Six lessons learned from my six months in Houston
Today marks 6 months since we moved to Houston. A lot has happened thus far in 2009… Jason and I moved in together, Jason started work in the real world, I parted ways with a great company in Dallas and landed a new job at Schipul – the web marketing company in Houston doing lots of really amazing good and focusing on growing great people, we felt the effects of the economy when Jason got laid off, brought a new member into our little family, and endured all those day to day adventures inevitable in life. It’s all happened pretty fast. But through it all, I’ve learned a few things. And I thought I would share… you know, to mark the occasion.
Life lessons from my 6 months in Houston
Lesson 1: Branch out
I grew up in Dallas, so when I lived there after college I never really felt the need to take it all in and learn as much as I could about the goings on of the city. In Houston however, I find myself constantly taking notes when people talk about places to eat and things to do (however random those things might be).
Some of my favorite things I’ve done include visiting the Houston Zoo (they’re a Schipul client, and we’re pretty proud of their pretty new website if you haven’t seen it yet), seeing the Body Worlds Exhibit at The Houston Museum of Natural Science, and hanging out at music venues like Warehouse Live and House of Blues Houston. Oh yes, and enjoying the local cuisine.
Spoon at Warehouse Live in May
Lesson 2: Eat Interesting Food
I love to eat. And as I mentioned, I love to hear food suggestions. Our first weekend in Houston we ate at Cheddar’s on Friday night and Chili’s on Saturday. Boring! I have since been warned to stay away from chains at all costs. And have tried to get in as much of the amazing food Houston has to offer as possible.
Some of my favorite Houston food joints include Sugarbabies for cupcakes, Lupe Tortilla for Mexican Food, Star Pizza for pizza, Ikea for the most food for your money (can’t beat $2.50 for 2 hot dogs, chips, and a drink), The Burger Shack for a burger, Cafe Express for lunch, and Alamo Drafthouse West Oaks for dinner and a movie.
For suggestions and keeping track of my “Wishlist” of restaurants I would like to try, I use Urban Spoon. I really can’t get enough of the iPhone app (if you don’t have an iPhone, you can use the Urban Spoon widget on their site that works the same way).
So… if you have any suggestions, let me know! I love to try new places!
My UrbanSpoon wishlist
Lesson 3: Kittens make everything better
For some people, it’s dogs that makes them smile no matter what’s going on in life… but for me it’s cats. Fat and thin, all shapes and colors welcome. I don’t discriminate.
Little did I know just a few months ago that the arrival of the Lassberg kittens would become such an event in my life. The sweet little kitten we finally decided to call Aeris has balanced out our apartment and brought so much joy to our lives! It’s hard to have a bad day with a little purr machine sleeping peacefully on your chest.
And now I know conclusively that we are doing our part by adopting all of the cats we can fit right now. If I could, I would attempt to save all of them. Believe me. But don’t tell me apartment complex.
For more kitten videos, check out vimeo.com/qcait
Lesson 4: Choose your partner in crime wisely
We are so cool.
Jason and I went from a long distance relationship to living together in a short period of time. .. and I’m not going to lie, I was a little anxious about how that would affect us. The transition was much smoother than I could ever imagine. I’m no relationship expert, but I can say that our success has come from a few specific things:
- Candid communication – We talk about everything, even little stuff. When I do or don’t care if he comes with me to meet friends, I’m honest. If it bugs him when I don’t put dishes in the sink, he is sure to let me know. It’s easier to be honest about little things before they turn into big things.
- FUN! – Whether we are staying home playing Rock Band or venturing out into any of the many goings on in Houston, we always have fun. Being able to laugh and be nerds together is probably my favorite thing about our relationship.
- Balance - We learned really quickly that sometimes we need our own time, even in the house. A perfect Sunday afternoon often means him playing video games in one room and me watching a Top Model marathon and playing on the computer in another. And that’s ok.
Lesson 5: Take it all in
With all this new-ness … new town, new job, new experiences I am trying to soak it all in as much as I can. I have been reading more, pushing myself to continue bettering myself in my job, and trying to keep up with as much as I can in the world around me. It helps to work in an environment that encourages these things. Sometimes I really miss school – not just the amazing friends but also the constant immersion in new concepts and analysis of the world around me.
I am thankful that I get to spend my week days around amazing people who love to share their knowledge and point of view. It makes us all better.
On a sidenote regarding reading, here is a list of my favorite books I have read in 2009:
- “Winning” by Jack Welch – I love his take on growing people and being candid with everyone around you.
- “How to Walk in High Heels: the Girl’s Guide to Everything” – this book covers everything from career advice to getting ready in the morning. I love it and if you love girly stuff, you might just love it too.
- “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey – especially the part about crafting your personal mission statement.
Lesson 6: Roll with the Punches
Right after the decision was made to let me go from my previous company, I got this advice:
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m really not”
I’ve tried to take that to heart. Realize that change is inevitable – and all I can do is roll with it and make the best of any situation. In the case of my job, I ended up in an environment extremely suited to my learning style and my work/life balance is as stable as it has been in a long time. In the case of my personal life, the heartaches and difficult circumstances of the past were all learning experiences that brought me to the amazing place where I am in my relationship today. In the case of my family, my parents are (and have been for over a year now!) happily committed – to other people… and going through their split has made my sister and I stronger people.
Sometimes all you can do is put on your favorite pump up song and hunker down. Do what you can – whatever you can – to get yourself out of the trenches. And remember that even baby steps count as forward motion. And it doesn’t hurt to have someone by your side who loves you – even when you do really embarrassing things like talk about your cats a little too much or buy a High School Musical Dance video game.
In Conclusion
Houston has been a wonderful adventure so far. I have learned a lot about myself, my relationship, and where I want to go in life. I love this affirmation I got from a recent fortune cookie:
“Stop searching forever, happiness is right next to you.”
It’s been a great 6 months in Houston, and I’m ready for many more!
Filed under Kitten tales, Musings | Comments@BravoTV makes my day!
Many of you know I have a ridiculous obsession with reality television, especially Bravo. I am what you might call a Raving Fan. I will watch whatever they suggest and share the love about new shows with friends!
Recently, I have given Bravo some flack (ex. here) when they tried to branch into Twitter because you could tell they really didn’t know how to use the tool properly. My biggest issue is that Bravo seemed to only create a Twitter account just a few days before a big Twitter promotion and then spent the entire time talking about themselves and the event (multiple identical reminder tweets per day). My biggest issue: not sharing with the fans… thus breaking one of the cardinal rules of Twitter: It’s not all about you!
But… all is forgiven, because they replied to me via Twitter yesterday and completely made my day.
Here’s my tweet –
This was after the fire in my upstairs neighbors’ apartment and ensuing sprinkler gush that soaked my kitchen and we had to cut the power in the apartment for safety (don’t worry, no one was hurt and there will definitely be an entirely separate post about all of that).
Moved the tv in the bedroom (only room with power) so I can watch top chef on @bravotv while we wait for the water extraction people. #nerd
Here’s Bravo’s response –
@qcait that is commitment!
Thanks for the love!
It was simple and to the point. And it completely made my day.
That’s the thing about raving fans. They really like you. And they LOVE being acknowledged by you. Or at least I do! Thanks Bravo for reaching out to the fans!
Filed under Musings | CommentsPR 2.0 – You’re Doing it Right Examples
I just finished the book PR 2.0. It’s pretty basic – geared toward traditional PR professionals who don’t quite understand all the tools available on the web to help them maintain their brands. For someone who understands web tools, the descriptions of how an RSS feed works, how a blog can help you, etc. are probably explanations you’ve written yourself to explain to clients and friends. I did really enjoy the interviews with professionals to hear their stories.
It got me thinking about good examples of companies doing cool things incorporating social media into their PR strategy.
Examples of great online public relations
A few of my favorite examples of great online public relations are when a brand or company gets made fun of and rolls with it – ultimately coming out looking better in the end.
Case 1: EA Sports
So the story goes like this – a gamer by the username Levinator 25 found a glitch in the Tiger Woods golf game where when Tiger’s golf ball flies into the water, Tiger walks on water to retrieve the ball. He posted a simple 30 second video, which has since receive over 834,000 views and is rated 4 1/2 stars (almost unheard of among the infamously HARSH YouTube audience).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h42UeR-f8ZA
EA responded with a video as a response to the original, showing Tiger himself ACTUALLY walking on water and proclaiming “It’s not a glitch.”
EA’s video has a staggering 3 MILLION hits and a 5 star rating. And it’s hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1st1Vw2kY
Why it worked:
- EA responded in the same medium as the original
- EA put resources behind it – they got Tiger himself involved
- EA responded directly to the fan, and more importantly - included the fans in the action
Case 2: Torn by Natalie Imbruglia featuring Johan Lippowitz
So a mime comedian named Johan Lippowitz posts videos on YouTube with his mime interpretation of various pop songs. An artist could see this as poking fun at their meticulously crafted songs, or they could roll with it. Like Natalie Imbruglia.
Natalie took it a step further and INVITED Johan to perform his rendition of Torn at one of her concerts – much to the surprise of the crowd. Everyone loved it, and it made her look better in the end. The video has received over 3 million views, and is a great example of good PR – whether that was her intention or not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TM3GbxaNLI
One of my favorite truths from the book PR 2.0 is: “The ability to build better relationships through targeted communication is the key to brand success.” … and I think that’s definitely true, especially in these cases!
Filed under Media Consumed, Musings | CommentsWelcome to the family, littlest one!
Thanks to the fantastic and heartful Lassberg clan, we brought home our newest bundle of joy this week! She is 8 weeks old, and we haven’t quite settled on a name.
I pulled together some quick footage of the adorable kitten for your enjoyment! The music is “New Soul” by Yael Naim. Enjoy!
Adorable new kitten! from Caitlin ‘Qcait’ Kaluza on Vimeo.
Want more? Check out kitten pictures on Facebook.
Filed under Kitten tales | CommentsSocial Media – Can it Get you the Job?
It’s graduation season!
Last weekend marked two years since I walked the stage in Reed Arena to take my diploma with my left hand, shake with my right, and look awkwardly in the general direction of the off-stage cameraman. I have several friends graduating soon, and I know a few are still struggling finding a job and experiencing common issues - how to differentiate yourself from others, how to show you know what you’re doing, etc.
I recently read an article from @linkedin (since it’s #followfriday, I’ll note that their twitter account is a really great source for tips on job hunting) on the subject of using Social Media to get a job.
The gist – College career centers are encouraging students to blog, Tweet, and use LinkedIn (remember, this article came from LinkedIn) to aid in their job search.
Jobvite released the results of its second annual Social Recruitment Survey and found that 80 percent of companies surveyed are planning to “use social networks to find or attract candidates.” The top three tools specifically mentioned were LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
The million dollar question: Does it work?
In some industries (web and marketing especially), it’s true, social media can help you get the job. I’ve heard my boss say it a million times. Most recently at a panel on Social Media for PR professionals put on by Clearpoint Creative (they are a placement agency specializing in the design and creative industry, Schipul client, and one of my most helpful contacts when looking for a job in Houston – before I was ever hired at Schipul):
“the hardest part of hiring is cultural fit & values.” @eschipul on using social media to find passionate people to hire
Using Social Media, companies can find people who fit faster than ever before
The bottom line is that because of the internet, it’s easier than ever before to find people who share your values. This is true for nonprofit organizations looking for support, obscure brands looking for their niche market, and companies looking for the perfect employee.
It’s like the story Ed tells of the Greenpeace volunteers who ride a life raft in the middle of the Antarctic Ocean to block the oncoming harpoons of dangerous whale poachers… for free… and take pictures to put on flickr. Before the internet, people like this would be urban legend. But now there’s not only proof… but a fairly easy way for the group to recruit!
Caveat: NOT having Twitter does NOT mean you FAIL at life
I love this clip from Desperate Housewives a few weeks ago. Tom is interviewing for an advertising job and feels inadequate for not knowing what Twitter is. Do you have to keep on top of trends to be proficient in advertising? Yes. Do I feel that most young people in marketing have the opposite problem and their inexperience is seen as a bigger disadvantage? Yes. But I’m a coddled millennial, so take that as you will.
Twitter is a personal branding tool
Yes, I believe that Twitter is a personal branding tool. Even if your personal brand has nothing to do with your job or occupation… it doesn’t have to. Will twitter help you get the job? Depends. You can use Twitter for anything you want. As a brilliant woman once told me – “In social media there are no rules. That’s the best thing about it.”
Maybe you tweet about what you had for breakfast and that has nothing to do with you job… unless you’re a food critic like @alisoncook. I love reading about what she eats for breakfast.
It’s not all about you
The number one Twitter rule of thumb is the 3 to 1 rule. Post three things that benefit the community before you post one thing about you. This rule applies to people, companies, organizations, and even cats who Twitter.
It’s not all about business
I graduated from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School, a top 10 public business school in one of the most conservative schools in the nation. In virtually every class, we had a detailed lecture on appropriate dress. Business Casual means close toed shoes and slacks while Business Professional means suit, shirt tucked in, pantyhose, no sling backs, hair pulled back, stud earrings, etc.
I remember when I went to my first career fair decked out in my suit – and under it – leopard print. I remember thinking to myself – “If they don’t hire me because I’m wearing leopard print, then I really don’t want to work there anyway.” You are allowed to be you. Companies are made up of people. And they hire people. Not suits or resumes or hair out of your face. Your Twitter account should be you as well.
You don’t have to be an expert, be an enthusiast
You don’t have to be an “expert.” For me, just a mention of the word “expert,” “guru,” or “wizard” completely turns me off. I suggest you act more like an enthusiast.
Whatever your passion – love it, ask questions, and don’t assume you know everything. So if you don’t know where to start, don’t ask yourself “What topics do I know a lot about?” but “What topics am I passionate about?”
Caveat: Remember, it’s public
Twitter is public. Your tweets will be up for years to come. Your grandma might read them. Your children might read them. Your future employer might read them. Keep this in mind when you post.
Don’t forget, Social Media can also help you lose you the job
You may have heard the story of Connor Riley, age 22, who received a job offer and posted this on Twitter:
Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.
Yup, that shit is public.
The company replied back:
Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.
And she lost the job. Waa waaa.
In conclusion:
If you’re looking for a job, starting a Twitter account or blog gives employers an idea of who you are. Talk about your passions and your perspectives,but always use common sense and know that employers will be looking.
Filed under Musings, Online tools, Recommended | CommentsComic Sans – a History
Many of you know that I am a recovering Comic Sans addict. It used to be my font-of-choice when selling Beanie Babies on ebay at the age of 12.
And yes, I still have a few of them – stored safely in my parents’ house.
My fascination with Comic Sans is by no means unique, there are many out there who call for it to be banned completely. For me, the sight of Comic Sans insights a giggle extremely similar to when someone repeats the word “do” in a sentence (as in “we do do that sometimes”) to inadvertently say “doo doo.” And in both scenarios, the more “professional” the setting, the more my inward (and often outward) laughter.
I stumbled across this video by Boston students Sam & Anita – a short documentary on Comic Sans. It has a really interesting take on the issue – essentially that when a type face is doing its job correctly, no one notices it. Good typeface should silently and beautifully let the message and the brand shine through… and Comic Sans may never succeed in going unnoticed.
Comic Sans from Sam and Anita on Vimeo.
Comic Sans inspired by Batman and Watchmen
Earlier this spring, the Wall Street Journal interviewed the creator of Comic Sans, Vincent Connare. Connare recounts that comic books were the original inspiration for the font, specifically “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Watchmen.” Interesting that two fairly dark comic books inspired such a juvenile font… but I see it, I suppose.
My favorite quote from the interview:
“If you love it, you don’t know much about typography,” Mr. Connare says. But, he adds, “if you hate it, you really don’t know much about typography, either, and you should get another hobby.”
So when is Comic Sans ok?
Some say Comic Sans is never ok. I continue my metaphor to “do do” … feel free to use it in everyday conversation, but know full well that I am going to giggle every time.
In my humble opinion
I would say if you are over the age 13 and not talking about Beanie Babies… steer clear if you want to establish any street cred. But feel free to continue using it ironically.
What do you think? Any rules of thumb on Comic Sans usage?
Filed under Media Consumed, Musings | CommentsHouston’s Got Talent! The dirt on my AGT experience
Here it is – the dirt on my experience at a taping of America’s Got Talent: the best show on television with exploding glittery American Flags everywhere! We weren’t allowed to bring phones or cameras, so I’m going to have to dish from memory. But don’t take my word for it! Watch it yourself starting this summer!
Thanks to the awesome people over at Houstonponthecheap.com (actually their twitter people @HOUcheap), I signed up for tickets to go see a taping of America’s Got Talent in Houston last night.
They had 4 AGT tapings in Houston total – 2 per day for 2 days – one afternoon and one evening. It was completely free and the only stipulation was that you not bring a camera or cell phone (they were very strict about this) and that you dress in “hip, upscale attire” (actual quote from the ticket).
The experience was a blast!
The low point: Logistics!
There seemed to be no direction or plan for getting people from security into the theater. We showed up a few minutes before we were told and it seemed the masses had decided amongst themselves to form a line (logical). For one brief moment a woman with a headset was yelling and pointing… but even those close by couldn’t hear what she was actually saying. It surprised me that a show with an obviously large budget didn’t hire a few more people for crowd control (or at least print some signs out and borrow some velvet rope from the venue). And this was show 4 of 4 for the week… not their first time at the Houston circus.
Yes, this really happened.
We had been standing in line for about 45 minutes – snaked across the foyer, down the stairs, around the corner, right up to the door of the theater, standing in line like civilized adults – and the person directing us in says “Ok. The lower level is full. You guys get to go up to the grand tier.” And then stared at us. I had no idea what the grand tier was or if the view of Sharon’s fierce shoes was better there or what (4 inch white patent leather boots, in case you were curious – and they were fierce). We waited for a moment and when it became clear that she had no intention of giving us any more direction or escorting than “go,” the entire line then took off literally SPRINTING in the direction of the lobby. By the time we had rounded the corner, gone up the stairs, and back through the foyer… it was virtually a mob. Nice.
The high point! The Judges!
We eventually settled into seats front and center of the balcony. This means that because there were only really cameras on the lower level, we won’t be on TV… but we had a great view of the action! Including the judges!
Preface: Sharon Osbourne is an inspiration to me. I adore her. She has been through so much SHIT and has emerged triumphant, vibrant, and extremely awesome. I love watching her on stage because she truly has heart and passion in everything she does… but she is unbiasedly honest and frank with everyone. And yes, she looked great (note the aforementioned patent leather boots).
Then there’s Piers. It’s amusing to me that on the show “America’s Got Talent” two judges are British and one is a German sensation. Nick adds some diversity, I suppose. Piers is the kind of guy you would want to grab a beer with. He won Celebrity Apprentice and he often out-Simons Simon Cowell on the British version of the show.
The One and Only – The Hoff
David Hasselhoff came out wearing a full length black leather trench coat and a black studded cowboy hat. He looked like some sort of Australian Indiana Jones. Then as the show went on he would put his feet up on the desk to reveal his black leather motorcycle boots. He was a joy.
The highlight of the evening was hands down that Hoff was signing 3×5 headshots of himself and the crew was passing them out to the audience between acts. Jason and I each got one and it now hangs proudly in my cube, where I can properly show it off to my jealousy-ridden coworkers.
The Real Dirt
There were really only a few juicy things that happened during the taping. #1 was a trampolining girl with no legs coming dangerously close to hurting herself on a high jump. and #2 can best be described in 140 characters:
(Not following qcait on Twitter? You’re missing out on gems like this!)
Best moment of Am’s GT: Hoff says watching bad act is low point of his career. Bad act says “what about that time w/ the hamburger.” Ouch.
Yeah. That just happened.
A few additional notes and shout outs
- When a judge “X”es someone in the middle of their act it doesn’t seem that dramatic on TV, but it is actually QUITE terrifying. Way up in the balcony we couldn’t hear very well over the crowd noise, but when someone would X it was like a jolt that shook the room. Not to mention they set off strobe lights for a split second for added drama on an X. I jumped in my seat every single time. And it didn’t seem to phase the performers for the most part. There was one who was mid back flip during the buzz who somehow managed to stick her landing through it all.
- We didn’t actually see Nick Cannon but for a few minutes before the show. He was busy doing those backstage interviews before and after each act. A few times, he would come out to help an act and the audience would go… WILD. He’s a crowd favorite. I just kept screaming “I LOVE YOUR WIFE!! SWEET, SWEET FANTASY BABY!!!” Or something like that. Again, no cameras or phones to prove it.
- The parking at the theater center garage was SUPER convenient and VERY well run. The staff at both the theater district garage and the Wortham were EXTREMELY helpful and EXTREMELY amazing. Hats off to these guys, who deal with confused patrons en masse before and after shows every night.
- The guy warming everyone up between acts – I think his name was Jim – was great. It must be an exhausting job keeping everyone entertained… and he was awesome.
In Conclusion!
The moral of the story is, go check out the show. The last auditions will be in New York city this week, and the live tapings will be a few days after that. Check NBC’s News blog for more details. If you can bring a group of 20 or more people, they will actually pay you to come out. There were a few church groups and high school there and I think it’s a very cool fundraiser if you can get it together quickly!
And be sure to watch the Houston show in mid July and see if you can see any of your friends in the audience!
Filed under Media Consumed, Recommended | Comments
