Started a New Job!

You might be wondering where the heck I have been?  Considering I just came out with a new blogging schedule and everything and then, well, nothing.

Well, I could come up with lame-o excuses like I have been lazy or I have falling into blog out, but I won't do that.  I am gonna tell you all about my real and exciting excuses for not blogging that I have been living this last month.

As a surprise to me and others, I have recently accepted and started an internal communications position with Macy's North in Minneapolis.  I wasn't necessarily looking for a new full-time job, but I wasn't not looking either.  Frankly, this position fell into my lap at the right time for me.  I was burning out at my former job as I was constantly running into roadblocks -- human roadblocks -- that sometimes is the case in public relations.  My time there was spent developing strategies and tactical plans for people who understood they needed PR, but could not face the music (mirror) once someone presented it to them.  So, as I continually reminded myself that I did know what I was doing and continued to churn out press releases, I stumbled upon an opportunity with Macy's.

Now, I have been working with Macy's North division for about three weeks and am thoroughly enjoying the positive, open-to-communications environment.  I have lots to learn yet, of course, but I am loving the change and am loving the employee-oriented culture.

So, as I find myself in a different environment and with much different and more focused responsibilities than in the past, I will most likely be changing my blog content a bit.  You may notice that I will shift and discuss more internal communications and employee engagement than in the past. 

Other than the new job, I have been scattered doing other things as well.  This summer, I recently planned and held my first 10 year class reunion.  I did not do it alone; I worked with a group of five others, but there was a lot of work to do.  We held it on July 29th, and we had a great time.

I also have been working with a local non-profit Bolder Options and assisting them with a fundraising intiative called Minnesota On Board. I am helping them with media relations and assisted in sending out media introduction kits.  Come the launch of the actual game, it's modeled after the famous Monopoly game, I will be helping with media relations surrounding the launch and sale of the games. 

Plus, I have been working with Today's Groom Magazine to assist them with publicizing a few events they had and are having.

And, I still moonlight at Outback two nights a week to pull in spending money.

And in the midst of everything else, I have been trying to enjoy the very short summer here in the Midwest.  Matthew and I spent time in Woodruff/Minocqua recently to welcome my sister and her family back to the Midwest (from Florida).  And, we will spend Labor Day weekend canoeing and camping along the Crow Wing River in north central Minnesota to soak up what we have left of reasonable weather before the snow flies.

Hence...the month long hiatas from blogging.  But, I am back and getting settled into my new job and ready to blog again.

Comments

[Kimberly]

Milly & Ryan,
Thank you for reading and for your kind words! I am glad to be back and look forward to blogging more now.

Anonymous,
It's unfortunate that you read my post and interrupted it that way. My former employer chose to not implement my plans for a variety of reasons. Regardless of who created/creates them, they are in need of some serious branding and public relations assistance, and I hope that regardless of who provides it they will listen, get on board with it and realize it may cost money now but benefit them in future. Without it, I believe that in the long run reaching business objectives (dollars in the pocket) will become more and more difficult due to external forces.

Regarding your experiences with PR people/plans, I imagine there are some PR professionals that do not do enough research on client's/employer's business and/or do not appropriate align strategies to business objectives which gives all of us a bad name. However, I firmly believe that by nature most PR people are strategically minded and believe that communications and public relations is an integral part of building, maintaining and growing a business and therefore strive to align campaigns to business goals. It is my experience however that plans are created improperly created (and not implemented) because of the lack of communications between leadership and the communications team and/or sadly because of the presence of strong egos or "the way we did it in the past" is a better way, whether it actually is going to get them anywhere or not.

And regarding my night job, you're right! I will continue to keep my night job because I make great money, am paying off college loans and Outback totally gets branding, marketing and PR and is very successful. They are a company to be admired and that is why I have been there for eight years!

[Ryan]

Good to have you back Kim. I love it when people comment with out the courage to say who they are! Keep up the good work. Much love.

["Milly"]

Kimberly!

It's good to see you're back at your blog. I am absolutely delighted that you have found a new job where you utilize your amazing talents. Macy's is very lucky to have you! You are, without a doubt, one of the most articulate and driven young women I have ever met. Your passion, enthusiasm, and continual drive for both personal and professional excellence is to be admired. Don't ever lose sight of this!

Never, never doubt your abilities or question what you know. You are a leader. Always trust in yourself and remain true to who you are and what you believe in.

Let me get this straight. You are 28 and moonlight at Outback Steakhouse. You had lots of great PR ideas that your former employer just could not bear to implement. In my experience, the reason employers do not PR implement plans is because the person creating the plans did not properly understand the business and suggested something that was not properly aligned with objectives, was too expensive, etc.
Don't give up the job at Outback . . .