Alec-Dotes

Wordpress

2009-11-04T13:13:00.001-05:00

I'm on Wordpress now: http://alecdotes.wordpress.com/

The template is nicer and I like the customization options much more.

See you on the other side.

-Al

Expert, Shmexpert

2009-11-02T08:22:00.005-05:00

One thing I've really enjoyed about marketing is just the process of it all. Countless times I've had to market products that I either:
a.) have no interest in (i.e. office supplies) or
b.) have no real experience with.

But in the end, I find that I enjoy learning about the types of products and finding clever ways to market them. It poses a challenge and provides significant potential for untapped creativity. Thus, I've come to believe that you don't need an extensive knowledge of a product or brand in order to market it.

In fact, I think that too much knowledge can hinder one's marketing efforts on a particular product or brand. So, I've created a makeshift graph for my theory:

Make sense?

Of course this is from my own (amateur) personal experience with marketing. If you were to Google some successful and/or horrendous marketing campaigns, I'm sure that there would be quite a few that pertain to this theory.

You see, I think a fresh perspective on a product or brand is the backbone for every successful innovational marketing strategy. So, having no investment in a certain brand or industry might keep you from thinking along the same lines as the experts on the matter. No?

But at the same time, you can't really market something if you're completely out of the loop. I'm not sure I could just start rattling off ideas for marketing women's lingerie.

Do you need to be an expert on a product to market it? Or can you simply get by on just knowing the basics?

Humble, Innovation-Al

2009-10-19T18:21:00.006-04:00

First, my new domain name http://www.innovation-al.com. It has a new homepage!

My newest project is fun and currently 25% complete. It's more cohesive and polished (so far) than "Hire Me" which was constructed in about two days. This is a multi-week project filled with different talents, more ideas and as a result, more work.

I like it a lot though. Keeping busy and creating stuff is what I really love to do. Showcasing my ideas and getting everyone excited about delivering something really cool is what I'm all about. Note that: in my next interview, that's what I'll respond with when the question "What are you looking for in a job?" comes up.

My only concern is that because I'm making 99% of this entire project it may seem as though it's all about me (which of course it isn't). I'm just trying to avoid coming off as the one stealing the spotlight.

I mean, I did produce the whole thing thus far, so it basically is my project. But that doesn't mean I'm overshadowing the client's message at all. The entire piece of work is dedicated to their marketing cause-- I'm just the one (along with some great female vocalists) conveying the information for them. Hmmm... I believe I've said too much.

Essentially, I need to be careful that I don't overstep my bounds as the client. My problem lies in the fact that being a one-man-team makes it seem like I'm trying to be the one in front. When the project is done this won't be the case. I'm Humble Al.

If all goes according to plan, this thing will drop on November 1st. Possibly earlier, depending on my schedule.

Creativity = Insomnia Fuel

2009-10-14T22:54:00.005-04:00

I'm not sure why it happens, but most of my creative ideas hit me while I'm just about to fall asleep. Perhaps it's because my mind is clear of stress and worry in the seconds before I nod off, or maybe it's something to do with the subconscious. Either way, once a good idea hits me, I immediately slink out of my near comatose state and my mind starts racing.

There's a bit of frustration involvled as I scorn my brain for not thinking of such innovation during normal, waking hours. I feel like it's Christmas Eve and I know I'm getting The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in eight hours because I "accidentally" uncovered the shrink wrapped N64 box in the basement toolbox last week. I don't care if I just discovered that Santa doesn't exist-- I'm gonna save the Princess. But, I digress...

Anyway, my exciting ideas have been a result of me making work for myself. I really believe that's what you gotta do when times are tough. And by making work, I mean all of the following:

Approaching small businesses and offering to help with marketing
Assisting people with selling stuff on eBay for a cut
Tutoring high school students in Calculus, Physics, Writing and Statistics
Getting TEFL certified by taking an 100 hr online course
Developing a website for an HR Consultant

Of course, my exciting ideas are stemming from the first bullet point, in which I'm helping out small businesses with marketing. I'm a novice no doubt, but it's a great way to get my feet wet with how stuff works. I'll figure out how stuff works myself--just like I did with the guitar.

My great idea that kept me up last night involves (among other things) the following:

A Guitar
An old friend from high school who majored in theater
A Bakery
Twitter
Free Bagels
YouTube
(hopefully) Engaged Customers
Increased Sales
Billy Costa

It's going to be fun.

I think that's what matters at this point.

Quit Scamming Me

2009-10-08T18:43:00.005-04:00

In any other instance, three job offers in one day would be pretty sweet. Of course, in my predicament (or any recent college grad's), I have to raise an eyebrow and question these proposals. Perhaps two eyebrows. Especially if they contacted me without seeing my musical cover letter. I mean, c'mon-- nobody contacts me otherwise.

However, my suspicions were initially overshadowed by mere excitement and curiosity. An email with "Job Offer for Monster Listing #(insert random number)" in the subject line set my double-clicking instincts on edge. My heart began to race. My hands got sweaty. Mom's spaghetti.

I guess they caught me off guard in my unemployed state. I picture these recruiters not as human beings, but as soulless entities, not unlike Agent Smith from the Matrix. Like a Venus Flytrap, these recruiters let out the sweet scent of a job offer which ultimately masked the terrible, terrible mandibles of (most likely) some cold calling or sales job. I've done cold calling and I'd rather gouge my eyes out. Thank God for the internet, Google and its most reliable anonymous employer reviews.

After several seconds of Googling these fine corporations, skepticism began to set in. I soon began to feel worse than before I even knew these offers existed. It was unflattering and almost offensive-- these companies trying to take advantage of me in my post-college-seeking-employment-in-a-crap-economy state.

One place had an average review of 1 star (out of 5) from over 30 reviews. One person actually said they'd rather poke their eyes out than work there again. Hey! We can relate!

So yeah, this is just my advice to those college grads who might be reading this and are currently job seeking. You're probably smart enough to know not to go for these types of offers, but you never know. Unless you've submitted an application to a place that contacts you with a proposal, don't take a job offer from them. Unless they're a well known company-- in which case jump on that.

I mean, c'mon-- what type of company would be looking to sign up inexperienced college graduates before even meeting them?

Close Call

2009-10-06T12:11:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I almost killed my MacBook. My dad warned me not to position drinks in close proximity to my shiny, aluminum, first major-credit-card investment, but I've always considered myself an agile person who never spills anything. Of course, my tall glass of Arnold Palmer Iced Tea Lemonade had to prove me wrong.

I can't remember the series of events that led me to cursing loudly and frantically running for paper towels, but I was scared for my laptop. My MacBook has been a real pal over the past few months-- and like a clumsy drunken friend at a bar, I spilled my drink over my buddy.

No more drinks by the laptop. Ever again.

Keeping Track

2009-09-29T14:59:00.006-04:00

What's new in my world? Top 10 most recent developments (in no particular order):

I've read nearly a dozen books in the last three months.
My High School friend is getting married this weekend.
My house is empty during the day-- The cat is driving me nuts.
I've been hitting the gym five times a week. I no longer need to check-in at the front desk.
I experienced my first bachelor party in NYC this past weekend.
I've started doing freelance work for a past employer and my neighbor, both involving web and graphic design.
I'm writing a song for my-friend-to-soon-be-married and his bride as a wedding present. I have yet to figure out the chorus, but it seems good so far.
I have no idea what to be for Halloween. I need suggestions.
Some of my friends have been swallowed up by the real world and are currently AWOL.
I want to buy the new Mike Doughty and Lou Barlow albums that come out on October 6th.

Nostradamusings of Social Media

2009-09-21T10:13:00.002-04:00

I'm trying harder to become a prognosticator of social media trends. I feel that having a firm grasp and/or opinion on where I think it's going will convey a stronger sense of passion for the medium during interviews. Rather than just being along for the ride, I'll be steerin' this media ship to where I think it's going. That was an homage to "Speak Like a Pirate Day", which was this past Saturday.

However, with everything being so volatile, I have a tough time really pinpointing where social media will be in say, ten years. For me, all signs point to Life-Streaming. Micro-Blogging day-to-day activities may seem mundane and/or meaningless, but if done with the right sense of style and delivery, a valuable (and interesting!) story can be constructed. And I'm a big fan of creating and/or reading cool stories.

On a side note, I think FourSquare is one of the coolest ides yet for a social media network. It's almost like a real-life video game achievement reward system, except it gets you off your couch and meeting people. And from a business perspective? Think of all the cool stuff you could do for your customers if you knew where they went the most, what they liked and perhaps who they went with? I would totally capitalize on this if I owned a business. If you haven't signed up, do it now and friend me. We'll conquer this city of Boston, we will. And maybe Providence too.

Hikes

2009-09-21T09:35:00.006-04:00

In an attempt to clear my mind and save some money, I hiked Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire this weekend with my sis and dad. I kept a comfortable pace between my climb-the-mountain-as-fast-as-you-can sister and my I-thought-the-elliptical-would-train-me-for-this father. It was an enjoyable round-trip hike of roughly three hours and we had a huge Thai dinner afterward.

I hate myself for being hesitant to spend time with the family (it seems like a hindrance on me blazing my own trail in life) because I almost always end up enjoying the excursion in the end. Then I get mad at myself for putting up a fuss in the first place. Stubborn Al.

A Very Frustrating Pickle

2009-09-17T09:11:00.008-04:00

My parents tell me to relax. To enjoy not working. "You'll be working the rest of your life," Dad says when I trudge into his artwork studio that is adjacent to my bedroom, voicing my woes about the job search process that is much like a roller-coaster.

The truth is, I can't really enjoy myself unless I know for certain that either a.) I'm being productive to deserve this enjoyment or b.) have something lined up that will, in the long run, be productive. Plus, believe it or not, enjoyment usually involves money and the spending of such.

I suppose my job hunt adventures could fall under category "b," but the uncertainty of actually getting something after every prospect is killing me. I have a bottle of Korbel champagne waiting in my fridge. It was originally supposed to be for my acceptance into the JET (Teaching in Japan) program, but being on the indefinite wait-list has let the alcohol age indefinitely. I bet that on the day I finally get a job offer, the JET program will call up and say that an opening has freed up for me, in which case I will proceed to smash the bottle of champagne over my head and go on an angry Korbel rampage.

Undoubtedly more important than the monetary component of a new job is that I need to meet and interact with people. It's that simple. I fricking love my hometown of Medfield, Massachusetts, but it's like grandparents-- you won't be hanging out after 6 p.m. I would meet up with my high school friends, but they're off doing their own things, whether it be jobs or grad school. And visiting them (especially NYC dwelling pals) really burns a hole in the wallet. See the pickle I'm in?

My Top Secret, Creative Pre-Interview Plan

2009-09-11T14:28:00.012-04:00

I'm expanding my job search radius to areas outside of Boston. This weekend I travel to New York to interview at a company I've been following for awhile that does pretty much everything I want to do. It looks like a really cool place to be.

While I was always open for relocation, I really did not apply for jobs outside the Boston/Cambridge area because of commute convenience for interviews. However, now that I have several friends and relatives sprinkled throughout major cities, I can actually interview without blowing through tons of money on lodging.

In all honesty, I wouldn't mind trying to survive on my own for a little bit. If I manage to land a decent gig in New York, I would go apartment/part-time-job searching immediately after leaving the concluding interview. Of course, the part-time job is speculation, but if I need to do it to get by I will. That's not to say that I'll put any less effort into any marketing job that I can get. I'll be extremely motivated to put my all into whatever I land.

After every interview, I've learned a little bit more about what I should do at the next one. Yeah, I learn from my mistakes, but I also think of new creative things I can do before/during/after the interview. For my one on Monday, I've developed a creative plan so cool that I will not even disclose it in this blog. Seriously, it's top secret and wicked cool. So, if you're reading this and happen to be an employee at the company I am interviewing at this coming Monday at 2 p.m., I suggest you buy a pillow to protect your jaw for when it hits the ground. Well, I might be hyping it a little bit, but I think it's cool...

The New Value Proposition

2009-09-05T11:00:00.006-04:00

Yeah, I'm changing my employment strategy tactics. I'm shaking things up a bit. Why? First, consider the exact number of interviews I've had. It's put together in this nice little equation:

Three Phone interviews + Five 1st round interviews + Three 2nd round interviews = 11 Interviews

But unlike the Count, I'm not particularly jovial when reciting this number. Despite the fact they've been a valuable experience as my job hunt continues (what doesn't kill me makes me stronger), the daily commute into Boston is really burning a hole in my wallet. Did the Count ever have a segment on subtraction? If not, my MBTA situation would be an ideal theme for it. One, two, THREE ROUND-TRIP TICKETS! I love to subtract!

So Why All the Interviews and No Job?

Even though I haven't landed a job yet, I'm pretty pleased with the way I've interviewed. Besides the two phone interviews (the method I despise), I've made it very far in each face-to-face interview. My phone interview performances have been similar to those times in High School when I called up a girl to go on a date--full of awkward pauses and uncontrolled sweating. The bottom line is that I perform much better with non-verbal cues.

Although I have no evidence to back up this theory, I feel as though I get beat out by the more experienced applicant when I've made it to the second round of interviews. Either that, or the marketing team thinks I'm a complete loser. So, this predicament has led to...

My New Value Proposition

Now that I've got all sorts of interview experience and savvy, I'm really buckling down with new strategies and tactics to really land the job. Once I secure an interview with a company I really want to work for, I'll lay down this:

Although I can express my ambition to work, I can't overcome someone who has equal ambition but also more experience. So, give me a chance to prove myself. I know I can do some great stuff if you just give me an opportunity.
If it doesn't work out, I'll at least gain some experience (and therefore be better matched up against my interview competition: Mr./Mrs. Ambitiously Experienced).

So look out Mr./Mrs. Ambitiously Experienced. And watch yourself companies-who-want-to-give-me-a-shot. I've got a new value proposition.

Not A Tweet Deal For The NFL

2009-09-01T11:21:00.004-04:00

Well it's been decided. In what appears to be an attempt to limit play-by-play disclosure, Roger Goodell has metaphorically killed two birds with one stone-- the first in the form of the light blue avian Twitter mascot and the second (less literal) being my desire to follow NFL players during game-time.

I can see the most logical reasoning behind restricting NFL athletes to Tweetlessness during matches and for a 90-minute window before and after games (i.e. distractions, play-by-play disclosure). But after reading several articles I still can't figure out the main reason for doing this.

My Top Three Theories:

Betting: Someone injured and Tweets about it before an injury report? Might sway some bets in Vegas. Gotta draw the line between fan communication and the disclosure of bet-able information.
Distractions: Although I'm fascinated by what is going through Randy Moss's head before high-stepping into the endzone for a touchdown, other people may find it excessive and distracting.
Case-By-Case: There have been several issues where someone has been fined over a tweet. Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers complained about Dolphin's stadium food and was punished with a $2,500 fine. By making one rule that bans tweets altogether, it eliminates the need for individual cases, like Cromartie food-slagging.

Those are my three best guesses. I'd like to hear some of your theories, because I can't find an article that explains the reasoning behind it. However, odds are it has something to do with betting. But keep in mind:

Why is football the exception? Why not other sports like baseball and basketball?
Why the 90 minute window? Is 90 minutes the official social media buffer time limit?

Quick Quiz: Which NFL team has the most active Twitter users?

Al Wants To Endorse Your Work!

2009-08-28T12:37:00.012-04:00

I've received conflicting opinions regarding the legitimacy of LinkedIn recommendations. In this post, I'll discuss my thoughts on the matter.

But first, an Alec-Dote introduction (Trust me, it ties in):

All throughout high school I worked a summer job at my hometown's swimming pond. No, I wasn't a lifeguard. I also did not teach swim lessons. Before I was promoted to Assistant Manager after years of dedicated service, I was a snack-bar operator. While the guards were off rescuing kids from drowning and the fabled snapping turtle "Melba", I was saving them from dehydration and malnutrition.

As you may be able to tell, this position was relatively laid back. There was a quote board on the fridge that had humorous one-liners that the staff occasionally blurted out. Considering I was a young individual when I was first recruited (fresh out of 8th grade), I was eager to impress the older, more seasoned employees. So, what better way than to say something funny and get on the quote board? My goal was to make one of those college-girl lifeguards giggle at my sharp eighth-grader wit and charm. However, there was one minor (but crucial) detail. You could not write your own quote. Discouraged by this, I sought out a co-worker of similar age and struck a deal.

"You quote me and I quote you!" I proposed to my new business partner. It was flawless. We would be able to showcase our sense of humor and wouldn't have broken the Quote Board's Golden Rule. The result? Some of the dumbest jokes ever written on a quote board. Ever. The female lifeguards were not impressed. But go back in time ten years and I would have found the material hilarious.

So What's the Deal With LinkedIn Recommendations?

I brought this story up because it's relevant to a recent thought I've had about LinkedIn Recommendations. The professional networking tool allows you to write (and receive) recommendations from past colleagues, co-workers, etc. Essentially, it's anyone who you're networked with on LinkedIn.

But my question is, are they legitimate? Personally, I don't think they are. Like my previous Alec-Dote, I basically had someone write my (awful) joke in exchange for the reverse treatment. While LinkedIn allows you to review the credentials of whoever wrote the recommendation, I feel like a simple sentence or paragraph is an insubstantial amount of information to base a decision on.

When applying for a job, the purpose of a recommendation is for the sake of recommending someone. In LinkedIn's (or my Alec-Dote's) case, a recommendation has the tendency to just be written in hopes of a returned favor. I'm sure this isn't always the case, but I get the impression that it happens all too much. Plus, if you ask a friend to write it and they endorse you something generic like "I really love working with Al", what does that say about me to employers? That my friend likes me?

Plus, there's another problem: recommendations can be seen by everyone. Now at first you may be like, "duh Al, that's the point-- so employers can see my positive endorsements!" But, there was a problem that one of my friend's fathers ran into recently. Several people asked him to write a recommendation, but he only felt that one of those candidates deserved it. So, he only wrote that one recommendation. A few days down the road, those individuals who did not receive recommendations saw that the one co-worker did get recommended while they did not. Did problems arise? Yes.

I still think LinkedIn recommendations need some work before they're considered legitimate. Like the bad jokes that failed to impress the gorgeous female lifeguards, maybe my recommendations will fail to impress employers.

How do you feel about LinkedIn recommendations? Do they need to change or are they fine just the way they are?

Bersonal Pranding: Guerrilla Marketing

2009-08-22T10:22:00.019-04:00

No, I'm not dyslexic. The title of this post was conceived by myself after reading this article, realizing that Guerrilla Marketing is a somewhat inverse form of 'Personal Branding', repeating the phrase "Personal Branding" in my head dozens of times to come up with a clever title and inadvertently stumbling upon this dyslexic mash-up (by accident) that is actually a nice metaphorical fit for what in my opinion, Guerrilla Marketing stands for. Still with me? Hang in there.

Guerrilla Marketing: Marketers at companies are struggling to get heard. Even leading brands are having difficulty reaching the tuned-out consumers who are frequently bombarded by advertisements. Plus, in this summertime recession, who really wants to spend millions on a Television campaign to advertise to turned-off consumers who are already outside not watching TV in the first place? A solution: pay less money and get 'em on the streets with some Guerrilla Marketing.

Personal Branding: The unemployed are struggling to get heard. Even top notch, experienced workers who were laid off are having difficulty reaching companies that are bombarded with other job applicants. In this recession, some people cannot afford to remain unemployed for an extended period of time, as there are families to support and bills to pay. A solution: Personal Branding. Let them know who you are and stand out from the noise. Utilize new methods to reach employers.

How are Personal Branding and Guerrilla Marketing Inversely Related?

Take for instance the latter, Guerrilla Marketing. It's hard to define but you know it when you see it. Sandwich-board clad promotion people. Cryptic sidewalk chalk inscriptions. Creative Billboard ads. Brands are seeking new ways to stand out amongst the clutter and in their own ways, adopting new and radical personalities. They'll create an experience, an event-- a more unpredictable, spontaneous and improvisational method of reaching the consumer. In this way, brands are becoming more like people.

On the other hand, observe the practice of Personal Branding. Literally, it's quite like transforming a person into a brand. Instead of being that carbon-copy-job-seeker, Personal Branding is a technique to make the individual stand out from the crowd. Skills, characteristics and accomplishments can all be exemplified into a job seeker's unique personal brand to make them stand out in the crowded pool of qualified applicants. For expert advice on this subject, refer to Dan Schawbel and his Personal Branding blog--he's turned the whole technique into an art-form.

So do you see the inverse connection? When economic times are tough, both Brands and People begin to look for more innovative ways to become noticed. Marketers take their brands and have them adopt personalities. People take their skills, accomplishments and personalities and adopt their own personal brands. Obviously they're not "becoming" one another, but I think it's safe to say that each are adopting some of the others attributes.

Why Is This Happening?

I can only hypothesize that the economy has instigated the need for both brands and people to stand out and are thus seeking these new methods. In a broad sense, both brands and the unemployed are attempting to stand out from the crowd. It's interesting to see this shift in the way brands and people behave, respectively.

Thoughts? Critiques? Agreements? Hate-mail? Do your worst.

The Issue With Marketing

2009-08-09T14:49:00.010-04:00

No matter what type of degree you have coming out of college, finding a job in the current market is pretty darn difficult.

After keeping up to date with the latest business news and participating in a few job interviews, I'm beginning to believe that Marketing is the toughest (business) major to graduate and land a job with in this economy. I'll lay down both my personal and observed reasons:

Marketing Department is Laid off first: It may be a myth, but I can never shake this nay-saying when I've heard it from several different sources. Of course, every situation is different, but one can't help postulating that companies will cut marketing and advertising budgets when the economy is slumping.
College Inexperience: Sure, I've taken roughly a dozen marketing classes, and learned all the theoretical concepts. I've even taken two corporate immersion classes along with several internships for a little "real world" experience. But nonetheless, I lack the experience of a real world position. I need that entry level job to get the ball rolling, but it's so tough.
What I'll Bring To The Company: In hindsight, I really need to formulate a mental list of the top five qualities that I will bring to a company. After participating in my latest interview, this question arose and I really was at a loss for words. I quickly dodged the word "experience" in my head because of the last point-- I suppose I could tailor a response that highlights what I've done based on its quality, but not quantity. As a marketing major fresh out of college, what do I say that I'll bring to the company? Creativity (that one gets a follow-up question every time)? How about A dedicated work ethic? A bag of bagels for the marketing team every Wednesday?

I left my most recent interview shaking my head and knowing I could have answered this last one better. But, it's a learning experience. Landing a job with a Marketing degree is an entirely different ballgame in the Business Major Spectrum (in case you're wondering, I made that phrase up). An Accountant earns stellar grades, graduates and kaboom-- they're fit for a job. But I don't have any interest in crunching numbers for a profession or figuring out someone's finances. I could do it but it would wear me down.

Anyone else in a similar situation?

The Lost Generation

2009-08-03T22:54:00.005-04:00

Because I'm a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (the honors business fraternity) I get a free yearly membership to Business Week and Fortune. It's basically like the fraternity I never joined at Bentley-- but instead of keg parties, hazing and sorority girls, you get free magazine subscriptions, a certificate and the occasional discount to the Apple Store. Hooray!

I'll admit it-- I originally began ordering Business Week while I was at Bentley University not because I wanted to read it, but because I thought it would be a good supplement. Sort of like vitamins that don't go down too well. But I began reading them on a daily basis and became hooked.

I used to be all about reading Sports Illustrated on a weekly basis, but now that NASCAR and Golf have become annoyingly popular (and have half the magazine dedicated to their happenings) I've switched over to Business Week. I could really care less about the course layout at the upcoming Master's Tournament or whichever NASCAR driver is being tested for meth-amphetamine.

That being said, the latest issue of Business Week had a story that was rather unsettling for me. Actually, many of the most recent articles have been depressing/frightening/upsetting due to the state of the economy, but this one was more relevant to me (despite the fact it relates to Europe).

Long story short: If my generation (Generation Y) is unable to find work within the next several years, we'll be losing the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to qualify for and land a job when the opportunity arrives later. Entry level jobs will most likely go to the fresh college grads because the recession will most likely hinder the "lost generation" from competing for jobs in the marketplace.

Digital Business Card

2009-07-29T10:38:00.003-04:00

Cool! Check it out, you can click on my digital business card!

International Micro-Celebrity

2009-07-24T10:05:00.013-04:00

Wow, this is pretty neat. The internet is fascinating. The one screen-shot you see to the left was posted by Priscilla in France. I'll just assume that it's chock full of good, wholesome and positive French compliments.

Can anyone translate? I'm curious to know what it says.

YouTube keeps a detailed account of all the video's statistics, including an interesting set of demographics. It shows exactly where in the world people are watching it based on age, gender, etc. It's really cool to know that somewhere in Finland, someone is watching my video. Or Latvia.

This next one was found on a Korean blog called "The Marketing War." As I've only taken elementary Japanese, I'm totally lost with this Asian dialect. Still, it's remarkable to see my video reach it that far.

This situation feels like that Simpsons episode where Homer was discovered to look like Mr. Sparkle, a Japanese Dishwashing Detergent mascot. Perhaps I'll reach the same micro-celebrity status in Korea.

Mental note: If I ever visit Korea, I must take my guitar in case I'm recognized.

This last one I found on a blog from the UK. I really dig the tags. Although I never explicitly mention it in the video or anywhere else, I'm quoted as saying that "I'm Very Creative." Apparently, the author took it upon himself/herself to quote me self-promotioning myself. I'm flattered.

Thanks to all who have blogged about me-- I appreciate it immensely. This is only the beginning for me and (fingers crossed) when I do land a job, it'll be a great "how-I-launched-my-career" story.

I'll continue updating this blog with news about the job search and more "Alec-Dotes", but I'll try to avoid mentioning any more media coverage. I endorse humility.

Today, HLN. Tomorrow, Vermont Radio!

2009-07-21T17:37:00.003-04:00

I'm slowly beginning to understand the biggest downside of internet media's viral distribution: the distance between creator and audience. When I first made the music video resume, I had just intended to send it to prospective employers who posted positions that I applied for. So, if they liked it and were interested in employing me, they'd have no problem sending a reply email. However, when the video went viral, I lost that selectivity. I wish I could go back and say:

"I'm simply looking for an entry level Marketing position where I can launch my career."

Maybe I should have included a verse like that in my song:

"I'm just lookin' for Marketing in the entry level,
A position with growth potential I'd surely revel..."

...I highly doubt that an employer will reach out to me in an economy this tight. I still need to apply for jobs until I land one. At least I can still use the video cover letter and the recognition it has received for quite awhile-- that is a huge plus. Also, the news coverage in itself is never bad since it continues the momentum.

Now if I could just get on Conan or Leno... <--- The latter actually went to Bentley University but dropped out after a semester. That fact would definitely be my "in" as a guest on the show. But alas, submitting video to their site is near impossible-- there is very little chance they'd pick my email to read.

But I'm satisfied with all the interviews and blog coverage. It's nice and well done.

Attention? Check. Job? Soon.

2009-07-19T13:53:00.003-04:00

The Video-Resume had a bigger impact than I initially anticipated. But now I need to figure out how to utilize what I've created into actually landing a job (believe it or not).

I've got the attention with the video, no doubt, but the toughest part now is actually deciding where to go from here. Do I network more with prospective employers? Do I try to maintain the video's lifespan by continuing its distribution? I think I need to research what others have done.

15 Minutes of Fame

2009-07-17T15:33:00.006-04:00

Well that was pretty neat. What began as a supplement to my paper resume ended up as an interview on CNN via webcam. Let me tell you, those gorgeous anchorwomen had me smitten:

The invisible world of viral internet material distribution is fascinating. Who knows how it spread around so quickly and through so many channels. However, I did post it on everything I could to maximize its reach.

All the feedback has been great too. Here are some of my favorites:

Via Twitter: "HA ck out this guys video resume—hilarious—hire him so he doesnt have 2 write more music!"
Regarding the CNN webcam interview: "remember, you don't have to wear pants!"
Comment From Spain: "Ver para creer!! Como hace la gente CVs en Internet"

And about that last one... Apparently, according to Youtube, my video was the #23 ranked "How-To" video in Spain, as of yesterday. I am muy calor in the Spanish world. Maybe I'll have a celebrity status if I ever decide to visit.

Hopefully, all this will net me a job. As of now, I have phone interviews lined up with Monster.com and Sperry Top-Siders. Also, I've gotten about half a dozen emails that loved the video and want to see my actual resume. If this doesn't work in landing me a job, I can always follow through with my plan of creating an off-broadway musical based on my entire educational and work career and begin inviting prospective employers to come see it. Just kidding.

My only regret (CNN spelled "Biedrzycki wrong"-- but they pronounced it correctly!):

Music-Video Resume

2009-07-15T17:02:00.008-04:00

Problem: I wrote too many cover letters. After awhile, I wondered if anyone was actually reading them or just crumpling them up into little paper basketballs. I'm assuming it was the latter, because I did get relatively creative with my prose in several of the applications. Creative enough at least to maybe--just maybe--get a human (not automated) email response letting me know my application was received. But no, my thirty-minute generated prose was probably scrunched into a ball and deflected off the wastebasket rim like my hopes (and odds) of scoring a job.

Solution: I made a Musical Cover Letter / Resume!

I remember hearing somewhere that if you want to get noticed, make a music video. I also remember reading about some guy who got hired for a company because he designed a whole website dedicated to why the corporation should hire him. Essentially, he was applying for the job in a unique, creative way that illustrates what he can do for the company. It's really two messages rolled up in creativity. So I was inspired by both ideas and made a music video resume. I tried to balance professionalism with humor (it's basically how I operate anyway) with what I know how to do (write a fairly decent tune).

New Music By Me. Take a Listen!

2009-05-25T21:08:00.003-04:00

Here's another by me recorded on Memorial Day. It's called "For Granted." Just click the link below and visit my Last.fm page to listen! Hope you like--
-Al

http://www.last.fm/music/Soul+Proprietor

Subscribe to AlTunes

2009-05-06T10:59:00.005-04:00

Now, in my free time of job searching / JET wait-list-waiting / going-nuts-because-my-dad-works-at-home, I've decided to write and record an acoustic album. I've already got a track listing of roughly 5-6 songs that I've written, so it's just a matter of getting out the ol' 8-track, finding my mic, finalizing some lyrics, and doing some recording.

I'll probably release a few songs online to send to people and then burn copies once the album is finished. Friends get free copies! So, if you're reading this and would like one (I'm drawing the album art too-- sweet!) let me know your mailing address. I'll then verify whether you're my friend or not to determine how much you'll owe me (actually, if you're reading this, you're probably my friend anyway). Once they're done I'll mail them out to you, free of charge. Pretty cool, huh? So e-mail me, message me, tweet me-- whichever style you prefer.

SocialVibe

2009-02-03T13:56:00.003-05:00

I'm beginning to do some work on SocialVibe for my independent study. It's a social network that integrates Facebook-like features into point allocations that benefit the user and a charity they decide to sponsor. It's a pretty neat idea, since social networks are addictive to begin with. SocialVibe has a point system that reflects on your usage and involvement. People who use the program and its features more are more likely to win prizes since they have more points. Points also correlate to charity donations as well, so there's another incentive to use it (especially if you're that type of person). So yeah, I can earn more points by influencing people to sign up and try it. That's why I posted this:

Handsome Al invites you to SocialVibe.com

So there's not much to lose. You'll give me free points by signing up. Or you can just go to SocialVibe.com and sign-up without my invitation, just to spite me. It's entirely up to you!

Photoshopping

2008-11-01T23:05:00.000-04:00

I started and finished two pictures today for my MK 400 (Marketing Management) project. We're trying to market to the 55+ year-old demographic. We're calling our product the PlayStation Rejuvenation. The advertisements will run in AARP magazine, encouraging the mature audience to purchase a high-end gaming system. Of course, there will be some product modification in order to make the PS3 more user friendly (e.g. Simplified controllers, large icons to facilitate failing eyesight, etc.) Hell, we could even get Cialis or Viagra as a sponsor. Keep in mind this is a two page ad--that means you'll see the first part, want to know where the advertisement is going, flip the page and then see the second part.

Why is an old man playing a Playstation 3? This is ridiculous!

See what happens? The PlayStation 3 acts like a fountain of youth.

Satiric-Al

2008-10-21T17:45:00.000-04:00

Get the title? It's a play on words. I'm going to start writing short satire pieces for the Vanguard (Bentley Newspaper) ala The Onion. So, if you're a Bentley Student, be sure to check out next Thursday's Vanguard for my new article. I already have a few ideas on what I'd like to talk about, so hopefully more will keep coming.

Next week I'll be performing at the pub night (Thursday, October 30th--and wouldn't you know, it's the same Thursday as the satire article too). This will be my first public guitar-ing experience since busking in Melbourne. I'm excited, but it's also right up against karaoke night, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.

I cut my finger washing dishes last night. My glass coffee pot had a little chunk missing which I didn't see, and while drying out the inside by doing that wrist twisting motion, I sliced right into my index finger. Blood started shooting out and I had to stop cleaning. Strangely enough, my roommates recently proposed buying a dishwasher for the apartment, which I see no purpose in. Was this coffee pot tampering or just a coincidence? The plot thickens.

Drawing

2008-10-08T20:53:00.000-04:00

One fun thing about marketing classes the year is my option of drawing mock-up advertisements and designs using PhotoShop. If there's art to be done in a group project, I usually jump on that pretty quick. And most (actually all) of the time, I get dibs. This is probably because most Bentley students are impartial to art. This is just my opinion, but I think that you need to incorporate some form of art into whatever you do to be successful. Well, most successful ideas are creative, and creativity and art are oftentimes interchangeable or synonymous.

So, back to what I was getting at. I really enjoy drawing--I mean, my dad is a children's book illustrator, so I guess I'm a product of an artistic environment. Either that or it's genetic, but it's probably impossible to tell now. Here's one I did for my marketing project class. It's a Bentley Falcon carrying away a Babson Beaver. The context of the cartoon makes sense when it's in the mock-up advertisement for the company we're doing the project for, but I signed a ton of legal/privacy forms without reading the fine print. Now this one, for my GB-401 class, was just me trying to fit as many companies that have a competitive advantage (in some aspect) in one picture as possible. Can you find all the companies? It's like one of those pictures in the Highlights magazines I used to read as a kid.
There's one more picture here. It's of a persona that I drew for my marketing project class. His name (courtesy of Nehal) is Alan Knowall-- the typical Bentley student. I can honestly say I feel like a drew a complete toolbag. I think it's a viable representation of the gray area produced when you combine business and art. Art is created for its aesthetic appeal, whereas advertisements (i.e. business mixed with art) is used to attract a consumer for corporate reasons, rather than for the aforementioned purpose of art. The result? This guy: I was pleasantly surprised to open last year's Piecework (Bentley students' annual literary compilation) and see my story on the first page. Usually, I take precaution when seeing this, because I know it's usually just an alphabetical thing. But after further inspection, the following names weren't entirely in alphabetical order. Either way, it was the first story in the book, and usually, the casual reader (the person who glances at Piecework) will just read the first paragraph of the entire compilation before moving on. But shit--that'll be my first paragraph that they'll glance at. I'm stoked.

Memories

2008-05-23T01:59:00.000-04:00

As excited as I was to see Indiana Jones 4, I was also equally worried. Even though I knew it wasn't some cheap remake handed on to another director, it still had that "no matter how hard you try, I'm gonna be compared to your childhood memories" attitude floating about it.

It's kind of like when something is real good and has the potential to continue to be so. And yeah, you might take your chances and go for more, but there's always the looming possibility of ruining anything additional plus whatever came before. My most recent experience of similar relation is gambling at the casino. My most relevant experience is a childhood memory, and I think it relates to my overall consensus of Indy 4.

When I was ten years old (maybe younger) I remember going to the pet store to pick out a fish for our new aquarium. "Wow," I remember thinking-- "I get to have my very own fish!" I was initially excited about this new prospect, because hey, getting any fish you wanted was pretty cool. The excitement of this is similar to seeing the first Indiana Jones many years ago. I was thrilled.

So my mom took me to the pet store and looked for a fish. To my dismay, I had trouble finding a fish. Time was running out and I began to worry-- if I left without a fish, the whole day would suck. But then I saw it: an underwater lizard (a newt). It was in my allowance price range and it would fit inside the aquarium at home. The idea of buying a newt totally kicked the ass of the idea of buying a fish. So, I bought the newt. This is the second Indiana Jones movie in my mind.

Of course, my brother was with me as well. He was initially set on getting a fish, but not to be outdone, he got a newt as well. In fact, he picked one that was twice as big as mine. I had no problem with this, in fact I was even more excited. When I'm happy and everyone else is happy, my overall mood is heightened. I guess it could be described in an equation:

My Overall Happiness = (My Initial Happiness) x (Anyone Else's Happiness)

But back to the point. Basically, this happiness is the third Indiana Jones movie, which is my favorite of the four. After getting home, my brother and I put our newts in our own tanks and called it a day. Boy, was that awesome.

A week later my brother had a particularly awesome idea. He said we should put the newts in the same tank so they could hang out together. At first I was skeptical, but I gave in. Maybe they'd be friends. That'd be really cool.

So we brought my brothers newt from his tank over to my tank and plopped him in. My brother's newt, who was twice as big as mine, proceeded to waddle over to my newt and bite him across the midsection, paralyzing and eventually killing him. This was Indiana Jones 4 for me.

Now, proportionally, this doesn't reflect upon my disappointment of the fourth movie. It's just the sort of feeling I got after watching it. I grew up enjoying Indiana Jones, creating adventure scenarios in my backyard with friends, going on hikes to discover new areas, etc. I just couldn't relive it again after the fourth. It tried too hard to be too much, and as I remember, if you try too hard to squeeze the last bit of enjoyment out of something you might end up with a dead newt. Or a ridiculous receipt for a $13 movie, $5 coke, and a bruise on a childhood memory. But that's life, and I'm cool with that.

'Roo Nights

2008-05-19T14:21:00.000-04:00

Pictures and Words

Prior to arriving in Australia, I was pretty excited about seeing a kangaroo. In fact, I'm not sure I'd even seen one of these marsupials in person before coming here. I eventually saw one at the zoo (previous post) but at that point I had no idea I'd be eating them—especially on a weekly basis with a side salad, mashed potatoes and a pot of beer. All for a low price of $10. With all things considered, I'm probably actually making money by eating 'roo every Monday night. And I haven't even mentioned how delicious it is.

I took my camera on this trip for a few reasons. Firstly, after this week's trip to the Croft Institute, Dro awoke my inner paparazzi by taking tons of photos (which is for the best, since I just realized how little time I have left here and how much there is to photograph). Another reason for me to bring the Powershot was the fact that I feel that this weekly trip is going to be one of those memories that stays with me. I mean, after I'm back home for a couple of years, I can always reflect back on my time abroad with Pete, Meg, Matt, Brian, Dro, Courtney, Lamya, Joe, Tom, and whoever else has joined us for these dinners and say, "remember that time we ate kangaroo?"

Interestingly, the whole concept of eating kangaroo in Australia is relatively new. Apparently, it's only recently been popularized by restaurants and food establishments over the past decade, so there are quite a few Australians who find it strange to eat the meat. Me, being a naive American, find little (if anything) wrong with eating it. It's damn delicious. However, the reason for consumption is not actually because the steaks complement mashed potatoes, salad (and now carrots!) so well-- instead, it's because the bouncy little guys have become a pest (i.e. knocking down fences on farms, eating crops, etc.). So, we're actually doing Australia a favor by eating them.

But I do understand why some Australians may find this absurd. Imagine one day, back at home, the government was like "damn, we're really having an issue with squirrel overpopulation." So yeah, you see where I'm going with this. Maybe the Australians would be the ones who find squirrel steaks delicious, who knows.

Easter on an Island

2008-03-20T06:21:00.000-04:00

I will be heading out early tomorrow morning (the 21st of March) to Phillip Island for my four-day spring break solo excursion. What will happen? Will I get to hold a koala? Will I get to take a photo of an epileptic dwarf penguin? Will the V-Line ticket that I bought actually get me to where I need to go? All these questions will (hopefully) be answered soon enough, with pictures to prove the credibility of my adventure. And maybe, just maybe, a smuggled fairy penguin as well, stashed deep within the vacated laptop compartment of my backpack.

Metric system-- No Worries

2008-03-01T21:38:00.000-05:00

After a week, I feel good to say that I've gotten used to Australian lifestyle-- at least enough to get by. Of course, because Australians speak English, this transition was pretty smooth. But it's not without its exceptions. For instance, Australians have many different sayings for various things. I was thinking about compiling a list, but I bet there's already one online somewhere. Even so, here's some I discovered on my own: (English meaning is first, followed by the Australian)

1.) Pitcher of beer = jug of beer
2.) Raisins = Sultanas
3.) Peppers = (i forget this one but it's weird)
4.) Sweatshirt = Jumper
5.) To Puke = To Chunder (my personal favorite)

So, apparently Durgel's name is spelled Dougal, (like Doug) but his Australian accent makes it sound like the former. I've just been calling him "Durg" for short, and I guess I still should... it's probably too late to change now anyway. Phonetically, I must sound really weird to him-- speaking in an American way and only saying his name in an Australian accent.

Yesterday I went to the zoo. Here are some pics (some are blurry... oh well):

There Will Be Busking

2008-02-27T17:52:00.000-05:00

So, I applied for a license to busk in downtown Melbourne. Maybe I can make some money on the side, who knows. It's raining today, so I'm thinking about writing some new songs to busk. That's such a fun word: busking. I will be a busker busking buskingly. Busk.

First Post

2008-01-20T13:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I don't leave for another month, but I thought that I should at least start a journal before I leave. Maybe this will work, maybe it won't-- but I want to try to keep a record of my semester abroad.