Am I addicted to my phone?

Well, it's definitely an understatement to say this post is long overdue. In my meager defense, I've been trying my hand at a bit of freelance photography in my spare time (you can check out my photo blog if you're so inclined).

But I've had a lot of ideas floating around since we last spoke. Heck, I'm quickly approaching my one year anniversary at Franco PR Group, and have tons to share about my transition from college student to the real world--but more on that later. This post is about technology dependence.

It all started about a month ago when I had a large event at work. You know, the kind you plan for months ahead of time and lose a bit of sleep over the night before--that kind of event. The big day finally came. I was the main point of contact for several people including ticket holders, transportation, bloggers, media, etc. Not joking, five minutes before things were scheduled to get started I looked down at my phone (as I do compulsively several times per hour) and noticed I had no cell service. Was I in a bad reception area? I walked outside, no signal. Tried to make a call, no luck. Frantically reset the phone, still no cigar.

To make a long story short, my service provider (who shall not be named in an effort to avoid taking this post off on a tangent) accidentally deactivated my SIM card when my mother got a new cell phone. You see, we share a plan because she gets a nice discount as an employee of this service provider. The very minute she upgraded her phone, my SIM card was accidentally deactivated. No warning, no undo--just a completely useless phone and nothing I could do about it until the store opened at 9 a.m. the next morning.

But the point of all this is isn't the error of the store representative who inadvertently sent my blood pressure through the roof. It's that the feeling of chaos, confusion and overall discombobulation I experienced during that 12 hour phoneless period was unlike anything I'd ever felt. I was completely frustrated, angry and could not accept the fact that nothing could be done until "tomorrow." Tomorrow wasn't soon enough, I needed it now. But did I really? No, in reality it wasn't a matter of life and death.

Fortunately, as PR professionals we're always taught to have backup plans and our team was able to make do just fine with my co-worker's functioning phone. But as a Gen-Yer, I practically grew up with cell phones. I sleep with it next to my bed. I check it dozens of times a day. The longest period of time I'm without my phone is the occasional time I'm at the gym (lol) or in a situation where I'm not able to answer. Being without my phone seriously felt like losing an arm--or my whiskers...Let me explain. My dad has OCD (not seriously, but kind of) and one time when I was young he trimmed my cat's whiskers to make them even. Little did he know those things serve a pretty important purpose in helping the animal do things like sense their environment and fit through small spaces. Our cat spent a week walking sideways and ended up lost behind the fridge more times than we could count. That's how I felt.

How we cope when technology takes a turn for the worst says a lot about us and where we are as a society. Sometimes we're so used to technological advances we forget it's still possible for things to be out of our control. We don't have answers to everything. We're so used to having things at our disposal that when they're not we sometimes don't know how to cope.

So is there something wrong with me? Or society? Am I an addict? Is technology dependence wrong or an "addiction" if it's the social norm?

Either way I have a new perspective on the topic of technology dependence--as well as a new respect for those customer service reps who have to be on the receiving end of a lot of people's frustration. I know there are greater problems in this world and greater challenges to face. I'm also working on that whole accepting when things are out of my control thing...

Students: Join Us at #140conf for Free

Hopefully by now you've started to hear the buzz about #140conf Detroit. The recent fall weather in D-town has been a reminder that Oct. 20 is just around the corner, and things are definitely gearing up for what's sure to be a great event.

The conference schedule was released earlier this week, and as you can tell we've got an amazing lineup of speakers. We were really impressed by the number and quality of speaker proposals received, and ideally we'd include them all!

But the big news I've got is for all the students out there. The man behind #140conf, Jeff Pulver, has a tradition of providing students access to many of the events he's associated with. As such, he's offering FREE general admission tickets to the first 250 students who register.

As a recent graduate, I can definitely relate to being cash-strapped in college--but that's why this is such an amazing opportunity. Many conferences offer student discounts or rates, but oftentimes it still involves an out-of-pocket investment on the student's part. At #140conf, student tickets are 100 percent FREE.

Students will have a great opportunity to hear from both emerging and established professionals from a variety of industries. It's also a chance to meet some of the movers and shakers in Detroit and beyond--a big bonus for those of you looking for jobs or internships.

The tickets are first come, first served--so what are you waiting for? Visit http://detroit2010.140conf.com/students for all the details. And everyone else shouldn't delay either; the early bird discount ticket rate expires this Friday!

P.S. If you're sure you won't be able to join us for whatever reason, the event will be live streamed (details coming soon).

Mark Your Calendar For #140conf Detroit

It isn't often you meet a guy like Jeff Pulver. Jeff is a lot of things, but he describes himself as a "technology anthropologist." Whether or not you know exactly what that means, I can tell you Jeff is one guy you should definitely get to know.

Jeff is the mastermind behind the 140 Characters Conference (#140conf), a conference dedicated to "Exploring the State of Now" and the impact real-time web has had on our world. After taking his conference to cities such as Los Angeles, NYC and even London, Jeff is bringing his #140conf to Detroit--and he says there's no better place on earth to do an event than right here in D-town.

The #140conf will come to The Fillmore in the heart of Detroit on October 20, and will feature brief talks from a variety of people across all industries who will share their stories about the social web. #140conf is not just about Twitter and is probably unlike any conference you've been to. The #140conf is about connecting with others, and about how real-time web impacts each and every one of us.

But don't be fooled, this conference is not just for Detroiters. We're inviting people from around the world to join us. And since its the first #140conf in the Midwest, we're definitely calling on our friends in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and beyond to join in our efforts to make #140conf Detroit the best yet.

So mark your calendars for Oct. 20 because this is going to be big. We've got a lot of things in the works for #140conf Detroit including a pre-conference roadtrip, a day of community service and much much more. Stay tuned for more details, but in the meantime check out the #140conf Detroit website for more information. Also, if you've got an interesting story to share or know someone who does, we invite you to check out our speaking proposal form. Speaker submissions are due August 6.

And if you do have the pleasure of meeting Jeff Pulver, don't be surprised if he goes for a hug instead of a handshake--it's a genuine reflection of his passion for people.

Surviving the Real World

Well, as of Friday afternoon, I officially survived my first full week as a full-time employee at Franco Public Relations Group. I would describe it as busy, overwhelming and somewhat hectic, but most of all I'd say it was amazing.

Although my first week consisted of a lot of administrative tasks that go along with starting a new job and learning the ropes, my favorite part was that I got to jump right into my work. My first day I was pitching producers of a major Detroit news station. My fourth day I coordinated an interview for a regional magazine that had been an evasive placement for a particular client in the past. I've been assigned to a number of diverse clients, each unique in their own ways, and I couldn't be happier.

Sure, getting used to waking up at 7 a.m. everyday and getting home after 6 p.m. has been an adjustment. Even though I was used to the schedule of a spoiled college student (my earliest class was 11 a.m.), I'm finding it easier to wake up each and every day. Last week, I even woke up before my alarm went off (eek!).

For those who are getting ready to make their own transitions into full-time ventures, here's a few pieces of advice:

1. Don't be afraid to jump right in. It's important to remember your employer picked you for a reason--because they have confidence in your abilities. Give your opinion when it's appropriate, demonstrate drive and effort, and show that you fit in as a valued member of the team. Sure, you need to respect principles of teamwork and the guidelines you're given for assignments, but always know that you're capable of doing the job you were brought there to do, so why waste any time getting started?

2. Take notes and ask questions. I felt like I was on information overload for my first few days. From getting caught up on client accounts to learning how to use the copy/fax machine, the amount of information you'll be getting might seem overwhelming and it's easy to get confused. That's why it's important to write everything down as you go through it, and ask for clarification when needed. Remember that everyone had to start somewhere, so most people will be more than willing to help you out because they've been there too.

3. Don't expect to adjust overnight. For most people, starting your first full-time job is going to be a major adjustment--and I don't just mean getting up early. There are things about your day that you'll need time to get used to, like where your workout fits in at or whether to pack your lunch the night before or morning of work. In my own case, a difficult adjustment has been being one of only a few friends who isn't enjoying a low-commitment summer. I know as time goes on, more and more of my friends will join me in the world of full-time employment, but for now I'll struggle with being teased for looking forward to "blue jean Fridays."

Do you remember starting your first full-time job? What other advice would you add?

Book Review: "Yes! You Can Land a Job"

First off, let me admit--this post is long overdue. Last March I attended the Women & Leadership in the Workplace luncheon, an event put on by the Michigan Business & Professional Association. Although I was there in support of former Central Michigan University Interim President Kathy Wilbur (who was being recognized), I had the opportunity to meet several female leaders from a variety of industries and organizations.

One such woman I met was Therese Marie Boldt. Therese has made her success by being a professional career coach. She founded her own company, Meet Therese, and also serves as the Morning News Career Coach for Fox 2 Detroit. Therese was at the luncheon to promote her book and was kind enough to give me a free copy of it, being the eager job-seeking-soon-to-be-college-graduate that I was.

Therese's book, "Yes! You Can Land a Job (Even) in a Crummy Economy" was a very refreshing read. She provides a lot of valuable information and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is currently looking for work. At approximately 200 pages, it is a quick and easy read--especially since the chapters are broken up into sections of five to 10 pages each.

The book is designed to help the reader establish goals, values and a vision for his or her employment. There are tips on how to search for a job, how to market yourself, what to say during an interview, how to present yourself (in person and on paper) and much much more. I liked that the chapters were infused with personal anecdotes from Therese that gave real-world examples for me to relate to. Although I did find that some of the tips were things I already knew (from past professional development and career workshops), I still found the information to be valuable and applicable to my life.

And best of all, Therese speaks the truth. You really can land a job, even in this economy--even in Michigan. I (unknowingly) used many of the tips Therese talked about in my own job search, and am excited to be starting my first job at Franco Public Relations next week--just one month after graduating from college.

So if you're a recent college grad or even someone looking to make your next career move, I'd recommend picking up Therese's book. At $14.95, you can't go wrong.

You can follow Therese on Twitter at @ThereseMarie, or, visit her website at www.meettherese.com.

*I received a complimentary copy of Therese's book, "Yes! You Can Land a Job." The words and opinions contained in this post are my own.