Two semi-major developments that recently occurred deserve a little atención (that's "attention in Spanish).
I made the jump and changed my Twitter handle. I did a few key searches for "how to pick a Twitter name". You laugh, but I did! I knew the answer; not to say there is an A+ answer. I more so wanted to see what responses I would find on the interwebs. I went from Lucky_IJ which corresponds with my blog, for the time being, to.... my name.
Earth shattering. Not. You can now find me on Twitter via my new handle, @ijeomasnwatu.You will see more tweets about user experience (UX), social media, startups, photos from New York City, #learntodo tweets via SINY and so much more. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Last week, I found some time to finally write a post for the Startup Institute blog. Long overdue but I was able to pitch two ideas into one post. I reviewed highlights of the second and third weeks to ensure a heartier post and bit more reflection. Here is the link - http://blog.startupinstitute.com/post/54127168413/weeks-2-3-at-siny
Honestly, I cannot believe it's July. The year is half way done. I cannot imagine how I will feel at the end of 2013. Let's hope all of this work - networking, studying, building things - comes to a beautiful conclusion, or perhaps a new beginning.
Until next Monday, make IT happen!
- Ijeoma
Showing posts with label make it happen Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label make it happen Monday. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Make it Happen Monday: In New York City....Again
I'm going, going, back back to New. York. City!
Well, actually I just left The Big Apple a la the Megabus. I took an Amtrak train to Penn Station and headed Uptown to attend Brandcamp U this afternoon. Check out their hashtag #iwnybcu13 for the play-by-play. The all-day branding event is part of Internet Week in the city and featured big names in digital media. I missed the crew from Startup Institute New York by a little bit. I caught Lynne's (@lynneluvah) digital storytelling presentation; complete with simple tips and samples of brands who successfully managed and communicated their digital stories. Her five takeaways were as follows:
I came at the tail end but I had the opportunity to connect with folks afterwards, including one of my Startup Institute classmates. Shoutout to Damone; and kudos to Kristina of Villarini Maclean for asking a really good question during the last session about when to say "No".
Your read that right. Yours truly got accepted to Startup Institute. I know what you're thinking - "What about Boston?" Well, what had happened was...
I got accepted but the SI team thought I would be a better fit in NYC. Truth be told, they are right. I always said I would NEVER EVER live in the concrete jungle but I plan to do just that this summer. I am really excited and ready to eat, sleep and live my SI experience.
Like I mentioned before, I was prepared regardless of the outcome. I am really glad everything worked out though. I remember finishing my application literally minutes prior to the midnight deadline. I actually had to coach myself to click on the send button. I have no idea why I was terrified of applying in the first place. I never intended to procrastinate instead I kind of ignored the application entirely, thinking of dumb reasons as to why I would not earn acceptance into the program.
Lame. Not doing that again. Go big or go home. Looks like I'm going to New York City!!!!
This has been another awesome edition of Make it Happen Monday. :)
- IJ
Want more? Follow me on Twitter, @Lucky_IJ and on Pinterest.
Well, actually I just left The Big Apple a la the Megabus. I took an Amtrak train to Penn Station and headed Uptown to attend Brandcamp U this afternoon. Check out their hashtag #iwnybcu13 for the play-by-play. The all-day branding event is part of Internet Week in the city and featured big names in digital media. I missed the crew from Startup Institute New York by a little bit. I caught Lynne's (@lynneluvah) digital storytelling presentation; complete with simple tips and samples of brands who successfully managed and communicated their digital stories. Her five takeaways were as follows:
- Understand your audience.
- Know the meaning of your brand.
- Create a story that connects.
- Listen and engage (my personal favorite).
- Learn!
I came at the tail end but I had the opportunity to connect with folks afterwards, including one of my Startup Institute classmates. Shoutout to Damone; and kudos to Kristina of Villarini Maclean for asking a really good question during the last session about when to say "No".
Your read that right. Yours truly got accepted to Startup Institute. I know what you're thinking - "What about Boston?" Well, what had happened was...
I got accepted but the SI team thought I would be a better fit in NYC. Truth be told, they are right. I always said I would NEVER EVER live in the concrete jungle but I plan to do just that this summer. I am really excited and ready to eat, sleep and live my SI experience.
Like I mentioned before, I was prepared regardless of the outcome. I am really glad everything worked out though. I remember finishing my application literally minutes prior to the midnight deadline. I actually had to coach myself to click on the send button. I have no idea why I was terrified of applying in the first place. I never intended to procrastinate instead I kind of ignored the application entirely, thinking of dumb reasons as to why I would not earn acceptance into the program.
Lame. Not doing that again. Go big or go home. Looks like I'm going to New York City!!!!
This has been another awesome edition of Make it Happen Monday. :)
- IJ
Want more? Follow me on Twitter, @Lucky_IJ and on Pinterest.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Make it Happen Monday: Work It. Write It.
It's happening....
The rhythm of writing. The ideas flowing smoothly, succinctly. I remember this feeling right around Thanskgiving. I was bubbling with joy. And then I had a slight bump and eventually took a break in preparation for a new blog design that never happened. (Note: Don't work with lame designers). I also had a death in my extended family at the end of 2012 which certainly did not produce a level of creativity and happiness that I strive for in my writing style.
In the past week alone, writing, content creation and development, and pure brainstorming have taken over my life - and I LOVE it. I am not sure how it all happened but I know a Gchat conversation with Cristina Roman (@cmroman) surely had my juices flowing. We had first connected when I emailed her after reading a post she wrote for Levo League. She was thorough in her response to my inquiry and even offered to link back to my blog, which at the time was just itty bitty thing. Fast forward to a few days ago, I pitched an idea about a career-related post for her blog and readers. She enthusiastically gave her approval and now I'm off to the races to write my first guest post for another blogger Thanks Cristina!
Wait, there's more.
I recently wrote a review of BeBlogalicious Blogatech summit because it was that good of a networking/mini-conference. That blog post, which I tweeted to @beblogalicious, led to a guest spot on their website's blog! Check it out here.
Thanks Stacey for the opportunity. I had fun writing it.
So yes, this Monday has been a good one. A lot of writing, drafting, editing and connecting. Onward!
- IJ
The rhythm of writing. The ideas flowing smoothly, succinctly. I remember this feeling right around Thanskgiving. I was bubbling with joy. And then I had a slight bump and eventually took a break in preparation for a new blog design that never happened. (Note: Don't work with lame designers). I also had a death in my extended family at the end of 2012 which certainly did not produce a level of creativity and happiness that I strive for in my writing style.
In the past week alone, writing, content creation and development, and pure brainstorming have taken over my life - and I LOVE it. I am not sure how it all happened but I know a Gchat conversation with Cristina Roman (@cmroman) surely had my juices flowing. We had first connected when I emailed her after reading a post she wrote for Levo League. She was thorough in her response to my inquiry and even offered to link back to my blog, which at the time was just itty bitty thing. Fast forward to a few days ago, I pitched an idea about a career-related post for her blog and readers. She enthusiastically gave her approval and now I'm off to the races to write my first guest post for another blogger Thanks Cristina!
Wait, there's more.
I recently wrote a review of BeBlogalicious Blogatech summit because it was that good of a networking/mini-conference. That blog post, which I tweeted to @beblogalicious, led to a guest spot on their website's blog! Check it out here.
Thanks Stacey for the opportunity. I had fun writing it.
So yes, this Monday has been a good one. A lot of writing, drafting, editing and connecting. Onward!
- IJ
Monday, March 18, 2013
Make it Happen Monday: Consecutiveness Times Two
The goal for the week is have at least three consecutive blog posts and get to bed before midnight at least three nights this week. Remember, that time when I set a blog posting goal. It seems so long ago! Now that I have more of an idea of what I want to write and communicate, the ideas are coming. The actually posting... well, still working on that part, lol.
In order to truly accomplish this goal writing it down will help make it happen. Last week was really busy with a lot of positive developments. Ideally, I would have posted my thoughts and shared my experiences but time escaped me. I am going to do a better job at posting, just like the good 'ol days.
Here is how this week's posts will transpire (more or less)...
Tuesday: A collection of some of my favorite tweets over the past week or so. Look out for Tuesday Tweets!
Wednesday: I follow a couple of fashion blogs and I am impressed with the time and detail these bloggers put into their style and their blog posts. I love fashion but I could never maintain a personal fashion blog. The best I can do is have a weekly post of an article of clothing or an accessory that I admire. Look out for Wednesday Wear!
Thursday: Not sure yet about Thursday.
Friday: My favorite day to post! As I've mentioned so many times before, I like lists. I'm not sure what Friday's faves list will be just yet but I promise it will be good.
I was feeling a little under the weather, both literally and figuratively. I wish I had enough energy to write this post earlier, but better late than never. Midnight is approaching! Time to sleep.
Happy Monday!
In order to truly accomplish this goal writing it down will help make it happen. Last week was really busy with a lot of positive developments. Ideally, I would have posted my thoughts and shared my experiences but time escaped me. I am going to do a better job at posting, just like the good 'ol days.
Here is how this week's posts will transpire (more or less)...
Tuesday: A collection of some of my favorite tweets over the past week or so. Look out for Tuesday Tweets!
Wednesday: I follow a couple of fashion blogs and I am impressed with the time and detail these bloggers put into their style and their blog posts. I love fashion but I could never maintain a personal fashion blog. The best I can do is have a weekly post of an article of clothing or an accessory that I admire. Look out for Wednesday Wear!
Thursday: Not sure yet about Thursday.
Friday: My favorite day to post! As I've mentioned so many times before, I like lists. I'm not sure what Friday's faves list will be just yet but I promise it will be good.
I was feeling a little under the weather, both literally and figuratively. I wish I had enough energy to write this post earlier, but better late than never. Midnight is approaching! Time to sleep.
Happy Monday!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Make IT Happen Monday: Application Time
A few months ago, I a met young woman interested in entrepreneurship and startups at a pitch competition at Georgetown University. In a serendipitous way, we met via Twitter while tweeting at this event. Score for hashtags.
What is great about our encounter is that she ended up being the first women of color running her own startup that I've met. I was impressed with her idea - layway plans for plane tickets. Since we've met she has been making it happen, including winning a hackathon in Atlanta at the end of 2012. Ama is the founder of Airfordable and is charging ahead. I'm really excited for her. Yay Ama!
Thanks to Ama, I learned one of her friends got accepted to a startup program in Boston. I was on Twitter and reading different tweets and came across their conversation. I was immediately intrigued about this intensive incubator-esque opportunity in a very techie city like Boston, Massachusetts. The program is now called StartupInstitute and has an additional site in New York City.
Every few months, StartupInstitute reviews applications from college graduates and young professionals from all over the world. Their mission is to equip candidates with skills such as business development and product design to immediately impact a startup. I love the concept of the program and I have officially decided to apply. Lol, I haven't even told my family or friends so if I happen to get selected, then I will need to conjure up an epic story to weasel my way to Beantown.
I don't have a tech background but I won't let that deter me. My passion, imagination and work ethic are major bonus points. I really want to build the ideas I see in my head. Besides, if I want to meet like-minded folks, I have to go where they are, right? I know there are numerous startups and top-notch schools to surround myself. Moreover, if I want to see more diversity, I must choose to be part of the solution.
If I get accepted, that would be an amazing way to celebrate my upcoming birthday. It doesn't hurt to try, better yet, it doesn't hurt to try to make IT happen.
Happy Monday!
What is great about our encounter is that she ended up being the first women of color running her own startup that I've met. I was impressed with her idea - layway plans for plane tickets. Since we've met she has been making it happen, including winning a hackathon in Atlanta at the end of 2012. Ama is the founder of Airfordable and is charging ahead. I'm really excited for her. Yay Ama!
Thanks to Ama, I learned one of her friends got accepted to a startup program in Boston. I was on Twitter and reading different tweets and came across their conversation. I was immediately intrigued about this intensive incubator-esque opportunity in a very techie city like Boston, Massachusetts. The program is now called StartupInstitute and has an additional site in New York City.
Every few months, StartupInstitute reviews applications from college graduates and young professionals from all over the world. Their mission is to equip candidates with skills such as business development and product design to immediately impact a startup. I love the concept of the program and I have officially decided to apply. Lol, I haven't even told my family or friends so if I happen to get selected, then I will need to conjure up an epic story to weasel my way to Beantown.
I don't have a tech background but I won't let that deter me. My passion, imagination and work ethic are major bonus points. I really want to build the ideas I see in my head. Besides, if I want to meet like-minded folks, I have to go where they are, right? I know there are numerous startups and top-notch schools to surround myself. Moreover, if I want to see more diversity, I must choose to be part of the solution.
If I get accepted, that would be an amazing way to celebrate my upcoming birthday. It doesn't hurt to try, better yet, it doesn't hurt to try to make IT happen.
Happy Monday!
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