Social Media Opp

So I completed a second round of interviews for a company that has a lot of potential. I am very excited to have an opportunity to work as the Social Media person for this company. If all goes well I should hopefully be employed by the end of this month. In this crazy economy - it was pretty bold of me to quit my job to focus on a career change, but life is too short to settle. I am fortunate to be able to find jobs even with this economy. But I strongly believe in my abilities and my ability to sell myself and adapt to any situation presented to me. As the summer starts off... I am looking forward to taking on a new set of challenges and building myself as an expert in Social Media. I will continue to write my day to day experiences on this blog, but I will also touch upon new Social Media trends and hopefully provide some insight that is helpful.

Please feel free to follow me @enjoioc

Thanks!

Being Dad.

Having kids definitely changes your life - I love being a daddy. It's one of the greatest feelings in the world to know that you are the reason there is life on this earth. Their embrace, their affection and their carefree innocence is what makes my day so rewarding. The laughter is sweet music to your ears, while their cries can pierce even the highest quality noise canceling headphones. I am lucky to have my kids and try to spend every moment with them. It's these little yet, amazing things in my life that make me realize that we should try to live our lives as best we can everyday. For those that don't have kids... try to become a big brother or big sister to someone or maybe even take a more active part in your niece or nephews day to day life. I recently went to a college graduation for a cousin of mine whom I lost touch with a few years ago and it was great seeing him all grown up and ready to take on the world head on. From watching them as kids to having kids of my own... it has come full circle.

Well that was my insight for today. Now I have to figure out what to do with the kids today? The sun is up, but its still June gloom here in socal....

Whatever...

Ok ok... you flaker lovin fans. I won't admit to anything, but the facts are you do have another championship. Congrats. And that's enough of that....

Links for today Friday 12 2009

Here are some interesting links:

http://mashable.com/2009/06/11/delloutlet-two-million/ - talks about how dell uses twitter to sell twitter exclusive dell deals!

Do you believe in Magic?

Great job flaker fans. Nice win. Bascially the Magic 'gifted' that one to you guys. Like the missed layup of from Lee and the weak close out by Hedo and the two missed freethrows from Dwight. It should be 3-1, but instead I am on the verge of being invited - better yet... forced to attend the parade that will occur when the yellow and purple wnba team eventually captures their trophy. Not looking forward to it, but for as much as I dish out... I can take it.

On another note.... today was a busy day. Met lots of great people with lots and lots of talent. How do you find the positives in each person and gather them together to create something special? I am excited to always have opportunities in front of me. Having a family changes my risk threshold, but I am lucky to have a family that is supportive. My family is actually the reason why I try so much harder now to start a business that will give me the chance to stay home more with my kids. Hoping that 2009 is my year!

I predict the magic will sweep the flakers the rest of the way! hahahaa....

Got the Job - verbally...

So I was able to get the job I interviewed for last Saturday. I am grateful that I was able to find something so quickly especially in this down market. I do have another interview this coming Saturday and we'll see how that goes. The choice between the 2? One has great advancement and benefits while the other also has advancements but starts me off in a position that would further my experience. We'll see what'll happen. Today I just reviewed all the business stuff. Strange that w/out the day to day business... I am more relieved and I can actually find bits and pieces of time where I don't have my blackberry reminding me of an appointment or my phone ringing about another problem that needs to be resolved. It was just quiet for a little bit and it was nice.

The coming days will bring lots of change to me. I have other opportunities in play and I have another chance to do something big with another group of talented individuals that are as hungry as I am. But regardless... I have to take care of the fam and do what is best for them before I do what is best for me. I am all about networking and expanding my network and knowledge. Each day brings on new things and these new things help shape you we are and who we will become. I can't dwell on the past - just learn from it and move forward.

Magic/Lakers tomm... I want to see a good game and I'd like to have a 2-2 tie. We'll see.

The Dessert Tasting....

So how did the tasting go?  It actually went ok.  A group of twitter people, local residents and personal friends showed up to taste our sweet delights.  It was a strange feeling getting feedback from everyone that showed up hoping to get a glimpse of our soon to be opening shop - yet, we don't know if this shop will open or not.  The feedback was excellent the guests were even better. I was able to mingle with everyone that attended and I am grateful that they took out a few hours of their Sunday to help us decide what to do next.  Deep down inside, I'd love to open up this space and embrace all the challenges that come with a startup company, but then again I am also a business man at heart and need to know that there is a fighting chance.  I know that within myself I do have a fighting chance and maybe this is where the path is leading me.  I have another project I am working on which requires my talents to help launch the business.  Perhaps that's the way to go?  I did meet a fellow twitter'er (is that even a word?) he goes by 'contactable' and it was great talking some shop with him.  I hope to connect with him sometime next week and see if there is something we can do down the road together.  He is a CPA and has great contacts that could help with an innovative entrepreneur.  I met several other twitter'ers and they were great!  Awesome input and awesome personalities.  I dread breaking the news that we will not be doing the retail space, but I also welcome the fact that I made some great contacts and our paths may cross again if I pursue this new business venture regarding social networking.  I think it's now my time to just go out there and talk to people and network - see what I can do to further myself and my ideas.  I watched Obama's speech for ASU grads and he is truly an eloquent speaker... He said that the old brass rings that society drives us to achieve from early on in life till college graduation... may work for some, but he says to change that perception and go after what makes us happy - what makes us passionate - what is important to us.  Make a difference in this world - make a difference in people.  He said that Hewlet and Packard didn't know that what they were doing would lead to such a great company that changed the way we did work and business.  He said that young people who dropped everything they were doing to help a flooded New Orleans were helping write their 'body of work.'  There were many other great points to his speech and for the full details check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbel5MhtDq4   skip to about 7 min in to bypass the intro.  

Well tomm is another day and new opportunities will arise.  I will see if I can make any new contacts and decide what path I will be going down... today was a great day and I intend on following up with all my new contacts.  Perhaps Kismet Sweets will survive or perhaps I will be able to work on my new venture.  

Enjoi...

The Job Interview Part 1

Interesting day today... After deciding to take a lesser role in my business venture, I immediately received two interview emails for the next two Saturdays. Today's interview was with a great company with strong financials and a bright future ahead of it. The image to the left should tell you who the company was. I get there at about 10a - though the email said 8a - 12p. I was anticipating a crowd of people and a bunch of tables with HR reps at them... quite the opposite. The building was actually locked! I had security let me and and then the wait began. In a room with potential candidates - man I hate group interviews - but to my surprise they called us in one by one. I had a good vibe about me today. No pressure... confident in my abilities and in the back of my head I knew that I needed to try to get something this month because I got a family to look after. If only things played out better for my business venture, but for now... I have to do what's good for my family and I. So the interview began with one person, then I get handed off to another person - looks like I made the next round. Then I am sent into a training room facility where I need to take an assesment test. 60 to 90 min! Whoa this is pretty intense. After that I was told that I 'passed' and I was off to another interview! Whew... this is hard work. But, definitely something that I am grateful for being able to do especially in these economic times. The final interview was pretty much the same as the other two... questions about how you would handle this or when did you do that. Overall, I felt I was able to communicate what I am about and what I am able to do. I let them know that I aspired to work my way up the ranks to a position that I really thought would fit me best, but I understood that in order to attain things you want you have to be able to put in the work. So we'll see how I did on this interview as they should get back to me sometime next week. As for now... I have a few other things on the back burner - we do have a tasting to do tomm and I wonder how that will be. I know our product is great and I know we have a shot, but w/out all the pieces of the puzzle working together as one... the odds are virtually against us. We'll just have to wait and see.

I did get a chance to go to Toys R Us and get a new Yo Gabba Gabba DVD for my boys... it's the 'New Friends' DVD with Jack Black. Man I remember when I setup the network for these guys back in Costa Mesa. They have done so well and my oldest boy loves this program! It is a hip and happenin version of Sesame Street. Great job Craig and the rest of the YGG guys. I hope to be able to visit your studio sometime soon! Well that's all for now folks... if anyone is reading this... thanks for reading and don't forget that life has it's struggles, but (you gotta be a dad to relate to this) seeing your kids smile, kiss and hug you is all the reason I need to keep struggling for them.

Enjoi.

Thursday June 4th - 4:38a PST

So here I am creating a new blog bc I am torn between what I should do next? I am an entrepreneur at heart and I have had my shot at starting a business. I am torn bc it is hard role to lead. The expectations you set of people or business partners can be set too high that I find myself constantly disappointed. I have been told that perhaps I expect too much or maybe I am being to PC about certain situations. I try my best to do a good job at what I do. I read and research and talk to plenty of people young, old, smart and inexperienced. You just never know what lessons or who you will meet out there. Today was a tough day because it made me question myself and my own abilities to see if I had what it took to startup a business. It is very hard to startup anything from scratch, but every bit of my foundation embraces this challenge.

I feel that our schools... our colleges don't really teach individuality. Perhaps MBA programs help to bring this side out - but still we are mostly taught to follow the COG. Be a team player. Work your way up the ladder. My folks moved to the States and overcame many obstacles to get here and succeed. What is my story to my kids? That I worked a 9-5 job in IT for 40+ years? Yes, that is a possibility, but I know I have the ability to do greater than that. I want to inspire my children. I want to inspire myself. I want to make an impact and not just be a team player. It is this desire or drive that also provides much stress for me since I expect too many things. Not everyone has this thinking and I don't know if it could ever be taught. You either have it or you don't... or perhaps everyone has it and it takes a life changing event to realize it's there. I know my capabilities and I know what I can do... but hey sometimes you gotta get knocked down to get back up right? I'm getting knocked down a lot of times these days, but I keep getting up.

Thanks for reading my post... if anyone is reading this. I am going to utilize this blog to chronicle my steps to try to create something interesting with my life and create a purpose to inspire my kids and my peers.

G'night!

EnjoiOC....