Network, Network, Network
This was the theme of the week. Make meaningful connections to foster a relationship between professionals and yourself. This can be done the right way, or the wrong way.
I noticed that some people had it right: making sure to ask about them and make it human. Others would immediately shoot for “can I get a job?” Now, this is by no means a bash on anyone just an educating moment. To create that relationship where someone will help you out in the long run is not asking them immediately about getting a job. My takeaways on networking:
1.) Be Real
2.) Connect with them on something other than the job. Maybe that is an experience, a common interest.
3.) Ask them questions about their experiences; this isn’t the forum to promote yourself unless asked to elaborate.
4.) Be grateful, kind, and appreciative of their time.
There is a lot to be learned, and maybe a workshop on how to network, but I think this is something that we can all come away with knowing how to set us up for success. At the end of the day, we should all be building each other up and trying to understand how to best work with other and help each other out with networking.
James McAndrew
you are different.
Our abilities to be who we want to foster a crucial aspect in being creative. Every individual is diverse and every single thought and idea just as important as the other. After spending ten days in New York visiting different agencies, it seems that every place had a unique difference ranging from the people to the work. My most insightful takeaway was to be who you are and passionate about what you love; whatever that may be. It’s your passions that drive your work and in return your creativity that reflects that. For me, this passion is through photography; I love to capture photos of moments that I may never see again. It’s satisfying when I can share a moment that I saw at a certain place in time and to keep that frame forever. I hope that one day this passion of mine molds with the creative I want to become. That long journey ahead continues, but as of now, I will give it all I have into the things I love.
- Napat N.
(Here are some photos I took on this trip!)
Kinda…snuck into the general assembly at the UN. Crazy building/ experience- what I found most interesting about our visit was the idea that the land in which the UN rests on is actually internationally owned, meaning the US actually doesn’t own the property. As a group we felt like we were in a different country for a sec and to be completely honest it felt amazing to step off of American soil (technically it’s true).
The UN deals with huge issues and we spoke a lot about how good communication can truly inspire change.
- benson
#Latergram
Sixth Takeaway:
The most successful people do not feed off of their past successes, but focus on the next goals they want to accomplish. It’s what keeps them humble and keeps their competition scared.
—Emily Garcia, Strategist
Hahaha- if you’ve seen the odd IKEA inspired clothing around, its actually a reaction to this specific bag.
A few days/ weeks ago IKEA actually called out Balenciaga for making this bag and putting a crazy price to it. It’s essentially the same material.
Anyway- this is the origin to the odd trend out and about.
They said no pictures but I snapped this.
Funny fashion stuff. Interesting to think of the origins of things.
Benson
Went to this awesome clothing store called r by 45rpm-
Japanese clothing made from the best quality materials. Inside we met a man who worked there - he told us about the architecture of the room. How each piece from the floor blocks , the the wall mural, to the pillars were all hand carved and crafted. It’s about everything. The clothing was way out of my price range, but the experience was inspiring. We actually didn’t talk about the clothing much at all, but rather the furniture and the building it’s self. It’s interesting to think about the “surroundings” of anything. There may be a focal point, but information around the focal point can be inspiring as well.
1 of many Highlights
- benson
#Latergram
Fifth Takeaway:
In case you have forgotten, humans can do truly beautiful things when their talents are fostered, their feelings are respected, and their humanity is acknowledged.
—Emily Garcia, Strategist
places & spaces
Every agency looked the same and every agency looked different. It almost seemed as if they were competition with each other for the most aesthetically pleasing office space or who had the best view, which is not a bad thing. Code & Theory even gets to call Andy Warhols old library home - how cool.
Though, what separated these places was the people in them and the work they produced. I was genuinely intrigued to see how the people would dress at the next agency I would visit and how that differentiated from the one before. Some agencies had more room to express themselves through their personal style which weirdly enough, reflected in the creativity of the work they produced.
The next differentiator was the work the did. I always thought I knew the difference between digital and traditional agencies, but this week brought me insights I had not yet realized. Traditional agencies create work to make you feel something and create a lot of print and out of home ads. Digital agencies create work that has a strong UX, product, and experiential focus. From a strategy perspective, brand strategy and digital strategy are clearly two very different roles. Both types of agencies have an overlap in some areas but there is a clear difference between the two.
wow digital agencies are cool & wow we got see so this industry from a million different angles!
- Gabi Deckelman
#Latergram
Fourth Takeaway:
Sometimes the best things happen to you when you don’t go looking for them.
This takeaway speaks to me deeply because it happened this week.
When I started my journey in NYC, I had my heart set on a couple agencies and I had my life all planned out. The reason I was going to NYC was just to assure myself that my plan was right.
Then I got to the city and suddenly my plan and dreams evolved into different ones. The agencies I thought I wanted to work for didn’t fill me up like I had hoped. I was changing faster than I could have imagined; and I didn’t know what to do about it.
I was anxious on Thursday because I had to leave one agency visit and find my second agency visit on my own. I hadn’t navigated the city alone, yet, and I was worried I would get lost. After some gentle nudging from one of my professors, I realized I had the tools to find my way to the next agency.
He was right. As always.
What neither of us could have predicted was that the agency I was visiting would quickly become my favorite of the trip, or open up doors for me. What I couldn’t have planned was that my previous plans would quickly become null and void. What I couldn’t have known going into this trip is how much my life would change because of it, or happy I would be about this shift.
I chose the photo above because I took it on my first independent venture in the city. It was in a small, French cafe with delicious macarons. I saw it in passing on the street with no plan to return. Then, after realizing I was an hour early to my appointment, I came back and had the best macarons of my life. The perfect illustration for the fourth takeaway of my trip in NYC.
—Emily Garcia, Strategist
5.14.2017
