strategy and execution
· Drove development and execution of consumer subscription renewal email campaigns to drive subscriber acquisition and renewals; 2006 campaign realized 90% subscriber retention meeting SVP’s directive to retain subscribers
· Developed and managed online subscriber communications to establish stronger CPE; realized 1% of subscriber base uptake from one-time opt-in email
· Conceived, managed, and executed product packaging design, online retail presence, and launch events for Abacus Smart Watch 2006 RTM; recipient of Gold Star Award for launch contributions
· Developed event strategy and manage consumer and industry event presence at CES, CTIA Wireless, and Mobile World Congress driving brand and business awareness; Microsoft Tag and MSN Direct at CES 2009 realized 86% and 80% message pick-up, respectively
· Developed BOMs and white papers for SBA businesses for field enablement and external agencies
· Collaborate with Microsoft Studios, agencies, and vendors to conceive and produce brand awareness videos for worldwide events, online, and CNN Airport Network; MSN Direct 2007 video recipient of Bronze Telly Award
· Developed and managed SBA Central Marketing team’s $1.5M budget; maintained budget variance commitment at <2%>

Tracy's CV: Part 1

2009-05-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

As promised in last night's post, I've started feeding bits and pieces of my resume on my blog, which will then feed to Twitter and Facebook. Today's "bits and pieces" is my summary of qualifications and a brief list of marketing disciplines that I've been a part of. For those awesome companies with great marketing teams who are looking for someone like me, please connect with me on LinkedIn. Enjoy!

Proactive and highly organized marketing manager with 14 years experience in integrated marketing campaign management including collateral, packaging, direct marketing, and events. Accomplished problem solver and communicator with strong strategic and tactical planning skills and experience creating, managing, and executing integrated marketing campaigns that support business and revenue goals. Expertise in delivering projects on time and on budget by establishing and maintaining positive partnerships with internal and external clients, vendors, agency partners, and senior management.

Branding and Messaging • Event Management • Product Marketing • PR and Messaging • Packaging and Collateral Development • Agency Management • Cross-Group Collaboration • Integrated Marketing Campaign Development • Social Media Marketing • Project Management • Budget Development and Management • Production and Fulfillment

Meetings, Twitter resume, and job postings, OH MY!

2009-05-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

I've had great fun in the last week meeting with a variety of people and catching up. I've appreciated everyone's support and willingness. Today was one of the first days that I'd spent most of the day at home. After dropping the kids off at school and going to the gym, I headed home and parked it on the couch with my laptop and after about 5 minutes knew this wasn't going to be a good place. I found a spot at the dining room table and worked quietly for quite some time. Jim was at the kitchen table about 15 feet away, so when we had a conversation going it was like we were co-workers talking over the cubicle walls. We had a fun 10 minutes writing my 140-character resume for a Twitter post. I'm now thinking that I should post my resume on the blog and tweet bits and pieces of it every day--and link to the full doc. Hmm, perhaps that's one of tomorrow's mini projects.

Anyway, I found a number of job postings that appeared to be good fits and after some company research, I submitted my CV and sat back with some satisfaction. Less than an hour after updating my info on HotJobs, I got a phone call and I was like "Man, that was fast." Yeah, not so fast...it was Farmers Insurance and they wanted to schedule an interview for next week with the Bellevue office to discuss agency ownership. Say wha? Okay, I worked at GE Capital in corporate marketing and yes, that was the financial services industry, but where in my credentials does it indicate that I've EVER sold insurance? Um, hey, you, guy that makes these phone calls like this one every single day, I got a flash for ya...I don't know the first thing about selling insurance.

I said thank you, but that I had no interest or experience in selling insurance and before I knew it, I was talking to air--HE HUNG UP ON ME. Nice. Hey, Farmers Insurance...not only will I never work for you, but I won't buy your insurance either.

I expect tomorrow to be a good day. I have a phone screen at 11am, and I'm meeting a couple of high school buddies for lunch, and then off to celebrate my son's 2nd birthday with his class. I expect the rest of the week to be equally as full and fulfilling--more catching up with people, hopefully, another phone screen, and more family stuff.

Oh, have to share this. I happened to see a tweet today about how to repurpose your business card for good: cardsofchange.com. It's intended for people who have been laid off and how they've turned their situations into something positive. I didn't think anything of it until the very same information showed up later in a MediaWeek article I was reading. So, I had some fun. I tracked down a business card, wrote a note, and grabbed the camera and posted away. I'm the very first ex-Microsoft person to have posted a card. Plus, I have like 5 stars for the ranking! Yeah, me. The other cards are brilliant.

I hope you all have a great week. I can't believe it's Memorial Day weekend already... More later.

Not slowing down

2009-05-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Just as I thought, my schedule hasn't slowed at all since I was laid off. In fact, I think I'm busier now than before. My days are filled with an array of activities. What activities could those be, you ask? Allow me to bore you. :)

Absolutely every day begins with a 5am to 5:30am wake-up call from my 2-year old who points as the TV and says "shows?". Actually, it's less of a question and more of a demand. Within about 5 minutes comes the inevitable poke, poke, poke and the nose-to-nose interaction--or even a lift of an eyelid--and a demand for "mook" and "bar" (translation: milk and cereal bar). Sigh--downstairs I go to get the little munchkin "first breakfast" and then back to la-la land I go at least for a few minutes before the full-body beat down begins. What is this, you ask? It involves James turning the bed into a trampoline or me (Jim, too) into a kickboxing bag. Yeah, not so much fun when I'm trying to grab the last few zzzzzs.

Anyway, around 6:30 is when I rustle myself up to get into gym clothes, get James dressed, and get Jess up at 7am to get dressed and downstairs for breakfast (second breakfast for James--yes, he's like a Hobbit, always time for a meal when it's not the most convenient) and a show. We hit the road about 7:50-8am and get to school by 8:30. Then I'm off to the gym until a little after 10am.

After the gym, I've had a variety of things to do including errands, meetings with people including my mentee--the marketing manager at the kids's school and helping them with their marketing plans--colleagues from companies/agencies who might be able to help with my search, hanging out with Jim at the Clyde Hill Tully's to have coffee and work (love free wi-fi, when not at home), and meeting friends for coffee and/or lunch. Did I mention cleaning the house and laundry? Yeah, that, too.

Tired, yet? While I'm doing all the things I want and need to be doing, ultimately, I'd be a bit more comfortable with a regular paycheck and help my family. But, this is what it is, and I'm taking this time for what it is...an escape, a much-needed rest (rest? pshaw, right), a forcing function to find the next dream job, the opportunity to polish my story and know and understand what my next move is, do some reading and research, spend some time at the gym and get healthier, and more.

I've discovered that I'm getting more creative with my time. As I would expect of myself, I made a list of things I wanted to do this week. The list for THIS week is nearly complete. I'll do the same thing this weekend and create my list for next week and I bet next week, and the week after that, and the week after that, will be equally as busy.

Places to go, people to see, things to read, and more. While at times, things seemed bleak, I am indeed seeing a door crack open and light is peeking through. I wonder...who (or what) is on the other side and when do I get to pass through?

Back in the saddle

2009-05-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

Now I see how easy it is to get hooked on doing a little writing every couple of days (Stephani--you were right!). This has been a bittersweet week, so I thought I'd list a few top of mind pros and cons:

Pros:

Getting laid off on Tuesday
Meeting with friends and colleagues--all who want to help however they can. Thank you, everyone. This is why I love you all and am blessed to have you in my life
Buying a new laptop mini and getting back online to stay in touch, do research, and find a new job
I spent Friday golfing with my hubby and ended up not losing that day as a vacation day
I'm able to catch up on some research/reading that I'm not always very good at. First on the reading list is Groundswell, and then I think I'll pick up Seth Godin's Tribes--or perhaps catch up on the other 3-4 Seth Godin books that I've had for a while--and then maybe I'll look at Guy Kawasaki and definitely, Malcolm Gladwell.

Cons:

Getting laid off on Tuesday
I had to buy a new laptop
Budget just got even tighter

Notice that some pros and cons are the same thing. Allow me to explain:

Pro/Con #1: Getting laid off on Tuesday. I was already looking, so this was a forcing function, albeit a far more fast and final forcing function; it's a blessing, but at the same time, it sucks. My friends and colleagues have all stepped up with kinds words and support, so I have faith that I will land again before I know it.
Pro/Con #2: Buying a new laptop. While the HP Mini is terribly cute and fire engine red with a hot floral design on the top, it wasn't exactly in the budget to buy a new laptop. But unless Jim and I were willing to set some kind of schedule for laptop use--we wouldn't have been able to work that out well--I wouldn't have been able to be in contact as soon as I was.

Anyway, the sunshine beckons and the kids have donned their bike helmets and new knee and elbow pads. We're firing up the barbecue tonight to have steak and I have a Mike's Hard Lime in hand.

Tomorrow is another day and another opportunity will call. I wonder who or what it will be?

When your best isn't enough

2009-05-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

Today I have an excuse to finally start the blog I set up months ago. Yesterday, I was laid off from Microsoft. Okay, okay, so it's not the most positive place to start, but stick with me. :) When I was first reorg'd just over a year ago, I wasn't convinced that the new org and its charter was going to be exciting, but actually it was, and still is. I had some fun and Iwas blessed enough to continue to meet and work with some smart and interesting people. However, it didn't take long to realize that I was "legacy". I had experiences, knowledge, contributions, and more weren't necessarily recognized or appreciated by the new powers that be. I just wasn't going to be part of the long-term future of the org. My best work wasn't enough.

Over time, I supported some great new businesses, and saw first hand how new marketing practices were valued, showed results, and were quite fun to work on. I found a new career path and I grabbed it. Even though I became a convert and drank from the firehouse to learn as much as I could, it wasn't enough. Again, my past work was what the powers that be seemed to remember most and considered to be "traditional" or "old marketing" and not on the bleeding edge. My best work combined with my on-the-job education, wasn't enough.

Even though my confidence was rocked (that's fodder for another blog post, right there), every move I made questioned, I kept going...I asked questions, took classes, attended a conference, met with experts, read, gained as much knowledge as I could. I embraced the changes as an opportunity, but again, my best efforts weren't enough.

I met with someone today who helped me to realize what I inherently knew and reinforced what so many colleagues have said...I am good enough, I'm start enough, and gosh darnit...sorry, channeling Stuart Smalley. Seriously, though, my background is great, I am good at what I do, and I'd be a valuable member of any company and team I'm a part of. I have foundational marketing experiences and I'm learning new marketing strategies and tactics every day and seeking out opportunities to put them into action. So, here I am opportunity...I'm looking for you.

Like so many things, I take this entire experience all in stride. It is what it is. What else am I going to do? What else SHOULD I do? Kick, scream, cry, laugh, yell, shake a fist at the cruel cruel world? I could do all that--I have laughed. I did cry and even now fighting back a little lump in my throat. But, out comes my inner cheerleader and the stupid pom-poms and "READY!?, OK! P-E-R-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E!" I work hard to keep things in perspective--remain "cool as a cucumber" as some dear friends have said of me :). In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing. I've loved and I've lost and yes, it stinks that I need to look for a new job in a tough economy; yes, this puts a massive strain on our already strained family budget. The list could go on, but really, I have my husband and my kids, my intimate and extended circle of friends, family, and colleagues that are looking out for me, everyone's healthy, so I have everything. I could be living in a van down by the river and as long as I had my peeps, we'd be just fine...everything will be okay.

Geesh, that's three SNL references in what 200 words or less. :) See? I'm still laughing.

Like so many experiences in life, this is an opportunity for something new. So onward and upward. Just about every single person I've worked with in the last 14 years who has been laid off has landed and in a far, far better place. Why would it possibly be any different for me and the other 1199 people that were laid off from Microsoft's Puget Sound campuses?

To be completely and totally cliche, when one door closes, another one opens. Granted, the hallways are a bitch. The question is how will you make your way through that hallway and open one of those doors? And what big, best, awesome, miraculous things will you do when you make it through...because you and I WILL make it through, NO. MATTER. WHAT.