Akuba T.

So…I spent my NYE with Idris Elba!! Well, not really.  But I did get to take this awesome picture and have a little convo with him.  I ACTUALLY spent NYE with my awesome boyfriend, high school bff and a group of awesome individuals who I hope to become good friends with.  We went to the Biltmore with about 3,000 other individuals.  Based on my experience a couple years ago, I wasn’t too keen on going to another NYE party unless we could get a group to go.  We got a group together last minute.  I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

I’m not one for making new year’s resolutions but I am going into this year very purposefully.  There are many milestones I want to hit this year both professionally and personally.  To be quite honest, i’m still in planning mode but I can tell you in advance they will be in the areas of:  Fitness, Finance, Spirituality, Faith, and expanding my network (i.e. – making new friends).

Overall, 2011 ended up being a great year thanks to career risks I took toward the end.  I could have been a better friend, girlfriend, sister and daughter.  I met some really amazing people and established relationships that I need to make sure I build on for 2012. I left 2011 asking only one question:  WHERE DID THE TIME GO??

Regardless, I have a renewed energy going into this year that I hate to admit has everything to do with my career progress.  I honestly let my discontentment with work affect my life outside of work.  I just need to figure out what my 2012 is going to look like.

Here are a few things I KNOW I want to do this year:

• Attend SXSW
• Start a CSR program for a company
• Write a Social Media plan
• Lose 4 inches in my belly
• Learn a programming language
• Be on a reality tv scavenger hunt

I think I may have an awesome opportunity to build a company’s CSR program from the ground up.  I’m currently researching tips on just how to do this.  Here are some initial things I found.  Check them out if they tickle your fancy.

Case Study:  http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1344

Tons of Organizatins:  http://csrjobs.nl/usefull-links/

I thought the cartoon was hilarious but touched on a real issue.  Consumers are demanding that companies demonstrate that they care for the communities they profit from beyond financial donations.  Companies must find a way to balance operations/profitability with addressing legal, environmental and/or philanthropic issues relevant to their business.

I will touch on this more in the future.

XOXO,

AYT

Though this is my first time sharing a story of this nature, this is by far NOT my first experience with rejection.  Spolier alert!  Too late…

I secured the bomb volunteer opportunity with AmeriCorps Alums doing all sorts of business development work.  Fast forward a couple months to a job opportunity that became available with the team.  I just knew the stars had aligned and that all the volunteering I had done over the years was finally about to pay off.  I went through 3 interviews, spoke with 5 different people, wrote an article and created a communication plan.  By far the most challenging interview i’ve ever done.

Lets not even go into the campaign I did for the job.  Ok, lets.  I developed this awesome platform #Akuba4Alums that used Twitter to campaign to the Executive Director on 3 reasons I should get the job.  Awesome right?  I know.

Welp!  I didn’t get the gig and they couldn’t provide me with any feedback that I could use in future interviews.  Imagine hearing someone say this:  You were a strong candidate but we decided to go with someone else and we have no feedback on your weaknesses and why we didn’t pick you.  PAUSE…

I’m forever grateful for the opportunity and the fact that I made it to the very end with such a rigorous process tells me that I gave them a run for their money. I am by no means deterred by this experience.  If anything, it gave me the juice I will need to continue to pursue my passion.  CLEARLY i’m capable if it came down to 4 individuals and we did everything short of give blood and hair samples to prove we were the right candidate.

I’m ready to see what widows and back doors open through my persistence.  I charge each and every person reading this post to continue to press on through your respective challenge. If you can’t find a way, MAKE a way.

I would love to hear your stories of triumph and persistence below.  Also, feel free to vent about things you are currently experiencing.

XOXO,

AYT

http://akubatorvikey.com/alums/