Elle Social

A couple of weeks ago, I read the post “Why you need more margin in your life“ by Sean Johnson. Since then, the post has stuck with me. It’s really hit home as I’ve been taking more time to step back, reflect and set new goals verses hacking away at some of the more tactical things I have going on day-to-day. 

Sean writes, “They [some wildly ‘successful’ people] cram their schedules so full of activities and busyness that their emotional, physical and spiritual health suffers. The pace of their lives is unnatural and ignores the toll it takes on their bodies and minds. They convince themselves their unrelenting schedule is a badge of honor to be proud of. They think wise management of energy doesn’t apply to them.”

Everything that Sean mentioned above lends to the question: If your lifestyle is harming you physically, taking a toll on your relationships and affecting your happiness, is success really worth it? Is that what we call success? Sean, Amber Rae, who originally shared the post and writes about this often, and I all agree that it’s not.

In the past, I’ve planned my days based on what I thought would bring me the most return of investment in terms of success. So, if I were trying to decide between getting my workout in or checking one more thing off of my work to-do list, I’d almost always choose the latter. I was counting on the fact that spending a bit more time on work would yield a very specific return on my investment— success or recognition.

I constantly found myself legitimizing that spending time on work over doing something personal for myself would yield a bigger return. I don’t know about you, but when I’m working for a company, it’s great to show ROI, but I like to think about what I bring to the table in terms of overall value. We can’t just think of immediate returns— especially when real ROI, the most effective and sustainable kind, comes from long-term strategies that may not yield for months or even years. We need to take this same mindset and translate it to life too. We have to bring more overall value into our own lives instead of a working for hopeful returns on investment from our bosses and jobs. 

This leads me to a change in perspective that I think can make a positive impact on life: Don’t focus on what other people could or will maybe you, but focus on providing distinct and sustainable happiness to yourself. Your only obligation in this life should be creating the life that makes you your best. 

This can mean a number of things. Sean points out some great areas to focus on, and I’d like to expand upon his list with some things I’ve found make me a better, happier person. Here are 5 things that you can immediately control for your own return on investment, your happiness and well being. 

1. Dictate Your Own Work Environment 

When I started working remotely I found that having the option of choosing my own environment every day was one of the best things that I could do for myself, my productivity and the quality of my work. Based on how I’m feeling on any given day, I can set myself up for success. If I need quiet, focused work with absolutely no interruptions I can setup in my home office. If I’m looking to collaborate with people who inspire me, I can spend the day at one of New York’s many co-working spaces. And, depending on other moods, I can pick one of my favorite cafes that range from loud and fun to quiet and thought provoking. [Working remotely will give you the full scoop on where to work in NYC.] 

2. Travel, Explore, Experience 

Travel is important on so many levels. To me it means growth, creativity and spirituality. Anytime I’ve found myself in a job or situation that doesn’t support on-going travel, I’ve decided to move on. It’s an aspect of life that’s non-negotiable for me. This varies for everyone, but even if you’re happy planting your feet in one place for extended periods of time be sure to take time to explore. I find that by physically getting out of my comfort zone, I become more connected to who I really am. 

3. Celebrate Victories, Even the Smallest Ones 

I see myself and others hack away, do our best, and when we aren’t getting the most incredible results we feel down about ourselves. Like Sean mentioned, with our connected world and things like social media, it’s extremely visible to see people who are getting the results that we want. Often times, we see others reaching heights that we haven’t even imagined yet— and, it’s front in center— rolling by in our Twitter stream, showing up in our Facebook newsfeed or even popping up our inbox. So, I think it’s really important to celebrate all of your victories. What’s hard work if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor (even if they’re sour). Be proud when you succeed or even when you fail but tried really damn hard. The most important person to make proud is yourself. 

4. Read Fiction 

Any time I feel like I need to get my head back into the clouds and out of my tactical day-to-day, I pick up a book. Not a business book, (even though I’m basically obsessed with productivity books), nothing can give you a break and stimulate your mind at the same time like a great piece of fiction. It’s also the next best thing to traveling— books allow us to explore any place during any time period. [A book that I like to keep on-hand is my favorite, The Little Prince. When life gets too serious, The Little Prince reminds me to take a step back.]  

5. Hold Up Your End of The Deal When It Comes to Commitments, Especially Commitments to Yourself

Live up to commitments to yourself as much as or more than the ones you make to others. How can you deliver for someone else if you can’t deliver for yourself? My friend Jason said, “the way you live up to commitments to other people is really through yourself.” 

Have trouble keeping track of your personal agenda? Amber Rae has a great organizational method, weekly planning. I use this map to schedule my work priorities, personal goals and fitness (Amber does work / fit / play). You can see more on the method here. I’m also in love with setting personal goals, or dreams, on Everest. (The team is pretty awesome and inspirational too.) 

Whatever tools you need to use, changes you need to make or new perspectives you need to adopt, make building margin the most important thing in your life. No one else is in charge of your happiness. It’s all you.

Ever wondered how to get started working in PR, entertainment, finance, or another profession? Over the next two weeks, we’re putting together a guide to breaking into these cool fields and more, brought to you by those who know it best. Keep checking in for an inside look at how to launch your dream career!

With social media and community management being such a new field, navigating a career in it can be challenging. Is having an awesome personal social media presence enough to show expertise? If you spend all day on Twitter, is this the right gig for you?

Well, if you have a passion for building community and connections, you may just be on the right path. We talked to two women who made it into the field and got their advice on what it takes to be an (employed) social media rock star. Check out their interviews, then see what some Community Managers at companies featured on The Muse have to say about their jobs. (And hey, see if you can find a gig for yourself!)

Elizabeth Presson, Social Media and Community Management Strategist

Years of Professional Experience: 4+

Brief Description of Job: I look at all of a company’s interactions or touch points with users and potential users (or customers and potential customers) and I ensure that they are delivering the best community experience possible. Community experience means the way someone feels when he or she interacts with a brand, system, service, or other person. This could mean creating valuable content, optimizing engagement on social channels, or even making people feel inspired when they get their hands on the product for the first time.

Why did you choose this field?

In college, I was the advertising manager for a newspaper. With the economic downturn in full swing, we had to think of ways to make up for lost revenue. My clients were asking about Facebook and this new thing called Twitter, and I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to sell knowledge and strategies on social media channels. We sold this alongside ads and pitched it as a two-punch way to create a feeling or experience with students.

Since then, no matter what my official job has been, I’ve made it my mission to create a very specific experience for customers or potential customers. That experience can be on social media, but it also extends to other touch points like email marketing, events, and user experience. I’ve expanded my niche in social media to focus more on community experience.

What did you want to do growing up?

I’ve always wanted to be a CEO—a CEO who puts experience first. That’s why I care so much about my job today. If you can’t create an awesome and unique experience from the first touch point with people, you’ve lost them forever.

What was your first job in this field, and how did you land it?

While my heart was set on working for a large PR firm, I knew that experience trumped a gap on my resume between my internship and first job. So, I applied for many seemingly random positions. I knew that if I kept helping people for free while applying, going to networking events, and networking online that eventually I would work my way into a job. I heard about the open position through an event, and within a matter of days, I was starting my first job.

I was hired to work for an interactive agency. My first day of work, the founder called me into his office and asked me, “How would you like to be a part of something bigger?” Of course I said yes, and when I did he told me about an idea he had. Then, he handed me a piece of graph paper and told me to draw what that idea would look like if brought to life on the internet. Little did I know, I was drawing wireframes for what would be the earliest version of the company’s social media management system. Two and half years later, our small team of what was then three had turned that piece of graph paper into a $2.5 million business.

What has been the most surprising thing about working your field?

What’s most surprising to me is that we’re still in a place where the importance of social media and community management often needs to be sold to stakeholders. It’s incredible to me that many C-suite executives are still trying to wrap their heads around the fact that the way people communicate has changed. The playing field has been leveled, and the companies that know how to create the best experiences will win. That’s the most surprising and most challenging part of my job, but it’s often the most rewarding, when people see how it can impact the business.

What advice would you have for someone breaking into your field?

Even if your previous job titles don’t say it—even if you have no job experience at all—if you inherently love people and connection, then you do have experience in community building. You just need to uncover those skills and position yourself as the community builder that you are.

What is different about the hiring process in your field than in other fields?

Usually when companies are hiring for social media or community management, they’re not quite sure what they want or need. They may list “5 years of relevant experience” in the qualifications section, but who’s to say what relevant experience is? You have the opportunity to position yourself to help them understand what they want. A new field like this is an opportunity for newcomers to shine.

What industry-specific job search resources would you recommend for job seekers in your field?

First and foremost, your own network. If you don’t have the people you need in your network, use social media and in-person events to connect with new people! I’ve found that all it takes it an ask. I’ve received help and advice from mentors that I thought I’d only dream of interacting with. You’d be surprised at how willing people are to help.

Read more on The Daily Muse

This article articulates everything I believe about customer experience. Knowing your “why” as a business enables you to create a seamless experience based on core values— do business with the right people and deliver an excellent experience from product to content. 

“First and foremost, these organizations have a clear purpose that is visible and understood by all. They are able to seamlessly synchronize their products, services, and stories to consistently meet, exceed, and often anticipate customer goals throughout an end-to-end experience (from researching a brand to becoming a customer and beyond).”

Read the full article on Fast Company