Who do you cheer for?

My first marathon experience was 2 years ago. I ran the half. I was unprepared and I remember feeling butterflies at the starting line. It was the first time I felt nervous for anything fitness related. 

I was praying that my muscles would support me as they had always done. I was reminding myself to not rush that first mile. Let the serious people weave in and out. I have to “stay alive” for 13 miles.

And once it began, I was swept up by the crowd. Their cheering, the posters, the music. The volunteers who kept us on course, who gave us water or Gatorade, oranges, bananas or that bizarre gel. All I took was the water and Gatorade. And I just loved the crowd. For 13 miles, they were my heroes. 

This year, I ran the relay with my coworkers at SnapRetail. I ran the longest, flat leg, 6.1 miles. It was a great distance and the terrain was easy (still glad that my coworker Sarah confessed a love of running hills!). This year, my route took me from Shadyside, to Point Breeze, to the boarded up streets of Homewood, through Highland Park and East Liberty. 

It’s amazing. When running in the marathon, no matter how far my distance, I see more of Pittsburgh than usual. And I fall in love with the city and its neighborhoods. During the relay, it took me less than a mile to love the people.

On the hot day, they set out their sprinklers out for us to run through. Families and their little children happily handed us water, encouraging us. “You’re lookin’ good! Keep it up!” “You’re almost there!” “You’re doing great!” 

We joke that there’s no reason to go to Homewood. It’s a neighborhood that makes the news for crimes, a place you don’t want to get lost in. When there’s a house for rent, I don’t even bother; especially since my dog’s a joke of a guard.

But last Sunday, was the perfect time to be in Homewood. Families sat out on their sidewalks, painted signs, brought out their music, made food in their yards. They partied for us. They cheered the runners on. There were these adorable ladies who danced to Cha Cha Slide. I wanted to dance with them, to hug them and say, “You’re awesome, thank YOU!” Instead, I did the white girl raise the roof move as I ran by.

The thought of the residents of Homewood stayed with me throughout my run. I couldn’t comprehend why I was so moved by them. Thousands of people were cheering us on throughout the 26.2 miles. But it was Homewood residents who cheered us on for those few miles. 

And I couldn’t help but think, Who cheers them on?

 

If I were a morning person…

It’s not wise to dwell on “What ifs” right? Right. But it’s not bad to at least ask the question every so often. If we’re mindful enough, we’ll learn from ourselves, get to know our souls, maybe even evolve.

But, the “What if” that I can’t get out of my head isn’t too deep that it’s paralyzing or suffocating. It doesn’t hold me back from much….

What if I were a morning person? 

I don’t even know where to begin…I have a hunch that I’d kick ass at being a morning person. I live on making lists and plans of attack. I’m ambitious. I like to exercise. I like coffee. I love coffee. Yep, I think I’d be a great morning person.

Running in the morning, while the sun rises would probably be my favorite time to run. Before I would go running, I would program my coffee pot to start about 15 minutes behind me. Maybe 30 if I was feeling extra energetic and wanted to run longer. When I came in, all refreshed and ready to “start my day” (because, for morning people, running is like an extension of sleep, you just do it…), I would pour my coffee and then let it cool while I took my shower.

I would start my day on all positive notes, because now, I not only have caffeine in my veins, but endorphins buzzing all over the place. Bring it, Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (I like you, Friday), I’m ready! (Although, maybe I wouldn’t even have that “bring it” attitude because I’m on a whole other level, being this morning person…)

But, alas…the only thing I wake up to is Luna whimpering that she needs to pee or poop. My blaring alarm clock only wakes the neighbors, but not me. When the sun is creeping up, I think, “Ah, I still have minutes before it totally shines in my face…then I have to turn my face the other way so I can continue to sleep for as long as possible to run out of the house without even doing my hair but passing as non-I-don’t-care-what-my-hair-looks-like-I-look-at-a-computer-screen as possible.

I rush to get out the door, hoping that the light turns green at the right moment so that it’s truly “fate” that tells me to go to Starbucks to get my java fix. And since I can’t drink it so hot, I don’t even start sipping it until I’m halfway to work…running late…

I don’t even know if I would like running in the morning, because I never really tried. But I do know that at the moment, running at night is still amazing. As the sun sets and it cools off, I reflect on my day. I might not plan out the day in my head, but at least I reflect and consider how I can improve as a friend, a hard worker, a mentor, a sister, a daughter, a sometimes-cynical-sometimes-hopeless-romantic, a dog lover, a dreamer…

And sometimes, I wonder, would it be easier?….

…What if I was a morning person…

What’s the point of networking?

I’m sorry to say that I’ve only been to a handful of networking events. Considering how many invites I get via LinkedIn, Facebook, Branchout and my regular email from Pittsburgh events, I should be a 25-year old vet on the matter. But instead, tonight I’ve been to my second woman-focused networking event. Even better, it was pitched with a focus in marketing. Boom. Jackpot.

But 2 hours later, after 2 glasses of wine and 2 freakishly small platefuls of hors d’voeures (is it because I’m a woman that you supply such tiny plates?!?), I feel as unfulfilled in networking as I feel unenlightened by women in marketing.

Hosted at the amazing Boxheart Gallery in charming Bloomfield, the event had my expectations set pretty high. The art in the gallery was fabulous and here was this young woman, the founder and president of her own ad agency (aka, my first choice of occupation for a speaker!). I had every reason to listen to every syllable of every word; she did what boggles my dreaming mind. And she even had stats and awards to back her up.

But because I’m this 25-year old dreamer with high hopes and higher expectations, and because I hung on to every single word she spoke, I read in between the lines….This accomplished woman provided little value. She talked about herself for nearly 45 minutes. She talked about starting her business with even less information on starting a business than Google could pull up for an inexperienced high school student working on their research paper (and that’s not slamming Google, the god of information). Get an attorney, get an accountant….really? That’s what I paid $20 to hear? Hopefully my money went to the adorable dessert company that made scrumptious chocolate-covered pretzels – THAT sister-run company deserved every penny!

What irritated me the most though, was that when I timidly approached her after her self-influenced performance, she gave me nada. Zilch. And I had some pretty amazing questions too. I talked about the balance of culture in an ad agency. How can you stay progressive and innovative yet create work that pushes the envelope of perfection? How do you stay ahead of the social media curve? What resources can you suggest for me to grow in my profession and passion in advertising? Literally, nothing. So then, I went all out. “What do you think about the fact that my guess is in a matter of years, Facebook will cease to be a hot virtual destination?” Crickets. Seriously? That was f*^%$ing bold! 

So, the rhetorical question to all you women in business or marketing: What is it about US that we can do to actually enlighten the minds of our future women leaders? And, quite frankly, I’m a little too young to be answering that question. I’ll think about it because I’m an overachiever like that, but that’s your job. One day, I could be the reason that you’re living so luxuriously during your retirement.

I love finding cheesy stock photos. This one could demonstrate me throwing my money away from the event? Or just the stereotype that women play with money? Plus, this speaker was also a redhead...Don't judge on the photo...it's part of the creative license here.

The CrossFit Truth

When I joined R.A.W Training, a CrossFit affiliate in the Fall, I was looking to push my fitness boundaries.

R.A.W hasn’t disappointed me in the slightest. It’s crazy, amazing, challenging, fun, exhilarating, and it’s a program that at each visit, is something new. But it’s also a program that you get out of it what you put into it. And that’s what makes it such a challenge. While you’re building muscle and endurance, you’re conditioning your mind to push past old standards and preconceived boundaries.

There’s a competition all CrossFitters can participate in, the CrossFit Games. I am doing it out of pure fun and because the coaches convinced me that even my weak upper body was worth registering! I’ve been loving it so far, but the best thing happened last week. It was so cool and inspiring that for the time being it is casting a slight shadow on my own successes.

I got to witness a female athlete who is participating in the Games to compete, not just for kicks. She is the unmistakable image of a strong woman. She was doing her CrossFit Games WOD while I was waiting for my class to start. She was in a rhythm that was almost mechanic, and her focus was intense. When I looked up from my phone, I saw a rambunctious little girl running around her in circles, screaming, cheering her on. I then saw a little boy who was injured in a wheelchair, looking on, admiring her. As the workout ticked away, as her muscles grew exhausted, and the loud exhales, that even I have come to make, left her, her kids cheered louder. By the time her workout was done, she was drained but proud, her kids ecstatic.

I was blown away. Obviously, I was impressed by her ridiculous strength, but what was even greater to me was the support she had and how she set in motion an admirable example. She chose to show her kids where she spends some extra time. I assume that the benefits of that are many. Her kids see their mom living healthfully, they see her working so hard and past pain to reach a goal or a dream, they see her overcoming obstacles, and they might remember her habits and examples when they need to draw on them in their lives down the road.

I’ve always seen working out as a part of something greater. It’s not truly about weight or sizes. It’s about the extra mile, the surpassed obstacle, the holistic health benefits and the well rounded lifestyle that should follow.

It’s what makes CrossFit the “sport of fitness” and it’s what will make each WOD achievable and truly enjoyable.

A nutritious week

A couple months ago I started working out at RAW, a Crossfit affiliate, and since then, a lot of my perspectives changed. It’s taught me a lot, obviously about form in each workout, pushing boundaries and just overall physical success, but it was a little direction from Coach Amy to keep track of my diet, exercise and sleep patterns for a week that is the subject for this blog.

After logging what I ate last week I wasn’t necessarily disappointed in my food choices; they weren’t terrible choices and I never ate in excess. But I noticed that I ate out, or at least brought food back to the office, more than I would have liked to. Panera is sometimes the best option for a non-home-cooked meal on the fly, but having more control is always best when creating a healthy lifestyle diet.

Fueled by weekend time, great workouts and some extra determination, I set to work yesterday evening, cooking up lunches and snacks that I could pack throughout the week.

To keep lunches healthy and easy for the week, I doctored up a hearty vegetable soup I found on Pinterest. Instead of pasta, I used barley and I added other vegetables: zucchini, cauliflower and spinach. It’s filling, tasty, and so healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

Then I made granola to keep handy for snacks. I didn’t add the pumpkin seeds, because I couldn’t find any that were unsalted and the sodium is UNREAL on most brands at the store. After baking, and once it cooled, I added white chocolate chips, craisins and golden raisins! It’s absolutely delicious…

 

 

 

 

 

The next prep for the week was smoothies. I loooove smoothies. They’re easy and can be so nutritious. My recipe for this week: Lowfat vanilla yogurt; organic skim milk; orange juice; frozen raspberries, blueberries and peaches; a banana; handful of Quaker Oats; baby spinach. It’s the perfect way to start the day.

What are some of your go-to healthy meals or snacks?

Organic Customer Service

I’m an easy to please customer because I’m not high-maintenance. But I do pay attention to a businesses values, their communications and whether or not they follow through. There are so many companies and brands that I will buy for the rest of my life. I have a feeling that a new fling, Hazelwood Soap Company, from North Carolina, will be one of them.

I’ve never tried their products before. My boss and friend recommended them so on a whim (I’m always interested in new lotions or scrubs) I bought a body scrub and lotion. I haven’t even received their products yet. I have the most sensitive skin and I don’t even know if they’ll pass the allergy test, but I absolutely fell in love with the company, their people and their products.

Here’s why:

• Their Facebook page is helpful, friendly and simplistic. There’s actually nothing that special about it. I would love to spruce it up, add some oomph to it, but frankly, when I needed to find information, it was right there and super easy. They were running a Valentine’s Day promotion, and I’m assuming their lack of FB posts is because it was so successful that they’re catching up with product. Which brings me to my next point…
• I got an email today from the company (amazing in and of itself) that my product was just finished BEING MADE and an effort to keep it SO ORGANIC, that there is the smallest time frame possible between sealing it and shipping it. WHAT?!? Are you for real? I’m in love. They’re authentic and straight-up organic. That’s truly amazing.
• Their website was so user-friendly, even for a newbie like me. I didn’t know anything about this company. My boss just posted on FB that it was a great deal and I virtually meandered to their page, then to their site, then made my purchase. But I had all the info I needed. Everything from the history of the company and values, to organic FAQs, to the make-up of any scent infused in their products was all explained concisely but wonderfully. Because they were so user-friendly, I am confident that the product I’m getting is genuine and of great quality.

I was just emailed today that my order was freshly made and was ready to ship so I can’t testify that I’ll love my body scrub and shea butter lotion, but I love this company already. It might sound naive or over-the-top to you, but I’d rather fall head-over-heels for a company with great ethics and purpose than one that stands more for the quick wins and sale gimmicks.

I’ll keep you posted on their actual product, but honestly, I already would recommend them to a friend. Actually, I did that last week on Facebook, and now with this blog…

The body scrub. I got mine in the Bloom scent.

The Problem with Pinterest

Let’s just call it like it is – I can’t get over Pinterest. I’m a social media nerd, I love to dream, I think I can cook (although I know I can’t bake), I can be crafty, I like quotes and new suggestions, I’m a collaborative person and can’t get enough of new ideas. Before Pinterest came along, I was already keeping file folders of what my future coffee shop would be like, or what decorations to make for my house. Pinterest is my perfect time-suck.

In addition to everything above, I can also be terribly indecisive. Shopping, while it’s fun to get new things, can feel like punishment (although, probably more so for the people who accompany me…thank you by the way…). A few weekends ago, I was shopping for a coffee table that would ultimately get covered in Starbucks cards. It was so hard for me – I liked most every coffee table I saw. An ivory one with drawers? A long, dark, narrow one, maybe for an entry way? A round, quirky sage end table? Yeah, they were all really cool and useful in their own right, but I couldn’t make up my mind. That day I decided I wasn’t going to make up my mind about what color wood would be in my home; I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

Well, damnit, then I got hooked on Pinterest. If you looked at my For the Home board, I’m clearly a millionaire who likes some vintage things, some over-the-top styles, has a ridiculously HUGE kitchen and hired master painters to paint just about anything on any given wall in any given room. Clearly, all efforts to streamline my to-be-determined style has failed.

So this is the problem with Pinterest: It hinders all decisions. If I were to win the lottery tonight (without even buying a ticket, by the way) what house would I buy? A few, actually, because I love all of my pins and not many of them even go together. Sure it’s a #whitegirlproblem (look that up on Twitter, it’s hilarious), but I’m white and indecisive, so it’s relevant.

But the good news is that many times, we are indecisive because we have an open mind and therefore greater possibilities to seize. So I might have to paddle extra hard to make a decision (or resort to rock, paper, scissors, which I think is actually a better idea) when it comes time for me to design my home, but at least it’s not just copying from a magazine, from Martha or Oprah, or even from my family members. At least it will be eclectic. And, my housewarming party will have a TON of amazing food…

Yes, I do love you, Pinterest. You and all your problems.

Why You Need a Social Media Marketing Diet

I was just reading Push, and was on the chapter when author, Chalene Johnson, is talking about the difference between being on a diet and having a diet. At first glance you may think, Aha! Or you might be completely confused! But I actually don’t want to talk about food diets…instead, how about social media diets?

Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask that you only do Facebook for breakfast, Twitter for lunch and Pinterest before 7:00pm.

I think what’s interesting is when you do social media for business, clients often have the frame of mind that is the similar to that as being on a diet – it’s a quick fix to a longstanding business problem. Quick, what can you do (for basically free) in the social media realm to increase my sales? Instead clients need to think of the healthy approach of “having a diet” or implementing a lasting marketing plan.

It’s 100% accurate that just as diets should be measurable, so should marketing efforts. But why do quick, sporadic jumps in social media fail just as miserably as fad diets? Because neither are thought through or implemented with a strategy for long term results!

I always tell my clients that we’re going to take social media in bite size pieces, we’re going to master one area, then another, then another, and we’ll constantly evolve and capture the customers in each space or platform. And this rings true for diets. When you purge your cupboards of simple carbs, sugar, processed foods, fatty meats, dairy, chocolate, sugary fruits, you’re left with chaos and dissatisfaction. You might reach a “high” or a goal, but it will cave when you feel vulnerable, stressed, overwhelmed, too happy, too sad, etc. The purge or urgency of fad diets brings similar results as sporadic social media campaigns that ignore strategy.

After a few years of obsessing over both fitness and social media (what a combo!) it was great to find this Aha! moment. My steady, strategic plans and theories aren’t timid or “too safe,” they’re smart. Just as a steady, patient diet is how to live a successfully healthy life, smart and strategic campaigns should be how businesses do social media marketing.

 

The Intangible Packing List

I was going to write about what you should pack on a business trip – particularly, on back-to-back business trips when a) you want to be healthy but b) you have a propensity to get sick and c) you want to stay sane.

But instead, I thought I’d write about what you should bring that doesn’t take up any space in your luggage at all. Vitamins and good books are great, but some inner qualities, I think, are better.

1) Bring your A-Game. Always. No matter what you’re traveling for – whether you’re selling, shadowing, listening, in meetings, going to events, gatherings, whatever, bring it. What’s in an A-Game? For the inner stuff: confidence, honesty, good ears, humor, a smile. For the outer stuff: business cards, a pen, paper, iPad, some type of time-telling device, and a cute picture of whatever/whoever you find to be cutest (reminders of what matters are key).

2) Thick skin. Not only for that horrid hotel soap that will dry you up in seconds flat, but for business. If you’re working for the nicest people in the entire world, (I am), then good for you! But sometimes you don’t always work with the nicest people. So be ready, don’t flinch and just keep on rockin’ it. You can do it. After all, chances are you’ve done it most of your life.

3) Schmoozing topics. Ugh, schmoozers. You love them and you hate them. Be the lovers  kind and have small talk ready that compliments, brings people at ease, lightens the mood,  and please, oh please, does NOT involve the weather. Some topics to consider: dogs, children, cats, mothers, flowers…for more sophistication: social media trending topics, PINTEREST (it’s like groupie talk if there’s common ground), music, local hot spots. Some topics to avoid: sharks, rain, popular music on the radio, “extracurricular activities,” politics, and of course the weather (it screams desperate).

4) De-stress methods. No matter how easily you stress out, traveling for business can be the easiest time to stress. Whether it’s lack of good internet/phone service, bad packing skills, crappy coffee (isn’t Starbucks on every corner?!) or homesickness, you need to be able to do the above three things, so you need to be as calm and relaxed on the inside as possible. Yoga breathing is always a great option and sometimes a cold washcloth on your face is enough (they are for me anyway, and keep stress from taking over when I don’t have time or access to work out).

I can’t preach about rolling clothes and stuffing socks in odd crevices of the suitcase; I’m not a great traveler like that. But I can tell that you that in the midst of crabby people, standing in heels all day, and too much restaurant food, what will make or break your trip is what you’ve brought on the inside. Arm yourself and get ready! Traveling for business can be super stressful, rushed and inconvenient or it can be successful, fun and team-building. It’s really all up to you!

Push Your Boundaries

First of all, let me confess that this blog is being typed on my iPad because I’m naive and curious as to how the WordPress app will look on the “real” computer screen…and the clicking of the iPad keys make me feel kinda cool too…

But another reason I decided to do this post from my iPad is that I just got done with an assignment from an amazing book I’m reading, Push, written by the creator of TurboJam, TurboFire, and for those of you are group class nuts, you’re aware of her amazing program, TurboKick. I was certified in TurboKick last May and when I saw she came out with this book, I knew I was going to read it! Why did I do an assignment on my iPad? Well, the uber successful author, Chalene Johnson told me to and I believe that I should do whatever I can to stay on this great pace for 2012. Actually, I was supposed to do the assignment on my smartphone but since my Droid goes into spasms every so often, and I don’t want to lose all my hard work, I figured a reliable Apple product was the way to go.

Push is occupying my before-bed reading and my plane rides because it’s riveting. If you aim to succeed in your career, your health, or the random goals and dreams you pin about on Pinterest, then this book is for you. She takes you through, step by step, of how to think of goals, prioritize them, construct them, deconstruct them, live them, breathe them, and best of all, succeed at ALL of them.

I’m not going to give away everything now, partially because now the clicking of the iPad keys is getting annoying. But it is more so because this Push journey might make a cool “beat” blog topic. But what I will share for now, is that by utilizing her steps, I have realized that the goal I aspire to achieve is one that I have had for years on my list of goals. It continues to be a goal because I continue to fail at it – not for lack of effort or passion – but more because it is a huge goal and it is complex. And by recognizing this as a “push” goal and using the techniques I’m reading about so far, I’m actually closer to achieving this goal in the last 10 days than I was in the last 4 or 5 years of trying.

Intrigued? You should be!