A good point about Gen Y work patterns

Thanks to my dad for sending me my latest article I want to talk about regarding Gen Y and the work place. Finally an article that doesn't seem to bash Gen Y but tries to shine light on the reasoning behind the "flightiness" in our resumes.

The article talks about one major reason a Gen Y employee would leave a job is because they're not learning anything. And here the other articles are saying the reason we're upset is because we didn't get promoted for showing up on time for six weeks. (HA! Take THAT other articles!!) While I will admit Gen Y does have a very inflated sense of self, that doesn't mean we need to only see the negative aspects of a high self worth.

I will be the first to admit it that I have ADD and if I don't care about something or feel as though someone doesn't care about me, then see ya! Probably a good riddance anyways. My ADD causes me to work really fast on something and be very productive and then SQUIRREL! and I'm off to something else just like that. I don't think anything or anyone is to blame for Gen Y being like this (yes even technology is in the clear for the most part). 

Burn out and Gen Y women

I was reading an article recently (this one) and it was frankly, really depressing. It talks about how Gen Y women are typically burning out of work by 30 and opting for stay at home mom or jobs well below their potential. Why is that? The article explains that women have been working so hard for so long to be on top and the best (think high school extracurriculars and AP scores for college applications and think college internships and grades for grad school and workforce) that by the time they hit the workforce they're exhausted and they essentially start on the bottom again and have to work their way up. With women's desire to have a family and a career, it all catches up to them and this article is saying that women essentially give up and become dependent on their man or okay with a lesser demanding job knowing society won't think less of them in the end.

Hmmmmm.... being a 25 year old, go-getter Gen Y female, this troubles me. Am I on the path to burn out in five short years? How do I avoid this burn out? Wait, am I identifying with the "symptoms" they're describing? SHOOT!

I shared this article with a really good friend of mine, Erin, who is also a career minded, Gen Y female and she completely agreed with the article. Here was her response, "We are an interesting era... we want it all and all take balance. We want the husband the house the stability the good job the time for friends and fun and so if work isn't killing us, trying to make sure we keep everything else 'in order' will. We want everything, cake and ice cream and no frosting with a spoon and a fork but no knife and maybe a cookie on the side." I think she's exactly right on that. We want it all and we want it all now, but there are these new obstacles in our way. Ones we weren't prepared for in school or any other training of our past.

How is it a "we"...?

First of all I want to say before I write anything that yes, I do love sports and get pretty into it while watching games and yes, I do follow the NFL. However, no I don't do fantasy (seems like a waste of time and emotions) and no I don't sit around and talk about it like I'm the best color commentator there ever was come Monday morning. With that said, please explain the reasoning behind the use of the word "we" while explaining games. 

My office is like most offices (I'm assuming here) which means a good portion of Monday morning is devoted to phrases like "dude did you see that awesome down by <insert name of player here>" and "What an UPSET!" and random musing about the standings of various fantasy teams. Which in football season doesn't bother me at all (basketball season I want to invest in ear plugs). What I don't understand and wonder if/when I ever will is when people say "oh yeah we clobbered them" or "dude we had such a sick win over <inset team name here>". I'm sorry, what? We? As in YOU and the rest of the team? When was the last time you put on gear and was slammed to the ground by a defensive line man?

While I get wanting to have something to identify with and getting into the game and being a part of it, cool fine whatever, but that doesn't mean YOU did anything about that awesome play. And why is it that it is always "them" when they did something bad, but "we" when the team is riding high? Explain that one to me Lucy.

In my opinion the only people who can say "we" when referencing a team are the players themselves and college students.

Gen Y: The Teacup Generation

The owner's wife of the company I work for studies trends in the workplace and is brought in by businesses to help them with trend analysis. A big focus of her company is figuring out Gen Y and what that means for companies with this new, innovative and highly independent workforce moving up the ranks. There's a piece coming out soon for Time Magazine that they co-bylined all about it and as I was editing it, it struck me, I don't agree with some of their claims. Now it might be because I am very much a part of Gen Y but really I feel like we're being interpreted incorrectly.

The claim that got me to cringe the most was the idea that Gen Y is the "teacup generation". In a previous blog I talk about this but essentially it is the idea that Gen Y is easily breakable and can shatter in an instant. On first thought "hmm not entirely sure that's true but my friends and I do have a high sense of self and yeah I guess we sometimes crumble when critiqued..." But the more and more I thought about it I think we're being judged by a generation who is so different than us that they just don't get it.

Source

I was listening to a story on NPR the other day about "post 9/11 artists" and how, although they weren't creating art directly related or depicting 9/11 that deep down they have been impacted by the events in 2001 and it came through in their art. This caused some reflection on my life and why I think the "teacup generation" label isn't the correct way to look at Gen Y. 

My friends and I have essentially grown up in the post 9/11 world. We learned in a matter of seconds life can end and you need to live life to your fullest. You see students the nation (and the world) over fighting for causes that make them feel good, we believe we can elect presidents and change massive corporations by tweeting and signing a Change.org petition. We are self-reliant and have the attitude of "get shit done" and we do. And yet, we are called the "teacup generation"?

I asked my direct boss about this when I first heard about it and just chuckled with her response. "Well when you guys don't like something you leave or don't do it again. You're easily breakable." Now why is that such a bad thing? It's like the cliche "only touch a hot stove once", right?

PROOF Eat24 is the best...

So I posted that new blog, tweeted it to Eat24 thinking "maybe the night shift will find this humorous..." Little did I know they would tweet me back a thank you and to check my account!

Eat24, you rock and I am not going anywhere soon! You're the best!!

Until next time... 

I'll be back soon Eat24

Moving to LA has taught me many things. However, I'd have to say one of my favorite learning experiences was that you can order food to be delivered and you can do it online! Oh and it isn't only pizza! It's EVERYTHING! I was perusing Facebook/Twitter one day and say a post for Eat24 and so I decided to check it out. It was like a whole new world for me. I could not only read reviews from others who ordered from there (think Yelp) but I could actually order the food right there from their site!

Let's keep in mind that I didn't think they had this in San Diego (where I just moved from) and even still I knew all the places I wanted to eat at down there and parking/traffic wasn't a nightmare like it is in LA.

Thus started my new love affair with delivery Thai food at all times of the night and the adorable Chinese food guy who recognizes me at the door (anyone else think of Miranda from SATC?).

However, I am happy to announce that I haven't had delivery since FRIDAY and I made a goal with myself to not order anything until this Friday and I'm going to see how long I can make it. This doesn't mean not ordering dinner, no it means packing a lunch in the morning and bring snacks to work so I don't even order delivery lunch OR go out to eat. Not only is it to see if this way of life (sans delivery/eating out) is cheaper than making food yourself, I'm really trying to test my will power. I truly love this one little Thai food place and they have a yellow curry chicken combo that is less than ten bucks and it's AMAZING! I digress....

You might be thinking, "Noelle, is it really that big of a deal to not eat out or get delivery?" My short answer, "YES!!" It's a HUGE deal!

Why? Imagine with me (I'd say close your eyes but then you couldn't read my blog) so blow the dust off that imagination of yours that you haven't used since the 2nd grade and imagine this with me...

A single girl picks up her life and moves from everything she knows and loves to a city she's sworn she'd never live in within a matter of three weeks. She doesn't know a soul up in her new 'hood and can't parallel park to save her life. She's weirded out about Target being IN a mall and can't imagine what it'd be like to find a new fave Thai food or taco place. She comes home most nights stressed, exhausted, drained and alone and so the last thing she wants to do is cook and then do the dishes. She stumbles upon this new concept of ordering food beyond pizza online and gives it a shot. It's love at first sight and the rest is history.

With me now? Good.

Needless  to say I know this won't last forever and don't worry Eat24... I will be back, but for now I am enjoying cooking (and by cooking I mean reheating since when I do cook I make TONS so I have leftovers and just have to push buttons on the microwave to eat each night) and not getting Mint.com alerts that I'm spending "too much" on food each week.

If you haven't tried this awesome site, YOU MUST! They have excellence customer service, great selection of places and did I mention the customer service? Phenomenal! And San Diegians, they have places for you too!! Try it!

Until next time...

Winner of the REALLY!?! award today

So it might be because I'm sick or I just don't like stupid questions but this lady's email just cracked me up today.

Hello Noelle,I’m very confused as to what timezone to choose from to ensure I make this on time.  I am in Vancouver Canada. Can you help. There is a lot of timezones listed and none of them resemble anything of the Pacific Standard Time (PST) nature??? Thanks.

Hey xxxx – all the time zones are listed so folks know the local time for the webinar. It will be held at 11am PST which is our local time. Let me know if you have any other questions! 

I figured…thanks.

And yet you still felt the need to email me? smh

Until next time...

Watch my MBA thesis defense!

I received my thesis DVD in the mail today (special thanks to RB from PLNU Media Services!) and a few people said they'd love to watch it on YouTube. Your wish is my command.

Until next time...

What have I learned so far...?

Oh so much!

On May 19th I moved to LA from San Diego and started my new life as a big city girl. I used to think San Diego was a big city, but it has nothing on LA. I don't know if that's because this is 100% new to me or if it truly does just feel bigger. 

Within my two months of roaming around and getting to know new coworkers I have acquired a lot of new information to store away in my little brain. While this isn't a comprehensive list, it's some insight into my transition and feelings about the office.

+ I hate the 405
     When you are ecstatic you're going 50 on the freeway, it's not a good freeway. Granted I'm not upset at the traffic (there's nothing you can do about it when you're in it so why get mad?) it's the fact there are just SO many people trying to go to the same place and some people are down right stupid and don't move fast enough for me.

+ Targets are inside malls

     Long gone are the days of standalone stores with plenty of parking. LA is so jam packed with people and buildings that malls have the normal end cap stores (Macys, JCPenney etc) but I'm now embracing the idea that Targets and Best Buys are inside malls. You might not understand why they is a weird concept to me... close your eyes (well don't do that because you couldn't read anymore) and imagine pushing your cart full of groceries, tampons, clothes you didn't need, deodorant and other essentials THROUGH the mall to the parking structure. Yes, see why it's weird to me now? Good.

+ Everyone is always broke
     Wherever I go and listen over conversations, everyone is "oh so broke" and living paycheck to paycheck. It's a weird concept to me. Whenever I hear these conversations it's usually followed by them ordering delivery food (don't you get it that delivery while convenient the fees add up?) or when at the bar and they're ordering beer and wings (a six pack and frozen wings while not convenient are significantly cheaper and you don't have to shower to enjoy them in your jammies on the couch). 


+ Gen Y is called the "teacup generation"
     When I first started at my job I was learning a ton of things but one factoid that stuck out was the fact that Gen Y is considered the "teacup generation". I was confused and was like "oh like entitled?" and stuck my pinky out while drinking from my fake teacup. Nope. Wrong. We're called the teacup generation because we're easily broken. I would love to invite the creators of that nickname to PLNU/USD and say "you sure it's not because these kids are entitled?" 


+ Everyone is this slash that
     Usually when you meet new people and ask "hey what do you do?" the answer is short and sweet (ie Marketing, Sales, Finance, Accounting, Mooch off my parents) but of course not in LA. Everyone it seems is this slash something else. For example, everyone is reading scripts poolside or at the bar. At the pool I have some trashy gossip magazine or a book and am the odd one out. People are waitress slash actresses or marketing slash wannabe directors. It's so weird how people don't just have one job or career. Everyone is trying to "make it" in the infamous "industry". 


+ Guys are ... unique up here
     There is something to be said for persistence and confidence but good lord boys... chill out. When a girl says she's from San Diego, chances are she's laid back and if she's not indicating any interest beyond nice conversation, don't lay it on think. Stop. News flash to LA boys... Deep down girls still want to be courted and wooed... don't forget that. 

What has LA taught me?

Nothing. Wow, short blog this time...

juuuuust kidding. Post coming tonight, I can feel it.

Until next time...

Sometimes you wonder if it's all worth it...

While I'm working on my "what I've learned in LA" blog marking my two month anniversary of dropping my life in San Diego and moving to West LA [coming soon -- promise], I can't help but keep thinking about the ten day stint I just had in my old stomping grounds.

Background: I had one last class to finish up for my MBA and it was from 8-5 Monday through Friday last week. I extended the stay from Friday the 13th to Sunday the 22nd so I could squeeze in as much sunny San Diego time as possible since I essentially hate LA [still].

Driving to SD on the 13th was was actually pretty emotional for me [and I'm definitely not the emotional type].

Would my friends still want to hang out after being gone two months? 

Did I build San Diego up so much in my head that I would just disappoint me? 

Would I miss San Diego so much that I wouldn't want to come back to LA at all?

Many thoughts raced through my brain as I sat in traffic on the 405 and 5 freeways inching my way closer to what I was comfortable with. I arrived in San Diego in just over three hours and straight to my fave taco place. I felt instantly comfortable with a good friend to share a beer with and laughter and hugs as I've missed her so much.

Then throughout the week I got to stay with another good friend, see so many friends and really enjoy my time being done with school essentially and just enjoying life in laid back San Diego style. Between wine tasting with friends, an MBA event that led to cocktails afterwards to grabbing a plate of my fave Brussels sprouts of all time in Ocean Beach, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. However, in the back of my mind with each passing moment I felt time escaping and with each time I closed my eyes for sleep at night a small tear [or multiple tears lets be real] streamed down my face knowing that is one more day spent in San Diego and one night closer to being alone again in LA come Sunday the 22nd.

I kept catching myself randomly tearing up at the thought of leaving San Diego [yet again] and didn't know if I could handle those intense feelings again as I looked at San Diego get smaller and smaller in my rear view. I found myself coping with the thought of having to go back to LA by filling my time with other times. I taught an MBA class about how small businesses and entrepreneurs can use Social Media to their advantage and really feel like I found my calling in teaching and presenting to others to help them. I realized that I'm not stuck in LA doing what I'm doing and only that. I have control over my destiny and can make choices now and in a year that will impact my path and I just need to plan for what's next while not missing the what's now. 

I was so ready to write LA off and just go through the motions of working and coming home and trying out Pinterest recipes while watching Hulu+ until tonight that [might have] all changed. It's funny how when you're ready to just give up there is little thing called fate that steps in.

I was getting my nails done tonight which has turned into a monthly thing for me to pamper myself and struck up a conversation with this girl who was my age and similar interests. We talked for about 20 minutes between us and the nail technician and it was a nice way to pass the time and not be talking about work. [Well actually the best part was she actually knew who Marcus was which was awesome!] She finished before I did and the pay station was behind me and so I just assumed she'd left and we were to go on out merry ways like life had prior in the day. Wrong. She came up to me and was like "so not to be weird, but VistaPrint was having a sale on business cards and so I made 'nice to meet you' cards with my contact information on them. So please be in touch if you want to hang out and meet people in LA". I was utterly SPEECHLESS and had to fight back the tears of joy and urge to hop of out of my chair and hug this crazy nice stranger. 

While my faith in LA and confidence I made the right decision to bail my comfort zone isn't 100% restored, I'm hopeful and willing to give it a shot.

It's been two months and I look forward to the many more months to come!!

Until next time...

As heard in the office....

New Coworker: "Do you prefer Nikki or Nicole?" 
Me: "Noelle works..." 

*Awkward silence as he realized my name is Noelle*

The moment you wish a camera crew was following up to capture these moments. 

Until next time...

Who would leave sunny Sandy Eggo?

This girl! As of May 19th, I became a resident of West LA and have a work address of Beverly Hills! From figuring out the Target that is INSIDE a mall to being okay with the fact it takes over an hour to go seven miles at 5pm... I will be documenting my new life here!

Best of all... since I'm no longer with Loma and don't need to worry about crazy moms, I'm unlocking my blog!! It's a big deal to me folks.

Until next time...

My journey in online dating all in one spot

As many of you know I blogged my way through eHarm in early 2011 and the posts are scattered throughout this blog. However for my 200th post (cue the celebratory music) I will post all the online dating related posts in one spot starting with the oldest.

1/27/11 My Adventures in Online Dating
1/28/11 First Dates are so Awkward
1/30/11 Second Dates are Less Awkward
1/30/11 How Depressing
2/5/11 I Got a PHONE call... HA!
2/7/11 Thank Goodness for Guided Communication
2/11/11 TGIF... It's Going to be a Good Weekend
2/22/11 My Life is a Scene Out of "He's Just Not That Into You"
2/24/11 So This Is What Happens...
2/28/11 I Guess Mr Handshake Didn't Work Out
5/4/11 Proposed Rules of Online Dating
5/9/11 Online Dating Rule Addition
5/9/11 Violation of Rule 13
6/20/11 Am I The Weird One?
6/22/11 I'm Like No Girl He's Ever Met
7/6/11 I Just Got a HUGE Bouquet of Flowers!
7/19/11 Perhaps I am Like No Other Girl...?
9/14/11 Guess Who's Back!

Then I stopped blogging my way through it. I actually met someone I liked and we went out and then stopped talking and now he's back and we're chatting again. It's been fun and I really would suggest eHarm to anyone who wants to find someone they probably would never meet anywhere else. You'll maybe meet someone but you'll definitely have stories!!

Until next time...

2011: A year in review

The start of a new year brings much talk of what people will do in the coming year. Talks of how to make the next year better than the last. Personal goals. Physical. Relational. Monetary. All goals for how to "get past" or "beat" the previous year and the antics that went with it. What happened to idea that what you do in the your present will shape your future? It's not necessarily only where I'm going, but also where I've been that has me thinking a lot this time of year. I'm not a fan of "resolutions" since I feel like they are just setting me up for failure, but instead look back on the past year and figure out what I want to continue and what I would like to see happen this year and strategize for those things to come to fruition.

What did 2011 mean to me? Where did I go? What did I do? How much have I accomplished in my short 25 years?

2011 was a year of growing in my personal and professional life. The end of 2010 brought the end of a two and a half year relationship which started off 2011 with a clean slate. I blogged my way through eHarmony and met some cool people and learned a lot of what I wanted (and conversely didn't want) in a relationship.

Memorial Day weekend had me moving into a house with two old adults and a roommate who was my age. Desperation on finding a place caused me to land there. At least I could walk to work and it was less than I was paying living alone. 

The start of summer brought the NACCAP conference my office hosted on campus where I gained traction on creating a social media manager for the admissions office and started the ball rolling on the "what's next?" part of my professional life.

July brought a summer camp for work that I had to go to against all complaints and tries of reason to not send me. All attempts failed and I went to Quincy California for a week and learned that sometimes you can hate your job and not have any say in what's going on, but chances are the reason you're hating it won't last forever. I made it through camp and came home to my three MBA classes I was taking.

Throughout the summer I rebuilt and created friendships from work and school and thoroughly enjoyed where I was in life. I was working at a job I liked 90% of the time, excelling in my MBA program and learning what the "single life" was like.

August brought a promotion along with a demotion to the downstairs office. Joining from the highest high of having an awesome new position created for me to crashing to a new low when I was told I was being ripped away from my normal office life. Away from my friends at work and with a feeling of lower self worth. Many times I applied for and sought out other employment because of how I felt I was treated. Out of that grew patience and understanding that while this job may seem unbearable at times, there are far more people out there who hate their jobs or don't have a job. I needed to be thankful for what I had. 

I spent fifteen straight days at one hotel in October which was two weeks out of six travel weeks for the "fall travel" season. Balancing life, school and work all while enjoying the waffles Hampton Inn provides every morning.

November was planning to move (yet again) into an awesome condo with what I call "a random". It's the first time I've been "off the point" meaning I live more than 5 minutes from work and it's been an adjustment, but nothing short of a great one. Landed an awesome roommate and an awesome condo. Finally happy with where I live. 

December marked my 25th birthday and an attempt at a new attitude on life. I am young, but successful however I have so much more I can and will do with my life. I now make lists of why I do what I do and what I like and don't like about aspects of my life. Then I'm able to weigh the pros and cons and stay grounded in how and why I got to where I am and weigh in my future goals with my current frustrations. It's all in the mind games that keep me going day after day through the hard times. 

Which brings me to the end of the year and where I am now. It's only January but I'm already looking forward to all the things I have planned through July.

February is the Online Marketing Summit coupled with the Online Marketing Institute's social media degree program. March bring thesis defense for my MBA. Then May brings graduation from my MBA and NACCAP in Chicago with my coworkers. Mid June brings a two week trip to Thailand with my church and then July is hopefully a family trip to the desert over 4th of July weekend.

Twenty five is shaping up to be an awesome year and I'm wholeheartedly looking forward to it!

Until next time...