A view from the outside

Fresh, frightened, and sometimes funny perspective from the eyes of a post-grad

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50 Things You Need To Give Up Today

Cuts like a knife, but are the exact words everyone (including myself) need to hear.

hamburglr:

11. Give up thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

And 49 other pearls of wisdom.

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Guess where I was this weekend? Inserted in my leisure-trip to NYC with @hamburglr, I participated in a networking-ish interview with a man who for all intensive purposes we’ll call “Rick.”  Rick is the person I was in contact with - the person I was networking with - in regards to a job I applied to at a major television network.  At the end of our phone conversation last week, he said he’d love to meet me, in order to get a better feel for my personality and such; in the event someone asks, “Hey, what is Chloe like?” he can say, “Oh! I met her!”  instead of implying I’m cool because we talked on the phone. He said to meet him at 6:20 at the Starbucks under said network office.   During our flustered walk through the ever-taupe concourse labyrinth - @hamburglr as my companion and shaman -  we passed literally four different Starbucks.  Trying to save myself from a wild goose-chase, I called Rick (after successive back-and-forth texting).  FINALLY we met.  @hamburglr dropped me off in a large and rather arbitrary clearing filled with cafe tables.  Start interview: It was initially a strange meeting because I really had no questions for Rick.  He practically answered all of them on the phone.  So I mustered a few impromptu questions, about the formality of the interview, advice on how to ace it, etc.  I also handed Rick my business card, which upon receiving replied, “Oh, I don’t need this.  I already have your contact information.”  I told him it had my website on it, but he wasn’t interested.  In fact, he seemed pretty disinterested the whole time.  He would ask questions about me and in the middle of my answers his attention would veer off.  At one point, his whole body was turned sideways in his chair, with his head occasionally turning to face me.  It was like having a conversation with a bag of loose marbles.  Despite his indifference, I was able to bring up some interesting talking points: why New York, reading My First New York, are Texans friendlier people, ethnic background (not surprising) and “Toddlers in Tiaras.”  I think hope that made our conversation memorable. If anything, at least my eyebrows were memorable.  Yes.  Eyebrows.  I kid you not, in the middle of our conversation Rick leaned back a bit, and asserted, “You have great eyebrows.”  Me: “Thanks…do you mean the shape, or are they really expressive?…”  Rick: “Well, you seem like you take good care of them.”  I felt like this was in reference to the fact that on my business card it says I do make-up…I assume… Still.  What a weird comment, right? I really don’t know what to make of that interview, but I assume it can’t hurt.  It can only help.  Furthermore, Rick didn’t really indicate whether or not our correspondence would increase my odds of getting hired. I can only wait and see. Well, if I don’t make the cut, at least my eyebrows did.

Guess where I was this weekend?

Inserted in my leisure-trip to NYC with @hamburglr, I participated in a networking-ish interview with a man who for all intensive purposes we’ll call “Rick.”  Rick is the person I was in contact with - the person I was networking with - in regards to a job I applied to at a major television network.  At the end of our phone conversation last week, he said he’d love to meet me, in order to get a better feel for my personality and such; in the event someone asks, “Hey, what is Chloe like?” he can say, “Oh! I met her!”  instead of implying I’m cool because we talked on the phone.

He said to meet him at 6:20 at the Starbucks under said network office.   During our flustered walk through the ever-taupe concourse labyrinth - @hamburglr as my companion and shaman -  we passed literally four different Starbucks.  Trying to save myself from a wild goose-chase, I called Rick (after successive back-and-forth texting).  FINALLY we met.  @hamburglr dropped me off in a large and rather arbitrary clearing filled with cafe tables. 

Start interview:

It was initially a strange meeting because I really had no questions for Rick.  He practically answered all of them on the phone.  So I mustered a few impromptu questions, about the formality of the interview, advice on how to ace it, etc.  I also handed Rick my business card, which upon receiving replied, “Oh, I don’t need this.  I already have your contact information.”  I told him it had my website on it, but he wasn’t interested.  In fact, he seemed pretty disinterested the whole time. 

He would ask questions about me and in the middle of my answers his attention would veer off.  At one point, his whole body was turned sideways in his chair, with his head occasionally turning to face me.  It was like having a conversation with a bag of loose marbles.  Despite his indifference, I was able to bring up some interesting talking points: why New York, reading My First New York, are Texans friendlier people, ethnic background (not surprising) and “Toddlers in Tiaras.”  I think hope that made our conversation memorable.

If anything, at least my eyebrows were memorable.  Yes.  Eyebrows.  I kid you not, in the middle of our conversation Rick leaned back a bit, and asserted, “You have great eyebrows.”  Me: “Thanks…do you mean the shape, or are they really expressive?…”  Rick: “Well, you seem like you take good care of them.”  I felt like this was in reference to the fact that on my business card it says I do make-up…I assume… Still.  What a weird comment, right?

I really don’t know what to make of that interview, but I assume it can’t hurt.  It can only help.  Furthermore, Rick didn’t really indicate whether or not our correspondence would increase my odds of getting hired. I can only wait and see.

Well, if I don’t make the cut, at least my eyebrows did.

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As part of my “paint for me because I have the free time” series:

The first two were for @hamburglr - she enjoys photos of dogs in various accessories, so I figured I’d recreate them.

The second will be split into three different frames: 1) Daniel Plainview 2) Straws 3) Milkshake

I will take requests!  I love painting!

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UPDATES!

It’s been a while.   But it’s been a good while!

1) I’m officially a hostess at Evoo!  It’s pretty serendipitous considering a few months ago I took photographs there as part of my photojournalism final.  Today was my second day.  It’s been pretty crazy considering it’s RESTAURANT WEEK in Boston, but I think I’ve been doing pretty well!

2) Got a new tricked-out printer, printed out my resume and cover letter on some sexy linen paper, and sent it to a big TV network.  I’m working on a job there, and the universe has provided me a wonderful person to network with and also give me advice.  We’re meeting in person on Friday, in New York.  As much as I hate to admit it, networking makes everything so much easier.  But I’ve always hated the term “networking” because it sounds a little sleazy and 9 times out of 10 you don’t know who to network with.  But this somehow felt right, and has made my application process a bit more smooth.

3) Life plans with friends made my “Spring Break” alone way more interesting and wonderful.  I just had a delicious meal (via Restaurant Week.  Yes, I’m on the giving end and the receiving end).  Considering my roommates were gone, I’ve started to get used to living alone.  It’s kinda peaceful!  Last, and certainly not least, @hamburglr is coming up to visit!!!

4) Super on-sale black sheath dress and “leg-lengthening” pants from Ann Taylor Loft, and interview shoes.  Working on the purse and sheath-topper (blazer, cardigan?).  Oh, and my first official pair of Spanx. 

One small caveat:

While I’ve feel like I have had many recent accomplishments, I still have this pending fear that I’m not doing enough.  Not applying enough.  Which could very well be the case.  I have a habit of putting my eggs into one basket, and subsequently get crushed when it doesn’t work out.  Feasibly, I can send my resume to all major networks, with a generic cover letter.  It’s already mid-March.  I need to start feeling secure, especially because it’s rumored the position I applied to (with the contact) could take up to 6 months before a reply.  I certainly hope not!!!  But I don’t know.  I weirdly feel good about this.  Maybe because I’ve always believed in the Universe, and I feel like it’s played good hand so far. 

God, I hope I’m right.

6,533 notes &

Because I LOVE Fantastic Mr. Fox so much…and because in many ways I identify with Ash.  I’m small, “different”, un-athletic, and currently the underdog.  But I will get my “hotbox”.  Look out world. spokeart: The Art of Tiffany Liu

Because I LOVE Fantastic Mr. Fox so much…and because in many ways I identify with Ash.  I’m small, “different”, un-athletic, and currently the underdog.  But I will get my “hotbox”.  Look out world.

spokeart:

The Art of Tiffany Liu

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0 Plays
Maria Mena
All This Time

Shuffle found this little gem. :)

Side note: the pregnancy thing is so true…

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Kickstarting my me project, I went to the art supply store today and picked up Niji watercolor paints, a set of brushes, and a watercolor pad.  First watercolor - to my mom.  In the form of a card.  Fitting, because she’s the one who suggested I do watercoloring, among other things for me, while I have the free time. My mom loves Mary Cassatt, so a replication was fitting.  The second goes to @degreed, but I can’t post it online because it’s a surprise. It felt so good, so relaxing.  4 hours went by unbeknownst to me.  This is the start of something good.

Kickstarting my me project, I went to the art supply store today and picked up Niji watercolor paints, a set of brushes, and a watercolor pad. 

First watercolor - to my mom.  In the form of a card.  Fitting, because she’s the one who suggested I do watercoloring, among other things for me, while I have the free time.

My mom loves Mary Cassatt, so a replication was fitting. 

The second goes to @degreed, but I can’t post it online because it’s a surprise.

It felt so good, so relaxing.  4 hours went by unbeknownst to me.  This is the start of something good.

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Me time

My mother happens to be full of wonderful advice.  The last time I had a really low low (like 36 hours of nonstop crying and personal failure talk) she pointed out the silver lining: what I have is free time.  Me time.  She said that I should take some time to focus on myself for a bit, because once I start working I won’t be afforded that time. 

With the help of my mom, here is my list of me things:

  • Watercolor
  • Draw
  • Cook a new recipe once a week
  • Read the books I want to read
  • Take myself to museums
  • Go places in Boston I haven’t been
  • Take yoga classes
  • Exercise regularly (or at least try to)
  • Write - memoirs, funny stories, children’s book (as my mom suggests)
  • Self-pamper - paint my nails, put a mask on, exfoliate, whiten my teeth
  • Photograph (provided someone lend me their camera.  It was a tough forfeit after graduation).
  • Dance
  • NAP!

My monthly goal (and I literally wrote this on my big all calendar) is to do two things for me a week.  I write them down in fuschia with a heart next to them. 

I’m going to start believing in myself in other ways.