Excellent article from Oprah magazine, by financial guru Suze Orman, all about getting focused and getting your next position no matter where you’re coming from.

Key Points:

Tune up your skills (through your current employer or on your own)

Tune into old networks (you know waaay more people than you probably realize!)

Tune out the negativity (enough said)

Here’s to a great 2009!

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (Albert Einstein)

This is one of my favorite quotes because it is so simple yet so true. Easier to say than do, but try to stop occasionally and ask yourself if you’re making this mistake…in your job search, at your current position, in your relationship, with your kids, whatever is most relevant to your life. Recognizing that you’re doing it is definitely the hardest part, once you’ve taken notice you can consciously make an effort to do something different. I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, so let’s just call this an Idea for the New Year. Here’s to a great 2009!

January 1st 2009 we’re launching a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time associates currently working on projects with Portfolio, including health, dental and vision care, 401K, holiday pay, PTO time and more. There were a lot more details and decisions involved than I ever could have imagined, but everyone at Portfolio is incredibly proud of what we were able to put together with the help of some very talented outside professionals.

A big deal? In this economy? Yeah, we think so too. We’re committed to providing our associates and clients with the best possible experience, and this is just one (albeit large) example of that commitment.

Renowned graphic designer, Armin Vit, will be the guest speaker at the January 15th CSCA meeting. To learn more about Armin, check out this interesting in-depth interview.

Mingle with the best creatives in the region, and learn from the best creatives in the world. It happens at every CSCA Meeting. Sip some wine, trade some business cards, learn something new. And feel more connected to your profession.

Everyone at Portfolio wishes you and your family a very happy holiday season!

Hearst Magazines is looking for “the next Star Photographer”, through the Hearst 8×10 Photography Biennial competition. They are searching for a fresh eye and dynamic work, and will reward eight new photographers with a catalogue and collective show at Hearst Tower, New York City. Application deadline is January 1, 2009; winners will be announced March 1, 2009.

Portfolio is once again delighted to help sponsor the Columbus ADDY Awards, the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art
of advertising. This year’s event will be held on February 26th, 2009 at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel. Tickets go on sale in January at adfedcolumbus.org. Come out and join us!

The Advertising Federation of Columbus was chartered in 1953 and is a local affiliate of the American Advertising Federation. AdFed Columbus works to enhance the professional development of members, while increasing recognition for the advertising industry and giving back to the local community. Please visit adfedcolumbus for more information.

If you’re like me, you’re hooked on AMC’s Mad Men (how long until season 3?). A new book, Ad Women: How They Impact What We Need, Want and Buy by Juliann Sivulka, tells the story of the real Peggy Olson’s of the advertising world. This review points out that the earlier years get more attention and are more interesting as far as the book’s coverage, and it fizzles out around the 70s. Perhaps because women in the industry were not as unusual or trailblazers anymore. Regardless it sounds pretty interesting, with a unique view of how women worked in the industry as well as were depicted as consumers.

We have a client who is looking for someone experienced in Microsoft SharePoint to come to their office to do some updates to their system and train their people. It should be a few days of onsite work, schedule may be somewhat flexible. If you know Sharepoint or know someone who does, please email Kristen right away!

I am a huge advocate of meeting with people in your industry, talking about what you do and learning from each other, whether there’s an immediate job offer involved or not. This post, The Value of Informational Interviewing, explains the power of these meetings and the ultimate effect it had on one person’s career. I believe all students and recent graduates should be doing this, where else can you learn more about your industry than from the people who are working in it? But don’t think that if you’re more experienced the concept doesn’t apply to you. Again, where else can you learn more than by talking to your peers and industry connections?

We do this periodically, our goal is to have breakfast with someone every 1-2 months. Make a list of people you admire, thinking big, and start contacting them. The worst that will happen is that they won’t respond or won’t have time, the best is that they’ll say yes! You never know where that connection could lead. Once you get the interview scheduled be prepared, respect their time, and know what you want to ask but be open to the information they want to share that they feel will be helpful to you.