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Check it out for yourself- remember to create a great day.

God bless,
Robyn

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Has anyone called your name lately?

Good Morning!

Around 3 o'clock this morning, I heard someone call my name. Twice to be exact, so I try to come up with my own understanding as to why this happened and what this meant.(Yes, I know God often talks to us around 3) So, I go to trusty Google and type in the phrase 'dreams someone is calling your name'. I come up with random Yahoo answers from people who asked a similar question and received guestimates from people who were on the site. Not creditable. I then go back to Googe and type 'dream interpretations', ahh, now I'm on to something. I click on a site that has dream listing titles from A-Z. I click on 'C' for call but that wasn't listed. Next I go to 'N' for name. Listed first was if you had dreams of forgetting someone's name, as I keep scrolling I have hit the jackpot:

Name

To hear your name being called, indicates that you are in touch and in tune with your spirituality. It also makes you aware of your own uniqueness and highlights your individuality.

According to Dreammoods.com, I am in touch with my spirituality, I am aware of my own uniqueness and my individuality has been highlighted. I always thought I was in touch with my spirituality, but I guess I am now more than ever! This has been a humbling experience, it has been quite a journey to get here. I always think about whether I am hearing God's voice, and what type of prayers I can pray to be sure that I am hearing his voice. I have learned that we have to cut out the noise around us and in our minds in order to hear his voice. I have made great progress in doing such. I am truly elated about this revelation in my dream.

Every Weekend is a Great Weekend!

I hope you can say the same- I wasn't always so happy for the weekend, but all of that has changed. I remember reading a quote over the weekend, that says 'if you fail to plan then you plan to fail. ' On Friday, I went out to Bahama Breeze in Towson with my sister after she returned from New Orleans. She had been to the restaurant before and had wanted me to check it out. Hence the name, there was an island theme throughout the restaurant. Lots of vibrant colors, fruity themed drinks and an elaborate menue. Since I had eaten literally minutes before I had the Bahamarita and it was like that! It had a blend of kiwi, strawberry, and lemon. By the time Saturday rolled around I did laundry, but before that I discovered a mall right across from the Baltimore harbor- The Gallarey at Harbor Place. I also went to a cook out with a girlfriend of mine outside of D.C., it was great and the food was wonderful. I did bring some to work for lunch ! After a great sermon by Pastor Jenkins on Sunday, I became lost in Law and Order- Criminal Intent. Then, once the segment was over I went to do more school work. Then, around 5 I began to get ready for Artscape, Sunday was the last day for the arts festival. I had a blast, there was tons of food, people, art and jewelry. I even petted a horse! I didn't see the monkey all of the newspapers had been writing about. Artscape also had performances each night such as Roberta Flack, Mario, and the Wailers. If you find yourself in Baltimore in July of 2009, join us for Artscape!

Well, only 5 more days to the weekend!

God has been so good to me! This has been an interesting morning. Living in the charm city can present some surprises at some points, but all in all it's not bad there. However, close to three months ago we had some "squatters" on our third floor who were also street pharmacists. Now they have put out and some have returned to seek revenge on the property, we think that's the last of them until this morning I receive a call from my sister who is away on travel that some guy came in to our house looking to retrieve some mail for a relative who was a part of the drama on the third floor. It turns out our neighbor contacted her and told her about the situation as she was leaving for work. God has truly blessed me and has encamped around me as well sending angels to look out over our house. I pray that my sis and I can be invaluable resources as our neighbors are for us. He let me sleep a little bit later, while someone else awoke bright and early to catch the person in the act. It is things like this that lets me know God has things covered. As the morning progressed, my nerves got a little worse, because what if he hadn't been in there to retrieve mail. Thank you God is all I can say. He truly gets the glory- have you given him the glory today?

-R

Ugghhh! Should I or shouldn't I?

For almost a week I have contemplated making contact with a guy I had to chew out for 1)bringing me another girl's jacket and 2) cancelling our date to go see Erykah Badu and the Roots. It's like desperation is kicking in- I prayed about this very thing. I have two perfectly good reasons why I should NOT contact this guy, not to mention every attempt I make to hang out goes no where. Make that number 3.

Why continue to bother?

God! How can I know when I have reached that new level in you?

This has been a question I have been seeking the answers to lately. I've gotten back in to the habit of going to Bible Study, praying as I should and removing some barriers from my life.

However, I feel like I need to do more? I have signed up for various ministries at church and that's about where it ends. I have yet to attend one meeting...I need more of you God!

MORE.

I have to go back to what I heard once, which is that we MUST live a life of service. Clearly I haven't been doing that- all other areas of my life are together, but I need to be around Christ centered men and women, find more people to be accountable to.

God, help me to get to that next level in you!

I believe it was around April or May when I first heard Jazmine Sullivan's, I Need You Bad. At first I was like- what in the world? Has she been looking in on my life, reading my journal notes? I had just broken up with my boyfriend who is an islander and the reggae, island vibe of the music made it all so real. I suddenly began missing him, wondering if I made the right choice by ending our relationship. I've talked about this over and over again with friends and my sister, God and numerous times in my head, so I'm not writing about it in this blog. I'm just focusing on how the song made me feel. Music is incredible, it is able to bring life to thoughts, it verbalizes what we cannot say. This song spoke to me loudly and clearly- yet, I don't feel like I made the wrong choice about ending my relationship with my former boyfriend. Had I cheated on him from day 1 or ignored his needs or done some other selfish things then I would feel convicted by this song, but I don't. The end did turn out differently, so, I decided to break things off. Music can have this way of holding us captive or setting us free. It provides a chance to go back and make things right, learn from our mistakes and get it right the second time around. Perhaps, I could have tried to go back and fix things, but, I just didn't see the need. Sometimes it's best to walk away from somethings, for me anyway. If it sounds selfish it probably is, but, we all need to be selfish at some point in our lives to keep ourselves happy and balanced.

Man that song...

Hello There!

It's been a while, but I am back. There have been so many new things going on in my life, it feels like the sun is shining bright again. Ahhh. Let's see, since my last post I was at a standstill, not for sure what would be the next step in my life.

Well, I enrolled at the University of Maryland University College. I am working toward a certificate in public relations. I decided to pursue this to have the knowledge, theory and reasoning to compliment my work experience thus far. I am learning so much in my classes. My professor who teaches the pr course is so inspirational and on top of her game. She is a communications consultant FULL TIME! Until after reading her bio, I became inspired all over again, considering a career as a communications consultant. I got up the courage to ask her about the future of pr jobs and she was kind enough to write me back, encouraging to me try pr agencies, and not to give up on my dream job. Thanks Dr. Aw!

I also became more involved with the National Association of Multi-Ethnicities in Communication's DC chapter and I am having a blast. It feels great to be around media professionals coming together in providing the maximum learning, leadership, and networking opportunities for novices and thriving professionals looking to further themselves in their career or someone looking for a mentor. I am a member-at-large on the board, and I am on the membership and public relations committee. I am very excited to be the board and looking forward to networking and getting dibs on a new career. I have even embarked a consulting gig with a co-worker of mine providing web site development. Now, we'll see if he'll pay me so I can move on to other jobs for him or just move on PERIOD.

As for the dating scene- I last wrote about a guy I met back in January while hanging out with my girlfriend and her friends for her birthday. OMG! Things got ugly around the month of April. It all started when asked me about the Roots and Erykah Badu concert that was scheduled to happen in May. He asked if I wanted to go- of course I said yes. Mind you in between the time he asked, our communication had dwindled off; no phone conversation, no email , but texts only to say 'goodnight' (WT?). So, two weeks, heck it might have been one week before the concert and this negro is like 'we can't go to the concert, I had to move some money around'. At first I'm like, oh okay, I understand (my niceness or niaveity coming in to play). Then, as I began thinking about it I'm like this dude works for the government in the IT field and he has to move money around. Oh, no. So, a few days or weeks go by, it's been a while ago now bare with me in recalling the details. I'm like did you sell off the tickets yet? He was like yep, someone bought them the week prior. I'm like dang, I was hoping he would come back and say we're on, we're still going but no. Anywho, I approach him about the situation trying to get him to see how this looked in my eyes. The fact that we stopped communicating, we don't go to the concert and you expect to me not be upset. He basically doesn't understand it and in my upsetness, I say some pretty mean things. He writes back but doesn't quite stoop to my level! Since then, we have started back talking, I asked his thoughts on the whole R.Kelly crap and I send him the usual random forward emails people send. Nothing of substance- although, I have been wanting to hear his voice and see him. I have to remind myself not to waste time on someone who brings you another girl's jacket...

My job...it has been a real struggle trying to be content at this place. I am writing you from the Receptionist's desk. YES. She is out of the office today and so your girl is here answering calls and offering cheerful smiles to anyone who walks through the door! I know not everyone lands a job in their field of study, but dang... I have a bachelor's degree with work experience and I am one smart cookie! I'm working on an extension of my bachelor's to prove to my next employer that I have what it takes to get the job done and I know why I am doing that way! So, yeah, from time to time I answer phones in addition to my normal duties. However, it is interesting that pr or communications specialists do much of the same line of work as administrative assistants do. Very interesting. Like I said, I have learned to be content- not COMPLACENT!

Uggghhh! This expression describes my frustration and thoughts lately on MOST facets: career, love, education, and faith and lately...my hair. What am I going to do with my life?

CAREER Where do I begin? Okay, on the job- I'm an administrative assistant for a government contracting agency in the DC area. Let's just say I do not want to be an AA the rest of my life and I am sure that I won't, but...a recent career opportunity for Research Associate presented itself and I decided to go after it. I pursued the opportunity because there was an interest there and I wanted to get out of this current role. So, I go through all of the proper channels; let the powers that be know I was interested in the position, and filled out the application only to not receive an interview because the person that chosen was already "experienced" (she really was looking back on the situation) and the company basically made the decision to save this person's job since her contract was coming to a close. Of course, I was upset because they could have given me an interview. Then, on the other hand I'm thinking why interview if I knew I wouldn't have been given the job or that they were looking at me as a serious candidate. Needless to say, word traveled around the office and everyone (mostly) was on my side saying I should have been granted the interview and that I should have gotten job. I myself, was so mad, heated and everything in between, but in retrospect I was not qualified. This experience has let me know to keep learning, and keep trying, being persistent in what I want. This has been a grand learning experience!

LOVE I met this guy about 4 months ago while hanging out for my girlfriend's birthday at Cafe Asia in DC. We've had nothing but fun together ever since and I always look forward to spending time with him and talking on the phone. He told me he was not looking for a relationship and I'm not really looking for another relationship either- just got out of a yearlong relationship and I'm looking for a strong friendship base ( I don't think !). I have been rationalizing my thoughts, like I'm slippin', I'm really falling for this guy and now there's this feeling inside like I have to toughin' up and not let this guy know I'm going crazy over him. Or maybe I'm just overreacting since I've called him one night and he didn't answer, neither did he explain why he didn't return my phone call. There I go getting serious again- I need a hobby :).

EDUCATION To go back to school or not? For about 8 months I've been researching various graduate and certificate programs that suit my interest. I know I probably should go back, but I have several stipulations on not going back; not wanting to default on loans, fear of not landing a job AND accumulating more debt. So, to combat my crazy, but reasonable thinking I've been talking to my friend who told me to get my but back in school, that it would all pay off. I think I'm getting closer and closer to going back to school! I'll let you know when I fill out my FAFSA!

FAITH I had an epiphany on Sunday, not long after I got back from church. I have been saved going on three years now. To be saved means giving your life to Christ, letting go of your former life, behaviors, habits and vices to become a true follower and worshipper of Christ (this is my own interpretation). I had not been trusting in God to answer my prayers I had been relying on friends and family who couldn't solve any of my problems. I then switched my thinking and began to thank God for all that he has done for me, and each time I do this I begin to feel so much better!

HAIR Last summer I cut my hair into this super short, cute pixie cut. I received so many complements and I was pleased, now it has grown out tremendously and I am wearing a bob that stops right at the chin. The bob is cute too, but not like the first time I wore it. I think it's getting too long and maybe it should be shorter or I think it may need some holding spray. I've noticed when I have holding spray the hairstyle stays fresher longer. I dunno!

Well, now that you have the lowdown please keep me in your wishes, thoughts and prayers...until next time!

Happy New Year and Happy Groundhog Day!

So much has happened since I last wrote both personally and on the job. I've received some new funds- who couldn't use an extra few bucks in today's unstable economy? I've also met some new people and have been hanging out as well. The new year has brought some great changes with it. I'm starting to like the DMV more- it helps when you know people and can hang out with them or know that they are a phone call away. However, things between my boyfriend have been really strange- it's like we just can't shake each other. We "broke up" last Saturday and Wednesday was the first I talked to him since. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out... I know my reason for straying or withdrawing, I've come to a point where I feel like I need my space. After going back and forth in my mind about I've come to the conclusion that is my answer. For fear of hurting his feelings I have not told how I felt until Tuesday...in an email. I must get better with this- he now wants to see me on Friday but I may have plans and I wish that he would respect that I do have a life and would like to do other things with my weekend. That is another part of the issue, let me just stop here.

The job- my boss has been promoted which means more work for me! I was thinking of asking for a promotion myself but after consulting with my wise sister we decided now wouldn't be the best time because of all that is going on with her new duties. My sister told me to revisit in a few more months- I've been in prayer about this and perhaps in a few months this could be feasible! Things are getting better on the job- I had been faced with feelings of abuse. You know when you're the one on the bottom of the totem pole people think you are supposed to do every little thing at a moment's notice. Well, I do because I don't want to be seen as someone who is not a team player. So, I bought a book that has been extremely helpful combating my niceness, it's called "Too Nice for Your Own Good". If you too suffer from niceness this book has the remedy. I also bought another book, "Women Don't Ask". The title pretty much sums it up- I'm only in the introduction, but it talks about staggering salary and living conditions among men and women and how they have to be if women would just ask. I can't wait to begin fully reading that one. So, since I went to my training back in November and have been reading these books I have noticed changes in the way I handle myself and deal with co-workers as well as friends and family.

Howdy Everyone!

Hope you've got the turkeys and the cranberry sauce ready. I've been back in the office for about a week and a half now, I was at training for administrative professionals three days. I was so happy to have been selected to attend this training, plus it was nice being in the city (D.C.) for a few days. The instructor was cool and even encouraged us to keep in touch with her (which I just might do). The room was about normal classroom size with administrative professionals from all over the world (literally), one person cam all the way from Beirut! As with most conferences or workshops we spent time getting to know everyone. Through the modules in the training several people shared their experiences at work from issues of bosses not liking them or entering total isolation because of lack of respect. For a minute it seemed like a counseling session as people spent their whole lunch period telling the "counselor" (I mean instructor) their issues at work. It almost became depressing, learning that people (women) faced so many issues in their daily work lives. Sheesh, I thought I had it bad. One lady said her male boss thought she was better than everyone because she dressed professionally each day at work. One lady had a wall built around her desk with glass, to keep people from interrupting her workday. To make matters worse, I sit beside a loud-mouth older lady who was extremely outspoken and made herself look crazy. There's always one in every bunch, I learned that I was happy to have sat beside her because I learned about that type of boisterous, controlling and "challenger" type person (new word from class). I also learned a lot about myself too- that I do like some control, yet I do believe in including everyone. I so know what it is like being left out, I also like attention and collaborating. So, what have you learned about yourself recently?

Have you ever received a letter from Who's Who? There are several variations of Who's Who and they will have difference names attached to them. BEWARE: They are all the same and just a scam to get your money. In May, I got a letter from Cambridge Who's Who. I kind of felt like I knew what this was about, but opened the letter to see what it was about. It was some tastefully designed letter about how I had been chosen to be in the Who's Who Directory for professional women. I was so excited about this opportunity; I could put this on my resume, not to mention tell friends and family. They had gotten my number some how and had left several messages almost everyday. I always forgot to record the number to call them back, so finally I call and speak with some lady. So, we're on the phone and she is conducting my interview. The interview was pretty easy and before you knew it I was in! The excitement of this membership had me grinning from ear to ear, proud of myself and the professionalism I obtained from four years of college and great mentors. To burst my bubble, the lady conducting my interview "presents" two membership options: gold or platinum. The gold package was $500 I believe and the platinum membership was $1,000. Mind you it did include a prestious membership with gold certificates and networking up the butt, but...no. Stuck in my tracks, I pretended to get out my credit card, put her on "hold" and hung up. Thinking why did I do this, she calls back again and again to complete her transaction. I'm completely non-confrontational and will avoid the heck out of something. She calls the office again until she stops. I figure I can't allow this to continue, so I call when I get home and ask her to not call my home or office because I'm not interested in the service. Word of caution: Do not accept any letters or phone calls from Who's Who- it's just a scam. Google them and see for yourself.

From yesterday to today I was thinking how easy the week should be since Thanksgiving is near. I just knew today would be a breeze, not that it wasn't but still. I get a voicemail asking me to cover the front desk answering phone calls and directing them to the appropriate staff person. I was not thrilled, number 1 I had not done this since the earlier part of the year and number 2 I just didn't want to do it. I felt like it was not my job, but as usual I grinned and bared it. I was able to reach the Office Manager who helped me get into the system. After that if was smooth sailing. Don't you ever just feeling saying "no" (on the job)? It seems as though I am the only person available to help with ANYTHING. They say this is making yourself indespinsable and build character. Well, to me it is tiring and makes me feel like I'm always being picked to do the laborious tasks. I also work with a lady who makes most projects taxing and like a chore. What's odd is she does the type of work that I enjoy, but I guess it's her presentation that makes everything such a bumpy ride. I have come to the point I have tried to dodge her in the building or pretend I am working on some other important task.

This has been on my mind for quite sometime now- feels good to have this off my mind and chest.

Oh- did I mention she brings work to be done like the last hour of the workday?

Please pray for me: )

Good Morning!
I am glad it's Tuesday and I am so looking forward to the three day weekend that is coming up. Another Labor Day and I don't have any plans ( does sleeping in count?) I was trying to take a long awaited trip to North Carolina to see my mommy. I miss her so much. Buuut, since I over did it on my budget I may not be able to do such.

Anywho, I can't stop looking at my finger nails- I went to a local beauty supply shop and purchased my first bottle of OPI nail polish in a feminine and polite color that is Coney Island Cotton Candy. I'm excited about mentioning it because it is the perfect color for the workplace, interviews or for the conservative woman who opts out for the brighter more noticable colors. I recommend this sweet color for anyone. A co-worker mentioned that she liked how it looks as if I'm not even wearing any nail polish- it's matches my nails just that much.
To score this great color at a great price, visit one of your local beauty supply shops. Take a look to see what I mean! This fabulous color is what I'm rocking on my toes right now.

You're villa or Mine?
by
OPI

Happy Friday Everyone!

For those of you that are going on that first or several job interviews- be prepared with the perfect interview suit and wow your prospective employer before you say a word! Below you will find tips of exactly what women should wear on their job interview. Happy Hunting!

Tips for Dressing for the perfect interview
Dress for the level of position one level above the position for which you are interviewing. This shows the employer that you will represent them well in higher level positions.

Match your shoes to the belt color and make sure that each is well polished and not worn. Shoes should be closed toed and have small to medium heels. No platforms, sneakers, or strappy sandals.
Women’s hosiery should be skin colored and men’s socks should be dark and high fitting. No hairy legs protruding between the pants and socks!

Shirts should be white, off-white or blue with a conservative neckline. In certain industries, shirts should be starched and professionally laundered. Women should not wear shirts with ruffles.

Hair and nails should be clean and well groomed with no bright colors like green, orange, etc. Hair should be understated as you want the recruiter to focus on what you are saying, not how you look.

Use a breath mint before the interview and use a minimal amount of cologne.

What is Business Casual?
Business casual has become a major recruiting tool for many employers. However, the definition of business casual can vary from industry to industry. In the conservative financial services industry, business casual might be the absence of a necktie for men and the use of pants by women. In the more trendy high tech industry, business casual may include sneakers and jeans. When in doubt about the attire for a business casual meeting, the best rule of thumb is to avoid denim and instead use khaki pants and casual, collared shirts. Business casual is often the appropriate dress for employer information sessions the evening before on-campus interviews.

It's all about Attitude
Recruiters are seeking candidates with the right qualifications to perform the technical aspects of the job, but they are also seeking candidates who have a personality profile that matches their corporate culture. Most recruiters are seeking candidates with a positive orientation toward work and a desire to work well with others. Recruiters want candidates who are eager to accept a position them. A candidates smile, posture, questions, knowledge of the company, and eye contact can leave non-verbal cues for the recruiter which affirms interest in the company. Other attitudes that recruiters seek are enthusiasm and motivation. Find ways to show these attitudes during your interview through your smiles, questions, and statements.

Business Etiquette--Mind your manners!
Having polished social skills is an asset during the hiring process. Employers believe that candidates who demonstrate good business etiquette will represent the employer appropriately to clients, associates, and the community.Some common business etiquette includes:
Arrive for your interview 15 minutes before it begins.
Be respectful and friendly to the receptionist or secretary.
Smile and offer a handshake when you first meet your interviewers.
Be prepared for small talk following your greeting from the interviewer.
Address your interviewers as Mr. or Mrs. unless they ask you to address them by their first name.
In the interview room, don’t sit until invited to do so.
Do not listen to phone calls that may interrupt your interview. Occupy yourself with your notes or resume.
Stand up and greet each person who enters the interview room.
Always accept a beverage if it is offered.
Don’t smoke or chew gum.
Remove your sunglasses as soon as you enter the employer’s building.
Know the name of your interviewer and the phone number to ease clearance through security.
Have good posture and sit straight in the chair.
Don’t make derogatory or negative comments about anything.
Watch what you say and how long you take to say it - This ranges from how you address others to avoiding slang expressions such as, "you know" or "like"; an intelligent response to an interview question should be between 2 and 6 sentences, not 6 paragraphs or 6 words.
Don’t bring anyone to the interview with you. If someone accompanied you to the city, they should remain outside of the employer’s building unless the employer specifically requests you to bring a guest.
Don’t carry your coat into the interviewers office unless directed to do so. Leave it with the receptionist.
Remember--smiling is never out of style!
REMEMBER, how you look only establishes the first impression as a credible candidate. Once you have set an impression of credibility, you must answer the interview questions in a manner that shows that you have the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the job that you are seeking.
Assessment Questions Asked by Employers Questions You Can Ask During an Interview Education Interview Tips Interview Responses
Need Help? Attend an Interview WorkshopMake an appointment with a Career Counselor for a Mock Interview



www.jobsrv.eiu.edu

Today has been a great day! I received my first on-spot bonus at my job today. At this moment I am still in shock- I never thought I would or could be deserving of this monetary award. I have convinced my boss that my work these past 6 months has greatly improved. Looking back over somethings I agree, what I attribute it to? God. I can honestly say, we have formed a close-knit bond and I wouldn't have it any other way...

God you are so amazing.

Good Afternoon All,

I decided that I would share a few tips I found on MSNBC on how to have your boss like and respect you. I have this exact advice taped to my bedroom wall. Good luck on that new job!


20 Ways to Impress the Boss

Be a Better EmployeeKate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com EditorWhether you're vying for a promotion or just want to make a good impression, here are 20 ways to show you're dream team material:

1. Know the mission. Align yourself with your boss' and company's goals and values. Make your boss' priorities your priorities.

2. Understand how you'll be evaluated. Know precisely which skills, behaviors and accomplishments you will be judged on and rewarded. Focus on them like a laser.

3. Be dependable. Do what you say you're going to do. Better yet, under-promise and over-deliver.

4. Project positive energy. Don't be the one to whine or criticize the boss or company direction. Be a motivator: the person everyone wants to be around.

5. Make your boss look good. Finish your work on time and with a high level of professionalism. Bring your boss ideas that will help him and the department and offer to take charge and implement them.

6. Own up. Take responsibility for your mistakes by focusing on what you've learned rather than what you've done wrong. For example, "I think this project could have been better if we'd gotten the group's buy-in early on," or "Next time I would talk more with the end-users up-front..."

7. Be organized. Plan your next day before you leave work. Rank your tasks by urgency and importance and make a point of doing at least the top two items on your list.

8. Be punctual. Arriving for work or meetings on time (even early) shows you're enthusiastic, dependable and able to manage your life effectively.

9. Be resourceful. Don't run to the boss with every question you have or setback you encounter. Think things through first. If you must report a problem to the boss, develop possible solutions to present.

10. Broaden your horizons. Take advantage of company-sponsored training courses and volunteer for projects in areas outside your everyday expertise.

11. Stay informed. Keep abreast of industry and company trends by reading trade journals and attending professional association events.

12. Be trendy. Stay current with technological, legal and knowledge advances in your area. Upgrade your skills and learn new ones.

13. Be courteous. Show respect and loyalty to your boss and speak well of her to others. (At the very least don't bad mouth her to anyone.)

14. Be flexible. Change is inevitable. Companies need people who can adapt and go with the flow.

15. Take care of your health. When you're run-down, productivity and ambition suffer -- as does your image.

16. Leave your personal life at the door. Using your co-workers as therapists not only hurts productivity; it damages your credibility and can contaminate your work relationships (even if people seem sympathetic).

17. Go beyond the call of duty. Take on added challenges, put in extra hours, and never use the phrase, "That's not in my job description."

18. Be a team player. Show your boss and co-workers you have their best interests at heart by being empathetic and offering to help out when they need it.

19. Take a break now and then. A clear head and balanced life can give you energy and perspective.

20. Look and act promotable. Don't let anyone think you work because you have to.

Okay, I'm trying not to make blogging at work a habit. I just came from having my 6 month evaluation with my boss, so I had to write to ya. It looks as though I'm doing extremely well, I've grasped most projects that have come my way as well as support two other people effectively, gracefully and graciously. Although there is room for improvement I guess you can say I passed my first 6 months! It looks like there may be an opportunity to go back to school and advance on my communications degree which so what I want to do- particularly in the area of PR/Marketing. My division has been working on its marketing plan I may be the front runner for this ever-important project. I have been praying on this opportunity for so long- this goes to show that God really does hear our prayers and each time I'm convinced and my faith grows more and more. My dream has been to work on the communications side of a corporate company providing counsel and eventually overseeing publications and other matters concerning the company. I'm excited that more projects are coming through for me and that I will have a future with Exceed. God you are so good to me! I'm so elated right now. Who knew that I would be on a job which is not even related to my major, yet I am allowed to utilize my degree across the board, while obtaining some other skills along the way. Again I say- thank you God! Who knew... well except Him?

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.

Jeremiah 1:5

I feel the need to back track for you just to show you how good God has been to me. Before I found my current job- I decided to try freelancing. I was very excited about the idea of such, my article was of interest- fashion. I interviewed a lady with her own consignment shop, if you've never been to one I suggest taking a stroll. You are sure to find quality peices that can go a long way. Like after my interview was done, I bought a pink wool blazer by Ann Klein that was only $13. You and I both know you can't walk away with anything Ann Klein for $13 (can't wait for fall!) Okay, so my article was published in April. I immediately expected my paycheck to come in anytime soon. I found myself logging onto my bank account hoping and wishing the payment was there. Finally I contacted the editor because he was the one telling me when to expect payment. He felt the frustration in my email so he increased my payment by $50. So, we do this dance for about two weeks and I get hip and contact the Finance office. I'm thinking I should have called her all along, she was able to give me the information I needed and days later the payment hit my account! I was so happy- thank God!

Since then I was supposed to do a story on a physician, but his publicist kept trying to 'spin' the story so we decided to not do that particular story. I've asked my editor to keep me in mind for future stories and he has mentioned he would. I write him every two weeks to keep me fresh in his memory. He hasn't contacted me yet, but I don't feel down or depressed, not after all I had to go through just to get paid for my article. Who knows... but I'll keep you posted.

Where do I begin? I've been on my job as a program assistant for 7 months now! This has been a great experience for me- my first year out of college. I've learned so much from co-workers and my boss. By being allowed to exercise my creativity, I have been rejuvenated and it makes me feel good coming to work knowing everyone values my opinion and sometimes will take me up on it. I don't know how many people can say this- don't get me wrong I have been doing "grunt work", but is making me stronger and is helping me become more organized. I am still in shock and excited that I am utilizing my communications degree, not in your typical journalism or broadcasting enviornment though. Through the course of seven months I have edited a marketing brochure, drafted letters of recommendation, scheduled and planned meetings, travel and lodging accomodations. This is what I enjoy! The fact my job allows me to do this just brings smiles to my face.

My social life has been improved- I'm always looking for ways to get out of the house. Some of the help has come from my boyfriend, we are always out and about. Just last weekend, we sailed the Hudson River along with his friends and a close relative. I have contributed to my rising socialite status as well, searching community events on local radio stations and even using google to rely on my weekend dealings. My sister will visit this Friday and I am looking forward to having her here. My other sister and I will have plenty of fun things planned for her and her son.

In addition to my 9-4 or 8-4, I'm researching other possible streams of income... don't really know if I should share that though, unless we will be networking!