New Direction

So I am tired of posting things I know no one will care about or benefit from. I have decided to take this blog in a new direction, with a new name (formerly "Trouble Breathing") and new standards for my posts. From now on, I'll try to actually give you something of substance...

So today, I think I will share something simple. I have been fortunate enough to work at MacDonald Advertising Services for the past year, and I write — among other things — sales articles for newspaper call centers. One of the columns I write is called Lead Lines, and it is specifically for managers. Well today, I updated it with an article on basic leadership qualities. I think everyone can benefit from improving in these areas. Take a look:

The Basic Top Ten: The qualities leaders should learn and cultivate

For managers who sometimes wonder if they have what it takes to lead their team, they might find the answer in “The Top Ten Leadership Qualities” by David Hakala at hrworld.com. The following qualities will help managers lead employees to success:

1. Vision. “A clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it,” is how Hakala describes vision. Good sales managers must also have the ability to his or her vision. Also, he or she must have the drive to act on vision.

2. Integrity. The consistent application of inner values to outward acts is integrity.

3. Dedication. Natural-born leaders spend whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish tasks. They also bring out this quality in their team.

4. Magnanimity. This means giving credit to those who deserve it. Also, it means taking responsibility for failures.

5. Humility. “A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god,” Hakala writes.

6. Openness. Sales managers should try to listen to new ideas, even if they do not come from a traditional way of thinking.

7. Creativity. Problem solving is an important skill of leaders, and being creative certainly helps.

8. Fairness. Managers must strive to always treat others justly and equally. Checking all the facts, hearing everyone out, avoiding leaping to conclusions and gathering complete evidence before passing judgment are ways to be fair.

9. Assertiveness. “It is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings,” explains Hakala.

10. Sense of humor. This may be a surprise to some managers, but the ability to relieve tension, defuse hostility and fight boredom with a sense of humor increases productivity and effective leadership.

“Intrinsic traits such as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a leader. Anyone can cultivate the proper leadership traits,” Hakala concludes.  Please comment and tell me what you think of these qualities, and if there are any that were not mentioned that you think are important!

I Hate Being Sick!!

After waking up with a sore throat Sunday morning, I have been feeling worse and worse. I didn't go in to work yesterday and went to the doctor, thinking they would probably test me for swine flu since I have the symptoms. Well they didn't, so I was disappointed haha. If you're going to be so sick you might as well have some weird disease like swine flu! But I think the doctor just kind of guessed with me, and didn't think I was as sick as I am, since I don't get fevers. Ever. It's really weird- I've been sick many times but haven't had a fever since I was a baby. So that probably threw him. Whatever. 

He also didn't really examine me very well. He said my chest sounded clear, even though I've been wheezing and hacking up ... stuff... for a while. He also didn't look in my ears or nose. Makes me question his medical competence... Anyway, it didn't bother me much because he pretty much did all he could for me- just gave me an antibiotic and told me to rest.

He did say that it was fine for me to come back to work, but I am worried about getting others sick. I came in this afternoon (I felt really bad this morning), though, since I pretty much just sit alone at my desk all day. Hopefully no one will be around to catch what I've got. I still feel pretty feverish and congested, but I'm starting to feel better, not as achy. God I hate being sick. 

Lazy Weekend...

Maybe it was all the stress from finals week.... I didn't mean to stay in bed all weekend and do absolutely nothing! Well, almost nothing. Friday night I went to a friend's house to have a couple of drinks and watch movies. Saturday I did almost nothing, but I did go to Wal-Mart and get some stuff I needed- at 11:00 p.m. And then Sunday I stayed home except for about an hour I spent walking with my friend. Although most of that time was just spent sitting on swings and gossiping about her roommate. 

I felt awful this weekend because I probably spent more time laying in bed reading, sleeping, or watching movies than I did out of it. And most of the time I spent out of bed was spent at my computer watching Arrested Development or the Simpsons. I had even planned on going to work out and cleaning up the house. I did a little bit of laundry, but that's pretty much it. I have been sleeping with the window open in my bedroom because it's been so nice outside, but Saturday night it got kind of cold and I woke up with a killer sore throat. I've been coughing ever since, so that contributed to my laziness yesterday.

Maybe I deserved to relax a bit after the end of the semester, but I really wanted to be productive this weekend because I'd been coming home in the afternoons and napping last week. Oh well, today I woke up extra early (b'c I couldn't sleep at all last night), and I'm starting the week off right. I will get all of my errands done this afternoon after work, and then come home and do some cleaning. I always feel much better when I get things accomplished instead of laying around being lazy. I'll hold off on working out until I stop coughing.

Oh yeah, and the baby robins on my porch hatched! They're so cute!

I Did It!

I decided to join the Peace Corps!!! I waited a long time to apply because I wasn't sure if I was ready to make a 2 year commitment, but I've been thinking about it- and I am! I'm excited to do so actually! I've been thinking about this as a post-graduation option since my freshman year, and now it's finally time to follow through with it!

This is the perfect option for me because I'm very volunteer-minded. I love to help others, and I place compassion and kindness among the most important values in life. I am also really flexible- I can adapt to almost anything, so I'm confident that I'll get on fine wherever they send me! Also, I love, love, love learning about other cultures. And I'm really interested in learning other languages. I already have some French experience, but it would be great to get even more- or even to get to learn a new language. I am a little worried about being able to stay healthy, but as long as I keep up with my asthma medication, it's not a problem here, so we'll see I guess.

I broke up with my fiance and put my dog to sleep, so the two things that were keeping me here are no longer here. It's weird that I'm happy about that lol.

Homework Hangover

I sat in front of my computer last night from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and got out two paragraphs. Short ones. Gah. 

The paper I'm writing is on a simple, easy subject with simple, easy guidelines. Feminism in Thelma and Louise. But for some reason I just couldn't focus last night. I couldn't spit anything out. I'm a little burned out,  but it's still too early in the week for that nonsense. I still have my Fables paper to write, my tough French Lit Final to finish and turn in, my FILM PAPER that's due today at 3:30 (I'll have exactly an hour to finish it today between classes....) my Poetry critique, and my Poetry portfolio to finish up. 

I'm not liking the fact that I have a homework hangover right now. Shaky, foggy, forgetful, and tired, but I didn't even have any fun last night. Well, except for the stupid text messages to and from friends who were in the same boat. That was entertaining. I can't even do anything fun in this post and create a self-prescribed homework hangover cure, because I won't have time tonight to do anything fun. So instead I'll take the advice from my last post:

Final Projects Finished (or almost)

• P0nge paper DONE!
• Movie watched for Film paper
• Thesis written for Film paper
• Line notes made for Poetry critique
• First 1/3 of Fables done
• Half of Poetry critique

The Reverse To-Do List: the Done List

I am a busy woman! I am trying to find a job, trying to revamp my lifestyle to get healthier, trying to spend more time with friends, trying to excel at my current job, trying to keep my grades up and trying to do the million things that go a long with graduating this summer. I get a lot of things done throughout the day, but now and then I can feel overwhelmed and feel like I'm not making any progress. 

So I was reading an article about how to get out of a rut, and saw the idea to make a list and only put the things that have been accomplished on it. Instead of having a million things to do, and then checking them off, maybe today I'll make a list of the million things I've already done and admire my progress. It might make me feel better and make that panicky feeling in my chest subside. At least for a little while.

This is the article, I found it while searching for sales articles at work. 

I Really Need This Internship

I interviewed Friday for an Editorial Internship at Sunrise Greetings down in Bloomington. It seems like a great company, and it's full time with very decent pay. I am really excited. I got good vibes in my interview, but today they sent an e-mail asking for more writing samples to evaluate, so I don't have it yet.

I ran into TONS of traffic coming out of Lafayette, so I was really late. I was burning 90 almost the whole way down, when I could, which I absolutely hate. I hate speeding, and I hate driving aggressively, but I did both in order to try to get there as soon as possible. Anyway, my poor car ('89 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight) is making this really loud growling noise now whenever I drive it, especially when I accelerate. I rely very much on that car, so I really hope it's something easy and cheap to fix. In Lafayette, I guess it's not a big deal if I don't have a car - I didn't have on last summer. Between my close proximity to work, downtown, and campus and the city buses I was good. But if I move to Bloomington, which I need to because I need to keep moving forward, and HAVE to work, I will definitely need my car.

So I need this job because I really need the money, and I really need more experience to help with finding a job in August when I graduate. I would be making a big move on a very tiny (almost non-existent) budget, but I know it will be worth it. I saw two butterflies Friday before I went to my interview... in Haitian culture that's a good omen.

Update: Didn't get it. :( Still looking for a summer gig.