Keep Your Hands to Yourself.

Once again, I would like to talk about the most basic of human decencies.  A rule that we are taught from a very young age yet many have a hard time following.  Keep your hands to yourself.

Recently I went out to a bar in Dallas.  I was on the phone on the patio when a man felt it would be okay to run by, grab my butt and leave.  Whether he was drunk or not, it was entirely inappropriate and an incredibly big deal. I reacted in the most furious way and instead of apologizing, this man hid behind a car and giggled about how he just violated me. 

You can call it harmless, a drunk immature frat boy acting like a jerk.  You can call me a prude, you can say I overreacted.  You would be wrong.  Excusing this kind of behavior is encouraging it.  Refusing to take it seriously is how we've gotten ourselves to a rape culture mentality.  It's how some people call Brock Turner "a nice guy who did something stupid."  And it's why women are afraid and ashamed to report instances of sexual assault and rape.  Because we are told "it's not a big deal."  We are made to feel bad for the things that happen to us.  And that's how the cycle continues. 

I'm tired of excusing anything.  Unless you have permission to touch me, don't.  Male or female, keep your hands to yourself.  It's a basic form of respect and its a lesson we all need to keep in mind.

A trend recently is for bars to create a safe space for women.  They put signs in the restroom that give women instructions for how to discreetly and safely ask for help when they're in an uncomfortable situation.  As much as its extremely sad we have gotten to this point, I applaud the establishments who choose to create safe enjoyable environments for all.  I'm so sick of going to bars and restaurants to enjoy time with friends only to be touched inappropriately or "by accident."  And I won't be quiet about it.  I will not dumb down my reaction to make YOU comfortable. 

Ladies (and gentlemen because you deserve respect too) - don't let anyone touch you without your permission.  Do not brush it off.  Do not make excuses and do not feel stupid.  Nobody has the right to make you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.  And its up to all of us to speak up and call others out on their behavior.  Without that - we will continue to live in a world that accepts rape culture.

 I don't owe anyone an explanation for how I react when someone touches me without my consent.  It's not funny, it's not harmless, and its not welcome.  Call me a bitch, call me dramatic, call me whatever you want - as long a you keep your hands to your damn self.

Honesty is the best policy?

I'm not the friend you come to when you want some sugar with your honesty.  I've never been good at dancing around delicate conversations.  If I truly care about you, I'm going to give it to you straight.  Because in my mind, honesty is always the best policy when it comes to friendships.

That got me to thinking - how do you prefer your friendships?  With a little bit of cream and sugar or straight up with a twist? 

I'm straight up, with a twist and an extra shot of 151 in the straw.  While I'm sensitive to the feelings of my people, if you're being really negative, creating drama and bad situations for yourself, or in a woe is me circle of sadness - I'm going to call you on it. 

Now I'm sure that may people find me harsh.  And I'm not sure I can disagree.  But my blunt honesty comes from a place of wanting to help and because I love you.  At the same time, I can't help but think my closest friends come to me specifically for this reason - because if you know me, you know this is what you're going to get.

I'm genuinely a positive, problem solving, easy to bounce back person.  I've gone through my fair share of hardships and unpleasant times and sometimes I'm sad.  The difference is that I minimize the time I spend in that negative space.  Very quickly I make the decision to actively change my mood so that I can change my situation. 

When I have friends who spend too much time and energy in a bad mindset, I will call you out.  And if you're acting in a way to invite drama or negativity into your world, I will call you out.  If you're looking for someone to commiserate with, to tell you that life is meaner to you than others and you have a right to be bitter, I am not that friend.  And I don't want you to be that friend either.

I will allow you time to grieve, to be angry and to blame the world.  Just as I am allowed some time to experience those feelings too.  But then I'm going to expect you to actively participate in changing your mood and your life and I fully expect you to do the same for me.  Because without honesty in relationships, there's no real bond.  And the more I grow older, the smaller my friendship circle becomes.  I don't want the big group of acquaintances, I want my real tried and true family who keeps it real and is fiercely loyal. 

Maybe I am too harsh and could use a little sugar coating.  But I believe that life is too short to spend large amounts of time in a bad place.  The more positive energy you put out there, the more you get back.  If you choose to live in a negative place, that's the life you get back.  And that's not someone I want to spend my time around.  So if you're my friend and you're thinking - man - she's kind of blunt, think about why.  And think about how you act, because maybe you're the one who needs a shift in your sparkle.  Life is too short for me to allow anyone or anything to dull my bubble of sparkle.

Swearing

I'm a huge supporter of swear words.  I love them for stress relief.  I love them for emphasis.  I love them for fun.  I love swearing.  Swearing is caring.

I've grown up in the world of sports.  A world where swearing is often used as a greeting.  The first time I worked in a corporate setting, I forgot that this isn't normal and dropped an F bomb like I was saying hello.  As the group stood around me horrified and in shock - I started to realize not everyone grew up punctuating their sentences with a good vulgar swear word.

I get it - swearing is considered taboo.  It's tacky - its dare I say - unladylike (if you ever say this to me feel free to show yourself out).  But at the end of the day, they're words.  And of all the horrible things I could do and say to another human being - a little colorful language is truly the least of my concerns.  I've got a rule - don't swear at people, swear to them.  Meaning - there's no need to yell an F you to anyone, but if you're saying I don't give a F - that's different and that's within my legal code of conduct.  See guys - I'm a classy and caring swearaholic.

It's all about being aware.  I'm not going to show up at Grandma's yelling how the F are you Grandma?!  I'm not even using the full words here because its not required to get my point across.  But if I'm amongst friends, in a relaxed setting - I'm probably swearing like a sailor and I don't even realize it.  So when I say be self aware - I'm working on it.  Because I've certainly dropped a few fierce words in inappropriate places and truthfully, I probably will again.

At the end of the day - when people freak out about swearing - I can't help but roll my eyes.  By no means do I ever want to be disrespectful to another person, but if someone considers me of ill repute because I use colorful language, that's realistically not someone I value as a close personal member of the sparkly circle. 

And if I may utilize a little science - studies show that people who swear are more intelligent and healthier mentally.  And you can't argue with science. 

#Science  

Guts.

My whole life my mom has told me to trust my gut.  For any situation, any experience, any major decision, listen to your gut feeling.

I'm an extremely logical organized individual.  When it comes to feelings, I'm pretty horrible at making decisions.  Because I don't often take the time to figure out how I'm truly feeling - I don't often know what I'm feeling or what my gut says in any situation.  I try to make logic of everything, gather information and to make an informed decision. 

The problem with that is feelings aren't logical.  They often don't make sense.  And when you're not emotionally informed and in tune with yourself - it's near impossible to be able to decipher their meaning.

When I accepted the last job I took, I felt a little off about it.  I don't know why but something told me that I shouldn't take it.  But on paper it was perfect.  It was a step up in title, in salary and would look incredible on my resume.  Within a few weeks of starting that job - I found out I was right, it wasn't the right fit. 

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, I entered a new relationship.  Again, my gut told me it wasn't going to work.  He's a perfectly good person but the timing, and the mutual effort just wasn't there. But I jumped all in even though I had big hesitations.  It lasted a few months before ending. 

Recently, I've been working on feelings.  I'm trying to actually feel them, communicate them and understand what they mean.  And I've noticed the more I build my emotional intelligence - the better decisions I've been making as a whole. 

It's not easy and I still have to learn to entirely trust my gut, but I'm giving more weight to the gut feelings instead of solely relying on facts.  It's completely foreign to me and terrifying to make important decisions on faith, but its also critical to my growth and my happiness. 

As I'm embarking on my next journey, I'm taking a huge leap of faith and basing my decisions on my gut feeling.  And I've got to say - it's really empowering.  I highly encourage everyone to step outside of their comfort zone and to listen to your gut.  The mind is so very strong, but there's nothing like that feeling you get, that you can't explain, that knew all along what to do. 

A Guide to Job Hunting

In the 10 years I've been working, I've held 7 jobs in 5 states.  Whether there be no room for growth, an unhealthy culture, or not what I want to be doing - if I'm unhappy at a job, I leave.  Because I spend so much time at work, I believe that I should be passionate about what I'm doing, with a company I believe in, surrounded by an environment that supports me and encourages positive teamwork.  And while not a lot of people choose the journey I do, most people can agree that being at a job you love is a lot easier than dreading going to work everyday. 

I have no interest in competing with anyone.  If I can help someone else grow and flourish, I'm going to help them do so.  When others grow, I grow, and that creates a cycle of knowledge and success for everyone.  Unless you're just a jerk, then you're on your own.

Having had so many jobs, I've spent a lot of time researching, interviewing, and discovering what works in job hunting.  While most of my experience is within the sports, entertainment, and University setting - a lot of the tips and tricks I have apply to the general process. 

Getting Started

Find your passion

Before you can work on your resume or begin to even search for jobs, you need to narrow down what it is you're looking to do.  Make a list of what you love, what you hate, where your skills lie, and what your 5 year plan is.  Keep in mind if you're early on in your career, this may be a broader spectrum but you should still have a general idea of the field you want to be in.

Perfect your Resume

As someone who's been a recruiter as well as participated in the hiring process at various organizations, I can attest to the importance of a good resume.  For most positions that are your "dream job" there are hundreds of other applicants to be sifted through.  If your resume is a dud, you will be passed over in 30 seconds.

• Create a clean and professional template that isn't boring.  If you choose to utilize a little color, make sure you're mindful to go with cool appropriate colors (blues are the best)
• #1 rule for content?  Make sure your name and contact information is clearly labeled and correct.  If it's not easy to contact you, you're not getting an interview, let alone the job
• Entry level candidates your resume should be one page.  Mid-level and above, two pages maximum.  Technical fields, this doesn't apply to you.
• Forget an objective, its a waste of space.  Your objective is to get the job, duh!
• For each position, bullet point accomplishments, skills developed, and numerically measured contributions.  Never write "I did this or that" always ensure each bullet gives value to you as a candidate.
• Be mindful of word tense.  Be consistent and use appropriate tense for each position.
• Give your resume to at least two people you trust to review for spelling, tense, and overall readability.

The Job Hunt

Job hunting needs to be strategic.  You need to do your research and actively look for positions in companies that match your career goals.  Just because you find a position that seems like a dream does not mean its culturally a good fit for you.  I can attest to the fact that a job could be your dream but if the environment isn't right, your dream becomes a nightmare.

• Create an excel sheet.  Organize the companies you've researched and that fit your checklist and put them in this document.  Include your top requirements for a good fit and use these as headers to your excel document.  Put check marks for each quality that company fits. 
• Utilize broader job search sites.  I highly recommend Indeed and Glassdoor as well as LinkedIn.  Those are the only three generic job sites I use.  For sports, Teamworkonline is the place to go.  But unless you have a contact inside the company, your chances of getting a phone call are slim.
• When finding positions you're interested in, save those jobs so that you can apply later (see the next step for why!).

Applying to the Job

Do not apply to any and every job in hopes of increasing your chances for getting a position.  You are your own brand.  If you're out there applying to jobs you aren't qualified for or have no interest in - that will come back to haunt you.  Only apply to a job you have genuine interest in and are genuinely qualified for.

• Do your research on the role.  Checkout potential salary and benefits using Glassdoor.  If you know anyone at the company, ask questions and potentially ask for a reference when appropriate.
• Before you apply, tailor your resume to fit the role.  Use some target words from the job description, research the company and incorporate words from their mission statement.  Show that you've gone the extra mile and you care about this opportunity and what the organization stands for.  Cover letters are huge.  Make them eye catching and specific to the role.  Don't ever just list your qualifications. 
• After applying to jobs, create a document to keep track of your applications.  Note the date, the company, the role, and insert the job description wherever possible.  If you do get a callback you want to be able to have all the information at your fingertips to remind yourself of the opportunity.
• Use your network.  If you have a connection to the company you're applying to, reach out to your contacts.  Be sure its appropriate to do so.  I can't tell you how many people have reached out to me for sports opportunities and I haven't spoken to them in 5 years.  Be aware and know what's appropriate to ask of your network.

The Interview

An interview is a test.  It's an opportunity to showcase yourself as a brand and its absolutely something you should study for.  I don't care if you're taking part in a 20 minute phone call or a full day interview, preparation is the key to success.

• Create a highlight reel document (sensing a trend?).  This should have information about your accomplishments in each role, facts and figures supporting achievements and include some of the standard interview questions and your answers to them.  This document serves as your basis for all interviews.
• Research the role an the organization you're interviewing for.  Crate a supplementary document specific to the role and the industry you're interviewing for. Have a one sheet with pertinent basic company information.  At any given time you should be able to comfortably talk about the company purpose and values, the CEO, and have knowledge of the product or services it represents.  Include specific questions relating to the role and industry and your answers to those questions.
• PRACTICE.  Study up all of your documents.  Get in front of people you trust and talk.  Get comfortable with the awkwardness that is an interview.  Ask for feedback.
• Remember that an interview works both ways.  Learn as much as you can and ask real (not stock) questions about the role and the culture of the organization.  Be diligent in finding the right fit.
• If you're offered a second interview, go back and add to your document and keep practicing for the second round. 
• If you are not offered a second interview, reach out and ask for feedback.  Most hiring managers are impressed by this and happy to help you in your growth. 

Post Interview

• The thank you.  I'm so sick of the standard thank you email.  If you've got the opportunity, send a note card.  But read the situation. Often times a thank you is stupid and if the process is moving quickly or its early on - expressing gratitude during the interview is enough.  If its deep in the process - create a unique thank you that showcases your excitement and why you think you're the best fit.
• Evaluate the fit.  If this is a position you're still heavily interested in, keep working for that next step.  If its not a match, don't waste your time or the time of the company.  Be thankful and gracious for the opportunity but let them know its not the best fit for you.  Do not blame the company or say anything negative about them. 
• Get back to studying if you've been offered another interview.  Talk to your network for information.  Do more research.

The Offer

• You made it!  You got an offer!  Congratulations!  Don't take the first offer.  Be comfortable negotiating until you're happy with the overall package.  If you're afraid to ask for what you deserve, you'll never get it.
• It's ok to ask for time to consider the offer.  Talk it over with the people important to you.  Make sure you're excited about the opportunity and its a company you believe in.  Taking a job is a personal and important choice.  Don't take it lightly.
• Don't be afraid to turn down an offer.  If you don't feel right, if they can't offer you what you're worth, don't settle.  I just spent 6 months looking for the right fit.  It wasn't easy but I'm so happy that I didn't accept something and get myself back in a miserable situation.
• If you choose to accept the offer, be excited.  Be proud of yourself.  Take time to celebrate. 

Certainly this guide requires a lot of work.  Job hunting is a lot of work.  I'm probably overly prepared and OCD about the process, but if you're familiar with my resume, you'll understand why.  The coveted roles I've been in are because I'm diligent and prepared.  Success is not an accident.  Success and creating a dream career is about organization, preparation and careful planning.  I can attest that although a role might be your dream job, if the culture isn't right, it will quickly become a nightmare.  Finding happiness in the workplace is not luck.  It's opportunity and hard work.  Give yourself the best chance at achieving your dreams by actively participating in the journey to making them a reality. 

Happy Hunting my Sequins!

The Reality of Reality

I love trashy reality TV as much as the next red blooded American - but if I have to watch one more show with the same generic looking rich people who spend 45 minutes arguing with each other and 15 minutes crying - I'm going to give up television. 

Now I don't watch the news either.  So I'm not looking for that kind of reality TV.  But I want to see a show that I can relate to.  Everything else is played out.  We've seen every possible way you can find the love of your life.  Every rich kid, housewife and businessman has been on Bravo at one point or another. It's all the same.  Surely with all the creative minds in Hollywood we can come up with something different (and without a Kardashian). 

I want to see women in business behind the scenes in the sports world.  I want to watch the show about a kid from the streets who makes it out, attends UCLA and goes back to his community to build a resource center.  Show me the girl from the small town who builds an empire dedicated to helping real women.  Follow the journey of my generation that job hops and continues to struggle to make it in the world today. 

I've got a reality show idea that I'd like to pitch to you.  Give me a microphone.  Get a guy to film me.  Give me two side kicks - not rich suburban party kids - real people, and let me out in the world to experience all the things and ask all the questions.  Think Lisa Ling but I'm a little less put together and probably speak more out of turn. 

Put me in front on Donald Trump to ask unfiltered real questions, come to my office and I'll show you what being a woman in sports is like - how much glory does not exist in this glamorous field.  Send me and my crew to sit down and talk about Planned Parenthood and how much good it does for the everyday woman.  Shoot - lets get ballsy, let me solve a crime.  The point - show us reality - not whatever this version of reality you think is real. 

And for the love of everything holy - give me some diversity!  And not just color (but that would be a nice change too) - give me a mix of men and women and show me people of substance.  I know some of these people on these shows and I know they're educated.  Let them be smart, savy, and likeable.  Conflict is overdone.  Get creative.  Think bigger.  Be better.  Show me something more. 

Reality TV these days is anything but real.  And I'm real sick of it. 

A New Kind of Fear

I tend to think I'm invincible.  I generally don't get scared of any real threat.  Sure, I'm ridiculously afraid of spiders and mascots but in terms of real safety concerns I generally assume I'll be fine. 

It seems every day we hear about campus shootings.  We watch the news and see the faces of the people experiencing the tragedy and we cannot fathom how that would feel. 

On June 1st at 9:49am I learned exactly how it feels.  A campus alert went out notifying us that an active shooter was on campus and we needed to lock down our building.  Students and staff were asked to stay off campus and seek shelter if they were already on site.  At that time we didn't receive much information.  Many of us honestly thought it was a drill or some kind of misunderstanding. 

As news reports and social media started to flood our phones, we learned this was very real.  There were reports that two people were dead, that there were upwards of 5 shooters, that they had enough supplies to do serious damage, and the stories continued to grow.  As we sat in our office reading information and watching the news - we knew no more than you did - but we were living what you were watching.

I'm inherently a problem solver.  I want to formulate plans and create solutions.  Very early on I became aware that my department had no plan.  It went so far as my supervisor expected me to continue sitting at my desk working - and was irritated when I was visibly upset by this request.  We were called into the boss' office (inside a room covered with windows mind you) where we were told not to post on social media and to lean on each other during this time.  Again - there was no plan should the shooter(s) come to our building next.

As I sat in a chair, watching the new, receiving texts and social media updates asking if I was safe - the real fear began to sink in.  We had no information, no plan of action, and no concept of what the next steps could be.  In my head - I made a plan.  If you know me - you know at any given time I'm aware of my surroundings and I've got a strategic plan for almost any situation.  I grew up in an extremely safe suburban setting and for some reason I'm still the one you want on your side in an emergency. 

Thankfully - we were never in any harm after that initial alert came across.  There was in fact only one shooter and one person killed.  It was a targeted attack and ended very quickly.  The hours after the attack were spent searching and securing the area.  This was Los Angeles after all.  Within minutes the campus police, Los Angeles police, sheriffs, FBI, and other federal entities were all on campus.  That was the only thing that gave me some sense of safety, knowing how responsive and prepared these officers were.  Truly - Los Angeles sees it all - these officers were organized, efficient, and I'm incredibly thankful for everything they did that day.

Even though I was really not in any danger at any point - I didn't know that.  It was hours of fearing the unknown, of having no plan, and frankly of having leadership not show much serious care for the situation.  For the first time in a really long time - I felt real fear.  The kind of fear that makes you freeze because you truly never thought that you'd be in such an unusual situation.  And every time I see a school shooting on the news - my stomach falls, I get goosebumps.  Because I have semblance of how those people feel. 

I don't know how to solve the worlds problems - but I do know when people start shooting up our schools - we have to take that seriously.  We need to think less of who is doing it and look at why.  Why do they feel its the only option?  How do they get to this point?  What are the signs?  It's happening far too often.  And it needs to be addressed.  It's not just about guns.  It's not about a certain ethnic group.  It's about a centralized problem - mental health.  A mentally healthy person does not do this.  We need to start with understanding mental health before we can begin to effect change. 

I never want to feel that kind of fear again.  And I never want to see another news story about it happening to other people.  It's a new kind of fear - the fear that its happening where we work, where we learn - while we are going about our everyday lives.  It's a new kind of fear that doesn't discriminate based on race, class, or social structure.  It truly can happen to you.

Career Journey

I'm 31 and I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. 

As a kid - I wanted to be an actor, an athlete, a doctor and at one point a lion tamer.  As I grew up the doctor stuck, I added lawyer, got injured enough to rule out athlete and considered interior design.  College came and went and my passion for sports stuck.  I also began to realize I loved to plan events and I was really good at the creative details.

It took me five job changes to land my dream job planning events for a professional sports team.  I had the creative freedom to produce some incredible events, I was immersed in a field I loved and I was building relationships that continue to thrive today. 

Within a year I realized that although I loved what I was doing - I wasn't happy in the organization.  I dreaded showing up to the office, my mental and physical health suffered and I was just plain miserable.  A year and a half in I left.  And that left me at a really scary point in my career: if my dream job isn't making me happy, what will?

 A few months later I was offered a leadership role at a prestigious division one university - the winningest D1 school in history at that.  When I arrived I was invigorated with the possibilities of working with the best of the best and excited to advance my career. 

Very quickly I realized this role wasn't what was promised when I interviewed.  I was bored.  I had less responsibility than advertised.  I was micromanaged more than anywhere I'd ever been - including my time as an intern in college.  I left.  And again - I was at a standstill.

Fast forward six months - I left my job in Los Angeles almost six months ago.  I've interviewed, I've turned down opportunities, I've been turned down for opportunities.  I started a website.  I've been a guest blogger.  I've traveled.  I've spent entire days watching TV.  It's been a really long six months of self discovery, struggle, excitement, fear, risk taking, and growth.

And this month - I'll take a leap of faith and start my next opportunity.  I say opportunity because it is - it's a chance for me to find somewhere I want to put down roots.  To expand my resume and my creative mindset. 

Not a lot of people understand my journey.  Some of my closest friends and family question my decisions and consider me failing in my life.  And that's ok.  That's why it's MY journey.  Part of the journey is not just finding your career or even building your life - a big part of that journey is accepting yourself along the way. 

I am not a failure.  I'm incredibly brave.  I'm incredibly talented.  I'm incredibly high achieving.  I ran division one track.  I got my degree at one of the best universities in the world.  I wanted to be an event planner - I am.  I dreamt of working for a professional sports team and I did.  I vowed to start and maintain a blog - I am.  I moved to a state I'd never been to and didn't know a soul.  I know who I am, what I'm capable of and I refuse to ever settle. 

I'm a success because I take chances, I work hard, I follow my passions and I continue to grow.  I know I'm not the best because the best means there's nothing left to do.  I know my journey isn't traditional.  It's not safe.  It's not even easy to follow as an outsider.  I often have doubts about what I'm doing - but at the end of the day - I don't doubt myself.  Because I don't fail.  I can't fail.  I don't know how to fail.  I may fall, but I will always get back up and come back stronger.

I'm a mentor to some of my former students.  It's my favorite thing about my career journey and the most rewarding "job" I could ever have.  I truly believe in these students and encouraging them to focus on their own journeys.  And to never settle or give up on their dreams.  I continue to remind them that its a journey, a process and its not always enjoyable.  But at the end of the day - it is always worth it.  I like to think that my nontraditional journey serves as a guide for them.  To see that you don't have to do the expected.  It's ok to take a left instead of a right.  And it's encouraged to take the calculated risk. 

Careers are hard.  What you do doesn't define who you are - but it sure as hell shows a lot of your character and takes up a lot of your time.  It shows you who's ok being comfortable and who likes to push boundaries.  It makes clear who needs the 8-5 routine and who craves the all over the place no two days are the same culture.  Personally - I could never understand the tradition of the 8-5, the routine of the annual review with the promotion to the next level at the standard two year intervals - it's not for me.  I need to feel passion for what I do - I need to have the opportunity to break through the standard promotion structure - and I'm willing to say thank you for the chance to be here but I need to move on. 

So I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  I know I want to be somewhere long term, I know I want to grow with a company that I believe in - with a team that believes in me.  I want to wok hard every day with people I know want to do the same.  And I'm willing to continue on my often complicated - yet always sparkly - journey until I get to that ultimate dream.  You don't have to understand my career path - and I don't need your approval.  Just know I'm not a girl who settles and neither should you.

The Next Adventure

After six months of yet again committing myself to the life of a lady of leisure, I have officially accepted my next adventure.  And while I am now venturing out into this world of business yet again - I have decided that I'm going to continue to grow my skillset as a lady of leisure.  How does that work you say?  It works because I've chosen a position that I believe fits my personal and professional goals and allows me to be passionate about my work but able to check off my bucket list at the same time.

So here we are - I'm moving to Dallas, Texas.  That makes state number four in 5 years for those of you counting.  And I know what you're thinking and yes - a city that values football, big hair and rhinestones IS going to be my kind of city indeed.  I'm excited to eat all the BBQ, spend time fulfilling my college football dreams, and bring a little California swag to the great state of Texas. 

In keeping with my commitment to work/life balance and refusing to settle in a career - it took me six whole months of diligently reaching out to my contacts, applying to jobs, and interviewing.  I was turned down for a few opportunities I thought would be a great fit and I declined positions I knew would keep me from feeling happy; and happy is the end all goal for me.

This next role is entirely different from anything I've done - and that's a huge risk but something I'm excited to challenge myself with.  I'll be somewhat of a jack of all trades in experiential marketing for an agency in downtown Dallas.   Someone who can manage various accounts and utilize my out of the box creativity.  Don't worry - I will definitely still have heavy involvement in sports but I'll be diversifying my portfolio and working on products/campaigns, entertainment, and music as well.  For those of you who know me well - you know the possibility of utilizing my creative weird out there ideas in a professional setting is my ideal role. 

As always - I'd like to leave you with a moral of the story (because I'm so wise).  While figuring things out for six months has not been easy - the end result is something I'm looking forward to experiencing.  Because I took the time to be really sure and really committed to looking for the best fit - I'm able to create an adventure I believe in.  And that's the greatest advice I could ever give you.  Never settle.  Your life, your career, your attitude - everything - it's your choice.  You have to design a life you're proud of and excited to take part in.  For me - that means taking risks and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.  New experiences and feeling good at work everyday is important to me. 

Whatever makes you happy, makes you get up and go in the morning - do that.  And if you're not there yet - keep looking.  Don't ever give up.  I've moved 4 states in 5 years chasing the dream.  And there's no guarantee this next stop will fulfill that dream.  But in taking a calculated risk - I'm ensuring that I won't settle, and even if this isn't my last stop - I'll make it one hell of a good time.

#SparkleOn #HappyNewYear

New Year Same Sparkle

I LOVE NEW YEARS. Realistically - I love the entire winter holiday season.  But NYE is defined by sparkle and celebrations and bubbles and excitement.  I LOVE ALL THOSE THINGS!

That being said - I do not love the dreaded New Year's Resolution.  I've always believed that there's no reason to wait for a new year to make a big change.  Want to quit your job and follow your dreams?  Do it now.  Thinking about popping the question?  Why wait? Craving a healthy lifestyle?  Get started!  The point is - why are you waiting for some arbitrary date to motivate you?  If you wont do it now, you're not anymore likely to achieve those goals because it's January 1. 

Can we all just skip the resolutions, stop crowding my gym, and focus on what NYE really means?  Dancing on tables in sequin dresses while drinking champagne with your friends.  I swear - scientifically that's what it stands for.  I think NASA discovered that...or something.

Ok you're right - the arthritis in my feet will keep me from dancing on tables this year but being a grown up means I can afford the good bubbles and the fancy dress.  Quick question - do they make sequin onesies?

While I will not be participating in the tradition of the New Year's Resolutions - I will continue to sparkle.  I will continue to work on bettering myself.  I will keep chasing the dream.  I will work on my physical and mental health.  I will never stop learning.  I vow to never stop speaking my mind (although sometimes I should, whoops!).  I vow to make everyone laugh as much as humanly possible.  I promise to keep asking the hard questions.  I promise to work on relationships with myself and others.  And I solemnly swear I will always always - be up to no good.

New Year - Same Sparkle! See ya when I see ya 2017!