Like many of you, I am becoming more and more obsessed with iphone apps and fun sites that interact with my friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. I’m on every social networking site you could imagine, twitter, facebook, myspace, Google BUZZ, linkedIN, Loopt and FourSquare.
Virtually, you could probably figure out where I am at all times. Which means, is my house empty? Am I a target? Could all of my tweets, updates and notifications be aggrigated into one site that informs the world I’m not home?
Pleaserobme.com is a site that is bringing awareness to those naive internet goers who are caught up in the excitement of new applications and are constantly letting the world know, “Hey, I’m not home, Please Rob Me!”
The site was created by three individuals who aren’t really out to get you robbed. Here’s how they describe the problem created by check-ins and the purpose of the site:
“The danger is publicly telling people where you are. This is because it leaves one place you’re definitely not… home. So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the Internet we’re not home. It gets even worse if you have ‘friends’ who want to colonize your house. That means they have to enter your address, to tell everyone where they are. Your address.. on the Internet.. Now you know what to do when people reach for their phone as soon as they enter your home. That’s right, slap them across the face.”
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself:
Don’t list your address ANYWHERE on the internet. If you even have your Resume posted somewhere online, make sure you blur out your address or remove it.
Don’t connect your FourSquare or Loopt to your twitter or Facebook status. By keeping these social media tools separate you avoid your exact location being broadcasted to 10x as many people.
Avoid including your phone number. This is also a search that is easy to conduct and find where you are and where you live, leaving your vulnerable.
So are Foursquare, Loopt, Google Buzz and all the others just sites that make us all easier targets? Location-sharing is becoming such a popular trend this year that it doesn’t seem likely that the site will do much to curb the behavior. If there is such a thing as safe location-sharing, however, I hope you practice it.
Last Friday, January 29, 2010 marked one year since I was “22 and laid-off”. What a year it has been. I’ve always been told, “Life’s a roller coaster, enjoy the ride!” Although, through my eyes, this roller coaster has been nothing close to enjoyable…
Frustration is the best word to describe how I’ve felt. I understand I was 22 years-old, new into the professional world and was lucky enough to still have my parents to fall back on. But my stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to fall into bad habits. Yet, I had no choice.
Thankfully, I was not married with mouths to feed, or a mortgage to pay off. I do realize that. There are so many people in that situation. But it did affect me in both good and bad ways.
I joined this company in October 2008, after I spent my summer in Europe. I spent August and September job hunting, packing my life and moving North. After 10 interviews and hundreds of resumes and tailored cover letters, I received my first professional job.
This job was different, it wasn’t in a field I knew a lot about. I mean, how many people know about the Biotech industry? I’d never even heard the word. But I was ready to jump in and learn.
I spent three months grasping as much knowledge that I could about the industry, working in a large agency and managing client relationships. I’ve never been so eager to learn–science flew over my head in high school and I completely avoided it in college. I all of a sudden was reading about cancer cells, therapies and spitting out acronyms like it was a second language.
I learned so much from everyone I worked with, but I think I left the company with something better than industry knowledge; I left with the most valuable professional and life lessons I could have ever imagined learning in my lifetime: Nothing in life is certain, be prepared for everything.
I left the University of Oregon a naive young journalist with this great outlook on what my professional life would turn out, and it is nothing like I imagined, but it is perfect. The professional world is fast pace, harsh and political like you could not imagine.
Being laid off is one of the most confusing feelings. You have ten different emotions flying through your head, and the questions, they could consume you for the rest of your life. Asking the “what if’s….” and “why me’s” but when it comes down to I’ve learned it’s a little bit of politics, but mostly about money.
I remember the moment after the door was closed behind me, my heart sank, I knew what was happening. I looked up and saw her talking, I couldn’t hear what she was saying, as the words came out of her mouth, “I’m sorry to tell you, we’re going to have to let you go…..” she went on and on and I couldn’t form a thought, I just wanted to leave. I went back to my cube and was met by a friend who hugged me as the frustration melted to fear mixed with anger, with a twist of terror. “I am 22 and unemployed”, I thought this had to be a sick joke, I’d just started there, three months earlier!
Out of my own pride I refused to pack my things in a box, I left with my possessions spilling out of my arms and my purse. Here I was with no job, no friends or family to comfort me, and my crumbled future in my arms.
I went home, packed a large bag and moved to Medford, Oregon to work for my family business until I found another job in Seattle. To me this was short term, I couldn’t comprehend being in Medford for more than a few weeks, if not for my pride, but for my sanity.
I made looking for a job my new job. I had friends and mentors sending me links to job positions in Seattle. I reached out to as many people as I possible could and tapped every networking opportunity available. Every waking hour was spent searching for companies I was interested in working for and writing numerous cover letters telling these employers why I’m the best fit for the position.
My desire to be back in Seattle was my pure motivation. I’d become attached to the city and my life there, I’d just gotten started and all of a sudden it was ripped away from me. I drove up from Southern Oregon to Seattle multiple times in a two month period to attend multiple marathons of interviews. Out of the 100+ resume’s I sent out, I went to at least 10 in person interviews and was offered 3 jobs.
I turned what could have been a year or more of job searching into a two month sprint to find what is now a great job. It was tough to turn around after you’ve been laid off and your spirits are down to find the energy and will to push forward and continue to search.
Some days you want to give up, other days you come to a dead-end. But I was 22 years old, I wasn’t going to settle, I had my whole career ahead of me. When I began my search I said I wanted to stay away from health care. But I found that in those three months I had learned so much about the field, for the first time felt like I could look at a job description and say, “Hey I can do that!” So I continued to persue looking for a job that had to do with Advocacy Relations. I have passion for the experiences people have gone through, and to help tell their stories is one of the most rewarding jobs. I found the perfect home.
Now, I’ve almost been at my new job for a year and I look back on the experiences I went through and realize it was such a great life lesson to learn at a young age.
I now know…..
To be prepared for anything and everything
Just because I’m a “cheaper” employee, doesn’t mean you’re not expendable; and just because you’ve been at a company for 15 years doesn’t mean you have a solidified position- it’s a business
Keep going, no matter what. You have good days and bad days but the search will come to an end, just don’t give up
Utilizing your connections and network can provide good leads, but also it provides good practice
Save save save. You never know when that rainy day is coming, and how long you’ll be stuck in the down pour… be prepared financially
You’re constantly proving your worth at your job. Make yourself an invaluable employee so that you don’t have to ask the “what if’s”
To anyone that has been laid off, I feel for you. All you can do is keep your head up and move forward. Don’t look back, that is behind you. I never thought at 22 I would be laid off. But it happened, I adapted and moved forward and I’m a better person for it. I’m no longer naive about my professional life.
To all of those that have supported me through this roller coaster, I thank you. I couldn’t have done it with out you. A few to mention: My Family: Mama Stringer, My dad, Ken, My Brother, Matt; Jessica Lomelin, Kelli Matthews, Scott Wayne Indiana, Laurel Yamaguchi, Bridgette Quinn-Greenhaw, Libby Whittemore and all of my friends.
Seth Godin once posed the question:
“Are you better at what you do than you were a month or two ago?”
I find this an intriguing questions because as I had found over the past year I was not improving my skills, I was simply trying to learn the ropes.
What I’ve found is that you can do both at the same time. You will never advance in your job or even land the job you’re striving for unless you constantly work at improving your skills.
Here are a few thing to help get you started: 1. Make a list of your Skills you want to improve- This is not only a good place to start, but this is also a good thing to know because you will be asked the question “what are your weaknesses?” in an interview, or you will be asked to improve on your weaknesses for a development goal. But don’t just pick something easy, find weaknesses/skill that you can truly achieve, but will also give you a challenge.
2. Brain storm – Brain storm a list of rescources that will help you turn your weak skills into strengths. Maybe it’s keeping up with your blog to enhance your writing skills, or taking online classes at Linda.com. But find ways to achieve your goals.
3. Schedule time to work on your skills – If you don’t actually take the time to asses your skills and work on them, you will never move forward. You can increase the time you put out a project, but if your skill that needs improvement is your grammar, then take the time to re-read your project before you turn it in.
4. Take your time- If you’ve already admitted to yourself that your skills need some improvement, then take your time to actually work toward improvement. Take an extra five minutes to asses your work and make sure you’ve completed it to the best of your ability.
5. Save Compliments - If you or your co-works or professors have noticed an improvement in your skills and have commented on it, save the compliment. It helps to look back at encouraging works to keep your momentum going in the future. Also, if it comes down to a promotion, you have proof that you’re moving forward and working hard to improve.
Take some time to improve your skills in the new year.
I would like to introduce Jessica Nicole Lomelin, an everyday advocate. Jessica is more than an advocate, she in an inspirational, open-minded young woman who finds passion and joy in helping others.
Jessica has been given an amazing opportunity to make a difference. In less than a month Jessica will leave her friends, family and stable job to tell the stories of the Men, Women and Children of Gulu, Uganda. Jessica will be working with the organization Invisible Children as a communications assistant.
Seeing the excitement and glow on her face as she describes the organization makes supporting my friend worth every tear and every cent I can manage to pass along. The passion Jessica has to make a difference in the world is something we should all strive for.
Jessica will be documenting the people she meets and her numerous endeavors on her blog jessicalomelin.com. I ask that you please pass along her story and read her inspiring words.
As my best friend, sister and support system leaves me for this amazing adventure, I may not be able to support her financially, but I can support her emotionally.
Jessica will do great things in her lifetime, she is an amazing young woman with an open mind and an open heart. I look up to her and can’t wait to see what she can do for the people of Uganda.
Below is a message from Jessica.
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I’m asking friends, families, strangers and kind-hearted people to donate to my trip and support the work I will be doing in Uganda. The organization is providing a discounted living situation, but I am essentially having to cover my airfare, vaccines, visas, and travel items.
Your donation will help me help Invisible Children.
I’m not receiving a large amount of financial support from Invisible Children given that the majority of their funding goes toward projects and initiatives. This is expected for non-profits and regardless of the financial set-backs this may cause, it is something I am still passionate about doing.
Donating even just a dollar to my trip will help me extend my stay in Africa and continue working with either Invisible Children or another similar NGO. Money permitted, I would love to stay in Africa for some time and do my best to positively impact the community and the people I meet.
Imagine if we got 500 people to donate just $1? How powerful that could be! I understand we are in the middle of numerous natural disaster’s and money is a tough situation, but consider giving up 1 latte this week and putting that money toward the work I will be doing in Uganda. If you are unable to donate, all I ask is that you just follow me as I take this adventure. Pass my name and my story on to your family and friends, and know that anything helps. You can help me make a difference in the lives of others.
Please take some time to become familiar with Invisible Children. The more people that are familiar with Invisible Children and the crisis going on in eastern Africa, the more likely things will improve.
If you are interested in contributing to my trip and to the work I will be doing in Africa you can donate through my secure Paypal account Here: http://jessicalomelin.com/contributions
They say that people who do good things reap benefits in more ways than they can imagine. Think of this as a good deed, whether contributing, telling the story of Invisible Children or becoming inspired to take action. Simply, pay it forward.
As stages of internet development are being deemed the 2.0 and 3.0 era, the state of online healthcare has jumped in head first with Healthcare2.0.
What does this look like? And what will Healthcare 3.0 look like?
As a student of the internet and a healthcare professional I have been intrigued by how the internet can help patients bring care into their own hands. Let me first define what I think Web 1.0 is to set the foundation.
Web 1.0 – information that is communicated from company to individuals (i.e. your basic web site). The web becomes one big encyclopedia of sorts.
Web 2.0 – information is communicated between company and individuals & between individuals. This is the Facebook, myspace, twitter, message board youtube web. If web 1.0 is a book, web 2.0 is a discussion.
Web 3.0- it’s not information anymore, it’s intelligence, artificial intelligence. You’d interact with it almost like another person. The web won’t just blindly do what we tell it do to, it’ll think for you.
As for Healthcare…
Healthcare 2.0- brings your healthcare questions and answers online. Do you remember all those medical books your parents used to have and they would look up your symptoms as a kid to make sure you didn’t have Rubella or some crazy illness. Well now they can look it up on sites like WebMD and Medipedia. You can join online advocacy organizations such as Patients Like Me, and ask questions to people on message boards. Healthcare has become interactive.
With Web 3.0 on the distant horizon what does this mean for healthcare 3.0?
It could mean a ton of different things. Such as online database where you can choose your Physician based on specialty, number of years practicing, number of malpractice suits, if they accept your insuarnce provider. I imagine Healthcare3.0 making it easier for the patient to find exactly the right dr. Web 3.0 will be more interactive, where your computer can diagnose you based on your symptoms. Healthcare 3.0 can help patients be more educated about their health and diseases.
There are so many possibilities as to where we can go from here. I’m excited to see what’s next for Healthcare-something-point-something.
Every day we are affected by something; sick family members, the environment, political decisions. Every day we make choices that can change our lives forever. We also have the power and voice to persuade others to make the correct decision for themselves. When you believe in something enough to turn your passion in to action you have become an Advocate.
Find any topic that has affected you in one way or another, environment, health care, teen pregnancy, child abuse –anything that makes you so passionate you want to yell from the roof tops. To be an affective advocate you need to have first hand experience. Whether it’s being a patient with Parkinson’s Disease, or being a caregiver to an autistic child you’ve seen and experienced what it is like to see someone struggle because there is no cure or no answer to question or need. Being a passionate advocate involves a few things:
1. Know your topic from all angles. Know first hand experiences and the effects if nothing is done about it. By honing in on your personal experiences you only strengthen your case. No one can fight with what you see or feel.
2. Share your experiences. Whether it’s with a family member or friend. or a random stranger at a party. Strike up a conversation and share you knowledge and your experience. The passion from your experiences inspire others to take action.
3. Get involved. Beyond sharing your story and experiences find groups and organizations of people just like you, working toward the same goal. Together you can make larger advances to either accomplishing your goal or just making other aware of your cause.
4. Begin an online campaign. Whether it’s a twitter or facebook campaign. or a video on Youtube. Word of mouth campaigns are eye catching and very relate able. Sit back and think about what messages resonate with you. Share those with the world. Advocates are taking over the Social Media sphere and if you want to be a part of it you’re going to have to dive in head first.
Being an advocate for something you are passionate about can help guide someone who is struggling with a life changing decision. Be compassionate, share you story. Turn your Passion into action.
Word of Mouth is one way to gather a following. When you sit down to dinner with family friends and someone mentions these plastic horses they’ve seen on the streets of downtown Portland, Oregon, and you begin to wonder what they are doing there? Why did someone tie these plastic horses on the ground? Then you tell your friend who realizes they’ve seen these horses too and they tell someone else and the cycle keeps repeating… until you have a word of mouth epidemic and Oregonians are still trying to solve the mystery of the toy plastic horses.
These rings are used to tie up horses and carriages in downtown portland. Not many people notice these rings until one local artist, Scott Wayne Indiana started a project, The Horse Project. To participate in the project you must buy a toy plastic horse locate a ring, and tie the horse to the ring. Then take a picture and send it to Scott Wayne Indiana and he will post it on his Web site 39forks.com.
Scott tied his first horse to a ring in 2005, and four years later these little horses are showing up all over town and have inspired many Oregonians and visitors to participate in the Horse Project.
By beginning somingthing as intriguing as finding toy horses tied to the sidewalk it sparks interest and begins conversations. This leads to conversations about tiny horses during coffee, dinner, and drink. And there fore we have word of mouth marketing.
Although, Scott Wayne Indiana was not trying to promote himself and his art, he was simply trying to get people to notice their surroundings, to notice small details such as rings in the sidewalk. And what a great way to do it.
Props to you SWI, thank you for opening our eyes to the small details in our world.
A month and a half ago I was laid-off from my job. Unemployment is scary for a 23-year-old who is fresh out of college, and laid-off from my first “real” job. I’m not going to lie; it has been the most confusing time in my life. Every other day my plan changes on what I’m going to do next. Should I stay in Seattle, should I move home and save money, should I go to grad school? So many decisions, I wish someone would choose the right one for me, and I’d put all my faith in them and do it. Making these choices is such a great life lesson, but man it is stressful.
I am in a decent position, unlike many others who have families to support, mortgages to pay, I was able to take a position working at my family business, although, I’ve been forced to temporarily move out of Seattle to the Podunk town of Medford, Oregon (don’t get me wrong I do hold a place in my heart for Medford) where I have zero-friends and my dad seems like a ghost that shows up every 3rd Tuesday of the months that end in “Y”. I’m getting by with the overwhelming support of my friends and family and I know things will be okay; I just have to trust this. And I’m also doing work that is keeping my skills fresh and helping me advance our company.
I think about the week leading up to when I was laid-off every day, and I think of the moment I was let go, and feels like a vivid nightmare that replays every night. I loved my job, I loved the agency I worked at, and I loved the people. I looked up to my supervisor and hope we can keep in touch, because she is an amazing woman.
But, I was naïve about the situation. I didn’t think it was going to happen to me. And there are things I wish I would have done before I lost my job, that may or may not have made a difference, but If I would have done these things, maybe I wouldn’t have to place part of the blame on myself.
I wish I would have asked for extra work. I was working at a communications agency that did everything from public relations to advocacy relations to advertising. It was very well rounded. I was working in advocacy relations, which was new to me, but soon became my passion. But the week before I was laid-off thing definitely slowed down, even weeks before that my work had slowed. Now this may not have been a direct effect of me being laid-off. But I could have assisted in different areas of the company to let executives know that I can be used in other areas of the agency. I received my degree in public relations, and also have knowledge of Social Media, which was being utilized at the agency. If I had offered to help out in these other areas while I was caught up on my work, the executive team may have noticed that I could have been utilized in multiple areas.
I wish I would have networked with more people. I worked on a very small team that was tucked in a far off corner of the agency. I didn’t meet many people in my four-month stint there. I never took the time to socialize, or even take advantage of meeting people through the extracurricular activities that were set up for us, Which means I wasn’t networking with my coworkers. They didn’t fully understand my capabilities and the value I could have brought to other areas of the agency. I’m kicking myself now for not making those connections and relationships, which could be assisting in my job search.
I wish I would have kept track with my network. Finding a job is about networking. I didn’t take the time to the day I was let go to take a look at the relationships I had made and write down their contact information. I was in shock mode when I got back to my desk to pack my things, I didn’t fully think of what I needed to take with me besides my personal belongings.
I wish I had an emergency fund. As a recent graduate I was just starting to become financially independent from my parents. Like most recent grads, I had to borrow money from my parents and was just going to be able to start paying them back when this happened. I’m still learning about saving and budgeting, but I wish I would have made a large effort to put aside a large portion of my money each month, so that I would have a safety net now that I am suffering.
I wish I wouldn’t have been so naïve. Nothing is certain in this life or your career. This economy is going to be out-of-wack for at least the next five years. In history it has taken at least five years for our nation to pick itself up and dust off its shoulders from the moment we’ve hit rock bottom, I still don’t believe we’re at rock bottom yet. It is scary for everyone. And I think everyone needs to know you aren’t safe. You need to be working extra hard and taking as many precautions as you can in case something happens to you.
I wish I wouldn’t have taken my job for granted. I remember the day I had to sit down and talk finances with my roommates. As soon as we wrapped up the conversation on a Sunday evening at 10:30 pm they all said in unison, “Man I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow!” I looked at them all and said, “Please just be thankful you have a job.” I think about all of the mornings I got up and complained about getting ready and riding the bus. If only you know what I’d give to be at a job and know what I was doing with my future.
These are things I wish I would have done before I lost my job. Your life can change in an instant, and I cannot change these things I wish I had done, but I can pass along the wisdom to others. Not many people are laid-off from their first job in their twenties, although unfortunately I think it will begin to be more common than not, these are things to think about if you are at your job, whether it’s your first or your tenth position. Nothing is certain.
On a Final note, Today while reading Vanity Fair there was a pullout quote that said, “your dream Job is finding something with a salary and health benefits.” and it’s so true. Currently, yes I have future goals for my life, but I am NOT thinking about them right now. I’m focusing on today and finding a job for right now that has benefits and a salary I can live off of. Not 5 years from now. But I thought this was an interesting point that a dream job now solely involves a salary, benefits and a 401k.
On a final final note, no matter how you cut back, my biggest advice is to keep your health insurance. One accident or major illness can land you thousands of dollars in debt. If COBRA, the coverage you can get from a former job, is too pricey, find deals on ehealthinsurance.com. or look into high-deductible coverage; it has cheaper premium (you’ll just pay more out of pocket if an emergency strikes) but health insurance is so important, make sure that isn’t something you sacrifice in these hard economic times.
Update: Thank you for everyones support I accepted a job offer last week! And will be sure to take my own advice!
I thought I would share these beautiful, well thought, creative, and inspiring place to work. I think I’d be in heaven every day if I worked in any one of these offices! Enjoy
“The danger is publicly telling people where you are. This is because it leaves one place you’re definitely not… home. So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the Internet we’re not home. It gets even worse if you have ‘friends’ who want to colonize your house. That means they have to enter your address, to tell everyone where they are. Your address.. on the Internet.. Now you know what to do when people reach for their phone as soon as they enter your home. That’s right, slap them across the face.”
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