Dear Reader,
This week's pun title may be difficult to understand for those of you who haven't had experience with the Spanish language (or just in general--I readily admit this one is a bit far fetched...). Catorce-ionist is a combination of 2 words with some Spanglish thrown in. Catorce is Spanish for fourteen, and can be combined with -ionist to sound like contortionist.
This past week, I have felt like a contortionist: stretched and bent to the limits of human capability. Not in a negative way, but with Research Showcase approaching the pressure is mounting. Although I finished working on my display board, there is still the important matter of table layout to plan. What is the best way to put things on my table so that people will be attracted to my board?
I decided to use my marketing knowledge to solve this dilemma. So here's my thought process:
Target Market: Professionals, parents, peers
Resources: 1 black tablecloth, 1 display board, 1 billboard with lights, 1 portfolio, resume copies, candy, and myself.
Micro-environment analysis: Will be close to other displays, maximum of 5 other tables within 5 feet of me
Macro-environment analysis: Will most likely be in long hall lined with displays, traffic flow of people will likely be either down the hall (more likely) or bouncing across the hall (less likely--hard to get through this way).
Goals: Attract people to my board, talk to a large quantity of people without forsaking quality of conversation, make sure people remember me (or my board)
In Marketing/Advertising, differentiation is one of the key things to being successful. You have to stand out from other people. So how do I do that?
1) Set up board to one side of table, closer to whichever of my neighbors has the lower quality board (sorry!) to make mine look even better in comparison. Place my portfolio upright on the other side of the table (it's a unique blue/purple color, so it will stand out by itself).
2) Place candies on side of table with portfolio. Make sure there is plenty of blank space around the candy to draw visual attention to it.
3) Place myself in the center area of my table, between my board and portfolio so that either I or my board are the first things people look at when they see my table.
4) Place resume copies flat on table in front of the board. More interested parties will move closer to read them, creating space for new visitors to come by.
5) Ask each visitor their name, and use it at least once in conversation with them.
Keep in mind that these are simple conjectures that I have planned; some of them are backed by research and some are inferences I have made. However, I believe that marketing can be applied to nearly every aspect of life. In this case, it's self-marketing.
In a preview for next week: Descriptions of Research Showcase, and analysis of several interview I will be having at an advertising agency in Dallas later this week (I'm excited).
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
12/8 Weekly Update #13: Lucky Number 13
Dear reader,
By this time next week, I will be within 24 hours of Research Showcase. This past week has been a continuation of working on my board, straightening out my portfolio, and starting my original work.
However, I'd like to first explain why this post is entitled Lucky number 13 instead of Unlucky number 13. You see, the successful singer Taylor Swift's lucky is 13. Taking inspiration from her success, I, too have decided to be optimistic about this traditionally negative number and perhaps turn it into something positive. With this week, I think I'm on that track.
My original work, which is a entirely original piece of research that I produce by myself on any topic in Marketing, is coming into shape. I wrote my original work proposal this week detailing what I want to do, how I'm going to do it, and why I wanted to do it. It's going to be over packaging, specifically how age and ethnicity influence a person's packaging preference. Packaging is one of the most overlooked things by the common person in the Marketing field because it seems like a minute detail, but it has such a large impact on how a product is received. As my original work develops, I will continue to share details with you.
In other news, my board has finally become what I thought it would look like (pictures uploaded later), and I'm working on the final bit (a billboard that will hopefully light up). As research showcase draws near, the pressure to be perfect for it increases. But I'm okay with that, because sometimes a little pressure is what I need to push me into taking that extra step and doing better than expected.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
By this time next week, I will be within 24 hours of Research Showcase. This past week has been a continuation of working on my board, straightening out my portfolio, and starting my original work.
However, I'd like to first explain why this post is entitled Lucky number 13 instead of Unlucky number 13. You see, the successful singer Taylor Swift's lucky is 13. Taking inspiration from her success, I, too have decided to be optimistic about this traditionally negative number and perhaps turn it into something positive. With this week, I think I'm on that track.
My original work, which is a entirely original piece of research that I produce by myself on any topic in Marketing, is coming into shape. I wrote my original work proposal this week detailing what I want to do, how I'm going to do it, and why I wanted to do it. It's going to be over packaging, specifically how age and ethnicity influence a person's packaging preference. Packaging is one of the most overlooked things by the common person in the Marketing field because it seems like a minute detail, but it has such a large impact on how a product is received. As my original work develops, I will continue to share details with you.
In other news, my board has finally become what I thought it would look like (pictures uploaded later), and I'm working on the final bit (a billboard that will hopefully light up). As research showcase draws near, the pressure to be perfect for it increases. But I'm okay with that, because sometimes a little pressure is what I need to push me into taking that extra step and doing better than expected.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, November 30, 2014
12/1 Weekly Update #12: Twelve by Twelve
Dear Reader,
The standard size that scrapbook paper is sold in is 12 in. x 12 in.
Why do I know this?
Because over the past week (aside from eating turkey, Chinese style) I have bought many sheets of scrapbook paper for ISM.
What does scrapbook paper have to do with marketing? Quite a lot, actually. You see, for the upcoming Research Showcase each student must make a tri-fold board to present their research for the year. Scrapbook paper is used on these boards to make them look clean-cut and professional, which ultimately goes back to me marketing myself through my board.
My board is social-media themed. At first, I wanted to incorporate as many advertising mediums as I could in it, but quickly realized this was a) unrealistic and b) unrelatable to the general public. Therefore, I decided to make my entire board social-media themed because a) it's the new "it" thing in marketing and b) practically everyone has at least some degree of familiarity with it.
I wanted to make my board stand out. At Research Showcase, I will be just one of many ISM students there to present. We are all competing for the attention of our audience. (It's a come-and-go event; people will be walking around hallways that we've set up our own booths in). So as detailed in the last post, I decided to make my board interactive. The center of my tri-fold has a giant blank magnetic section. At Research Showcase, I will pose a question (marketing-related, most likely to do with packaging) and poll all those who come by. They will place their magnet (vote) in their chosen answer column. This way, not only do people get a chance to interact with my board, I also get to conduct a small focus group (research!).
I am equal parts excited and nervous for Research Showcase. Hopefully, this board turns out as dynamite as it is in my head. There are always many complications to be had on the path from brainstorming to reality.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
The standard size that scrapbook paper is sold in is 12 in. x 12 in.
Why do I know this?
Because over the past week (aside from eating turkey, Chinese style) I have bought many sheets of scrapbook paper for ISM.
What does scrapbook paper have to do with marketing? Quite a lot, actually. You see, for the upcoming Research Showcase each student must make a tri-fold board to present their research for the year. Scrapbook paper is used on these boards to make them look clean-cut and professional, which ultimately goes back to me marketing myself through my board.
My board is social-media themed. At first, I wanted to incorporate as many advertising mediums as I could in it, but quickly realized this was a) unrealistic and b) unrelatable to the general public. Therefore, I decided to make my entire board social-media themed because a) it's the new "it" thing in marketing and b) practically everyone has at least some degree of familiarity with it.
I wanted to make my board stand out. At Research Showcase, I will be just one of many ISM students there to present. We are all competing for the attention of our audience. (It's a come-and-go event; people will be walking around hallways that we've set up our own booths in). So as detailed in the last post, I decided to make my board interactive. The center of my tri-fold has a giant blank magnetic section. At Research Showcase, I will pose a question (marketing-related, most likely to do with packaging) and poll all those who come by. They will place their magnet (vote) in their chosen answer column. This way, not only do people get a chance to interact with my board, I also get to conduct a small focus group (research!).
I am equal parts excited and nervous for Research Showcase. Hopefully, this board turns out as dynamite as it is in my head. There are always many complications to be had on the path from brainstorming to reality.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, November 16, 2014
11/17 Weekly Update #11: Eleventh Hour
Dear reader,
It is the eleventh hour, both figuratively and literally, as I am beginning to write this post at exactly 11:11 (make a wish!), and as Research Showcase is just around the corner. We have only a month left to prepare and polish. Research Showcase is becoming ever more a reality.
Research Showcase is one of the biggest events of the year. Basically, all ISM students put together a tri-fold reflecting the work done in the year so far, and invite the greater public to come by and observe and engage with it. If you remember, in a previous post I talked about putting together a display-board plan. This week, I must make that plan a reality.
However, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here's the recap of what I did this past week:
1) I set up several interview with an advertising agency in Dallas (which I am extremely excited about).
2) I re-watched the video recording of my Research Speech (and made many notes of what to improve on).
3) I started technically planning my board (figuring dimensions of things, cost, etc.)
I doesn't sound like I did anything super remarkable, but I have to remind you that ISM is not all glamour and success. ISM is hard work and getting stuck and picking your brain. And sometimes, the week just seems so slow. But weeks like this are what make up the backbone of my journey. Weeks like this are where I have to force myself to focus, to keep pushing. Weeks like this are what help me prove to myself that I am wholly committed to this endeavor, because if I can grind through the grit, I can bring myself one step closer to success. Weeks like this are the best, and simultaneously the worst.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
It is the eleventh hour, both figuratively and literally, as I am beginning to write this post at exactly 11:11 (make a wish!), and as Research Showcase is just around the corner. We have only a month left to prepare and polish. Research Showcase is becoming ever more a reality.
Research Showcase is one of the biggest events of the year. Basically, all ISM students put together a tri-fold reflecting the work done in the year so far, and invite the greater public to come by and observe and engage with it. If you remember, in a previous post I talked about putting together a display-board plan. This week, I must make that plan a reality.
However, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here's the recap of what I did this past week:
1) I set up several interview with an advertising agency in Dallas (which I am extremely excited about).
2) I re-watched the video recording of my Research Speech (and made many notes of what to improve on).
3) I started technically planning my board (figuring dimensions of things, cost, etc.)
I doesn't sound like I did anything super remarkable, but I have to remind you that ISM is not all glamour and success. ISM is hard work and getting stuck and picking your brain. And sometimes, the week just seems so slow. But weeks like this are what make up the backbone of my journey. Weeks like this are where I have to force myself to focus, to keep pushing. Weeks like this are what help me prove to myself that I am wholly committed to this endeavor, because if I can grind through the grit, I can bring myself one step closer to success. Weeks like this are the best, and simultaneously the worst.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, November 9, 2014
11/10 Weekly Update #10: Tentatively Tenacious
Dear Reader,
This past week has been progressive. I wish all weeks were like it.
Firstly, I presented my research speech, a 10-12 minute spiel on what I've learned about Marketing/Advertising so far. This is important because it is the longest speech I've given in my entire life. I have never, ever had the undivided attention of the room for that long. It was thrilling, and nerve-wracking, and such an adrenaline rush. With this speech, I really feel like I'm beginning to unlock what I can do as a speaker. Before this week, I did speeches that were mainly below 5 minutes. But now that I know I can give a speech for an extended period of time, there are so many more possibilities to explore. The reason this post is titled tentatively tenacious is because that's how I feel about my speaking at the moment. I already am a strong speaker, but I have plenty to improve on. I want to become a stronger one, and so I'm planning on strategically trying out some new, unorthodox things in my next speech. Tentatively tenacious. Carefully aggressive.
Secondly, I had an amazing interview which led to an impromptu second interview, bumping my total number of interviews up to 11 (so sadly, I couldn't use that for the pun in the title as originally planned...but it's okay). This interview opened up some more opportunities with me which I will be exploring soon. Although time is beginning to run out for me to find a mentor, I'm not panicking because that's no use.
Thirdly, I've started watching the TV series Mad Men. No, this isn't an accomplishment, but I really like the series. Aside from the dramatization, it's got quite a few good tidbits about advertising and marketing, and it offers a unique glimpse into the ad agencies of the past. Racism and sexism aside (not that they should ever be put aside), the ad agencies of old are fascinating and we still learn a lot from them today.
And so, I am one week closer to the end of my journey. I hope that you are enjoying it as much as I am.
Until next week,
Eileen Bau
This past week has been progressive. I wish all weeks were like it.
Firstly, I presented my research speech, a 10-12 minute spiel on what I've learned about Marketing/Advertising so far. This is important because it is the longest speech I've given in my entire life. I have never, ever had the undivided attention of the room for that long. It was thrilling, and nerve-wracking, and such an adrenaline rush. With this speech, I really feel like I'm beginning to unlock what I can do as a speaker. Before this week, I did speeches that were mainly below 5 minutes. But now that I know I can give a speech for an extended period of time, there are so many more possibilities to explore. The reason this post is titled tentatively tenacious is because that's how I feel about my speaking at the moment. I already am a strong speaker, but I have plenty to improve on. I want to become a stronger one, and so I'm planning on strategically trying out some new, unorthodox things in my next speech. Tentatively tenacious. Carefully aggressive.
Secondly, I had an amazing interview which led to an impromptu second interview, bumping my total number of interviews up to 11 (so sadly, I couldn't use that for the pun in the title as originally planned...but it's okay). This interview opened up some more opportunities with me which I will be exploring soon. Although time is beginning to run out for me to find a mentor, I'm not panicking because that's no use.
Thirdly, I've started watching the TV series Mad Men. No, this isn't an accomplishment, but I really like the series. Aside from the dramatization, it's got quite a few good tidbits about advertising and marketing, and it offers a unique glimpse into the ad agencies of the past. Racism and sexism aside (not that they should ever be put aside), the ad agencies of old are fascinating and we still learn a lot from them today.
And so, I am one week closer to the end of my journey. I hope that you are enjoying it as much as I am.
Until next week,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, November 2, 2014
11/3 Weekly Update #9: Nine in the Afternoon
It's nine in the afternoon/
Your eyes are the size of the moon/
Dear reader,
Yes, I know, nine is not in the afternoon. What I am alluding to (it is a bit obscure) is a song. Nine in the Afternoon is a song by Panic! At the Disco, a pop/rock/punk/vaudeville band. The reason that I bring it up is because there is one particular line in that song which happens to fit in perfectly with my yearlong theme of exploring the "final frontier", or breaking boundaries:
You could 'cause you can so you do.
In other words, why not? Why not do everything you can do? Why not put 500% effort in everything? Why not take risks? Why not become anything you want to be?
I tried to keep this in mind as I progressed through this past week. Lately, we've really started becoming more defined. Some in the ISM program have already found mentors, and all of us have done display boards designs and compiled the beginnings of a portfolio. Slowly, but very surely, we are determining our personal brands for the year.
In the beginning, I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Of course, all of this is necessary to be successful. But one of the things I hated about defining myself is that it closed off possibilities. For example, I knew that my theme colors were going to be black, blue, and purple. This doesn't mean I can't use other colors, but I knew that black, blue, and purple would have to be more prominent (unless I changed it).
However, as the week progressed on and I could feel myself becoming boxed in, I decided to change my perspective. Instead of viewing my decisions as limiting, I embraced them as opportunities for why not? Why not keep black, blue, and purple and the theme colors but also put a separate rainbow section in my board to break the monotony? Why not use my decisions to open up new realms of possibilities? People say that as one door opens, another closes. That may be true, but as one door opens, so does an infinite amount of other doors in the new hallway you've discovered.
Until next week,
Eileen Bau
Your eyes are the size of the moon/
Dear reader,
Yes, I know, nine is not in the afternoon. What I am alluding to (it is a bit obscure) is a song. Nine in the Afternoon is a song by Panic! At the Disco, a pop/rock/punk/vaudeville band. The reason that I bring it up is because there is one particular line in that song which happens to fit in perfectly with my yearlong theme of exploring the "final frontier", or breaking boundaries:
You could 'cause you can so you do.
In other words, why not? Why not do everything you can do? Why not put 500% effort in everything? Why not take risks? Why not become anything you want to be?
I tried to keep this in mind as I progressed through this past week. Lately, we've really started becoming more defined. Some in the ISM program have already found mentors, and all of us have done display boards designs and compiled the beginnings of a portfolio. Slowly, but very surely, we are determining our personal brands for the year.
In the beginning, I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Of course, all of this is necessary to be successful. But one of the things I hated about defining myself is that it closed off possibilities. For example, I knew that my theme colors were going to be black, blue, and purple. This doesn't mean I can't use other colors, but I knew that black, blue, and purple would have to be more prominent (unless I changed it).
However, as the week progressed on and I could feel myself becoming boxed in, I decided to change my perspective. Instead of viewing my decisions as limiting, I embraced them as opportunities for why not? Why not keep black, blue, and purple and the theme colors but also put a separate rainbow section in my board to break the monotony? Why not use my decisions to open up new realms of possibilities? People say that as one door opens, another closes. That may be true, but as one door opens, so does an infinite amount of other doors in the new hallway you've discovered.
Until next week,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, October 26, 2014
10/27 Weekly Update #8: I Eight It All
Dear Reader,
This past week I have been very hungry. I have consumed copious amounts of food...and it's not because of soccer season. I believe that the reason I have been so ravenous is because of ISM. How?
This past week, we drafted designs for our display boards. These display boards are the standard cardboard tri-fold, which we have creative latitude to design, and we will be using them at Research Showcase and Final Presentation Night.
As a highly creative person, I knew I wanted my board to stand out. As an aspiring marketer, I knew that in order to make my board stand out, I needed to strategize.
I determined that my target audience would be other students, teachers, parents, and professionals. This board would be mainly presented during time where people are floating around, and it would be one of many of display. Not only will it have to be visually pleasing, it will have to make an impression on the viewer.
So, the reason why I was so hungry is because I brainstormed, for a very long time, about what to do with my board. My brainstorming consisted of walking around the room, stretching, and other movements that probably used up as much energy as my brain was.
After spending time in my think tank, I knew that in order for my board to be memorable, it need to be a) interactive, b) personizable, or c) both. Making it personizable would be too hard; multitudes of people would be walking by it, so I chose to make my board interactive.
Thus, the drafted design for my board includes a special part that asks the audience to leave their mark on my board. I won't go into specifics for now, but I will say that this component will definitely be useful--both for me and my audience.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
This past week I have been very hungry. I have consumed copious amounts of food...and it's not because of soccer season. I believe that the reason I have been so ravenous is because of ISM. How?
This past week, we drafted designs for our display boards. These display boards are the standard cardboard tri-fold, which we have creative latitude to design, and we will be using them at Research Showcase and Final Presentation Night.
As a highly creative person, I knew I wanted my board to stand out. As an aspiring marketer, I knew that in order to make my board stand out, I needed to strategize.
I determined that my target audience would be other students, teachers, parents, and professionals. This board would be mainly presented during time where people are floating around, and it would be one of many of display. Not only will it have to be visually pleasing, it will have to make an impression on the viewer.
So, the reason why I was so hungry is because I brainstormed, for a very long time, about what to do with my board. My brainstorming consisted of walking around the room, stretching, and other movements that probably used up as much energy as my brain was.
After spending time in my think tank, I knew that in order for my board to be memorable, it need to be a) interactive, b) personizable, or c) both. Making it personizable would be too hard; multitudes of people would be walking by it, so I chose to make my board interactive.
Thus, the drafted design for my board includes a special part that asks the audience to leave their mark on my board. I won't go into specifics for now, but I will say that this component will definitely be useful--both for me and my audience.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, October 19, 2014
10/20 Weekly Update #7: Lucky Number Seven
Dear Reader,
Seven is an especially important number to me. Not only is it my favorite number, but it has also been the number on the back of my soccer jersey for the past couple of years. I've always believed that seven really is lucky, and it's been proved once again this week.
Although I only had one interview this week, and didn't have anything major like last week's Business Symposium, I consider this week lucky because it gave me what I needed most: time. With all of the preparation that had gone into Business Symposium and conducting 3-4 research interviews per week for the past two weeks, I haven't really had time to sit down and absorb everything I've learned.
This week, I wrote several assessments over my previous interview and Business Symposium. Not only do these assessments serve as documentation, they're also a tool for me to re-visit what I've learned and to file it permanently in my mental storage. This week has been all about mental growth and planning. Sometimes, the most productive weeks are the least productive weeks on paper.
In other news, I have finally placed the order for the books What Great Brands Do by Denise Lee Yohn and Aaker on Branding by David Aaker, which were recommended to me by a very esteemed professor I interviewed. I am ridiculously excited to start reading them. Hopefully, Amazon lives up to its brand promise of fast shipping. Wish me luck.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau (#7)
Seven is an especially important number to me. Not only is it my favorite number, but it has also been the number on the back of my soccer jersey for the past couple of years. I've always believed that seven really is lucky, and it's been proved once again this week.
Although I only had one interview this week, and didn't have anything major like last week's Business Symposium, I consider this week lucky because it gave me what I needed most: time. With all of the preparation that had gone into Business Symposium and conducting 3-4 research interviews per week for the past two weeks, I haven't really had time to sit down and absorb everything I've learned.
This week, I wrote several assessments over my previous interview and Business Symposium. Not only do these assessments serve as documentation, they're also a tool for me to re-visit what I've learned and to file it permanently in my mental storage. This week has been all about mental growth and planning. Sometimes, the most productive weeks are the least productive weeks on paper.
In other news, I have finally placed the order for the books What Great Brands Do by Denise Lee Yohn and Aaker on Branding by David Aaker, which were recommended to me by a very esteemed professor I interviewed. I am ridiculously excited to start reading them. Hopefully, Amazon lives up to its brand promise of fast shipping. Wish me luck.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau (#7)
Sunday, October 12, 2014
10/13 Weekly Update #6: Sixth Sense
Dear reader,
Disclaimer: I cannot see dead people. I can, however, see colors. Not anything like van Gogh, or a full-on synesthete, but I associate certain colors with certain moods and certain sounds and certain places and certain ideas and...well, the list goes on.
Colors are an extremely important part of marketing and advertising, because they make up an integral part of the way consumers perceive a product. Especially in the packaging of a product, colors can often make or break a consumer's decision. If you think about it, there has been a billion instances in your life where this has happened. For example, why did you buy the shirt you're wearing right now? How about the car in your garage? The tomatoes in your refrigerator? Of course, color is not the only determinant of purchasing, but it does have bearing on the decision.
For me, this past week has been a purple-gray week. Purple is for the feeling of accomplishment that came with writing a pretty darn good resume, conducting 3 research interviews impressively, and having a ball at Business Symposium (more on this later). Gray (or grey, if you're in England) is for the whirlwind of activity that has passed, and for the oncoming storm (read: Tri-fold Presentation Boards, Interview Assessments, mentor searches... ).
Business Symposium was basically a giant networking event and mock interview opportunity. ISM students took the initiative to introduce themselves to professionals and strike up conversations, and perhaps make a few contacts. Mock interviews consisted of intense 20 minute one-on-one sessions that were meant to simulate a job interview. For me, this was so much fun. I love being able to present my work, and I love having the challenge of impressing strangers. It is thrilling to be able to re-create yourself and tailor your image for every new person you meet, like an adjustable phoenix. Kind of. Honestly, meeting with actual professionals in the field is an enlightening experience and it is so much more memorable than any textbook or article. This week completely blue my mind away.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Disclaimer: I cannot see dead people. I can, however, see colors. Not anything like van Gogh, or a full-on synesthete, but I associate certain colors with certain moods and certain sounds and certain places and certain ideas and...well, the list goes on.
Colors are an extremely important part of marketing and advertising, because they make up an integral part of the way consumers perceive a product. Especially in the packaging of a product, colors can often make or break a consumer's decision. If you think about it, there has been a billion instances in your life where this has happened. For example, why did you buy the shirt you're wearing right now? How about the car in your garage? The tomatoes in your refrigerator? Of course, color is not the only determinant of purchasing, but it does have bearing on the decision.
For me, this past week has been a purple-gray week. Purple is for the feeling of accomplishment that came with writing a pretty darn good resume, conducting 3 research interviews impressively, and having a ball at Business Symposium (more on this later). Gray (or grey, if you're in England) is for the whirlwind of activity that has passed, and for the oncoming storm (read: Tri-fold Presentation Boards, Interview Assessments, mentor searches... ).
Business Symposium was basically a giant networking event and mock interview opportunity. ISM students took the initiative to introduce themselves to professionals and strike up conversations, and perhaps make a few contacts. Mock interviews consisted of intense 20 minute one-on-one sessions that were meant to simulate a job interview. For me, this was so much fun. I love being able to present my work, and I love having the challenge of impressing strangers. It is thrilling to be able to re-create yourself and tailor your image for every new person you meet, like an adjustable phoenix. Kind of. Honestly, meeting with actual professionals in the field is an enlightening experience and it is so much more memorable than any textbook or article. This week completely blue my mind away.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, October 5, 2014
10/6 Weekly Update #5: Fifth Dimension
Dear Reader,
We all know that the first dimension is a line, the second dimension is any flat figure, and that the third dimension is an object. The fourth dimension is time itself. But what about the 5th dimension?
It has been said that the 5th dimension is the tesseract. Of course, this is completely theoretical. The tesseract is a funky concept. If you imagine all of time as a string, and you place a tiny person on one end of the string and ask her to walk to the other end, it would take forever (literally). But if you take the string and touch the two ends together, then the tiny person can just hop on over to the end of time. Or to any point in time, wherever you've made the string touch. That's the tesseract: bending time (and probably space).
So what does this have to do with ISM? Well, ISM is sort of like a tesseract. Through my research, I can take little, temporary hops to the future and see what it might be like to work in the marketing field. I don't have a time machine, but I do have research interviews. This past week, I have had the opportunity to interview 2 professors at Southern Methodist University, both very experienced and very skilled in their marketing subdivision. They were able to provide me with invaluable insight and information, not only about marketing, but also about what college courses I should take, what options I have that are related to marketing, and life advice in general.
Because of this experience, I was able to form a clearer picture of what it could look like for future me in the marketing field. Hence, a small time-hop. Mentally, through what I learned from my research interviews, I can place my own tiny person at a future point in time and consider, is this really what I want to do? If I learn nothing at all this year, (which is impossible, since I've already learned so much) at the very least I will know whether or not I want to pursue marketing for real.
Apart from dabbling in theoretical science, which is totally related to marketing, I have still been preparing for Business Symposium. Refining my resume, beginning a portfolio, and improving my professionalism have been the top three things I've done this week. Business Symposium is actually this upcoming Friday, and I will have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of professionals and go through mock interviews. The upcoming week will probably be the toughest week yet, since it will be my first real experience with professional networking. Let the games begin.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
We all know that the first dimension is a line, the second dimension is any flat figure, and that the third dimension is an object. The fourth dimension is time itself. But what about the 5th dimension?
It has been said that the 5th dimension is the tesseract. Of course, this is completely theoretical. The tesseract is a funky concept. If you imagine all of time as a string, and you place a tiny person on one end of the string and ask her to walk to the other end, it would take forever (literally). But if you take the string and touch the two ends together, then the tiny person can just hop on over to the end of time. Or to any point in time, wherever you've made the string touch. That's the tesseract: bending time (and probably space).
So what does this have to do with ISM? Well, ISM is sort of like a tesseract. Through my research, I can take little, temporary hops to the future and see what it might be like to work in the marketing field. I don't have a time machine, but I do have research interviews. This past week, I have had the opportunity to interview 2 professors at Southern Methodist University, both very experienced and very skilled in their marketing subdivision. They were able to provide me with invaluable insight and information, not only about marketing, but also about what college courses I should take, what options I have that are related to marketing, and life advice in general.
Because of this experience, I was able to form a clearer picture of what it could look like for future me in the marketing field. Hence, a small time-hop. Mentally, through what I learned from my research interviews, I can place my own tiny person at a future point in time and consider, is this really what I want to do? If I learn nothing at all this year, (which is impossible, since I've already learned so much) at the very least I will know whether or not I want to pursue marketing for real.
Apart from dabbling in theoretical science, which is totally related to marketing, I have still been preparing for Business Symposium. Refining my resume, beginning a portfolio, and improving my professionalism have been the top three things I've done this week. Business Symposium is actually this upcoming Friday, and I will have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of professionals and go through mock interviews. The upcoming week will probably be the toughest week yet, since it will be my first real experience with professional networking. Let the games begin.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, September 28, 2014
9/29 Weekly Update #4: Four the Win
Dear reader,
(After reading marketing guru Seth Godin's ebook on blogs (highly recommended, find it here), I am going to be more concise in my posts. That is all.)
ISM has become so much more real this past week. This has been the first time where I have independently began to make headway into the marketing field. How? In order to facilitate my research, I began contacting professionals for research interviews, in order to get a real-life glimpse of how marketing works. It's actually a lot easier than it seems. Although cold-calling professionals out of the blue may seem daunting, in reality most people are pretty friendly and are willing to help out.
I won't get into specifics yet, but I also went on my first research visit this week. It was the first time in which I have actually gotten somewhere of my own accord. By that, I mean that this is the first time in which neither my teachers, parents, or friends have lent a helping hand in achieving a goal outside of school. I will never forget that feeling of accomplishment after I hung up the phone from confirming the research interview. The world holds so much, and it is up to you to take it.
All of a sudden, opportunities are opening themselves up, and all I've done is sent a couple emails and made some phone calls. It is astonishing how much power I hold, and how much I have the potential to become. And so begins a new chapter of hope, of inspiration, and of ambition. I am determined to see just how far I can push myself.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
(After reading marketing guru Seth Godin's ebook on blogs (highly recommended, find it here), I am going to be more concise in my posts. That is all.)
ISM has become so much more real this past week. This has been the first time where I have independently began to make headway into the marketing field. How? In order to facilitate my research, I began contacting professionals for research interviews, in order to get a real-life glimpse of how marketing works. It's actually a lot easier than it seems. Although cold-calling professionals out of the blue may seem daunting, in reality most people are pretty friendly and are willing to help out.
I won't get into specifics yet, but I also went on my first research visit this week. It was the first time in which I have actually gotten somewhere of my own accord. By that, I mean that this is the first time in which neither my teachers, parents, or friends have lent a helping hand in achieving a goal outside of school. I will never forget that feeling of accomplishment after I hung up the phone from confirming the research interview. The world holds so much, and it is up to you to take it.
All of a sudden, opportunities are opening themselves up, and all I've done is sent a couple emails and made some phone calls. It is astonishing how much power I hold, and how much I have the potential to become. And so begins a new chapter of hope, of inspiration, and of ambition. I am determined to see just how far I can push myself.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, September 21, 2014
9/22 Weekly Update #3: Triumvirate
Three is the magic number. I don't actually know why, but my 3rd week in ISM has been pretty magical, so I'm inclined to continue believing this urban theory. We are still preparing for Business Symposium (a meeting of professionals and students in which mock interviews and hand-shaking will ensue), and we are also gearing up for research interviews.
Here are three things I've learned this week:
1) Phone calls may be the most awkward thing ever invented. Throw in professional phone calls, and you have a potential recipe for disaster. However, it is possible to circumnavigate this awkwardness by practicing and keeping your cool. Practice until you are accustomed to the disembodied sound of your own voice, practice until you can hold a fluid and witty conversation, practice until you feel confident.
2) I can make my own golden ticket. In other words, writing a great resume is the key to impressing my audience. As a Marketing/Advertising student, I like to treat my resumes as small marketing campaigns. Determine the target audience, exploit their desires/fears, and then create it with strategy and style.
3) Marketing is a Nebula. This is not a new idea (as evidenced by the title of this blog). From nebulae come stars. Marketing has that same potential, to create a star out of a product. However, nebulae are also very foggy and undefined. As I've been researching Marketing strategies this past week, I've come to truly appreciate how open-ended and undefined this field is. There are no definite answers. To some, that may be frustrating, but to me, it is an opportunity to create something original. It is a little vexing to not find straight answers, but thankfully I have found that most Marketing strategies have the same basic premises, but different methods of achieving the ultimate goal of reaching the target market.
In ancient Chinese scripture, the three treasures of the universe are the sky, the earth, and man. In my ISM journey, I aim to move both earth and sky to achieve the ultimate marketing endgame: moving man.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Here are three things I've learned this week:
1) Phone calls may be the most awkward thing ever invented. Throw in professional phone calls, and you have a potential recipe for disaster. However, it is possible to circumnavigate this awkwardness by practicing and keeping your cool. Practice until you are accustomed to the disembodied sound of your own voice, practice until you can hold a fluid and witty conversation, practice until you feel confident.
2) I can make my own golden ticket. In other words, writing a great resume is the key to impressing my audience. As a Marketing/Advertising student, I like to treat my resumes as small marketing campaigns. Determine the target audience, exploit their desires/fears, and then create it with strategy and style.
3) Marketing is a Nebula. This is not a new idea (as evidenced by the title of this blog). From nebulae come stars. Marketing has that same potential, to create a star out of a product. However, nebulae are also very foggy and undefined. As I've been researching Marketing strategies this past week, I've come to truly appreciate how open-ended and undefined this field is. There are no definite answers. To some, that may be frustrating, but to me, it is an opportunity to create something original. It is a little vexing to not find straight answers, but thankfully I have found that most Marketing strategies have the same basic premises, but different methods of achieving the ultimate goal of reaching the target market.
In ancient Chinese scripture, the three treasures of the universe are the sky, the earth, and man. In my ISM journey, I aim to move both earth and sky to achieve the ultimate marketing endgame: moving man.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Sunday, September 14, 2014
9/15 Weekly Update #2: Second Breakfast
In the Lord of the Rings world, Hobbits do a thing called second breakfast, which is exactly what it sounds like: they eat another breakfast, a couple hours after the first one. This week in ISM has been my second breakfast.
Rather than consume biscuits or sip tea, I've been digesting my second course of information. Last week's information was all about image professionalism (the post is here); this week's is intellectual professionalism.
I already have some background experience with marketing. I've been an active member of DECA for the past two years. DECA is a marketing/business club for students. I've won international competition one year and been an international finalist the other (More on that here). I have a working knowledge of the basics, but I have not yet truly had a chance to apply my knowledge in real life.
I know that in order to succeed in the real world, I'm going to have to know more than a list of vocabulary terms and techniques. This week, I have completed my first Research Assessment (will link it here when posted). Basically, I find an authentic resource that contains information about Marketing which I haven't learned before, then write a short summary and analysis of what knowledge I've gained from my research.
It sounds simple, but it is invaluable. By the end of the year, I will have compiled a vast amount of knowledge. Piece by piece, I will build myself a kingdom.
Other research I have been doing includes compiling a contact list. This contact list consists of professionals whom I have taken an interest in, and that I wish to conduct informational interviews with. Doing this has actually aided me in gaining a clearer view of exactly what sort of position withing the Marketing/Advertising field I aspire to attain. I have found out that the following list appeals to me (not listed in any order of preference):
-Brand Strategist
-Marketing Director (eventually)
-Creative Strategist
-PR specialist
This list will likely grow as I further my studies.
I'm also still preparing myself for interviews. Although I have previously been trained, I can always improve.
One does not simply walk into an interview.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Rather than consume biscuits or sip tea, I've been digesting my second course of information. Last week's information was all about image professionalism (the post is here); this week's is intellectual professionalism.
I already have some background experience with marketing. I've been an active member of DECA for the past two years. DECA is a marketing/business club for students. I've won international competition one year and been an international finalist the other (More on that here). I have a working knowledge of the basics, but I have not yet truly had a chance to apply my knowledge in real life.
I know that in order to succeed in the real world, I'm going to have to know more than a list of vocabulary terms and techniques. This week, I have completed my first Research Assessment (will link it here when posted). Basically, I find an authentic resource that contains information about Marketing which I haven't learned before, then write a short summary and analysis of what knowledge I've gained from my research.
It sounds simple, but it is invaluable. By the end of the year, I will have compiled a vast amount of knowledge. Piece by piece, I will build myself a kingdom.
Other research I have been doing includes compiling a contact list. This contact list consists of professionals whom I have taken an interest in, and that I wish to conduct informational interviews with. Doing this has actually aided me in gaining a clearer view of exactly what sort of position withing the Marketing/Advertising field I aspire to attain. I have found out that the following list appeals to me (not listed in any order of preference):
-Brand Strategist
-Marketing Director (eventually)
-Creative Strategist
-PR specialist
This list will likely grow as I further my studies.
I'm also still preparing myself for interviews. Although I have previously been trained, I can always improve.
One does not simply walk into an interview.
Until next time,
Eileen Bau
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Career & Industry Forecast: Marketing/Advertising
1. Different Job Titles:
a. Marketing Manager: $119,480
b. Advertising Manager: Bachelor's Degree and 2 years field experience, Avg. $: $71,892
c. Advertising Sales Director: Bachelor’s Degree and 5 years field experience, Avg. $: $113,434
d. Brand Manager: Bachelor’s Degree and 4 years field exp., Avg $: 93,532
e. Marketing Consultant: Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree, Avg $: $92,100
f. Branding Consultant: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, $ Range: $32,301 to $74,128
g. Public Relations Manager: $95,450
h. Promotions Manager
2. Education/Training Required: Bachelor’s Degree, MBA (adds ~$2,000-$7,000) or Master’s Degree, the higher degree an individual has, the more likely a higher salary
b. Optional: Certification from The Public Relations Society of America
c. The Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) from The Marketing Research Association
d. The Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) credential from the American Marketing Association (AMA)
3. Professional Organizations
a. American Marketing Association (https://www.ama.org/Pages/default.aspx)
b. Business Marketing Association (http://www.marketing.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1#.U_4xA8W-2So)
c. Mobile Marketing Association (http://www.mmaglobal.com/)
d. Word of Mouth Marketing Association (http://www.womma.org/)
4. Expected Salary: (http://marketingsalaries.com/)
5. Terminology: here
6. Job Market conditions: According the BLS, the demand for marketing jobs grows at roughly the same rate as other occupations, but it varies depending on the type of specialized marketing. More relevant marketing sectors, such as social media promotion, have seen considerable growth in recent years.
Job Outlook Comparison Through 2022
● Sales Management—8 percent, as fast as average
● Public Relations Management—13 percent, as fast as average
● Advertising Management—12 percent, fast as average
● Market Research Analyst – 32 percent, much faster than average
● Marketing Management—13 percent, as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2014-15 Occupational Outlook Handbook
7. Related Areas: Copywriting, Creative writing, Economics, Political science, Psychology, Mass communication, Public Relations
Additional Questions:
Additional Questions:
8. The difference in Corporate vs. Small Business Marketing?
9. What sort of refined marketing skill set that I want to have?
10. Best Colleges to graduate from with alumni in Marketing?
11. The balance of Marketing Science vs. Creative Marketing I would like to have in my career?
Sunday, September 7, 2014
9/8 Weekly Update #1 : In the Beginning
Marketing: The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of Eileen Bau. Her one-year mission: to explore the realistic world, to seek out new information and new opportunities, and to boldly go where no student has gone before.
Dear reader,
This is the first of a series of blog posts detailing my ISM journey. I will update weekly at the very least, and I hope that you will take the time out of your day to share with me the experiences I undergo.
My first two weeks in the Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) Program have been a curious initiation. We are currently in the process of preparing for Business Symposium, an incredibly important event in which I will suit up, head out, socialize and interview with professionals from a plethora of different fields. My chosen field is Marketing/Advertising. However, before I immerse myself in the Marketing field, I am currently learning how to market myself. I may not be a product or a service, but in reality, I look just like everybody else, and so I am going to have to make myself stand out. I'm excited for the challenge. I imagine that this is what a novice superhero feels like. Except instead of looking at spandex designs, I've started forging my identity through choosing my defining personal quote and mission statement. I don't need a Batmobile, I've got a dynamite resumé that will take me places. Rather than standing on top of a skyscraper, and looking out into the grid of the city for crime, I'm in the classroom relentlessly researching for information on my topic.
So what have I learned so far?
I've learned, amongst other things, that the sky isn't the limit, that two pumps is enough for a handshake, and that Dillard's will sit you down for free and tell you what kind of makeup matches your skin tone.
I've learned that the people involved in ISM are incredible individuals.
But most importantly, I learned that I don't need a key to the city, because I am my own key to the universe.
See you next time,
Eileen Bau
P.S. Feel free to share this blog! It will help me greatly, and I cannot tell you how much I would appreciate it.
Dear reader,
This is the first of a series of blog posts detailing my ISM journey. I will update weekly at the very least, and I hope that you will take the time out of your day to share with me the experiences I undergo.
My first two weeks in the Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) Program have been a curious initiation. We are currently in the process of preparing for Business Symposium, an incredibly important event in which I will suit up, head out, socialize and interview with professionals from a plethora of different fields. My chosen field is Marketing/Advertising. However, before I immerse myself in the Marketing field, I am currently learning how to market myself. I may not be a product or a service, but in reality, I look just like everybody else, and so I am going to have to make myself stand out. I'm excited for the challenge. I imagine that this is what a novice superhero feels like. Except instead of looking at spandex designs, I've started forging my identity through choosing my defining personal quote and mission statement. I don't need a Batmobile, I've got a dynamite resumé that will take me places. Rather than standing on top of a skyscraper, and looking out into the grid of the city for crime, I'm in the classroom relentlessly researching for information on my topic.
So what have I learned so far?
I've learned, amongst other things, that the sky isn't the limit, that two pumps is enough for a handshake, and that Dillard's will sit you down for free and tell you what kind of makeup matches your skin tone.
I've learned that the people involved in ISM are incredible individuals.
But most importantly, I learned that I don't need a key to the city, because I am my own key to the universe.
See you next time,
Eileen Bau
P.S. Feel free to share this blog! It will help me greatly, and I cannot tell you how much I would appreciate it.
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