AgileBlog
Orange You Glad We Asked: Mike Edition
Well, assuming I’m fully clothed, I would have to save my external hard drive. It has all my backed up files, images of my work, artwork files, photos, music, hundreds of typefaces – pretty much everything I’ve done or am planning to do. I wish I had more of a romantic answer, but I’m just too practical. There are some close runners up though. I’d hate to see my ’69 Telecaster Thinline be turned to ash. And I do have a pretty decent vintage poster collection that includes an original lithograph from the 1972 Munich Olympics (known by most as having one of the best graphic identity systems to date) that’s worth saving.
Orange You Glad We Asked: Dana Edition
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“I love rejection!” – said no one, ever.
Like most people, when I ask someone for something I already know the response I want – whether or not it’s the response I get is an entirely different story. When I first started out in public relations, I didn’t know how hard the art of pitching editors would be. Every time I e-mailed or called an editor with a story, I fully expected them to love my idea and give me front-page above-the-fold stories all the time. REALITY CHECK: That rarely ever happens. I’m so grateful for my public relations professor who once told me to tape a Q-Tip on my desk and look at it every time I don’t get the answer I’m looking for. Q-Tip stands for “Quit Taking It Personally.” It took me awhile to fully embrace this way of thinking. It’s not an easy pill for a young pr professional to get fully rejected by an editor – especially ones that aren’t all that nice. I had to remind myself that rejections were not a direct reflection of my personality or even my pitch. Editors have specific things they need to write about, and if my story isn’t a fit this time, it doesn’t mean I should give up. I’ve learned to keep trying different stories, and eventually, they will take my call and I WILL get that front-page above-the-fold story I’ve been waiting for.
Orange You Glad We Asked: Kirstin Edition
Q: What is something that bothers you if it’s not done perfectly?
A: Where do I even begin? Simply put: I get flustered when things aren’t done perfectly (or as close to perfect as possible). For those of you who know me very well, you already know that there are many things that fluster me when they’re not done perfectly.
Something that bothers me when it’s not done perfectly is any DIY home project – big or small.
Warning: If you haven’t yet realized, you are now entering into my slightly OCD mind. I apologize in advance.
Hanging paintings or framed photos can be so annoying! Getting them perfectly centered and straight takes a few extra minutes but it can obviously be done. I’m that girl that walks by and adjusts a crooked frame in a random house, office, etc. I will have you standing there adjusting and re-adjusting until I think it’s completely perfect. [Side note: Don’t ask me to help you hang something!]
I fully blame my OPD (Obsessive Perfection Disorder) on my mother. She is the same way; everything always has to be neat, clean and perfect at all times whether guests are stopping over the house or not. Naturally, my brother and I thought this was ridiculous and would say, “You’re crazy!” Now look who’s talking…
Honestly though, your home should be the most important place to you. Regardless of the amount of time you spend there. It’s your place to relax and feel comfortable. It’s a place that represents your personality and a place that you take pride in. So if I have a little OPD, don’t judge me. I know nothing is perfect, but you can get pretty damn close!
It’s Quiet Time
When I was young I became very used to my mother announcing in the late afternoon, “It’s quiet time.” When I whined and said quiet time was boring, she would say, “Only boring people get bored.” That shut me up quickly because I did not want to be boring. Realizing now this was probably more of a coping mechanism for my stay-at-home mother, I think it is genius and some of the best advice she ever game me. But that was 25 years ago and like most sage advice, it’s easy to forget if you don’t practice it often.
I realized I had a problem the day I came home after a long day in front of the computer. All I wanted to do was kick back and relax, so I turned on the TV and fell back on the couch. Within 30 seconds of listening to some ridiculousness on Bravo, I grabbed the CrackPad to check Facebook. After I had my three-minute fill of looking at what other people were eating, drinking, flaunting, I grabbed my iPhone to check if I had any texts. No texts. I put the phone down and tuned back into 25 seconds of nauseating babble. I got annoyed all over again so I picked my phone back up to check if I had any email. And then it hit me: You’re the only imbecile in this equation.
So I did what any irrational person would do: I made my husband unplug the TV and hide it in a far corner of the basement. And then I did what any rational person would do: I set up a proper bar in its place. That was two weeks ago. In that time I’ve read two books, tried out eleven new recipes, enjoyed our patio, got my news from NPR, and learned a thing or two about a good Manhattan.
This experiment has quickly become something to look forward to everyday. It’s my chance to recharge from an action-packed day and just think. About work, about an idea, about anything I was too “busy” — or too distracted — to think about before.
This unconscious need for constant connection and stimulation is not a new problem. But it can have devastating effects on our creativity and ability to think abstractly and solve problems. So for everyone who feels like they are in a Bing commercial, it’s quiet time.
Orange You Glad We Asked
We’ve all been there – a first date, a business meeting, move-in day at college, meeting your significant other’s friends for the first time – if you’re anything like us, these situations will likely evoke the thought, “I really wish I knew something about this person so I can break the ice.” Enter Orange You Glad We Asked – a new weekly blog series where we ask one ‘Cat’ a thought provoking and entertaining question to help get some conversation flowing. Comment on our blog, leave a message on our Facebook Wall, Tweet us! By getting to know us, we hope to get to know you even better.
First Cat Up: Jamie
Q: What room in your house best reflects your personality?
A: I’d have to say that the room in my house that best reflects my personality is my bedroom because it’s where my bookcase lives. Seeing what books a person is reading/has read reveals a lot about someone. You can gather a person’s personality and interests just by taking a gander at their shelves. I think my most telling categories are:
Art: Every designer has their design books. But I also have a collection of Art History books since I was a minor in college and love art museums.
Healthy cooking: I’m really big on a healthy lifestyle. I try not to eat junk food and exercise regularly. I love to experiment with cooking and if I can find a way to make food that both tastes good and is good for you, well, that’s a big win-win in my “book” (sorry, senseless pun).
Dinosaurs: Jurassic Park and a dinosaur encyclopedia. Dinosaurs are awesome (obviously) and maybe in another life I’d like to be a paleontologist. If I didn’t hate extreme temperatures. And if I had more patience.
Korean language: My boyfriend is Korean, so I’m on a mission to become fluent. My vocabulary is pretty good and I can read and write a little. I love learning languages and trying to form my own phrases.
Photo Albums: I’m really big on nostalgia.
Fiction: I’m a person who appreciates imagination and I’d say my personality is pretty jovial, so I enjoy children’s fiction the most since there seems to be less rules. Any fiction will do, but the more fantastical the better. Harry Potter to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Roald Dahl to Lord of the Rings. X-men comics to The Princess Bride. His Dark Materials to… did I just out myself as sort of a dork?
