Box Office for May 30- June 1

Weekend Box Office Estimates: May 30-June 1, 2008
Sex and the City (New Line) $55.7 million - opening weekend
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount) $46 million - 2 2k total $216.9m
The Strangers (Rogue Pictures) $20.7 million - opening weekend
Iron Man (Paramount) $14.0 million - 5 wk total $276.6m
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Buena Vista) $13.0 million - 3 wk total $115.7m
What Happens in Vegas (Fox) $6.8 million - 3 wk total $66.1m
Baby Mama (Universal) $2.2 million - 6 wk total $56.1m
Speed Racer (Warner Bros.) $2.1 million - 4 wk total $40.6m
Made of Honor (Sony) $2.0 million - 5 wk total $43.0m
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Universal) $1.0 million - 7 wk total $60.5m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Becoming A Guru

My sabbatical from blogging is now over as I have grown enough to be able to impart readers with reasonable wisdom. Over the past few months, I have generated a business model and implemented it into a local publication, and while we're still getting things off the ground, it looks very promising.

I have become a marketing guru of sorts. If you're wondering what makes a guru, it's more or less just confidence with knowledge. One has to be confident that his or her ability to manipulate and discuss a topic is advanced. Fluent, even. A guru can give good advice. The job title for a guru is usually: Consultant. (Unless your Oprah, then you're a "doctor")

In my marketing endeavors, I have become aware of essential principles by which one ought to run by. These are, obviously, my opinion, however, I believe that they are fundamental to success.

Be Positive:
Think positively, and be positive that you will fulfill your every goal eventually. Recognize that there are hurdles, but that you will also overcome them. They are inevitable and the less you stress about them, the better you will deal with them. You will glide past them.

Be Grateful:
Feel lucky to be able to market. It's a really fun and creative way to earn a living. Also, be grateful to clients. Appreciate their business. You should WANT to help them make money. Strive to increase their business. If they see that you appreciate them and their business, they will be more likely to work with you.

Be Persistent:
This goes back to being positive, but accentuates the idea that one must continue to achieve. Write outlines. Re-write them. Practice sales pitches with friends and co-workers. Think of new ways to market and innovate your business as well as your clients business.

and lastly
BE CALM!
Admittedly, this is my most difficult area. I tend to get overly excited about my ideas when I am talking to co-workers and customers, and it can come off as condescending and irritating. Be succinct, and understandable, and CALM. Do deep breathing exercises daily or yoga. Something to keep you balanced and not too overzealous. Some of you, this might not apply, but heck, Yoga can do wonders for anyone.

The truth is, anyone can be successful. ANYONE. It's a matter of thinking positively and having a EXCELLENT work ethic. If you are reading this blog, you're already moving towards the right direction.

The Box Office Breakdown for March 28-30

21 (Sony/Columbia) PG-13 Opening Weekend $23.7m
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (Fox) G $17.4m-3 wk total $117.3m
Superhero Movie (MGM (Weinstein)) PG-13 Opening Weekend $9.5m
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) PG-13 $7.8m-2 wk total $32.8m
Drillbit Taylor (Paramount) PG-13 $5.8m-2 wk total $20.6m
Shutter (Fox) PG-13 $5.3m-2 wk total $19.1m
10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) PG-13 $4.9m-4 wk total $84.9m
College Road Trip (Buena Vista) G $3.5m-4 wk total $38.4m
Never Back Down (Summit Entertainment) PG-13 $2.4m-3 wk total $21.3m
Vantage Point (Sony/Columbia) PG-13 $2.4m-6 wk total $69.3m
Source: Box Office Mojo

The Box Office Breakdown for March 28-30

21 (Sony/Columbia) PG-13 Opening Weekend $23.7m
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (Fox) G $17.4m-3 wk total $117.3m
Superhero Movie (MGM (Weinstein)) PG-13 Opening Weekend $9.5m
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) PG-13 $7.8m-2 wk total $32.8m
Drillbit Taylor (Paramount) PG-13 $5.8m-2 wk total $20.6m
Shutter (Fox) PG-13 $5.3m-2 wk total $19.1m
10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) PG-13 $4.9m-4 wk total $84.9m
College Road Trip (Buena Vista) G $3.5m-4 wk total $38.4m
Never Back Down (Summit Entertainment) PG-13 $2.4m-3 wk total $21.3m
Vantage Point (Sony/Columbia) PG-13 $2.4m-6 wk total $69.3m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Get Ahead: Join A Student Organization

I'm in my fourth year of college, and I've just discovered something: Student Groups. I figure I may be well behind the curve on this discovery, but if your like me, and you haven't realized the potential benefits of joining a student organization on campus, keep reading.

I'm interested in developing a career in television one day. The majority of my accomplishments which would lead me toward this goal are the day dreams I have while in a class about Victorian Literature (I went the romantic route and decided on an English major). Recently, a friend invited me to a meeting for a group called Student Video Productions.

And boy, how it hit me, when I realized how much I'd been missing out.

The group was filled with my peers, all interested in developing programs and, well, video productions. They offered oppurtunities to create and produce shows that actually air on T.V. Not only that, but they offer an array of services. They have a vast amount of cameras available to rent, as well as people who are willing to teach you to utilize all of their capabilities.

Forgive me if I seem naive, but this was all too good to be true.

I came to realize all of the oppurtunities associated with joining a student group, as well as the potential resume builders. Student Video Productions boasts a budget of more than $50,000. The treasurer is sure going to have something to brag about.

In addition to all the practical aspects of joining such a group, it's also just a lot of fun. There are people there who share similar interests, and you get to immerse yourself in your own passions and potentially find new ones.

Box Office Blab

This past weekend the Dr. Seuss animated feature Horton Hears A Who topped the box office yet again, taking it's 2 week total to more than 86 million. If this says one thing, it's surely: Don't mess with the animated epics. Pixars slew of animated features (everything from the Toy Story's to last years academy award winning Ratatouille) have all proven to be box office gold. Though their budgets can border around the 100 million mark, they have each gone on to take in at least three times that amount. Dreamworks Animation, which produced the Shrek trilogy, has grossed nearly 4.5 billion dollars since 2000, with their budgets amounting to about 1 billion. That's a lot more than your average Bee Movie.

Also of interest Tyler Perry's new feature: Tyler Perry's: Meet The Browns. I think Perry's name carries clout. He's one of America's most successful playwrights, and his first feature, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, gross over 50 million on a budget of a little more than 5 million. His next movie, and the latter's sequel, Madea's Family Reunion, duplicated that success plus 10 million, bringing it's box office revenues to more than 60 million. All of Perry's movies have seen substantial profit, as well as more than modest opening weekends. It looks like Perry has a bright future (as well as present) ahead of him.

As for Drillbit Taylor, it's safe to say it's a dissapointing weekend for the Owen Wilson helmed project. It may go on to gross around 20 million, but with a $40 million budget, it seems that Taylor's a dud. The trailers weren't very appealing, with Owen Wilson being the only recognizable figure in the cast. It looked as though they were trying to reproduce the success of last years surprise hit Superbad. (Seth Rogen was a writer on both)

10,000 B.C.'s steam is dying down, as it brings its total tally to 76 million. Though it's budget is almost double that, worldwide it's surpassed 150 million. College Road Trip, starring Martin Lawrence and Rayven Symone seems to be a modest hit with $32 million up to date (I can't imagine the budget was more than half that).

Look forward to this as a new feature on It's A Generation Y Thing.

Sources: The-numbers.com, wikipedia.org

Past Weekend Box Office Results

Weekend Box Office Estimates: Mar 21-23, 2008
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who! (Fox) $25.1 million 2 wk total $86.5m
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) $20.0 million opening weekend
Shutter (Fox) $10.7 million opening weekend
Drillbit Taylor (Paramount) $10.2 million opening weekend
10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) $8.7 million 3 wk total $76.1m
Never Back Down (Summit) $4.9 million 2 wk total $16.8m
College Road Trip (Buena Vista) $4.6 million 3 wk total $32.0m
The Bank Job (Lionsgate) $4.1 million 3 wk total $19.4m
Vantage Point (Sony) $3.8 million - 5 wk total $65.3m
Under the Same Moon (Weinstein Co.) $2.6 million opening weekend
Source: Box Office Mojo

Come back for an analysis.

Better Late Than Never: Last Weekend's Box Office

I forgot to post the last weekends box office figures, so I'll do it now. Expect me to post this weekend's on Monday 3/24

Weekend Box Office Estimates: Mar 14-16, 2008
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who! (Fox) $45.1 million - opening weekend
10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) $16.4 million - 2 wk total $61.2m
Never Back Down (Summit) $8.6 million - opening weekend
College Road Trip (Buena Vista) $7.9 million - 2 wk total $24.3m
Vantage Point (Sony) $5.4 million - 4 wk total $59.2m
The Bank Job (Lionsgate) $4.9 million - 2 wk total $13.1m
Doomsday (Universal) $4.7 million - opening weekend
Semi-Pro (NewLine) $3.0 million - 3 wk total $29.8m
The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) $2.9 million - 3 wk total $19.2m
The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount) $2.4 million - 5 wk total $65.4m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Success: It's All In Your Head

Is the glass half empty or half full? I know it's an old cliche, and it's been duplicated on thousands, if not millions, of blogs regarding the same subject I'm about to talk about, but it just works so well.

Our lives are filled with struggles. Even the most successful people have troubles here and there (if not more than the less successful). The point isn't really about career success, though. It's about quality of life.

Being content with what you have is going to give you the clarity and type of energy that will help you make the assertions necessary to be successful. How many successful businesses are developed with the entire staff thinking how badly they are going to fail? In fact, why would you even go through with an idea if you thought it was destined to fail?

The thing is, when you actually try something, you have already increased your odds of attaining your goal (whereas the odds before you tried it were 0). And experience is always the valuable by product of any endeavor. Trial and error over time will hone your skills and show you what works.

After all: You gotta fight, for your right, to paaaaaaartay

Lives On Display

As I had mentioned, I applied for an internship with Fox Reality Channel. I got a response from them, and apparently, before they had even seen my e-mail, they had read my blog! They even sent me the link to my previous post!

Though an interview is pending, it's a poignant occurence. What goes on your blog is subject to be read by millions of people. And if you mention particulars, like I mentioned Fox Reality Channel, you are more likely to get visitors who are associated with them.

With this in mind, it is also important to take your blog seriously. Employers are using online personas (myspace, facebook, blogs, etc.) in addition to resumes and interviews, to find out more about potential employees. So it is important for all you job seekers to professionalize your online identity.

Ways to do that involve listing your job experiences on your facebook or myspace, and also any clubs or extra curriculars (the legal ones). Display your creativity and your charisma. Think of yourself as a candidate, and only put down what you want employers to see.

Though some of us like to publish our entire lives on the web, it's important to keep in mind who may be looking you up.

Advice From Me To You, For Me And You

As some of you may know, I'm in the market for an internship. So far, I've applied at MTV and Fox Reality Channel. While I would be stoked to have either, I think I'd be better suited for the latter. Frankly, because it's less well known, and it might be easier to make an impression there (though I can't even be sure of that). Also, I'm interested in developing reality TV. I have seen reality television take over such a large proportion of our television programming, and I project it will continue to dominate the TV guide.
As far as making an impression, I just read a list from internmemo.com about things you should and shouldn't do at an internship. I'll recap on the ones I think are most important:

1) Don't roll your eyes.
I hope this is a duh to most of you, but if it isn't, heed this advice. Respect your superiors and appreciate your role as an intern. You are there to learn and to help out.

2) Talk to your superiors
Being afraid to ask questions or to develop a relationship with your boss is only going to slow you down. Your boss might not have time to seek you out, so go to him or her and utilize their expertise; it's what got them there, and it's what could get you where they are some years down the road.

3) Show initiative and enthusiasm.
Work extra hours on your projects and show that you are willing to do whatever it takes to do the best job possible. Treat this like a job where you are looking for a promotion. Sometimes interns can be hired on a full time employees if they are impressive candidates.

Essentially, the best thing to do is to treat an internship like it's your first job. Work hard, do your best, and appreciate the opportunity you are being given. Stay humble and willing to learn, and get the most out of your time.

The End of Print Media

As you may have noticed, I now have a Google Adsense account. If you know what it is, you're probably annoyed. If you don't, then I'll tell you.

Google adsense is an application that one can add to their blog or website that pays the website's owner for clicks and/or views. So if you host a blog that gets a thousand hits a day, you might actually profit from Google Adsense. I believe that the payout is somewhere around $7 per thousand views, but I'm not sure. I do know that payments can range from nothing to thousands of dollars a month..

If you consider that advertising is essentially the funding for all media, and then factor in the printing costs for magazines and newspapers, it's easy to do the math. The internet is cheaper. Way cheaper.

If you haven't noticed already, all mediums are starting to shift towards the internet. People are actually spending more time on the internet than watching TV. (I know I do) The internet is too great a location for advertisers to ignore. I am inclined to believe that print media will suffer a lot in the coming years. Who needs a newspaper when you can go on to CNN.com? Perezhilton.com has all of the tabloid lovers. Anything you can find on the newstands, you can probably find on a blog or a website.

Breaking Bad

What gets your rocks off? Where do you spend your free time? Do you watch too much t.v? Or are you a comic book buff? Chances are, that if you're reading this, your a blogger, so let's just say that blogging. What attracted you to the blogosphere?

What am I doing with blogging, though? If you look back at all of my posts, you can tell where my thinking was concentrated on during each post. In ones where I link back a lot, I was thinking about professional blogging. I was avidly reading blogs like Employee Evolution and Penelope Trunk. (Linking adds so much professionalism to your blog. And it's so simple. So do it.) Those websites discuss the merits of blogging often, often encouraging young people to start blogs as an element to develop one's career. The posts here are often about blogging, too. So the truth is that I'm blogging about reading blogs about blogging.
WTF?

I tried to personalize the blog writing a poem. It was about school and organization, and even blogging. It turned out that some of you couldn't even tell it was a poem (and I mean you Torbjorn). I blame that on both the content, as well as the blog formatting. So I guess it's wise to consider the content in the context.

Right now I'm watching Breaking Bad on AMC. It's a riveting show that portrays a decidedly unique and intense situation. And it's breaks boundaries you never knew existed. The show depicts a high school science teacher, diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, making and selling Meth. It begs the question: What are we really capable of?

The truth is, we're all capable of a lot. In my time, though it may not be much, I've realized that success is 90 percent about ambition and 10% talent. In fact, staying positive and ambitious is likely to produce great work. If we never try, we can never succeed.

Interested In The Box Office? Me too..

I will from here on out be posting the weekend's US Box Office results. I aspire to a career in entertainment, and maybe some of you do as well.


Weekend Box Office Estimates: Mar 7-9, 2008
10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) $35.7 million - opening weekend
College Road Trip (Buena Vista) $14.0 million - opening weekend
Vantage Point (Sony) $7.5 million - 3 wk total $51.7m
Semi Pro (NewLine) $5.9 million - 2 wk total $24.8m
The Bank Job (Lionsgate) $5.7 million - opening weekend
The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount) $4.8 million - 4 wk total $61.7m
The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) $4.0 million - 2 wk total $14.6m
Jumper (Fox) $3.8 million - 4 wk total $72.5m
Step Up 2 The Streets (Buena Vista) $3.0 million - 4 wk total $53.0m
Fool's Gold (Warner Bros.) $2.8 million - 5 wk total $62.8m

source: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/

Bring on the internships!

So, I'm looking for an internship. I would prefer one with a television network, but I suppose any internship will do. I guess internships are a necessary part of the transition out of college, no?

What exactly is an internship? Will I be getting some honchos coffee? Or will I be getting someone who gets the honcho coffee, their coffee? I think it will be fun to be an intern. It's a stage of life, in a way. Everybody was an intern at some point.

It's bizarre to be so close to graduating college, and still so uncertain about a career path. What should I be doing? What was I meant for? Or was I meant for anything? And maybe our careers don't have to define us as people.

But do they end up doing that inevitably? At least to some degree, I think they must. They take up such vast amounts of our time. But I think I'm most useful in a conversation with a friend, in helping them sort out their feelings and opinions.

Maybe I'll be a psychologist.

O you are sick of self-love, Malvolio!

The prior post was a bit out of the blue, so I am forced to reconcile that it is invariably reflective of the self-assured Todd that exists within me. If you'll look deeper into the blog, you'll find the other Todds (economical Todd, practical Todd, sad Todd). This Todd here, is inspired Todd.

You see, I've just finished reading Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, and I enjoyed it in a way that made me want to post on my generation Y blog. Go figure.

Shakespeare is said to have acheived a great feat in writing: originality. For he coins his own diction, and is never successfully copied thereafter. There are few, if any, Shakespearian copy cats which have sustained over time the way Shakespeare himself has. Where we might look at various movements, such as modernism, and we will clump together Conrad, Eliot, and Pound (though I do not claim authority on any of the three), we do not associate Shakespeare as such.
The same goes even for Socrates, the father of philosophy. Perhaps it's because he never wrote his ideas down, but we often speak of Socrates in reference to a progression towards Plato, then Aristotle. But O Shakespeare, the valiant prince of theatrical literature. The Kings playwright as well as the peoples!

Point being, Do dare! Do flaunt your unique perspective in the ways possible. There is part of me that assumes that this is invariably going to be appreciated --If done with intensity and passion-- by some such people. Use the force! Go hard! Fight the good fight?

In any case, don't get into debt, blah blah blah. You all should know that. I want, if only, to inspire you, but ideally, to fully remind you of the realities of your own enviornment (and I'm not even touching on global warming!)

So stand out. And explore your passion.

Success Makes Jack A Jerk

It's difficult for me to look at people who are in positions of extreme success, and to see them act the complete opposite of humble.

Kanye, you're a joke.
An awesome rapper, and a joke.

The Arts

To all of those who read this blog, I'd like to ask whether or not the poem was entirely out of place. I had expressed frustration with the boundaries of schooling and blogging, and was decided to take a step, via this blog, towards creative expression.

Was it too much? Does this blog need more consistency. I suppose I haven't gone over advice relevant to Generation Y in a while, and I'll probably be heading back there shortly. I had doven into the blogosphere rather quickly, and the idea of helping out Generation Yers was an immediately attractive idea for a blog. It offered a niche community that was self-motivated, so it was easy to work for this community because they were so specific about what they wanted. They wanted tools to making their lives work as part of a generation who faces challenges like dramatic shifts in the types of work now available (obviously the internet has a lot to do with that). And they not only want to keep up with the shift, they want to be on top of it. Hence their active engagement in blogging.

I have said this before, and I will say it again, starting a blog is one great way to stay ahead or on the curve. I have found that through diligent work within the blogosphere (commenting on other blogs, and having relationships with other blog owners) one can obtain readers, who can also become internet buddies (Torbjorn and Anna, you two are great!).

I have been able to amass a certain amount of comments and traffic on this blog. This was through hard work and persistence. Persistence = success. Were I to have continuously put as much effort into this blog as I had at one point, I would likely have many more readers, and I challenge you to go for as many readers as you can, as well as to come up with new ways of attracting them, and new topics to discuss.

Thank you for reading and I'll catch you in the blogosphere.

Disorder

The way the world works is in five ways.


But I don't know any of them.

I'm a stranger to order. A look into my backpack is a look into my brain.
Crumpled papers of assignments long lost line the bottom and the books are used as notebooks, the papers sticking out the sides have frilled edges.

There is rarely a working pen in the front pockets.
Maybe a highliter and some post-it notes, but not a pen.

(i haven't used a pencil in years. I don't like the way they scrape against the paper.)

I want to feel:

Passion
Music
Creativity
Instant gratification.
And sweet, sweet love.


And I want to swing for the fences.

Chronic Laziness

The thing about writing a blog on careers and success is that I'm not totally fascinated by all of this. I'd rather write bad poems or rants about why they ought to just give me a degree already.

I don't like school so much i'm starting to find. I'm just not motivated to do any of the work.

I'm beginning to think I should have been a marketing or business major. I like English, but I just don't find focused enough to do the reading. Besides, I've given up my dreams of becoming the next Jack Kerouac.

Websites Are Good For Your Career... And Here's Where You Can Learn To Make Them

In a prior post, I wrote about the importances of websites, and the ability to create and design them. Alexander K. Riley mentioned a great website where one can learn to write HTML as well as newer and more relevant types, for free.

www.w3schools.com

This website is an excellent place to expand your knowledge of the web. They offer step-by-step tutorials with very accessible examples. They explain everything from CSS to Flash. If you don't know what those are, start soon.

Mastering the lessons offered at www.w3schools.com is about as valuable as a college degree. And if you have both... all you need is a little ambition and you're on you're way to an early retirement, or at least a good paying job.

www.w3schools.com is a great way to learn basic and advanced html. In addition to many many other things. Visit it. I am ecstatic to have found it.

What To Do, What To Do...

Sometimes in life, we attach ourselves to ideas that lead us astray. Often, the signs of having been led awry are obvious, if one is willing to be objective about his or her own situation. There is, perhaps, a struggle involved in reaching certain goals, however, when that struggle begins to negatively effect the way we interact with the world, one ought to reevalute their position.

If you're starting a business, look to the people you trust for their opinions. In fact, look to everybody, people you do and don't trust. It's a good way to gauge where you're at. While some of the greatest visionaries may have had to "prove them all wrong," more often than not, I would guess that attempting to prove everyone wrong is a indicative of denial.

I could, however, and without being a hypocrite, but maybe being in denial, say forget everything above. You definitley don't want to sell yourself short, or be upset with the choices you make. If you end up regretting the path you've taken, it might be hard to attain contentment. But consider also that if you end up with nothing due to stubborness, you might not be content either.

The point is, that it's important to follow your dream. Cliche as it sounds, do it. Seriously, do it.
But at the same time, learn to live in reality. In fact, use reality as a meter. Take your dwindling bank account as a sign you need to start earning money. Take the ill relationships with family and friends as a sign you need to evaluate your demeanor or behavior. And take the signs that tell you you're doing great as a sign to keep on truckin!

Debt For Dollars

Have you ever heard the saying "You've got to spend money to make money?" Maybe you've heard it, but do you understand it?

The basic, and simple notion is that in order to create something that is able to garner revenue, one has to spend money on whatever that something is. If you want to build a website, you have to buy software, pay for a domain name, etc etc. A lot of us don't have enough cash off hand to start our own businesses.

Ever heard of a small business loan? Furthermore, ever heard of a credit card?

It's a dangerous tactic. Credit cards can have high interest rates, and if one has a high enough balance, high minimum paymets. As for the former, many credit cards will offer you one year of 0% interest. Others will offer you low interest rates for the first year or so. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE DEALS! They are truly good deals. They are free loans.
And loans can be quite expensive.

Now, I'm sure all of you reading this are thinking "Isn't debt a bad thing?" The answer is, of course it is. Starting any business is risky. But in todays world of youtubes and myspaces, and even much lesser known software companies and popular blogs, anyone can start a successful online business. Obviously not everybody will be as successful as Tom Anderson of Myspace, or Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook, but there are varying degrees of success.

Developing high traffic is a simple as good marketing. There are thousands of young professionals out there dying for a job in their chosen field. Consider hiring one of them to market your business for you.

Maintaing high traffic is dependent on offering good, entertaining or informative content. With user based content at an all time high, this can be particularly inexpensive.

Considering the former: DON'T GET INTO UNMANAGABLE DEBT! It's a quality of life issue, and you will not want to deal with the repruccusions. Make sure you are ready to make the payments on whatever debt you acquire, and make sure you aren't in danger of losing your house or car.

That said, you should be able to get your idea for a web page up and going for somewhere in the lower thousands. Do you know anybody who is into web page design? See if you can get a good rate with them. Shop around for the best deals. The more time you spend working out the logistics of starting your own business, the more efficient you will spend your money. Take your time, but start now!

And keep in mind, this post is to get your mind working positively. To let it know that there is oppurtunity out there for anyone who is willing to take it. I'm not advising putting your entire life at risk, but am advising that you consider taking some risk. The greater the risk, the greater the return. No pain no gain. You've got to give to receive. Etc. Etc.

Websites Are Good For Your Career: Follow Up

I got a comment from Brandon H at www.newlycorporate.com , who suggests that html is quickly fading. That would be a very important note to take. In this case, what do you think is best to learn as far as creating the most effective website?

Websites Are Good For Your Career

Learning how to design web pages in todays world is a ticket to success. It's a necessary part of every business and web page designers can earn thousands for a single job. Depending on who the client is, you could have a full time job for knowing how to design a web page. Knowing web scripts like HTML and Java is become increasingly important to entrepreneurs as well.

Have an idea? Make a website and watch your business flourish. Of course you'll need to do some marketing, in which case you might want to ask friends if any of them know about internet marketing.

Some ways of internet marketing, that don't involve paying for ad space, are forums. Go to forums that cater to your demographic or that discuss a problem your website can solve, and tell them about your website. Make sure you are not too forward with your marketing. Respond to the dialog and seem interested in what people are saying.

Also, use social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook in order to spread the word for free. Telling your friends and family is a start, however, if they are not part of the demographic, or are not interested in what your site has to offer, don't count on them as traffic builders. You need to find people who are interested in what you're website does, and this takes work.

Some ways of potentially building interest are giveaways. Host contests on your website, and require that your contestants sign up via your website. Incorporate the material on your website in order to get people browsing.

Also, if you live in a big city, consider posting fliers in high traffic areas. Make sure the fliers pique interest. So create an ad campaign for yourself. Watch commercials and look at billboards for ideas.

Check out Ryan Healy's blog from Employee Evolution. It's filled with great tips for contemporary marketing.

Most importantly, however, you have to learn how to build a website. HTML is the most popular script so far. Visit hwg.org. They offer classes online. They cost about one to two hundred dollars for basic HTML classes. But consider the price worth it if you can learn this valuable skill.

Do you know what that'll do for your resume?
Good stuff.

Get Your Homework On

For many of us students, homework is not daily routine. We put it off until the very last minute, or perhaps we don't do it at all. Many of us are not motivated by overacheiving, but doing whatever we perceive to be the bare minimum. This, however, doesn't cut it for todays ambitious youth.

Underacheiving, as is explained above, leads to a sense of failure and worthlessness. These feelings are not conducive to future success. They cause you to feel hopeless, and without control of your life. Those who put no effort into their schooling, are unlikely to be satisfied with their education.

Maybe you're in a band, or maybe you have a girlfriend or boyfriend that makes you feel fulfilled. Either way, school is still a big part of your life. It's something you face multiple times a week, and it's very expensive. So it's bound to get you down if you are doing below what you think you're capable of.

Put in the time, and get your homework done. Do the assigned readings, and take notes. This is a key to feeling GOOD about yourself. Which is a key to acheiving your goals. Doing well in school is a very tangible acheivment, and it's just the acheivment you need to get into the mindset of success!

A Little Crazy Could Do You Good

I want to get back to a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Delusions of Grandeur. Those ideas you get sometimes, that turn into visions of epic proportions, and elate you. They wrap you up and take you where you want to go. You believe for a little while, that this idea is going to take your life into overdrive. And it could.

I know I've experienced this personally, and have heard friends and family spout these sorts of images. They not only seem like good ideas. They are great ideas. We just need to learn to set these goals and achieve them. Like my idea for a greeting card company. This has been done. And successfully. It is my own lack of follow through that makes it so unfeasible.

That's why I challenge you, anyone who reads this, to look within yourself and realize a goal you've had, one which is feasible, and to get started on inching your way into the dream of being self-made. Get your blog or website of the ground. Start designing your own clothing line. Or set up a fashion show at your local bar, and get sponsors, and make it the biggest party your town has ever seen.

If you can imagine it. You can accomplish it.

Work and School and Work and School

Starting a new job and school simultaneously on Tuesday was a wake up call. I hadn't been so busy in weeks, and my system is taking the shock in stride. I'm tired. Really tired.

I realize that I've now got to get my daily schedule into gear. This means putting off going out until the weekends. Nights out disrupt the system, as they make it nearly impossible to prepare for the next day.

My last three years of college have not consisted of much scheduling, and it has made it difficult, but lacking a schedule leaves me tired at inconvenient times, and makes focusing difficult. A sleep schedule will help my performance in school and work, and increase my efficiency. Thus, I am making a pledge to:

Not go out during the week.
Be awake by 8:15 each morning.
Be in bed by 11:15 each night.
Prepare for the next day hours before I go to sleep.
And start exercising withing a week.

Exercise is supposed to help one fall asleep faster. And dealing with stressful situations, like doing homework, and making preperations for the next day make it more difficult to fall asleep, thus they are better done a couple of hours before one goes to sleep.

This will be a difficult schedule to stick to, and I will be posting my progress in an honest fashion. As a senior in college, I have had my time to be the typical college student (perhaps even some extra time) and now, it is time to reconsider my lifestyle choices, and prepare for a future that is right around the corner.

Root for me!

Mankind Is Imploding

Regardless of how illogical it appears to most of us, mankind continues to engage in wars which kill thousands of innocent bystanders daily. Many of us who live in America feel helpless regarding the situation in Iraq. Perhaps we feel helpless, because that is how we act.

I'm not sure how the cultural climate in America has changed since the sixties and seventies, but the imagery of protests we see captured in history books and documentaries seems non existent today. Though there may be a small protest here and there, it seems that today's youth keep their anger about the government to themselves.

I don't mean to scoff at them. I am one of them. I am severly angered by the disconnect between the rhetoric of politicians and that of the general population. They don't speak to us. They speak at us. They condescend to us. They don't tell us their true intentions. They use flowery euphamisms that appeal to masses.

Of the democratic candidates, I feel like if I were to talk with Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama, that neither of them would say one honest thing in the course of a conversation. John Edwards, on the other hand, makes a clear commitment to helping middle class Americans. He emphasizes his understanding of what it's like to live in the middle class, and it makes me feel as though he truly can relate. The other candidates seem jaded and power hungry.

Out of the Republicans, I am honestly disgusted that Mike Huckabee has one a single primary, let alone the Iowa caucus. He is clearly attempting to recreate Bush's platform of faith as he does his best to woo the large but narrow minded religious right. These sort of tactics will destroy internal relations among Americans. At least half, if not more, of Americans will not allow themselves to be governed by faith they do not share. And I do not mean to say that the president cannot be a religious person, but if he intends to mend our constitution, or to rule with a religous dogma, this sect of American's will not tolerate it. They have had enough of Bush. We have all had enough of Bush. Huckabee is Bush 2.0.

As for us, Generation Y, sometime in the near future, if we do not begin to take seriously our roles as future keepers of the world, we will lose them, and we will begin to drift into decentralized unit, with civil war(s) obliterating us all off the face of the Earth.

What we need to do is band together on a global scale and put our energy into preventing global warming.

Today Is Not A Holiday

There was no question when I got outside this morning that classes were in session today. College kids crowded the sidewalks, their hands clasped tightly around the straps of the backpacks. People seemed happy.

I wasn't too depressed, however, I'm still very skeptical of my ability to continually get up at 8:30 for 9:30 French class. It's strange, because in high school, class started at 7:40, and I don't remember having too much trouble getting up for that. But now, waking up at 8:30 is a struggle. If I can adjust to this, it will be for the best, as I do well as a morning person when I am completely awake.

I wasn't the oldest in my French class either. There was a twenty-five year old and a twenty-two year old. I bet your wondering how I knew that.

Well, instead of saying our name, where we're from, and our major, the teacher-- a young, sassy French (redundant, huh?) woman named Laurine-- had us say our name, where we're from, and our age. It was as though she were catering to my curiosity.

The class, as I know it, will be run somewhat slow. We'll do 9 chapters over 15 weeks. It's a bit agonizing for me, as I'm more than ready to charge at full speed through beginner French. Which brings me to one of the education systems greatest flaws.

It's as though they took a poll of all of the students, and for each class decided on an average student, and how he ought to learn. This completely displaces the rest of the students who fall either way behind, or way ahead of this alleged curve.

It's a bit agonizing to sit and endure a class that you feel is moving far too slowly. Very agonizing even.

So, on that note. Stop being bad at French kids. And stop wasting my time.

More Money, More Problems

According to researchers at Princeton, the effect of income on mood [is] vastly exaggerated.
They performed a study on the moods of men and women with varying levels of income, and the results showed about an 11% difference is time spent happy, with incomes of 100k presenting with 11% more time spent happy. They also found that people with lower incomes spent 10% more of their time in leisure pursuits. No surprise there.

When deciding on a career path, income is something that we must take into consideration. Those of us who grew up in upper-middle class families have to consider whether or not their career paths will help them to maintain that lifestyle. But they must decide how important it is to maintain.

Potentially fulfilling jobs like teaching, which allow for takers to be involved in their more artistic or academic pursuits as part of their career, are off putting due to their repuation as low-income jobs.

Some people resort to more harrowing jobs like insurance sales, which can be very lucrative, in order to satisfy their hunger for a good income. However, there is an equation that everyone ought to consider when picking out their job.

More Money = More Wants

According to economist Richard Easterlin, who conducted a survey of 1500 people over a three decade time span, Wealth doesn't necessarily lead to joy and contentment. His findings also concluded that People with more money usually want more things.

Of course, there are issues of personal standards, and one shouldn't settle. But it is important to consider that making more money, isn't always the most important issue. Factors such as job quality affect quality of life, rich or not.

What's All This Hulabaloo?

As this blog is more or less dedicated to the distress one feels transitioning into the "real world," it has me thinking: What is the future job market?

It seems that around every corner, some aspect of business is "going digital." Ticket agents are using Tix.com instead of their own databases. TV networks are posting their series on the web the day after they air. And here I am, blogging like a maniac.

In fact, one of the reasons I started this blog was to try and stay above the curve. Professional bloggers are sprouting like AOL users back in the 90's. If you look at an array of blogs, you'll notice the google adwords sewn amidst the content in many of them, in addition to banners and, on the more popular blogs, national advertisers. Whenever you see these, the owner of that blog is getting paid.

Of course more popular blogs yield much bigger profits than the unknown ones. But attaining these levels of traffic is not as easy as it was to start the blog.

You need good content. You have to be writing about something people either need or want to know about. Check out the most popular blogs. You'll find a couple celebrity gossip websites in the top 10, and a few gadget/technology ones, too. Obviously, to do the former, you'll have to find a way to get in the loop on celebrity gossip, and the latter, you'd have to know a thing or two about gadgets.

Luckily, you can learn from the blogs already in existence.

While anyone can write a blog for any reason, it's beneficial to consider the ways in which a blog can help your career. Check out blogs like Penelope Trunk's The Brazen Careerist, and Rebecca Thorman's Modite.com. These are two popular bloggers who have managed to integrate the personal and professional lives into popular blogs. An ideal mixture if you ask me.

MLK Jr. Day- Time To Relax and Reflect

I got up at nine o'clock this morning. That's two hours earlier than I have woken up in the past month. Lately, waking up has been a gradual process in which it begins with me lying in bed with my eyes closed, then turning on the TV, watching for an hour, then, if I'm having a particularly productive day, getting out of bed around 11. But today was the first day of classes.

I make it out of the shower with a few minutes left before I'm supposed to be at class, but I live so close, I'm sure I can make it. I throw on a sweater and the jeans i wore yesterday, carrying my jacket in my arm (no time to put it on) and head out the door. The sidewalks are empty, but I don't seem to take notice. My attention is elsewhere, as I ponder the new faces I will meet in class.

I'm taking a beginner French course, and I hadn't realized until this morning that I was probably going to be in class with a group of people who are, on average, three years younger than me. My feelings, being mixed-- am I "that old guy" or that "cool older guy"-- distract me until I get to the door of Phillips Hall.

The door is locked. "Huh?" I haven't a clue as to why classes would be cancelled. I try another door. Locked. I am fairly confused, and try every other door before I understand that there are no classes today.

So I run over to my computer, and I open up the university's homepage, and low and behold: It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Though at first, I didn't connect it as a national holiday) This experience, although harsh on my ears, as they almost froze off, has given me a good moment in which to reflect on the meaning behind this day.

It's not simply a day in which to honor a man. But rather, a day in which to honor an idea. The idea that none of us are inherently better than anyone else. That regardless of what you look like, you deserve as much respect as the next person. That you are entitled to that respect, as a member of the human race.

And so I realize, that this holiday is not like other holidays. There are no gifts to give, no trees to decorate, no candles to light. There is no feast and you don't have to fast. Today is a day to reflect.

To reflect on the oppurtunities you have as a human being. To be thankful for the ability to walk down the street without being ridiculed. To be thankful for a more integrated society with less violence, and less hate. To realize the hardships we must sometimes go through in order to come out the other end better than we were before. In this sense, the fight for civil rights can be a lesson for our daily lives.

Hard work and struggle are the predecessor to any change and/or reward. We cannot expect to make giant leaps in a day. And without persistence and courage, we cannot move forward. We must be strong in order to attain those goals we know belong to us.

So on your day off today, relax, but also, reflect. On the life of MLK Jr. On the civil rights movement. On the serious hardships that mankind can endure, and move past. And take these lessons, and use them for good.

Oh, and don't go to class.

Minimizing Stress: ATTACK THE PROBLEM!

Everybody experiences stress sometimes. It arises from bills, from school or work, from relationships, etc. So it's not entirely avoidable. However, it isn't entirely bad either.

Some stress helps us to be productive. If we are anxious about a project, then we are more likely to focus our energy on getting it done. It is perhaps the only way to alleviate our stress. The same goes for bills. If we never worry about paying them, then what is to stop us from not paying them at all?

Too much stress, though, is more likely to lead to a lack of productivity. The reason being, that if stress consumes too much of your time, than you might be spending your time panicking, instead of working things out. If you're stressed about not having a job, then you might spend the time you could be applying for jobs, worrying elsewhere. When in fact, just applying for jobs, in this situation, may alleviate some of your stress.

While job rejection might create anxiety in itself, the longer you don't have a job, the more situations will arise that will stress you out. Simply worrying about the situation will not put money in your pocket.

Thus, the best way to minimize this type of stress is to ATTACK THE PROBLEM. Consider what it is that is stressing you out, and then consider what measures you can take in order to solve them. Write a great resume, and then hand it out to fifty employers. On top of that, apply for part-time positions that may carry you until you get that job you need. Make sure you consider all your options.

If you're stressed about a problem in a relationship, address the person. Tell them how you feel, and listen to what they have to say. In many situations, this sort of discussion will lead to a mending of the relationship. If it makes things worse, then decide whether or not this person is someone you want to have in your life.

Because so many of these situations require good judgment, think through your attack method. Think about what kind of job you're most qualified for and take time to write a good resume. If you can't pay a bill, consider where you can either borrow or make extra cash. In a fight with a friend, be considerate of their feelings and try not to be overly critical of the other person.

In order to make our lives better, and closer to the way we want them, we must be proactive in our approach. Taking an assertive approach will decrease the amount of stress we have to deal with in the future.

Acheiving Entrepreneurship

Have you ever had the desire to start up your business? If you didn't go through with it, what was it that stopped you? Did you believe that y0u could actually succeed with it? If you were skeptical, then keep reading.

It's true: many people like to throw around ideas about how to better their lives while never actually engaging in activities to fulfill those ideas. I've experienced it myself.

Just a few months ago I had convinced myself that I would start up a greeting card company, and sell greeting cards all over town. I had even conceived of feasible methods by which I would be able to attain these goals.

But here I am, months later, and I have yet to make even one greeting card.

The point isn't that ideas like these are ridiculous. In fact, it is on these ideas by which the most successful people around were made. The point is that one needs to know how to motivate his or herself into actively pursuing these ideas.

Have Goals-
You should have a specific list of goals every step of the way. Write them down, and post them on your walls in your apartment or house. Check off goals that you have achieved, and remind yourself each day of what you have yet to do.

Support-
Another difficulty we have in pursuing ideas is belief in ourselves. When others believe in us, we are more likely to believe in ourselves. So write up a business plan and create a presentation. And show it around to your family members, and close friends,. Solicit investments. While you may not be making profits, having investors is a push that may send you into overdrive on achieving your goals.

Avoid Overwhelming Debt-
As it is a sad fact that many small business will inevitably fail, it is important not to put yourself at too much risk while pursuing your goals. Do not take out a large loan if you cannot be sure that you will be able to pay it off. This will affect your mood negatively, andit will add desperation and stress into your work. You want to be cool and collected when starting up a business venture because your mood will reflect in your work!

It's always important to pursue our instincts. If you have always had the instinct to pursue a home business, or be an entrepreneur, consider yourself lucky, and utilize that drive. If you are careful and persistent, you have a much better chance at being a success.

What Did I Get Myself Into?

Your three or four years into college. Maybe you've just graduated. You're smart, you've done well in school, and maybe you've got a shiny new degree in business up on the wall. Everything seems peachy keen. If this is the case, then you might be ignoring the thousands of dollars in student loans you've taken out to get here.

If you're like me, and you chose an out-of-state school, there's a good chance that you're student loans amounted upwards of 50k. There's no question, that's a lot of money. And when it hits you (and it will) you'll probably freak out a little.

Alright now. Breathe.

After you graduate, you automatically get a six month grace period in which you are not required to make payments. Sometimes, you can apply for another deferment, in which you can get up to six months more in which to get a job, and start making monthly payments.

Most of the time, student loans of that size can be paid over a long time. Up to 30 years, even. And the interest rates on student loans-- ranging anywhere from 6-11%-- are often a lot cheaper than with credit cards and other sorts of loans. However, monthly payments, which can be up to $1,000 monthly (even higher) can be simply out of reach for many, if not most, recent college grads. But there are options out there that may help you relieve some of that burden.

Check out studentfinancialadvisors.com. Also, look into companies like Sallie Mae, and other companies that do refinancing on student loans. You may be able to reduce your monthly payment to a much more affordable rate.

Some government jobs, like teaching and jobs in the military, offer a repayment program in order to relieve employees of their student debts.

In any case, if you do enough research, there is a good chance that you'll be able to find ways to relieve the burden of an overwhelming monthly payment. So explore different options. You're likely to be part of the population who pays off student loans for the rest of their lives. Make the best of it. And one day, you might just be able to pay off those loans.

Post College Depression

As I was reading other blogs about the transition to from college to career, I came across a term that I think is worth discussing: Post-College Depression.

The likely causes of a post-college depression would be the realization that one has no idea how to survive on their own. That school is over, and it's time to work on a career. The word career, itself, might strike a depressing chord in the heads of wandering twenty somethings.

As we see the trend of moving back in with mom and dad becoming more popular, so might the numbers of those suffering from post-college depression increase. Let's face it. Most parents will never see their children like adults. And the last things any young adult trying to stand out on his own wants, is to be treated like a kid. He/she needs respect. They need to know their word is meaningful and poignant. And having to ask mom and dad for money to go out, just kills any chance for this sense of self.

So what are we to do? Let the fear of the real world scare us into the ground. Sit around moping? No. We take action.

As I mentioned in my tips for job hunting, persistence is the key! If the cause of post-college depression, is a fear of the world, then we must persist in challenging those fears. It's just like trying to conquer your fear of heights. What do you do? You go up to the 100th floor and you face it. You conquer your fears. And the fear of making it in the real world is no different. It can be conquered, and you can do it.

If at this point, you're saying to yourself "No, I can't do it. Not me" I want you to take a look around at the other people who are doing it. Watch a talk show. There are tons of maniacs on those who manage to make ends meet and survive without the help of their parents. Then, I want you to realize how much better you are than most people. You are ambitious, you have goals, and you have a college degree.

So if you're feeling afraid of what comes next, persist in conquering those fears with constant research into how you can succeed. Look for that job you've wanted, and grab it. Don't hesitate to try out many different options. If you try enough, you're bound to figure something out.

Decisions Decisions

You might be reading this blog because you're nervous about what you are going to do after school. If you are still in school, then there's good news. You have time to sit and think.

Plan your future. What do you want to do. This is where you'll have to be honest with yourself. Do you really want to go to law school? Are you just doing something to please your parents. Consider your options. And while you do that, consider what you want, and figure out what your options are that are most closely associated with that. This is your life, and you don't want to harbor any resentment. You make the decisions. Remember that.

If you decide that you want to head out into the workforce right after school, then start looking for jobs now. If you wait until after graduation, you are not as likely to find the job you want. When you find the job you want, see what you can do to increase your chances of getting that job. Find out if there are any internships or classes that will better your chances. Before you apply for any job, make sure your resume is as polished as it can be. Take your time with it.

Save money. Where ever you can add a dollar to your savings, do it. It's important not to go out into the world without any backup money. Things come up, and you might not be used to paying for everything on your own. So put some money in your savings account every month, at least.
If you decide to go to graduate school then start looking into the financial aspects. Find out if there are grants or low interest loans you can take out to pay for it. Do your research so that you will not be surprised by the costs you incur paying for grad school. Also, don't forget to check out the schools you apply to. You don't want to be stuck at a school or in an area that you don't like. Check it out.

The main thing is to think your future through. This is likely going to be your first time on your own. Plan for it so you're ready for everything. It'll benefit you in the long run.

Dollars and Cents

How much money is in your wallet? What about your bank account? Does it stand up to the amount of debt you have? Are you in financial hell?

If you've broken a cold sweat recently, thinking about your financial worries, then worry no more. It isn't going to get you anything besides high blood pressure. A negative approach to our problems, such as is worrying, makes them much more difficult to deal with. You aren't the first person to experience financial troubles, and you won't be the last.

DEBT

If you have monthly payments on several credit cards, and you can barely afford even one of them, consider consolidation. It will consolidate all of your payments into one, considerably lower payment. It may have a negative effect on your credit, but so will continued late payments or bankruptcy. It will stop those collection calls, and you may find some financial peace, finally.

However, debt consolidation isn't for everybody. Contact a non-profit credit counselor and find out whether or not bankruptcy is the best alternative for you. You should, however, do your best to avoid bankruptcy, as it is a black mark on your credit. But the most important thing, is that you thoroughly consider all of your options. You should be comfortable with your decision. It should IMPROVE things, not make them worse.

In addition to debt management, find out if there is anyway you can supplement your income. You don't want to fall into a get-rich-quick scam, so if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Think about selling some of your items on e-bay. Many people have made a part-time job out of selling and re-selling items on e-bay, and who knows? You might just have a knack for it.

If you can, consider getting a part time job waiting tables. Tips can be lucrative, and often, the hours are small enough to fit in as a part time job. Look through the newspaper and the internet to see if there is a job out there right for you. Also, consider blogging. Many websites, such as ehow.com and helium.com will pay you for your articles. If you have good writing skills, this may be a viable option, but it will take hard work, and most likely some research.

If you don't want to write, yet your willing to do hard work and some research, then use the internet as a resource for how you can generate extra income. Thousands of people have already done it, and you can do it too. There are millions of dollars being paid to people through the internet.

In any case, take your financial problems in stride. Don't ignore them, as that will lead to greater problems in the future. If you work steadily at solving your problems and are consistent about learning ways to solve them (THE INTERNET is your friend), you'll surely come out on top. As your new found skills will stay with you long after your financial worries are gone.

Be A Copy Cat. Start a Blog.

Do you ever catch yourself admiring someone elses idea? Do you ever wish that you had it first? Specifically, are you looking for a business idea, but think all the good ones are taken? Well here's a secret that will be extremely valuable to you.

STEAL IT!

The money making ideas are all out there. If you think every popular website or blog is the first of its kind, you are very mistaken. Ever since the beginning of man kind we've been stealing ideas from our fellow man.

There's Perez Hilton, TMZ, Superficalworld, etc. And on top of those, there are hundreds of other blogs and magazines devoted to celebrity gossip. Which one was first? WHO CARES! There is room for you on the bandwagon.

However, if you decide to use an idea like a men's magazine, or website, as a business, remember that you are COMPETING with everybody else in that genre. So do your best to stand out.

Create a persona. Whatever your blog is about, make it something recognizable. Use a distinctive color scheme, and have a consistent tone throughout your site. Don't be afraid to go to an extreme, so long as it doesn't completely turn people off. And remember, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." So think about what your target demographic is. Who is going to be using your site or product? Cater to them, not those who aren't interested in the first place.

Invest your time in it. Spend time making everything as good as you can. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was any successful business. It will be months before you can really experience great success, maybe longer. Take your time marketing and spreading the word about your business. Spread the word. Get your link on as many sites as possible. Use Facebook, Myspace, and other social networking sites to spread the word. They are great for free advertising.

Make sure what your saying is something that people want to hear. You can find out what people want to hear by visiting other popular blogs. Do what they do, but do it better.

To Be or Not To Be- A College Degree

Contemplating the debt (+80k) I have amassed during the four and a half years spent getting my undergraduate degree, I cannot help but question the importance of such a time consuming and costly endeavor. Was it all worth it?
My mother and father, ever since I can remember, both pushed the importance of a college education, claiming it was a necessary part of a successful adult life. They painted a grim picture for those who didn't attend college. "They'll never get a good job," they would tell me. "You need a college degree." And that was all they ever told me. There was no detailed explanation. It was a simple as that. No degree, no job.
So I, like most people I knew, though not all, applied to colleges, chose the one I liked the best, and as one of the more unfortunate ones, took out massive loans to cover my tuition. I attended school out-of-state, so my tuition costs were more than double my resident counter-parts. By the time I understood what an advantage taking a year off to obtain residency would be, I was a senior. So I decided to finish, taking an extra semester on top of the average 4 years to finish.
What I found, looking into the job market, was not a network of employers eager to take anybody with BA. In fact, that was less often a requirement than the dreaded 2+ years of experience I was faced with nearly every time. 2+ years of experience? I was busy getting my degree.
The lesson here is that college students should not bank solely on their degrees as a keys to that 50k salary they figured they'd get after graduation. It's necessary to start thinking about the future perhaps years before they graduate. Internships, and/or part time jobs in their desired field are an important tool, and will give students a much needed edge when applying for work after school.
The question, however, is still loud and clear. Is a degree worth the cost? The answer is: it depends. "Fifty-eight members of The Forbes 400 either avoided college or ditched it partway through." Bill Gates being one of them, had an uncanny flare for computers. A friend of mine who never went to college, is making 75k a year doing personal training. And my cousin, who is the same age as me, makes 41k a year working for his father.
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. You've got to go out and claw away to get your share of the pie. If all you do in four years at college is get a degree, then as far as earning is concerned, you are four years behind the curve. All of the people who didnt go to college (and who aren't still living with their parents) have been gaining real world experience. They are learning how to earn, which is ultimately everybody's goal.
However, "Lifetime incomes of college grads in today's dollars average nearly $300,000 more than high school graduates over a 40-year career.(2)" Though this may be due to a variety of factors (I suspect socio-economic class is one of them), it is still a potentially important statistic. Long after one graduates college, the degree remains a strong presence on his/her resume. However, actual experience and tangible work related success, is perhaps just as strong, if not stronger.
Finally, if you see something, grab it. If you think a business idea that you have will take off, or you see an oppurtunity that intrigues you, go for it. College or no college. Though you might fall into a sect of the population with a lesser average income, your drive and ambition most likely distinguishes you as part of another sect, whose average income I suspect is much higher. A college degree is not necessary. It may help, though.

Job Hunting- 5 Tips That Will Help You Find The Perfect Job

One of the most important skills a young person can have is the ability to find a job. Whether that be a temporary job you find working retail, or a job that sets you up for a career in your field, not everybody understands what it takes to find a job.

1) Persistence!
If you are in need of a job you need to devote yourself to finding one. It is highly unlikely that one will just fall into your lap, and it is not productive to sit back and imagine that everything will work itself out. As they say, "God Helps those who help themselves." So get away from the TV, grab a newspaper or get on your computer and start looking. It should be the first thing you do all day and should take a minimum of three hours each day.

2) Have a Resume
Many jobs, especially more professional ones, will require that you have a resume. There are many free and paid resume building sites online. Many of them require registration, and often times the pay sites, like Monster.com and Pongo.com will distribute your resume for you. If that is something you are interested, consider investing in a feature like this. TAKE YOUR TIME. Your resume is the best insight into your person that an employer has. It's often more meaningful than the interview itself, as it displays your previous work experiences and accomplishments. Consider how you word your descriptions, and make sure you have a cover letter. Potential employers will want to know where your coming from as an employee, and what your objectives are in your career. For a vast array of tips in building and distributing your resume visit:
http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/
Note: Know your resume so that you aren't surprised and at a loss for words during an interview. A good interviewer will know when you have embellished on your resume.

3) Network
Use your resources. Remember "It's not what you know, it's who you know." Relatives are a great way of launching very successful careers. These are people who are more inclined to do more for you and your career. Also consider your friends, and your friends' parents. Some of them might be employers, and you might be the employee that they're looking for. And even if they're not looking, it cannot hurt, and it may in fact be a great help, to send them a resume. Make sure you don't hand them your resume at their home or while they are somewhere that they might lose it.. If it is at their office, they will have it on hand while they are recruiting employees.

4) Be Involved In Your Field
Unpaid internships and entry level jobs "in the mail room", are great for starting careers. The closer you are to the people who do your ideal job, the closer YOU are to doing it. You can make friends with the boss and work hard for a promotion. Simon Cowell, the British Judge on American Idol, started in the mail room at EMI, a large record label and became one of their most successful producers and executives.

5) Persistence!
Don't be afraid of rejection. It is part of the process. The more rejections you get, the more likely you are to get an acceptance. Your ideal job is waiting out there for you, it's just a matter of what you're willing to do to get it.

Where Do I Go From Here?

For those of us who have enjoyed an easy going college experience-- one where bills are paid by mom and dad, where if we work, it's only for extra spending money, and even a successful one with a good GPA and a few extra curriculars-- thinking about life after school can be a harrowing, and stressful ordeal. Suddenly, those jobs at coffee shops and working a cash register become obsolete. They won't maintain the life style you have grown to accustomed to, they won't help you pay off those college loans, and they are certainly not what you want to be doing for the rest of your life.

You want a career.

Maybe some of you realize what makes this such a difficult feat: SO DOES EVERYBODY ELSE. Looking at your resume, you might think that you have too little experience, or maybe you have none at all. Maybe you think to yourself "There is no job for me." For those of you suffering with the latter problem, take advantage of your resources.

The internet offers many oppurtunities. For one, it contains many job listings. Sites like Monster.com help you build your resume and find a job. Also, check your schools website. It probably has a database of jobs in the area. Find out if your school has a career center. Most universities do, and there are people there that will help you. It's their job to do so. The internet not only lists jobs, but now more than ever, it is creating them.

Start your own blog. It's easy. There are tons of free blogging sites that will offer to host your ramblings. And you can blog about anything you want. If your blog is successful, it is something you can put on your resume. Provided that your topic is something of relevance to others, you can make contacts in a desired field as well as encourage your own personal growth towards the field of your choice. Read the following article by Ryan Healy, a 2006 graduate of Penn State and found of Brazen Careerist, an online resource for young professionals.

http://www.employeeevolution.com/archives/2007/05/20/learning-to-run-a-business-get-a-blog-not-a-job/

Think of your blog as a business. And if the blog isn't enough business for you, go ahead and start your own business. If you can generate traffic on a website, you can sell advertising space. Take a potential blog topic, and take it further by creating a multi-faceted website. Put your creative skills to good use by designing t-shirts. The more traffic you can acquire, the more customers you are likely to have. If you are familiar with Perezhilton.com, then you are familiar with how successful a successful blog can be a business. The ads that run on his website earn him thousands upon thousands of dollars day!

For inspiration on your blog or business, look around the web at sites that interest you. When you find a site that you like, make your own site. Use their ideas and generate your own base of visitors. There are a lot of low cost website builders you can purchase online. Here is a list of "Tips For Running A Business In Your Dorm Room" from College-Business.com and a page of advice on "How to Make a Web Site of Your Own"

http://campus-business.com/2007/11/21/tips-for-running-a-business-in-your-dorm-room/

http://www.mardiros.net/design-guidelines.html

Don't expect to immediately earn thousands. Put a good amount of your time into this. It will reflect on your blog or business, and your potential readers and/or customers will take notice.

In addition to the aforementioned, take time to consider your options. Don't waste your time. Stay motivated and ambitious. The more time you put into making the transition between college and a career, the more edge you have over the competition.