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The Passionate Voice

Processing Random Thoughts

March 15, 2018 • Career, Lifestyle

I’ve found this week to be draining for some odd reason. I alluded to this yesterday on Instagram.

I’m not sure if its the lingering hangover from Daylight Savings time or a flurry of ideas that are sitting in my brain. Regardless, that aching feeling of wanting to get the ideas out is enervating. I shared the photo of paint splatter as a way to try and capture what I {think} my brain looks like on the inside right now. I was glad to hear from other on instagram who could relate.

And so, to find a solution, I figured I would share some of these random thoughts. The thoughts that are swirling around in my head. Expect some blog posts to come from these:

Positivity. This is the basis to the world functioning better. There can’t be enough of it in the world and I’ll admit, some days, the realist in me sets in more than the optimist. I’m not sure if research supports this (send me any papers you find if it does!!) but am I wrong in saying that millennial’s seem more positive than baby boomers (cue the tomato throwing now, I’ll duck). It is so refreshing (regardless of age) when you sit down at a table and have a meeting or conversation and sharing of ideas when it is all positive. Positivity, or the lack there of sometimes, is why I sometimes question if more millennials are not pursuing careers in the sector I work in, Agriculture. So many thoughts on these two ideas – millennials being more positive and positivity within the sector I work in and how millennials view it.

Millennials. In keeping on this same topic, I am one. A millennial. I talk about them a lot here on the ol’ blog. And they seem to be a conversation starter. Scratch that, its all people have been talking about for the last 5 years or so, since it became apparent that we as a generation weren’t going away. When people recognized that we’re going to leave a profound impact on this world and not to mention, we have surpassed baby boomers as the largest generation now. Well, at least in the US according to this article. Millennials seems to be at the forefront of many of the conversations within my social circles and network recently for some reason. Especially when it comes to career conversations. Things like the role of millenials on Boards; what millennials value that differs from baby boomers; and is the workplace ready to evolve to these values. Either way, I have lots to say from my experience (both professionally and personally) so look forward to blog posts upcoming!

Motherhood. Is it OK to feel that you want to go back to work earlier than expected once you realize your baby can now breathe, eat and sleep on his own and perhaps doesn’t need you like he use too? Blake’s crawling away from me tells me that he is going to be just fine come May (his first birthday). Also child care, why doesn’t anyone talk about the beast that is finding child care? :S

Personal Brand. Ok, one more millennial thought. It seems that every millennial has or wants too establish their own personal brand along with maintaining their role/jobs within a company in their 9 to 5 job. This can be done, but with a bit of sacrifice on the millennials part and the company depending on expectations. Where previous workers/generation were so loyal to their company’s brand, are workplaces ready for this millennial “selfishness” as I’ve heard it called? And even more, are workplaces OK with millennial’s side hustles perhaps taking the spotlight away from the work millennial’s do in their 9-5’s?!

Creativity overload. As a creative entrepreneur, how do my fellow CE’s quiet your thoughts? How do you stop, or should I say, harness, the creative ideas waterfall that can come on the most random days? Do you write everything down on paper and pen? Put it in your iPhone notebook? How do you orgnaiz the thoughts? How do you tell your brain right at bedtime to stop thinking and put the ideas to rest? Literally. I would love to hear your tips!

Productivity. I am almost done this book and it is hands down, one of the best books I’ve read in a while. An easy, simple yet thought-provoking read, it has calmed my mind as a women but also fueled my motivation to want to do better, but in a more efficient way. Grab your copy, you won’t be disappointed!

[Photo Source]

Leave a Comment Career, Lifestyle 2018, Agriculture, Baby, Baby Boomers, Blog452, Board, Branding, Business, Career, Child Care, Christina Crowley-Arklie, Communication, Corporate Social Responsibility, Creative Entrepreneur, Creativity, Entrepreneur, Food for Thought, Generational, Ideas, Job, Life, Millennials, Motherhood, Parenthood, Passionate Voice, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Positivity, Productivity, Side Business, Side Hustle, Social Media, The Passionate Voice, Values

The Nostalgia of Brand Loyalty

March 23, 2017 • Agriculture, Career, Communication, Leadership, Making a Difference, Public Speaking, Social Media

Every person has an event they attend every year. When you get a new planner or pull out the ol’ calendar, its one of the first things you pencil in.
 
One of those events for me each year is College Royal. Its an annual event held at the University of Guelph put on by the students. It draws thousands of community members, former alumni and students to campus every March. And the best part? Its organized by the students for FREE for the community.
 
I got involved with College Royal when I was a U of G student, becoming President in my third year. And this year, my sister too was President – a (now) very cool family tradition. College Royal is like a community homecoming-alumni weekend wrapped into one, big event. You can’t attend without seeing someone you know and stopping to catch up.
 
As I was walking around campus this weekend, I happened to pass a man wearing a Holstein Canada hat. The hat had that recognizable logo that I know all too well – a logo I grew up with as a dairy farmer and member and became so loyal too after working for HC as well.
 
Its amazing how a brand you are loyal too can make you feel a certain way. I wanted to walk over to this complete stranger and ask him what his connection was to Holstein Canada. Was he a member/farmer? Did he know someone who is a member? Did he win the hat? I’m sure he would have found me a bit friendly forward, no intrusive? had  I approached him with all these questions.
 
We are oh so loyal to the brands we love and have an attachment too. I laughed at how a cow head on a hat could evoke a conversation with myself.
 
Bernadette Jiwa of the blog, The Story of Telling, also recently touched on this same idea of brand loyalty and it got me thinking further.
 
We associate our loyalty with brands because of how they make us feel. If we want to become experts in our respective fields, we should want people to feel the same way our favourite brands do.
 
Its like how the swoosh on our running shoe, the blue cow on an icecream container or the half-bitten apple logo on our iPhone makes us feel. The loyalty we have to brands and the nostalgia we associate when we see these brands, is how we as personal brands should resonate for others. People are their own brand, whether they like it or not. This is something I’m going to touch on at a talk I’m giving next Wednesday night as part of the Ag Women’s Network spring series events.
If you are trying to establish your passionate voice as an expert or are working to be that go too person in your field, ask yourself: how do you want people to feel about you and your work?
 
How do you make people feel?
How do you resonate with them?
What feelings are they left with?
Are they the same feelings every time?
 
These are the same qualities we associate with brand loyalty. Its important that just like that random cow head on a hat or the event you always look forward too every year, that you as a personal brand give off that same nostalgic, or dare I say warm & fuzzy feeling with the people and organizations you work with. 
[Photo Source]

Leave a Comment Agriculture, Career, Communication, Leadership, Making a Difference, Public Speaking, Social Media 2017, Ag Women's Network, Agriculture, Alumni Weekend, Apple, AWN, Bernadette Jiwa, Brand Loyalty, Branding, Business, Calendar, Career, Christina Crowley-Arklie, College Royal, Communication, Dairy Farmers of Canada, DFC, Expert, Extra Curricular, Feelings, Guelph, Holstein Canada, Homecoming, Icecream, iPhone, Logo, Loyal, Loyalty, Nike, Nostalgia, Organizer. U of G, Passionate Voice, Personal Branding, Planner, President, Running Shoes, Side Hustle, Social Media, Student, The Passionate Voice, The Story of Telling, University of Guelph





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