As you know, Ashley and I recently swapped blog posts. Well, I realized that I never shared my post with all of you!

When you get a moment, I’d love for you to check out the post I wrote for Ashley’s Going Like Mad blog. Titled “Landing Your Dream Job,” this post was 110 percent inspired by a recent conversation I had with my gal Megan about life and career changes.

Landing Your Dream Job

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

- L

As previously mentioned last week, this next post comes from Ashley Erickson of Going Like Mad. Please join me in welcoming Ashley to my blog. Ashley’s post gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her life, passions and the day-to-day experiences she has as an editor.

First, here’s a little bit about this lovely lady.

Ashley currently lives in Austin, Texas, but was raised in Southern California (which helps her appreciate the low cost of living in Texas even more).  She is currently the Texas regional editor for Competitor magazine and also works for a software company.  Social media addict to the core, her most memorable blogging accomplishment was being featured on the cover of opensalon.com.  On her blog, she talks about all things editorial and her struggle with the treadmill as she trains for her first 5K and eventual marathon finish.  Find her on Twitter where she shares her adventures around town with her hideous ankles (her words, not mine).

Now, ladies and gentleman… I give you. Ashley.

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Living by the Editorial Calendar
Ashley Erickson

I find my inspiration in my friends, family and in some of my favorite writers.  But, that still leaves one more form of inspiration: my planner.

I have been living by the editorial calendar since college.  I started as an intern for the San Diegan, a local San Diego publication that I spent 30 some hours at a week while taking classes full-time.  Balancing classes and fact checking and proofing took some getting used to, but with an annual publication time is not completely of the essence.  Then I moved on to a literary agency, where I was able to take my work home (willingly) and got to edit a 350-page manuscript (the only one I’ve ever edited).  That took a lot more time to tackle than the 100-word posts I was used to checking over, but the sense of accomplishment after still is with me.  My last internship was with Competitor, where I went in for 10 hours or so a week in the mornings before classes (that I may or may not have skipped more than once).  So, I did have a little bit extra to manage during the typical frantic schedule of a college student, but I got through.

Now, things are a bit different.  I have a full-time job at a software company alongside of my contract position as Texas regional editor of Competitor (i.e., the rags to riches/intern to editor tale).  My life is all about balancing editorial with my full-time work with my full-time boyfriend.  I cram them all into one calendar and voila.

It is all about organization.  First, I start with the issue of the month.  The issue is planned out on a spreadsheet and I literally highlight each article in whatever colors I am feeling that month (usually yellow means: YAY IT’S WRITTEN and red is: UGH AFKJDAKJ$@O#IU).  After I plan and re-plan and write and re-write, my full-time is next.  Luckily I just got the job at the software company and now have a more flexible life.  Because then there comes my boyfriend who it is pretty guaranteed I am with when I am not doing the other two schedules.

Schedules and to-do lists may seem silly sometimes, but they work.  Crossing items off of your list can bring more accomplishment than originally thought.  The first step, though, is to get a planner that you’ll want to use–that you will be excited to write in and look at.  If you are a writer, you will probably inevitably turn toward getting a Moleskin one (which I was unable to find at my time of purchase, which I still resent Barnes & Noble for).  The most important step is to carry it with you everywhere–because you can do much more with a planner than just write down your schedule.  You can write down your thoughts and random musings, keep track of names and phone numbers and even keep memorable quotes.

Let it be your inspiration as you live your own calendar.  I live the editorial calendar and the sales consultant calendar and the girlfriend calendar and I try to do it with style.  With my pink planner by my side.

I’m a HUGE fan of Twitter. Not only do I tweet regularly, but I am constantly praising Twitter to my friends and colleagues, pushing them to join if they haven’t already. I’ve made some great contacts through the site. It’s truly a tremendous resource.

But last Friday, I made the biggest mistake ever.

I tried to change my Twitter avatar.

Little did I know at the time that this would be a never-ending, ongoing, frustrating task to achieve. Deleting my avatar was the easy part. But uploading a new one? Yeah, forget it. I’ve tried uploading a new one through a PC, a Mac and through three different browsers. I’ve checked, double checked and triple checked the image size, resolution, format, etc. to make sure it complies with Twitter’s settings. And I e-mailed Twitter support.

They e-mailed me back last night with a link to a page I’d already checked out about 100 times over the weekend, looking for updates or comments on the issue. They say I’m not the only one having this problem. Unfortunately, that just doesn’t make me feel better, Twitter. Thanks though.

I’ve been attempting to upload a new one going on four days now. Honestly at this point, I would be fine with this or this or even this as my avatar. I just want SOMETHING.

The fact of the matter is, if more than 100 million users participate in the Twitter discussion, one would think uploading a picture would be the smallest of Twitter’s issues. Clearly, it’s one that has yet to be tackled. For now, I’ll anxiously, impatiently sit here trying to upload my picture 137 times a day (no exaggeration), until it works.

And this got the juices flowing…

Does this mean I’m too dependent on social media? Do I put too much emphasis on my online profile?

Okay, yes. I’m completely dependent on social media. I place a pretty big emphasis on my online profile because it’s one of the first ways I get in front of my readers, contacts, colleagues, followers and friends. But is it the end of the world when I’m faceless?

For example, when you have a new coworker join your office, what’s one of the very first things you do? Chances are, you Google her. In today’s online world, if we aren’t transparent and there for everyone to access, we are missing out on a huge piece of the puzzle. Right?

So, is it okay to place so much importance on your online profile? Are we too dependent on social media? I’d love to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, if you have any words of advice on uploading my Twitter avatar, let me know because I’m going crazy over here.

- L

I’m excited to announce that I will soon feature a guest post by lovely Texas editor Ashley Erickson. Not too long ago, Ashley and I discovered each other on 20 something bloggers and hit it off right away. She has recently taken on some new endeavors and I’m very much looking forward to hearing what she has to say. Please be sure to give her a warm welcome too.

In the meantime, follow what Ashley’s up to on Twitter.

Stay tuned!

- L

My friend Megan has a “Keep Calm and Carry On” framed poster–a saying that’s now pretty popular. When she bought it, I hadn’t ever seen or heard the phrase before but instantly loved it because it’s SO TRUE and something I need to tell myself on a regular basis.

Then this morning I came across the Keep Calm Gallery and fell in l-o-v-e. Here are some of the items I’m drooling over.

These little posters are perfect inspiration. Am I right? Clearly I’m not the only one who needs these reminders or else they wouldn’t be mass producing them. How many times has someone told you “don’t sweat the small stuff” or “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”… In my case, TOO MANY TO COUNT.

Now, we can hang these up around our office, home or wherever our little hearts desire.

Remember–take things as they come, keep it simple, drink wine with dinner and be okay with failing every once in a while.

- L

Everyone always says “things come in threes.”

The past week has certainly tested my patience. And it all began last Friday…

#1

I was at the office when I suddenly noticed I had missed four calls from the bf. He left one message. Of course, I frantically listened, wondering what could possibly be so important that he called me four times in a row. Didn’t see this one coming… car accident. Car is totaled. I’m at the corner of ____ and ____.

Come now.

If you know me at all, you know I’m not the kind of gal who remains calm in stressful situations. We’re always taught to remain calm and collected, think things through, try to be as rational as possible and evaluate the situation at hand. Not me. I run around like a crazy woman, grab my purse, cry like a baby, drive like a madwoman (I know, I know) then arrive at the scene. I’m a complete and utter mess. Bf on the other hand is cool, collected, rational and trying to calm ME down. One would think I was actually IN the car accident considering how distraught I was. I really know how to make a situation better.

After bf proceeded to shake my shoulders and snap me back to reality–relentlessly repeating GET A GRIP, LAURIE–I went ahead and cleaned out his totaled car, talked with the tow truck driver, spoke on the phone with the bf’s parents (lucky for them, they were on vacation) and got my you-know-what together so I could actually be helpful.

To make a long story short, car was totaled but bf was fine. Phew.

#2

The best part about #1 was that the VERY NEXT MORNING bf was supposed to move to a new city for dental school. Yep, we had to pack up a U-haul just a few hours after the car was totaled and head out of town. As if him moving away wasn’t already hard enough for me to deal with. Somehow we managed to get to his parents house so he could grab one of their cars for the time being.

The next morning, we woke up bright and early to load the U-haul. After a couple hours of Texas summer heat and kolaches as sustenance, we managed to finish packing up the truck and headed out of town. After arriving at our destination, unloading the U-haul, unpacking boxes and boxes and more boxes, putting things in their place and remembering to breathe somewhere in between… before I knew it, it was Sunday evening.

Time to say goodbye. And I flew home.

#3

After #2 happened, I was pretty sure that was the worst of it and everything would be thumbs up from there. Little did I know I was totally wrong.

Tuesday evening rolled around and I was walking this little guy. We’re about to go back inside after our walk when I suddenly lose hold of him, he sprints out of the complex, under the gate and out into the street. In my pjs and flip-flops, I hurriedly chase after him, slipping on the steps and falling to the ground. Again, if you know me at all–I’m a klutz by nature. This is the part when I explain how much I cried and held my foot and ankle praying I didn’t break it (but totally thinking I had). Luckily Loui came back to me thinking “uh oh, sorry Mom.”

Well folks, I have a torn ligament in my foot and a sprained ankle. And I get to wear this for three weeks.

Yep, THREE.

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Moral of the story? Things come in threes.

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Well, that and don’t chase after your dog when he runs away. It’s a game and I totally fell for it.
(pun intended)

- L