| June 30, 2009 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
Hello ladies of Boston!
We’re hosting a lifestyle panel on the 30th of June (location TBD). We will be addressing such topics as financial management, career management, work/life balance and leading a purposeful life. For more information and to RSVP to the event, please visit our event page.
Alexis Stack
Alexis Stack is a digital strategist with 10 years of integrated marketing experience. As a consultant, Alexis focuses her energies helping lifestyle brands achieve the growth and reach they seek. Working for advertising agencies in New York City, Alexis has developed her keen sense of trend forecasting and a passion for innovation and emerging technologies. This led her to create Diary of a Labellover, a site dedicated to her passion for fashion and a forum for which she can evangelize brands and help position their viability in the marketplace.
Alexis is Marketing Manager of Girls in Tech, NYC
It seems like every nanosecond there is another app being born from a Twitter or Facebook API. In a world where people are accustomed to an overload of information and instant gratification via their coveted “social networks” we often have to remind ourselves of what really is important and the value that those networks bring.
When the ipod first came out I thought it was the end of engagement with strangers forever. It seemed to be a great excuse to not have to engage with people anymore and all with the introduction of 1,000 songs in your pocket. However, the presence of Twitter has changed the game. It has proven to be a great lesson more than any other social network. Engaging with brands and individuals through tweets has blossomed many incredible business opportunities and new relationships. Smashing Darling is a great example of a contact born from Twitter and nurtured in real life. A brand that was happy to support the NYC chapter when asked for the Spring Bash event we recently hosted.
At a recent Business Development Institute conference discussing how brands use social media, it was inspirational to hear how Tyson Foods, a brand just known for chicken, had become a social force by partnering with local food banks nationwide in an valiant effort to aid hunger relief. Although the joke seemed to be that their media relations department had no “real budget, just chickens” the executives at Tyson were stunned by the warm reception they received by local social media organizations, particularly Social Media Breakfast of Boston who helped rally to their cause and secured 70,000lbs of food on behalf of their local foodbank. In case you don’t know how much 70,000lbs is that is 54,000 meals!
Social networks and technology have proven to be an invaluable utility that foster a means not only to push boundaries but also reach out with that human touch. Creativity and passion are not sparked by things they are sparked by people and that is why human relationships will always transcend technology. If you have a similar experience please share it.
Photo Credit: Tyson Foods Hunger Relief Site (on location in DC)
I saw a surprising article the other day that suggested fewer workers will be taking time off for vacation this summer. Yes, money’s tighter, and it’s likely we’ll see another summer full of staycations, but a new concern for workers is the fear that their employers will figure out ways to get the job done without them. In other words, that week-long vacation might wind up lasting a lot longer than planned if they return to find their position has been eliminated.
We’ve heard for years now that Americans increasingly have difficulties prying themselves from work for extended periods of time. Expedia’s latest Vacation Deprivation study found that a full one-third of people don’t take all the vacation time allotted to them. And, realistically, how many of the 65% of people who do use their vacation time actually unplug for the duration of their break? These days, more and more employed people are feeling overwhelmed and overworked, so a vacation is precisely what they need to recharge.
Isn’t there some compromise? How are you using your earned time off while maintaining your presence (and value) in the office? I prefer to take many long weekends over one or two week-long trips. 3- and 4-day weekends can be just as refreshing; in fact, you might find them to be less stressful to prepare for, and catching up after 1 or 2 days off is a lot easier than tackling the inbox behemoth that rears its head when you’re gone Monday through Friday.
With the warmer months just around the corner and beaches calling your name, certainly vacation is on the brain. So, what’s your plan? Are you opting not to take any time off? Why not? Or, are you planning an elaborate trip despite the economy?
In case you missed it, the economy isn’t doing so hot right now. Staying positive is a challenge for those with even the rosiest of glasses – home values continue to plummet, job stability doesn’t exist in many industries (including tech) and savings accounts are thinning. This news is hard to ignore, and it’s even harder not to worry. Not surprisingly, doctors are seeing growing evidence that the economy is making people sicker, too. Stress levels are at an all time high, people are forgoing routine medical visits to save a little cash, and healthy eating is becoming increasingly expensive. Where is the silver lining?
Results of a recent study from the University of Pittsburgh found that optimists live longer, healthier lives than pessimists. Optimistic women are 14 percent less likely to die from any one cause than pessimists, and optimists also were also less likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes or smoke cigarettes. Optimists open themselves up to new possibilities and change, and in a time when uncertainty is high, we might just do ourselves some good by being flexible with our expectations.
So, do negative attitudes take a toll on our physical health? There certainly seems to be a link, but with so much pressure being felt from our economy, it’s more important than ever to keep our health a priority.
Catherine Morgan at BlogHer offers this advice as your first step toward positivity:
“If you’re feeling stressed over the economy, try to avoid watching and reading the news as much as possible. Sometimes a little ignorance is bliss.”
If you’re unable to do that, take a few minutes to think about the things that make you happy in any economy. You may still have difficulty thinking positively all the time, but it certainly gives you something to smile about. For me:
So, how are you staying positive? Are you naturally optimistic? Are you seeking ways to keep yourself happy for the sake of your emotional well-being?
