My mother has been a real estate agent for nearly 10 years now. A couple years ago she was in need of an office assistant who she could rely on to take things off her overloaded plate. As fate would have it, her time of need came during the same time I was moving home for the summer between semesters at college. So she asked me, her blooming college undergrad to take on the role. I definitely learned a lot about the business but completing CMA's wasn't the most valuable lesson I learned during that summer. Think about it, I was a 19-year-old college kid who was already reluctant about spending a summer at home. (Let me note that this was the one and only summer, or any actual length of time, I spent at home during my entire undergrad career). Initially, thinking about spending every day with the woman who had spent the last 19 years nagging me scared me.
I decided to enroll in real estate classes and obtain my Michigan Real Estate License. I figured if I was going to do this, it was going to be legit. Nearly three weeks later, I had my license and I was put to work. I did all types of office work for her. Processed billing, answered phones, processed current market analysis, showed homes, made my mother lunch and ran her errands - all the things an office assistant and daughter should do for her boss and mother. In all honesty, it was extremely difficult for both of us in the beginning. We didn't know how to approach each other as professionals. She spoke to me as her child, and I responded as her daughter - not the kind of relationship you want bottled up in a small office all day.
We soon learned how to interact with one another in our small office. Eventually, the things that were driving us batty ended up benefiting us. I knew her quirks - the things that set her off, how to approach her during any given situation, when she was stressed, when she needed help, etc. She knew the same things about me. So we learned to take what we already knew about each other and use it in a positive manner.
Earlier today my mother asked me to take on her marketing and promotions. She has a website and her own personal FaceBook, but her actual company has no online personality whatsoever. I have to be honest, after reading her email the first time through, I said, "no way". I let it sink in and I realized that I opened and read that email as her daughter. This is a great opportunity! I get to head the entire project. This is a good chance for me to see what I am capable of without much guidance - see what I know and what I don't know. I know I've got a lot to learn, and I'm probably going to need a lot of help... but I guess that's why I have this whole network to turn to!
Well there's a little insight. Until next time...
-Nikki
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Guiding Light
I am feeling extremely restless in my position in life. So, I graduated college last May. Since then, I have been working my two part-time jobs that still don't provide me with enough to do (or my bank account with enough money). I'm looking to relocate to the Chicago area. Everyone keeps asking me 'Why Chicago?' Why not?? I've always loved Chicago. My father used to take my sister and I to the Windy City for weekend getaways after his divorce from my mother. It's a busy city and I'm more than ready to conquer it! The only problem is: I need a job.
I feel like I went to school for nothing. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I learned a lot during my undergrad studies. The thing is, I know I have a helluva lot more to learn. I don't feel prepared to take on the world. It seems that having a degree doesn't necessarily put you ahead of the game - it just gets you in the game. I'm in the game, I know the rules, I've got some skill and a bit of experience but I need practice. I need to find a place of employment that understands that I'm 'fresh meat' and that it could be a great thing for the company. I'm fresh out of college and excited to get a move on with life. I may not have the qualifications for position:dream job, but I'm a hard worker and I'm dedicated - I will learn the ropes, fast.
I have a degree, a resume and a pocket full of enthusiasm. So what's the problem? I've been searching high and low for jobs, both in Grand Rapids and Chicago. I've asked former professors and current co-workers about jobs, spent hours searching online job boards, and I've applied for what seems like a million different positions. I don't think that these employers are really catching what I'm all about just from my resume and cover letter. I know that I need to spice things up and make myself stand out more. I wish I could just walk into the offices of these prospective employers, sit them down, and just hold conversations with them. I'm a people person and I feel that the best way to learn about me is just to have a conversation with me. I currently work in retail and in promotions, so I interact with hundreds of people every day - and I love it! It's crazy to think that I used to be shy and somewhat timid. I thank my first employer for giving a 15-year-old so much responsibility, forcing me out of my shell and molding me into the confident woman I am today.
I know that things will fall into place with some hard work and some time. So now I will stop my venting, put on my name tag and return to the daily routine. And Mr. Employer, if you're reading, I want to leave you with this final tidbit:
I understand that you may be looking for someone with more experience and a longer list of skill sets, but I'm here and I've been looking for you! I've got a fresh mind and a smile always on my face. Throw me into your company, give a little bit of initial guidance and wish me luck! I'm excited to be a part of the professional world - help me help you. Thank you :)
Until next time --
I feel like I went to school for nothing. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I learned a lot during my undergrad studies. The thing is, I know I have a helluva lot more to learn. I don't feel prepared to take on the world. It seems that having a degree doesn't necessarily put you ahead of the game - it just gets you in the game. I'm in the game, I know the rules, I've got some skill and a bit of experience but I need practice. I need to find a place of employment that understands that I'm 'fresh meat' and that it could be a great thing for the company. I'm fresh out of college and excited to get a move on with life. I may not have the qualifications for position:dream job, but I'm a hard worker and I'm dedicated - I will learn the ropes, fast.
I have a degree, a resume and a pocket full of enthusiasm. So what's the problem? I've been searching high and low for jobs, both in Grand Rapids and Chicago. I've asked former professors and current co-workers about jobs, spent hours searching online job boards, and I've applied for what seems like a million different positions. I don't think that these employers are really catching what I'm all about just from my resume and cover letter. I know that I need to spice things up and make myself stand out more. I wish I could just walk into the offices of these prospective employers, sit them down, and just hold conversations with them. I'm a people person and I feel that the best way to learn about me is just to have a conversation with me. I currently work in retail and in promotions, so I interact with hundreds of people every day - and I love it! It's crazy to think that I used to be shy and somewhat timid. I thank my first employer for giving a 15-year-old so much responsibility, forcing me out of my shell and molding me into the confident woman I am today.
I know that things will fall into place with some hard work and some time. So now I will stop my venting, put on my name tag and return to the daily routine. And Mr. Employer, if you're reading, I want to leave you with this final tidbit:
I understand that you may be looking for someone with more experience and a longer list of skill sets, but I'm here and I've been looking for you! I've got a fresh mind and a smile always on my face. Throw me into your company, give a little bit of initial guidance and wish me luck! I'm excited to be a part of the professional world - help me help you. Thank you :)
Until next time --
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Moments
"Moments pass us by... don't wait to lay your armor down."
Do you ever find yourself taking a mental picture of something? Maybe you take note of the simple things like the way the alley looks as you pass it on your way home. This simple scene that you may have passed a hundred times before has stopped you long enough for you to take a snapshot and add it to the album in your mind. You've recognized something beautiful in an unlikely spot. Maybe you take mental snapshots of more important moments - the way she looks when she opens the door, ready for your first date; the way the tear hits his stubbly cheek after you've broken his heart; the look of unconditional love in your mother's eyes; your very own reflection when you've taken the time to actually see inside the mirror instead of just looking in it. Thousands of seconds pass by everyday. Each second can be a different moment that we can add to our mental albums. Too often we pass these moments by without actually seeing them and taking them for what they are worth. It seems that most of us are constantly either rushing into the next moment or reflecting on the last moment. We hardly ever put our efforts on focusing on this moment - here and now. Do me a favor, stop reading this. Take a breath, a break from the day. Look around the room - take it all in. What is happening around you? Are you letting the moment just slip right past you??
Do you ever find yourself taking a mental picture of something? Maybe you take note of the simple things like the way the alley looks as you pass it on your way home. This simple scene that you may have passed a hundred times before has stopped you long enough for you to take a snapshot and add it to the album in your mind. You've recognized something beautiful in an unlikely spot. Maybe you take mental snapshots of more important moments - the way she looks when she opens the door, ready for your first date; the way the tear hits his stubbly cheek after you've broken his heart; the look of unconditional love in your mother's eyes; your very own reflection when you've taken the time to actually see inside the mirror instead of just looking in it. Thousands of seconds pass by everyday. Each second can be a different moment that we can add to our mental albums. Too often we pass these moments by without actually seeing them and taking them for what they are worth. It seems that most of us are constantly either rushing into the next moment or reflecting on the last moment. We hardly ever put our efforts on focusing on this moment - here and now. Do me a favor, stop reading this. Take a breath, a break from the day. Look around the room - take it all in. What is happening around you? Are you letting the moment just slip right past you??
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