My supervisor S gets recognized on the street with all the spokesperson work she does through work. Her sister also happens to be a Canadian TV personality and since they look so similar S gets mistaken for her sister all the time too. Today S caused quite the stir when she went to her local post office. She had the lady who worked there all excited to see the woman on TV. She really is an amazing spokesperson. She exudes confidence even when she's unsure of herself. Definitely an inspiring person to work with and i'm honestly lucky to have her as my supervisor.
Yesterday I did my first media interview and although i was ridiculously nervous to do something I have prepared two people before me to do, S's advice of pretending that I was only talking to the interviewer and that no one else was listening to the radio show kept running through my head. It wasn't as difficult as I imagined it would be. i definitely need to remember to slow down when i'm speaking though. I have the bad habit of speaking very quickly in everyday speech and I have to consciously remind myself to slow it down. I also had about 5 um's in 6 minutes and i said "fantastic" one too many times (one fantastic is enough for any conversation or it just sounds like overkill haha). Overall, i'm quite content with how i did.
I think what got me so nervous is that I had decided that this interview could determine whether or not they hire me at the end of my contract. My manager told me that our VP had been asking about me and about whether or not i was a good spokesperson, comfortable with media etc. and until now that was yet to be seen. If my manager and VP think that my first one went well then that could give me a big leg up if they decide to hire an entry level person for the media team.
it's funny how the people around you can be so confident in your ability even when you are not. With some people you know they are just saying that it will go well because they don't want to tell you that you will fail. But then you know those sincere people in your life who would tell you their honest opinion regardless of whether it's a negative or positive comment. i truly hope that everyone has a couple of these real friends in their life. these types of friends offer another level of support that transcends simply being nice.
Recently, i've had someone new in my life who seems to transcend the nice zone in the same way that P does. It could be my hormones talking -- there might be some sense in K$sha's words "my steeze is gonna be affected if i keep it up like a lovesick crackhead." But i don't think that's it. this guy seems so different than others that i've dated. i'm not scared, i'm not panicking, i don't mind talking to him every day - in fact i want to. he is incredibly articulate and listens to what i'm saying while laughing at my jokes and he even shows off his own inner dork that so often i find myself letting escape.
E seems genuinely interested in me which made me believe him when he expressed confidence in my ability to kill that interview. it's nice to actually believe what a guy is saying to me, instead of always having my guard up.
E actually told me a story about the person who interviewed me and how he was the first autograph that E ever got (he was just a youngin' and mesmerized that this guy was on TV). This was just so incredibly precious. You have to understand that the host of the radio show i was on, is very well known in the community BUT he's the corniest guy ever and mixes his information up all the time. and here little E walks up and slides a napkin onto his table for him to sign - too shy to even speak.
I told S today that it was only a matter of time before kids would be sliding her napkins in crowded restaurants.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Just call my name and I'll be there...
Today my director of communication called me into his office. He wanted to lend me a book that he had told me about last week when I spoke of my love for Cirque du Soleil. I had expressed how mesmerized i was by the performers who spend their entire lives training to do something that they love and then get to share that love, that passion, that fire with millions of people.
My talk reminded him of this book The Spark: Igniting the Creative Fire that Lives within Us All.
I've only been able to read a little bit on the skytrain ride home but I thought I would share this bit from the foreword:
"They [Cirque performers] have learned to surrender to their senses, trust their instincts, take risks, and meet new challenged in an artistic and nurturing environment. They work alone and they work together learning to connect with and touch people in new ways, endeavoring always to reinvent themselves. And they aspire to give back to the world in the endless continuum of change, exchange and renewal; they are catalysts. From a tiny spark a great fire was kindled and its flames warmed the world..."
Too often people lack real passion in the job that they do. You don't have to be a traditional performer to have fire or to inspire change. You can be a performer in your own life - be your own star. Right now i have a sheep hanging on the wall of my office; it symbolizes leaving the flock behind and forging your own path. It's made quite a few people stop and take a closer look and maybe it's made them think too.
My director told me today, during a scheduled one-on-one meeting, that my writing made him think. that my writing showed heart and that i had a skill there. he encouraged me to find my own passion may it be with our company or another, highlighting how i'm young enough to choose and fortunate enough not to be trapped in one area.
He extended his hand to me, letting me know that anything I needed in terms of job support he was willing to give and that he looked forward to seeing what i produced with my term extension.
I'm so excited and grateful to have that support from a director. The director of communications at NRCan never even introduced himself to me. Taking notice of even the smallest employee is the mark of a good leader in my opinion. My GM at my former job took notice of every employee and knew each by name, regardless of the job that they performed. And people respect him in a way that his predecessor never experienced.
Oh in case you're wondering about the title. my director said that during our meeting and i pointed out it was a song lyric and he remarked that's where he gets all his best lines. Humour: another trait that can be hard to come by when dealing with superiors in a corporate environment.
Have I mentioned that i love my job?
My talk reminded him of this book The Spark: Igniting the Creative Fire that Lives within Us All.
I've only been able to read a little bit on the skytrain ride home but I thought I would share this bit from the foreword:
"They [Cirque performers] have learned to surrender to their senses, trust their instincts, take risks, and meet new challenged in an artistic and nurturing environment. They work alone and they work together learning to connect with and touch people in new ways, endeavoring always to reinvent themselves. And they aspire to give back to the world in the endless continuum of change, exchange and renewal; they are catalysts. From a tiny spark a great fire was kindled and its flames warmed the world..."
Too often people lack real passion in the job that they do. You don't have to be a traditional performer to have fire or to inspire change. You can be a performer in your own life - be your own star. Right now i have a sheep hanging on the wall of my office; it symbolizes leaving the flock behind and forging your own path. It's made quite a few people stop and take a closer look and maybe it's made them think too.
My director told me today, during a scheduled one-on-one meeting, that my writing made him think. that my writing showed heart and that i had a skill there. he encouraged me to find my own passion may it be with our company or another, highlighting how i'm young enough to choose and fortunate enough not to be trapped in one area.
He extended his hand to me, letting me know that anything I needed in terms of job support he was willing to give and that he looked forward to seeing what i produced with my term extension.
I'm so excited and grateful to have that support from a director. The director of communications at NRCan never even introduced himself to me. Taking notice of even the smallest employee is the mark of a good leader in my opinion. My GM at my former job took notice of every employee and knew each by name, regardless of the job that they performed. And people respect him in a way that his predecessor never experienced.
Oh in case you're wondering about the title. my director said that during our meeting and i pointed out it was a song lyric and he remarked that's where he gets all his best lines. Humour: another trait that can be hard to come by when dealing with superiors in a corporate environment.
Have I mentioned that i love my job?
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