Now begins my final intern blog post. Who would have thought that simply checking my Twitter one day would lead to such a great experience? I met Kris last summer while I was interning for the City of Wichita with Tabitha Meyer. The city was collaborating with Start-Thinking on Smithsonian magazine Museum Day 2009. While checking Twitter during a homework break, I saw a tweet from Kris saying she was looking for summer interns. I had recently been searching for an opportunity for the summer, so I took this as a sign. The first week started off as a bit of a …Continue Reading...
Learning To Understand Visual Messages
Communication is important, that much is a given. The extent to which communication is important, however, is often underestimated. Communication serves as the basis of all human progress, whether it be communication between people, between one person and his subconscious, or even between a person and their surroundings, communication is happening on all fronts at all times. Never is communication strictly lingual. Visual imagery provides a message just as much as words and sentences, and often in more personal of a manner than language can provide. This understanding is the basis behind the field of graphic design, though regardless of your design …Continue Reading...
Wed Aug 11
Lessons Learned from Starbucks
Some of the best learning experiences I’ve had have been at Starbucks, where I work as a barista. Not only is the training Starbucks provides very helpful, but the chance to interact with thousands of different customers throughout my time there has given me an opportunity to fine-tune my customer service skills in a way not many people can compare with. Here are some of the most important lessons that I’ve learned from Starbucks. 1. A free drink goes a long way. Too often, companies expect that simply shoveling free stuff or coupons to disgruntled customers will satisfy them and solve their …Continue Reading...
Tue Aug 10
The 5 Reasons Good Communication is Like Good Haiku
The 5 Reasons Good Communication is Like Good Haiku Anyone who’s looked through my twitter feed can tell that I enjoy writing haiku. The ancient Japanese form is deceivingly simple – you can only have 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the last line. That’s it. You get 17 syllables to express a scene, a feeling, a landscape. And so, in haiku form, here are the 5 reasons that good communication is like good haiku. FOCUS Because of their length Haiku must have laser sharp Focus on topic. ESSENTIALS ONLY There is zero fluff No unnecessary words – Only essentials. DISCIPLINE Disciplined in form But flexible …Continue Reading...
Mon Aug 09
Getting Back To Your Passion
I’ve been writing a lot lately about key elements to working the most effectively and efficiently that you can, and I feel like I’ve left out the most important one. Passion! It’s what drives us to accomplish the things we wish to accomplish in life. Not the things we feel like we have to accomplish, but the things we really want to. Remember what it was that first snagged your interest in your field? What was it that made you decide to go into whatever it is you do? Are you still aware of this motivational force today, or have you …Continue Reading...
Mon Aug 09
Thinking Fit on the go
Our Thinking Fit blog is filled with recipes and tips on eating well while at home, but Thinking Fit doesn’t stop at home. Even when you are on the go, there are ways to maintain a healthy, Thinking Fit lifestyle when you are away from your normal surroundings. One significant way is portion control. We have all fallen victim to unhealthy dining while on the road and eating large meal portions while eating out at restaurants. To combat this, consider splitting a meal with your dining companion. It’s a cost-effective way to enjoy a meal and allows you to leave the …Continue Reading...
Thu Aug 05
Social Media: What Would Don Draper Do?
Mad Men hysteria has officially kicked in with the premiere of their fourth season, appropriately titled, “Public Relations.” In one scene, a reporter asks Don Draper, “Who is Don Draper?” Caught in between his present life as Don and his past life, Dick, he is troubled by this question, wary of the intentions behind the question. It is only after he makes an executive decision at the agency, that he realizes that he is in control of his own identity. Don is in complete control over his public persona and has crafted it so well, as to make sure the past …Continue Reading...
Thu Aug 05
Social:IRL Event with Sarah Evans
Ben Smith is not in England anymore. In fact, he is making quite an impact on the SM scene and in Lawrence, where he currently lives. He previously worked with at the World Company, which is host to Lawrence Journal-World, Sunflower Broadband, KTKA, and online properties including ljworld.com, kusports.com, lawrence.com and wellcommons.com, as their Social Media Manager. He has left the company and has since launched Social:IRL, a company that assists businesses with their social media and “new media” needs. He’s organizing and Mashable and Start-Thinking, LLC are sponsoring Social Media Marketing Boot Camp with Sarah Evans on September 14. Sarah …Continue Reading...
Thu Jul 29
Save Yourself, Plan Ahead Thoroughly
Planning is easily the most important aspect to any project. Literally ANY project. Knowing what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it is clearly an essential step to accomplishing anything, but also going beyond simple planning to get into fine details of your steps allows you to move through work much more efficiently. Knowing what you will do in case of certain situations is always helpful as well. It’s hard to do anything without planning even a little bit before hand. Maybe it’s only some vague ideas like “I’m going on a road trip”, with no plans …Continue Reading...
Thu Jul 29
