Do You Have a Card?

I went to a networking event tonight for government communicators at a nice restaurant in Downtown DC and was the only one there without an official business card. At my job, if you don't interact with the public, then you don't get a company business card. I find this very unfortunate. My communications functions are internal, relegated to my fellow employees only (e.g., newsletter, emails, intranet content management, etc.). My customers at work know who I am, and if they don't, a simple Outlook search will yield my names and title. But there's something about a business card. It helps to build your brand. It helps promote your organization. It serves as a verifier of your knowledge, skills, and abilities to your peers. This last part, serving as a verifier, is what I feel is most important. Tonight I had to pass out my personal card. Nothing is wrong with it, in fact, a senior communications official commented that it was cute. But I don't want a cute card. I want card from my organization so that I have proof that I work where I say I work. A card that joins a professional rolodex. But those are the rules. I only communicate internally. No card with embossed with the company seal for me. I find this very unfortunate.

National Association of Government Communicators - 2014 Communication School

I attended the NAGC's 2014 Communications School and was thoroughly pleased with all I learned. It was just what I needed to re-energize my professional pursuits. My responsibilities during the day at my job and my new responsibilities as a mommy have left my head spinning in terms of how to get back on track with my professional development. I never want to get so comfortable in one situation that I fail to take notice of the advancements occurring in my communications field, and of course, new opportunities to grow and learn.

I'm responsible for creating and implementing communication plans. It can be very challenging because each plan is different and requires different strategies, or at least a different way to communicate to the project managers. Listening to the best practices of some of the country's top communicators gave me insight into some new strategies I can use back at the office.

Things I've Been Wondering About

I have a lot of random thoughts throughout my day, as do most folks I suppose. Sometimes I use Google to find the answers or to at least see if there are others who are wondering the same thing.

Here's a few of my musings as of late:

1. Why do people place their bags on the seat next to them when riding public transit? Are they hoping no one sits next to them? How dare they hog a seat they haven't paid for.

2. Why don't people invest in a good pair of headphones, ones that actually go into the ear, so that I'm not forced to hear their music, and if I know the song, follow the lyrics?

3. In reproduction, 1+1=3, why doesn't it make sense when talking about math?

4. Why does half and half never seem to spoil?

5. When did everyone start jogging? Were they jogging in the 60s like they do now?

6. Why don't we need to receive a parenting certification before having children?

7. Why does $5 get me a bag full of filling greasy food from a fast food place, but that $5 won't cover the cost of a salad at the same place?

8. Why does every job I get contain the same set of personalities as my previous job? It's the same script but with a different cast. Is this bizarro world, how can my former coworkers morph into new people and place themselves at my new place of employment?

9. Now this one is controversial: if you claim to be an animal lover, how can you pay thousands of dollars for a special breed animal when a perfectly good mixed breed languishes in an animal shelter and is available for less than $75.

Becoming a mom...part II

I had a boy!! So I'm 12 weeks into mommyhood and I'm getting more sleep and am becoming more used to my back to work routine of:

Getting up super early to breastfeed,

Taking my son to daycare,

Hurrying to work,

Pumping in the lactation room aka the 'milking room'; work; pump; work; pump...

Rushing to daycare to pick up my little guy who've I missed terribly,

Making dinner, spending time with my hubby, doing what I can before my 10:30 bedtime...

Sleeping for just a little while,

Being awakened by cries,

Nursing while nodding off and fending off the pain of exhaustion,

Looking over at hubby who's fast asleep, unable to control my jealousy,

Nodding back to sleep for what seems like 30 minutes to an hour

Awakened by cries

Getting up super early to breastfeed (repeat steps above)